Human Disqualification (2021)

And every single breath we drew was Hallelujah

You know what's the most difficult thing to deal with in the world? It's your soul. Yes, the struggle with your ownself is the most arduous task one must go through at least once in their lifetime. LOST, the Kdrama is the portrayal of the very same aspect that uses immense storytelling method to narrate stories of lost lives, striving to find themselves and see themselves becoming something in some way.

Note: I am sure this drama just like it's title, LOST, has made the audience lost for words to describe or write about properly. Even after I'm done writing, I will look forward to reviews which will have more and better described perspective than me. I love analytical readings after all, haha.

Trust me, the drama is not what it's synopsis says. You might assume that it's a love story between 2 lost beings but more than its simply written plot, it's all about the viewers' mood and frame of mind. What "Lost" demands from its audience are patience and an open mind to embrace anything that is thrown at them. The amount of angst it contains, is good enough for to take a toll on your mind too, so be careful. The drama might look slow but that's the method of storytelling throughout, so if you don't like it, may be it's not your cup of tea. The unique element of this is the immense use of inner monologue narration of the 2 main characters, in the form of writing notes to their respective fathers.

LOST is the story of ordinary individuals who have dreamt to achieve extraordinary things in life and done their very best. But, at the crucial points of their lives, they find themselves lost in an unfamiliar direction and their longing hopes are nowhere to be seen. They're not sure what's happening with them, nor do they have any plans ahead; they're simply breathing their lives until death embraces them. So the basic plot is about a man & a woman seeking immediate meaning to their individual lives while they encounter each other often due to situations and become friends. They help each other comfort and grow as persons and in their subconscious they end up falling for each other at the end which somehow makes everything complicated.

Lee Bu Jung (Jeon Do Yeon) is an ex-team leader at a publishing forum as well as a ghost writer who had once dreamt of publishing a book with her own name on it, as the author. At the age of 40, she, an unemployed is simply making money even when her mental health is completely ruined because of her personal and professional lives. Lee Gang Jae (Ryu Jun Yul), is a prominent & famous face in the line of stand-in service world with his own individual business. At the age of 27 and a almost withering youth, he often finds himself living in a fake world full of fantasy where he's left behind when his clients go back to reality once the task is over.

The story also invoves people around both of these lead characters,their relationship issues, carrer problems and individual struggle to sustain in this harsh and cruel society. I would refeain from describing them to avoid mentioning any spoiler because there's no solid plot as mentioned earlier; It's greatly a slice of life story and everything that happens with the characters, count as minor or major details of the script that should be rather witnessed than simply read, in order to understand.

LOST is truly a depiction of mystery of life and it's operation. The world has undergone a devastating change over years and with our changing lives, we all have become lone men army, lost in our perceptions of life and continuously constructing barriers to assure self sustainability. On our journey to achieve big, we somehow lose the meaning of our existence and end up questioning the worth of living. This leads to the deterioration of our mental health subsequently resulting in depression, loneliness, anxiety as well as panic attacks and sometimes to jealousy, insecurities, possessiveness and ultimately to something as toxic as sadism. LOST is about all these elements of life that either make us miserable or help us learn and grow. LOST is about losing everything you own just to find it little by little, each day. Don't you think that this, in some way, is a pleasurable experience? But I wish the drama were that simple TT.

"아버지, 나는 아무것도 되지 않았습니다." Trans: "Dad, I didn't become anything." is the utmost distress signal or a cry for help by Bu Jung to his 70yo father who is at declining health and the onset of expiration. The feeling of emptiness has taken a toll on her, even when she's surrounded with people, making her a sadist woman who seeks joy when her enemy trembles with insecurities. She has become suicidal because of the unwavering life motos and lack of motives, however, she doesn't have the courage to end everything either. She just wants to run away from everything, knowing that her life has turned into nothingness after the severe downfall she had to go through a year ago.

"사랑하는 아버지, 내 삶의 본질을 잃어버린 것 같합니다" Trans: "Dear loving father, I think I have lost the essence of my life" is the grievance of Gang Jae to his late father whom he lost to a long-term illness when he was in highschool. He could never find any profession suitable for him nor had he any passion he loved, and to earn living he relied on being a companion to others and quickly rose up to be a familiar face in the Stand-in service business. Even with few close people around him, he always felt he's living in a world of illusions where he is left behind alone as soon as his assigned task is over.

One might think the drama is about the romantic development between the ML & FL leading to a relationship but there's strictly the least amount of romance portrayed in the drama. It's neither a chemistry development or a bond strengthening, rather the buildup of peaceful and comforting "soulmate" who help you heal your deepest wounds and nurtures you into a better being. Most part of the story progresses a lot on individual level of the leads showing their lives separately. On that note, the development between them is also a depiction of mutual liking of people stuck in complicated situations, which makes it difficult for their unison. Even for Jung soo and Gyeong Eun's development, it felt so pure. Even though the situation involving 4 of them got complicated by it, they were held back because they felt so disconnected and lost. So how could it not be moving when they were finally able to connect both physically and emotionally with someone? One thing that was common between them was both had that one person, they considered their confidante; for Bu Jung it was his old father and for Gang Jae it was Sun Joo (Just/Taegi).

