Wonderful World (2024)

What´s life if our heart threatens to tear? Emotionally intense KDrama. About crime&politics, too

“Wonderful World” is painting a wonderful psychological picture of people desperately trying to come to terms with their inner suffering. The focus is on feelings that we would rather not experience. Accordingly, the KDrama is anything but funny. This is once again a KDrama that isn't afraid of drama.

What is life like when our heart threatens to tear? If someone is losing their child, for example... There is no stent nor bypass for that. Guilt and loss of control, the desolation of existence and sheer agony are shaping the terrain through which one has to survive every day. At best there is grieving. But to get there even, that is a long way... “Wonderful World” takes on these emotional dimensions – carefully, sensitively, seriously and urgently.

At the same time, this KDrama vividly documents how the selfish decision of individuals, who see themselves as elite or want to be seen as such, unscrupulously, ruthlessly and brutally throw the lives of 'insignificantly normal' people completely out of balance. It is thus a political drama about a world that is not as 'wonderful' as it claims to be, too.

“Wonderful World” is also a crime thriller because there is a murder to be solved. This brings tension and additional dynamism to the story. “Wonderful World” could also be understood as a story about one or two revenge missions. In my opinion, however, these are more stencils in the background. In the foreground unfolds the emotional world of those who feel left alone in their pain and their helpless anger - but still, they carry on, somehow. Two humans see and understand each other in their suffering and are/feel/come close to each other because of this ...and ultimately try to regain a sense of control over their lives. Therein lies the power and beauty of “Wonderful World” (I think anyways).

As I said, this KDrama is not afraid of drama. It's right in the middle of it and even better. The increase in entanglements, and the music, too, remind me in places of the early KDramas - and gladly so. A great script. Yes, bitter life experiences, admittedly. Nevertheless. Intense acting. Serious. Authentic.

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Nostalgic!!!

As the first episode ended, I was full on sobbing, how can they do that to a small child. Then the murder of the murderer, I felt relief but sad for fmc. The introduction of Cha Eun Woo was mysterious, but as the story progressed and he was introduced properly with story, it all clicked in place. Watching this was such a underrated experience, it's like a masterpiece I want to scream to everyone but still want to gatekeep.

The progression into the cheating plot had my blood boil, bruh that was unnecessary totally but still it happened and our fmc cowered, like not happening but later kicked the husband out so all good.

Kim Joon, should rot in hell with no fucking redemption allowed his way. (Jua)

The overall ending was such a masterpiece, this may seem a simple revenge drama but the way it was potrayed, the acting of actors and the OST had been such a vibe.

100/10 for me. ARGUE WITH A WALL IF NOT IN AGREEMENT!!

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Melancholic Drama

Wonderful world started wonderfully but heartbreakingly. It exhibited a saddening aura right from the very first episode.

Wonderful world is what I'd refer to as a "saddening drama"! This is one of the most saddening kdramas I've watched. I mean, the first two episodes completely changed my mood from cheerful to sad.
Eun Soo hyun and Gwon Seon Yul suffered greatly. Soo hyun lost her son, and during those time she almost lost the will to live. Seon Yul lost his father, making his family fall into ruins. The first two leads character are one of the most melancholy characters I've seen.

But it's a good thing justice was served in the end, and the villain was punished. Furthermore, the best of of it all was that soo hyun and seol hyun rose again, and finally got their lives back. And though the ending was a kind of rushed, and it wasn't exactly what I expected, I'd like to commend the actors of wonderful world, they were awesome in their respective roles.
All the actors portrayed their roles wonderfully, especially the first leads.

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Well Written Story

This is the kind of drama that keeps you seated wanting badly for the next episodes to drop. The urge to know the secrets behind the the events that take place and the stories behind the main characters will keep you guessing. I love how every succeeding episode answers questions I have in the previous ones. The story steadily escalates , diving into the mysteries of the characters' lives while the actors play their parts very well. This is worth everyone's time. After all that has happened, the people you choose to surround yourself with will help you realize that it is still a wonderful world.

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Vengeance can give Justice, but real peace comes from forgiveness!

⭐PROS:
The story's main theme is vengeance by a mother who lost a child and a child who lost a parent - who make questionable decisions while blinded by anger & grief, unaware that there is a bigger mastermind behind the injustice they are going through. As the drama progresses & unravels the mystery - it beautifully showcases characters coming to terms with their loss, grief, loneliness & finally peace - in varying degrees.

The latter is a great point shown in the drama - cause while the incident (loss of a dear one) may have been a common point for many characters involved, each of them has their own way of coping with it. And in doing so it shows the growth and strength of that character. Love the ending - I like how realistic they kept it without making it flowery in the end, cause such stories are raw emotions throughout which you cannot tie the ends with a flower and bow. Really likes how each character comes to together in the hour of need - in spite of the bad blood they had before.

⭐CONS:
The story is not new - and while the actors are all great names of the industry and deliver their role well, it was not remarkable/memorable for me. I have seen all the actors in other dramas and know how powerful they can be - here they felt weak in comparison. Not that they are bad - just that they are doing this for the sake of it - they are actors here, they did not live the characters - as per me.

