Making time for the important.
Nowadays the urgent doesn't leave time for the important and that's Summer Strike's entire premise. A young woman deciding to make time for what is important for her own mental health and happiness. This is not a perfect drama but it's something I would recommend for its message.I think any warning should be that this drama is not a fun romance but a slice of life portraying sensitive issues as mental, emotional and physical pain and health. I found some of these characters so annoying because of the accuracy in which sexism, ignorance, selfishness and closed-mindedness is portrayed in the show. We all want this world to be different, but most of the time Summer Strike shows it like it is. Changes are gradual and slow. Trust the healing process because it's very satisfying. Thankfully the frustrating characters and moments are well balanced with wholesome scenes, which will have to squealing and laughing with excitement.
All these characters, who were alienated, abused and depressed were able to find each other and create a family. It's not a perfect family but it fills the house with laughter, kindness and warmth. That's what matters and I love it.
I have read comments about how Yeo-reum didn't get any development because she never "stood up for herself". I would say that she didn't need to: she was perfectly fine as she was and if anything her softness was actually the catalyst for change in others. Yeo-reum's "development", in my opinion, was about accepting herself for who she is, wants and needs; not changing and becoming tougher. I would even go as far as to argue, her softness are what makes her strong. Because she keeps putting herself out there and living her life the best she can, knowing full well she might get hurt but that there's also the chance for something magical happening. She has a rich inner life and at the end it's reflected on the outside as well. If anything, Yeo-reum "stood up for herself" in the very first episodes when she quitted her job and moved away. That decision wasn't about her running away, but about her running towards something. She just didn't know what yet.
Another important message in Summer Strike is that being soft is not a bad thing. Leaving toxic environments and relationships, it's okay. You don't have to be an ambitious person just because society expects you to be due to your intellect, gender or any other reason they come up with. Learn to know what is it that you need.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Ordinary show about ordinary people suffering extraordinarily
Sea change and tree change are popular themes of recent dramas. Lying flat is now popular amongst the young as a way of escaping the rat race. I assume the writer-nim wanted to explore these themes and Summer Strike was born.The combination of those two themes can lead to some interesting scenarios but the writer/director tried too hard to break from the clichés by making the Show gritty and true to life. It meant that we are presented with a parade of difficult, belligerent characters who lives in a dull and rundown seaside village. Add physical/domestic violence, bullying, murders and all manners of societal ills and we have a place that tourists will choose to avoid. Yes, as the show progresses, some of the locals will show their true colours and they are not a bad bunch but most of them are still taciturn.
So rather than the show hooking us with fun in the sun, we ended up with a morbid fascination on how low can the FL go. Of course, it will not hit rock bottom, this is not Eve after all, but the first few episodes are not recommended viewing for anyone suffering from depressions. Even after the FL’s life start to turn around and she made new friends in the village, the focus simply moved to the complicated lives of the villagers. There are not a lot of unicorns frolicking around that village, that's for sure. There are certainly progress amongst the melodramas, but it is a mixed bag of pros and cons.
Typical of this type of shows, there is a turning point where the writer-nim realised that they have gone far enough with the pain and suffering and needs a way out. While she did a decent job turning the ship around, the resolution seems contrived and expeditious. The FL is once again the key to unravelling a years old mystery.
The last episode is pure fan service with the writer-nim regaling us with the theme of the show. The unicorns are finally let out and they milled around uncertainly for quite awhile. This is because the way the Show handles relationship is very ambiguous. The OTP is obviously attracted to each other, but we get the BFF vibe most of the time. It was literally in the dying minute of the Show when we get the confirmation that they have finally move up a pay grade. Even then, there is next to no skinship. The relationship between the librarian and the shopkeeper with the cute son is even more muddled. The SFL pointedly asked him several times whether she should move to Seoul, and he kept deflecting it or resorted to the “Go! Go! See if I care” cliché replies. Why? It was painful to watch the poor man suffer. Surprisingly, it is the senior high schooler couple who is much more forthright with their relationship. It isn’t smooth sailing for them neither (nothing in this show is ever easy) but at least we know where they stand.
There are some high impact and emotional scenes which the actors did well enough. It is the more mundane scenes that I find lack energy. Both the leads are trying to keep a low profile in the community which didn’t help the energy level whatsoever. The ML is very handsome, and he can certainly act cute but I find him a bit stiff when it comes to really emotional scenes.
