ibisfeather

Typhoon Family reads like a well-made, sentimental and mildly patriotic Hollywood movie (only 8+x longer!). I cried happy, proud tears continuously throughout the last half of the last episode. A total paean to small businesses everywhere and the affections and family lives of ordinary people.

Koreans are justly proud of their country's revival from the IMF crisis and of the 'Miracle on the Han River' which followed. In a nation full of tragic and painful histories, the resilience of everyday citizens remains a marvel then and now. Ma-Jin, the initial head of sales at Typhoon Trading, says it best. ( in the English translation) " Times may change but I believe there are timeless things...well, it's nothing much: family, love, comradeship, and patriotism. Things like those."

This series follows a business struggling thru the crisis and a family struggling with loss. Businesses often face disasters and either snatch success from the jaws of defeat, or they fail and start again. Businesspeople will tell you nothing different. In fact they will regale you with such tales until your ears turn blue.

I am not quite sure how the creators of this series dared to make history this mundane the subject of a drama, and how they discovered the magic recipe of Typhoon Family. Episode after episode of struggling with the dastardly opposing company who live by the belief that business is a zero-sum game where compassion is weakness, somehow never became boring. The anxiety alone will keep you roiled up and attentive.

The show has several through lines, but episodes are organized by things the company finds to sell. Honestly fascinating as you reflect on korean economic history, the team must locate supply lines, figure out funding problems and transport logistics for the following: surgical-quality rubber gloves, helmets to use on scooters, safety shoes for work using new high-performance materials, finally micro-fans for cooling small electronics (cameras ostensibly but we all know where they are destined). I found the last segment particularly affecting as it highlighted the sort of patented inventions created by regular people in their spare time in other great periods of technological change around the world.

JunHo's best qualities as an actor are showcased: his tenderness, his unabashed idealism and his sturdy, stubborn portrayals of men who lead by protecting others. The script boldly tossed the usual FL roles out the window and the casting of Kim Min Ha as the FL was courageous as well. The character is a diligent, tactful, ambitious person, in short, a normal elder child, an affectionate and responsible girl. The progression of their relationship is almost too gentle, too discreet, too respectful. and once again, only in the ending episode do you realize how strong that relationship can be without any fanfare at all.

Kim Min-Seok (once again!) and Kwon Han Sol will steal your heart, break it into little pieces and put it back together again as the second couple. The street scenes are a joy, the office scenes are lived-in, with that edge that domesticity brings -- utility balanced against order. The scene dressers deserve a special award.

The technical aspects of the show demonstrate absolute professionalism and balance. The soundtrack is of course wonderful, but everything, cinematography, camerawork, choreography, editing supports the story directly and cleanly. I recommend this highly. I watched it on air for six weeks, but I thin k it will be a better bingewatch. And a rewatch for a family party or a long warm evening.