Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)

A review coming from a sincere heart.

"Having a place to return to is an incredible relief". What a beautiful reminder. This kdrama has reached the depth of my heart in a way that I didn't think was possible. It reminded me that love is everywhere as long as you are willing to see it.
Home is place that heals your heart and gives you the power to keep going. Remember to stop once in a while and look around. When cho samdal finally realized how much her people loves her and started staring at them with a wide smile, the following phrase accured to my mind : it's everything you ever want, it's everything you ever need, and it's here right in front of you, this is where you wanna be. (from the greatest showman)
This kdrama has brought a lot of joy to my month, I hope you guys watch it heartfuly .

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Comforting watch with great setting

"Welcome to Samdal-ri" effortlessly combines two of my favorite romance tropes: childhood best friends and second chances, all set against the backdrop of a charming small town. The series offers more than just romance; it presents a heartwarming narrative filled with loveable, emotional side characters, strong acting performances, and a lovely soundtrack that perfectly complements the mood.

Strengths:

The chemistry between *Shin Hye-sun* and *Ji Chang-wook* is undeniable, making their journey from past hurts to present healing a joy to watch. The setting of Samdal-ri is truly picturesque, capturing the essence of countryside life and making viewers yearn for a peaceful retreat from the bustling city. I was especially fond of the subplot involving the dolphin researcher and the youngest sister—an unexpected yet sweet romance that added layers to the story.

The narrative and the underlying message—that it takes a village to succeed in life—resonate deeply. What initially appears to be a simple tale of a city girl versus a village boy evolves into something much more profound, touching on themes of community, forgiveness, and self-discovery.

Weaknesses:

However, the drama isn't without its flaws. One of the main issues lies in the editing. While the back-and-forth flashbacks generally enhance the narrative, the repeated scenes from previous episodes can disrupt the pacing, making certain parts feel unnecessarily dragged out.

Another aspect that felt off was the portrayal of the characters' ages. Despite being almost 40, they often behave as though they're in their early 30s. This might be due to cultural differences, but it does create a slight disconnect. It’s also worth mentioning that the second lead didn't add much to the overall narrative and could have been omitted without losing any impact.

The final two episodes, while still enjoyable, could have benefited from tighter editing. They dragged on a bit too long, and while I appreciated the cheesy ending on the career spot, the separation of the leads for one to go abroad felt cliché. I would have preferred to see them together in Switzerland rather than the standard last-minute reunion scene. Additionally, I found the villain to be somewhat one-dimensional; a bit more depth to their character would have made the story even more compelling.

Conclusion:

Despite its minor flaws, *"Welcome to Samdal-ri"* is a comforting and delightful watch. The performances, particularly from *Shin Hye-sun* and *Ji Chang-wook*, are excellent, and their chemistry is extra sweet. The friendships portrayed are touching, and the series beautifully illustrates the importance of community. It’s a drama that starts with familiar tropes but evolves into something much deeper, making it a satisfying and heartwarming experience overall.

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Welcome to Kdramal-ri--stay awhile, you will enjoy this!

This is what good Kdramas are all about. A well-written story full of delightful characters, all with their own stories to tell who take the viewer on an amazing experience. The main word I would use to describe it is heartwarming. As the main character returns to her hometown due to a scandal, she must confront a past tragedy and grief that influenced her decision to walk away from her one and only love. He too has to confront the past, the pain of losing her, and the influence his father's grief has had on his life. The two main leads did an exceptional job portraying the simultaneous emotions of heartache with attraction, and walking on eggshells with their parents. I don't think they could've gotten better actors than these two. They were so genuine with their roles and characters, with each other, and with family and friends. It was like two best friends who actually grew up together said to each other one day, "Hey let's make a movie!" Well done Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye Sun!! And who could not help but fall in love with the Haenyeos?!! Set and filmed in both Seoul and Jeju Island, the cinematography will stir the traveler in you to get on a plane and visit these beautiful areas of South Korea. All of this wrapped in a good soundtrack and you've got the makings of viewer nirvana, which is actually what it was. Great story, good subplots, great acting, great locations, music, and a good ending. All that's left is to grab the popcorn, curl up on the couch, and watch!