However, when both of them come into a single frame, the wind changes into something else; something that could be felt well but very intricate to describe with words; something so pure that it can't be named as a particular relationship; that's how I felt all along the drama. On that note, the vibe of the drama is very heavy though heartfelt shades & emotions it depicts are all greatly realistic and awfully relatable, more or less for every single one of us. Bu Jung's relationship with her father was the most beautiful one after the lead's storyline.

The drama showcases various psychological (not psychiatric) mental health issues which are very common among human beings, making it even more congeneric, so it strikes deeper than anything else; make sure you watch it with a major TW and take it easy & slow, in case you're sensitive.

The story is filled with ironies. It is hugely character-driven having characters with flaws, their method of interplay, their real arcs as individuals and how they perceive each other. The writer has very beautifully drawn every character of her story, and those characters have served their roles unerringly, making them lively & relatable. The flaws of the characters are what make them real in any story and this drama implies that no one is good or evil, or even entirely innocent, and no deed is moral & immoral; as long as it's dependent on perceptions, it varies to a great extent. The dialogues are so well written here, both for conversations and for the monologue notes, one might get lost in emotions and tremble with melancholy. They are very thought-provoking, sometimes inspirational & uplifting and some other times emotionally challenging for your mind. Simply, the emotionally moving and very human experiences that the drama visualizes will make you witness, understand and empathize/sympathize the hidden shades of human life and make it easier for you to embrace every forthcoming possibility. What I also loved is the way of reminiscing own's past and relating it with your present; no matter that brings you joy or sadness. The story is accompanied with light comedy here and there in a scattered manner, nevertheless, it's mostly a heavy setup.

I am not a believer, a hardcore atheist but from the pov of quality music, I have known and loved the song "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley (originally by Leonard Choen) but the drama using the old track as a prop to narrate the story, has again changed my perspective of the song as well as life. It's been used a multiple times in the drama which suitably blended into the scenarios portraying different emotions like sorrow, grievance, downfall, isolation, etc.

I wonder the reason the writer Kim Ji Hye was in hiatus for 7 years. Is it because she was busy creating this piece of gem that will stand out for it's way of unique storytelling techniques and awe the world with very-human approaches it has made in order to portray the essence of life? Haha, I'm certain that's not the case but the drama is on some other dimensional level to make you assume so. She herself told it's an ordinary tale, which in actual is true, but what makes it extraordinary is the seemingly ordinary characters on their journey to achieve the longing significance, that they have been seeking for time immemorial. This ain't a predictable trope, rather every single thing that happens, welcomes every possible result which is difficult to guess or make certain of, truly.

The directors have done a job as good as the scriptwriting, I must say. The screenplay techniques used to connect the characters & their stories are very intriguing. The frames jumping from one character to the other at the time of inner monologue narrations of the 2 leads, shows how common the story we have, are yet how different it is for each of us. The way they have tried interpreting simple dialogues with the use of aesthetically pleasing cinematography work and by the use of dark and shady colour palettes, deserves applauses.

In regards of OST too, the composer has been able to do a fabulous job. I mean for a drama with such unique emotions and moods, it'd have been a difficult task to create and produce suitable tracks to fit into the scenarios but how beautiful the songs are! In fact the background tracks and their appropriate editing with subtle classic instrumental gives off the shady vibes and might make it seem slow but trust me, it enhances the quality of storytelling in a different perspective. The loan English song "Hallelujah" is the base of the drama. Other than that, the song that tells the essence of one's tale is "My Story sung by Ha Dong Qn which has the touch of melancholic beauty. "From Me" is the track meant for uplifting the fallen spirits decorated by the beautiful vocal of Sonidia. The high notes of Kim Yuna in "Under the blossom shadow" are highly pleasing and touching. "My Home" by Hajin is a very comforting track.

The other important aspects of life involving both the leads and other supporting characters, portrayed in the drama are: Worrying parents, understanding child, parent-children bonding, fighting long term illness, taking care of bedridden patients, dicorce & separation, untimely demise of life-partner, widowhood, dating relationships, breakups, late age single life, one sided liking, deep friendships, workplace problems, career failure, celebrity life, rich family issues, dirty secrets of entertainment industry, domestic abuse, extra-marital affairs, married life hardships, consequences of ill relationships, miscarriage, stress disorders, loyalty, admiration, respect, caring for family, live-in relationships, second marriages, dreams & hopes, indecisiveness, confusion, swaying of heart, change in feelings, exhaustion from relationships, etc.

I would like to write a little about 2 things that I particularly want to bring to the notice of readers who might not have thought much about:

a) The way the writer has painted the arcs of Gang Jae in regards of his stand-in service profession, is very real. It's just matter of choice and open-mind nature, to realize that this exists in real. In a world where we choose to rely on strangers during odds rather than our close ones, stand-in substitute is in fact what people with money go for in case they're deprived of love & affection, or simply are lonely. Only a few percent of them require the service in events or parties to fill the venue in and show-off. Some others also use substitutes in dates too. Despite the fact that all these are fake, we can't deny it's become a trend in the changing world as more and more of us are growing fond of solitude and lonely lives.

b) Just like the mother-in-laws for most of the shows, Bu-jung's MIL was surely insecure of her daughter-in-law and complaints a lot but the portrayal of her as a person is what intrigued me. She could be nagging and screaming and telling on her a lot but at the end of all, she understands everything. She secretly cherishes her DIL and worries about her at times as well as his son's married life. She's very caring and even concerns about Bu-jung's old father and his health. The sides of a MIL shown in here is truly that ecstatic which are a rare example in the real life.

