Family by Choice goes steady, Gangnam B-Side makes waves on Disney+
On December 25th, we bid goodbye to one of Song Joong Ki’s highest-rated K-dramas, "Reborn Rich". The show broke some records and also won the viewers' hearts with its compelling plot, extensive and talented ensemble, and impressive production value. No comment on the ending.
Now that it's over, all that is left are lingering thoughts.
But before we push this drama to the back of our minds and move on with life, let's take a moment and recall some of the best moments from the fantasy K-drama.
Note: The article may contain drama spoilers!
Abolition of Primogeniture
Jin Yang Cheol’s (Lee Sung Min) declaration of the abolition of the rule of primogeniture was the onset of war in the Jin family. This announcement came as a shock to the Jin family members, but for Jin Do Joon (Song Joong Ki), it was the golden ticket to taking over the Soonyang Group.
The family members of the Jin family started planning schemes to take over shares and ownership of Soonyang subsidiaries.
The tension began escalating and seeing the kinfolk fighting over the company's shares was an entertaining watch. They showed their true faces because now "everyone had a shot at becoming the next owner of Soonyang".
Do Jun also started arranging his chess pieces and began making moves to get Soonyang Group’s ownership.
Do Jun’s Brother Predicting Future Events
Let's admit it, if there was anyone who gave comic relief during the entire show, it was Do Joon's brother Jin Hyung Joon (Kang Gi Doong).
He playfully predicted future events that would mark a turn in the Korean history.
The highlight was during episode 3 when Hyung Joon unknowingly accurately predicted Korean cinema's future success including a Korean movie beating Hollywood movies and winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards, a Korean song reaching Billboard's Top 100, and Team Korea reaching the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup.
What seemed an impossibility actually turned into reality years later.
Do Jun Leveraging the 2002 World Cup as His Advertisement Campaign
During the entire drama Do Joon outsmarted his opponents numerous times. But his using the 2002 World Cup as the marketing strategy for Apollo's launch was crème de la crème.
Everyone was giving up hope on Soonyang Motors. And even Chairman Jin saw it as a lost cause. But Do Joon went against the tide and planned to make Soonyang Motors’ latest project a success by leveraging the 2002 World Cup and using it as the marketing strategy for Apollo.
When no one, except Do Joon, expected the South Korean team to win even the first round, the team brought a big surprise to the entire nation by reaching the semi-finals. And eventually, Apollo was a huge success.
This episode also showed how much Do Joon cared for his grandfather and his wishes despite having ulterior motives.
The episode also gave a glimpse into the past of one of South Korea’s proud achievements and the nation's ecstasy that came with it.
Jin Yang Cheol Acting Schitzy
Lee Sung Min did a commendable job playing Jin Yang Cheol. His cold demeanor and greed for money definitely struck a chord with the audience. Among his best moments is at the end of episode 11.
CEO Jin Seon Jun is suspected to have caused the life-threatening accident that almost costed the lives of Yang Cheol and Do Joon. When Yang Cheol realizes that his own family is scheming to kill him, he suffers from a stroke. His mental stability finally gives in, and he starts losing his memories and misidentifying his own family members.
Shifting the role from a cold-hearted greedy man to a mentally unstable person is no child's play. But we are talking about one of the most versatile actors in the industry.
Sung Min's role as Yang Cheol is probably among the best he has played so far, and he carried out the task with finesse.
Do Jun Getting Vienna Coffee
Though we got to see only a handful of moments of Seo Min Young (Shin Hyun Bin) and Do Jun together, those moments were enough to give a balmy effect amidst the tension-filled plot.
One such scene where we get to see the duo is in episode 5. Do Joon goes to the cafe where Min Young works and orders a Vienna coffee. Min Young assumes that he comes to the cafe, which is on her side of town, alone during her shift to see her every day.
But Do jun feigns ignorance and is surprised to hear that he can use his points collected to drink free coffee. It is then that Min Young realizes that Do Jun actually comes for the coffee and not for her.
Min Young's embarrassment was inevitable. But later, the scene reveals that Do Jun was indeed coming to the cafe to see Min Young.
Hyung Joon and Do Joon Having a Sweet Bro Moment
In episode 11, when Jin Do Joon and his grandfather Jin Yang Cheol (Lee Sung Min) survive the fatal accident, things are kept hushed to find out the culprit. Only those close to Do Joon know about his condition.
During that time, Hyung Joon tells Do Joon that he will pursue music and make a fortune. And Do Joon can have all his fortune and their parents' inheritance too.
Seeing how the Jin family members are after each other's lives for the inheritance of Soonyang Group, Hyung Joon tells his little brother to happily live together, and not in torment over mere money.
It was a touching scene where we see two brothers caring for each other while their whole family was going nuts for inheritance.
The heartwarming scene, however, turned comical when Hyung Joon said that Do Joon also has to give all his money to him.
