We Are All Trying Here

For All The Reviews Where I Criticized the Writing

If you've ever criticized a Kdrama saying the writing was bad....well here is a drama showing you the torturous lives of these writers. Whether its being pressured to just write it so its finished, working through extreme writer's block, taking the blame from everyone (but especially the actors) for bad reviews, trying to be creative when you have to work to pay the bills.......this drama gives an inside view of the lives of entertainment writers in the movie and TV biz and they are by no means glamorous.

I couldn't help but feel a little guilty (how many reviews have I written that stated "just couldn't finish it, the writing was that bad"?)) as I saw the agony these tortured souls go through in doing their craft. I wondered if Park Hae Young , frustrated at criticisms on Kdrama writing, decided to show the viewers the reality of being a writer in the Korean entertainment industry. Is she guilt tripping us??

Whether my musings are true or not, the story is so much more. This Kdrama does not fit any of the usual Kdrama tropes, nor does it have any Kdrama memes. It stands apart from the genre as it is a realistic take on the ups, the downs, the successes, the failures, the excitement, the sadness, and even the very ordinary-ness of being an entertainment writer.

What I liked about it the most is how real the characters were, how easy it was to relate to them, and how real the storylines were. A lot of the drama was about attaining and/or maintaining success. Success is subjective because even a successful person by society standards can, in reality, be oh so miserable in their personal lives. Success can be fleeting, can be slow, can seem to never happen even if someone is working their butt off. Success isn't fair. It can happen to one person right out of the gate, while another works and works without anything to show. The entertainment industry can be cruel. You can work hard on something that another person takes credit for. You can constantly come under fire doing your job well because it doesn't fit your supervisor's narrative. This drama does not sugar-coat the industry, but gives a relatable look at people traversing a not-so-friendly professional world in pursuit of career success.

When all is said and done, the story is about perseverance in the face of failure, always stay true to yourself, and know that relationships with family and friends are the most important even if you aren't always getting along. This is absolutely one of the best Kdramas I've seen. Definitely my #1 pick for 2026 so far.

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So so so good!!!

(Sorry for my english + its my first review)
I watched many dramas and I think this one is one of the best I've watched. Characters that are very real, not some good or bad guys, relationship progress, nice shots, good music.

Not once i felt this tightness in my chest waching this. I laughed, I got agitated, I was moved and I think thats the most important think, that I felt many emotions watching this drama.

Two main characters are very good writen, they emotions, they dialogs, everything.

One little flaw is rushen ending in last epizodem. I think if this drama had at least 14 episodes there would be better ending

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I've only got into k-dramas this couple of months so I'm new here. but let me tell you, this k-Drama is something else, the story is something else that i never thought id get from k-dramas. i mostly watch anime only, anime have such high level of masterpiece such as A Silent Voice, You're Name, Vinland Saga, Eighty-Six and other pieces those were my top ones but man We are all trying here... its up there.
A lot of reactions that I've heard and seen is they say that in the beginning they didn't quite like Hwang dong man because of how he acts but for me i was intrigued, i was like what an interesting character why is he like that?, its so distinct and as the story goes i was like wow he's such a complicated character and then i started relating to him .
I have never seen a character that resembles me so much as Hwang dong man, he's literally me but like a more expressive version of me. from like how he acts so goofy and playful, how he thinks psychologically and mentally, how he imagined scenarios as if he's actually inside of that scene. that's me ... the only difference is how he acts so carelessly and free in public though i do act like that when I'm alone, but still. i literally bought a leather jacket after watching the series inspired by his coat(lol)
And overall the story yeah as I've said i put it out there in my absolute masterpiece list. its a masterpiece that inspired me to start writing something like this. the funny thing is i have never written a story -_-

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Everyone is going through something, it's okay to feel.

I rarely write reviews for any media I consume, but watching this drama pushed me to write one. Firstly, I would like to give a huge bow to the writers. What a beautifully done piece. It made me feel so many things. The director and actors seemed to perfectly understand what the project was and what it was meant to convey. I'm personally going through a lot right now, and watching this drama made me sit with all the emotions I was feeling and work through them along with the characters. The struggle depicted in this drama is so relatable; it hits very close to home. I do not know how to write a proper review, but I would like to urge everyone who comes across this drama to give it a watch. You won't be disheartened and will take away something or the other from the story.

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K-drama worth watching

Never forget your dreams, even if nobody believes in you. Don’t give up. It doesn't matter if you spend 20 years waiting—in the end, you will always make it.

​Something Hwang Dong Man’s brother said:
​"Every story is a cry that says 'I exist.' I exist in the midst of this pain, I exist in the midst of this sadness, I exist in the midst of this misery, I exist in the midst of this laughter. We will live for a hundred years, just a hundred years, and then we will be gone. Does that which is disappearing truly exist? To dispel those doubts, we frantically write stories. If you need to write new stories while you are alive, at least make them funny."

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Best Drama

Some dramas entertain you for a moment, but some stay with you long after they end. “We’re All Trying Here” is one of those dramas.

No wonder I loved this drama — it’s written by the same writer behind My Mister & My Liberation Notes.

It feels quiet and simple on the surface, yet emotionally heavy underneath. The kind of drama that understands loneliness, exhaustion, and the feeling of trying your best while life keeps testing you.

I love how realistic the characters are — imperfect, tired, lost, yet still somehow moving forward. No unnecessary exaggeration, just raw emotions and human struggles that feel painfully real.

