Graceful Family (2019)

Are you ready to meet the Delulu (Delusional) Family?

After a long time, I finally decided to watch this series. I was convinced after watching a couple of clips and when I went in I got so excited. I was too determined that I even used my sick leave thinking I could finish it in a day. That's how fascinated I am with this rich/chaebol drama. Unfortunately, the fun started fading midway as it felt too stretchy. Small wins then big blows which is not that bad, it's just not as exciting for me. I finished the series just for the sake that I want to see how things ended.

Acting-wise, I feel like Im SooHyang carried most of the series together with Bae JongOk. They're both powerful actresses that made their characters come to life which is the main reason as well that I kept going.

I personally don't know someone as rich as the same level as this family but the whole drama going on is so fascinating that I'm actually relieved I'm not as rich as them. There's a lot of twists here and there making it interesting but I kind of feel sad how the ending was rushed.

I'd still recommend this if you're into crazy rich dramas/scenarios or if you want to see rich people fight each other with class but might not be everyone's cup of tea.

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50+ episode makjang distilled into 16 episode chaos

Makjang is ridiculous and over-the-top drama (which generally rates poorly on MDL), and Graceful Family ticks all the makjang qualifications: plot twist(s) in every episode, cocktail of comedy and drama, absurd cast of characters, and more. It makes for an entertaining watch, but I am grateful that this drama wraps up in 16 episodes. The ridiculousness makes it difficult to connect with its characters and to elevate it to endearing versus entertaining.

Story:
Graceful Family covers an incredible amount of plotlines over the course of 16 episodes (even covering a flashback at the beginning of each episode). The drawback is that most of these plotlines just happen for the purposes of moving the story forward. Then, the characters have to react accordingly, but even their reactions seem inconsistent at times. Roller coaster is a perfect analogy as the viewers are strapped in to follow whatever rail the writers have created for the story.

Acting:
I am a big Im Soo-Hyang fan because of her main role in My ID is Gangnam Beauty. Her character in Graceful Family is a stark contrast from Gangnam Beauty. The one similarity is the character’s belief in herself. That confidence/conviction is masked in Gangnam Beauty whereas it is in the forefront of her character in Graceful Family. The execution of the character in Graceful Family is simple, but that does not take away from Im Soo-Hyang’s great performance.

Same can be said for the other main leads and supporting cast. For a cable network drama, the entire cast of Graceful Family is experienced and talented. Bae Jong-Ok stands out as the villain character (plus I recommend Live to see more of her!). The major loss of points in this area is that the writing really limits the actors’ performances. Every character is put into impossible situations and directed to overreact, fully embracing the makjang moniker. Still, the overall acting is what kept me tuning in week by week.

Music:
Even the music is melodramatic in Graceful Family. Any hint of plot tension is accompanied by dramatic music, and the OST heavily leans in that direction. It follows the kdrama music formula that has proven successful over the years. MBN carefully crafted Grace Family to leverage all the key points that we expect of Korean Dramas.

Rewatch Value:
As entertaining as Graceful Family can be, it is best enjoyed in the moment because dwelling any longer highlights its various flaws. The cast is the highlight of the drama, and I attribute its rating success to them. Still, I would rather rewatch two dramas that I mentioned earlier instead of Graceful Family (My ID is Gangnam Beauty + Live). Given the solid amount of drama offerings in 2019, missing Graceful Family is not a loss for most drama watchers.

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