Not sure how should express my feelings about the ending. Some might think it's absurd and some might be mad because how it ended but trust me you wouldn't see a more realistic approach than this. I mean things ended just as we wanted it to but the time provided to it is very short, which again is very justified if we consider the pace events of the drama. Some things were sorted, some were not, however that's how real it felt, because a story might end, but life continues. I am just lost for words to tell anything or may be I am not knowledgeable enough to state anything about it, pardon.

Some side storylines, the supporting characters and their lives were not clarified well, in fact the 2 lead characters had the same case, which can be interpreted as an open ending, leading to possibilities, but isn't that how slice of life dramas are supposed to be? I think it's safe to assume and imagine here rather expecting for another season, so that it doesn't hurt us later, haha.

To sum up everything, LOST is the story of lost lives, seeking help and prosperity and the ride is surely full of unbearable angst. The relationship between Bu Jung and Gang Jae are beyond the definitions of chemistry or bonding, more of long-lost mates striving to find each other. It's a super slow-burn development yet immensely intense and the seemingly slow paced story that actually is an appropriate one, given the utilized storytelling method. The unspoken intimacy that elicit emotions are truly ecstatic. Also, such seasoned & familiar actors that made the characters justified, I wanna praise all of them. The subtle development of bonding that accumulates a lot and bursts oepn into blooming love at the end is indeed a journey of warmth and pleasure. This is a drama that said a lot without exactly saying anything. The best reason to watch this should be the immense opportunity of character study so grab it as soon as you can.

I'm someone who is over-sensitive and becomes overwhelmed over every little thing, but this drama is actually that intense that my heart felt heavy till the end and I couldn't really bring myself to cry till the ending episodes, when tbe basic plot finally attaining it's peak. I was just watching along with the flow and my heart was trying hard to understand and feel whatever was happening. I cried very lil in the last 2 episodes over naturally moving scenes but after finishing, it suddenly hit me hard that ahh it's over. I immediately strated crying out of despair which went on for a while, in fact I completed writing this thing as my eyes were still teary. (Adding these 2 lines now only)

This drama, again, is not for everyone to watch, and the writer has intentionally tried to test the viewer's patience here; but for someone who is open to trying out everything and watching stuffs with suitable perspective, this drama is a must watch. The genre is a common but for me, the method of storytelling is very very new, certainly a first, and I entirely felt in love with it, I should admit. My sole interest for starting this drama was Ryu Jun Yeol choosing this, and ofc, I have loved Jeon Do Yun and Park Byung Eun, but now that I've finished it, I have no words to describe how it has gone way beyond all my feelings, leaving me with no satisfying word to praise it. LOST is indeed one of a kind unique drama which must get it's worth-deserving attention and recognition, please because it's very underrated. I'm definitely coming back to this again.

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Only in Loss do We Appreciate the Comforts of Life

From the moment I read the announcement that the ageless Jeon Do Yeon and eclectic Ryu Joon Yeol's comeback to the small screen, I’ve had it in my sights. The many teasers I'd watched since in anticipation gave me My Mister vibes, one of the best dramas ever made. The premise of Lost resonated with me in how relatable the story was of ordinary people who, despite trying their best, reach a point in life when they realize their hard work didn't amount to much.

I remember thinking as melancholy and dark as things seemed at Lost's opener that it would do for me what My Mister did --shatter me to pieces before methodically putting me together again through the emotional bond that develops between two of the most unlikely people. And Lost does that and more. It took me through the journey of pain not just of our leads but all parties involved, from their vacantness to their gradual wholesomeness as they come to realize what life is to each of them. Lost is penetrating and poignant from its opening, especially in how Ryu and Jeon D Yeon and those around them deliver their roles. From the anxiety to the emptiness and loneliness, it all cuts through the interlocking issues of human nature, social relationships, disconnection from those relations, and the state of existing but not living -- drifting aimlessly through life.

Lost evoked in me some serious emotions and questions. It made me ask myself if I died tomorrow, would I be pleased with the life I've lived; would I be satisfied with the mark I left on the world, or would I even leave a mark and if I would be pleased with the relationships I've had; it gave me a lot of food for thought moments that I appreciated. What I liked most about Lost, other than the way the story was told, was that it brought one of the most prominent issues that afflict everyone the same regardless of status, class, age, gender, religion, ethnicity, or race to the forefront, the feeling of inadequacy. Being ignored, as they say, the worst feeling in the world isn't being lonely; it's being forgotten. Everyone has a secret sorrow, which the world knows nothing about. And often times, the world calls them cold when all they are is sad.

I think I can write a novel about this drama, there is so much to say but I will keep it simple. Lost will probably be one of the few dramas that will stay with me for a long time. Nothing about it was superficial, it was as real as real can be. Nothing was rushed, not the conversations or the tone, nuanced and whole. The journey, the simple messages along the way that relay the facts of life -- that the tests of life are not to break us, but to make us, and that most times, it isn't about the journey or the destination, but the people we meet along the way that can change us in ways we never imagined. It drives the message that all of us as humans have scars, fears, and pains, some of us bear them better than others. Sometimes, that pain blinds us to the pain of others, but sometimes it helps bring everything into focus. That is what Lost has done for me.

