This review may contain spoilers
I think I'm the only one here who didn't enjoy this drama as much as everyone else. I just feel like this drama, in some way, romanticizes (or if not romanticize, definitely not criticize) Ji An's actions. She had no real consequences for her act of stalking and wiretapping Dong Hun. And of course, us viewers sympathize with Ji An so we naturally don't want anything bad to happen to her either. I guess, I just couldn't put that aside. I mean, of course, initially, there were people who were really upset with Ji An for wiretapping in the first place but quickly that turned into support. Every time Ji An listened to Dong Hun's personal life and got very emotional, I think it is supposed to be a very touching scene but instead, to me, it's just creepy. Dong Hun's privacy is invaded for 24/7. No one seems to be mad at Ji An for that, instead, they support her.
And then there's Kwang Il. So many people actually SHIP Ji An and Kwang Il... like HELLO? Kwang Il is the same person that beats the living crap out of Ji An. Yeah Kwang Il is messed up and I pity him but he needs HELP. Him being mentally unstable is NO EXCUSE for him beating Ji An up.
I just feel like this drama portrays very controversial topics in a positive light and I'm not a fan. My reasons for not liking this drama as much as other people could very well be the same reasons why they love this drama. After all, this drama definitely explores more controversial topics in a deep manner. I am a fan of dramas that aren't cliche too, but I just don't like the way this drama went about it.
I reallyyyyyy really liked Dong Hun's neighborhood though. I think that alone made me stick with this drama to the very end. 6.5/10 rating.
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The music and cinematography are also excellent.
And since I need to fill 500 characters, let's just say that Lee Ji Eun is fabulous. I knew she had it in her because I saw Producers. But her performance in this is magical: one of the best, if not THE best, lead actress performances I've seen.
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This review may contain spoilers
Good Premise but Flawed Execution
What I liked:The premise: Middle-aged man with relatively affluent lifestyle and well-established career encounters poor, miserable young girl and the two form an "unlikely" bond because they relate to each other's suffering. Also, a meditation on all the different types of suffering -- of a man being cheated on by his wife, of a girl victimized by society and circumstances, of a lonely aging woman deserted by her lover, etc. Suffering is something we all share, in one form or another, so it is a universal theme.
The slice-of-life scenes: Really adds warmth and light to the dark world of this drama. I loved the relationship between the brothers, and the late-night walks around the neighborhood, the happiness tinged with sadness. Sometimes a bit overdone, but generally well-made.
The mood: Not everyone gravitates towards darkness, but if you are in a particular mood, this drama hits the spot. The heaviness and sadness interspersed with lightness and warmth, that play of chiaroscuro, make for a really satisfying tone.
Some of the dialogue: I really, really loved the little nuggets of wisdom dropped here and there, about people struggling all their lives to chase after a goal that in the end does not bring real happiness, about the futility of proving yourself to other people, etc. I also liked the addition of the Buddhist monk. These almost saved the whole drama for me, but not quite.
What I didn't like:
First and foremost, the fact that Ji An is never really made accountable for the things that she does. The viewer is set up from the very start to empathize with Ji An, to feel her suffering, to view her as a victim, and to understand why she does the things she ends up doing. Set up is the right term to use though because the pathos is laid on thick from the very start -- sick grandmother, having to eat other people's leftovers, being hounded and beaten repeatedly by a loan shark with a grudge, having only stolen instant coffee as a small comfort and pleasure against all the darkness of the world. Yes, yes, and yes. HOWEVER, as the drama progresses, we see Ji An committing dastardly deeds -- stealing money (bribe money, yes, but still stealing), offering to ruin people's lives and reputations in exchange for more money, blackmail, wiretapping, stalking, and generally just a total disregard and disrespect for other people's privacy. Yes. She needs money. Yes. She is taking care of her sick grandmother and she is desperate. Yes. She was and still is being victimized by a loan shark. Yes. She indeed has a very unfortunate life. BUT THAT IS NO EXCUSE TO HARM, DISRESPECT, OR VICTIMIZE OTHERS. Everyone has a story. Everyone has some aspect of their lives that is relatable and pitiful. Even serial killers. Even mass murderers. That doesn't mean they should not be held accountable for the things they do. It is one thing for Dong Hoon and his guilty wife to understand Ji An and even to instantly forgive her for listening to their private conversations whenever she wanted to (heck, she could even have eavesdropped on their lovemaking. "Luckily," they were having marital issues). It is a totally different thing for them to act very irresponsibly and to even help her get away scot-free without being held accountable for everything that she did. Stalking and wiretapping someone ARE SERIOUS INVASIONS OF PRIVACY. In the drama, the wiretapping is used as a tool to get Ji An to fall in love with Dong Hoon, and so the scenes of her listening in on him are portrayed in a tender, loving light. But in actuality, she is committing a grave crime against his person, and it is all very creepy and disrespectful. The writer could have had her do some time in jail, or do community service at the very least, but having Dong Hoon instantly forgive her (seemingly because he just was desperate to see her) and even help her after he finds out is, I think, poor writing and horrible decision-making. Whatever kind of bond they formed, a wrongdoing is a wrongdoing and should be treated as such. Even parents reprimand their children when they mess up.
