Wake up in the midst of sobering contemporary everyday life issues of 3 women in their 30s and 1 man
With "Work Later, Drink Now", KDrama tackles a sensitive South Korean social issue. What starts as a cheerful, cool FeelGood series turns out to be serious business. Viewers are taken by the hand in a clever, light-hearted way, only to wake up suddenly in the midst of sobering contemporary topics, as we accompany the protagonists in their everyday life, work, family and friendship issues - here in particular: three unique young women in their 30s and one offbeat man.The KDrama points at a topic in which South Korea (though small as it may seem) is once again at the forefront of the world: alcohol consumption. There is so much drinking (and eating, because it's so common) on this show that just watching it can make you dizzy and a little nauseous. To the western eye, that may be WAY too much over the limit. For the Korean eye, it might have to be be sooo much for the audience to even notice that it is/could be too much.
The focus of the story is on three girlfriends in their prime who are hard-drinking and happy to drink. With their personality, they may at first glance be a little off the norm, but then again they aren't. They are (from each other) fundamentally different in their professional situations, socialization and life plans. But it is precisely in this way that they also offer viewers all kinds a sophisticated projection while following each one of them in their everyday life and various challenges they face. The dialogues are razor-sharp, the entertainment high value, the episodes compact. There's also wit, humor and music. This mixture plus the pace are obviously just right to pick up the broad masses of +/- 20 to 40 year olds and to present a mirror of their own living environment in an easily digestible way. The second season will definitely come...
------------ SIDE NOTE: --- Alcohol consumption in South Korea ---
Per capita consumption of converted pure alcohol in South Korea is world class. And rising. The World Health Organization certifies South Korea to be the leading country in the consumption of high-proof spirits. Drinking has established itself outside of private life, especially professionally at company dinners after work. These team dinners often degenerate into a veritable drinking spree (practically prescribed professionally).
After beer, soju is the second most consumed alcoholic drink - a colorless distillate made from rice and added wheat, sweet potatoes or barley, which is on the one hand quite cheap in price and on the other hand, at around 20 percent, is somewhere between beer and high-proof spirits (schnapps, vodka, rum or whiskey ) is located. So it can be consumed in large quantities, especially in combination with beer - and the hangover the next morning is inevitable. South Korea's national drink, soju, is the world's best-selling 'liquor' with around 90 million cases sold each year. Yet, the beer market is also happy about South Korea, which, (in spite of its comparatively small country size) is currently one of the largest and most dynamically growing beer markets on the Asian continent.
What begins as party fun usually ends sadly. In the short term, it may be a hangover. But if you practice this form of alcohol consumption at a high level over a long period of time, the damage to your physical health is enormous in the medium to long term. There are studies that show that even among South Korean students (male), every third (!) drinks to the point of unconsciousness (!) for more than half the week. It doesn't get any better in professional life. And if you don't have a job, there's another reason to get drunk. This has inevitable consequences not only for people and their physical/mental health, but also for the health system. The country pays the price of an enormous pressure to perform taken granted in the context of its own turbo capitalism - with the health of its population and moneywise with billions, too .
Was this review helpful to you?
#Letsgetdrunk!
Perfect in every single way.I went into this drama absolutely blind - i saw Eun Ji (who i love since R97) and “female friends drinking alcohol” and i thought to myself: this might be nice. And it was not JUST nice. It was perfect. In a span of 12 unusually short episodes, this drama managed to fulfill each and every single of my drama desires/needs.
STORY - the concept of 3 friends vs. the world is not unique. We’ve all seen at least 5 dramas with such theme. But why WLDN feels so good and refreshing?! Most of the issues the main leads go through are not new but the way our main leads carry though the mishaps is so much fun. The writer wasnt afraid to explore harder topics (though oftentimes only marginally or very nonverbally) like depression, lgbt, sex, harassment, patriarchy… this might seem like an explosive/too stacked mix but it was executed quite well in my opinion. And the dialogues were so good!
The drama started with very hilarious and bizarre comedy (imo on par with Chief Kim and Pegasus Market) and then it suddenly slipped into drama with very serious topics. The transition felt almost seamless.
CHARACTERS - at first, the main leads seemed very one-dimensional - weirdo Ji Goo, beauty Ji Yeon, worcoholic So Hee, creep Kang PD. But oh boy, do they all have LAYERS. And such beautiful and interesting layers to boot!