What's even more special about Lost is that by the end of it the viewer gains appreciation for all the characters even the not so likable ones. And as bittersweet as the ending of the drama is, it made sense because only in loss, do we appreciate the comforts of life. A thousand and one kudos to the writer, the director, all the actors, they each did a great job getting me as the viewer to relate to them even as I hated some of them. But the standing ovation goes to Jeon Do Yeon and the ever special Ryu Joon Yeol for the wonderful and eye opening journey -- for showing me (us) that inner peace comes when you trade expectation for acceptance. I hope Boo Jung and Kang Jae find their happiness in each other and hopefully so do Jung Soo and Kyung Eun because they too deserve their happiness . As they say, sometimes bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best thing that will happen to us. This is one drama everyone would benefit from watching. I know I did.

To read more about my thoughts on Lost check out episodic reviews here
https://www.kdramabanter.com/blog/categories/completed-dramas

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I met a friend, at the edge of the universe

This show is perfection! There! It has been achieved. Arguably one of the best shows I have ever watched, Lost is a profound, philosophical, and incredibly romantic masterpiece that examines its characters in a moment of personal crisis. Depending on how you look at this show it’s about a couple falling out of love, about people falling in love, about finding your self-worth, about letting go of the residue of your trauma, and about healing your soul and stepping back from the edge to find a new meaning in life, in yourself, in your relationships. This show deals with death and death ideation with such patience and natural care that despite the heavy subject, the show never felt claustrophobic or bleak. The story follows its main characters through a crisis of humanity, yet it doesn’t make you feel miserable and nihilistic. Instead, it inspires warm feelings of being understood and seen and appreciated on a journey to find a new facet of oneself.
Granted, this is not your typical drama or even melodrama watch. It requires a bit of a commitment from the viewer to pause and absorb the emotions quietly. The show does not have loud emotional moments that will have pay-offs of cheap reactions. There is no melodramatic event in this show. There is no grand gesture, no epic confrontation, no shameful and over-the-top confession. The biggest and most impactful events happen and pass by as you would expect them to in real life; with little noise and then life keeps going. That’s perhaps the most profound narrative climax that the show has achieved: that life goes on. It keeps going even if it feels like it should be over. All will pass and you will feel better soon. The calm and serene way that the camera follows stress-inducing events manages to truly reveal a new side to the story of its characters. It doesn’t communicate the distress and anxiety but the empathy to cheer the characters on as they survive the mundane hardships of everyday life. This might just be the best show I have seen all year long.

This show has everything:
1. A beautiful, profound friendship formed with delicate care and harmony
2. Kindred spirits healing together
3. The most beautiful father-daughter dynamic in any show I have seen
4. The hardships of everyday life
5. Dealing with loss and grief
6. The best romantic development I have seen in a long time
7. But very little physical romance (so don’t expect Eros love. It’s more of a platonic love, in the PLATOnic sense…I’ll elaborate later)
8. Suicide and depression and how to come back from the edge of life
9. Complex human relationships in which no one is a clear villain/victim
10. A very subtle and well-expressed reference to privilege and abuse in the entertainment industry
11. Profound symbolism and metaphors

Summary: Lee Boo Jung has hit rock bottom. She is working as a cleaning lady getting treated like crap, refuses to deal with her clueless husband, and now she even has a possible criminal record hanging over her head. At forty years old, Boo Jung feels like she has reached the end of her potential and has amounted to absolutely nothing. Her elderly father is the very last thing she cares about. Lee Kang Jae is only twenty-seven and has his own successful stand-in escort business but he is so ashamed of the person he has become and is so far beyond caring about himself or life that he wears apathy as a second skin. The two of them live at the threshold of each other’s lives. Then one fateful night, after the suicide of a friend and one lawsuit later, the two of them see each other for the first time. Really see each other. In a way that no one else in either of their lives has seen them. Fate, destiny, enemies, or money conspire to further entangle these two’s lives together. It might sound like a recipe for disaster but it ends up being a blessing in disguise.

Plot: There are multiple amazing facets to this story and I think the show has managed to execute each of them to perfection. First of all, this show does suspense and mystery better than all mystery shows I’ve seen out there. The story begins in medias res so when we find the characters, it feels like they are already in the middle of a bigger crisis. There’s a lot of information that is kept hidden from the viewer and they unravel as we learn them along with some of the characters and with each revelation the picture becomes more and more clear. This creates an excitement and anticipation that is usually not there for slow-paced and quiet shows like this. On the other hand, there are the journeys of the characters themselves. While Boo Jung and Kang Jae are the unrivaled protagonists, the show also has a plotline for all the side characters. Everyone seems simple and typical at first, like the evil mother-in-law or the bumbling husband. Yet, the show manages to follow their stories and reveal inner depths for them to the point that with the exception of two or three characters, all are extremely sympathetic. Even in the case of the unlikeable characters, there is still depth so that I couldn’t bring myself to be enraged by them. It’s just an incredibly human story. I came to care deeply for all characters and the writing is so amazing that by the end of it, all the characters get satisfying albeit realistic ends. There’s just something irresistible about a narrative that is so harmonious from the beginning to end. In a lot of ways, the experience of watching this show was more akin to reading a good novel, rather than watching a show.