The nature of the bond between Ji An and "her Ahjussi." I understand the writer wanted to establish a deep, undefinable bond between Ji An and Dong Hoon, but in the end it became very obvious that Dong Hoon was feeling more than just fatherly or brotherly love, friendship, or affection towards her. There were too many scenes of him scanning the streets for her, missing her, almost being obsessed with her. This could have been done very well and much more subtly. The bond need not have been romantic of all, on either side. It could just have been that -- a deep bond -- and need not have crossed any lines. One good example of this, done right, is in Leon: The Professional. Or they could have opted to add subtle, ambiguous hints. It is not necessarily just the age gap nor the fact that Dong Hoon is married that made these scenes cringey for me, but definitely those did play a part. Personally, I thought it was unnecessary to add romance and desire to the mix. There could have been, maybe in their last scene together, something, a "maybe," in the way he looks at her or holds her hand, but even that may be too much. It just was...cringey and inappropriate somehow, and, as I said, totally unnecessary.
Overall:
The drama definitely has shining moments, especially in the slice-of-life scenes and some of the dialogue. It certainly could be very compelling once you get into it. But the last few episodes really broke the deal for me. The resolutions were awkward and hurried. And, as discussed in detail above, I just disagree with the direction the writer chose to take, both plotwise and characterwise.
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Also, don't read the fucking synopsis or initial plot because it really does a bad way of describing this show. "3 brothers blah blah blah...." how the fuck will that entice viewers? It seriously doesn't do justice.
It should've been "A story about how life will fuck you over continuously, and how you'll realize that some unexpected people are the ones who are actually helping you breath."
Story:
There it is. My first 10. My favorite drama of all time, Goblin, didn't get a 10 for me because even after thinking hard in myself that it should have, some details and parts of the story wasn't properly closed. This show is perfection at its finest though. Just looking at it makes is seem so unfair. You would think to yourself how the hell were amazing scriptwriters and an amazing director dare work on a single production? It's just beauty from start to finish. It's a melodrama, but it will keep your eyes on the screen like a rom-com and make you feel fear and despair like a thriller. The thing that I liked most about this is how they were able to accurately portray the unexplainable reality of life. Nothing will ever go your way if you don't let others in. You'll only grow as a person, if you help others and let them help you. The protagonist was a really poor girl who had nothing but hate and sadness in her because of the rash, unfortunate events she had to go through growing up. In a nutshell, this story is about how her heart warms through the voice of a man who is a sincerely good person by heart, but is just as pitiful as she is in other aspects of life. That story is mixed with other bitter-sweet storylines from supporting characters which all lead to point to one lesson: "You won't always get what you want in life, but it shouldn't make you stop working from achieving it." I won't spoil anything in this review, but this drama is tied (if not better) for the award "Best Ending" in a drama with Tomorrow With You (another melodrama)
Acting:
I hated IU's acting before, but this drama changes it. That's one hell of a jump in terms of acting level. Would honestly not come as a surprise to me if she ends up racking all possible awards for her role in this show, because she nailed it. Everyone else nailed it too, from 'Mister' Park Dong Hoon, to his 2 brothers, to the bar owner, to the douchebag wife and her surprisingly young looking but actually old lover, to Ji An's mother, everyone else seemed so natural and adept at the roles they portrayed. They all showed us complex characters who reflects real life people; they are all unique characters, just like how each person in our world really is unique in their own little way. If I were to pick out my favorite character from this show that excludes the two main leads, I would pick Yoo Ra. Kwon Nara continues to surprise me with her acting. She only had 1 previous show where she had significant screen time and I honestly thought she nailed it. Her acting on this show however was superb because she was able to showcase one of the hardest personalty of a character in this show; a tragic actress who has failed in life, but was able to garner strength once again upon knowing that someone important to her was also at their lowest. She was incredibly cute and strangely precise. Lastly, I believe this is borderline cheating; having a really good script for an already stacked cast only does the show good. Their lines suited their personas so much
