When Love Gets Messy and Real

I started Mr. Plankton out of pure curiosity, drawn by the title and a familiar cast. I was expecting a simple romance, maybe a guy running errands who meets a girl along the way. But I was in for a surprise—the story had far more depth than I imagined. After one episode, I couldn’t stop and ended up watching seven in a row.

The story kicks off with an ending scene, leaving us to figure out how it all fits together. Instead of a typical boy-meets-girl scenario, we learn the leads are ex-lovers, both orphans, with an intense past that ended without real closure. Their chemistry caught me off guard. The lead actress usually plays cutesy roles, and the lead actor leans more toward action, yet they bring a fresh, raw connection to the screen. His character is definitely a “red flag” type, but it’s understandable given his tough background, abandoned and left to fend for himself.

Things really heat up when he suddenly returns to her life, just as she’s about to marry someone else, sparking an unexpected love triangle. While his intentions are protective (especially around her secret medical condition), he pulls her along on a road trip to find his birth father without giving her the full story. This journey is full of tension, close calls, and moments where she tries to escape before ultimately deciding to stay by his side.

One of the most touching elements is how the title, Mr. Plankton, ties to his character’s sense of identity. In a quiet but powerful moment, he compares himself to plankton—seemingly insignificant and unnoticed, like mere accessories in the vast sea. But plankton, he explains, actually sustain life in the ocean by producing oxygen, a contribution people overlook as they focus only on their sparkling glow. Through this metaphor, he sees himself as someone who may be overlooked but who still has a role and purpose, even if the world fails to see it. It’s a quietly beautiful symbol that resonates throughout the series, shaping our understanding of him as a character.

Watching their road trip was exciting, though I would have loved to see more of the female lead’s perspective on her choices, especially as she reconnects with her ex. Her impulsive decisions can be frustrating, but her backstory makes it understandable. Her ex-fiancé also surprised me; he respected her decisions and even supported her ex in the end, which added a layer of maturity to the story.

Overall, Mr. Plankton was an engaging watch. I even teared up during the lead’s breakdown about his illness and his struggle with feelings of abandonment and unfairness. The ending is simply a return to the opening scene, but it’s beautifully done but bittersweet, leaving me pensive. This drama isn’t something I’d watch twice, as it really makes you think about love, loss, and purpose. But it’s definitely worth watching once, especially if you’re ready for a fresh, emotional take on love and closure.

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The Best of The Best

This historical drama exceeded my expectations: it was such a masterpiece.

How come I neglected this through the years of rummaging all the high-rated k-dramas and just decided to check it out this day? I couldn't believe I had never given this a chance for years.

The intro was great — their backstories entangled with true-to-life scenarios during the pre-colonial period of Joseon. The portrayal of each character was so well done, especially the leads - they were exceptional. Some characters also stole the show - that I never got bored watching each scene as it shifted with every story and role they portrayed. One of the most striking ones is Kudo Hina (what an amazing actress). She really nailed it from the beginning till the end.

This is just pretty heart wrenching and made me breakdown down a couple of times. It was traumatizing at times, but I commend this series for being such eye-opening to us viewers that this story was also based on true events in history. There were lots of symbolism shown throughout the show (whether some objects emphasized or the characters themselves), which made it more interesting, especially when everything was already topnotch - from the editing, cinematography, to the setting.

I would also like to point out the romance of the two leads as it was such a rare sight to witness a pure love story without having skinships and unnecessary cheesy scenes. It was pretty realistic and a breath of fresh air for us. The actors have done a great job with their characters. The chemistry was there, and the way they delivered their lines to each other was so emotionally convincing. One foreshadowing line I can't forget from Eugene is that "Eventually, no one's ending will be a happy one."

This show reminded me how our ancestors also protected our homeland and fought for the future of the country that was victimized by colonization, as well. We can't attain the freedom we enjoy today if they didn't risk their lives to achieve it. This was like an inspiring tribute to all who fought for independence during the colonial era. I would love to watch this again, but with some companions to know what they think of this series.

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Decent Show that doesn't have a Rewatch Potential

This is the first time I've watched a historical drama with a hint of a magic plot. So far, the story from the beginning will leave you intrigued for a couple of episodes. The chemistry between the two leads was good, as well (giving a plus since it was quite refreshing to encounter that the ML is an astronomer & the FL is an artist). I like how they finally portray the artistic side of the Joseon Dynasty. However, when I finally got to the peak of the series, I'm slowly getting disinterested for some reason.

It may be because of the unending repetition and prolonging of the events of plotting the sealing of the demon. It is really true that this show would have the potential to be one of the best historical dramas, but it ended up being a letdown for us. Some of the characters' backstories should also have been shown since most of the scenes were basically about revenge and figuring out all about the demon. Also, most of them have an importance in the development of the story, and that's one of the things this show has screwed up. I should also be allowed to complain why the pretty old deity and the tiger girl have a little screentime even though they're always the ones who save those lovers.

Their love story was somewhat pure and fast-paced (ep 1 was their encounter in childhood, and their love quickly progressed when they met up in the following episodes). I just kind of wished that they focused a bit more behind the works of the Baekyu Painters Society & Gohwawon because it is one of the reasons why I continued to watch this through & through. The scenes where the ML and second lead are together with FL are kind of cringy, but it's still bearable compared to other shows that dramatically prolong a romantic scene. The visuals/shots are also superb, especially when the two leads are on a date in a specific setting. For the CGI? I don't know how to describe it, but for me, it was fine... I guess?

Also, the way the two leads deliver their lines when they express their love for each other somehow makes it memorable and touching. One line that struck me was when Chun Ki mentally vocalized her feelings towards Ha Ram: "Ha Ram, you asked me to forget. But I cannot forget you. Like a brushstroke already drawn cannot be undone."

The ending expects us to be happy and satisfied, but the series should have properly managed those loose ends for us to be not disappointed with its outcome.

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