The romance: Oh yeah, it gets its own category because I want to rant. This is not a romance-centered show. There’s romance in every cell of it. Love oozes out of the characters like tears. Everyone in the story is desperate to have it, to find it, to hold on to it. One of the less-likable characters in the show says: “Love? Is there still such a thing?” and I think that was the ultimate way to show how pathetic that one character was because everyone else was vying for love and struggling for it but this person was blind to that sensation and isn’t that the worst punishment of them all? Side-romances aside, the profound love between the two main characters truly surpassed what I have witnessed in a TV show so far. When we talk about platonic love, we usually think of a friendship of sorts, not romance. Yet, interestingly enough, platonic love as defined by Plato himself is not one that excludes sexuality and physical love but one that goes beyond it. In fact, there is a distinction to be made between amour platonique and amour platonicien. Here, the love was platonicien in the sense that it did have a physical aspect but it grew beyond that. Instead, it depicted two people coming together as kindred spirits.
Usually, in older woman/younger man dynamics or affair plotlines, the focus is on the sex. It’s on the physical chemistry between the characters and it’s usually not surprising when things fall apart. This show bypasses all that messy sh!t. Instead, it has the characters connect because their souls call out to each other. Their interest in each other helps them open up and express themselves even if ultimately words are left unsaid between them, they are forever changed for their connection together. That’s why it’s better than all the other stories. It’s a love that does not judge but elevates the soul and it was gorgeous. Even when typical melodrama hurdles get in the way, they float above those pesky things and focus on that authentic dynamic between them. I can’t praise the show enough for this.

Acting: A bunch of giants acted in this show. The acting was just…beyond amazing. So subtle and natural. From the male lead's heart suddenly beating faster in overwhelmed emotions to the slowly growing smiles of the female lead, to the tears that formed in Kim Hyo Jin’s eyes but just wouldn’t fall to the tired disappointment in Jo Eun Ji’s drooping shoulders, the cast out-acted the pants off each other! Just wonderful. Ryu Joon Yeol looks ethereal. He’s handsome, yeah but also not conventionally handsome? Like he’s beautiful in this beyond reproach way and that’s exactly the energy his character has. Then with a mature and seasoned performance, he slowly unravels that icy veneer of his character, and he becomes so human and vulnerable in the show and I just loved that. Jeon Do Yeon was beyond outstanding. She just brought Boo Jung to life in such a heartbreaking and natural way. Her character doesn’t have to say anything to express the most complex and difficult emotions. Her gaze is enough. I am truly in awe of her and this cast.

Music: I finally figured out my issue with music in East Asian productions. Unlike western shows that have soundtracks for each episode, East Asians have an original soundtrack with a few songs that are created specifically for the show and used for different scenes. Now, this will be fine when you watch one episode a week but if you binge it, then it’s like listening to the same songs straight for 4 days and everyone knows that’s the fasted way to hate a song! Here, they had more music than you usually expect from a Kdrama and they masterfully use them in tandem in such a way that nothing gets repeated so much that it’ll be irritating. I mean just as I thought they were going to play Hallelujah to death, the show stopped playing it altogether and it only came back once, many episodes later. An impactful return if there ever was one. In addition, the show uses silence as well as it uses sounds and so the calm and measured playlist melds perfectly into the pattern of storytelling and truly elevates the watching experience instead of interrupting it with loud bursts of noise or dramatic screaming by a singer.

Production: The aesthetic, the camerawork, the creation of spaces, lighting, attention to detail were all amazing. Time passes in this show!!!!!! I know, a shocker! There’s continuity. There is a timeline and the show stays true to it. It’s just a very well-thought-out production with great attention to detail. You can tell it was made with care and not just to make profits.

Rewatch value: YES! I already want to watch it all over again. This is a story I will definitely come back to when I need some feel-good but not boisterous watch.

Overall: What’s left to say? This is a story about not being able to go on living and then finding a way to do so anyway. It was just a joy and a privilege to watch it. I am so glad that I made the choice to watch it and I hope others will give it a chance and actually like it. It might not be for everyone though, I acknowledge that but it was definitely the perfect watch for me.

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What hits differently with LOST?

We could say it's the way its told. To the dark palette scenes, the silence at some points, the dialogues between characters and their interactions and storylines, they all hit home in a different way. Perhaps it's how crude and natural most seem out to be. That they can be touching and emotional, or even deemed tragic. Nevertheless, everything is so elegantly written that captures the viewers.

It's a slice of life that shows us how much loneliness is within each and everyone of us no matter our age or social status, how lost we've become at some point in our lives to start questioning where indeed we went wrong from the path we've once were settled on following. Or maybe there was none of it and we are still lost in a maze of our own delusional perceptions.

A mature and heavy storyline not for the faint of heart or spirit. Because it focuses on dark themes, such as suicide, abusive relationships, depression and hardships. The loneliness of those who live alone, of those sharing a house with someone acquainted, with a lover, a husband, and yet still having this void and drift among them. To the pain of losing someone precious, and the constant sadness, of failing, of being framed. The struggles of finding that your loved one is suffering in silence, or not finding at all until it's too late. The sheer fear of the unknown. Of potential gossips, and misunderstandings, and betrayal. The endless fear of becoming nothing. Of achieving nothing with life, not living but merely existing. The longing of living not knowing how to do so.

