This review may contain spoilers
A beautifully shot, emotionally devastating journey… with a few frustrating loose ends.
I write really long reviews but here's a summary. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone ❤️
❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗
The Good:
The Storyline
They really committed to the realism with that ending — no magical recovery, no love-powered miracles, just death. And weirdly, I respect that. Hae Jo’s gradual shift from not caring about life to desperately clinging to it was handled with such subtlety, it wrecked me. Like, actually had me sobbing. You feel his transformation, which makes his death hit even harder.
The Ending
That final scene with his dad? Brutal and beautiful. Watching all versions of Hae Jo hug his father — child, teen, adult — felt like his soul was finally at peace. It was symbolic, emotional, and honestly? Perfect closure.
The Scenery
Every frame was wallpaper-worthy. The cinematography team did not come to play. Especially that final backdrop — if you’re gonna die, might as well do it with a killer view.
Woo Do Hwan
Woo. Do. Hwan. That’s it. That’s the review.
The (Possibly Real) Father Theory
Okay, I might be reaching, but the second dad totally felt like the real dad. The show never confirmed it, but the emotional parallels were suspicious. Both he and Hae Jo lashed out at people they cared about when feeling cornered — textbook self-sabotage. Their similarities ran deep, and honestly? That fish market bonding scene had too much heart for it to be fake. Maybe he didn’t mean to screw everything up — maybe he just didn’t know how to handle finally having something good. Sound familiar?
The Bad
Jae Mi Deserved Better
The trailer teased a love story, but Jae Mi ended up feeling like a narrative prop. While Hae Jo found peace (read: died) and Heung found freedom, Jae Mi just… existed. Her arc barely went anywhere. No closure, no growth, not even a final scene to show where she landed. The show really said, “Thanks for your service, now exit stage left.”
Character Development? Where?
For a man on the clock, Hae Jo didn’t grow much. He just kept abandoning Jae Mi, feeling bad about it, then doing it again like it was a hobby. Compare that to other dramas where terminal characters find emotional clarity — Hae Jo stayed in his mess. By the end, it felt less like a tragic hero and more like a guy stuck in a loop.
The Dad’s Mystery Vibes
Why did the dad never explain himself? He clearly kept mementos and cared on some level, but we never get a reason for why he ghosted his literal child. That flashback where he pretends not to know Hae Jo? Weird. And then… nothing. The emotional math wasn’t mathing.
The Final Goodbyes Fell Flat
His last moments with Bong Suk and Gi Ho were rough — and not in a cathartic way. Bong Suk, who was clearly a mother figure, got hit with a cold “you meant nothing to me” monologue before he dipped. Gi Ho, the ultimate ride-or-die, barely got a proper sendoff. These two loved him unconditionally, and he couldn't give them one final moment of sincerity? Painful.
Abrupt Ending, So Many Loose Ends
Yes, he’s Mr. Plankton — he drifts. But did the plot have to drift off with him? The second he dies, the show just… ends. No follow-up, no grief montage, no hint of what happens next. We don’t know what became of Jae Mi, the business, the gangsters, the dad — anything. Bold choice? Sure. Satisfying? Not even a little.
Final Thoughts
Mr. Plankton is a rollercoaster — heartbreaking, hilarious, and deeply human. It’s a raw, poetic story about life, death, and the messy, beautiful connections we stumble into along the way. Woo Do Hwan delivers an unforgettable performance, and the show’s refusal to sugarcoat reality? Bold and brutal in the best way.
That said, it’s not without bumps. Some characters were left undercooked, the ending felt rushed, and too many threads were left dangling. Still, its emotional honesty and gorgeous visuals leave a lasting impression. It’s not perfect, but it sticks with you. If you’re into bittersweet endings, painfully real characters, and male leads who are (almost unfairly) attractive — this might just be your next favorite. A strong 7/10, and with a bit more closure, it could’ve easily hit a 9.
❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗
The Good:
The Storyline
They really committed to the realism with that ending — no magical recovery, no love-powered miracles, just death. And weirdly, I respect that. Hae Jo’s gradual shift from not caring about life to desperately clinging to it was handled with such subtlety, it wrecked me. Like, actually had me sobbing. You feel his transformation, which makes his death hit even harder.
The Ending
That final scene with his dad? Brutal and beautiful. Watching all versions of Hae Jo hug his father — child, teen, adult — felt like his soul was finally at peace. It was symbolic, emotional, and honestly? Perfect closure.
The Scenery
Every frame was wallpaper-worthy. The cinematography team did not come to play. Especially that final backdrop — if you’re gonna die, might as well do it with a killer view.
Woo Do Hwan
Woo. Do. Hwan. That’s it. That’s the review.
The (Possibly Real) Father Theory
Okay, I might be reaching, but the second dad totally felt like the real dad. The show never confirmed it, but the emotional parallels were suspicious. Both he and Hae Jo lashed out at people they cared about when feeling cornered — textbook self-sabotage. Their similarities ran deep, and honestly? That fish market bonding scene had too much heart for it to be fake. Maybe he didn’t mean to screw everything up — maybe he just didn’t know how to handle finally having something good. Sound familiar?
The Bad
Jae Mi Deserved Better
The trailer teased a love story, but Jae Mi ended up feeling like a narrative prop. While Hae Jo found peace (read: died) and Heung found freedom, Jae Mi just… existed. Her arc barely went anywhere. No closure, no growth, not even a final scene to show where she landed. The show really said, “Thanks for your service, now exit stage left.”
Character Development? Where?
For a man on the clock, Hae Jo didn’t grow much. He just kept abandoning Jae Mi, feeling bad about it, then doing it again like it was a hobby. Compare that to other dramas where terminal characters find emotional clarity — Hae Jo stayed in his mess. By the end, it felt less like a tragic hero and more like a guy stuck in a loop.
The Dad’s Mystery Vibes
Why did the dad never explain himself? He clearly kept mementos and cared on some level, but we never get a reason for why he ghosted his literal child. That flashback where he pretends not to know Hae Jo? Weird. And then… nothing. The emotional math wasn’t mathing.
The Final Goodbyes Fell Flat
His last moments with Bong Suk and Gi Ho were rough — and not in a cathartic way. Bong Suk, who was clearly a mother figure, got hit with a cold “you meant nothing to me” monologue before he dipped. Gi Ho, the ultimate ride-or-die, barely got a proper sendoff. These two loved him unconditionally, and he couldn't give them one final moment of sincerity? Painful.
Abrupt Ending, So Many Loose Ends
Yes, he’s Mr. Plankton — he drifts. But did the plot have to drift off with him? The second he dies, the show just… ends. No follow-up, no grief montage, no hint of what happens next. We don’t know what became of Jae Mi, the business, the gangsters, the dad — anything. Bold choice? Sure. Satisfying? Not even a little.
Final Thoughts
Mr. Plankton is a rollercoaster — heartbreaking, hilarious, and deeply human. It’s a raw, poetic story about life, death, and the messy, beautiful connections we stumble into along the way. Woo Do Hwan delivers an unforgettable performance, and the show’s refusal to sugarcoat reality? Bold and brutal in the best way.
That said, it’s not without bumps. Some characters were left undercooked, the ending felt rushed, and too many threads were left dangling. Still, its emotional honesty and gorgeous visuals leave a lasting impression. It’s not perfect, but it sticks with you. If you’re into bittersweet endings, painfully real characters, and male leads who are (almost unfairly) attractive — this might just be your next favorite. A strong 7/10, and with a bit more closure, it could’ve easily hit a 9.
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