The Atypical Family (2024)

Will the Korean Addam's Family be scammed or embrace the scammer?

Ep 1: Love it. When I first read the description, my mind immediately thought, so we are getting some version of Korean Addam's family. It just has that kind of vibe. Initially, the FL didn't leave much of an impression but as the minutes passed by and we reach the end we see the real her and that makes this drama interesting. Even more so than the weird powers all the family members have. The entire Bok Family seriously vulnerable right now and may just fall for the scamster. It was funny seeing ML's mother try to paint all the red flag FL waved into green ones. I'm excited to see how this one goes.

Ep 2: Okay so much happened. First things first, the scene with the treadmill seems as if it is inspired by real life incident or some other drama, because for some reason I feel like I have seen the exact thing happen before. I can't remember where it was from though. Bok Dong Hee is so relatable right now, overeating is an affliction that's hard to break, especially when the food can make you feel so good. The ML also gives us a clear insights into depression, when he said that he is too depressed to be grateful to anyone. It can make one so selfish to ignore their child who is also suffering. Their family dynamics are such that they enable each other to avoid confrontations and that's the norm right now. Despite his addiction, the Gwi Joo's interactions with Da Hee are pretty interesting. I am still curious about the FL's family and how they come to be who they are.

Ep 3: Da Hee's family kinda got the wrong target this time around. They are trying to take advantage of the Bok Family's disorders but she'll only end up curing them. So, no pay day for them. The writers are going to keep me guessing if what comes out of Da Hee's mouth is the truth or Gwi Joo really did all those things when he went back into time. Love Ina though, in the previous episode she told Da Hee to run away from the crazy family. A call back to that was fun to watch. The ending was so damn good.

Ep 4: Each episode is another version of what will Gwi Joo's future self do only for his current self to be completely oblivious to it and I love it. It is fun to watch. Finally got to learn some interesting tidbits about Da Hee's family. And the episode ended with a good kiss. Apart from that, this episode was pretty tame compared to the previous one. Hopefully, it will pick up the pace again in next week's eps.

Ep 4: This was one of the most beautiful episode ever. The grandma is finally doubting Da Hee. I don't like that it is because her mom was ex-convict. She chooses to hold something that Da Hee's adoptive mother has done against her but falls for her poor me innocent act based on one dream. She clearly can't distinguish the good from the bad. I like Dong Hee, she doesn't let the FL's act fool her. She is also wary of FL's foster sister. I wonder if the person who saved FL was her uncle and not the ML. I'm so glad that Ina has some backbone. I wonder how it is going to play out. What an interesting episode. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.

Ep 6: Well they finally found out that Do Da Hee is a fraud, at least she admitted it herself rather than having someone else do it. I don't think they know what a grand wedding means, this was such a basic wedding. Ina's story is also getting interesting, I wonder though if the girl is going to bully her now. Gwi Joo really did fall for her, here I was thinking he was just going along with the flow. Next week's episode will be a bit sad, but I don't think Ina will cut ties with Da Hee, she might seek her out.

Ep 7: I gotta say this drama keeps getting better. So Gwi Joo & Da Hee at least have decided to embrace the scammer. I think the Gwi Joo's father will be okay with it to, his mother and sister might not be ready for it. This was a beautiful episode, can't wait to see the next one! Poor Da Hee gets slapped not once but twice.

Ep 8: We finally got to know more about Hyung Tae, the family muscle. He is such a softie. It was fun watching him blow the bubbles and loose at the game with Ina. The rest of the episode pretty much confirmed that it was Gwi Joo who saved Da Hee. I'm not sure what Da Hee's mom is going to deal with all of this. The tidbit about Gwi Joo's father also made him a little more interesting.

Ep 9: Why do they have to scare me like that. I though things were going pretty well for them, but all throughout the episode there was a foreshadowing of doom, as if someone was gonna die. According to Gwi Joo's mother it will be Gwi Joo, but looking at the preview of next week it seems like it is going to be Da Hee who might sacrifice herself. When the drama began, it never crossed my mind that it would have sad ending. I hope the next episode clears some things up for me.

Ep 10: Okay, false alarm. No one died yet, but I feel a sense of forebonding as if someone will in the future because why go into it having expectations up. I just hope that it is a happy ending for Ina, she deserves it after all the grief she has had to go through all her life. I hope even if Da Hee dies that Gwi Joo can step up and take better care of his daughter & if Gwi Joo dies so does Da Hee.

Ep 11: It was fun watching Grace, Da Hee, & Dong Hee kick the cheater's ass. Dong Hee was so blinded by love that she kept giving him countless chances and went out of her way to woo him & he again cheated on her. Even when he had Dong Hee by his side. I'm glad that Da Hee finally had a good talk with her mom. Now everyone has braced themselves for the future where Gwi Joo might die. I wonder what role Grace, Hyung Tae, & her mother, Baek Hong are gonna play in the future. Will they even be a part of Da Hee's family?