Fated meetings and secrets being kept between friends, and the uncertainty of life and death.

However there's a certain melancholic beauty with LOST which allures us to keep on watching and try to empathize with the characters and their own personal struggles. And to their inner emptiness that shows on every single episode.

"What is it like to feel empty?"

Great question, that is hard to give a proper answer to.

The lessons this drama portrays are beautifully expressed by the acting of such talented and seasoned actors.

Do Yeon and Joon Yeol take the prize with the main characters, and the way they engage into their bond and plot in such a natural way that it blends with the symbolic message they are portraying with their roles. Everyone has a role here, and in an odd way they are all connected or interacting at some point. It's hard not to praise the cast for their work here, they all do an amazing job with their characters and the gloomy and serious vibe of this drama. Everything seems realistic, mature and true.

I've known the song Hallelujah before, and it always hit on a deep level, but here in this drama it hits differently. They chose a cover of this famous song, and its spiritual in here. The lyrics, the voice, the sorrow that keeps on matching with the characters storyline and their scenes.

The instrumental melodies and OST blends gracefully with the feelings and the messages the main characters often mention.

Somehow the setting of this drama almost gives some Indie vibes.
Be it the cinematic effects, or even the slow paced scenes and dialogues.
There's an authentic aura enlaced within every single character and story.

Definitely a must watch.

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Breathtakingly beautiful

This drama was just perfect, I rarely write reviews
but I highly recommend this to everyone...
starting from the story line, to the characters performance, the music, the script and their monologues.. everything about this drama was on point.

This drama teaches you more than you know, it gets through you and takes you to brighter places slowly and beautifully,
if you are going through hard times, if your down, this starts its journey with you and ends up giving you hope in an inexplicable way, its more than just two people meeting each other, its understanding of the whole image and the characters, its not something to expect as overly dramatic and misunderstandings but pure mature people and conversations that you would love. At least personally that what it was for me !!
Its been a really long time since I felt this emotionally invested in a drama, I was absorbed, immersed and fully engrossed by the whole set.

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Is This Worth Watching, Or Is It A “ Lost” Cause?

Screenwriter Kim Ji Hye’s ‘ Lost’ is an odd-fusion melodrama which both feels old-fashioned within its dated outfit choices, haircuts, over-the-top scenarios and dialogue as well as surprisingly boasting an array of well-crafted main characters. However for newcomers or those merely wanting to pick up ‘ Lost’ this leaves us on an ultimate decision; “Is ‘ Lost’ actually worth investing more than sixteen hours into?”

To cut it to the chase the premise of ‘ Lost’ mainly revolves around Lee Boo Jung ( Jeon Do Yeon) a 40-year old writer stuck in an unhappy marriage with her husband Jin Jung Soo ( Park Byung Eun) who has finally hit a rut in reality by realising that she has not truly achieving or accomplished anything in life . By a whim of fate she ends up encountering someone from a different walk of life, jaded 27 year-old Lee Kang Jae ( Ryu Joon Yeol) who fears for what the future may hold due to his complicated past .

One of the strongest gaining factors for ‘ Lost’ was the casting choice . Admittedly whilst the acting can dip a little at times with certain line deliverances, the main cast immediately help to convey something worth watching. Actress Do Yeon was brilliant as Boo Jung playing the role with a level of complex heartache and angst. Her micro expressions throughout the series captivated all of Jung’s emotions flawlessly and helped to make her onscreen chemistry with her costars believable.

Parallel to Do Yeon was evidently younger costar Ryu Joon Yeol who played his role as Kang Jae with a swift touch of moodiness and arcane mystery. As their onscreen personas Do Yeon and Kang Jae’s chemistry is undeniably slow-burn and well-built up, however, this is also undeniably thanks to screenwriter Kim Ji Hye and directors Hur Jin Ho and Park Hong Soo’s approach to the relationship. Rather than enforcing the typical traits of a lusty affair filled with dirty secrets and dramatic sneak out scenes, both characters’ gradual chemistry was surprisingly refreshing . Admittedly the slow-burn approach could work at a snail pace at times but the ability to see both leads reach out through getting to know one another through their deal( as well as having time to talk about their own feelings) offered surprising relief .

One of screenwriter Ji Hye’s major fortes came through approaches to character writing and interactions throughout the show. Whilst certain character did feel more antagonistic for plot-drive than motives, even these individuals were rarely pinpointed as “ villains” by having their own moments of humanity, flaws and strengths.

Ji Hye even took time away from our main couple to focus on an unlikely relationship between Boo Jung’s somewhat staid husband Jung Soo and his rekindled feelings for his old crush Kyung Eun( Kim Hyo Jin).

Yet ‘ Lost’ is evidently not without its more problematic writing flaws. The drama whilst having an intriguing setup is incredibly slow-paced and takes awhile to really build-up more dramatic momentum . Of course some of this is necessary to build plot, however, the storyline also failed sometimes to reach climatic tension or build-up during entire montages and even entire episodes due to being more focused upon very nuanced details rather than keeping the plot moving more actively .

