The Penthouse: War in Life

I hate this so much, you don't even know.

The thing is, Penthouse surely did well as a makjang, and when I say makjang, I mean **MAKJANG**. It was so over the top, so ridiculously overdramatic, so pointless and utterly stupid. It's almost unhealthy to watch this show, it'll make your blood boil, your bp will get high and you'll regret all of your life decisions.

But the thing is... I couldn't connect to it. Which is the reason why I'm giving a relatively low rating. Sure, it's visually stunning, every scene looks somewhat fancy and appealing, the cast is well-chosen and they all suit their role perfectly. And sure, the dramatic music was something. Aaand sure, the twists were ''shocking'' and unexpected.

But I couldn't care less. I just lost interest after episode 4. There was no character to root for. Shim So Ryun was amazing, but I just didn't really care about her revenge. Oh Yeon Hee and her annoying brat-- oops, daughter, who were supposed to be the ''good characters'' were useless, bland and hella freaking annoying I swear to god. Yoon Chul, actually, was quite the hot dude. And I quite enjoyed his scenes. Literally every kid in the show annoyed me to death and I just started skipping the scenes with them because I couldn't stand them.

However, I think we all can agree that Cheon Seo Jin, played by the wonderful Kim So Yeon, carried the drama on her shoulders and was the prefect leader. She was stunning and graceful from every angle. Baddass queen. Sure, her character is pure evil, but she was attractively evil, if you know what I mean. Every actor did a good job, but she was beyond brilliant. I was totally blown away. God bless the staff for choosing her.

So yeah, overall, I'm giving a low rating because I did lost my interested pretty easily.

Read More

The Penthouse: War in Life (All 3 Seasons) — A Review for Normal People

Let me be very clear about something before we begin: The Penthouse is not a good drama. It is, however, possibly the most compelling television experience you will ever have, and those are two completely different things that should not be confused.
I watched all three seasons. Back to back. Do I regret it? No. Can I explain why? Also no. Welcome to Hera Palace.
What is this show, exactly?
Imagine someone took a telenovela, fed it steroids, dressed it in a Chanel suit, moved it to a 100-floor luxury penthouse in Seoul, and gave it an unlimited budget for glassware. That's The Penthouse. It's The Bold and the Beautiful but make it Korean, make it louder, and triple the number of dramatic staircase confrontations.
This is not a show you watch to feel things. You will not cry. You will not fall in love with anyone. You will not lie awake at night thinking about the deeper meaning of a scene. What you will do is watch one episode at 10 PM and suddenly it's 3 AM and you're on episode 8 and you have work tomorrow and you simply do not care.
That is the magic of The Penthouse. It doesn't earn your emotions. It kidnaps your attention. There's a difference.
The Plot (loosely)
Rich people live in a fancy building. They want more money, more power, and their mediocre children admitted to a prestigious arts school. People scheme. People betray each other. People fall off things. People die — but don't worry about that last part, because death in this universe is more of a suggestion than a permanent condition.
Season 1 establishes the chaos. Season 2 escalates it. Season 3 looks you dead in the eye and says "you thought Season 2 was a lot?" and then doubles it. The crime changes each season. The concept does not. This is a feature, not a bug.
The Acting
Let's talk about the acting — and I say this with full affection — it is UNHINGED. Everyone is performing at a level that suggests they were told the cameras were fifty meters away and they needed to be seen from there with the naked eye. Kim So-yeon as Cheon Seo-jin deserves a special award that doesn't exist yet, something like "Outstanding Achievement in Controlled Hysteria." Um Ki-joon as Joo Dan-tae plays evil so committedly that you start to wonder if he needs a wellness check in real life.
The characters do not talk to each other. They announce at each other. Every conversation is a declaration. Every revelation is delivered at a volume appropriate for a stadium. And somehow — SOMEHOW — it works.
The Glass Budget
I need to dedicate a paragraph to the glassware situation because it deserves academic recognition. Conservative estimates put the number of items swept off desks, smashed against walls, or dramatically shattered per episode at three to five. Minimum. I began to wonder if there was a glass sponsor. I began to wonder if somewhere in Seoul there is a warehouse purely dedicated to supplying The Penthouse with things to break. Wine glasses. Picture frames. Vases. Full dinner sets. Nothing is safe. No surface is sacred. The interior designers of Hera Palace must be in therapy.
The Name-Calling
Another thing you need to prepare for: everyone's name will be screamed at full volume approximately forty times per episode. "SHIM SU-RYEON!" "JOO DAN-TAE!" "OH YOON-HEE!" It becomes a rhythm. A percussion track running underneath every scene. You will start hearing character names in your sleep. You will mutter them while making coffee. This is normal. This is the Penthouse experience. Embrace it.
Who is this for?
Everyone, genuinely. There is no nudity. The blood exists but it's theatrical — you won't have nightmares, you won't need to look away. It's the kind of dramatic blood that exists to make a scene look important, not to traumatize you. And as previously established, nobody really stays dead anyway, so even the mortality stakes are manageable.
This show is for the person who's exhausted and just wants to watch chaos unfold from a safe distance. It's for the person who grew up waiting for the 9 PM drama slot on TV — that specific anticipation of sitting down and letting something ridiculous wash over you without demanding anything from your brain. It's not prestige television and it has never pretended to be. It's a getaway. A full three-season vacation from reality, logic, and the laws of physics.
What you should NOT do while watching
Do not try to logic it. I am begging you. The plot holes are not holes — they are design choices. Do not try to relate to the characters, because unless you are personally fighting over a trillion-dollar empire and a spot in an elite music academy, you will find no common ground and that's entirely the point. Do not empathize, do not get jealous, do not catch butterflies for anyone. Just watch Joo Dan-tae be evil, watch the women scheme magnificently, and let another vase get thrown at a wall.
Final Verdict
The Penthouse will not make you a better person. It will not expand your emotional vocabulary or leave you with profound thoughts about the human condition. What it will do is completely hijack three weeks of your evenings and leave you weirdly satisfied about it.
It is junk food television of the highest order — and I mean that as a compliment. Sometimes you don't want a Michelin-star meal. Sometimes you want the whole bag of chips at midnight, no regrets.
Watch it. Don't think. Just enjoy the ride.
And maybe pour yourself a drink — in a plastic cup. You know, just to be safe.

