Unusual Start

I was intrigued by the first scene of this new kdrama, which introduced the main characters in a unique way. The contrast between the rich and poor reminded me of the movie Parasite. It was clear that the male lead (ML) came from a dysfunctional family and had a lot of issues to deal with.However, my interest soon faded as the female lead (FL) appeared on the screen. She was shown to be a savior for the ML and his family from his mother's point of view. She seemed likable and innocent at first, but as the episode progressed, she revealed her true colors as a sneaky scammer. She had her eyes set on the ML’s family from the start, and everything she did was a calculated move to get closer to them. She got a job at a place where the ML’s mother often visited, she rescued the ML from a "suicide attempt", and she pretended to be a kind and caring person. She was clearly taking advantage of a vulnerable family, especially the ML who has a child and suffered from depression after losing his wife. She gathered information about them and tailored her behavior and speech to gain their trust. She made me dislike her so much that I didn’t want to watch the show anymore. I prefer main characters who are likable and relatable, not manipulative and selfish.

I also hated how the show used the classic trope of rich people being dumb and gullible. The ML’s mother believed the FL without doing any background check, even when the ML’s sister suggested it. The ML’s sister was not much smarter, as she wasted her money on various men and had no sense of responsibility. The FL’s few words were enough to win over the ML’s daughter and even the ML himself, which was unbelievable and unrealistic.

And let’s not forget about how they portrayed the ML’s sister, who was your typical fat person who ate in every scene and was supposed to be funny. The amount of fatphobia in this show was gross, especially in 2024. And the way they showed bulimia as a joke was insensitive and offensive. There was no creativity or empathy in this show, only stereotypes and clichés.

Lees verder