Story (9/10):
The story is interesting mostly, because of the wonderful characters. The subject matter might be excruciatingly boring, but instead you sort of get interested in the world of sales and contracts. The story also brings out a lot of the negatives of the Korean workplace... which I hope they are exaggerating, but probably aren't. The pacing is wonderful and I was never tempted to skip ahead.
Acting/Cast:
This drama was cast wonderfully and I felt that all of the actors did a great job. The stars of the show for me were the sympathetic main character (Im Shi Wan), his boss (Lee Sung Min), co-worker (Kim Dae-Myung) and the comedic relief (Byun Yo Han). The characters felt like real, relatable people with their own motivations and gripes, managing to grip my heartstrings many times.
Music:
The music was very suitable and mostly you payed no attention to it. It perfectly accompanied the drama, but I wish there had been just a few more theme songs since this drama definitely would've deserved more.
Overall:
I started this drama expecting to drop it after one episode. Instead I couldn't wait to watch more and more. I raise my hat to the writer since this is one of the few dramas where I felt like the writer really knew their stuff - the office felt real, the work felt real, the characters felt real. I would definitely recommend this drama to anyone who loves Korean dramas and is ready for something a little more special than the average cheesy romance. Also this is a great drama for anyone who feels like their life is at a dead end, this drama can brighten your day with some "realistic positivity" in a world which feels far too cynical and cold.
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What a journey!
Oh, this show was GOOD. I got that feeling I hardly ever get while watching dramas — wanting to keep watching, but also feeling sad as the episode numbers dwindled because I didn't want the show to end! I totally understand the hype for this show.Above all, the standout factor of this drama comes from the characterization and the acting. Jang Geu Rae is pitiful yet determined and endlessly rootable, and Im Siwan pulled it off flawlessly. I thought I needed this show to eventually get over Run On, but instead, I am glad Run On is still airing because it means I get to see more Siwan after Misaeng. Whew. Similarly, thank goodness there's Hospital Playlist 2 so I can see more of our lovable Kim Dae Myung. And I'm excited to watch When the Camellia Blooms for more Kang Ha Neul. But above all, the standout actor was Lee Sung Min; the stubborn yet fiercely moral Mr. Oh. The Baeksang awards that Mr. Oh and Geu Rae achieved were 100% deserved.
I liked all the small moments of office culture and office life, as well as the contemplative hot takes on how we choose to live our lives. As an office worker, this show resonated in many ways. As someone in the west, I recognize I won't relate to everything — such as the strict hierarchy, the militant influences / punishment, the extent of corruption and bribery, the reward for good work being... more work. Even still, I saw shades of what must be the universal plight of office workers everywhere — the importance of social relationships in the office yet few "real" friends, several issues that women face in the workforce from family planning to discrimination, the friction between plant and office, the many late nights and stressful hours spent to only perform as one tiny cog in the machine, the sacrifices you have to make to live the good life (e.g. missing out on family time), the time and effort it takes to build trust and gain responsibility when you're starting out, and so much more. Beyond the office, we also got to see broader societal issues at play too: difficult families and socioeconomic circumstances, the pressure to date but establish your career at the same time, or having to save face among relatives (among others). I love the subtlety and finesse — plus the real laughter and tears that I shed along the way.
I think the standout moment for me was when Baek Ki eventually came to understand the term "privilege." We all get dealt different hands in the game of life. And I'm not going to lie, the Go and sauna scenes preceding this had me tearing up hard. I love how Geu Rae realized that family isn't necessarily by blood either, nor do these found families disappear when you cut ties. I also loved the hotel working weekend — it reminded me of my old case competition days, locked up in a hotel room all bleary eyed. It's an experience that bonds you, and was done in such a heartwarming and realistic way.
My only qualms preventing this show from being a perfect 10/10: a couple draggy episodes in the middle, too much yelling and stress (which felt unrealistic to me, but perhaps Korean office culture is really like that?), and the lack of logic to put so much time and effort into training a temp employee. But at the end of the day, there were unexpected twists, a whole lot of adventure, and amazing characters. We got to see people grow and face consequences (both good and bad) of their actions. I'm not sure I can describe the feeling this show gave me into coherent English words... perhaps this show is the one that finally got me to understand the meaning of the Korean term "han."
