Mr. Plankton (2024)

This series will trick your emotions.

I finished watching this series a few hours ago. It was a strange show. From the very first episode, I knew with all my heart that I loved it and wanted to keep watching, but I couldn't quite grasp why. Even after it ended, I was unsure of the feelings I was experiencing. At first, I thought it might have been better if Hae-jo's death had been portrayed differently, or at least if the series had continued for a few more minutes after his passing. I didn’t have any strong feelings about the ending, but once it was over, the thought of it lingered in my mind.

The series was filled with various emotions. However, its unparalleled humor constantly made me laugh. I didn’t shed a single tear for this series, nor did I choke up; I just laughed. Yet beneath my laughter, something squeezed my heart and made it hard to breathe. It felt as if the entire series mirrored Miju's laughter—like the scene where, after joking about the label on the mushroom packaging, she hid her immense sadness behind her chuckles. Now, I am no longer hesitant about this series because I know exactly what I witnessed. This series was liberation itself. It was growth itself. It began with the pain and bitter fate of all the characters—pains that remained and were never miraculously resolved. Yet, despite all that pain and bitterness, it concluded with the sweet fate of the characters.

It seemed that everyone had something within them that they were desperately trying to hide. One person concealed their eyes behind dark glasses, another buried their cigarette in the ground. One hid their courage, another their fear, and yet another their love.

Jang-na hid his pain behind his dark glasses, believing they kept his suffering hidden from others, unaware that those glasses not only concealed his from the world but also limited his own vision. In the darkness, those shades brought his down even more and prevented her from seeing others clearly.

Oh-young buried the cigarette that reminded her of her pain in the ground, thinking she no longer needed it, unaware that nothing had changed for her. The only thing that had changed was what she held in her hand to ease her suffering. She had replaced the cigarette with her son and instead of burning tobacco, she held him in her hands and set her on fire.

Oh-young hid his courage because he thought he had to behave like an obedient dog to stay safe, oblivious to the fact that he was a roaring tiger merely playing the role of a dog.

Jae-mi concealed her fears and shortcomings. She feared being alone, not being accepted, not being loved, and being abandoned. She longed to be deeply loved by someone but didn't think she was enough for that love. She believed that marrying into a prominent family would hide her loneliness and lack of family; becoming a mother would erase her own motherlessness; and if anyone knew she couldn't become a mother or that she sought marriage solely for family reasons, she would be rejected and left alone without family once again. Unbeknownst to her, others loved her despite all her limitations and shortcomings, simply for who she was.

And Hae-jo hid his love and desires from others because he feared that by loving them and keeping those he cared for close, he would hurt them. With all his heart, he wanted to return to Jae-mi and his father. He carried their beautiful memories with him but didn’t dare run towards them. Perhaps he thought that his desires might pull them away from their own wishes or make life bitter for them.

