Tomorrow (2022)

An excellent show, but difficult to recommend

I don’t know how to review this one. On one hand the production value is top tier, the acting is very good (the main cast is excellent, but the supporting cast has been hit-and-miss), and the story is solid, but it requires a lot of effort to watch because it deals with very negative subject matter. Don’t get me wrong: mental illness, suicide, suicide prevention, etc. should be exposed in all forms of media, but that doesn’t necessarily make for good entertainment. In fact, trying to make it entertaining might be the problem with this show.

To be clear, the subject matter is treated respectfully, and I think the production means well, but there are simply too many limitations on what can be done within a 60 minute episode. So while the problems are realistic, and sensitively portrayed, the solutions are superficial, and hollow. The reality is that heartfelt words, and appeals to supernatural/spiritual “faith” are rarely ever (probably never) enough to deal with mental illness severe enough to drive someone to suicide. So while I appreciate that this show promotes awareness of many deep issues within not just Korean society, but worldwide, it ultimately falls flat despite being an otherwise excellent show. Thus, difficult to recommend.

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There will come a moment when you realize it was all for today.

"Even so, you should live."- A quote that summarizes this drama. A lesson that is taught by this drama.
*might have mild spoiler*
I have been a Korean drama fan for more than 10 years now and I must say i have rarely come across such a beautiful concept that deals with healing and comforting the people on the edge of the night, people who have given up.
Not too many humans understand or even tries to understand what goes on in a mind of someone who decided to give up on their life. People call them cowards, people blame them for leaving the loved ones. But how many really try to understand them with compassion? Can slogans like "talk to someone" even help people who have given up on the world?

The drama "Tomorrow" raises these questions. Tomorrow asks humans to be more compassionate. Tomorrow comforts the soul of the people who have been there in past, who are going through it now and who may face it one day.
Tomorrow does not give a solution. Tomorrow give a chance to look at the brighter side when all seems dark.

The plot line of the show is most unique and a beautiful combination of fantasy and reality. The drama shows the world of grim reapers who work on different departments of the afterlife that deals with various assignments related to the dead souls.
The story follows two grim rippers who are working in risk management team, a unique team of grim reapers who work to save souls instead of reaping them. Which eventually make them a laughing stock of whole afterlife and everyone looks down upon them.
However, they are doing the hardest of all works. They are saving the people on the edge. People with high risk of committing suicide. The goal is to prevent as many souls so that they do not end up in hell while trying to escape their living hell. The director of afterlife (The Jumadeung) is the famed Jade Emperor of Chinese/Korean history who personally assigns these team.
And along comes another soul Joon Woong (Played by Rowoon) who had a failed life and recently went into coma trying to save a beggar. So now Joon Woong is given two choices. Either work with Risk Management team and wake up in 6 months with a guaranteed high paying job that he will love in real life, or wake up after being in coma for 3 years. Surely, Joon Woong chose the first. However, he already had harsh encounter with the other two grim reapers who were his senior in the Rick Management team when he tried to save the beggar. The two seniors did not like him for not thinking his actions through and being immature. They have no faith in Joon Woong's ability. He is inexperienced and the two seniors has experience of several hundred years of being grim reapers.
So the story shows journey of this risk management team who goes on saving lives, one case at a time while also slowly wrapping up the intertwined stories of these three leads, the two badass grim reapers and a half dead soul.

Even though the plot is working on suicidal people, the story is not always dark and gloomy. Rather Joon Woong's innocent and honest personality and the other two's irritation at him made the show pretty lighthearted.
I loved that they explored so many possible social economic reasons for having suicidal tendencies instead of just saying it is caused by mental illness. Love how they show that impact of society is far more dangerous than just be summarized as result of depression.
I am always intrigued by the shows and movies (whatever language it may be) if they have elements of mental health awareness. So needless to say I was already biased towards the plot. And as the story progressed, I must say it exceeded all my expectations.
All the cases that were shown from bullying to body shaming to poverty and depression, every single story and how they saved the people were remarkable. And the stories only kept getting better and better. My personal favorite is the 13th episode.
However, the audience must keep in mind that this show is about suicide prevention and not mental health treatment. Even the show mentions this exact message in one of the episodes. So audience must not confuse the two.

