minj99
Everything is turnt up to 11
Crash Landing on You is absolutely absurd. It has one of the highest cable drama ratings and should be on everyone’s 2020 kdrama watchlist. The drama has you going back and forth from laugh-crying to cry-crying. The cast is flawless. The director comes from Romance is a Bonus Book with the screenwriter of The Legend of the Blue Sea. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin also come from 2018 dramas - Memories of the Alhambra and Something in the Rain, respectively. Loads of quality romcom experience, and it shows.
The drawbacks. In an effort to fill major plot holes, conflict escalation and resolution are left vague when convenient, especially for the non-main characters and arc. CLOY also pushes the envelope with its near 90 minute runtime per episode. All-in-all, the drama shoots for the moon but crashes in the stars.
Story:
The premise and story supports the success of Crash Landing on You by spinning a serious current event into an absurd adventure. The North Korea-South Korea conflict immediately adds to the gravitas of the drama, and subverting this expectation results in unforgettable comedy. The over-the-top approach is handled beautifully, and viewer immersion is rarely ruined. Production was even sued for its relatable portrayal of North Korea (It was actually “sued” for glamorizing NK conditions, but I digress).
The drama intertwines the story of four main leads and a large supporting cast, so big that it even has a recap episode. It is entirely understandable why the drama does not fully explain or explore every single plotline. On the other hand, Crash Landing on You has a total runtime equivalent to a 20 episode drama, and it even contains what could be seen as filler scenes. Again, this is being nitpicky with an incredibly entertaining watch.
Acting:
Crash Landing on You actually reunites the two main leads from 2018 movie, The Negotiation, where they are adversaries. In CLOY, their comradery and chemistry is unquestionable. Hyun Bin has received his fair share of criticism in the past, but this character is well suited for his strengths, being good looking and stoic. He earnestly acts each scene with that ridiculous “North Korean” accent, even adding emotions when required (but bloopers, please!). Anyone can appreciate his effort in CLOY, even if it is not winning any acting awards. Son Ye-Jin, on the other hand, I have been a fan of from Something in the Rain. I am most impressed by her expanded comedic role in Crash Landing on You. She is funny in SitR but hilarious in CLOY. Some lines land a little too extra but most hit their timing.
The second leads’ acting also impresses as their roles expand by the end of the drama. Plus, there is too much to say about the large and talented supporting cast. Kim Sun-Young continues to earn her reputation as a talented cast member. The mini-Something in the Rain reunion with Jang So-Yeon is welcome. I give the underrated award to Hwang Woo-Seul-Hye as the lovable/hateable doofus sister-in-law (also, how is she 40 years old!). Even the guest roles amaze, like when my jaws hit the floor seeing Kim Soo-Hyun’s character. Everyone’s buy-in to the premise of CLOY is what creates that special level of immersion that we love about all great kdramas.
Music:
Like many watchers, I am also a fan of kpop, and the musical ensemble for Crash Landing on You delivers on all fronts. IU, one of the hottest kpop stars, sings the final OST, capping off the musical journey of CLOY. Another rising star, Song Ga-In, sings one of the best tracks on the OST. I have also been following Davichi since debut and hearing them in CLOY is a joy. The only knockback is that the music does not push its boundary quite like the story and acting of CLOY.
Rewatch Value:
I plan to rewatch Crash Landing on You as soon as I have the chance. On top of everything said thus far, there are references to other dramas, pop culture, and current events, and I am sure that I have missed many of them. There is so much to enjoy about CLOY for first-time kdrama watchers AND veteran viewers. After my rewatch, I may even revise my final score to a 9 because CLOY sets the bar very high for 2020.
The drawbacks. In an effort to fill major plot holes, conflict escalation and resolution are left vague when convenient, especially for the non-main characters and arc. CLOY also pushes the envelope with its near 90 minute runtime per episode. All-in-all, the drama shoots for the moon but crashes in the stars.
Story:
The premise and story supports the success of Crash Landing on You by spinning a serious current event into an absurd adventure. The North Korea-South Korea conflict immediately adds to the gravitas of the drama, and subverting this expectation results in unforgettable comedy. The over-the-top approach is handled beautifully, and viewer immersion is rarely ruined. Production was even sued for its relatable portrayal of North Korea (It was actually “sued” for glamorizing NK conditions, but I digress).
The drama intertwines the story of four main leads and a large supporting cast, so big that it even has a recap episode. It is entirely understandable why the drama does not fully explain or explore every single plotline. On the other hand, Crash Landing on You has a total runtime equivalent to a 20 episode drama, and it even contains what could be seen as filler scenes. Again, this is being nitpicky with an incredibly entertaining watch.
Acting:
Crash Landing on You actually reunites the two main leads from 2018 movie, The Negotiation, where they are adversaries. In CLOY, their comradery and chemistry is unquestionable. Hyun Bin has received his fair share of criticism in the past, but this character is well suited for his strengths, being good looking and stoic. He earnestly acts each scene with that ridiculous “North Korean” accent, even adding emotions when required (but bloopers, please!). Anyone can appreciate his effort in CLOY, even if it is not winning any acting awards. Son Ye-Jin, on the other hand, I have been a fan of from Something in the Rain. I am most impressed by her expanded comedic role in Crash Landing on You. She is funny in SitR but hilarious in CLOY. Some lines land a little too extra but most hit their timing.
The second leads’ acting also impresses as their roles expand by the end of the drama. Plus, there is too much to say about the large and talented supporting cast. Kim Sun-Young continues to earn her reputation as a talented cast member. The mini-Something in the Rain reunion with Jang So-Yeon is welcome. I give the underrated award to Hwang Woo-Seul-Hye as the lovable/hateable doofus sister-in-law (also, how is she 40 years old!). Even the guest roles amaze, like when my jaws hit the floor seeing Kim Soo-Hyun’s character. Everyone’s buy-in to the premise of CLOY is what creates that special level of immersion that we love about all great kdramas.
Music:
Like many watchers, I am also a fan of kpop, and the musical ensemble for Crash Landing on You delivers on all fronts. IU, one of the hottest kpop stars, sings the final OST, capping off the musical journey of CLOY. Another rising star, Song Ga-In, sings one of the best tracks on the OST. I have also been following Davichi since debut and hearing them in CLOY is a joy. The only knockback is that the music does not push its boundary quite like the story and acting of CLOY.
Rewatch Value:
I plan to rewatch Crash Landing on You as soon as I have the chance. On top of everything said thus far, there are references to other dramas, pop culture, and current events, and I am sure that I have missed many of them. There is so much to enjoy about CLOY for first-time kdrama watchers AND veteran viewers. After my rewatch, I may even revise my final score to a 9 because CLOY sets the bar very high for 2020.
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