Music:
The music was beautiful and accurately represented everything in the show. However, as a musically inclined person, what I'm looking for in an OST is something that I can listen to outside of the show and still feel connected to it, both thinking of the characters of the drama and not thinking of them at all. In a simpler way, both the tune and the lyrics of the songs should be dynamic enough to be able to stand on their own without prior knowledge from the drama, but still make you feel connected to it in every way. Goblin had that kind of OST and although I'm half regretting saying this, the tragically awful Uncontrollably Fond also has that kind of OST. I only felt it, and cried while at it cause the genre and message was bittersweet, at a single song in the OST of this drama and that's Sondia's "Adult". I'm not saying the OST is bad, because it is actually good. I'm just saying that it didn't have a wow factor for me to remember it outside of the show.
Rewatch value:
Hands down, the one and only melodrama that I would probably be happy rewatching. So many quotable scenes, even for such a slow paced show. If I want to be bored to death by the slowness of the pace of a drama, I'm only willing to do it crying and smiling like an idiot to this show alone.
Overall:
Even if you're a rom-com lover (most kdrama fans), a comedic type of person, someone who prefers thrillers, likes a legal setting (i belong in there), or basically someone who doesn't like melodramas, give this show a chance. It will change your perspective in melodramas, and you'll have faith at humanity again. Who knows, you might even start searching for your own mister after watching this show.
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Life is not easy but never give up, fighting!
"My Mister" is a healing story about three brothers struggling in their midlife crisis in both their workplace and family. This narrative is intertwined with the story of an extremely damaged young woman dealing with debt and poverty. The show delves into office crimes and corporate espionage, all while exploring marriage problems and the socioeconomic gap. It effectively illustrates that people are messy, showcasing their life situations and the reasoning behind their actions. The quiet, cold, and gritty tone of the show works really well with the OSTs and ASMR, such as footsteps and breathing.When the two leads start interacting, I become very intrigued to know their story, especially Lee Ji An (IU), who grew up to be an endearing thug. She's a very guarded person with nothing to lose and no fear, doing anything to survive. Her mannerisms are touching, and I feel her vulnerability. I particularly loved her character growth. Then, of course, I can't think of anyone besides Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hun. He truly is noble, with respect for people, life, being generous and sincere. His beautiful voice, heard directly and through Lee Ji An’s perspective (which I avoid explaining further to prevent spoilers), makes him unforgettable. The ending feels complete and gives me a warm feeling. My only quibble is the silly subplots. I think the drama as a whole would be more engaging with less time dedicated to the subplots.
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The characters are written very subtle. No giant dramatic moments here (as the main character says in one of the episodes, "people don't go around slapping people. that only happens in dramas. in real life, it's the kind of thing that happens maybe once in a life time") but just every day life written in a quiet but profound way. There are also great laugh-out-loud moments here too. How the director just changes an otherwise heavy scene by adding a bit of comedy or wit to dissipate the heaviness. It's so superbly executed that I don't know what else to say about it except everyone should go see it. Just when my faith in K-dramas have started to dissipate, here comes this drama to charge me up. Like green tea.