Korean Dramas have progressed a lot in past 7 years. The cinematography was just as amazing as most other Korean shows. And I will never have any doubt on any show/movies by MBC productions (a Korean production house).
The actors have done a commendable job. Kim Hee Sun who played the team leader Koo Ryun and Rowoon who played Joon Woong (the soul in coma) have already proved themselves as topnotch actors with multiple awards under their belt.

Things I did not like:
One of the main point I did not like was how the story of the Main lead (The team leader Koo Ryun) was wrapped up. The plot made us wait for her story to come together at the end but it was simply not well handled.

One more point I did not like was the less amount of screen time given to Lee Soo Hyuk who is an amazing actor but always somehow end up getting side tracked by the leads in most dramas.

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Beautiful meaning

It needs to be played in schools idk, be used as a school material... Especially episodes 7,10,13 almost destroyed me :') and the fact that episode 13 had the lowest rating (according to wikipedia) says a lot about our generation........ :/
My review needs to be at least 300 words long so Im gonna add a few more things without spoilers :3. What I actually liked about this kdrama was how it depicted the place women had in the past, and sadly still have today.... it was a little bit hard to watch at some points, but i thing it showed very well the harsh reality women and especially s3xu@l @ssult victims had (and still have) to go through after .... I liked the stories and I think some episodes (especially 13 and 10) can be very educational since to this day people (if we can call them people :/ ) blame the victim and not the murderer (since as they said in the kdrama "r@p3 is the murder of the soul") .... overall it was a cute kdrama with a nice meaning, funny and sad moments, love (romantically, material, platonic, towards values, towards your country)... i don't know i think it was a very good kdrama. Also the osts rock !!!!! And i really liked the vibes the characters had with each other.

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Episode 6 will forever live in my heart

This show is hard to watch in a good way. It's one of the most touching shows I've seen and it's very heartfelt.

The premise is quite simple, the team of grim reapers try to dissuade people from commiting suicide in order for them to live their predetermined life spans while investigating why this person would want to their their own life.

It touches a lot of sensitive social topics so I'd caution any person who's sensitive to these subjects.

Episode 6 was my highlight, I cried all the way though maybe because I'm sensitive when it comes to old people and veterans but oh god, it was wonderful.

I loved it, I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for a meaningful, fun, tearjerker TV show.

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I found this drama very intriguing

This is one of those dramas where I couldn't wait for the next episode. I loved the concept of the Grim Reapers trying to prevent suicides. Most of the issues they tackled were very real and hard hitting. They handled it well though. I did wish that they would have inserted some reference as to the help these people needed once the walked them off the ledge. There was enough comic relief to keep me from totally losing it, mostly, but know you will need your box of kleenes for this series. I am dissappointed there most likey wont be a second season due to low watch ratings but at least it felt complete when it ended.

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What saves people is not your powers but the weight of your words

This show had my attention hooked from the first episode. From the various perspectives, plotlines, and time periods, the grim reapers come into contact with the living, it does not shy away from exploring the sensitive and vulnerable aspects of the living and dead.

I have viewed many series that explore the themes of suicide, but this show has left a lasting impression. From the visual effects, ost, and film direction, the episodes did an excellent job of capturing the characters' struggles, especially from a psychological lens.The scenes can be seen shot from various angles giving a raw perspective to the audience. Therefore, some scenes can be difficult to watch for some people.

The main aspect of the series include the red thread of fate. The thread is impacted by the choices that people make and influences their connections with how their lives echo onto the next life. Tomorrow is a series that not only informs but highlights that everyone needs an open ear, and a supporting hand and that "What saves people is not your powers but the weight of your words.” -(Director)

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The best k-drama?