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It is not as it seems!
As international fans, we get to see a glamorized version of the realities that the working class experiences. Often times, and usually through K-Dramas, we see characters securing jobs with ease, finding romance while ultimately maintaining an active social life. We, as international fans, have coveted such culture. We think that it must be fun, different and exciting to live there... and I'm not saying it isn't! I'm saying that it just isn't as it seems.Misaeng does a tremendous job at helping us experience just how tough and competitive it is for South Korea's working class. The creators ensure that you experience these struggles through different lenses. In turn, you get to appreciate and understand just why things are the way they are. No matter how different you are, you will ultimately fall into the same system that has 'worked' for many years. This drama is one of those that you will find 'frustratingly satisfying'. The rollercoaster ride of emotions, the wins and losses, it's as though you experience these with them.
If you are a sucker for dramas with underdogs who set out to prove themselves... then this is a drama for you. There are very, very light hints of romance but don't watch this drama in hopes of that. One thing's for sure, this drama will teach you things! Highly recommend!
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Office drama for the tired office worker
I've had this story on my watchlist since maybe 2016 but I never watched this until this year. I have to admit, this show won't be for everyone but as a 26 year old yuppie with 6 years in the corporate world, I really enjoyed this drama.Unlike most office dramas I've seen, this show focuses on the day to day triumphs and struggles one faces in a 9-5 job. The drama tackles the issues that people in the corporate world encounter. And I appreciated the way they approached the office "drama".
As someone from the younger end of the workforce, I could really relate to the newbie group as they first learned to adapt to the working environment, to their supervisors and colleagues, and even figuring out how they could add value to their job and teams. You will empathize with the characters as each of them explores office life. I especially sympathize with them because I have been in exactly their situations myself. Seeing them overcome each struggle reminds me of the times I've conquered my own.
The portrayals of the different kinds of bosses were also very well done. And watching each newbie adapt to their own supervisor's teaching style was very relatable.
I liked how they showed how different friendships can develop in a professional environment. There are the newbies who started out as complete strangers who learned to like and respect each other. The supervisors whose work and responsibilities strained their friendship. And even the bosses who learned to accept that friendships in the office are hard to find when you're at the top.
I don't normally like kdrama endings but I pretty satisfied with the ending here. I know some people won't like how this ends but I think it illustrates the nature of a work cycle. There are time when people end up leaving and move on to different stages in their live. Or as Dong Sik would say, they're just opening another door in their life.
I recommend this drama to anyone who has struggled through the 9-5 life. It has a lot of relatable moments and relevant quotes. You will relive all the good and bad experiences in your office life but in the best possible way.
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From the OST to the actors.. this drama delivered life everlasting.
This writer has forever messed with my life and i say thank you very gamsa to them. This is one you will not regret watching
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Misaeng really surprised me. The story itself doesn’t sound like my cup of tea or that exciting and rather “ordinary” and ordinary isn’t always what I am looking for in the tv programs that I am watching but it pretty much just won me over at the first episode. It was fresh, it was sort of fun and sort of heart-warming and I think one of the charms of Misaeng is how ordinary it feels. This is just a drama about everyday life almost.
There is no over-dramatic plot, there is no romance in it or anything like that. It is sort of just very heartfelt, heart-warming story about this ordinary dude that is just trying his best to get his feet on the ground in this new environment that he is in. It is done very well, it is written and acted very well as well as directed and it manages to speak to people and connect to them since it is so easy to see yourself in these characters, even if you haven’t experienced what they have or are experiencing.
I really feel like applauding the writers and the director and everyone involved with this drama, as well as the manhwa author for thinking up this story since it really was just wonderfully done from the beginning and until the end. It really is the best drama that came out in 2014 and it is one of the dramas that I have enjoyed the most while watching it and I was never expecting that when I first started to watch it tbh.
I have mentioned that I thought Misaeng was fun to watch but it also sort of wasn’t, since it was quite heavy and I don’t think many people are just watching it for some entertainment because some of the scenes and themes in this drama are so heavy and make you feel quite sad while watching it but in a good way. There weren’t that big dramatic scenes but it is quite intense at times and so heartfelt in its delivery and the characters are amazing that is becomes sort of amazing and you are willing to watch these heavy scenes.
