The Sound of Magic (2022)

Worthy effort of being enjoyable, but not memorable

The Sound of Magic was one of the more eagerly awaited k-dramas of 2022, that had something different to offer than the rest of the shows.

The drama could have offered more, had it not been restricted to 6 episodes. It has lovely visuals, solid performances, impressive song-and-dance numbers, and oodles of charm. Although what I would have loved to see more in the drama was the narrative, which I felt was not much effective.

The Sound of Magic has six episodes, and while they’re long, it sometimes feels like 10 or 12 would have better served the show’s ambition. Nonetheless, the drama is an enjoyable watch, if not memorable.


My Rating : 7/10

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When Peter Pan met Dead Poets Society and became better

If I could give it a 100 out of 10 rating, I would. I absolutely can not stop thinking about this drama. I finished this yesterday and my heart was so overwhelmed by the beauty and the sorrow of this drama. I was at a loss of speech. I even dreamt about this drama after watching it. This show really hit me on a personal level having gone through some of the things that this show portrayed.

I am a sucker for good musicals. And having Ji Chang Wook and Hwang In Yeop together in one drama? I was already intrigued. I was so eagerly waiting for it and oh lord the waiting so worth it. Never in my dream I thought I was about to witness one of the most mesmerizing, magical kdrama of all time.

I feel the main question posed in this show was how do children become functional adult in a society that in its core is dysfunctional and rotten? How do you remain a soul that still remembers how to dream, remembers its innocence? How do you keep your uniqueness in a society that is trying hard to put everyone inside the same box.
Human society is a broken one. You are an outcast if you behave or think even slightly outside the societal norms. This is a society that will kill the likes of Galileo and Alan Turing but will praise and worship morons.
So how can children, the most vulnerable and weakest section of the society, not have any impact of this filth? How do they keep their childish heart alive in a world that is constantly pushing everyone towards a meaningless rat race?
Why would anyone be claimed as successful or failure just because they don't meet the average standard of human imagination? After all genius can only be born if they can exist outside of the box.

This show was so beautiful, healing, magical, mesmerizing... I can keep on adding adjectives and it will not be enough. This show touched quite a few heavy topics like abandonment, trust issues, emotional abuse, child sexual abuse, student suicide, mental illness and yet somehow remained light like a feather throughout the show. It made us cry but did not make the story dark and gloomy. Best part of the show was it did not even bother making sense of the magic. Because that is what magic is. After all as they said in the drama "Magic does not create miracles, but allows you to discover them". This show will make you feel in your heart that you do believe in Magic. Because the true magic exists in living a happy satisfied life and not in adapting to society to look happy and successful while living with a heavy heart. And this show so rightly said "So what if you don't have accomplishments? You can still be happy without the approval of others"

It reminded me of the lines by Aldous Huxley
"It’s dark because you are trying too hard.
Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly."

Annara Sumanara <3

*Few points at the end*
A really good point of this show is that absolutely everything remains platonic. Even though there was a slight hint of romance at the beginning it gets quickly side tracked by everything else in their life.

Acting: Ji Chang Wook's acting skill does not need to be analyzed by me. He is one of the best Korean actors. Even though he has made some weird drama choices in recent past, I am so glad he took up this project. He made the character of Magician so believable.

Hwang In Yeop too is tremendously talented. His expressions were so spot on to express the struggles of a child pushed down by the burden of parent's expectation, societal norm. I would be disappointed if he does not get an award for his acting here.

The female lead is a talented one she acted very well in Beyond Evil but here i did not find her believable as a high school student at the beginning. But it did not matter because that was never the point. The point was to show how class discrimination gets heavier and heavier no matter how much one tries to keeps their head up and she was spot on with there expressing the dilemmas. Plus it was visible that she is a great dancer because of how she moves during the musical scenes. She has done an amazing job.

Direction: I have never seen another musical kdrama till now. I don't know if they exist but I must say the director here understood the assignment so so well. Often musicals get heavily loaded with too many unnecessary dancing scenes. Even some of the greatest Hollywood musicals have this flaw. But NOT THIS ONE.