Ep 12: Oh, I never thought putting Dong Hee & Hyung Tae together might work but wow they look so adorable together! Ina and Joon Woo also were cute throughout the drama, often their first love was exactly what the drama needed. I am a bit disappointed with the way the story of him saving people from the fire turned out but to think about the plot wasn't all that novel. It is as expected, it started with him loosing his powers when he failed to save a person during a fire & ended with him saving his lover twice & his daughter once. The 5 year time skip is a bit much for my tastes, I detest time skips in the final episodes especially when there is a separation. At least we have cutie to lessen the blow. How do you tell your 5 year old to go back in time to get his father back? Imagine where the boy would end up, he could get hurt! Did that thought not cross Da hee's mind? Anyways, the ending was kinda meh. It would have been better seeing them together as a happy family once he returned.

Read More

Breath of fresh air

The story of powers and time travel has been used over and over. Most times it's boring or confusing. This time they got it right. They have small flashbacks but they're great crutches for the point of the story.

It's easy to fall in love with a 2nd lead but it's difficult to adore a child actor because they aren't given a lot of screen time. While the daughter receives more than usual screen time, I adored her more than any 2nd lead in all the shows I've watched. They wrote her well and the actress was great.

The ML didn't do anything extraordinary that made me want to cheer for him. But with his daughter and FL caring for him, I found myself hoping he'd be a better person and father. The writing did it's job

The FL was written good to great and the actress was great to amazing. She has a terrible past and has done some shady things. She lies to get close to the ML but there's some truth in her lies. To me she was the center of the show and did an amazing job.

The chemistry between the ML, his daughter and FL was the best part of this show. Highly recommend. You'll laugh more than you expect and smile a lot.

Read More

All You Ever Have is Right Now

This is definitely not your typical drama, which is actually a good thing. The series has enough curveballs and plot twists to keep the savviest viewer guessing right up to the end. These “time” plots are among the most challenging for a writer to track because there are so many elements. Perhaps that is why very few of them actually end up working, while so many others end up with enough plot holes to look like fly swatter by the end.

We have a family with special abilities. Bok Gwi Ju has the ability to go back to the past to his happiest moments. However, he doesn’t have the ability to affect the past, or at least, so we think until Do Da Hae shows up; a con-woman who is initially only after the Bok’s money on behalf of her loan shark of a “mother” and her adopted family. We quickly find that Gwi Ju can actually communicate with Da Hae and even interact with her. However, for the first few episodes, Gwi Ju is suffering from severe depression after a car accident take the life of his wife while he was “away.” He drowns himself in his sorrows through alcohol, even failing to be a father to his daughter, I Na.

Bok I Na is a young preteen who spends all of her time on her cellphone, not wanting to look anyone in the eye. We later find that her special ability is to read the minds of anyone she makes eye contact with. Her anxiety of reading minds isn’t just limited to her classmates, but she believes that she’s the reason why her mother was killed. Both father and daughter are suffering from tremendous guilt.

Bok Dong Hee has the ability to fly. However, she finds herself “weighted down.” Literally! Putting Claudia Kim in a fat suit really carried off the character well as a woman who finds her only solace is in food.

Last, but certainly not least, is the matriarch of the family, Bok Man Heum who has the ability to see the future through her dreams when she’s asleep. In many ways, she’s become addicted to her ability, not only through the fear of something bad happening to her and her family, but also as a means to acquire future knowledge, and thus, making herself and her family extremely rich.

Do Da Hae seems to show up in the Bok family on a whim, but nothing is as it seems, and she later finds that the mysterious “fireman” who saved her from a school fire when she was in high school, is none other than Gwi Ju. She soon finds herself wrapped up in the “time travel” plot of the Bok family as well as falling hopelessly in love with Gwi Ju as well as with his daughter, I Na (who actually discovers Da Hae’s true intentions through her mind-reading ability).
The head of Da Hae’s adopted family is a cruel, vindictive loan shark, Baek Il Hong, whose plot is to get Da Hae married off to Gwi Ju with the hopes of acquiring some of their wealth. Still, very few things in this series follow the “typical” plot line, and this is what truly makes the series so special.