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Conflicts Aren’t Great but Enjoyed Light, Positive Vibes

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I picked this drama up because I like the lead actors. Actually, I don’t like Ji Chang Wook (지창욱) in any roles other than action, but I decided to give it another shot. This seemed like it could be a cute romance, but in order for it to work, the chemistry needs to be on point.

Acting/Cast: I was pleasantly surprised by the cast. There were some actors that I was very happy to see again and some actors I’ve seen for the first time. I think everyone did great acting-wise (except for the female lead’s dad). However, like I mentioned before, the chemistry is the most important aspect here. All of the friend groups had good chemistry as well as the side romances, but I’m not sure the two leads quite got there -- at least not as more than friends. Maybe it’s because they were so overly cutesy with each other or maybe it’s because there weren’t any - even remotely - steamy scenes between them. I just wasn’t completely sold on them. Especially, after that ending with the choice that the male lead made. Careers were obviously way more important to everyone over love, which is strange for a “romance”. 7.5/10

Writing: I like the plot and the side stories. I like the characters. However, there’s some details that bothered me. The useless love triangle is one of those things. Literally, it was only there to motivate the male lead to make a move. They really built up this second male lead like he was going to be a huge threat, but no, just another poor victim of second male lead abuse. I think he was an interesting and unique character, too, so it’s such a shame. Another issue I had with this drama is the forced conflicts (apart from the love triangle). The initial conflict that sets the plot in motion is fine, but later on, things happen that make it feel unrealistic. There’s also another conflict between the male lead’s father and the female lead that just feels annoying and childish. I wanted to just skip over all of that nonsense. Then, the “plot twist” at the end with the foreigner seemed so pointless… I was like ‘Why??’ Blink and you’ll miss it. Fortunately, this drama has good side stories and likeable characters all around. 4/10

Direction/SFX/Music: The ending was so cliché that it didn’t feel consistent with the male lead’s personality. The pacing was decent despite using so-so conflicts to push the story along. The OST isn’t really my cup of tea, but I did add two of the songs to my playlist. Beautiful Day by Gemini (제미나이, 아름다운 날) is really pretty and of course the drama’s theme song: DK (도겸) (Seventeen) - Short Hair (단발머리). 6/10

Entertainment Value: It was an easy, light watch. Nothing very exciting to make me want to binge watch this drama, but also nothing so irritating that it would make me want to drop it. The second half is when I started feeling a bit of a drag (episode 9) and episode 10 or 11 is when more conflicts are forced in which began to annoy me. The ending was cliché, too. Although one of the side love stories was solidified, which was a pleasant surprise. 4/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 5.5/10. It makes me wish I had a rabid posse of male friends. It almost made me want to start taking photos...I hate taking photos.

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Loved it

Hard to understand the negative reviews . For me this is a lively , entertaining , high spirited show with a brilliant cast ,
Grief , friendship , enduring love , forgiveness , all well developed and very moving . In a busy and modern world which does not really stop to think and pause , the little town in Jeju with its close knit community can bring peace and safety to re charge the batteries , re assess and move forward . The music is well chosen , the scenery beautiful , and the characters are all warm, affectionate and engaging in spite of their drawbacks apart from the assistant who meets her just fate at the end . I have watched it twice already ,

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A lovely, wholesome watch

I really enjoyed this drama. It wasn't perfect, but wholesomeness of the characters, and the superb acting (perfect casting) had me coming back every week for more. I seem to have gotten a lot pickier over the years and it's become hard for me to stick to a drama as it's airing unless I'm enjoying each episode.

There were definitely things that we got too much of - literally no one cared about the second-lead? (I feel like he doesn't even deserve that title) weird one-sided love that lasted wayyyy too long. And then there were things that we wanted way more of like the youngest and oldest sister's stories (past, present, and future).

This drama had some beautifully written characters and development though, and that's what had me crying at some parts when their love and humanity shines through.

Plus, I understand the Korean dramas tend to be focused on the female perspective since that's their audience, but I would have loved to get some more focus on our male lead, Cho Yong-pil, too and see his life and perspectives fleshed out a bit more so that we could see why he fell Sam-dal and why he loves what he loves. I will say that the way Ji Chang-wook was constantly staring with so much love in his eyes, I had no trouble believing it (I just wanted some more backstory about his life).