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This review may contain spoilers
Wow, where to begin? This is what I would call a "once in a lifetime" drama. Some dramas just cut deeper than others. My Mister left me laughing and crying, all at once, and the slow pacing never bothered me – in fact, it just drew me in even more. This drama is so exquisitely written, from how tightly the plot is drawn together, to the perfectly uplifting yet melancholy dialogue. I love how carefully this drama redefines what an "ahjussi" is and what a meaningful relationship looks like. This drama has so much pain in it, but it heals you through that pain.
While the plot wandered, it came back to center, and the character development really shined. Every single character had a duality that made them so empathetic. The main cast is written with dimension and duality; we see them in moments both problematic and progressive, pathetic and admirable, weak and strong. I think that while it's easy to admire a perfect hero, it's the characters that invoke both pity and joy that we can relate to the most. The only thing I would ask for if anything, was for Dong Hoon's relationship with his son to be more clearly written, but this show wasn't about parenthood really, so it's understandable.
The filming itself was done very well — you could tell that the crew put in the time to make it quality. The editing was a little bit awkward for some episodes, likely due to time crunch, but these are minor issues.
The best part about this drama was probably the casting/acting. Lee Sun Kyun just has a look that breaks your heart and warms it at any given moment. His empty stare and heavy sighs echo louder than any of his yells, and each tear he sheds feels like a waterfall. Less is more in his case, and I bought into every moment of his performance. IU really surprised me this time around with Ji An. Ji An is already such a mysterious and complex woman, and IU really gave this abstract character grit and darkness. Seeing her with Son Sook as her grandmother was also so sweet – they had great chemistry.
As for the soundtrack, they absolutely nailed it, 10/10.
I loved this drama. It taught me two things: good storytelling and how to cope with the traumas of life.
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First, I have to say that I was so impressed by UI in this role. There is no sign of a pop persona or cuteness. As Lee Ji An she is equal parts tragic, and bad@ss! Her poker face kept me guessing. Her tears broke my heart. Whether she was the villain or the hero in this story didn't matter to me. She really was a great and intriguing character. She's a survivor, with a huge and understandable chip on her shoulder, and UI did an amazing job.
Ui is matched with Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hoon, who I've been a fan of since Coffee Prince. He is the "Ahjussi" obviously, and perfectly cast as an underdog character who you can't help but root for and crush on. In this role I am reminded of his charm while playing totally realistic and down to earth characters. I will admit he was my main reason for being curious about this drama in the first place, and he didn't disappoint.
The story mainly revolves around the relationship between Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An, but do not expect a traditional romance. I was actually afraid that the drama would take that turn, but instead it was truly a story about connecting with someone in a much deeper way. There are suspenseful actions that bring them together initially, and there is great, although often awkward, chemistry between them. By the end it's more about the ways they were able to affect each other's lives, a theme with all of the characters actually, and the quest for personal happiness.
Speaking of the rest of the characters, the entire cast is amazing. As much as I loved Dong Hoon's brothers, and loved to hate the loan shark, and the CEO, I really can't think of one weak character in the entire drama! Even the smallest roles were great! It would be easy to just see these characters as depressing, but it actually became comforting watching how they came together for each other. I also like that the characters were all imperfect, which made them all very relatable, including some of the most villainous characters. Each individual supporting character's story was interesting on it's own, which is a nice bonus to the story overall.
Eventually all the initial suspense in the story does give way to a more melodramatic feel, but the story stays strong until the end. It also feels like the story changes along with the characters, and since this is a character driven drama, it works well!
Would I watch this again? Definitely. Some of the initial intrigue would be gone, but there's enough substance to make the story worth rewatching. I also really enjoyed the soundtrack, and thought it matched the mood of the drama well.
Overall, despite it's often generally somber mood, I really enjoyed this drama a lot. This was a different kind of escapism for me. The kind that made me a little more grateful for the good, and the bad, the grief, the disappointments, the achievements, and the relationships we make in life along the way. I felt very empowered by the grandmother's words in the last episode, and that alone would make me recommend this drama. I also really loved the ending scene. I cried a lot during the last episode, which is a warning for those who don't want to be in their feelings watching a drama, but the tears actually felt healing. If you are looking for a drama with substance, I highly recommend this one. It may not be the genre I normally seek out, but it was exactly the drama I needed to see.
