Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)

Let’s go back to the beginning…

Self Discovery.

Who are we outside of our profession? What is our drive and passion in life? I think these are the main questions this series wants viewers to dig within.

It wants us to recall. To go back into time and discover who we are before we grew up to be workers. It also urges viewers to take a chance again. Failure doesn’t mean it’s the end. We can all stand up again. We can try again.

The picture and the lesson the show wants to send is truly heartwarming. Growth doesn’t truly mean we should forget everything that made us who we are. It shouldn’t change the youth and joy within us.

Beautiful really…

The issue FOR ME, is that there are so many things that needed more attention in this series. The story focused so much on just Samdal- and yes I know she’s the star of this show, but there are people behind who she is.

Her sisters, her friends, and the diving residents of Samdalri also had really great stories to share. Stories that are all part of her as well. I mean her exhibit showed that. I just wish that they were all given proper endings rather than all of it being crammed in the last episode. It would have made a great full circle.

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MUST WATCH!!

Ahhhhhhh what can i say....this drama was just so wholesome and the osts, acting, story, place was on POINNTTT! It just feels cozy, warm and healing. For those who are impatient, i would not recommend this series to you but regardless its very enjoyable.
You think the story would get boring halfway but no there are many interesting elements in it. The casts are also my favourite, they were just so into their roles making it very fun. Also not forgetting JEJUUUU ISLANDDD!! So beautiful, the show has portrayed every corner of the island so beautifully and it looks as majestic and beautiful like I've heard from people. Every bit of this drama was like home to me idk why but i felt so connected, there were many times when it got so emotional for me. But overall i very much recommend to EVERYYYONEEEEE
Just so worth it!! THANKKKKKKKKKKKK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU "WELCOME TO SAMDALRI" for making my weekends wholesome!

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Overall an enjoyable ride with great acting and scenery but plot and some characters are amiss

I really struggled to decide on a rating for this show. Overall I liked it but there are a couple of things that irked me.

There are two main things I really liked in this drama, one of them was the scenery and photography with such beautiful landscapes. The other one was the acting. I think most of them did a great job, but I have to mention especially Ji Chang Wook, Kim Mi Kyung and Kim Do Eun, their characters and the way they portrayed them are of the best of the show for me.
The relationships between characters were very good and I liked the banter and funny bits in this show.

I like slice of life dramas so it's no surprise that I found the plot interesting and entertaining and I thought they generally did a good job in also including the sisters' story lines, although I do wish Jin Dal's story had gone in a different direction ultimately and didn't end up with her ex, but I give it a pass; and I wish they had dwelled more on Hae Dal's past as well as the present relationship with Gong Ji Chan. Other than that I do not have complains about the subplots in this drama, they were all entertaining. I wish I could say the same of the main plot but alas, I can't.

The main plot, this is what I consider the two story lines of main leads love story and the "scandal" of FL are unnecessarily unsatisfactory. I say "unnecessarily" because they had more than enough time to explore this in detail and have a more realistic and natural progression than the one they chose.
I didn't like how the conflict with Yong Pil's father was tackled and solved. If the change of that man had happened slowly from the start of the show and they had shown the change progressively it would have had a pass but as it is, that man didn't deserve redeeming in such a quick way. He was abusive both verbally and physically to both his son and the neighbours and it had been 20 years of the passing of the wife. He never had the excuse, but with the amount of time it had passed even less so. The man doesn't even stop to think twice about how his wife would feel at the way he was acting. I don't think he deserved forgiveness in the manner it was given considering how that plot line was developed. But I wish the story with Yong Pil's father was less melodramatic if it was going to be tackled like that. The show really made me despise him a lot, and I was very annoyed when it ended like that after all the drama. The script just decided to make him think in the end but realistically a man behaving like that doesn't change that easily or quickly, more so when everyone around him is enabling him and he's playing the victim. His sense of ego was way too big to see the light in that manner but of course we were running out of time in the drama so it had to be done quickly.