Is it possible for the “villains” to actually turn over a new leaf and to actually have good intentions? Is it also possible to change the future if one already knows what is going to happen? So many TV shows/movies have dealt with this question. The irony is that the only point in time that any can experience is “right now.” There is no future or past, which is something that Einstein himself proved: that all of time and space is relative. As Socrates states in “Peaceful Warrior,” all we have is right now. More and more people are realizing that the only power you can ever have is in this moment. Life is choice, which negates the ridiculous belief that there is somehow a “fate” or a “destiny” involved. The only “fate” or “destiny” that exists is in whatever moment we decide it to be. Those who believe that the universe is a random place where they are controlled by fate or destiny are cowards at heart. Why? Because they fail to acknowledge their own power of choice.

The series only has a few minor flaws to it, which isn’t a bad thing, and since it’s a “time plot” we can hardly blame the writer too much. First, Da Hae attempts to make it appear that she’s “died” in an accident to prevent Gwi Ju from going to the past to save her (which, if he does, he will die). She and her uncle set things up while Gwi Ju is in the past. The only problem with this is, how does Da Hae know how much time she has before Gwi Ju comes back? It’s never explained, and for all she knows, Gwi Ju could be back within seconds or minutes from whatever point in the past he’s returning from. And yet, she acts as if she has all the time in the world, which makes no sense.

Second, in the last episode, Gwi Ju is holding teenage Da Hae on the windowsill, telling her to jump to the blow-up fire cushion below. However, as much as time as it takes Gwi Ju to explain things, he could have easily jumped out of the window with her. It would have been more convincing if something had happened to prevent him from doing this. Again, these are very minor points, and they certainly don’t detract from the story.

This isn’t your typical superhero series. Many of the people in this series are selfish and greedy. They only care about their own happiness. Gwi Ju is so caught up in his own pain, that he neglects his own daughter. Da Hae is so caught up in getting out from under her “mother” that she initially fails to realize that there is already a loving family waiting for her. I Na is so caught up in trying to avoid pain, that she isolates an alienates herself from everyone around her. Bok Man Heum is so consumed with her dreams, that she fails as a mother and a wife. Everything has its price, even for those with special abilities. Why? Because in the end, they are people too. And the most captivating of superhero movies and shows are those that show us the “human” side of the characters. Not their superhero abilities.

Performances in this series are absolutely fantastic, but for me, there was one standout. Park So Yi (I Na) was incredible in this series. This young lady has an incredible future ahead of her! At a young age, she is already able to convey feelings and emotions with simple looks and gestures; something that many adult actors and actresses are unable to do! She makes us feel her pain of loneliness, guilt, and isolation of someone who believes herself to be an outcast, not only at her school but within her own family as well! Park So Yi is able to show us the terrible burden that I Na carries and carries alone. I was captivated every time I Na was in a scene!

If you’re looking for a very “atypical” drama, you really can’t go wrong at all with this one! It will have you laughing and crying, and perhaps help you ask yourself the important questions such as, what is really important in life? Money or love? Money or family? And also to never forget to live life in each moment.

Read More

GIVE ME MORE!!!

I started Atypical Family on a whim because it had been a while since I watched (enjoyed) Kiyeong's project and omg! The drama made me cry, it made me laugh, and it gave me found family and father-daughter healed relation what more to ask for other than why the heck would you make this only 12 episodes long??? give me ATLEAST 16 episodes like?? It's not like they lacked any material to make it a 16 episodes drama, if I remember correctly the same thing happened with Kiyeong's previous project too "Kill It" where the story had potential but was wrapped up in 12 episodes! ALSO CHUN WOOHEE YOURE SO LOVED<3

Read More

A Show That Lived Up To Its Name!

The Atypical Family quickly went from a ho hum show for me to one that became a must watch each week. Suddenly, we had a show that dealt with concepts in a clever way.

The vehicle used to bring the future into contact with the past was so well done. It made perfect sense.

Was the show insensitive, politically incorrect (or woke for that matter). I didn’t think so. Show was not designed to offend, treat the characters who may have a disadvantage disrespectfully or treat them differently.

We had two huckster families. One that used super powers to secure advantage surreptitiously, one that wasn’t adverse to harming others to get what they wanted. Yet, both were destined to come together. How they did this through their various entanglements quite tickled my fancy.

I quite liked Sauna Mum and her family. The transition they go through from mobster to morally grey was one of the highlights for me.

With SuperGran and her tribe, I’m not sure if show had done enough to convince me of their reform for the better.

Show lost much of its shine for me in the penultimate episodes. We also had the typical kdrama ending kick in. However, I totally enjoyed how show ended. It was clever, neat and really appealed to my sci-fi sensibilities. I gave it 8.5 stars in the end 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🥝

Read More

It's masterpiece? Or really different show than anyother drama exist

If you love show in slow but steady and really go and add artistry to fantasy story. You should check it out.
Now my thoughts,
I am really confused because show is so good and different still it's not a masterpiece becomes it had some problems with the character execution yet it is really worked will because it's so different from any kdrama 🤔 or kdrama I watched so it can't be compared to that.
It's like mixing fantasy with artistry of melodrama visual and music. It's so wierd and slow but it got that done in perfect manner show successfully completed it greater end.
I would say show is really slow beginning and catch a phase but still go slow 😜 it never run. For me it's good and i love it. Not everyone will.