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I still Don't Understand whats so SPECIAL about this K-Drama!
How can this Drama be a masterpiece?There are so many problems in the story.
For instance how is it that Ji Ahn is able to break the law and get away with it? How is it that she is easily forgiven by everyone for invading her co-worker's (male lead's) private life. Through wiretapping and stalking. Stalking and invading a person's privacy like that is not okay. So many people claim this to be a realistic Drama. Far from reality!
Imagine if the roles were reversed, and Dong Hoon is the one stalking Ji Ahn and wiretapping all her conversations with her husband for example. Isn't that creepy? What happend to double standards?
Also let's not overlook how Ji Ahn is constantly being beaten up by Kwan Ii, and no one else seems to notice and do anything about it.
It's really irritating when this drama focuses so much on this depressive aspect! There's no real end goal towards the end of the story. Like goals to achieve for the main leads.
And the brothers are not interesting at all, they are drunken bums who adds very little to the story, just comical. While the Drama is pretty dark itself, and a lot of the time the characters are like depressed. And basically stuck in their situations. The pacing and story is really boring, at least include something interesting about the brothers.
I appalud them for not going the romantic way, meaning Ji Ahn and Dong Hoon were not ending up together.
Also Ji Ahn should have at least seen a psychiatrist at this point! Instead of taking all that abuse and hardships. She could have done something earlier! But all she does is cry half the time on the show, there is no real growth with her till like the last episode when we see her after the time skip.
Well this Drama is definitely not for me! Waste of Time!
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Coming from the writer of Oh Hae Young Again, I personally had not a lot of expectations, since that drama was not to my taste at all, but I decided to check it out because I have loved the director's and actors' previous work and wanted to at least give this a chance.
And immediately I was blown away by the acting and cinematography. It took me a bit longer to appreciate the writing due to my apprehensions, but even those were quickly laid to rest.
The strength of a Slice of Life story like this is in its characters and their emotional journey and this show gave us that and much more. Lee Ji An truly is one of the most unique main characters in recent memory. Her struggles are not unfamiliar to the regular drama watchers, but the way these struggles weigh on her and how she deals with them is not something you often see in dramas and IU portrays her magnificiently and I don't think there are any actresses who could have done this any better.
Lee SunKyun for Park Dong Hoon was perfect casting, since LSK has always been an actor who excels at making small facial expressions have so much meaning and it comes to the forefront here, because Park Dong Hoon is a character who internalises most of his issues and without someone capable of showing that this show would have been much lessened.
Too often in shows are side characters paperthin charicatures who only exist to serve plot advancement and thus make the show feel hollow and insular with the world being reduced only to protagonist and antagonists and maybe a few family members and I am glad that the show does not go this route. While not every character in this show has a plotline the world still feels lived in filled with people who have their own struggles and issues and friendships and families.
This show reminds you that it is important to have a support network, but that you can find this support in the most unexpected places and that it doesn't matter what age you are, you always need someone to be there for you, who will see you for who you are and accept you anyway.
This show is extremely highly recommended and should be on most (if not all) best of lists of 2018 for the year. It certainly is in mine.
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This review may contain spoilers
let's live happily now !!
so there are already a lot of reviews for this drama so then why am i writing another ...you can assume i have a lot of time to kill ...so this is gonna be a long review...if you want it short then i'd probably say the synopsis is all you can tell about the drama everything else is just a spoiler ...this show actually has no story but it makes a hell lot of sense ....go watch it don't waste your time reading reviews ...this show is juat so pefectly done that i could even justify his wife's affair ...it doesn't have a central story line or nothing more than what you read in synopsis ...but then after every episode you want to know what's next , what more can you explore with such a narrow plot ...by the end you can connect all the dots and almost everything that happens makes sense ...i don't know if i'll call it a happy or sad ending ...cuz not everything can be described as either balck or white ...the cast was on point , dialogues i think that's what the drama is about ...
it's not something that will keep you at the edge of your seat but it's something that will leave you yearning for more ...
i'll brief you (just in case you want to know a bit of details )...SPOILERS AHEAD....