The OST is unobtrusive to the point that I can’t recall any of the tunes. It is a one-time watch for me.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
The show starts out very strongly by introducing our female lead, Yeo Reum. I find the description here on MDL and viki inaccurate; Yeo Reum's life is not going well from the very start of the show. The first episode is a bit tough to watch, although not terribly so. I think a lot of people can relate to Yeo Reum's life, the feelings of repetitive nothingness going to work every day, being talked down to and disrespected, and not having the confidence to speak up for oneself. Seeing Yeo Reum's very relatable life and problems really made me sympathize with her and root for her, so it was a great relief when she decided to completely change her life and move to Angok. I think there's a relief the viewer experiences in seeing someone break free of the expectations that society puts on us and deciding to go "on strike" from life. I really loved how the whole theme of the show was essentially that societal expectations don't dictate what will truly make us happy or fulfilled.
I loved Yeo Reum's relationships that developed over the course of the show, both romantic and platonic. Her friendship with Bom was super heartwarming, and I loved the two of them acting like sisters and becoming their own little family. Yeo Reum was able to provide support, comfort, and joy into Bom's life, and in turn I think she was able to finally have a family that loved her the same way she loved them. Yeo Reum and Dae Beom's relationship was absolutely delightful to see unfold. It's a love story between two quiet, shy people, and they are so sweet together. I don't think I've ever squealed over seeing two characters texting each other for the first time, but I sure did when watching this show. I liked that Dae Beom also had his own issues to work out, and that he was able to do so over the course of the story. Both Yeo Reum and Dae Beom played important roles in each other's growth and healing.
While there are many heartwarming elements, it's not a universally happy show. There are some heavy issues that are dealt with, including Bom's alcoholic father, Dae Beom's traumatic past, among others. I can't say I love how characters acted in regards to some of these plot points, nor in how the writers resolved them. I wasn't a huge fan of the "graffiti" subplot (dunno what else to call it, especially without spoiling anything), but it served its own purpose in the story. Some people really didn't like episodes 10/11, but I surprisingly did, because it felt like the culmination of plot points that had been building throughout the show. I wouldn't call this show "realistic," but I liked how parts of it didn't give you the happy ending that you might have wanted. I also liked that characters' relationships were allowed to be messy, such as Jae Hoon and Bom's. They're young and immature, so of course it's not going to be flawless. You don't like all the characters in this show, but they had their good moments, and many of them were somewhat better by the end of the show. For example, Ji Young got on my nerves, but she had a character arc of sorts, and so I liked that.
I don't know if this show just happened to touch my heart in ways that are personal, and thus this show may not be objectively that amazing. But I loved it so very much.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Nicely Balanced Slice of Life Murder -Mystery with a Dash of Romance
This is a story about a girl who got tired of exchanging her time and self respect for money and honestly just needed a break... So she sold pretty much all she owned and decided to take a much needed break acting pro actively before it would have been to late and she would have hit a wall...Having pretty much 0 obligations (ok one annoying older brother), she could basically go wherever her very tight budget let her and ended up in a town by the sea with a library and a mystery to solve... It was of course not her job to solve that mystery but living in a murder house for the sake of being able to live on her budget kind of put her in the middle of things.
On her way to figure out just how little she wanted to have in her life she found a family, friendship a running partner and some slight romance.
So if you are looking for a bubbly, steamy romance you may want to look pretty much anywhere else with the genre romance... as the most intense romance is probably provided but the teens in this show and not by the leads. However if you are looking for some really good friendships, growth and life is neither black or white and definitely not always easy... truths can change, trust is complicated and domestic violence is also complicated. And a slight murder mystery that is highly predictable but will keep you on your toes... This is a good place to find it.
I must warn you thought that there are a bunch of cringey monologs, annoying elements here and there, loud crying and drunken scenes that are just off... There is however also a really cute dog, Im Siwan running, a lot of running as well as him in a wet t-shirt, as well as great umbrella and rain scenes all around it.
There is also a decent message telling viewers that what is good for you may not be good for the next so stop judging people by your own standards... The drama has a pretty good balance between entertainment and quality so it is an easy binge with lots of lovable characters.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
A reflective slice of small town life
Summer Strike is what I would call a mood slice of life drama. It's a story about Yeo Reum "Summer" whose hectic life is falling apart when she decides to pack a backpack with a few belongings and go on strike from the life she's known. She winds up in a strange small town full of interesting characters and makes the choice to lead an unconventional life without any responsibilities or plans. The concept is pretty inspiring except for one thing... Yeo Reum is a frustrating mess. Good thing for her, the entire town is full of messy characters.Although Yeo Reum is the main character the true star of the show is Yim Si Wan as An Dae Beom. He is so awkwardly adorable and endearing, and honestly the most interesting character even while barely saying a word. He has cute chemistry with Yeo Reum from the very beginning, and their connection is super sweet, but if you are looking for a conventional romance be warned that this is NOT it. Think more slow-burn kindred spirits who like to run a lot and you will be far less likely to be disappointed. Many of their interactions happen in the library which should give you an idea of how adorkable and wholesome these moments are.