One negative point is that it has two typical black characters. Especially the school bully. For some reason I just hate a school bully for the sake of existing without any character depth in them. Because children usually do not become black or white. They are most often product of their own environment. So a random student bully to make things hard is never to my liking. The reason of her existence was only to make things hard for the leads for absolutely no reason. But other than this i have no complain and I still absolutely love this show.

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I just need to be me.

It's ironic how a society that runs with the model of money has already decided the starting line of every young students by their ancestors even before they become an "adult". Whether they thrive through as what they called as "success", or someone who is on the another end of the spectrum, that do not know why they were always in debt, the contrast has already been planted since young age. In order to have a taste in that power, one can either run relentlessly without knowing where to end, or those who eventually stops fighting over it already knowing what is best for them. The drama cleverly uses the magician as a neutral device to tap into what their beliefs are, and he questions the consequences of both directions in a musical and magical fashion. Just like how the magician always ask, do you believe in magic? Whether if it's real or fake, it really doesn't matter as long as you're comfortable with what you're believing in and when it's able to preserve the innocence we once had at the end of the day.

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Making a person happy is real magic??

This is the first time Im writing a review. This drama made me soo happy due to which I wrote this review. I have never seen something like this. This drama is a must watch. It is very special. It has delivered every kind of message I just cant even count. When a person is suffering the most a person will come to help. In this drama the female lead met the main lead who brought back happiness in her life and became her comfort zone. In the same way he rescued Hwang In Yeop who was suffering because of his parents who forced him to study. This drama tells about trust and how even the smallest of things in this world could give happiness. It encourages people to do what they want. I was comforted a lot from this drama. It tells that if we find a person who make us happy then he/she will become a family like person (friend). Yes I believe in magic after watching this drama. Do you believe in magic? I do. Annara Sumanara.

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A Parable about Children's Journey through Life Cloaked in a Bold, Magical Musical

Kdramas themed around music are not uncommon, but true musicals are rare, and The Sound of Magic is a welcome entry into this realm. This show is constructed as a spectacular audiovisual event, and the aesthetics are so striking: the vibrant colors of the set pieces pair very well with the whimsical theme and musical numbers. I was definitely addicted to this show, watching it all in one sitting. However, ultimately, I still felt that it fell a little short in a couple of areas.

The story is as straightforward as it sounds: a poor, struggling female lead has to overcome the adversities of poverty and happens upon a mysterious magician who tries to help her. I thought that this plot was acceptable, but nothing unusual for a Kdrama setup. In the end, the show seemed like it wanted to try to send a clear message about the meaning of being a child and what it means to forge your own path in life. The story is also carried by the puzzle of the identity of the magician as well as a missing persons' case. All-in-all, I appreciated that the short-form show had a beginning, middle, and end but didn't feel that it did any exceptional trailblazing: it was just OK to me. I did not read the webtoon this is based on, but am told that it is a faithful adaptation, so in a way, any power or shortcomings that come out are probably related to this, for better or worse. In particular, I felt that the ending tied up many of the loose ends, but also felt that it wasn't conclusive enough in explaining exactly what happened to everyone.

The main event, of course, are the songs and the spectacle and I felt that this was definitely executed at an above-average level. Each song takes you on a journey, and I appreciated how the setting changed into amazing locales and sets as they progressed. However, at the same time, I can't say that the songs were memorable to me: I can't hum any of the tunes and I can't even really tell you what the main messaging or name of individual musical pieces were. It's a little strange for me to describe this because I definitely enjoyed them while I was watching the show.

The acting is excellent: Ji Chang Wook apparently spent months learning magic and I can definitely believe it as his performance gave a true aura of a magician's tricks. Out of all the high schoolers, Hwang In Yeop sold his role the most to me, and ironically, he is one of the eldest actors at 31 years old. I can't fault Choi Sung Eun's acting, but I did have a minor criticism, in that she looked too old too me: maybe this was a fault of costuming/makeup, but personally, I couldn't un-see that she was an adult in real life (she's 25) - I think they specifically cut her hair to make her look younger, but it didn't work for me (there is a scene later where she has long hair, and I couldn't help but think to myself, wow, she looks so much more natural this way).