Read More

"Atypical Family" captivated me in a way few shows have. Initially dismissing it as another run-of-the-mill superhero series, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a drama that subverts expectations at every turn. The family depicted may appear conventional, but their story is anything but. This show introduces fresh concepts and paradigm shifts that keep the narrative unpredictable and engaging.

The characters are complex and break away from traditional roles. The female lead, far from being a typical damsel, demonstrates strength and resilience, while the male lead's unique powers add an intriguing twist to the story. The show masterfully combines suspense with a therapeutic narrative, ensuring that viewers are kept on edge until the very last moment of the final episode.

What started as a casual viewing experience quickly turned into an immersive journey. The seamless incorporation of time-travel, a notoriously difficult plot device, showcases the brilliance of the writing. The direction complements the script perfectly, with a melancholic yet captivating vibe and an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Each episode surpasses the last, driven by stellar performances, particularly from the female lead. Her emotional depth and beauty make her scenes particularly impactful. Despite its quality, "Atypical Family" remains underappreciated, possibly due to its appeal to a more mature audience.

In essence, "Atypical Family" is a groundbreaking series that defies stereotypes and sets new standards in storytelling. It is a must-watch for anyone seeking a drama that is refreshingly different and profoundly moving.

Read More

A Realistic Story of Heroes With Crack-ups and a Woman who Enters Their Lives to Change Everything

First, Let me say that this is in my top 3 so far this year alongside Queen of Tears and Lovely Runner. This drama is literally so fun from start to finish. It's realistic, well-written and well-directed. It's originally created by Kang Eun Kyeong, who wrote masterpieces like Dr. Romantic and Gyeongseong Creature, written by Joo Hwa Mi, an amazing new writer and directed by Jo Hyun Taek, who also directed masterpieces like SKY Castle and Snowdrop. I dove into this drama with so many expectations and I didn't get disappointed at all. I agree the drama has some plotholes, like the dad caring about his FL more than his daughter, but I don't mean the part where he is depressed. Just to explain because people are complaining that when he was depressed, he didn't care about his daughter at all, depression is not just being very sad and that, it's a serious mental illness in which you want to be isolated most of the time and don't like to socialize with others and depressed parents interact with their children differently like using less emotions. Now, I'm gonna talk about the acting. I'm starting with Chun Woo Hee and Park So Yi because they're the gems of this show. They played their characters so well. From crying scenes to caring-about-each other scenes, they rocked them all. Claudia Kim, Oh Man Seok, Jang Ki Yong, Go Doo Shim, Ryu Abel and others also rocked it. They all did really well. The scene in episode 9 where Gwi Joo figures out I-na's power is so emotional. The two actors did so good in that scene. I also love how awkward the relationship between I-na and Gwi Joo was when he was depressed because it's so realistic. THAT'S how a relationship between a daughter and a depressed father is like. Also, the amount of action thrown in episode 12 is literally so fun. From the theater scene to the fire scene to the last scene, it was all too good.
What a perfect series. It deserves so much hype.

Read More

Remarkable Original Story

I don't write many reviews because I'm lazy but this drama is worth the time. Atypical Family is one of the most unique and original stories ever written with people finding and bringing out the best in themselves and the best in others. The first few episodes make you believe this family of superheroes are a total bunch of losers but then someone comes into their lives that makes them start believing in themselves again. The rest of the story is pure gold with everybody having the wrong reason for everything and ending up doing the right thing in spite of their worst efforts. The characters are very unique and deeply flawed but they all manage to rescue themselves in the end. This is now one of my top 5 k-dramas ever. Wow!

Read More

Way more boring than it should've been

A family with superheroes loses their abilities from modern-day ills: depression, insomnia, obesity, smartphone addiction. A woman joins their family and makes a change in their lives. This is a decent premise for a drama, but the execution was just horrific. The quality of the writing was just so bad. It's kinda impressive that a drama that's only 12 episodes long can be so repetitive, but this manages to accomplish that feat. There were some legit actors in this, but they had nothing to work with. The ML must've been one of the most one-note characters I've ever seen on screen. His mother's also not at all interesting either. Broadly speaking, this was a drama where nothing meaningful was said and nothing interesting happened.

I could go on a long rant about the many problems this drama has (though for my own sanity I won't), but I feel like the main one is just the choice of genre in the first place. A drama like this should just be a comedy. As soon as it went in a different direction, everything went horribly wrong.

Read More