The chemistry our main couple had was great, and I even wish we had some more scenes with kisses and other gestures of affection, although they are great at staring into each other's eyes affectionately.

The small town ensemble cast was wonderful and they all brought so much energy and fun to the screen, which makes you understand why small towns where everyone knows everyone can be a bit exhausting or frustrating when everyone knows your business, but also that it's a home you can always turn to for support.

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Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Welcome to Samdalri '' is a drama about family and going back to one's roots in order to heal and reset.

The drama has a nice mood, with the setting being a countryside-seaside village and the small community vibes aided the story greatly.

Also, the side characters were all interesting, especially the sisters, and their stories were funny, emotional, and original. Also, the family drama was really sweet and sad at the same time.

On the other hand, the main characters were not written well. The female lead was annoying, and the male lead was just a nice guy, without any other trade. Which is a pitty, as both actors are strong and always give enjoyable performances. Also, their romance was boring and predictable.

So, overall, six out of ten.

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looking for a comfort show? you got it!

this show might be your cup pf tea if you enjoy:
- nostalgia
- deep analysis of platonic & romantic relationships
- tons of emotions
- amazing cinematography that makes you feel at home
- lovable cast

a story about finding your roots after living away from home for so long; we all know how busy our lives have become these days and this show portrays that perfectly, it also shows that even though it is great to be achieving your dreams and going your way to achieve success, someday you will need a break from your busy life.

a story about close friends, a great family bond, missing your childhood memories and home. this show shows that there are people around you who always wish for your best and want the best for you. you may feel left out, alone and invisible but there’s always going to be someone who is silently praying for your health and happiness. whether it be your family, or your childhood friends you keep no contact with anymore.

the reflection and healing in this show is something, the way you experience the characters’ healing process along with them, experiencing all different types of emotions. everyone is going through something different but the makers really did an amazing job by giving everyone more than enough spotlight so you can seriously see and understand them as a whole.

this is definitely comfort show worthy, it made me cry so many times because of the emotions i felt seeing the characters and their stories. the actors did an amazing job as well portraying their characters. well done!

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The drama beautifully explores family, community, and the healing power of love.

This K-drama shared into the themes of family, sisterhood, career, community and most especially true love throughout its 16 episodes.

I was initially drawn in by the central conflict, and hoping it will be resolved soon but along the few episodes, I found Sam Dal's journey toward inner peace with her family, particularly her soulmate Yong Pil.

In mirroring real life, it beautifully portrays how adversity can pave the way for profound connections, healing, and a peaceful resolution. love the storyline, moving performances, and commendable work from the entire team, it stands as one of the best K-dramas.

I had to cry so hard for the last two episodes, pure talent of the screenwriter and the entire production crew. Bravo!

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WATCH IT OR NOT?!!?

Firstly I would say only try to watch this drama if you can keep watching multiple episodes as the drama is quite slowly paced and has its little sprinkle of laughter and romance.

The drama mainly focuses of the ML and FL past and everything tied to that which made the whole storytelling quite enjoyable, some episodes did leave me a bit saddened when it came to how slow it was paced, but it was worth the watch as it kept on getting better. This drama isn't that one amazing drama of the year or something new, if that's what you are looking for.

I solely would recommend this drama as its a feel good drama to raise your spirits as you watch it and tends to make you happy when certain problems or obstacles the characters face are solved.

Don't watch if you cant keep up with the slow pacing as it is quite slow after the first few episodes and leaves you longing or a good plot twist or at least some satisfaction but it makes you wait a bit long. Other than that it was quite a good warm drama that brightened my mood. Loved the acting and enjoyed the storytelling and the music matched the vibes.

In my case it was definitely a good watch at it had a warm feeling as each obstacle was overcame by the MC's and all the issues were solved and especially I loved the side character stories as well.

I'd say its definitely a good watch for people who want something heartwarming to watch.

Disclaimer! Don't watch if you hate slowly paced dramas (some plot advancements even take up 3 episodes but the resolution makes it worth while)

Well that's it for this short review, hope it was helpful.

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