Overall, I found this show very well done. Of importance, it is really unique, which I appreciated. However, I didn't think that it's polish was perfect, so I'd probably categorize this Kdrama as "above-average"

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This is a unique and top-of-the-class production with an excellent story, cast, cinematography, and music. No doubt this is a musical but I would call it a piece of art too. If you have read the webtoon, you would have known that the art in the webtoon was one-of-a-kind with many symbolism. I'm glad to say this drama was able to adapt the art and bring out the symbolism rather well. In fact, some scenes like the asphalt in episode 3 and the shadow art in episode 2 were way above my expectations.

The cast is simply excellent. I love Ji Chang Wook as the charismatic Ri Eul but I want to give a shout-out to Choi Sung Eun for her amazing portrayal of Yun Ai. Although she is a rookie actress, I think she fared really well in bringing out the inner turmoil of Yun Ai. This being a musical meant that anyone weak in acting will be very telling and I'm so glad there were none. Overall, the choice of the cast was perfect.

While this is a fantasy, the story is very relatable--those who fall below expectations are marginalized at best or discriminated against at worse. Their struggle to fit in is very real. In fact, it's so real, some parts in episodes 4 & 5 felt too heavy and dark.

I love all the singing. I wish there were more and this is surprising considering I usually dislike musicals. So I can say this one is really well done. The lyrics of all the songs were very meaningful, so much so that I often find myself tearing up during those scenes.

Some people complained about the ending but I find the ending in the drama better than the webtoon. There were closures where closures were needed for me. And the disappearance of Ri Eul did not leave me feeling empty like the webtoon did. I saw it as the Ri Eul the magician being mysterious and enigmatic. There was a part I didn't remember reading in the webtoon and that is, the part where Ri Eul the teen met Yun Ai the kid. But I like it because it answered my question of why Ri Eul singled out Yun Ai.

Overall, I agree with many who calls this a masterpiece. One, it's a perfect adaptation of the webtoon, and two, it's a musical very well done. I'm sure there are many K-dramas out there that are more entertaining but they're good as long as you watch them. Typically, they're also forgettable. But not this. It affected my heart so much and left me thinking about it, wanting more. Definitely worth a re-watch!

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Enchanting ride to the world of magic and music !

I cannot really explain in words how enchanted I was , throughout the series !
There are so many real world messages portrayed beautifully through this fantasy drama. Messages like :

Flowers do not bloom on smooth asphalt paths , they do in mud and dirt.
Help those , who reach out for your help !
Do what you want to do , along with the things you don't want to do .
World treats differently to different people .
Poverty is not the only pain !
Happiness cannot be measured by success .

and many more ....
This was my first musical drama , and i really felt connected to all the emotions that were paved through music . i dint want to skip a second even after the language barrier . The songs are so well written and most of them are sung by the original cast , which makes it even more connecting !
For once I could connect with each character and none felt annoying . The 3 main characters were astounding , and stood well in their places . Performance wise I feel they all did well !

Ji changWook was an epitome of elegance and mystery as a magician who wasnt understood by the world , probably because he was someone who wasnt successful in the eyes of the people ! He wanted to be happy and help others , when they cry out for help ! He went under the skin of the character . He was this sweet innocent kid at one instance , an elegant magician at another and a crazy man at yet another !! He has undefined charms which no other actor can compare .

Hwang in yeop was a perfect high schooler , with good grades and amazing looks ! But he felt short of happiness , along the path he was following ! He portrayed someone who was in search of love and happiness , someone whom the world considers perfect and lucky , but who is hurting deep inside to be imprisoned and not to be able to find is own way .

Choi Sung Eun was a poverty striken girl working hard to keep the ends meet ! At first she felt pathetic of her situation , but gradually she accepted it , and learned to walk a happy path along it ! A read few reviews saying she was not speaking up , but i think that was totally understandable , she was a poor girl with nobody to take care off , she wss just scared ! I think she played it really very well !

All the side characters did exceptionally well too !
I feel sad when people try to find logic in fantasy ! Guys this is tagged as fantasy for a reason . This drama almost answers all the open question , while few are left for the viewers imagination , which is what a fantasy does , as everyone's fantasy and imaginations and the way to perceive things are different ! Specially questions like was he a real magician ? According to me he wasnt , as Ah-yi also said that he could not take her out of her situation but he tried to do his best to cheer her up !

It dint let me down for a moment , so here I am giving it a 10/10 . Enjoy :)

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Not perfect but still enjoyable with a good last part.

