Snowdrop

Worth watching amidst the controversy

I think that while the set of the drama seems rather limited, I think that it was beautifully done up. I loved the aesthetics and the vibes of the setting and really liked the attention to detail. Each episode is brilliant in its own way and is also very exciting. I also think that the storyline is quite interesting, though I do understand that it is a distortion of history. I would like to make a disclaimer that I watched this drama solely as a fictional show.

Aside from the plot, I love the OSTs. I don't mind that some of them are in English and I think that they are brilliantly written and produced to suit the waltz/slow dancing vibes. However, while I am quite fond of slow-paced dramas, I don't think I can sit through 16 episodes of this again. I hoped to see more of other scenes that depict what it was like in South Korea in the 1980s to 1990s, as I did in other dramas, such as the Reply series, Signal, etc. Overall, I still really enjoyed the drama.

My deepest condolences to the friends and family of Kim Mi-soo.

In summary:
What i liked - set, concept, cast, story, OSTs
What i disliked - limited set (they've been at the school for way too long)

Star of the show: I don't think there was anyone who stood out in particular. I think everyone did a great job.

Rating: 9/10
Watch if you like the aesthetics of the 1980s/early 1990s and Jung Hae-in (and possibly if you're into Stockholm Syndrome)

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not bad, but definitely could have been better!

**edit at the bottom after finishing the whole drama; TLDR: haein is amazing, ending lacked very much and hence points degraded from a previous 10/10 to an 8.5**

loved the first 4 episodes a lot, they showed excellent potential for the story and the characters for the future. haein is an incredible actor and you can tell that from the very first scene, and although jisoo has her weaknesses, not bad for a first drama. the romance and the love story that snowdrop has been marketed for was beautiful, sweet, sad and melancholic, however i felt it took a backseat after the first four episodes. i understand that this was their attempt at exploring character dynamics and a painfully slowburn plot, however, i feel like when the screen wasnt on the two of them the love story wasnt there anymore. the plot itself is weak, and slow paced. slow paced plots are excellent if done well, however the weak plot made the episodes a bit monotonous and predictable. the chemistry of the characters and the 80s timeline, that whole potential felt wasted to a point, and i wish they could have done more with that.

people may disagree, saying they dont think the leads should end up together as the ML took wayy too much advantage of the fl, however, i think even though his redemption is in process and hes not quite there yet, he is very much redeemable and i dont hold anything against the fl for forgiving him. heck, mans trying his best, ill give him that. but the slow path to redemption, i personally enjoy. it gave his character realistic depth, he didnt turn a switch and went from god to bad, but is going through the slow process of unlearning learnt behaviours and asking for forgiveness. he is far from it, at this point in the story (epi 13) but hes getting there.

i think to better understand my review for SD, one can compare it with vagabond. vagabond sets the potential for this drama, SD had the potential to be fully action packed in a historical setting with a painfully slow burn romance that could be felt in every scene, whether the characters were there or not. however, i also wont be too critical of SD considering the mass havoc the knetz made in its production, the poor thing was ridden with unprecedented controversies that it very much did not deserve and i can understand and see the diligence with which the plot was written, so as not to offend any party while still making it enjoyable to the public. its a difficult thing, and i cut them some slack. the writers could have done better, but i understand their situation. its still a pretty good effort, and props to them to pull it off despite the controversies the knetz surrounded it by!

genuinely, despite all its flaws and loopholes, all in all, my fangirl heart enjoyed the drama thoroughly. the visuals, the music, the production was very nice. the ost was beautiful, sad, portrayed the characters angst and yearning really well. also im such a sucker for haein, i have to admit his character was more fleshed out by him and the nuances he portrayed rather than what the plot gave him. props to him as an actor, thoroughly enjoyed his performance. im also a sucker for not good not bad, morally grey male leads finding their way in a complicated world, so i genuinely enjoyed this. give this man more roles like these, he can definitely pull them off.

all in all, imperfect, but beautiful and enjoyable.

**EDIT** after finishing the series...
i was very seriously overlooking the flaws and loopholes of this drama in hopes for a fulfilling ending. i feel like the whole thing was pivoted to its ending, it really depended on how cleanly and beautifully they wrapped up the lose threads they oh so beautifully opened in the first 4 episodes, but alas. that wasnt the case, i dont mind tragic ends but this was just poorly done. no matter how much i think i cant excuse it.

all in all, i still loved it, but for much different reasons now: my guy Jung HaeIn carried the show on his beautiful, beautiful back. plotholes aside, i think JHI did an incredible job as SooHo and he deserves all the credit for this. Jisoo did well for her first project as well but my guy HaeIn really stole the show. watch if you want amazing acting on his end, truly incredible. Yoo InNa too in the end. wow.

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Right person, wrong timeline

Is the one sentence I'd use to describe this drama.