Read More

AMAZING set, plot. EVERYTHING. It made me cry, gave me goosebumps. You are watching, watching and you still don't know who killed who, who is blackmailing who. I was scared sometimes and covered my eyes with my hands. There are many murders, mysteries, cheating, bullying, jealousy, revenge... Well, now I will say a bit about my favorite character.
Sim Soo Ryeon is the queen of the penthouse apartment (owner of the apartment) and she is also my queen. She became my favorite character from the first episode. Unfortunately she is getting killed in the last episode. Sim soo ryeon is the one in drama who’s only mistake in life is agreeing to an engagement to Joo Dan-tae. Dan-tae is a narcissistic psychopath who cannot stand losing anything. This is where their story actually begins because Soo-ryeon has a child out of wedlock, and was abandoned by Dan-tae although he found another substitute child and made to stay in coma to lie to Soo-ryeon. Soo-ryeon’s biological child, Min Seol-ah was murdered by someone at The Penthouse where all our characters are living at. I am not going to continue writing, as i cant wait to start season 2. Shortly, The Penthouse is seriously one of the best dramas I ever watched. It must be in your watch list in my opinion.

Read More

It's really worth seeing.

I have seen all 3 seasons. It is a series that leaves you in suspense, eagerly waiting to see what happens in the next episode. Actors play exceptionally well.
Watching the first episode, I didn't understand anything, initially I wanted to stop watching, but it left me with many questions which answers were given to me along the way.
When Min Seol-a died, it really made me think that Dan-te and Seo-jin killed her, but no, Yoon-hee did it, I understood that he didn't do it on purpose, but if I were Suryeon, I wouldn't have been able to forgive her, but chose to lie to me all this time...
Then Logan it was sports teacher Ho-Dong (he was the only teacher who didn't annoy me).I think Du-ki made me hate the Hwayeong Middle School I can't forgive him.
All the adults in Hera Place who died have been revived, but Min Seol-a when? I still had hope that she would appear...Then dying one by one AGAIN, I dashed my hopes. I thought it would have a happy ending where Dan-te and Seo-jin would go to prison, their children and all the other children who were a bully to correct their mistakes. Ro-na and Seok-Hoon be happy, Min Seol reappear and live with Su-ryeon...

Read More

Good Enough

The first Season of the Korean Drama "The Penthouse: War in Life" is full of betrayal, intrigue, twists and melodrama. If one enjoys watching stories where the characters hit rock bottom and want revenge, where the powerful need to be punished because they do awful things to everyone, then this one is for you. If you want a light drama, or a drama that is more realistic and digs deep, then you should probably skip it.

Now, the story starts a bit slow and it feels like it's taken from a 2000's drama, but it gets better when the mystery gets twisted more and more and all the characters change and betray one another. One thing can be said for sure, The Penthouse keeps things interesting till the very ending, even though there were some crazy, silly scenes that tried to be funny but were ridiculous. The setting was pretty entertaining and well crafted as well.