In addition to this there’s also the problem with the over-the-top cliches. Whilst tropes can be fun and intriguing to see how a screenwriter revamps them and did work well to an extent in the setup of the drama, ‘ Lost’ ‘s usage of the tropes ( including the nearly-farcical cliche of the “ slap on the cheek”) often felt mismatched against the stronger and fresher writing attributes of character-build and relationship. The ending certainly matched the more profound writing moments of the series- bittersweet and interpretative, yet oddly appropriate.

Overall the viewing expectations for ‘ Lost’ is entirely dependent on what you’re looking for in a drama series. ‘ Lost’ embodies the classic tropes of a melodrama series from the overused tropes which lack more profound depth, to slow-paced story build-up in order to “ create slow burn tension ”. The acting front is undeniably one of the show’s winning strengths alongside the drama’s more original approach to the adulterous affair cliche. The directors carefully used an artistic touch to the moody and drab cinematography which symbiotically helped to reflect the tension and ambience of the plot. So is ‘ Lost’ actually worth watching? ‘ Lost’ is a drama which is dependent on your patience and tastes. Those looking for a more adrenaline-rushed and quick paced drama with flaring chemistry may be disappointed. However if you have patience and enjoy slow burn chemistry, then you’ll absolutely adore ‘ Lost’. Whilst not flawless this is undeniably one of 2021’s hidden gems.

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Left me lost and wanting more

This is one of those dramas that lives up to it´s name delivering the feeling of loss to the fullest, showing a beautiful completion of loss without overcomplicating or overthinking things. A true feel lost, feel sad, feel real... Without hope and unnecessary positiveness.

The drama started of a bit weak, but wheeled me in and actually did manage to touch every part of your soul with it´s imperfections, portrayals of depression, loss and relationships.

It also had me wanting to strangle the mother in law over, and over again letting me feel the aggravation as a contrast to the rest of the characters who where mostly lovable, complex, interesting , no one was perfect, no one was pure good, all made mistakes. though I may not always agree with the characters dissuasions I could clearly understand what lead them to make the choices they made. I honestly fell in love with the way this drama portrayed all these different perspectives with stories that need to be told. Ironically enough this drama feels honest in a way though it portrays a whole web of lies and secrets that have been kept for a very long time.

I can not stress enough the slightly subtle but realistic and important portrayals of domestic abuse, depression, power abuse, power relations, poverty, and all round issues that effect women, elderly and the less wealthy in modern society.

Though the mother in law brought out my violent side the way she talked about her daughter in law was extremely spot on, full of prejudice and blaming her for her situation.

The way the father portrays hid deteriorating health, while trying to stay strong is just heart wrenching. I loved the conversations he had with his daughter as well as seeing him interact with the people around him.

The husbands first love almost double life, was also really well done, sometimes I hated her some times I loved her but most importantly I could relate to her and really appreciated the way she showed the perspective of a loved one slowly watching someone disappear, saying something like: To others it may seem like he is just lying there, but there are days when he smiles more,he gets sad when something bad happens in the ward... '

I also got a full blown crush on Ryu Joon Yeols character, the way he handled the situations around him, I loved all the bits where we got to hear his voice telling us his inner thoughts and then seeing what is shown to the outside. This guy was very subtle and good at reading the room and though he was not the typical male lead. He does have a charm it was hard not to fall for him, and that beautiful smile.

There is also something special about the way this drama portrays intimacy, with extreme attention to detail.Somehow even simple situations could get really intense and had my heart race...

So to sum it up this is may not be a feel good drama, but it is beautiful, intense and is sure to make you feel things...

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Tedious, Ponderous, Pretentious

There is no message here. Just vapid, bumper-sticker platitudes posing as poetic depth. For instance, a character says, "Youth is as lonesome as growing old," and yet neither he nor the show gives any explanation or insight as to why this should be true (in fact, it's flat-out untrue, because more elderly statistically live in isolation). The show's full of these bumper-sticker platitudes. But that's when someone in the show is actually speaking, rather than staring into space in utter silence.

The director seems to think that a character silently staring while another character is speaking to them, is tantamount to depth and meaningfulness. Indeed, a good 6 hours of this 16 hour show could have been cut simply by deleting all scenes of characters silently staring into space . Characters ask another character a question, and the other simply does not reply but, rather, stares silently. If someone failed to reply to my questions as often as the characters in this show do, I'd slap them.

When it's not utter silence it's only because, in lieu of dialogue, we're given long, circular internal monologues about how sad and confusing life is. Each of the characters gets to give one of these rambling interior monologues, and since they are all given in a low, lethargic tone of voice the viewer is supposed to assume that something deep and meaningful has just been stated. It hasn't. It's just a lot of mumbling about how life is bleak, empty and miserable. Why yes, it can be. Especially if strapped to a chair and forced to watch this freaking show for 16 hours. I only finished it because I wanted to know the answer to what was presented as a mysterious connection between characters who'd all met in a Suicide Club, only to find that the answer was as boring as the show itself.

As for the aforementioned Suicide Club, the show presents clinical depression as romantic. Let's just call it the "Sylvia Plath Complex," wherein legions of teenage girls have misguidedly romanticized this poet's suicide for decades. Worse, the show presents a 40 year old, unattractive woman's misery as the sole reason that a 27 year old, gorgeous-as-a-model man falls in love with her (it doesn't help that the real life actress is actually 50, and visibly twice her love interest's age). But age is not the issue, as lots of middle-aged women can be gorgeous and charismatic. The issue is that this particular woman is neither.