The rest of the ensemble is great too, but full of frustrating characters, from Grandmas to single dads, HS students, and ex-cons. I don't want to speak too much about them all in detail since the interesting part of the story is learning about these characters as Yeo Reum does. The town is full of sadness and tragedy and is haunted by a mysterious murder from years ago. Of course, Yeo Reum's presence changes things in the town mostly for the better, but not the mood. This drama is still mostly melancholy, frustrating, and sad. Still, this isn;t quite the "fish out of water" trope that I expected. It's more about the town adapting to and at times blatantly rejecting a stranger's presence.
Would I watch this again? Probably not. Although I like the simple concept of the drama, I do think the plot isn't as interesting as the characters. There also aren't many scenes that I would necessarily want to rewatch. If I were a bigger fan of slice-of-life dramas then maybe just the small-town atmosphere would be enough to make me want to rewatch/revisit Angok. I thought it was nice to escape to Angok each week, but since many of the characters were frustrating, I was more than ready to say goodbye to them by episode 12... the perfect length for this drama.
Overall, this drama feels a little like reading someone's diary. Or rather, listening to someone's diary since there is a lot of narration. There isn't a major character transformation but watching feels intimate and definitely piqued my curiosity throughout. The romance and mystery parts of the story were a little disappointing because they were so played down. However, it's certainly an eventful summer, no matter how slow paced the drama feels at times. If you ever had a fantasy of running away from your life this will either inspire you or scare you. By the end, I did feel comforted by the sense of community, I was touched by Yeo Reum's imperfect pursuit of happiness, and there's an emotionally healing feeling even if it left me dry eyed throughout, so I would recommend binging this it if you're in a introspective and reflective mood, and I appreciate this simple drama reminding me to appreciate the simple things.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Summer Strike highlight the importance of small daily happiness, beyond the hustle culture
"Summer Strike" follows a young woman who quits her office job and moves to the countryside after her mother's sudden death. Then, she meets a mysterious librarian and develop an interesting relationship.I was interested on the premise set upon criticizing the hustle culture while highlighting the importance of various types of relationships and daily happiness. However, I would have prefer more discussion touching on the hustle culture and more conclusion on them.
From the production and acting, it was great. Visually, Summer Strike is beautiful, they used the environment they were filming in to its full potential. Kim Seol Hyun improved greatly since her debut, and Yim Si Wan is one of the best idol turned actors. I enjoyed was their romance from their hilarious firsts encounter and the natural and slow-burn development. There was no culminating intimate skinship, but they’re so peaceful to watch.
I wasn’t a fan when the plot became muddled with a mystery murder storyline, even though it did serve a purpose for our lead’s character arc. Who likes a healing show about a timid female lead who moves away from the toxic environment to end up in another toxic environment? Not me. So in the end, the show is not really relaxing and warm, and I can’t feel myself learning anything from it.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
The Beauty of Found Family
Summer Strike is a heart-warming drama that beautifully portrays emotions and captures a realistic approach to how one might feel about life. This drama follows multiple characters on their journey of self-discovery and happiness, but we’re first introduced to the lovely female lead Lee Yeoreum (Kim Seolhyun). Unsatisfied with her life in the city, she seeks comfort in a small town. There, she finds peace within herself, makes friends, and finds love along the way.Yeoreum’s character was enjoyable. Her gentleness and sincerity were felt in every episode, with every character she encountered, which was nice. The male lead is An Daebeom (Im Siwan), a shy introvert with unresolved childhood trauma. Daebeom and Yeoreum’s relationship was executed nicely, for the most part, because I enjoy slow-paced dramas. I was satisfied with their ending, although a part of me still feels like something was lacking. They have no kiss scenes or anything obviously romantic like a declaration of love, but even without this you can feel how much they care for each other, and that is why I watched until the end.
The side couple Kim Bom (Shin Eunsoo) and Heo Jaehoon (Bang Jaemin) made up for what the main couple lacked. Jaehoon was such a bright light in Bom’s life and exactly what she needed. I wasn’t always happy with the way she treated him but Bom suffered so much, I literally couldn’t stay mad at her. Jaehoon was so expressive with his feelings and cared for Bom despite her complexity. Even with his own issues and eventual growing jealousy, his focus was always on her.