Ji Yeon is one of the most interesting and funny characters i've seen in a drama these days. So unapologetically feminine and over the top. So Hee and her endless inner (and outer) battle with her feelings. And jI Goo - seemingly so strong on the outside but in fact very vulnerable, too. Despite some of their character traits being overexaggerated for entertainment purposes, all of them feel like real complex women who are able to be both strong and weak, emotional, rational and irrational... And their friendship is something so beautifully written and perfectly acted by all 3 main leads!
OTHER ASPECTS - visually, this drama was so much fun - be it cute outfits for all main leads, nice coloring of the scene/shot, or the food/alcohol aspect of the drama. I am no expert in the field of camera technique, but i quite enjoyed the camera movement. idk…i didnt pay much attention to ost (cause the drama was stacked in other departments) but all the main leads sang a song for this drama and the songs are pretty good!
CONCLUSION - i love this drama so much. I found the finale a little … lacking but i suppose they are hoping for season 2. The rewatch value is high for this drama - especially early episodes when the characters are only showing their layers and the comedy is just perfect. With this drama i cried both - happy and sad tears (I actually shed so many different types of tears!) so it seems like it will be perfect for a rewatch during the time when one needs to unwind so many emotions. I had a really great time watching WLDN and it gave me all sorts of warm and fluffy feelings!
Was this review helpful to you?
honestly, after repetitive sadness, and draggy plot lines, I barely laugh or tear up with dramas, but this made me cry and laugh at the same time!
I envy their friendship so much and I really need to adapt their life lessons.
life doesn't always follow your plans; they all had a different "job" they dreamt about yet life had other plans and non of them stayed in the same field.
they thought life was fun and games yet they faced so many different struggles and hardships..
now, I do feel like the stories kinda felt like dejavu, but at the same time it felt refreshing, especially with Siwon as the ML xD
Was this review helpful to you?
Over the top, on crack and hyperbolic, but somehow extremely relatable.
I’m not going to lie, semi-pro alcoholism is not exactly my cup of tea, but somehow, I did not mind it here. It might be the fact that realism went out of the window with the sea of alcohol they were drinking - it was both scary and impressive. I don't think I've drunk as much alcohol in the last 10 years of my life, as they drink in a week.It’s all about these eccentric ladies and their daily struggles as they hit their 30s. Each of the 3 ladies presents a truly unique perspective and approach to life. At times, you might even question how they became such close friends, since the differences are so obvious. That’s one of the best parts of the show - watching them understand each others’ ideas, goals, views and opinions and accepting them.
The comedy is good, well placed, fitting the situation and built on characters' personalities and relations. It’s not all fun comedy though. Each of the female leads have to deal with either past or present traumas and problems, which adds a layer of depth I did not expect when I started the show. These stories also serve as a great social commentary about several issues. All the tears, all the used tissues.
It’s a drama that finds a perfect balance between friendship, work, party and romance. The writer and director knew exactly how much screen time each of these aspects needed to feel like a cohesive picture with no underdeveloped plotlines.
The cast did an amazing job with the characters they played. Were they slightly type-casted based on the real life personalities of the actors? Yes. Being a fan of A Pink, Secret and Super Junior in the past, I can clearly see some similarities between the characters and people who played them.
Overall, I just loved it so much. Being more or less the same age as the main characters, I could not stop myself from relating to a lot of situations they had to deal with, feeling nostalgic about their past, that often was similar to my past experiences. It’s not a perfect show, but for me it was. There was truly nothing that bothered me or I would change.
Was this review helpful to you?
#Let's Get Drunk
Started with no expectations at all. The sudden "I'll try this" becomes "I like this!", that's what Work Later, Drink Now is.A fun, and addicting drama. It was nice witnessing ji yeon, so hee, and ji goo with their adventures alone and together. A story of amazing friendship with an ensemble of comedy, romance in it. These three are totally different in terms of personalities. But when they are together, they compliment each other.
The last episodes lack because I wanted more of but it was announced that there was a Season 2, so we will see our girls once again. There are still more that we wanted to see of them.
I seriously love this drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
Crazy Fun + Strong Sismance + Drinking + Food + Laughing + Crying (rinse and repeat)
Completed - 7/30/22This is such a crazy drama! “Work Later, Drink Now” is a highly bingeable, short drama focusing on the friendship/sismance between our three leading ladies. They met through a dance competition (all have amazing dancing skills) when they were in college, and continue to be by each other’s side through thick and thin.
The drama started off with three consecutive blind dates. Each crazier and funnier than the other. The tone of the drama continues to be fun and crazy, mixed with life’s challenges (personal, familial, professional and romantic) and A LOT of drinking. Towards the second half of the drama, things got more serious as we know more about each character, their background stories and struggles, and certain life events change this drama to be a little more realistic.