The main plot is almost just seeing these people interact and seeing the newbies trying to find their place in the workspace and seeing them fail and succeed at it. It has bosses that aren’t so good and bosses that are so nice and it talks about stress and tension in the workplace as well as misogyny and the question whatever you will become a permanent worker there or not and that maybe doesn’t sound that dramatic for a drama but it is very interesting, intense and realistic and we really didn’t need to have a bigger plot than that.
Like I said, that can be a bit heavy but there are some lighter scenes in between these heavy scenes and while they don’t really hurt as much in a good way but they make you feel a bit better and make the tension go away fro a little while. Some of my favorite scenes in this drama are these more lighter scenes, where we see the characters growing closer and working together.
The friendship that bosomed between the newbies and the sales team nr. 3 was one of the best things about this drama and it both broke my heart and glued it back together at one point or another in this drama. I just want these people to be friends forever and the thought of that not happening was sometimes unbearable.
Mr. Oh and Geu Rae are the most popular ship or relationship in this drama, which is completely understandable and they are so sweet together, as well as the friendship that slowly grows between the newbies at the workplace. I also really really liked how there were no love-lines and there is no second lead or anything like that. There don’t need to be a love-line in every single drama and this story just isn’t about that so it wouldn’t really fit.
Shows like Misaeng don’t tend to get me in the heart like I wanted but man this show owned my heart. I also sort of knew that I could be very good but that did not mean that I would have to like it since you don’t always end up liking shows or movies that are really good simply because they didn’t get you in the heart. You didn’t feel anything while watching it. That is not the case with Misaeng and that makes me super happy.
Sometimes it was hard to watch and some of the character arcs didn’t really do it for me but I liked how every character got their own time to be explored and we got some time to know them, at least the major characters. I almost have nothing but praises for this show except my somewhat usual complaint with TvN dramas and that is that sometimes their episodes can be rather long but other than that they are doing a great job.
I may have gotten more entertainment out of other dramas this year but Misaeng is one of those dramas that I really cherish and I am pretty sure that I am going to remember it after few years while I might not do that with some of the more entertaining dramas that aired this year. It is also so original and well done that it is almost impossible to just forget it. It just really spoke to me, even if I have never been in most of these situations before and it is very well done and I am not surprised over how popular it got. I just hope this review is doing it justice.
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If you've worked in corporate Misaeng will be relatable
Misaeng is such a mirror in the life of an everyday corporate worker, right from not figuring out how to operate a printer, getting screamed at by a boss to closing a project that seemed impossible.All the characters are so well crafted, every single character will remind you of someone you've worked with. The good the bad and the ones you're not really sure where they fall.
It's a slow burn but not boring, gets into technicalities of a sales job but doesn't really alienates. It almost seems like not much really happened but so much has happened and we've lived it together with the characters
There is no love story, no romance but it celebrates the pure platonic bonds and comraderrie you share when you suffer and celebrate together.
Jang Gure's the central character pretty well summed up a millennial new jobber, all we wanted to do was learn how to give our best even if it meant bending backwards, it was always efforts more important than skills. Ofcourse things have changed now.
Last 20 minutes of the show was such an acid trip though, so far away from the slice of life tone that all the other episodes had, but I'm not complaining.
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What struck me about Misaeng was how instantly I was drawn and invested to the characters. Every character, lead and support all play a critical role in someone's arc. Mr. Oh who is our male lead's team leader. He is known to be a chill but meticulous worker, and I absolutely loved his interaction and his developing relationship with GeuRae. And then I also loved watching him try and balance his moral integrity with some of the kind of sketchy work situations that he's put into.
Through our female lead we explore some sexist attitudes. There is a lot more going on with her beyond just being a woman in an all-boys club kind of environment, which takes a while to develop. There are quite a few questions that keep getting presented throughout the course of the series that keep you engaged, and her backstory is one of them.
Next, we have Byun Yo Han's character who I see as 'the free-rider': The one that do nothing in a groupwork but swoop in last minute to get all of the credit. He is a little extravagant and quite annoying, but as the show develops, I see his motivations, his backstory, and he becomes one of my favorites. His arc and struggle with his boss feels very relatable.
