My Unfamiliar Family is the most perfectly-crafted kdrama I have seen in a long, long time. Not a scene is wasted. No role is unwanted. No conversation is meaningless. All characters have a growth arc that is uniquely their own (and it helps that the actors are so darn talented all around – even the extra side ones who make bit part appearances, who leave you wanting more).
There have been many shows I have enjoyed over the past few months, and very few make it to the perfect list. While I’m holding out on my final verdict until the last couple of episodes are aired next week (and wondering how I will recover from the show), I am reasonably confident this is going to make that list!
In fact I’ve just share something about this after watching episode 14 and I think I’ve quoted you and I wanted to tag you, but I’m on the phone and it won’t let me!
Aah, good question, @lindag latebloomer! Although, I’m afraid my rather predictable answer will disappoint you.(I’ll be keen to hear yours too, in response!, btw, as well as whether you agree or disagree with mine.)
First, though, what are my criteria for labelling a drama perfect? It has to check many boxes, which, off the top of my head that I can think of, being these:
— A story / theme that is universal
— Cast, not just the leads, but also the sides and the extras
— OST + BGM
— The whole technical package – cinematography, editing, costumes, palettes, set direction, etc.
— Narrative consistency and integrity (i.e., no character/storyline copouts; consistent short/medium/long arcs, etc.)
— No wasting of airtime (i.e., respectful of audience time and attention spans)
Based on this list, I have the following “perfect” dramas: Stranger, My Ahjusshi, Healer, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo.
Objectively speaking, the tw-drama Some Day or One Day is on this list too, but falls short for personal reasons explained below. I’m also working my way through the absolutely fine c-drama The Bad Kids, which, from the looks of it, will make this list too. And of course, I’m waiting with bated breath for My Unfamiliar Family to end.
Which dramas did I really enjoy that *just* missed the cut, and why?:
— Misaeng A few episodes longer than it need have been
— Reply 1988 Lack of context for non-Korean viewers. I thought a lot of stuff was lost in translation or even mistranslated (I can’t verify this, obv.) which took away from the director/writer’s original meaning.
— Be Melodramatic Too large and unwieldy a cast, and a loveline too many, making it difficult to keep track of.
— My Huckleberry Friends A c-drama that, IMHO, is a classic textbook example of a cliched, tropey coming-of-age school story, told so well, checking all the boxes, except for the darned timeskip in the last two episodes. If those two eps weren’t there, this would have waltzed into my list above.
— Some Day or One Day This also checked all the boxes, but a personal dislike of time travel/scifi stories and the many leaps of faith needed to imagine the story to life made it hard to pick.
— Nobody Knows Desperately needed a tighter episode run, cut by at least 4 episodes.
— School 2013 Its dismissal of the girls in the classroom as mere props was a turn-off – as though they didn’t deserve their own arcs at all, but for the rest of it, it was an outstanding show.
NB: As a recent asian-drama watcher (July marks my one-year anniversary!), obviously my portfolio of watched dramas is very limited, both in number and in scope – for example, I am sure there are many older dramas that might objectively make this list, but not watched.
NB2: Apologies for the long reply. You clearly unleashed something inside of me!
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pickleddragon
July 14, 2020 at 10:09 PM
My Unfamiliar Family is the most perfectly-crafted kdrama I have seen in a long, long time. Not a scene is wasted. No role is unwanted. No conversation is meaningless. All characters have a growth arc that is uniquely their own (and it helps that the actors are so darn talented all around – even the extra side ones who make bit part appearances, who leave you wanting more).
There have been many shows I have enjoyed over the past few months, and very few make it to the perfect list. While I’m holding out on my final verdict until the last couple of episodes are aired next week (and wondering how I will recover from the show), I am reasonably confident this is going to make that list!
Eazal
July 14, 2020 at 10:56 PM
Totally agree with you.
Eazal
July 15, 2020 at 2:47 AM
In fact I’ve just share something about this after watching episode 14 and I think I’ve quoted you and I wanted to tag you, but I’m on the phone and it won’t let me!
miss h
July 15, 2020 at 8:07 AM
Yes! Yes! Yes!
PYC
July 15, 2020 at 9:13 AM
Yup, just said in another post that this is a 10/10 drama and I hope the final two episodes won’t disappoint.
latebloomer
July 15, 2020 at 2:18 PM
I totally agree, and I’m also curious, @pickleddragon, what else is on your perfect list?
pickleddragon
July 15, 2020 at 10:19 PM
Aah, good question, @lindag latebloomer! Although, I’m afraid my rather predictable answer will disappoint you.(I’ll be keen to hear yours too, in response!, btw, as well as whether you agree or disagree with mine.)
First, though, what are my criteria for labelling a drama perfect? It has to check many boxes, which, off the top of my head that I can think of, being these:
— A story / theme that is universal
— Cast, not just the leads, but also the sides and the extras
— OST + BGM
— The whole technical package – cinematography, editing, costumes, palettes, set direction, etc.
— Narrative consistency and integrity (i.e., no character/storyline copouts; consistent short/medium/long arcs, etc.)
— No wasting of airtime (i.e., respectful of audience time and attention spans)
Based on this list, I have the following “perfect” dramas:
Stranger, My Ahjusshi, Healer, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo.
Objectively speaking, the tw-drama Some Day or One Day is on this list too, but falls short for personal reasons explained below. I’m also working my way through the absolutely fine c-drama The Bad Kids, which, from the looks of it, will make this list too. And of course, I’m waiting with bated breath for My Unfamiliar Family to end.
Which dramas did I really enjoy that *just* missed the cut, and why?:
— Misaeng A few episodes longer than it need have been
— Reply 1988 Lack of context for non-Korean viewers. I thought a lot of stuff was lost in translation or even mistranslated (I can’t verify this, obv.) which took away from the director/writer’s original meaning.
— Be Melodramatic Too large and unwieldy a cast, and a loveline too many, making it difficult to keep track of.
— My Huckleberry Friends A c-drama that, IMHO, is a classic textbook example of a cliched, tropey coming-of-age school story, told so well, checking all the boxes, except for the darned timeskip in the last two episodes. If those two eps weren’t there, this would have waltzed into my list above.
— Some Day or One Day This also checked all the boxes, but a personal dislike of time travel/scifi stories and the many leaps of faith needed to imagine the story to life made it hard to pick.
— Nobody Knows Desperately needed a tighter episode run, cut by at least 4 episodes.
— School 2013 Its dismissal of the girls in the classroom as mere props was a turn-off – as though they didn’t deserve their own arcs at all, but for the rest of it, it was an outstanding show.
NB: As a recent asian-drama watcher (July marks my one-year anniversary!), obviously my portfolio of watched dramas is very limited, both in number and in scope – for example, I am sure there are many older dramas that might objectively make this list, but not watched.
NB2: Apologies for the long reply. You clearly unleashed something inside of me!