This review may contain spoilers
Romanticized Toxicity Isn’t Romance
the only good thing for me was the acting, the actors were great they did a great job. the only reason I felt emotional during the end was because of how the acting was delivered and not because of the characters themselves.I couldn’t root for the male lead at all,I was just annoyed the entire time. I understand that characters are meant to be flawed, but there’s a difference between flawed and unbearable. The show also didn’t do a good job showing the emotional aftermath of the decisions that harmed people. Actions had consequences, but we barely sat with them. Everything felt brushed over.
And don’t even get me started on the kidnapping plot. She had every right to completely crash out, yet he’s the one comforting her, when he’s the reason all of this is happening. Him saying he’ll “get punished when he dies” doesn’t make it okay. Being terminally ill does not excuse toxic behavior. It wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t romantic.
He comes back into her life while he’s dying, doesn’t tell her the truth, gets her attached to him again, and she eventually forgives him because all she wants is love and a family. But he’s still dying, so what does that mean? He traumatizes her all over again and makes her watch him die. That’s not devotion. That’s selfishness masked as love.
Yes, he has trauma. Yes, he’s been through a lot. But trauma explains behavior it doesn’t excuse it. The show seemed to romanticize everything instead of critically examining it.
The female lead wasn’t innocent either. Her increasing acceptance of his behavior made it even harder to watch. The only character who made any sense was the second male lead questioning why he was dragging her around when he could literally drop dead at any moment.
With how toxic the dynamic was, If you changed the tone and tweaked the writing slightly, this could have easily been a thriller with the male lead as the villain.
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"I like guys who smile alot"
Can undoubtedly say that this show has to be one of my best watches from 2024. This isn't your ordinary typical kdrama. Mr plankton is realistic which engages the viewers in an emotional connection with the characters in it. The plot is unique and i have never seen something like this before. Two people with great misfortunes go on meaningful trip. It might not sound too interesting when i say it but trust me once you start this show you will feel its spark and magic. Many people are talking about its ending and a s2 but i think its of the perfect length and the show ended in the perfect way as it is. The actors did a marvellous job performing their roles. The osts matched so well with every scene. Together it was just a magical mix of realism. And i appreciate the directors so much for keeping the show raw and real till the end. I highly recommend it to all. Its definitely on my top 3 kdrama list now. If you have not watched Mr plankton yet please just do. You would love to start 2025 with a beautiful made kdrama like this. Lee yoo mi nd woo do hwan had great chemistry and looked so cute together.
Thanks for reading my little review
Lastly i would like to wish you a very warm happy new year :)) i truly hope this year brings you all goodness and big big joyful smiles
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K-trauma that's makes you laugh through the pain
Oh boy, I didnt know what I was in for when I pressed play. Saw a few reviews where people titled it as K-trauma of the year. Ususally I am not that into the silly dramas, so I didnt expect to like this one very much. But damn, they did a fantastic job of balancing the heartbreaking moments and the funny ones. Everytime I laughed, it felt bitter. When I cried they tried to cheer me up with a corny joke.My favorite part was the ending tho. Even if it is bittersweet. They managed to wrap every storyline up and didnt leave a mess behind, which sometimes happen if you have that many characters. Regarding the more serious topics they navigated them very well.
The only thing that annoyed me at some point was, that I felt annoyed with different characters each episode. One episode I liked someone and in the next I was cussing them out.
All in all, this Kdrama deserves all the praise and in my opinion, is definitely a must watch for all Kdrama lovers.
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The epitome of the messiness of human life.
In my language, the word “human” can also mean a stirred-up mess. And that’s exactly what this show is.It’s the same old plot but retold in a successful way.
If we only look at the main plot, I'd say I’ve seen this “last road trip as a final death wish” kind of story countless times. But, here, I’m not bored watching these characters create huge messes and keep tangling everything up like there’s no end. It’s a bunch of big messes - same old, familiar, scattered messes all thrown together - but still feels fresh to watch.
The acting from the cast also contributes a lot. Their performances are natural, convincing and work well together. The ML plays such a crazy guy that I believe the actor himself has to be somewhat crazy, too. The characters' development and growth are also interesting to watch. And in a way, the subplots are not that predictable, so it’s fun to follow their journey.
It's also great that the production team doesn’t betray their main plot or compromise with conflicts in the story. They commit to those things until the very end. It’s just that I still hate the ending for two points:
1. I just outright hate it. It gives me the same feeling as seeing how unfair someone’s life is but still having to accept it as reality.
2. The ending isn’t executed perfectly. It’s not that I can think of a better way to do it, but it still feels too abrupt and too easy, like they didn’t have a better idea for how to end it either. Okay... obviously they couldn’t think of a better way, or else this wouldn’t have been the ending. Anyway, I dropped 0.5 points from my score just because of the last 2 minutes.
All in all, it’s a great show. I’m not completely attached to the story or the characters, but it’s still fun to follow and find out what happens next. The ML is charming, which is a big plus. The other main characters (FL as well as the supporting characters) all did a great job in their roles.