And then, when all the hidden truths were revealed, everything became more beautiful and easier. It became possible to breathe, to understand and be understood; to give others the chance to come forward and embrace them while saying this wasn’t what they wanted; to run towards what they desired; to be liberated; and to love themselves and others even more.
It seemed that all the characters were plankton—small yet valuable. Each one made another's life beautiful and meaningful. Now I think this ending was the best conclusion this series could have had; it didn’t need anything else to be complete. This series was, in every sense of the word, life itself, which concluded with a beautiful death—a death that perhaps, as Hae-jo said, wasn’t beautiful on its own; it was life that made death beautiful.
Beyond the beautiful themes of the series, what truly captivated me was the believable and stunning performance of the actors, especially Woo Do-hwan, who truly shone. The first role I saw him in was as Sun-ho in "My Country: The New Age." In that series, it felt like Woo Do-hwan didn’t just play a role; he created a real character named Sun-ho. You couldn’t trace Sun-ho in Woo Do-hwan or any of his other roles. He was solely Sun-ho, a young man who lived beautifully at a certain point in history and ultimately concluded that character with his death in the same series. After that, I saw Woo Do-hwan in other roles, and yes, his acting prowess was exceptional, but it seemed that his performances in no other series satisfied me in the same way that the name Sun-ho did. He no longer created characters; he merely portrayed them. The essence of Woo Do-hwan and the character did not fully overlap; at times, I would see only Woo Do-hwan, at other moments just the character he was playing, and then there were instances of a new persona that merged both. Thus, the intended character was created and dissolved in an unstable manner. But in the series Mr. Plankton, Do Hwan once again acted incomparably and this time he created another wonderful character named Hae Joo. This time, like the role of Seon Ho, there was nothing more or less than Hae Joo. Neither the character of Woo Do Hwan rode the role he was playing nor the role rode Woo Do Hwan. Neither surpassed the other. They were completely intertwined and one, and this time, Hae Joo's character ended with his death in this series. It was as if Hae Joo was really a young man who lived somewhere in the real world and with his death, his life's diary ended and only his lessons and happy memories remained. Hae Joo who perhaps reminded me of many (like Nam Seon Ho in the series My Country, Shin Joon Young in the series Reckless Love, Gu Dong Ma in the series Mr. Sunshine, etc.) but was not an imitation of any of them. He was just Hae Joo and that was it.

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Not everyone's cup of tea but reality hits hard. A Must watch

I know it's not really everyone's wish to see the ML dying, but I think the story was justified in itself. There were some questions left unanswered, like why did they breakup in the first place?

Regarding the family finding of ML, the story sets a realisation for him that no matter who is the biological father, he would only find comfort with the person he grew up with, aka his own dad.

Despite having a hard life, never giving up is a big thing while maintaining every situation.
Jae Mi also depicts the important character who plays an important role in ML's life in teaching him the real meaning of love and how true love always gives and lets the person go rather than keeping them to themselves. This realisation helped him achieve the satisfaction he needed all along.

About the family issues they had, later on in the last episodes, ML realised that he had everything right in front of him—Bong, Hyung, Jae Mi, Lacky. All a part of his family now.

Even though the ending is tough for many people to see, it still gives us strength to be okay with not having miracles and living life to the fullest in those situations rather than simply hoping and discouraging ourselves.

The story didn't have many twists or major plot changes or coincidences, but it was enough to keep the audience captivated, and it stuck to the plot, which made it wholesome.

The actors displayed immense emotions, which did not even for a second divert the audience and really touched emotions. Every character was just too good for their role and committed to it very well.

The music was kind of repetitive, and an English-based song didn't really catch up with all the emotions but was somewhat there for the mood. The music could've been better.

Its hard for me to watch this kind of drama, but I'm happy I watched it. Reality-check masterpiece it is.

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Most simply put - a rollercoaster of emotions taking you on an adventure of self discovery and to teach you how to love life. It's always the things in front of us that we don't realise but makes us happy.

The pacing of this drama and the episodes were unreal, very unlike the typical Kdrama structure and leaning more towards tv shows that are mainstream. That just shows the power of Netflix to take the production to the next level. Maybe with some minor plot holes the story was captivating, unique, and kept me at the edge of my seat as I was watching. Very easy watch nevertheless with very likeable characters, and a very genuine connection between the two main leads. Seriously felt like a breath of fresh air watching the two bicker, laugh and fall in love with each other all over again.

Can't wait to rewatch this all over again and share with the rest of the world.

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amazing chemistry

From the first episode this drama had potential, and after finishing it I can say it definitely exceeded my expectations! The story, acting, comedy scenes and amount of realistic situations etc. had me hooked from the start. From seeing the show on other applications and to actually watching it myself I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend. I really loved woo dohwan’s acting as haejo/seunghyeok it was immaculate, and lee youmi also did fantastic in her role! They made the show feel alive and their chemistry kept me hooked throughout. The ending left me in tears but I knew what I was getting into when starting it and I will say even though it had to end like that, I’m still in love with the drama!