The bond between the ladies is tight and unbreakable. I like them all as they are so different yet complement each other so well. It did take me a while to get used to Han Ji Yeong’s personality as she’s quite over-the-top.They are truly there for each other and understand each other, without pressure to find out what/when/where/why. Without going into spoilers, something happened to a family member of a leading lady. The other two women not only rushed to be with their friend, but were there BEFORE the friend arrived to help take care of everything.
There are romantic subplots but romance is not the main theme of this drama. I assume season 2 will focus more on romance and I look forward to Kang Ji Gu’s romance with possibly Mr. Nice Paper, and the crazy relationship between An So Hee and Kang Buk Gu.
Everyone will notice the excessive drinking in this drama. Well, we know Koreans drink a lot but I am not sure if they do drink to this extent. But let’s not forget about the lovely dishes in this drama. There are many food shots and they make me want to try them all. There are also many guest appearances and cameos in this drama.
“Work Later, Drink Now” made me laugh, cringe, smile and cry. Ending this review of a quote from the last episode that summarizes this drama and their friendship:
“As always, we work hard not to fall down today. It’s okay if we are unsteady on our feet on our way home. So when we can drink, and when we have a friend to drink with, let’s get drunk.”
Was this review helpful to you?
Underrated
At first I thought I would be watching three women who will complain with their drinks and I simply didn't want to watch such one dimensional characters. But when I gave this drama a try, I made the best decision.The three FLs have so much depth to them than they let on in the first few episodes. Their friendship doesn't feel like drama but it feels real, and their behaviour is so authentic when they argue and more than that the female actors have acted so good in their roles.
One factor that might bother few people in this drama is that FLs drink a lot. Yes a lot, but I won't count that as a bad writing here. The show is all about three woman who love drinking. The best thing about it is the FLs don't drink because they have some sad past, they drink because they simply love to drink.
The drama had few heavy topics like death, lgbqt issues which were handled with perfectionism.
Overall I never thought a web series would be this good. I am badly waiting for season 2.
Was this review helpful to you?
Thumb up!
This drama is only half way, it still has to finish, but it gave me lot of emotions. Let just say that it makes you laugh a lot, this is what it comes out the most, but it goes beyond that, especially in the latest episodes (5-6-7). I think that the genre is easily slice of life, so don't expect a huge plot, but this doesn't mean it's weak, just different. I don't wanna compare this to other dramas, just think about this as its own, it starts really comically, let me says that the cast is really something else, they're really good! Little by little they start showing you what's under the surface, it starts showing that they can go deep without problem. They show why the leads are doing what they're doing and what happened to them so we can understand them better, because the first approach to them could be underestimating. You can say that this goes for every character in every drama and I have to say it's truth, but I'm telling this because I thing these kind of dramas are a bit left out in my opinion because the huge ones, with huge plots are more popular or at least they hit better. So I'd like people to notice this one too, because up to now it showed us really strong themes, I don't want to spoil so I prefer to not go specific and let you be curious about it, but it makes you think about. Personally I ask myself if real life goes like that or not, in my opinion there are so many variants where there shouldn't be, because no one should be penalized to do the right thing or to be themselves, but anyway they show us that believing and following yourself and your thoughts even if it's gonna bring you "troubles", it's better that betray yourself.So, don't let this drama slips your watching list :)
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Reasons to Drink
What are the reasons for a drink? Maybe when you are happy, sad, with friends, colleagues, tired, stressed or simply for fun. Work Later Drink now, captures all those special moments between the three female leads and their lives. Now I do want to mention that the show is rated 18+ and more for the mature audience because there is sooooooo much alcohol and profanity that goes around the show. There was a profanity/curse scene in the show that went on for like 2 minutes straight that even I was shocked at what was said and how long it went. There is also mentions of s*x here and there, but only quick 1 second scenes and touchy subjects around Korean Society. The reason this show was such a great watch for me was because it was very similar to 'Be Melodramatic'. The show was not just about alcohol, but about the deep friendship/sismance between the three female leads and how much they care for each other while having different personalities, upbringings and goals. They continue to support each other in time of need and at times what is the best way (?)... coming together and drinking until sunrise.Quick Story/Plot
The plot is around the lives of the three female leads. Each episode is on the shorter side about 35-40 minutes long and the story interwines between each character where when something is happening to one of the leads, the second or third will come into the picture later on. There are individual story streams for each lead and also a broader ongoing plot for the cast. The show is somewhat slice of life, but on the other side of the spectrum using alcohol and profanity to solve the problems.