As always, I've been one of the last people to jump onto the trend and hype of this show and I have managed to pick this 3 years after the initial release. I was rather intrigued by the plot as I'm a big fan of historical depictions of the 80s and 90s - it's the nostalgia factor that always pulls me in. This was perfectly translated with the soft colours, music and the overall vibe of this show so the set directors and producers absolutely nailed it. Now addressing the elephant in the room Jisoo - I really didn't expect her to nail this role but my god she better start doing acting full time. Her performance was so captivating and full of emotions. Her eyes were truly windows to her soul, and the way she used them to communicate is something I find actors really struggling to do even after years of acting. That leads us to the chemistry between the Soo Hoo and Young Ro, which was a very intimate watch in the way that they also use body language to communicate. Everything was so delicate and pure between the two and felt like I was peeking into their love a little bit. So their story can only be described as 'right person, wrong timeline' to be.

Well, this will take me a while to recover from. Hoping that the leads can reunite in a different life.

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Don't fuckin watch this mind numbingly stupid romanticizing nazi character drama.

worst drama!

The writer literally lost her direction on the plot after ep 3. I get it that it's all fiction but at least make a hostage situation realistic. Captors letting go of the characters who broke their rules for numerous time, when they would have been shot to death in one go for even moving an inch in a realistic situation. They truly made a hostage situation a comedic situation through this drama. How can you still fcking love a man who put a gun against your head? Falling for a guy who is a terrorist? Romanticizing the captor and literally a figure like nazi? I mean I would have considered the "romance" in this drama but the two leads barely spent a quality time together that would have led a Romeo And Juliet like tale. No chemistry was shown at all through the story. The stupid romance plot was nothing but forced into the viewers' faces with no chemistry between the leads. One day the fl is beating the ml and cursing him for her brother's death and the next day she's kissing the ml who i remind you is a terrorist. Moreover, it looked like the fl was the only one falling for the ml since the beginning. The ml only wanted to return to his home country to his sister who was waiting for him on the other side without showing us he truly felt for the fl. Everything about the romance was only told but never shown.

Then we have dumb female lead who does nothing but create more problems and always wants to bandage people's wounds which is never a problem to the captors. The captors tell her to stay put, but she never listens and does her own will and the captors literally stays put without any action towards the fl. Like really? They give one warning , then says "it's the final warning" and it repeats till the final episode. I haven't seen 1 single hostage situation where captors are that forgiving and so kind. This whole drama is just dumb and has 0 level of intellect.

Oh and the politics? We all know by reading few articles about the ANSP at the time were dangerous, cruel just bloody. But this drama shows us the ANSP people and other politicians are nothing but clowns. Big fat dumbasses who does nothing but fight amongst themselves like toddlers. Childish i must say. Just save yourselves 17 hours of your precious time and skip this whole ass stupid drama and protect yourselves from losing brain.

Also, the revealing of the "suspense" was so rushed lol. I've never seen a useless suspense reveal as boring as this one. Everything happened in 1 go with no major direction or goal. I laughed out loud when The chef of the hostel and that caretaker of the dormitory was revealed to be the spy of Nk. Like seriously, all they were doing was sit in the corner and starting tantrum like a kid here and there. This whole hostage situation could have ended in few episodes but it continued till mid of episode 16. Or the whole hostage situation could have just started in episode 12 or something while building up characters' personality, romance development between the lead characters (even the supporting characters) and giving backgrounds for the existing characters , their past, rather than haphazardly heaping all these important stuffs in the end of the story.

Ps how i wished it was the fl who died instead of the ml cause of her stupidity and annoying fucked up crying scenes that started from ep 4 and continued till ep 16 final scene and she does nothing but just THAT throughout the whole drama.

Should have gotten worst drama of 2021/22 award! Deserved~

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A Visually Stunning and Emotionally Haunting Masterpiece

Snowdrop is one of those rare dramas that leaves a lasting impression, not just because of its star-studded cast or its controversial setting, but because of the emotional weight it carries and the sheer craftsmanship behind its production.

Visually, it's stunning. The cinematography is top-tier, every frame feels like it was composed with purpose, from the soft, vintage color palette to the detailed set designs that perfectly evoke the late '80s. It’s atmospheric in a way that pulls you in and holds you there.

The acting is exceptional. Jung Hae-in brings depth and restraint to his role, while Jisoo (in her debut leading role) is a genuine surprise. She delivers a nuanced performance that feels emotionally grounded and raw. The chemistry between the leads is subtle but powerful—it grows on you in a slow, believable way.

What really stood out was the emotional intensity. The show builds tension masterfully, balancing moments of quiet vulnerability with explosive conflict. It's not just a romance or a political drama, it’s a character study under pressure, and the emotional payoff is huge if you stick with it.

The soundtrack is another highlight. It's melancholic, haunting, and beautiful ❤️elevating already powerful scenes and leaving you humming long after the episode ends.

That said, Snowdrop isn’t without its flaws. The pacing in the early episodes can feel a bit uneven, and the politically sensitive backdrop might not sit well with everyone. But if you approach it as a human story set against turbulent times, it becomes something truly compelling.