This show deserves a big applause.
𓂃 ✦ 𓂃
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This review may contain spoilers
tragic love
This hurts too much!I didn't know it would hurt like this, I was on episode 9 when I found out there would only be 10 episodes, suddenly my world fell apart, I thought, how on earth is a "miracle" going to happen and make him stay alive? -I asked myself When I realized that he was going to die and I just didn't want to accept it, because it happens right? How many similar series have we seen and in the end everything was resolved? This one was just tragic, they really were unlucky, I'm not going to write much otherwise I'm going to start crying again and I just wiped away the tears.
The OST's were very well chosen and gave an incredible match with the scenes, it was extremely BEAUTIFUL! And I must praise the beautiful scenes, the visuals captivated me from start to finish.
I just can't stop thinking about how unfair it was, and how in the end, when he was dying, it gave him the greatest desire to live.
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Never cried more
The most heart aching, gut wrenching k-drama i have ever watched. It's been hours and i still can't comprehend my life anymore.If you think, you woulnd't cry much, because you already know what happens at the end, since it was showing at the beginning, you're a fool. Just like me.
Watch at your own risk of destroying your life
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10/10- A Masterpiece Of Beautiful Trauma
Read This Before You Watch 🌊🍂I am writing this through blurred vision because I honestly don’t think I’ve stopped crying since I hit play on the first episode. I absolutely loved Mr. Plankton, but please take this as a serious warning: this drama is a soul-shattering experience. It is a 10/10 masterpiece, but it’s the kind of show you watch once, get the trauma, and then lock away in your heart because you can never put yourself through it again.
The "Anti-Fluffy" Slice of Life
If you are looking for a lighthearted, fluffy rom-com to relax with, turn around right now. This is not that. This is a raw, gritty, and devastatingly beautiful slice-of-life story that explores the darkest corners of loneliness and existence. It tells the story of the "saddest life" imaginable, and it doesn't pull any punches. I found myself crying every single episode—not just a few tears, but full-on sobbing.
A Warning to My Fellow Watchers
Please, if you are currently going through a hard time in your personal life, do not watch this yet. It is heavy. It deals with terminal reality and the feeling of being unwanted in a way that is almost too much to handle. You need to be in a stable headspace to survive this journey, because once it gets under your skin, it stays with you forever.
Cinematography & The "Plankton" Vibe
I am completely obsessed with the visuals. The places they traveled to were so breathtakingly pretty—the vast landscapes, the quiet roads, and the coastal views were like a fever dream. It makes the sadness even more poignant because the world is so beautiful while the characters are hurting so much.
And then there’s the music. "All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray..." Hearing California Dreamin’ will never be the same for me again. Every time that song played, it felt like a physical weight on my chest. It perfectly captures that drifting, "plankton" feeling of being lost at sea.
[Minor Spoilers] The Heartbreak of the Journey
Seeing Hae-jo, a man who feels like he was a "mistake" from birth, literally wandering the earth to find a drop of belonging is gut-wrenching.
The way the drama handles his terminal diagnosis isn't just a plot device; it’s a ticking clock that makes every second of "found family" feel like a knife to the heart.
Jae-mi being the only person who truly sees him, even while she's dealing with her own premature heartbreak, is the most tragic kind of love.
Final Thoughts
This drama is a work of art. It’s a 10/10 for the acting, the scenery, and the sheer emotional honesty. But it is a heavy burden to carry. Watch it for the beauty, watch it for the "California Dreamin'" vibes, and watch it to feel alive—but have your tissues ready, because it will break you.
Rewatch Value: 0/10 (Because my heart would actually explode, but once was enough to change me forever).
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chefs kiss
this drama is so good that i've already rewatched it twice. i don't even know where to begin on how good it is.the plot line was executed so well. the acting was so beautiful, especially from woo dohwan and his enticing eyes. the sad scenes with the OST was so beautiful as well, and made everything 10x sadder.
although haejo's death is revealed within the first episode, it definitely still hits you very hard at the end, especially the "i want to live."
everything about this drama was just amazing and very thorough, and although there was only 10 episodes, it didn't feel rushed and felt very completed.
i would 100% recommend this if you love tearjerkers
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He Lived Like Plankton, Drifting Alone—Until She and Love Gave His Journey Meaning.
This is my first time I loved every single things in this drama I was not expecting it's only 10 episode, Mr. Plankton this drama was so different and so beautifully crafted that it stayed with me long after finishing it. Even though I’m not a fan of sad endings I can’t deny how excellent the story was.First of all I didn’t understand why Hae Jo came into Jae Mi’s life after knowing he was going to die wasn’t it selfishness? She had already moved on. But after watching the drama, I realized that somehow, he made the best choice. By choosing to love her stay with her at his last moment, he gave himself and Jae Mi a happiness that neither of them will get anywhere else.
At first I also wondered why it was called Plankton. After finishing I finally understood. Just like plankton drifting with the waves, Hae Jo seemed carefree on the outside, but inside he was breaking, carrying the illness of death like a silent burden. He wanted to live freely yet every smile carried pain.