Every episode felt comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. Like a reminder that everyone is quietly fighting their own battles 🤍

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If you want to empathise with people around you, JUST WATCH IT

After so long, i get to watch a kdrama like this, full of emotions and the true representation of human vulnerability. This drama also motivated me to try my best in my particular field. After "When life gives you tangerines", this drama brought out my emotions. I also wondered why this drama didn't get the global popularity it truly deserved like "Perfect Crown". The story, overall plot, and the acting was way too realistic. Character "Hwang Do Man" was my favourite, the actor Koo Kyo Hwan nailed it, other than him, i liked the character of Byeon Eun A, and also Park Gyeong Se, the true representation of "don't judge a book by it's cover", at start i didn't liked him but as the story progressed i started empathising with him, actually not with him solely, but i started empathise with every character involved in this story. Also one character is underrated "Lee Jun Hwan", the friend of Hwang Dong Man who didn't leave him and judged him like others, he stayed with him from the start to end, i liked this quality of his character. Seeing Park Hae Joon as Hwang Jin Man, after "When Life Gives You Tangerines" with him given a deep character in this drama truly made my mood.

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Life in the most raw form

This drama by far is the best thing I've watched in a while, I was attached to the story and to my screen not wanting to skip a second of it.
It felt like reading a very good novel, you could easily be immersed in it and easily relate to the characters, You like each one of them yet you dislike them all simply because they are humans just like us and you'll definitely find a moment that it'll like it's exactly written for you.
The first two episodes were fine but then came episode 3 and boom it was majestic, Hwang Jin Man the moment you find out who he is was my first awaking in this drama, then each story and each line continued to touch the deepest spot in my soul, I would find myself just tearing up randomly.
It is raw and touching, it's life with all it's struggles from family to work to friendship to ambitions till you go to love and peace.
It was amazing watching this from a directors lens when it's talking about directors and writers and there work environment, it shows you how much the director is important in a work for it to be great.

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What is your goal in life?

This is an exceptionally human drama, and I loved it from beginning to end. What impressed me most was how deeply developed the characters were by the end! You can actually feel the momentum of their growth as the story progresses, and that’s something surprisingly rare. Every character changes, struggles, and learns, and those transformations feel completely earned.

At its core, the drama is about friendship, ambition, life goals, and the dreams we spend years chasing. Dong-man is such a profoundly human character. He is flawed, desperate, insecure, and often lost, but that is exactly what makes him so relatable. He carries a deep inferiority complex and constantly wants to be seen as an equal to those around him. In his own unorthodox way, he keeps trying to prove his worth, even when his methods are questionable. You can feel how desperately he wants to make a movie and prove himself. Through his journey, the drama explores a truth many people experience: we often believe that achieving a certain goal will finally make us happy, only to discover that reality is more complicated. The accomplishment feels good, but it is not exactly what we imagined. What matters most is the person we become in the process. By the end, Dong-man has truly found himself and finally overcomes many of the insecurities that have defined him for so long.

One of my favorite aspects of the drama was Dong-man’s relationship with Park Yeong-sae. Their friendship feels painfully real. They were best friends when they stood on equal ground, but once one of them became successful while the other was seen as a failure, everything changed. They became competitors as much as friends. They judged each other, compared themselves constantly, and gradually lost parts of the people they used to be. It is an uncomfortable but honest portrayal of how relationships can be affected by success, failure, and insecurity.

His relationship with Euna is also worth mentioning. He genuinely cares about her, relates to her in many ways, and often wants to be her protector. Euna carries her own trauma surrounding abandonment, and it is heartbreaking to watch how much she struggles with her sense of self. Despite her pain, she remains a voice of kindness and empathy. She instinctively understands the feelings of others, even though she has spent much of her life cutting through people’s stories and emotions with harsh honesty—a trait that was even considered a talent in her profession.

As the drama progresses, she becomes increasingly aware of how deeply words can wound others, and there is a visible discomfort whenever she is forced to do that again. At the same time, she struggles to understand her own emotions. She is deeply sensitive and easily hurt by criticism, rejection, and the inhumanity she encounters in others. Her journey is one of self-discovery and emotional awareness. By the end of the drama, her growth is remarkable: she is finally able to recognize, understand, and name her feelings instead of expressing them only through physical symptoms. Her character development is subtle, realistic, and incredibly moving.

The drama understands that life is messy. We all have goals. We all carry trauma. We compare ourselves to others, even when we know we shouldn’t. We are hurt by people’s words, and yet we keep trying. Every character in this story is fighting for something, and every struggle feels meaningful.

The relationship between Dong-man and his older brother was particularly moving. The two brothers are almost opposites. While Dong-man still clings to dreams and possibilities, his brother is focused entirely on survival. His desperation is heartbreaking. He works endlessly just to fill the gaps in his life and keep going. He doesn’t live to enjoy life anymore; he lives simply to endure it. Their contrast feels very true to the experience of many siblings. The older one often carries burdens that are different from those of the younger one, but both are trying in their own way. That simple act of continuing to try becomes one of the drama’s most powerful themes.

If I were rating purely based on rewatch value, I would probably give it a 5/10. Not because it isn’t excellent, but because it is such a heavy and emotionally exhausting watch. You can feel the characters’ desperation, disappointment, and hopes as if they were your own. It activates your empathy in a way few dramas manage to do. I genuinely don’t know if I’ll be able to rewatch it, because it hurts in a way that feels almost too real. 🥲

Ultimately, this is a drama about people trying their best despite failure, disappointment, and uncertainty. It is deeply human, deeply compassionate, and unforgettable. I don’t know if I’ll ever rewatch it, but I know I won’t forget it. Few dramas have made me empathize so deeply with every character’s struggles, failures, and hopes. It hurt, but in the best possible way.

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