That may sound gloomy, but this drama is actually a hopeful and moving story that — despite a plot that involves heartbreak and hardships — also focuses on themes of acceptance, healing, and second chances.
Meguro Ren gives a remarkable performance as Sakura Sou, a man who lost most of his hearing after graduating high school and made the decision to cut off contact with all his friends, including his girlfriend. I’ve seen him in one other role, a 2023 movie called “My Happy Marriage” and was impressed with his quiet but expressive performance — he doesn’t even have to say anything because you can see all his emotions in his eyes. That same quality is on full display here; his acting style is a perfect fit for this role and brings a lot of depth to his character.
All the main characters give sensitive and emotional performances, and even the supporting characters are great, especially the sign language teacher.
This is the type of drama that rewards close attention. There’s often more to see in what goes unsaid — in a look or reaction or gesture — than what’s said, though the characters also have some thoughtful conversations about loss, disability, and empathy. Viewers who enjoy a quiet and character-driven story will find a lot to appreciate in “Silent.” (And yes, there is a happy ending.)
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The leads, Yang Zi and Li Xian (also paired in the 2019 contemporary drama “Go Go Squid!”) play, respectively: a resilient and resourceful merchant’s daughter who’s a talented florist and savvy businesswoman in her own right; and a mysterious but respected government official — titled the “Floral Envoy” — with a playful side and what seems like questionable integrity.
They bond over their disregard for convention and love for flowers, and it’s nice to see a couple who are equally matched in intelligence and confidence progress from allies to friends to the beginnings of something more.
We also get to see Wei Zhe Ming in a surprisingly unlikeable second-lead type of role. It’s interesting to see him play against his usual nice-guy type as a conflicted man who always wants what he can’t have.
All are versatile actors and make this story of overcoming adversity a compelling watch. There are also themes of the value of friendship, women supporting women, and not letting your past or family define you.
The romance aspect is slow in developing, but fits with the progression of the story. The drama as a whole is well-paced, with nothing I wanted to skip. As a plus, the production values are high, the costumes and sets/locations look nice, and the music is better than most. Overall, one of the better historical dramas I’ve seen.
If the story seems a bit incomplete at the end, that’s because it continues in a second season, titled “In the Name of Blossom.”
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The series must have had a big budget, and looks the part with beautiful costumes, stunning sets/locations, and a huge cast. The production values might be the best I’ve seen in a Chinese drama to date.
The number of characters can make it confusing to keep track of their connections and allegiances at times, but it’s an epic story that stays engaging across 68 episodes thanks to a well-paced script and compelling performances from the cast. The length of the series leaves plenty of room for character development, and many of the arcs are fascinating. Most of the characters inhabit a gray area in terms of their motivations and morals, and the lengths people are willing to go to in pursuit of power and the effects of jealousy and greed are recurring themes.
Viewers should know that this is a serious drama with an intricate plot that rewards full attention. There’s little in the way of comic relief or lighthearted elements, but the characters are so complex and the world they inhabit so immersive that the story doesn’t feel unbalanced. Plus, the full-circle ending is a happy one for the leads.
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The Good:
— The Male Lead: Liu Yu Ning (who also had an impressive starring role in this year’s “The Prisoner of Beauty”), plays a misunderstood prince who’s hated by most of his family and caught between conflicting loyalties. He’s always interesting to watch as an actor and gives a layered performance here. Don’t miss his microexpressions — they reveal a lot about his character, who’s supposedly stoic, but really has a lot of emotions and inner turmoil simmering beneath the surface.
— The Second Male Lead: To describe his character arc would spoil important plot points, but Wang You Shuo delivers an impressive and wide-ranging performance. You’ll have a lot of feelings about his character, and it’s almost like you can see the workings of his mind playing out through his expressions.
— The Costumes: Many of the costumes are gorgeous and unique compared to other historical dramas. Whoever designed the tasseled hat and mask combination deserves a raise — it’s such a badass and mysterious look that makes the character who wears it instantly recognizable. In fact, all the martial artists’ makeup and styling stand out.
— The Action: Another highlight is the stylish action sequences. Many of the 1-on-1 fights in particular are like beautifully choreographed dances.