As for the performances, all of the actors and actresses of the cast did a great job.

So, overall, seven and a half out of ten.

Read More

Power lies with the rich as well as stupidity

They have power whether born with, gained or stolen BUT, what's the point of having power when they blatantly neglect what's important? Now that's just stupidity in plain sight, no metaphor.

There is so much that can be written for this season on the penthouse but i will try to keep this review short and to the point.
Betrayal, greed, infidelity, power, money , rich, poor,murder and the whole nine yards are to be expected in this makjang. If this fits up your ally then join in.
Very well written and directed. The cast gave their all and i'm satisfied with their portrayal of their characters especially Kim So yeon she sure draws you in. A definite recommend for the first season and looking forward to the second.

CHARACTERS


While Each and everyone of the characters have their shortcomings, some of them significantly outweighed the other very negatively than positively. firstly, lets take a look into the kids.
Theses kids are badass kids, the hera palace kids of course. Period!

1. Joo Seok Hoon/Joo Seok Kyung - TWINS
The leaders of their pack and instigators of trouble. While seok kyung was the one pushing her brother was no better. They were abused by their dad and did not receive love but that should not give a valid reason to bully and almost cause death to another pupil.

2. Yoo Je Ni/Lee Min Hyuk- best friends
A spoil brat and a no brainer following its owner. There was no reason why they are so mean to their peers. They don't lack love and are well cared for but their grow up being rich and only look out for themselves.

3. Eun Byul- unstable
I really pity her. A girl with great potential but does not have control over her life and tries to please everyone around her especially her mom. She works hard and tries her best but her best is not good enough for her mom, trying to exceed the expectation of her mom she gets easily frustrated now her self esteem is down and seeks a way out of it. Wile i do pity her for what she's going through the fact remains that she is no exception from the rest of the Hera palace kids.

4. Bae Rona- ungrateful
Being ungrateful is a sin for the poor especially when your single parent is trying their best. She was very much ungrateful at the beginning , she wanted to live the lavish life like the rest, her mom strike luck and she got the chance to live it up but was very ungrateful to her moms efforts. However, being a target to the hera palace kids she did not turn into a bully but rather redeem herself from the ungratefulness.

5. Min Seol Ah- unlucky
From a child to teen she was unlucky. From being poor, framed , deported, bullied and murdered. She did not have rest and was on her own trying to survive in a world of the rich. As of now her death is still a mystery. Her death was so sad , i felt so sorry for her.


Parents are called parents for a reason, money and power gained should not come before family, communication is key.
1. Shim Soo Ryun- to good for her own good
An elegant queen, who is surrounded by snakes. Although getting stabbed in the back she carryout her revenge with class and grace. To bad her husband does not see the value in her and really ruined her to death.

2. Cheon Seo Jin- classless
A woman who walks around thinking she has the world in the palm of her hands... well she does that's what's so upsetting. While she gets what she wants she is classless in the way she represents herself as a woman, wife and mother. She will do anything to get what she wants even if it involves killing. She does not know what L.O.V.E is so she seeks it a man shows her attention . Her child is dying mentally and physically but she thinks if she brush it off all will be well. No pity for this woman and awaiting her downfall in season 2.

3. Oh Yoon Hee- easily swayed
Trying to succeed and make her daughter's dream come true luck fell into her hands and she was able to move into hera palace. She got a little wealth and thinks she knows how things run in the palace , running around with ignorance she was easily manipulated by people who show gratitude and found herself in deep shit. Ungrateful backstabber can be added to her character as well.

4. Joo Dan Tae- Evil mastermind
This man is so evil it will make you sick. A heartless being that greeds for money and power. Abuses people and use his power to fight the weak. Blackmailing and manipulation is his specialty. 0% fatherly love for his kids.

5. Ha Yoon Chul- powerless
coming from a poor background he is powerless. A sissy to his wife and in need of growing some balls for once. He's all talk and no action at least he gives his daughter some attention. A Black sheep of hera palace that needs to stop talking and take action. He needs to free himself from mental inferiority.

6. Go Sang Ah/Lee Gyu Jin- puppet couple
A mama's boy and a woman who would go beyond to get on seo jin good side. puppets that will bring you humour now and then but still dangerous in their own ways.

7.Kang Ma Ri- white sheep
unlike yoon chul her secret's hidden so they cant use it against her. I got to give it to her she's a hard worker and worked her way up from the bottom but that doesn't change the fact that she is an accomplice to a crime. She's also money hungry( i mean who isn't) and and a slave to some extent.

overall this drama will have you swearing the shit out of your soul with anger frustration and little bit humour. As i stated earlier, it is very well directed somewhat face paced for the first season, an excellent casting , topnotch acting that engages you into characters.

