Bad Family

Cast:

Kim Myung Min
Nam Sang Mi
Hyun Young
Park Jin Woo
Kim Hee Chul

Who would ever thought to create a fake family composed of 8 members? It is not impossible in TV and fun game shows, especially when the concept intervenes with the brewing popularity of reality TV shows. When I first bought the DVD of this series, I was hesitant to immediately watch it, for the cover shows 7 people wearing black suits and black shades, looking all mean and ruthless. They can be estimated as hooligans who do secretive and dangerous deals to acquire money.

The first scene is set at home, the family gathered round and greets a cute little girl named, Na Rim. As soon as the little girl left the house, they started mocking, arguing and yanking out dirty words to each other. Then a tall, lean man ordered silence. There are elder people around him yet he disregards using honorifics in addressing them (Korean people give much respect to the elderly).

The scene shifted to another family, this time 7 placid and caring members, but still with the young kid, Na Rim. Then an unfortunate accident happened leading to the death of 7 members. The only survivor of the tragedy is Na Rim, who was compelled to be saved by Oh Dal Gun (the tall, lean and authoritative man in the first family mentioned), when he was on the run from the tail of other gangsters.




So which family is which, whose family is whose? Na Rim, surviving the accident, lost her memory. The doctor suggested her uncle that she should not be allowed to gain knowledge of the tragedy. So with his genuine care, Na Rim was placed in the care of a family that she thought she really had. What she doesn’t know is it is a fake family (courtesy of the threatening and persuasive power of Dal Gun). All she knows is that they’re her real family: greedy mother, clueless father, dancing grandfather, unhygienic grandmother, rascal uncle, rebel elder brother and a raucous elder sister.

I’ve likened the setting to that of the Pinoy Big Brother, getting along with strange housemates ilk. The 7 other members of the family do not have good relationship with one another. They fight, argue, ridicule and despise each other everyday. The only person that gathers them round is the pitiful Na Rim, whose kindness, sweetness and fragility, have touched their dainty and despondent hearts. I’ve realized that life, indeed, is a big and long mystery. People never run out of secrets to tell, stories to share, good and bad memories to treasure and get rid of. Each member of the fake family had their own “spotlight” or chance to reveal their concealed shells. There are always reasons behind one’s trait, a history behind one’s demeanor. And not just like a family, but as human people, they try their best to fill up the void and heal the wounds of each other. Na Rim’s presence in the plot is the keystone to everyone’s lives. Each one of them regressed into their dark pasts and empathized with how cruel fate had struck an innocent child’s life: Dal Gun and Yang Ah both lost their parents. Gong Min (elder brother) is not really rich. He was just adopted by his grandfather. Ji Sook (mom) lost her only daughter because of an accident. The grandfather has not been married yet. Jo Gi Dong (father) lost his family in Canada because his wife betrayed him. The grandmother divorced her husband.

Park Jin Woo and Nam Sang Mi

There are a lot of tear-inducing moments that make me realize how essential each family member is: the 60th birthday of the grandfather, the grandmother meeting her dying ex-husband, the grandfather and uncle talk, Na Rim gaining her memory and the fake family’s farewell to Na Rim.

On the other, no matter how many times I’ve cried and adored this unusual drama, there are also flaws, the not so good and awkward scene and factors to take note of. I’m not saying that they absolutely counteract the good and positive aspects of the drama, in fact, they’re just quite a few for one not to be swayed by, but just be aware of:

1. The character of the market announcer which reminds of the fight announcer in the Japanese anime, “Ghostfighter”.
2. The luscious Hyun Young’s cheesiness and overacting reminds me of Cindy Kurleto.
3. Ha Joon Soo’s drastic liking of Kim Yang Ah
4. The ending for Dal Gun’s boss/brother
5. When the 3 women (grandmother, mother, sister) joined the market singing contest.

On the contrary, there are a lot of comedic moments not to be missed. They perfectly balance the off side and dramatic tinge of the series. It was really hooking to learn that the family must be at home every 9:00 P.M. for the family picture taking (as ordered by the real uncle). Here are the other fun parts of the drama:

1. Dal Gun’s way of proposing “I love you, marry me”
2. Dal Gun’s trademark expression “Do you want to smell dirt?”
3. The pizza is divided into 8 slices, one for each member
4. The alien character of Super Junior’s Kim Hee Chul (the elder brother).

This drama is a wholesome treat for family viewing. There are a lot of lessons and values to be learned. Too bad, the title and the actors aren’t that enticing for many people to notice (since Korean drama are being honored and liked for the love story and good-looking cast).

My Girl

Cast:

Lee Da Hae as Joo Yoo Rin
Lee Dong Wook as Seol Gong Chan
Lee Jun Ki as Seo Jung Woo
Park Si Yeon as Kim Se Hyun

Following my sister’s comment, I have to admit, the drama is not far and different from the concept and pattern of Song Hye Kyo and Bi’s Full House for it’s another contract story. Are Koreans that frustrated about their real lives that they had to resort to arrangements, deception and business deals that will eventually dart into being real?