Ji An our FL is a murderer she behaves coldly to everyone around because she doesn't want to be a burden or be hurt by anyone , she doesn't like two faced people and mostly spends her time alone working part time jobs in order to repay lee kwang ll whose father is the one whom she killed ...the story passes by as the ML and FL's characters get more involved after the bribery incident and things come to the point where she starts working for joon young (ceo) and ends up tapping ML's phone following his life everyday ...as the story unfolds you get to know why the characters are doing what they are doing ...
it's a heartfelt story ...be ready to shed tears as there are great lines coming your way that are going to hit you hard ...
the story is basically about bright side of ordinary people ...it's close to reality where cold behavior of characters makes you feel warm ...even the side stories do a great job as a matter of fact
as to now why is it a 9/10 and not 10/10
I am not a very patient person ...i skip scenes whenever i feel like ...as to i did that with this drama as well ...i wasn't able to connect to park gi hoon's character that was to the point i started avoiding him on screen ...
at some point in the middle of the drama i started to wonder why am i still hooked on to them ...i don't know why even till the end but other than that i think i don't have any issues ..and i'd also add that i have never had such a satisfactory ending for any show yet ..it's just the perfect closure to a masterpiece
the show brings in real emotions ..tells you what it truly means to be a family ...i am happy that it doesn't create any unnecessary bonds and does not create a definition for relationships ...the characters always stay in limits but reach out beyond limits ....as a matter of fact human emotions will always remain complex and the show potray's it beautifully ...
the show leaves you wondering if you know everything about the person you claim to know ...do you really know what's going on in the life of people close to you , the people who are a part of your everyday life ...it tells you not to judge anyone and asks you to go and reevaluate your relations , address your fault , communicate and to hang on cuz things will get better .
There are lines that i just want to hear on repeat a 1000 times as in the emotion they hold just makes them shine and makes us value them and not just look at them as a mere collection of words
i'll quote some of them ..."the feeling that i am not the only one rolling forward " ..... "no matter what i am subjected to it doesn't matter as long as my family doesn't know "...the kindest words i have ever heard him say are " want me to buy anything on my way home? " ......" you are the only person who helped me more than 4 times " and all the small interactions between Ji An and her grandmother ...
so as to sum it up this show stands up to it's ratings maybe it deserves more ....keeping aside the regular cliches and bringing us our own everyday life is what this show is about ...it's gonna make you cry along with the characters and you'll empathize with them , you'll feel happy when they do ...
tip : just skip the scenes in the first few ep's if you don't like the pacing ...don't give up on the show as a whole ..it's a good journey marching towards the end ...this has a whole different vibe something of it's own don't expect anything and dive in ...you'll learn to swim with tears in your eyes and a smile on your face ...and remember it's the story you are in for ..it's the characters try to feel them ...you'll have a better experience !!
it's not a must watch but it's definitely a worth watch ....
i don't rewatch shows and i won't say i'd rewatch this but if someday i rewatch something then it would probably be this one ...
forgive me if i went a bit overboard cuz this is my first review ....i hope you enjoy the show as much as i did !! have a good time ...
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I watched it on Netflix without knowing what the story was about. I normally dont like Idol as lead but I like lead actor with his dreamy voice and I don't mind IU acting that much so I decided to watch it with my mother.
Already from the first ep I was hook in the drama and I find the acting IU did was really amazing that I even forgot that she was IU. She played her character pretty well and I could totally sympathize with her character as the story goes on.
For the lead actor, his acting and character were also astonishing. This drama is one of the few drama I didnt skip scenes, which means everyone and every scenes were worth the watch. The drama might be slow for some people but in my opinion it was just right and not boring. Even the minor characters were well thought and executed. What makes the drama amazing is that we could see the character development as the story goes on. There are funny scenes, sad and emotional scenes as well as some love stories. Everything is included in drama and is overall fun to watch. I finished this drama in 3 days and watched till 3am in the morning.
My mister has really great OSTs too. I ended putting few of them in my playlist. Every time I listen to them I was filled with emotions, end up thinking about the drama and how much I loved it.
If you love dramas like Miesang or Prison Playbook, you will totally enjoy My Mister too.
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