Lastly is Kang Haneul's character. He is the intern that has it all on paper, he's got all the background and confidence... Essentially everything that our male lead lacks. However, he struggles to connect with his boss and find fulfillment from his work. And because of that, he looks to our male lead, who thrives in this environment, he gets a little bit jealous. Honestly the pairing of them was just brilliant.
I really enjoy the realistic and very genuine humor, such as characters will say the same joke once, twice, even three times throughout the series, and then it will be used to create new comedy. We will recognize the same joke and it evolves into something new. It reminded me of the inside jokes that we develop with people in our real lives, like when Mr. Oh kept tripping people and then saying the same thing after he tripped different people. I thought that was hilarious.
I have two cons. The first one being the premise is never fulfilled. Based on our male lead being admitted as an intern due to his connections, it's a really big deal in the first few episodes, as well as his GO mindset was often portrayed but it never manifests into anything special. The second one is the pacing in most episodes are very slow, ans since this series is long, it might be boring to some. But if you're interested at all, it's worth it. If you watch the first episode and are not feeling it, I think you're safe to drop it as it is a good indication of what the entire series is going to be about.
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The best learning curve drama
This drama comes from the same director of My Mister, my favorite drama, so I have high expectations. And this drama doesn’t disappoint me, even though there was a point when I put it on hold because I wasn’t in the mood.Then I picked it up again and I was blown away by the strong story and characters. This drama shows in details how every character can develop into a better (or worse) person.
Even the senior/mentor figures akso have something to learn from their junior/subordinates.
Yes, you need to have some patience to follow the storyline, but it’s worth it because it’s so satisfying.
No silly office romance, it’s mostly about friendship and supporting each other to get up again.
I’m not an office worker but I can relate to their struggle, and sympathize with them.
This is a Kdrama with the best learning process and character development that I’ve seen so far.
The only setback is too many unnecessary flashback scenes, but I understand it is to show the characters’ thinking process.
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The characters are excellently acted by the actors! They are all brilliant and believable! Mr. Oh is the best character for me, he is so relatable. I am also in deep thinking that somehow I am also a Mr. Oh in real life and in work place. Results oriented, people-person, passionate! And since each episodes presented different life / work situations, you can truly say that somehow we (you) will also acted similarly or otherwise. This is experienced-based drama watching. Everything happening in the workplace are real! But i love all the characters, they are real!
Music is just enough for me to move my emotions while watching!
For Re-watch value, I will give an 8 since this is so makjang, I might only choose those very light and funny episodes for a more relax rewatching experience.
This is on my top10 dramas of all time, highly recommended, a lot of lessons to be learned!
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There is hardly any romance to speak of. This is a rarity in the Kdrama world and many people will criticize Kdramas (and often rightly so) that there is too much romance, and that it is often stupid and cringe worthy. Not with Misaeng. You think at the start that there would be romance, but then you realise that the story doesn't focus on that at all. This drama to me, was all about subverting expectations. Melodramatic and over-the-top music? None of that. Corny acting? None of that. Predictable plot? Not at all. Every episode ends on a happy, or at least somewhat happy ending? Certainly not. This drama goes to some very, very dark places and that's why some people can't handle it. But if you want to watch something realistic, and not have everything end with "happily ever after", then this is for you.
On top of all that, the acting is first-class. I loved how most of the actors in this weren't extremely well-known, and they chose quality over popularity. The main actor Im Si-wan is great, and you will feel sympathy for him from the first episode. The supporting cast are also wonderful. But it is Lee Sung-min who truly is the best, and gives a world-class performance. I believe he is one of the finest Korean actors of all time.
Finally, when it comes to the plot, Misaeng is also original. The story is a mixture of over-arching story lines, as well as smaller stories contained in each episode. It is by no means an episodic series, but many episodes do contain self-contained plot lines as well as stories which are continued onto the next episode. This is what I love about Misaeng, because it balances both of these out. I usually dislike dramas which focus way too much on plot-lines and having crazy twists at the end of each episode, and not enough time is spent on character development and smaller plot-lines in the background. Misaeng has the perfect mixture. By the end of the 20 episodes, I guarantee you will feel attached to all the wonderful characters, and you'll be very sad. Not because it has a devastatingly depressing ending (it doesn't), but because you'll hate saying goodbye to all the characters, and wishing that the series was longer.
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