Complex Characters but an Abrupt Ending

I gave High Society an 8.5 because, at first, I thought it deserved a higher rating. The ending is decent by melodrama standards, but honestly, I was left disappointed. It just ended so abruptly and felt kind of unresolved.

The story is pretty much what you’d expect from the synopsis: two women navigating love in very different worlds. Yoon Ha, the first girl, is the youngest daughter of a super-rich chaebol family, but her relationship with her family is terrible except for her older brother, who goes missing. Her mom is/was awful and abusive. Her dad was constantly yelling and treating his kids like tools for his own benefit. Then there’s Ji Yi, the second girl, who’s not rich but she is bright, hardworking, and has no idea Yoon Ha’s rich. She’s a great friend to Yoon Ha, and their friendship is one of the best parts of the show.

We also meet Joon Ki, who’s from a similar background to Yoon Ha, and Chang Soo, who first sees her in dark makeup and ripped jeans. From there, their lives intertwine.

Story:
The pace was pretty natural, and I liked that it showed everyone’s lives without overdoing it. Yes, it’s a melodrama, but it wasn’t too cheesy or unrealistic. It actually felt like these could be real people, which kept me interested. But the ending.. it was too sudden. Either they couldn’t turn this into a longer drama to wrap things up better, or they just wanted it to be a slice of life about two women finding love with all the complications that come with it. I liked that they kept the focus tight, but it could’ve been balanced better.

Acting/Characters:
The acting was good, I don’t really have any complaints. But the character development is why I didn’t rate it higher. The writers know how to get you invested, making you like or hate characters depending on the moment. I really liked Ji Yi at first. She’s sweet, bright, and her friendship with Yoon Ha is so fun to watch, how they communicate with each other is refreshing to see in a drama. But after Yoon Ha finds out Chang Soo’s true intentions, Ji Yi’s character changes. She stays friendly with Chang Soo, even after knowing what he did. it felt out of character. Many other viewers felt the same. Even acting like Yoon Ha’s overreacting, which made me care less about her and her romance with Joon Ki.

Joon Ki, on the other hand, was great. He’s genuinely in love with Ji Yi, and that makes him likable. Chang Soo, though? Couldn’t stand him after his intentions were revealed, but the writers are good at making you hate a character, then pulling you back. The same goes for Yoon Ha’s mom. I despised her at first, but they gave her a redemption arc that explained her actions a bit more.

Conclusion:
In the end, everyone’s story wrapped up pretty well. Each character learned something, and we got a glimpse into why they behaved the way they did. This was the first drama I’ve finished in a while, and I binged it in one day. If you like complex characters and don’t mind a little unresolved tension, High Society is worth a watch.

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Weird plot-twist

WHAT I LIKED:
I enjoyed the acting, especially Ji-an's dad; he is truly an angel. When he made a heart sign to Ji-an, I bawled my eyes out. I appreciated the sibling relationships portrayed in the show, and the story's progression kept me engaged. All the characters felt likable, and I was hoping the show would focus on Ji-an's journey of navigating her two families and the struggles they face. Unfortunately, that was not the case, which led to my disappointment. I guess that’s what I get for having expectations for a weekend drama, hence my negative review.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
SPOILERS: This is my first weekend drama, so I know I should have anticipated a strange plot twist. However, when it was revealed that Ji-an wasn’t even the missing daughter—despite her being the focused character and the showcase of her struggles—I was taken aback. It felt abrupt to learn in the last 10 minutes of episode 5 that Ji-soo is the actual missing daughter, who hardly had any screen time. As a viewer, I feel much more connected to Ji-an, and it’s difficult to cheer for a character I don’t feel as invested in. Because of this, I’m choosing to drop the show.

Hopefully, I can find another drama with a similar plot-line without the plot-twist.

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