Final thoughts: Snowdrop is intense, beautifully made, and emotionally rich. It’s a drama that takes risks and while it might not be for everyone, it’s undoubtedly memorable.

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Snowdrop - Should you watch it?

First of all. There are some things I should explain/mention about this drama. There are no spoilers, so feel free to read.
I decided to post my review after reading up a lot said shortly and then watching the drama with my Korean co-workers. As some might know currently, there are petitions for the drama to stop airing due to claims of historical distortion. The first claims started in the early making of the drama when the plot was announced with a short description of each character. The short descriptions and circulating clips created a big misunderstanding that the drama might glorify ANSP(Agency for National Security Planning) and the military regime and to add fuel to the starting fire the lead female character had a name very similar to a real-life prominent figure from the 1987 protests named Chun Young Cho. In response to the concerns, JTBC changed the name of the female lead from Young Cho to Eun Young Ro. Additionally, the drama also received even more criticism with petitions and lawsuits were filed against it after episodes 1 and 2 aired. In response to the petition and lawsuits, JTBC has released multiple statements that the drama has nothing to do with the pro-democratic movement and the June uprising of 1987. The plot of the drama is set a few months after starting October 1987 and revolved around the presidential elections of 1987, using it as a plot point for the main leads to be able to meet. It is said that due to the close proximity of the events, it is possible for the democratic movement to be mentioned but there will be no disrespectful scenes. Now to the explanation. Is there historical distortion? No, at least not so far. Why did people misunderstand the drama? It's purely JTBC and the makers of the drama at fault, and they are not taking responsibility. Many have tried digging up pasts of the people connected to the drama, and it does not look good. Were they planning to do some distortion or decided to do this for the shock factor? Who knows, but it backfired and cost the drama its ratings. Does the drama glorify ANSP or the regime? No, not at all. You will see throughout the drama it's totally the opposite. Is the male lead posing as a protester or infiltrating the democratic movement? No. The male lead is introduced as a graduate from the University of Berlin and is in South Korea for his thesis. The misunderstanding comes from the fact that in a clip he is seen running past students who are protesting in the background, while a famous protest song is playing, giving a wrong impression. Is the drama good? If the production crew and JTBS did not make the mistakes they did Snowdrop could have easily had a high rating and be in the top 10 dramas of 2021. Despite everything to an unbiased viewer, and someone who has watched EVERY single K-drama from 2021 I can tell you the drama is amazing. I never skipped a scene and wait for every episode impatiently. It's a rare gem with a perfect cast and acting. I had low expectations bc an idol was announced but I can't imagine anyone else in this drama now. The actor couple is perfect. The only reason, why I am giving a 9.5 for the story and not 10 is because ALL of this could have been avoided if JTBC thought a little bit more and never allowed such similarities. The drama has NO historical distortion so far 7 episodes in but it's walking on a thin thread. Honestly, Snowdrop just might be my favorite drama of 2021 but that could be because it was the last drama of 2021. It's definitely up there with Vincenzo and The Red Sleeve for me in my top 3. My suggestion is to leave your reservations and expectations aside and watch it. The drama is 10/10 totally worth it. Will my review stay the same? Well, there is time till the end of the drama and the ending is important. There is plenty of time for the drama to go from 10 to 0. I am definitely concerned that the quality might drop due to the loss of sponsors during filming. In any case, watch it, it's totally worth it. Just remember as it is said at the beginning of the drama all events and characters are fictional.

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Too many plot holes....

I don't know why this drama can have such high ratings, but honestly it has too many issues and very poor writings. And I am just at eps 5.

First, why the ANSP (or I don't remember their names) guys keep looking for the MC around the school for days even though they were asked to stop, do they have so much free times ? lol.
It's actually hard to understand why Lee Kang Moo keeps looking after the MC right from the beginning.
Too many stereotypes characters too.
Worst one is the telephone girl lol, why is she willing to put the girls in danger just because of her stupid ego...
The way she found the bag was kinda stupid too. Why the hell the girls want to keep a bag with cloths full of blood ? Seriously they should have gotten rid of this right away... And yet they decide to hide this bag the day they know the telephone girl found out about them... And somehow by coincidence she was stalking them that night... (was she going to keep stalk them until she finds something ? Its not like she knew for the bag)

As for the day Lee Kang actually decides to look again for MC at school, by coincidence he had to go there for some money... What a coincidence. And then they are still clever enough to raid a school full of girls and put them in danger, while somehow being able to get dozen of people with him ...

As for MC, kinda hard to appreciate him when he and his 2 friends treat them like sh*t, its not like he is still alive thanks to some of them...

We actually have another dumb character, Lee Kang ex fiancee .... Why the hell would she shoot when they go pick the tel ??? I mean even if she managed to kill MC, the other 2 would kill Kang and the girls for sure...

Overall the show abuse too much on the coincidences making them pretty frustrating... And even after 5eps we still don't know what MC wants to do...

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