On the other hand, the plot with Eun Joo was also solved too quickly for my liking, especially when it was a major plot point in the story. This again should have been solved slowly throughout at least a couple or three episodes. I do also partially agree with some of the other comments here in the fact that FL should have been more active in the solving of the issue and that her character did suffer inconsistency throughout. At some points she was shown as independent and head-strong, and at others weak and very passive. There are a few instances in which I could see or agree with that passiveness, in a way in which when you're being attacked constantly it gets to a point you just want to avoid the drama and sit still and do nothing because you are just too fed up. But if they were going more for this idea I think it should have been done better in terms of execution. Her stance changed and was ambiguous at times so it could get a bit frustrating.
So I do think it was solved too quickly but I'm half half when it comes to the "how" it was solved. A part of me thinks it's realistic that we don't even see major consequences other than Eun Joo reading the new's article because life be that unfair in real life too, or because we can more or less imagine how it continues. But another part of me just wishes we had seen the consequences of her actions because she pissed me off so much lol

As usual, SML romantic interest tends to be very pointless and it's not exception here. He really added nothing to the story and had he been just another friend in the group it wouldn't have made any difference to the plot. Also although I do know people in the characters ages that hasn't had a relationship ever, I still think that having more than one character like that is a bit unrealistic. At least they should have mentioned them dating around but not settling or other things like that. Especially in the case of Sang Do I think it would have worked well. Oh, but you want Sang Do be interested in FL? Easy. Make him a divorced man for example, and he had a crush for her when young and when seeing her again he gets a bit of a crush back. I don't know, there are many ways. As it is, his story line was pretty absurd.

The ending is a bit, I don't know, I'm not disappointed but also not super happy and the cameo of whoever-that-woman-was was pointless. It reminded me of that pointless ending in "Behind Your Touch" with another cameo that added nothing to anything. I'm not going to lie I did wish FL had gone with ML to Switzerland. After being apart for so long I get it was not a deal-breaker to have a long distance relationship for some more time, but at the same time she being a photographer made so much easier in my eyes to move with him for a while and work from there. Either way, it was a cliché of one of the leads going away last second and it could have been avoided entirely, but oh well.

This drama doesn't portray the typical romcom love story with fireworks, so if you're looking for that kind of romance this might not be for you. It's a slow rekindling of a relationship in a more muted and realistic way. Sure, especially FL does act more like a fangirl with the butterflies at times but the progression is more subdued.

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found family

Achei a história do dorama muito boa, os personagens muito bem construídos e adorei como eles evoluíram ao decorrer do drama, todos os casais tem muita quimica e são uns fofos.
Adorei a relação do Yong-Phill e da Sam-Dal, além de ser muito linda a amizade que eles tem e como as pessoas de Samaldari sempre acabam ajudando a Sam-Dal.
O final também foi bom, gostei de como todos tiveram uma segunda chance e deu tudo certo
Me envolvi com os personagens e com a história ao desenvolver do dorama e fiquei bem satisfeita!❤️
O único problema é ser um pouco repetitivo e demorado, eles tratavam as coisas como se fossem adolescentes não adultos mas mesmo assim não tive vontade nenhuma de dropar.

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To have a place to return to is an incredible relief

Ending on a positive and lovely note, the drama's run was sure a rollercoaster of emotions. While at times I felt extreme amounts of hate towards the writer for not having the female lead take very obvious logical decisions, she managed to calm me down by the second half of the drama. The journey of finding herself was beautifully portrayed. Shoutout to Shin Hye Sun, what an actress she is! The sheer amount of emotions she can convey with just her eyes is *chef's kiss*. The cast did an amazing work, especially Jo Yoon Seo, god did I hate her character's guts. Overall a good slice of life drama with great side character arcs, wouldn't go through the pain of watching the first half of the drama again tho.

The Man-Su arc was the best in my opinion XD

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So many writing problems

I liked the overall vibes of family, friendship and healing. Good comedic timing and the most dramatic parts were very touching. I was really moved by the sequence of Yongpil's mother's death. It was all so sad... and poignant. The friendship between the leads' mothers was beautifully portrayed. I had a good time watching it, however the drama had many problems of narrative:

- I found Samdal a little annoying in the beginning. She seemed too self-focused and kinda oblivious of people around her. Her dream of making big in Seoul and leaving Jeju wasn't explained, like why she hates Jeju so much? Later she got better but still I couldn't empathise with her. She acted like this strong woman while in Seoul but after what her assistant did to her she just became too passive and forgiving. She never did anything to change what happened to her or to make justice. When things are resolved in the end, is bc other people did. And let's not forget that she accepted to work with her ex, who cheated on her with her assistant and helped that same assistant to screw her up. It didn't make sense!
- Yongpil was a little disappointing as well. He lacked a story of his own. He never stood up against his father to defend Samdal. Basically, all the drama with his father was poorly written. But not as much as his love for forecasting. He dreamed of working abroad but we only know that through third parties cuz he doesn't say this not even once. He set himself and his dreams aside for FL the whole time. It was not good. Ji Chang Wook is great and I only liked his character bc of him.
- The romance could've been better. I mean, every moment potentially romantic is always linked to their past together. So there's little swoony moments of them in the present time. Their chemistry could be better explored. Samdal never showed that she still had feelings for him. They spend a lot of time interacting together with other characters. Idk if I just wasn't caught on the couple but I felt smth was lacking.
- Sangdo's one-sided love was boring. I never really like love triangles, it's one of the worst tropes, but they can be bearable if done right. But I hate when the third wheel is such a good person that is only there to suffer. For real, that's his only function in the narrative. He loved Samdal his whole life, she never got to know his feelings, and Yongpil didn't really care so... yeah... he's there to suffer. alone. forever. UGH!
- Isn't it annoying when people in dramas hide an important info abt themselves to sPAre EveRybOdy frOm wOrRyiNg. Seriously, why was FL's mother hiding such a serious thing (like a heart problem!) from her daughters?! But I do understand that they never bothered to come home even once for their family so it served them best.
- What happened to Bang Eunju? I know she lost credibility in the fashion world but did she give up attacking Samdal seeing she was obsessed with her? How did she end up?
- Many things were left for the last episode. a) Haedal's history with swimming and interest in being a haenyeo was only brought up in the last eps so it didn't have more screentime to develop this storyline. b) Jindal's history with her ex felt rushed to me. It wasn't clear how his relationship with his family was resolved. Did his family accept her? Are they in a secret relationship? Does his family still treat him like garbage? It was a mess. c) Sangdo, Gyeongtae and Eunwoo's success in Seoul was a surprise. After failing in mainland, they never showed any interest in going back and trying again. Samdal's dream was always in the forefront and everybody helped her with it but nobody ever talked abt THEIR dreams and wishes. Besides, they all had good jobs in Jeju. Why leaving? Why success can only happen in Seoul? Also, does anyone know why Sangdo is rich? Just too many plot holes.

OSTs are very good and were present during the whole series. The more melancholic ones played during sad scenes were the best. They really helped me connecting with these moments. Visuals were great too. Jeju is a beautiful place and they used it well.

To conclude, it had a lot of problems of writing but it was an enjoying drama overall. It wasn't as bad as I made it seem although it could've been a lot better.

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A Decent Small-Town Slice of Life Romcom

This is a slice of life drama at its core--not the best of the bunch (that probably goes to Hospital Playlist or Because this is My First Life) but still pretty good. It had its problems, mostly pacing and very abrupt endings to the secondary plot points which is a damn shame since the characters involved would have been more interesting if given enough time to shine. Also did a good job with not going into too much kdrama romcom cutesy tropes which can be grating for viewers who are looking for a more grounded and mature atmosphere in their kdramas.

Shin Hye-sun did good carrying the drama though, and this would certainly have been very mediocre without her great performance. Overall, not too shabby of a watch--specially with the beautiful Jeju scenery in the backdrop.

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The cast was outstanding with impeccable acting

That's all I have to say about the series. The cast was outstanding, and their acting was impeccable. However, the chemistry between the male lead (ML) and the female lead (FL) left me wanting more. Once the series ended, I couldn't recall any standout moments between them. Don't get me wrong, the performances of the talented Shin Hye Sun and the charismatic Ji Chang Wook were flawless, but their chemistry felt more like that of siblings rather than lovers. This was particularly noticeable for viewers familiar with their previous works like "Healer," and "Mr. Queen".

That being said, it was still an enjoyable watch and served as a good pastime while waiting for new dramas to emerge. I'm optimistic that in their next project together, we'll witness a chemistry that's both realistic and captivating, transcending expectations and taking us on an unforgettable journey.