I think this drama would’ve been even better with 14 or 16 episodes instead of 12. I would’ve loved to see more of the relationship between the main leads and less of characters I didn’t care about, like Jo Jiyoung. I would have also liked at least a few scenes from the perspective of Bom’s brother Kim Hanuel (Shin Ki-Joon). Hanuel went through the same family struggles as Bom so I think it would’ve been super interesting to see more of him, but that one might just be me! Also, whatever happened to Yeoreum’s brother? We never heard from him again, which didn’t really matter in regards to the main story, but I thought he would’ve popped up once more.
The found family trope isn’t necessarily a favorite of mine but I grew to love and appreciate it way more because of Summer Strike. It wasn’t perfect but the message it carries leaves a lasting impression, one I won’t forget. The music was pretty, and the actors and actresses did their job wonderfully. I can see myself rewatching again if I ever need comfort. I’ll miss it!
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
So Much Potential But No Follow Through
This drama seemed to not know which direction it wanted to go. It set up many different things while never fully expanding on the ideas presented leading to a rather disappointing and underwhelming show.The first episode had me sobbing and so ready to watch a show about a woman in her 20's dealing with grief and finally finding herself outside of the oppressive society she had been a part of. Then episode 2 happened and all my hopes and dreams for this show were washed away. The grieving and growing process in a small seaside town would be more then enough to fill a show, but this show decided to completely throw away this idea to instead show everyone and their mother being rude to our main character for seemingly no reason, to act like our main characters grief and growing process never existed, and add in an unnecessary murder plot. Sure, there were cute moments, I especially liked the scenes when the four main characters would be hanging out together, like when they went on a trip together or had meals together. I also did like the more "romantic" scenes between the two main couples as well, but these things didn't have much to do with a plot and the plot is what was really lacking in this show.
Overall, this was not the worst thing I have ever watched and despite my low rating I don't fully feel like my time was wasted with this show, but what it's advertising and what it actually is, is two very different things and what it actually is, isn't very good.
I guess if I want to watch a show similar to Hometown Cha-cha-cha I should probably just go and watch Hometown Cha-cha-cha again.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Solid but not without its share of problems
Pros- overall soothing atmosphere
- focus on self-care and healing
- focus on shy, introverted characters (after Liberation Notes and others this seems a recent trend in K-Dramas, which I love)
- found family theme
- the character of Dae Beom (Im Si Wan has such a knack for creating unique, weird, intriguing characters from scratch who truly come to life)
- many characters I instantly disliked have grown on me, e.g. Ji Young, Sung Min
- chemistry between ML & FL which is great without even so much as a kiss
- acting for the most part (Kim Seol Hyun managed a lengthy drunk scene without ever being over the top, annoying or silly, you can't take your eyes off of her, great physical acting)
Cons
- Yeo Reum falling back into her little-girl-routine gets tedious and feels insincere after some time, it is a way of denying responsibility (which is understandable, she is there to overcome trauma and not find more trauma, but being there and living her life and being part of ongoing issues is still a responsibility she can not possibly escape)
- Yeo Reum being a little self-righteous at times, which would be fine, except I gather we are supposed to root for her
- toxicity here and there (how dare you scream at your family/grandma), a recurring feature of this director, familiar from Coffee Prince and Cheese in the Trap
- cramming a crime plot into the last episodes that is resolved as fast as it pops up, which is laughable
A solid 4/5.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
It's alright, but not a fave
I just finished Summer Strike and I'm not sure how to feel.I feel like just when I was starting to really like and get to know many characters the series is already over. I'm left wishing I could see more, especially with some of the side characters.
When I first discovered this drama it was via a tik tok video and I was interested after hearing a summary of the first episode.
I found the story engaging and pleasant up until when the grandmother died, that's when it went to a not so peaceful vibe.
I haven't read the webtoon so I didn't have expectations/ an idea that it would turn into a murder and mystery case, but the shift felt sudden. I know there were some hints with the graffiti and such, but I was mainly here for the happy vibes :P
The acting was done great by everyone, I especially liked the male lead, Dae-Beom. He felt very refreshing and it was nice to see a fellow introvert. The female lead, Yeo-Reum was nice too, though she was frustrating during the first few episodes.
It took 3-4 episodes for me to like the other side characters and they really became my faves, Bom's brother especially.
All in all I think it was an okay series, nothing to right home about tbh. I enjoyed it while it was airing, catching episodes every Tuesday, but I wish they didn't end it at 12 episodes. It felt like it needed more time, the little time skip didn't feel as satisfying as it should be.