The Not-So-Good:
— The Beginning: I wasn’t feeling the first several episodes, which are a bit bizarre and almost seem like a different show than the rest of the series. I found the female lead’s antics irritating and the male lead cruel. Although that’s intentional; he’s supposed to be a stereotypical ruthless warlord type of character.
The story doesn’t really find its footing until episode 6, when it gets into more normal drama territory. The workings of the script and the FL’s desperate attempts to avoid (or kill) the ML become less of a focus as the requisite drama plot points play out, including love triangles, palace power struggles, and secrets and misunderstandings.
— The Female Lead’s Character Development: Li Yi Tong plays a modern woman who ends up inside the script of the costume drama she’s about to film. She has a lovely, expressive face and shows a lot of emotional range, but I never found her character very likable — partly due to how the role is written and partly due to the actress’s portrayal, which often comes across as affected and childish. The fake crying and pretend coyness aren’t cute or funny. Plus, her refusal to see that both the characters and plot are different than the original script makes it difficult to sympathize with or feel invested in her or her choices as a main character. While the characters around her change and grow, she's stuck in the same stubborn thinking and behavior through two-thirds of the drama.
— The Hit-and-Miss Humor: The parody of drama cliches and common tropes can be quite funny. The early episodes in particular are pretty over-the-top with character behavior and crazy events that viewers may or may not find humorous. (Side note: if you don’t find repeated accidental deaths and violence played for laughs to be amusing, maybe skip parts of episode 1; you won’t miss much.)
To sum up, it’s a flawed but entertaining story. The rocky start, a frustrating relationship between the leads (the friendships and rivalries are more interesting than the romance), and distracting music and sound effects that sometimes drown out the dialogue take some of the enjoyment out of the experience. But an intricate plot that sometimes feels like solving a puzzle and some unexpected twists keeps things interesting throughout the 40 episodes. I won’t comment on the ending except to say make sure to watch the post-credits scene closely!
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This gripping story revolves around the arrogant and reckless heir to a technology empire and his lookalike — a lifelike AI android programmed to be a caring companion.
The drama really ramps up when some circumstances result in the robot having to pose as his human counterpart, imitating his personality and behavior. Seo Kang Joon’s talent really shines here. Playing a double role, he makes each character completely distinct — from their speaking cadence and facial tics to body language and walking style. During certain scenes where it’s uncertain who’s who, observant viewers will be able to pick up on some clues thanks to his impressive acting skills. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was two different people.
SKJ also puts his distinctive good looks to good use for both characters, convincingly pulling off both the wealthy bad boy and the gentle android with a moody smirk or an innocent smile. It’s a brilliant performance that’s worth watching closely — don’t miss his microexpressions and subtle changes as the android develops increasingly human-like behavior.
I haven’t seen Gong Seung Yeon, who plays the female lead, in anything else, but she also does a great job with her role as a compassionate and brave bodyguard and former professional MMA fighter who gets caught up in the family drama.
In fact, there are a lot of compelling and layered performances from this cast, even for supporting roles. The “good” characters aren’t perfect; the “bad” characters aren’t irredeemable (with perhaps one exception); and watching their motivations and secrets come to light kept me glued to the screen. Lee Jun Hyuk as the loyal but conflicted personal assistant also gives a standout performance. There are a few irritating side characters, but their screen time is fairly limited.
The series doesn’t get too philosophical about its AI subject matter, but the plot does raise some interesting questions: When an entity develops independent thought and something similar to emotions, should it be treated any differently than a human being? Is its existence any less valuable than a human’s? Various characters struggle with these questions, but the series makes it easy to empathize with its non-human main character.
Despite its sci-fi trappings, this drama is a love story at heart, and not just a romantic one. Familial love — particularly love (and love lost) between mother and son — is a big focus and drives much of the show’s emotional impact.
The first time I watched it and was nearing the final episodes, I had some doubts about how the series would conclude, but it does come to a satisfying ending.
I don’t give out 10-star ratings easily, but after multiple viewings, this series continues to be one of my all-time favorite K-dramas. Its bingeable 30-minute episodes are fast-paced, have some killer cliffhangers, and keep the twists and turns coming between the family tension, corporate power struggles, and tangled relationships. “Are You Human Too?” is serious (but not humorless), exciting, and thought-provoking all at once — both the plot and the performances make this drama a must-watch.
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