RATING
9.5/10
.5 Deducted because i thought that the kids should have gotten a bit more screen time an a little in depth of their characters. Overall great drama totally recommended.

Read More

" Penthouse's downfall was also the fact that it was such a complex story"

The initial about first 8 episodes of the drama, it was like a mash between Sky Castle and the World of the Married.
You will innocently watch this thinking that there is plain evil and innocent, however you will come to realise that the drama is much more complex than that. This is the part that I enjoyed about Penthouse. The complex story. However its downfall was also the fact that it was such a complex story. Of course when writing and directing a complex story, it requires high level of skill and detail. But the screenwriter and director, failed to do just that. The first half of the drama was truly well produced and directed, however, from the second half onwards, it is apparent that the drama, its plot and acting would become quite chaotic. Scenes would become really unrealistic or issues would occur that could have been resolved in a much simpler way.

ACTING:
The endless, unrealistic screaming and crying; wow a true soap opera you could say. It was extremely overbearing! Honestly, the acting could have been better. The only characters who really got a 9 or 10/10 for me was Lee Ji Ah, Kim Hyun Soo, Kim So Yeon and Jo Soo Min. The actors failed to portray the scenes well particularly in episode 19?; the scene where the parents were in the 'bus' it was extremely difficult to watch. I have no idea why the screenwriter/director made the scene like that either, it was just so unrealistic and immature. In scenes whereby the actors had to grab at the viewers hearts to make the viewers feel sympathy, they failed to do so a majority of the time.

OVERALL:
If you enjoy watching 'makjang' which is the most (emphasis on THE MOST) exaggerated and unrealistic soap opera, then go ahead and watch this because this will satisfy you with its intense screaming, crying and absurd scenes. But if you are a viewer who enjoys a soap opera that is more realistic with a well made and detailed plot; i assure you, that this isn't for you. The first 8 episodes is alright but from thereon I warn you that it gets absolutely batshit crazy HAHA. This drama will continue for 3 seasons, and I have no idea how it will continue to do so, unless it gets even more dramatic and overbearing than it already is.

Read More

Watch this if you liked Sky Castle :)

Penthouse is really similar to Sky Castle. The twins, rich families, competing, murders, liars, betrayals, and friendships. Anyway, in the beginning, the storyline was a lot smoother than the end. In the end, there were tons of storylines, so it can be a bit confusing and much for some. I notice that the same music plays over and over which was a little irritating and kind of made me hate the song. However, I did feel that it added to the "classical mood" of the story. Also, if you're a sensitive person, I would say not to watch this drama. This drama deals with things like suicide, murder, and stuff like that. If you liked this drama, I would recommend you to watch Sky Castle. Overall, it was enjoyable, but I wouldn't watch it again.

Read More

Unapologetically overdramatic makjang

This is a makjang, through and through. If you're out looking for blood (in television, of course), this is the drama for you.

This was always going to be polarizing. It's got a lot of glaring flaws: unrealistic setting, convenient plot devices, plot holes, and a whole lot of need for a suspension of disbelief. But heck if it isn't addictive if you're willing to turn off your common sense. Approach it as if it were a fantasy show, because you're probably going to need that mindset.

Penthouse has everything you want in a soap opera. It primarily features extremely wealthy families constantly at each others' throats, out of jealousy, desire for power, and sometimes for no reason at all. All this leads to affairs, backstabbing, bullying, and of course, deaths. At its very core, there is a revenge scheme, one that causes ungodly amounts of collateral damage.

The show only follows a loose sense of logic, but it doesn't abandon it entirely, which would've made it impossible to follow. Everything is exaggerated, but it's built around the foundation of the real world. But the real reason you'll be staying is that the show is absolutely one thrill of a ride. For some reason, everyone in the show is obsessed with training their child to become an opera singer, but the show makes singing seem so high-stakes it's borderline hilarious. But then it really hits you with the consequences, and you're just suddenly invested in this war of opera singing because you want someone to end up in a very bad way. That's basically how it is with the show: you're mainly driven by hate, and you're going to hate different characters in the different stages of the story, and you're going to keep watching because you want something unfortunate to happen to them.

In all, it's one heck of a ride, because you never know what's going to happen next. Most of the characters are villainous, some comically so, but it all works in the show's favor, because you're rooting for whatever causes them misfortune, and you're just dying for them to get their comeuppance.

In short? CRACKTASTIC.

Read More