Walking Up to the Sky (1993)

Classic gangster drama with peak 90s feels

To be honest I discovered the drama through a FMV edit - it was just the scene of Choi Min Soo running down the picturesque streets of Myeongdong, Seoul with the cops on his heels, and Kim Hye Sun in her adorable pixie cut running behind him. That, and the song, the rock-metal track "Walking To Heaven" by singer Jang Hyunchul is what made me check the drama out.

Honestly, the entire OST album is a masterpiece, which is why the music gets a 10/10.

This was also one of the dramas that gave Choi Min Soo his "tough gangster guy" image that blew him up, because he played Jung Ho with pure finesse. You could really really root for him even if it was morally very questionable. It's kinda hard to see roles being tailormade and written for actors, cuz nowadays it's rather the other way round - 90s superstardom is indeed different from todays. Kim Hye Sun also features in one of her breakout roles as Ji Sook, and it was nice to see the focus on her storyline and how she and Jung Ho go so different paths in relations to the gang. The supporting actors are all neatly casted too, though seeing Lee Sang Ah as a supporting role was a little surprise given her stardom... 9/10.

The story itself... 7/10, was not necessarily anything groundbreaking if you are familiar with gang stuff a la Oliver Twist, yet the suspense was real, the pacing was tight, and I liked Ji Sook's part of the story where it was less suspenseful. For a few moments it felt like "What A Woman lives For". Usually in male-centric themed dramas or films, the women are just eye candy and/or love interests, but here, they really showed her character and fleshed her out.

But the romance is what made me go "hol' up". If Jung Ho was raised by Ji Sook's father this whole time, and he sees him as his son... how can Jung Ho date his daughter? How can Ji Sook even see him as boyfriend material - and the fact that she doesn't actually see him as a man, makes this relationship even more questionable. How can he see the girl he grew up protecting as an older brother, as a woman?

Also, I see that neither this drama nor countless others 90s dramas suffer like crazy from the "pitiful pushover FL" syndrome - I don't see Ji Sook happy with one single decision she makes. She's constantly in pain, or suffering, or sad, or downtrodden/working hard... I get that this was the sentiment of the lower class in the Korean 90s - but can y'all let her smile for once? Kim Hye Sun is one gorgeous woman when she smiles!

Rewatch value - 6,5/10 because there aren't really many "rewatch worthy" scenes except the above mentioned chase scene, and maaaaybe some emotional scenes in the prison as well as the "climax" before the ending.

But all in all, while it isn't necessarily a "Top 50 Masterpiece", it is nice for a little nostalgia trip as well as for the feels of the 90s, of fighting your way through life and circumstances, and always having hope in front of your eyes. Plus, the OST is top tier.

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