Or is it a mock for the phony and ersatz world we all live in? It’s quite a vilifying statement. Anyway, here are some points that are like peas in a pod when compared to Full House: Ji-Eun and Yoo Rin’s hairstyle and being naïve, the foursome dinner, the drama all about waiting and being stood up, having the “magical and curing drink” the eqq liquor as to that of “juk”, they have to live in the same house, all the family members adore both women, the women’s punishment when their secrets were revealed, and many more.

Joo Yoo Rin and Han Ji Eun

Similarities: They have the same hairstyle and habits. They are both naïve and small-minded. They are both feisty and cunning. They both like eating food and getting free stuff. Being both in dire need of money, they are concerned about paying their debts and thinking of ways how to earn more.

Differences: Yoo Rin is far funnier than Ji Eun. She overacts most of the time, which is good for her character. She is far cleverer than Ji Eun for she is a lying freak. Unlike Ji Eun, she is ready all the time with whatever dodgy and tough circumstance she has to face. That is why she can easily hide her feelings towards Gong Chan, for the latter always think everything is a lie. Ji Eun, on the other, is a more impatient one, for she straightforwardly admitted to Young Jae that she likes him.




Seol Gong Chan and Lee Young Jae

Similarities: Both of them had a contract with the female main character. They are both influential people. Both of them are kids at heart. They look tough on the outside, especially when being annoyed by Yoo Rin/Ji Eun but they are both simple persons who want to have a good laugh at things.

Differences: Young Jae is more playful than Gong Chan. The latter is too serious to shake. However, he is the more respectful one. He had a contract with Yoo Rin because he doesn’t want to fail his grandfather’s quest for his granddaughter. He did everything he could to make the family happy again. Young Jae only brought “trouble” (according to his father) to his home. He dropped from medical school to pursue his acting career.

Kim Se Hyun and Kang Hye Won

Similarities: Both are instantaneously adored at first sight. Both are wanted lovers of the male leads. Both have decent jobs (Hye Won’s a designer; Se Hyun’s a famous tennis player). They both despise the female leads and thought of ways how to make the truth come out (since the latter are both fakes).

Differences: Hye Won is prettier but less active. Se Hyun was the wicked one to divulge to the grandfather of how Yoo Rin and Gong Chan lied unlike Hye Won who only kept to herself what she thought of Ji Eun’s feelings for Young Jae. She never told Young Jae’s father and mother about the character of Ji Eun. Also in the end, Se Hyun, though sympathized with Yoo Rin, still had second thoughts of helping her. Hye Won, on the other, was determined to patch up Young Jae and Ji Eun.

Seo Jung Woo and Yoo Min Hyuk
Similarities: They are both players. One has a wide range of nationalities for his collection since he traveled, the other mostly Koreans, who adored his suave and sophisticated deportment in the corporate world. Both decided to change their views and habits in life when they met the female leads. Both tried to win the lead women’s hearts with their genuine yet showy ways.

Differences: Min Hyuk is less temperamental than Jung Woo. Although both seem to be rational beings, Jung Woo is less considerate than Min Hyuk. The latter was trying his best to win Ji Eun without exercising his power to destroy Young Jae. Jung Woo, on the other, tried to indirectly threaten and brainwash Yoo Rin and Gong Chan about their ill-fated situation (since they are supposed brothers and sisters). And up till the end (when Yoo Rin was found again), he wanted to grab her from Gong Chan.


(Gong Chan, Yoo Rin, Se Hyun, Jung Woo)


Grandfather of Yoo Rin vs. father of Young Jae

Similarities: They both are strict to their son/grandson. Both adored the female leads when they were enchanted with the women’s humor and charm. Both has learned to understand their son/grandson’s hearts and forgave them (together with the female leads) in the end.

Differences: Young Jae’s father is too serious while the grandfather is playful.

Friends of Yoo Rin (Ahn Gyu, Ahn Sim) and Friends of Ji Eun (Dong Wook, Hee Jin)

Similarities: The humor that they deliver, the tricks they contribute to worsen but at times, advance the blooming relationship of the leads.

Differences: Friends of Yoo Rin help her and did not do anything harmful to her. Ji Eun’s friends connived to make things worse for her.

If Full House is a love story about the house where one waits for their loved ones, My Girl is a story about lying and waiting. I like the emphasis on the consequence and complexity of a lie. Yoo Rin is an expert liar in the story that is why she was hired by Gong Chan to be his fake sister. But as the story progresses, lying becomes the only way to reveal the truth. My favorite lines in the story are said by Yoo Rin when she compared hiding the truth with enduring the hotness of eating pepper.

Summing up, it is quite a good drama worth watching. But beware to those atypical-devotees who want fresh and innovative story line not patterned from any drama (especially the ones that were well-liked).