I don't see myself going in for a rewatch, I think experiencing it this time is good enough ^_^
I wouldn't say it's a waste of time, it's alright, just not a fave.
Bonus points for having a westie lol
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Happy that this drama existed, frustrated with the same plot though
My review has story spoilers so if you are planning to watch this spoiler free then maybe skip my review for now and get back after completing it. It is more of a rant on my end to express how I felt. I would recommend watching it from ep 1-9 only. Rest is just avoidable.The drama had two segments to it. One segment from Ep 1-9 which was about healing and slice of life elements, then second Ep 10-12 which felt like written by a high school kid. Thankfully its short and manageable.
Imagine a story with all possible k-drama cliches you know and put into one, the result will be summer strike. To quote the cliches:
> A Seoul working class person, tired and bullied by manager. BASICALLY EACH AND EVERY CORPORATE WORKER IN A K-DRAMA
> Let all the parents of the main characters be either irresponsible or dead. HOW WILL THEY ADD TRAUMA TO THE CHARACTERS OTHERWISE RIGHT?
> The dreaded friend of one of the leads who had a gazillion years to confess their feelings yet become bitchy and whiny when main leads fell for each other..... because they expected the lead to magically know their feelings. THIS ONE IS PLAIN LAME.
> Kids bullying each other and the so called good kid gets jailed and cursed. [I am referring to Dae Ho and Bom's scenes of bullying. The teacher/aunt despite of knowing the kids were bullying Bom blamed her for existing. Oh and the aunt's English bf random scene.] DESPERATE MOVE TO CREATE UNFAIR SITUTAION IN A DRAMA 101.
> If there is a kind, amiable and happy halmonie [grandmother] in a show, kill her. Why you may think? Just because an old person dying out of nowhere is sad and tear jerker.
> And here comes the best one- Think about one possible "good" reason for a breakup in k-drama. Answer- Going to US for further studies. Yes millions of people in the continent having breakups and apparently all the Korean production units have mutually decided to use this reason. STOP USING GOING ABROAD AS A BREAKUP PLOT DEVICE...CHEABAL!!! MY SCARS FROM 2521 IS STILL NOT HEALED OKAY.
> With Im Si Wan as the actor, it sometimes became Run On Season 2. I mean most of his scenes in the first half were of running around randomly lol JUST WHY?
Even with its flaws, I enjoyed the scenes in the first segment and never felt bored. Both the actors did a commendable job. ISW was just so good, like there were two scenes when Yeo Reum dressed up and I could literally feel Dae Bom being attracted to her. Such micro expressions from him but so well done. And Kim Seol Hyun , her style was kept plain yet she was sooo beautiful. Even as a woman, I fell for her!
Also, I liked the MC characters. Both YR and DB had this self control to not lash back when people tend to misbehave around them. They had a powerful stance that no matter what happens they will not stoop like others and I actually admire that in them. It may seem they were weak but I think it was just the opposite, Their interactions and chemistry was soothing. I tend to fall for relationships where the two people are comfortable in silence. Too bad there was no romantic moments between them.
One scene from the drama which made home to me was when Jae Hoon was telling YR how him leaving would drift his and Bom's relationship apart and that he is scared. To which YR replies "let those who are drifting apart get drifted, who are hating you hates you. I will remember you as a good person and embrace you with a hug when we meet next" The line was so beautiful. We try so hard to control things which are beyond our control to maintain our "image". But those who are your true friends will wish good things for you and even you meet after them ages, they will happily embrace you with a hug and tell you how much they missed you. This was my fav moment from the drama.
To conclude, the first segment was good yet the last 3 episodes took an absurd turn. The mystery element was lame and was a forced plot device. DB finding out the actual killer only to realize he sent his dad to prison for no reason and losing his mom was totally dark and not addressed properly in the drama. Instead they spent time on one sided crush, breakups, random bullying scenes etc. which was a total waste of time and actors talent.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Amazing healing small-town romance
This drama is perfect for you if you enjoyed watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha. A story about a girl who, after many misfortunes, decides to leave Seoul and start a new quieter life in a small town by the sea. This drama also features the residents of the small town and shows a bit of their points of view on living there. This is also perfect for the fans of a slow burn romance.The drama focuses on the friendships the female lead makes on the countryside. The friends she makes come in all different ages and it's wonderful to see that there's no age barrier for friends. I think a lot of dramas have only friendships with characters of same age and that's why this drama is a good change to that. Overall it's one of the best dramas I've ever watched this far.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