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Mr. Plankton Wow, what a ride! I’m honestly going to miss this drama soooo much

"this is my first time writing a review after watching a drama, usually, I just write short comments "

Wow, what a ride! I’m honestly going to miss this drama soooo much! 😭 I’m already calling it—*Mr. Plankton* is THE BEST of dramas of 2025

The acting? Amazing! The cast truly nailed their roles, bringing such depth and authenticity to each character. From the start to the very end, their performances were a highlight, making you feel every single emotion alongside them.

The storyline? Absolutely gripping. It’s one of those dramas that you just can’t stop watching. There’s the perfect balance of friendship, family, and love, which kept things fresh and engaging throughout. Every episode kept you on your toes, and I found myself completely invested in the characters' journeys.

I wish I could rate this drama more than just 10/10! Honestly, it’s that good. The connections between the characters felt so real, and the way they navigated through challenges together—whether as friends or family—was incredibly heartwarming. You can't help but root for them the entire time.
only the last minute of the drama. was sad but beautiful

If you’re thinking of starting *Mr. Plankton*, just do it! Trust me, you’ll enjoy every bit of it. It’s one of those shows that you just have to experience for yourself.

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in the end, mr. plankton did receive unconditional love :')

Overall, this was bittersweet. It has a sad theme yes, and it had its emotional moments for sure but the tone of the show is adventurous and fun. There were high highs and a few lows. I think the biggest strength of this is the acting and chemistry between the actors. From the humorous scenes to the tearjerkers, all three main actors brought their A-game. Our main lead Haejo (or Seunghyuk)... Woo Dohwan successfully made this character so likeable despite his flaws. Lee Yumi, playing Jo Jaemi, your classic kdrama leading lady, the sunshine the baby the baddie. And ofcourse Oh Jungse, we know him, we love him and he will always act ACT. I actually want to highlight how much I love Eo Heung's character arc because I think it's one of my favorite parts. I love that he had a coming-of-age story and the way it was incorporated in the middle of all the storylines without it feeling messy is really good. Plus the fact that he's the oldest one in the group makes it even greater because it shows growth and learning never stops.

Now with the romance, as I said, the chemistry between the actors/characters are so great. Haejo and Jaemi are so fun AND funny. They did the bickering and banters so good, I was giggling alright. Personally, I am a sucker for a second chance romance. It's not for everyone but it is for me. I love that yearning and when the characters know each other really well. WITH THAT SAID, I gotta say, Haejo put Jaemi through it oh my goodness. The push and pull? Yes, he's going through something that's really hard but you can't always use that as an excuse especially if he kept repeating it. I just wish they gave Jaemi a big emotional scene calling out Haejo's behavior. I mean I guess they did have multiple "That's not right" "I'm sorry" scenes but man, I wish she made him grovel way more. Again, I love those two but whew, it was a lot.

Also, to highlight Lee El's character Bongsuk. Omg talk about kindness?! That whole storyline is of course the heart of the show. Unconditional love. I was so sad when Haejo said he stopped believing in unconditional love when he had been receiving it from Bongsuk all that time. I mean I really can't blame him for it after what his adoptive parents did to him. I'm just glad to know that in the end, he knew and realized he had people on his side that truly loved him.

Now one thing that did not feel satisying to me was the storyline with his adoptive father. Only because I did not hear that man really apologized for what he did. If anything, it was still Haejo who came to him. That does not feel right. Yes, he kept his pictures and room but I wanted him to do more than that especially after he got his contact number. Not Haejo's baby sister doing the moves instead of the adult. Yeah whatever, I just feel like that could have been fleshed out more. Same goes with Jaemi's biological parents storyline. Still, I did like that this whole thing is Haejo and Jaemi accepting that these issues with people who abandoned them do not matter anymore in the end because they already found their people.

Yeah, I really liked this drama. It made me laugh and it made me cry and give me a little existensial crisis too lol I'm so glad to see Woo Dohwan again and in a lead role like this where he was able to show his range.