I was afraid for Jae Mi how could she live without him? And I was afraid for Hae Jo too,,,,how could he live with the fear of leaving her behind?
When they took pictures together, I wanted them to take thousands more. I wished if I could take some picture for them. Those small moments of joy made me wish they could live until old age, without fear, without loss. They were perfect together. And that last episode… when Hae Jo looked at Jae Mi, Bong Sook, Yoo Gi Ho, and Eo Heung and smiled it felt so real, so full of warmth, yet my heart shattered. For me, it was one of the most heartbreaking yet beautiful endings I’ve ever seen. In last he run to his father and hugged him and cried it was really a great scene finally he could When he finally embraced his father, the tears he had held back all his life poured outlike a child who had long been waiting to be loved. I was saying why he should die why he couldn't live with them! he should live !I was waiting for a miracle.!!!!!!
This is the first time a drama made me think, maybe I shouldn’t even watch the last part, and I didn't wanted because I can’t bear it. Honestly, I wanted to stop at the ep10 43rd second of his smile, just freeze that moment forever.
Mr. Plankton may only have 10 episodes, but for me, it felt like a whole life’s journey. I can’t forget it. It’s special, it’s unforgettable, and it will always stay with me.
🪼
Hae Jo was such a complex and lonely character. His life was marked by rejection and hardship, but he still carried himself with quiet strength. Watching his journey, and how deeply he just wanted to belong somewhere, made me ache for him. He beared everything he survived in this danger world but this world was so cruel to him. His day was numbered he became selfish to stay with her but I think he lived his life with great happiness.
Jae Mi brought a whole new color into Hae Jo’s world. Her warmth and her persistence slowly broke down the walls he had built. The way she stood by him, even when things were difficult, showed that love can bloom even in the most uncertain circumstances. Their relationship was tender yet heartbreaking, because it felt so real. She did everything what she could. She was with him until his last moment yes it was selfishness to say this but for her he lived a worth life.
Yoo giho was another beautiful part of the story. He was one of the few people who gave Hae Jo a sense of brotherhood and trust. Their bond showed us how friendship can sometimes be the only anchor in a stormy life.
Bong Sook added a softer human touch. She cared in her own way and provided grounding moments when the story became heavy. She was actually his lucky charm for her his life became one step easier .
Eo Heung showed us that love is not always about having, but about giving, his heart chose her happiness over his own.
Through him we learn that life is still worth living, even if love doesn’t return the way we wish. He proved that true love means protecting, supporting, and smiling for someone from afar.
Mr. Plankton is not an easy drama to watch if you want a happy ending, but it’s one of those rare gems that make you feel every emotion love, grief, hope, and loss. It’s a story about searching for a place to belong, and sometimes, realizing that even if happiness is brief, it’s still worth it. Jae Mi and Hae Jo's journey was really a worth journey they was like made for each other they lived a carefree life I hope they live together like this in another world.💙
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This review may contain spoilers
masterpiece.
i was hesitant to start this drama, but im so glad i gave it a chance. its truly a masterpiece and i would have regretted not watching this.the plot is unusual; kidnapping your ex from her wedding isnt exactly normal but did i like it?... yes... the storyline keeps you on your toes.
i initially watched this for woo do hwan, and he exceeded every singleeee one of my expectations. his performance here is one of his best. he conveyed his emotions so genuinely that i found myself crying SO many times. its no surprise this was created by the same writer behind its okay to not be okay, my alltime favorite drama. knowing they shared the same writers made me hit play right away.
every detail in this drama felt intentional and meaningful. a lot of people are mad about the ending and saying its sad but imo its bittersweet, which only adds to the emotional weight of the story. while part of me hoped for a happy ending, i appreciate the sadness, it made the drama even more impactful. i felt so attached to the characters because of the backstory we get to learn.
with all the actors delivering mature performances, avoiding the same old tropes of immaturity. that quality sets it apart. dare i say this is one of the best dramas of 2024.
ill definitely be recommending this drama to all my friends, if you haven’t seen it yet, i hope this review convinces you to watch. you wont regret it!
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Deep thinking
This series is one of the best I have seen recently. The story has many ups and downs. Sometimes action loaded and then quiet again. Haejo thinking about his life and coming to conclusions that fit in the end to others too.I love the cast on the whole. They were all surprisingly good in playing a wider range of emotions.
Compliment to the director of the series. I think he brought out so many abilities in them. Sent me on a roller coaster of emotions too.
Will certainly watch it again.
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Watch for a good cry. (and laugh tbh)
Overall 9/10🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐
Absolutely beautiful and stunning, the acting was truly phenomenal. I truly enjoyed the journey with them. The ending is so extremely bittersweet but I loved that, it makes it feel more REAL. I prefer it when stories follow this path where it may not be a fairytale happy ending but instead a more realistic ending to keep you in the feels. Eo Heung has my heart, he truly deserves the world. The drama is packed with funny and emotional scenes, perfect drama to binge watch for some feels!
Highly recommend!🌟
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