This review may contain spoilers
Two unfortunate lightning rods that are crazy, stupid in love
For me Mr. Plankton was a really quick watch (1 and ½ days). The 10 episodes were reminiscent of the fleeting time Hae Jo and Jae Mi had together. Overall, the acting of all the actors was outstanding. Their dialogues, eye contact, body languages were all spot on. It really made me get super into the story. Although the story was so touching and made me sob, I definitely wouldn’t rewatch it. There’s too much trauma. I think this is definitely a one-time kdrama. Not a feel good one for sure.
Themes/story:
I think what “Mr. Plankton” really taught me is to cherish what you have in the present. Stop trying to fulfill dreams or aspirations that will only harm you. I saw this with Heung and his family lineage, Jae Mi’s dreams of becoming a mother, and Hae Jo trying to find his biological dad. All these things were painful subjects for all three characters, bringing them more suffering than actual joy. And in the end, neither of them were able to fulfill their goals. I think what this kdrama is trying to tell us is that your time is fleeting on this earth, just like plankton in the ocean. You make your oxygen and then you’re gone. Make the most of it while it lasts and enjoy even the obstacles that come your way.
Characters:
Hae Jo: Tough and charismatic, Hae Jo is the definition of a “bad boy”. I think his quirkiness and free-will for his life stems from having been neglected by his parents as a child. He pretends to be a tough cookie, but in reality craves attention and love. His only real way to deal with pain and suffering is to push those he cares about as far away from him as possible, resulting in them suffering more. Hae Jo deserved a better life, but he was never really given the chance to fully experience it to the fullest. Just as he was beginning to understand what true family felt like, he could no longer stay for much longer. His character really created a pit in my stomach because while he is toxic and harmful towards a lot of friends, he experienced a lot of really unfortunate events.
Jae Mi: Not much to say here. Stereotypically bright, sunny girl that brings joy into everyone’s lives. She’s a ray of sunshine for everyone around her. I think she also craves love, just like Hae Jo, making them the first storm. Their yearning for affection sort of overwhelmed them. This makes it super hard for the both of them to separate, while they also simultaneously hurt each other, especially Hae Jo. Jae Mi honestly deserves all the best in the world. Her one wish to become a mother couldn’t be fulfilled, and then her soulmate passed away.
Heung: I love Heung. I think he's really slept on character. Having already seen Oh Jung Se’s acting in ‘It’s Okay to Not be Okay’, I knew Heung was gonna be a great character. Heung is a character who really finds confidence in himself. Although spoiled and cherished all his life, he never truly knew who he was as an individual because he constantly lived by clan rules, and his mother’s guidance. Even though Heung was also going through loss in the story, he didn’t let this misguide him and corrupt his heart. He remained pure and sincere to Hae Jo and Jae Mi, never letting his pain hurt them in any way. He even comforted them along the way, showing true bravery and compassion.
Bong Suk: I LOVE Bong Suk. She is literally everything: a diva, a baddie, a tough mom, a super caring woman. Her charisma and sarcasm perfectly matches Hae Jo. Her dynamic with him is also so funny. Even though she pretends to be super tough and mean on the outside, she cares deeply for Hae Jo and anything troubles he goes through. I adore her. 10/10 character.
Other comments:
- When Hae Jo reunited with his old dad, I literally broke down. I think that was the scene I cried the second most (first place obviously goes to the last scene)
- The ending scene is literally HEART BREAKING. The visuals of it, the music, the acting. UGHHHHH. It hurts everytime I think about it. I can still hear Hae Jo whispering “I love you” to Jae Mi.
- Hae Jo’s lackey is so funny
- The song “California Dreamin’” will never be the same
- Why did Hae Jo’s dad just accept him again? Did he realize he was wrong?
Themes/story:
I think what “Mr. Plankton” really taught me is to cherish what you have in the present. Stop trying to fulfill dreams or aspirations that will only harm you. I saw this with Heung and his family lineage, Jae Mi’s dreams of becoming a mother, and Hae Jo trying to find his biological dad. All these things were painful subjects for all three characters, bringing them more suffering than actual joy. And in the end, neither of them were able to fulfill their goals. I think what this kdrama is trying to tell us is that your time is fleeting on this earth, just like plankton in the ocean. You make your oxygen and then you’re gone. Make the most of it while it lasts and enjoy even the obstacles that come your way.
Characters:
Hae Jo: Tough and charismatic, Hae Jo is the definition of a “bad boy”. I think his quirkiness and free-will for his life stems from having been neglected by his parents as a child. He pretends to be a tough cookie, but in reality craves attention and love. His only real way to deal with pain and suffering is to push those he cares about as far away from him as possible, resulting in them suffering more. Hae Jo deserved a better life, but he was never really given the chance to fully experience it to the fullest. Just as he was beginning to understand what true family felt like, he could no longer stay for much longer. His character really created a pit in my stomach because while he is toxic and harmful towards a lot of friends, he experienced a lot of really unfortunate events.
Jae Mi: Not much to say here. Stereotypically bright, sunny girl that brings joy into everyone’s lives. She’s a ray of sunshine for everyone around her. I think she also craves love, just like Hae Jo, making them the first storm. Their yearning for affection sort of overwhelmed them. This makes it super hard for the both of them to separate, while they also simultaneously hurt each other, especially Hae Jo. Jae Mi honestly deserves all the best in the world. Her one wish to become a mother couldn’t be fulfilled, and then her soulmate passed away.
Heung: I love Heung. I think he's really slept on character. Having already seen Oh Jung Se’s acting in ‘It’s Okay to Not be Okay’, I knew Heung was gonna be a great character. Heung is a character who really finds confidence in himself. Although spoiled and cherished all his life, he never truly knew who he was as an individual because he constantly lived by clan rules, and his mother’s guidance. Even though Heung was also going through loss in the story, he didn’t let this misguide him and corrupt his heart. He remained pure and sincere to Hae Jo and Jae Mi, never letting his pain hurt them in any way. He even comforted them along the way, showing true bravery and compassion.
Bong Suk: I LOVE Bong Suk. She is literally everything: a diva, a baddie, a tough mom, a super caring woman. Her charisma and sarcasm perfectly matches Hae Jo. Her dynamic with him is also so funny. Even though she pretends to be super tough and mean on the outside, she cares deeply for Hae Jo and anything troubles he goes through. I adore her. 10/10 character.
Other comments:
- When Hae Jo reunited with his old dad, I literally broke down. I think that was the scene I cried the second most (first place obviously goes to the last scene)
- The ending scene is literally HEART BREAKING. The visuals of it, the music, the acting. UGHHHHH. It hurts everytime I think about it. I can still hear Hae Jo whispering “I love you” to Jae Mi.
- Hae Jo’s lackey is so funny
- The song “California Dreamin’” will never be the same
- Why did Hae Jo’s dad just accept him again? Did he realize he was wrong?
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