Alex Landi being here is so weird btw lmao

PS. So bold of them to use California Dreamin?!

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I’ll do your homework for you

That line in episode 9. I LOST IT. Maybe it has been a rough few weeks for me, so I was already primed for something to take me over the edge. With my limited schedule as a full-time working mom, this story was a random gift from the universe and once I entered the world, I couldn’t stop until I was done, even sacrificing my rest was a small price to pay to witness their incredible journeys. I laughed. I cried. I laughed. I cried. It was amazing. It was exhilarating. The story explored multiple themes: life and death; safety and security; attachment and belongingness; restriction and liberation; losses and abandonment. These profound themes were interwoven into a story line that was light and heavy at the same time. Yes, I laughed through my tears. Be ready to experience the full range of emotions. We can be so caught up in our mundane routines that sometimes we need a refresher to shock us back into reality, to put us back on track on this continuum of space and time, and that at the core of our existence is the need to just remember that we matter, no matter how big or small. Every now and then, a story comes along that reminds us to give our eyes, “a break from the sun.” This was my break. And, I am ever so grateful… P.S. I viewed the ending of the story as a renewed beginning, that life and death is a full circle and that we need to strive to be at peace with every choice/path we take.

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We will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory!

We will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory! This drama leaves many lessons, leaving hurts and resentments in their rightful place, which is the past. And enjoy the things that "destiny", as Hae Jo says, is providing. And that was how, before his last journey with his beloved, he realized that there was no reason to look for answers if all that mattered was the good feeling he carried, but inside him he screamed that his father was and would always be the one who had raised him until he graduated from high school. That his great love would always be her, that his true friends were always there by his side I liked the drama, a death is sad but being abandoned is very cruel and painful!

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"I want to live"

With a little bit of rounding up, this is a rare 10 out of 10 Kdrama, coming late to save this kdrama draught of a year! Funny, romantic, moving but also sad. You will know the show's end at the very beginning but it still hits hard once you reach the end. While I can see the happiness in the sad ending, the sad ending is still very sad so prepare yourself to suffer but be happy about it.
Summary: The show follows unlucky people stumbling through life who just keep getting dealt awful hands by fate. I don't know how to really summarise this, it feels like there's no plot but also, there is definitely a plot and all of it is a spoiler or none of it is...I DON'T KNOW!
I actually decided to watch this because the synopsis made no sense and I wanted to see what the show was actually about. Turns out it's about...life?! I don't know, just watch it. It's such a well-told story. Almost feels like a fable! There's a magical quality to it. You don't need any information before you delve in and everything unravels very clearly. So just go watch it!
The show has some cute cliches but for the most part, avoids plot pitfalls and gives a fresh take on the road trip/journey to find oneself genre. This was just a very lovable show to watch. The characters are flawed, messy, and occasionally very broken. I don't always love the Netflix kdramas but they always have interesting character sketches, which I guess is kind of the point, and here it's no exception. The characters' personalities and trials is the highlight of the show.
Like all Kdramas, I still dislike the over-the-top fight scenes and the pace sort of slowed down between episodes 7 and 8 but it bounced back for a good closing and I like the whole thing very well.
Cast: The actors are such a highlight in this show. Most are very well-known but I didn't know anything about Lee You Mi. Everyone did a good job...I still dislike acting cute in any context so I won't pretend I liked those bits. Woo Do Hwan was very good though and I think he's gonna joining my favorite actors list now. Oh Jung Se is obviously one of the best in SK. For me, the stand out was Lee El. She was so delightful. But really everyone shone in their place.
The production was very well-done. There are a variety of locations and I think they used green screen for some but some others seemed like natural sets but regardless, everything looked equally great. The set design, the technical parts, everything was great, and the music? The music was great! They used great stuff and though they overused them, I will forgive them because the music was at least good.
Rewatch: probably not.
Overall: Watch it, it's good! prepare tissues for the ending.

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