Wow, this was something i didn't expect.
I started watching without knowing what exactly is this series about. I thought it'll be some sort of fantasy comedy with sad parts but I definitely didn't expect something like this.
I cannot even count how many times I've cried while watching this.
As a person with depression and su!cidal thoughts and atttempt, I could relate to every freaking word and every person. It was so painful because it all felt so real. All the acotrs did such a good job here. The atmosphere. The reasons for the people to commit...everything was so real. I definitely do not regret watching this, even in the state I'm right now.
It's definitely not drama for someone who is not capable of understanding victims of su!cide or actually any difficult ptoblems, like sh, sa, ed and others.
It is good for people who don't understand but want to improve and want to understand. Because after watching this, you realize, that we are not selfish. People who suffer and want to end it are the strongest and most selfless people out there.
Fightinh everyday with life you don't like, with life you didn't even ask for is the hardest situation a person can go through.
When we realize, everyone has their own team who want to save them. But as shown in the drama, they can sometimes come too late. Or they are also dealing with their own problems so then they don't realize how much you suffer.
It's true. The only person who can actually save you, is yourself. Even if you don't understand, don't like it or just simply dont't know how to. It's you. You can only count on yourself and no one else.
I love this series. It shows the real side of wolrd. Even though not everytime can be someone saved. That's life. Not everyone can be saved.
The story is really beautiful. Cast couldn't be better...
I'm not so sure about rewatching though. It's not some comedy with little drama. It's something that will hurt you. It's something that you'll propably relate too even if you're not su!cidal.
I hope you're all safe and healthy :) Be kind to yourself and to people around you.

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Appreciating the little things in life that makes you happy

Do I recommend this drama:
For those who prefer light-hearted dramas, I do not recommend this as the drama.
For those who are considering to watch this, I do recommend watching them with tissues on hand.

Story:
Per Netflix introduction, is drama where made half-human, half-spirit by accident, a young man was employed by a company of grim reapers in the underworld to carry out special missions. These special missions are to go to the land of the living to prevent humans from committing suicides.

Suicide is a sensitive topic, so it did came as a surprise that a drama was released with that topic in mind. This 16 episodes drama were broken down into mini story arcs (typically one case every 1 to 2 episodes). As the topic is a heavy one, the drama included elements of fantasy (grim reapers which special mojo) and comedic moments (when it is appropriate).

While the drama was thought-provoking; I felt that there are parts lacking. Personally, I was hoping for the drama to explain or emphasize more on Choi Jun-Woong (by Rowoon). Given Netflix's introduction, I was under the impression that his involvement would be a whole lot more than what the drama eventually portrayed.

Acting:
The cast did an amazing job in this drama; and not just the main cast. Every single cast in the mini story arcs did a fantastic job in portraying the required feelings of the character, which made this drama unforgettable. I have never watched a drama that I teared every single episode.

Note:
If someone told me before I started watching this drama that the content would be such a heavy one , I might watch this drama in the first place.
However, after completing this series, it does make me remember the importance of appreciating the little things in life that makes me happy.

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From an American POV

This is a touching and heartfelt drama it has everything you want in a drama series... personal trauma, growth out of despair, and an overall all story arc that plays beautifully and perfectly to the very end where it all wraps up in a perfect little bow. (no spoilers) but it had a very satisfying ending IMO.

the stories that were told during the season were relevant and heartbreaking at times I needed to wipe my eyes on more than one occassion there were also a couple feel good episodes as well.

Being new to KDrama it's a great show for anyone to start watching korean dramas.