1 / GOOD
- Magician: Very interesting and intriguing character. A magician who is protective and charming but also dark and scary and weird at times. His backstory and the events around him towards the end is the best part.
- Female lead: She is endearing even if she is struggling. I liked her evolution from ugly and persecuted and struggling to understanding the world around and finding her own path.
- Final plot twist. Good. I did not see that coming even if it was an easy one.

2/ NOT SO GOOD
- SML ; I could not believe in his character. He had too few interactions and knew too little about the magician to change his path the way he did. I was never convinced by his new passion.
- SFL: She was annoying. Her actions lacked of clear motivations. So it looked also unrealistic at times.
- They tried to provide too many messages about life, choice, happiness... and some were messy and redundant.

3/ OVERALL
The drama almost lost me until the plot thickened with the thriller part. It is enjoyable. 8.5/10

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Not simple or magical as it looks

First the bright side.
Acting:-
I may give 15/10 if possible. I first decided to watch because JI Chang Wook looked extra cute here, but on second thought I think that is because he understood the Ri-Eul well, the always-bright magician with concrete faith in magic. Then there are Choi Sung Eun(Yoon Ah Yi) and Hwang In Youp(Na Il Deung). Both did an amazing job conveying all the emotions.
Music:-
I gave 7/10 to music not because of the songs it has. I pretty much skipped all the songs. What I admire is the background music. It toned perfectly with the emotions it was dealing with at the moment. That element added a lot of meaning to the drama.

Now not-so-bright part.
it looks magical, but is it really? There are several occasions where Ri-Eul( the magician ) gives some temporary peace to the disturbed minds of YAY and NID with his dazzling and cheerful magic. But in my pov, the drama is about the cause of those disturbed minds.
Throughout the drama, it points out how disappointing the majority of the "adults" (the left out ones are the father of two girls and the first love of Ri-Eul) are and how much they fail to protect the little lives around them.
The drama addresses several social issues in subtle yet powerful ways such as, how bad parental influence can be, the consequences of neglecting to give the mind a bit of rest, irresponsible parents, and partial teachers.
My advice is if you are looking for a drama that can cheer you up and keep your mind at ease, this is not your cup of tea. Very addicting so start watching only if you are ready to see and understand the brutality of society for can leave you depressed for several hours straight.

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⚜️Magical Reality ⚜️

Drama that requires thinking.

It shows the cruel reality of our world and people who go beyond stereotypes.

Still here? Great, so keep reading.

The drama, despite its six episodes, in my opinion doesn't need unnecessary prolongation, so it's worth taking the time to watch it. I certainly don't regret it. And even though I couldn't get down to the last two episodes because of the many emotions.
I identify with this series. It's one of the few dramas where I showed any emotion. It's not a universal drama.
Also, great choice of actors.

Also, great choice of actors. And coolest of all, they're not made into models or appearance gods, as is often the case. They look natural. With facial scars, imperfections and real problems.

I can recommend this drama to anyone who is mature to understand it.

BUT most importantly it has the best ending I have ever seen.

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Abandoned by her father with his debts, Yoon Ah Yi (Choi Sung Eun) leads a difficult life financing herself and her sister. When she gets entangled with threatening loan sharks, a mysterious magician Ri Eul (Ji Chang Wook) saves her and offers to teach her magic. Is this magician true or is he simply a con man living in an abandoned amusement park?

As the title stated, the highlight of this show is the musical and fantasy aspects. I enjoyed those musical performances, especially The Curse of Asphalt I think it’s a masterpiece. The cast, especially the Sung Eun & Chang Wook, delivered strong performances. Ji Chang Wook as Ri Eul looks weirdly charming with his eccentric look and his shady & a bit creepy behavior. The songs I enjoyed most are the ones performed by Ri Eul himself. As his power is reality-altering, Ri Eul performing the magic, singing and dancing matches well with him as a magician. However, I found his backstory was underwhelming and wish there is a satisfying closure for him, but for what he was given, he played his part really well. I think our female lead Sung Eun has a better arc. Her encounter with Ri Eul leads to her emotional transformation and I love seeing it. Overall, I like this drama for all its' fantastic visuals and the unique experience that is rare in kdramaland.

thanks for reading!
you can find me on instagram @kdramajudge

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