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The WONDERfools korean drama review
Completed
The WONDERfools
2 people found this review helpful
by metrikfire
5 days ago
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 6.5
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 4.0

Not gritty enough to be action, not absurd enough to be comedy.

This is another one of those half-baked shows that really doesn't know how to traverse magical realism. If you read enough YA, you know how much suspension of belief is required for the rules of the universe to stick and always, always these superhero tropes don't seem to grasp their own universe to make it believable enough.

Initially, I absolutely _loved_ the comedy. The character set ups, their chemistry. I wish the focus was on how ridiculously silly they all were. But then THE THING happened and basically from episode 3 or 4 onwards, the internal logic of the show started to slide downhill for me. To be clear, one of the best things about the show is the comedy. I wish there was more. I wish the comedy was so integrated that it makes you override any disbelief you may have about character reactions to external changes.

Unfortunately, as superhero tropes do, Chae-ni, Geong U and the gang are riding a wonky train that doesn't quite ever arrive at the station. Even the camera takes the whole affair too seriously, framing absolutely stupidly mundane moves as "cool" and "badass". There is no intention behind any of the characters, they're buffoons and clowns. Their superpowers are pure fluke. That's why they're so funny and great. Instead, everyone gets way too serious and still there is absolutely no pre-meditated movement, they're simply just reacting to events and triggers the whole time. Screaming at things and running around like headless chicken but with slow-mo tracking and gritty music in the background.

I'm not saying this is the worst show ever, there were some really entertaining comedic moments. But now I know why these superhero shows in korean dramas suck so hard. They're always trying to make absolutely stupid sh!t look like they're the new Avengers or something and it makes no goddamn sense.
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