To the contrary, she has a pinched up, unpleasant demeanor. She is not depicted for one second doing anything generous, grateful, endearing, interesting, or realistic. Nay, she's so unrealistic as to sign a contract to ghostwrite a celebrity's book, but then stalks the celebrity demanding credit once the book becomes a bestseller (she clearly did not read her contract, because being a ghostwriter means, ipso facto, you get no credit). She is not only delusional, but so catatonically depressed as to warrant hospitalization. Yet according to the show's narrative logic, it's her very misery that attracts the hot, model 27 year old guy.

Sorry Mr. Director and Mr. Screenwriter, but I'd always thought only overdramatic teenage girls thought a display of misery was so poetic as to attract the attention of hot guys. Frankly, I was surprised an adult male directed this. Then again, it began to make sense when I discovered he'd never done a drama series before and that, moreover, his background is in arthouse cinema. In short, the director's background is in pretentious, artsy films and now, with this, he's been given 16 hours, instead of the traditional 2 hour film time, to bore the hell out of his audience. There's a reason this show's Korean ratings dropped to a mere 2% by episode 16.

If you want a K-drama with true depth, and genuine insight on what it means to be human, try the splendid series, "My Mister."

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Melancholy & moody

On May 6, 1937, the airship Hindenburg was incinerated in just under forty seconds.

Approximately twenty-five years later, a coal seam in a mine under Centralia, West Virginia, caught fire and is still burning. According to one report, it may continue to burn for another two hundred years or more.

These are handy references for a burn rate spectrum. As for the drama “Lost”, on the Hindenburg-Centralia Burn Rate Scale, it falls on the Centralia side. Way, way, WAY over on the Centralia side.

“Lost” is far less about plot than it is about mood. Some things happen. Not as quickly as the viewer might expect them to happen. Sometimes events appear imminent only to recede back to mere possibilities for a long stretch. As for mood, it’s not jovial. Somber? Yes. Melancholy? Definitely. Depressed? That’s where it gets complicated.

Jeon De Yeon’s Boo Jung and Ryu Joon Yeol’s Kang Jae are both emotionally distraught, distant from almost everyone they know and both with only one healthy relationship. Boo Jung with her father, Park In Hwan in a sharp portrayal of an elderly man in decline, and Kang Jae with his friend Sun Joo played by Yoo Soo Bin. Their careers are not what they imagined them to be. Boo Jung’s relationship with her husband is so distant it barely qualifies as a relationship. Kang Jae has lived his life measuring relationships by how much money he gets from it and, despite his natural attributes, has found such a life wanting for meaning.

Chance encounters lead to more meaningful exchanges and openness. As characters seeking human connection, these encounters become more by design and less by chance. Whether it will lead to an escape from loneliness and loss, well, that’s the journey they’re on.

There’s some deft editing as the show alternates smoothly between dialogue and narration. And the dialogue is quite good. The acting as a whole is very strong. Jeon De Yeon is convincing as a naturally quiet but talented writer with an inner fire. Ryu Joon Yeol is aloof and clever and charismatic. There is not a weakness in the supporting cast either. Of particular note, Yoo Soo Bin is a delightfully introverted and naive part-timer at an internet cafe. Son Na Eun is incendiary as a failed idol trainee who sometimes hustles with Kang Jae and has Sun Joo in her sights. Whether she is legitimately interested in him or sees him as a useful mark, her performance is sublimely ambiguous.

“Lost” is, however, a serious test of patience. There’s some long and some really long stretches of very little happening. One subplot involves a celebrity with a long history of abuse so vicious and dangerous that it could not credibly be kept secret. As the backstory is filled in and the arc progresses in the present time, the show doesn’t always telegraph how time is flowing. It’s a minor flaw for most shows, but in “Lost’ where so much is invested in creating this extraordinarily slow build of tension, it’s problematic.

For viewers looking for character study, none of the usual rom-com devices and lots of existential musings, “Lost” is the show. For those looking for comedy or spy thrillers, keep swiping.

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one of a kind

I think there are some things that could be done better in this drama but overall, i am satisfied with my watch. I initially started watching this because i just finished reply 1988 and couldnt let go of jung hwan. I searched through the works of ryu jun yeol and found this drama. I was a little worried about the chemistry of the main leads because of their age gap but still chose to watch nevertheless. I have to admit the the first two episodes were boring. it was very slow paced so i needed something to do in the background. i think what led to my boredom was i didnt understand or relate to the main characters feelings. i guess im still too young; i couldnt understand her complex thoughts. in the first two episodes, you can see the female character struggling through mental pain and thoughts of suicide, i guess it was slowly paced to bring in the feeling of loss and emptiness to the audience, it seems reasonable now that i think of it. i am so glad i didnt drop this drama because i later found myself unable to stop watching the next episode. the encounters that pull the main characters together is so unique. they are practically strangers but when things feel low, talking to a stranger just hits different. i am happy that the feelings of the main characters developmented slowly and steadily and two broken people were able to find each other and slowly heal together :)

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