Also, the pacing of this drama was a con for me, and this is a personal opinion. I'm someone who enjoys dramas having breakneck speed, but I believe while this drama maybe tagged as thriller, mystery - it was that but also healing and wholesome, hence for many the pacing would not be an issue but rather a very emotional ride.

⭐OVERALL:
Hence, rating this is a 7 - which in my books is a good drama. Not a masterpiece or something I'll watch again, or recommend greatly to anyone. But rather it is a good watch one time watch if these are the themes that interest you.


⭐ MILD SPOILER - to highlight some great work / small things but went a long way:

- Love how the son-in-law comes to take care of the mother-in-law. And even before that while his mother was earlier a cold character, it is amazing to see how in her heart she actually a warm person and is just looking out for her family - immediate and in-laws too.
- The sisters, tbh, it would not work the way it did in real life; but it was a beautiful relationship and very well done by both the actresses.
- The brother-in-law had a very minimal screentime, but still was so crucial at important change of scenes. Usually in dramas crucial information is lost because main characters "miss" each other and then cause a lot frustrating misunderstandings. I like how here the brother-in-law was the narrator in a way who kept the information flowing from one character to another. Eg: how he tells his sister-in-law about the reality of Cha Eun Woo's character. Also how in the end - he tells his sister-in-law about Eun Woo's mother etc. Also his mother acted as a conduit to relay the information to her elder son about his mother-in-law 's dementia.

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Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Wonderful World '' is a melodrama-thriller.

The drama has quite a tragic story and it easily gets emotional and bittersweet when it deals with those matters. With an intense start, the drama slowly unfolds into a political thriller, with the main couple (not a romantic one though, fortunately!!!) having lots of chemistry and enhancing the intensity of the story.

Also, the performances were all great by every actor and actress of the cast. The characters were interesting as well and had depth. In addition, the family drama had many layers.

Finally, the ending was nicely handled, though the final episodes seemed like they were losing momentum.

So, overall, eight out of ten.

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You can reach a better, a Wonderful World

This series is now one of my favorite thrillers. Every episode was exciting, full of emotions and tears. It's sad, heartbreaking and bittersweet. It makes you hopeful that good things can arise in the midst of pain and suffering.

The plot is about the mother Soohyun who loses her little son in an accident. But was it really an accident? After that her whole world falls apart and she makes a decision that has many terrible consequences for her and others.

Even though the twists were mostly predictable, it didn't change the fact that I was excited throughout. The pacing was okay. There are a lot of quiet phases, don't expect too much action, but to be honest... it doesn't need action to be memorable and thrilling.

The main characters are morally grey. I often hated their actions and decisions... but sometimes I understood them. I cried with them and for them. Romance doesn't play a role in this series, but that's okay because it's really not necessary.

I'm so glad that the story didn't feel rushed. Everything was put together naturally. I was very pleased with the happy ending. In my opinion, Wonderful World is a heavy, cruel and sad thriller series that leaves you satisfied in the end!

On a side note... I really love Seonyul's apartment.

[finished watching on 26 February 2024]

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Revenge Begets Revenge

An eye for an eye will make the world blind and turn us into the monsters we are trying to punish.

The writer has a strong concept for a revenge story, focusing on how the pursuit of revenge impacts those around the characters, rather than just the perpetrator and the victims. However, while the ideas are solid, the execution falls short in key areas such as plot development, editing, and direction. The pacing is slow and predictable, with too many unnecessary flashbacks and drawn-out scenes that overemphasize the melodrama. Important details that should have been revealed later are given away too soon, undermining the mystery of the male lead and making his revenge seem shallow, while excusing the female lead's motives. This reduces the characters to clear-cut villain and hero roles, rather than allowing for more complex, morally ambiguous portrayals. The missed opportunity for deeper layers of complexity and tension could have made the story far more compelling for audiences to dissect. The plot holes are also quite glaring, especially given that the male lead is portrayed as intelligent and manipulative, with ample connections and resources, yet he only pieces together certain facts much later—while the female lead relies on a quick web search and a contact with a reporter to uncover them.

Despite a strong story that suffered from poor execution, the cast delivered stellar performances.

1st Half: Dominated by Kim Nam Joo, whose portrayal of grief is hauntingly painful yet profoundly raw. Special mention goes to Kang Ae Sim, whose powerful depiction of a kind convict with a complex backstory set a crucial dramatic tone for the drama, highlighting how revenge can affect others.

2nd Half: I’m genuinely surprised by how Cha Eun Woo took over the second half of the show. For the first time, I felt like I was seeing his character, not just the actor himself. While he may not have been as strong in earlier roles, I admire his commitment to improvement. He consistently chooses roles that challenge him, rather than just opting for what’s popular among actors his age. His mature performance in this drama truly stole the scene; he portrayed sorrow and pain so physically that you could feel it shaking his whole body. Special mention goes to Won Mi Kyung for being the heart of the drama.

If Kim Nam Joo portrayed her grief with subdued, suppressed raw emotions that eventually burst into flames, Cha Eun Woo depicted his grief with intense, explosive anger and desperation that ultimately fizzled into a sorrowful sense of helplessness and hopelessness. When they are together, they create a compelling dynamic that both balances and challenges each other. Their conflicts and disagreements become a catalyst for their personal growth and mutual inspiration. In this way, the writing seems to get it right.

Highly recommended if you don't mind diving into heavier topics.

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