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Enjoyable.

I honestly enjoyed this k-drama, I liked it. I felt like the time went by fast watching it, so I didn't feel bored nor did I feel it was too long (something I thought would happen but it didn't).

The truth is that watching Welcome to Samdal-ri made me think more about something I already knew: how normalized excessive drinking is in Korea. I don't think there wasn't an episode where one of the characters wasn't drinking some alcoholic beverage, or even worse, getting drunk until they lost consciousness. It was quite curious really, I don't think I've seen this shown so much in other series I've seen, so it caught my attention. This is a bit moralistic, but it's a bit worrying to see how they don't label this as something to watch out for, alcoholism is a serious problem. And leaving this aside, I do think that the use of alcohol (a common cliché) to get the characters to come clean or to give continuity to the plot was excessive.

But that's okay, I'll let that slide because again, I found the drama enjoyable. The chemistry between the leads is quite believable (I love you Ji Chang Wook) and the side stories didn't bore me as they usually do..

I don't have much to complain about, it was ok, to watch in the evenings and have a quiet and relaxing time. The plot was not the most exceptional, but it holds up, so it's ok, you manage to connect with the story. The unbelievable thing was how the biggest problem was solved so easily after 20 years when there was no hope, but ok.

I was amused by the twist they gave to Man-Su's character, but only because I wondered "Why?".

And well, would I recommend it? Yeah, probably.

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divers' slice of life

what I loved about this drama was how they depicted the life of these men and mostly women who dive into the sea all day long to catch fresh fish and shells. this is definitely a thing in korea. I like the story about this little girl who quit her little town to become a famous photographer, but actually, all these was (for me) not necessary for the story to be charming. she could have a been an anonymous worker in a big corporate facing hard time in her job.

I think that the main focus of this drama is about how you handle the social pressure. how you handle anonymous pressure on the internet, how you handle it at work when someone is badmouthing you, how you handle the expectations of your family and friends, and from your lover. they looked very deeply in this matter and did a really good job. I appreciated the light they put on real friendship and family bound that can help you go through the hardship in life. the conversations and little advice they give every now and then are very accurate and heartwarming.

the love story between the two ML was touching, but I felt it a little too much idealized. it's very nice to love forever, but for me, long lasting love has a reason: it is in the way the two lovers handle themselves and their partner. and this part is a little bit lacking here. but, we can agree to just accept that they love each other for no reason.

when to watch: it's a very light and uplifting story, watch it after work.
audience: family friendly

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Good, not great. For fans of light comedy/romance without too critical an eye.

First, I liked this drama very much, but there is no way it deserves a 10/10. Read the reviews that gave more realistic grades and the reasons they were given, and let them guide you. Is this a feel good drama? Absolutely. But realistically speaking that's about it. And despite the fact that I think Shin Hye Sun is one of the best actresses working, this drama isn't in the same league as Hometown Cha-Cha or Hospital Playlist. It isn't even Shin Hye Sun's best work. (Check out "Thirty But Seventeen" or "Mr. Queen".) This drama is simply good, not great.

I thought Welcome to Samdal-ri was going great until the final quarter, where things kind of petered out to the expected conclusion. There is a lot of filler in the final two episodes in particular. There just wasn't enough story to fill up all 16 episodes, and dragging things out exposed some issues with the story. Sang Do's 30-year one-sided love was more than a bit farfetched, and the amount of screen time it was given made even less sense. The extent of Cho Yong Pil's father's animosity toward Go Mi Ja felt way too harsh, and it also deserved less screen time. (There had to be a better way to create tension in the plot.) Other storylines really deserved a lot more screen time, like Hae Dal's relationship with the dolphin scientist. (And her daughter was a complete delight, stealing nearly every scene she was in.) More could have been made of big sister's wacky relationship with her chaebol ex-husband, and finally more could've been made of Sam Dal & Yong Pil's reunion, giving them more time to explore their new dynamic. Not exploring these storylines made the presence of so much filler all the more frustrating.

As much as I liked this drama, its flaws were obvious even to me. It is not a 10/10, but if you like feel-good dramas you will like this one. And if you have a more critical eye, there are better shows to watch.

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