Quick Acting/Cast/Characters
- ASH is a writer for a variety show. She is the link/bridge in the sismance, holding the other two together. She previously had to deal with an unfair workplace environment and now she needs to deal with the odd PD KBG and her relationship with him.
- HJY is a yoga instructor. She is definitely the odd one in the trio, saying/acting in weird ways that often depicts her as 'empty headed'. But she is actually the most attentive out of everyone and is covering it up by the way she acts and speaks. She has the most open relationships.
- KJG is an origami youtuber. She is the strong girl-crush with the way she speaks and dresses, but the most introverted. She is the protector out of the friends, where she will run/support the other two at times of need. The silent guardian. There is a reason why she became an origami youtuber which is explained second half of the show. Her relationships are often closed.
-- All in all, it's a show about three alcoholic women drinking all the time, having mukbang and sometimes doing crazy things while drunk :D
Music/OSTs
The OST album was okay. Unfortunately, not too memorable because I was so absorbed in the story and interaction. Only music I can remember playing is either at the start or at the end of the episodes.
Rewatch Value
This show is definitely for light watching at night where you switch off and watch for fun. There is no serious epic plot going on and how the show is played/shot also shows that. Quick 30 minute stories and then moving onto the next. Would definitely rewatch again when I need something to fill for a night.
Why my current rating (10)
Overall, the drama was a good watch for light mature fun viewing at night. There were so many unexpected and emotional scenes that drew me in even more. At times I would be laughing in one scene and then later on, holding my breath anticipating what would happen next. Props to the writer team in capturing the range of emotions in the short 30 minutes. Also because the show is rated 18+, the writers could freely talk about touchy subjects which was also great to see. The casts were also perfect match where they could freely act out their character's individuality and traits. In the end, I did not anticipate how much I loved the show, was really a surprised how much a gem this was and would most definitely watch Season 2!
Was this review helpful to you?
Soju wrapped up in a show...
This drama is about 50% drama, 50% soju commercial. Sometimes Soju will be fun and sweet while other times it will taste bitter and if you drink to much at once it will just not be fun... But this will not give you a hangover so it is a lot safer than actually drinking soju.While the bingabilaty is low and there are a bunch of annoying high pitched elements, and some really awful crying scenes the show is fun, has great food shots, it is fresh shows great friendships while sneaking in an issue or three to the mix of episodes without having to much depth...
All in all an enjoyable watch and I am in deed looking forward to seeing a season two of this. I hope they will talk a little bit quieter and not have to cry as much in the next season though.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The unexpected
I was not sure what to expect from this series. I went in thinking that it will just be another drinking, mukbang. and comedy show. I did not expect it to have so much symbolic meaning and how much the title "Work Later, Drink Now" meant; let's live in the moment.I personally love how most episodes did not directly link to the previous episodes. Instead, each episode told a story about a different part of each one life. They went through all the normal everyday events we all go through - school, falling in love, breaking up, college, employment, the start of a friendship, the big fight among friends, making up after a fight, getting old, and the death of a loved one. And alcohol and their friendship were there for each and every event. They stated it very well in the series they drink when they are happy, sad, something to celebrate, something to be sad about. They basically drink all the time.
For once I can relate to a series, it felt more like a slice-of-life genre. And I'm a big sucker for this genre. I was actually surprised that I stayed up binge watch this late last night, cried my eyes out, and for once was disappointed that season 2 wasn't out yet. I gave it a pretty high rating for a series that was pretty unexpected. I recommend staying for the ride, you'll have to get over the excessive drinking, you'll find the charm in this series.
Rating 9/10
Rewatch 8/10
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
3 BFFs
I chanced upon someone’s comment about this drama being very nice indeed and so, I decided that I’d give it a go. After all, it’s just 12 episodes and about 35 minutes per episode. I’m so glad I watched this!What I liked:
- the 3 girls were crazy but still very relatable
- the tight friendship amongst the three where they could count on one another
- friendship where their individuality is recognized and they don’t have to pretend to be someone else
- every episode deals with one thing and every episode feels complete
- slice of life drama which shows that life has up ups and down downs
- leads who are easy on the eyes
- story is fast-paced and actually, rather moving and even meaningful at times
- I was drawn into the show and really wanted to go on from episode to the next
What I didn’t like:
- nothing much other than Choi Si Won’s awful beard - thank goodness he shaved clean later on
Overall, I highly recommend this drama. It’s a slice-of-life fun ride of sorts which, despite some episodes being heavy (about death and serious illness), is a great watch! Watch it!!
Was this review helpful to you?