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A show close to my heart

A MUST WATCH. The story is fresh, unique, and controversial for most people and has a significant social message with twists and turns. The cast and crew did a phenomenal job, and the visuals and OSTs were perfect. Every character had so much depth and complexity. Kim Hee Sun, Rowoon, Lee Soo Hyuk, Yun Ji On and Kim Hae Sook were the perfect choice for Ryeon, Joon Woong, Park Jun-gil, Ryung and Jade Emperor. The portrayal of the characters and their emotions was natural and on point. Each episode spoke out about social injustice, indiscrimination and various causes of suicide with a beautiful message on how beautiful life is. This drama is all about suicide prevention by Grim Reapers. I hope they bring a season 2 for this show.

Plot:
The story starts with Joon's interview, which got rejected due to internal politics. While going home, he meets Ryun and Ryung (Live saving soul reaper and accidentally falls into a coma. To return back to his body within six months, he must work as a Grim Reaper in the Risk management (Ryeon - Leader and Ryung - Assistant Manager) to save lives, or he will be in a coma for three.

Episodes and their message:
With each episode, each character had phenomenal development and got in sync with each other. Especially the RM team. Ryeon and Ryung understand how beautiful life is and their role as life-saving Reapers because of Joon Woong. Park understood why people kill themselves and the pain they undergo. Epilogues were a great addition to the show.

Fallen Flower: Eun Bi and Hye Won. School bullying leaves scars much deeper than we think, but one must find the courage to stand up for ourselves. The memory world was so cool.

Forest of Time: Jae Soo (Joon Woong's school friend). Childhood trauma and difficulties the younger generation has to face while fighting to achieve their dreams. Elements like time travel projected well.

Tree: Kang Woo Jin and Heo Na Young. Again, childhood trauma and the loss of a beloved one can shatter us into zillion pieces, and it is not easy to move on and live a life without, but we need to mutter up the courage to meet the beloved in the next life.

A Soul Becomes a Star: A great tribute to Korean War veteran Lee Young Chun from the Escort, Risk Management teams, and Jade Emperor. Though Lee Young Chun had a miserable life and knew when exactly he was about to die, he carried out daily errands and died peacefully. One must carry out duties to live a fulfilling life.

A Prison Without Bars: Sin Ye Na and Jeong Bo Ram. School bullying and toxic work environment. Beauty is in the person's soul and not in their physical appearance.

Broker: Song Jin Ho. Online scammer who used to make money by helping people suicide. Beware of technology and use it properly.

Someday, Because of You: Kim Kong and Kim Hun. Tribute to all the pet and pet lovers out there. Good things do not last forever, but we should give up hope.

Breath: Cha twins - Cha Yun Jae and Cha Yun Hui. Highlights violence against women and how society, family and friends blame Women as the cause of all the disasters. Society and parenting need to change.

West Sky: Ryung and Lim Yu Hwa. Ryung's past life. Highlights the relationship between Mother and child and the extent a mother can go for their children. Fate is always crucial, and no one can escape from its claws, but there is always a way out.

Spring: Yun I, Lee Jeong Mun and all the other comfort women. Korean History and violence against Women. Survivors always have to pay a big price.

Wind Flower: Ryeon and Park Jung Gil's past. Korean History. Violence against Women and fake allegations. Survivors always have to pay a big price with their life.

Circus: Ryu Choi Hui (Gop Dan, a friend from a previous life (Ryeon)). Struggles and fake allegations. Don't judge a book by its cover or the character they play in a show (in this case) as their true projection. Everyone needs a support system to function.

Threads of Fate: Continuation of Circus with Ryeon and Park's story. An excellent ending, with everyone getting what they truly desire to have.

Ending: Park and Ryeon are on good terms with each other. Joon Woong forgot about Jumadeung but got an incredible life, and he still saves suicide cases unknowingly. This means he is natural. Jade Emperor was awesomely wicked. Lim got the promotion, and Ryeon chose the RM over her wish. The other cast and crew did a great job too.

Unanswered questions:
Will Ryu and Joon's red thread of fate bring them closer?
Will Joon Wong ever remember Jumadeung?

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