50FiftillidideeBrain
POW Match‼ Sang-gu vs Tree is Lights-Out-Knockout‼ °8.4° °Outstanding°
The title didn't recruit me, I'll admit. It looked like an afterlife show that takes place in Heaven. The ratings were too good to be ignored, however. So I wagered my time on this contest, & so should you.
In typical Kdrama fashion, they introduce people that, early on, are impossible to imagine caring for each other in a neutral corner. Geu-ru is a 20 y/o w/ Aspergers Syndrome. It's on the ADHD spectrum w/ bonus challenges. Aspergers victims are akin to fragile angels. They tend to be highly intelligent & focused on a narrow range of topics that captivate their interest. They have no social skills, no comprehension of non-verbal communication, body language, or other such subtleties. Innately pure, they would never understand stealing, cruelty, or even white lies. They don't have the resources to roll with the punches. Without proper oversight & gentle handling at home, they won't make it. Geu-ru's intellect is the glove on the hand that prepares him for a counter punch. His name means “tree”, and like a tree, he's hard to move.
Geu-ru & his father are "Trauma Cleaners." Cleaning up messy deaths, crime scenes, & the aftereffects of deaths occurring at businesses or other properties is what Trauma Cleaners do. But Geu-ru & Dad don't just clean. They respect the deceased. They also console the "survived-bys". Geu-ru and his father would doggedly follow the departed's wishes regarding disbursement of their worldly goods. Absent explicit instructions, detective Geu-ru pieces it together w/ the evidence at hand.
Many of the early episodes are about the work-ethic and care Ge-ru has adopted from his father. Geu-ru is inspired & compelled to scry the deceased's wishes & carry them out to the shock of the bereaved. These scenes are emotional. Don't get Caught Cold: Hankies out!
Geu-ru is suddenly left alone. His father had pre-bequeathed a domicile & occupation to his brother/Geu-ru's uncle, Sang-gu. - as long as Unc cares for Geu-ru in dad's absence, that is. Sang-gu is a pugilist and a boxer who competes in underground fights. He's suffered a series of low blows in life. Just released from prison post an attempted murder sentence due to a tragedy in the ring, his life is on the ropes. Geu-ru, unaware of the arrangements made by his father, had never met his uncle. Unannounced, Sang-gu arrives at the house one day. He takes a dive onto the couch, & demands a beverage. He's angry, impatient, flippant, & aggressive - the scary variety.
Sang-gu must carry on the business w/ Geu-ru or lose the income & the sofa (Geu-ru won't allow him in daddy's BR). Their first job together is cleanup of a corpse that had been there a while. The scene is... unpleasant. Sang-gu has the heaving & hurling reaction one might anticipate. It progresses from there. It's hilarious to drive w/ them for the 1st time. We'll just say that Sang-gu is not methodical like his brother. He's a brawler, in & out of the ring. Upon landing, Geu-ru cites every law Sang-gu had just violated, along w/ the fines & imprisonment levies. Sang-gu starts to see that he's moved, not to a house, but down the rabbit hole. Sang-gu additionally learns that he can't win a battle of the wills with Geu-ru. As he's rarely wrong, Geu-ru is, in essence, landing a Bolo Punch to Sang-gu's hard shell. It's starting to crumble.
The distance characters must cover, to reach the main event and eventually unite, always makes the journey better. The bigger the better. In MTH, a vast quest handed down to viewers. The main 3 characters did an excellent job. Tang Joon-sang, as Geu-ru, is authentic. In the same year, he starred in Racket Boys-8, an adorable show, playing a hot-headed & uber aggressive/competitive athlete. Then there's Crash Landing On You-9.1. He's in that,and he's convincing in the roles, to his credit - a trifecta! (Don't miss CLOY, btw.)
Lee Jehoon is fantastic as Sang-gu. I'cve seen him effectively play a romantic lead, but he really dazzles in this sort of role. Did they speed up the camera for Sang-gu's punches, or is he actually that fast? He's ripped, too... Convincing body suit? I think not. He beats up people (all are in acute need of it) by slapping them. As a boxer, he could be arrested for attempted murder again if he punches anyone. Given their power, fists of some boxers may be considered lethal weapons. Sang-gu forgets all of that when he schools that abuser, though. Dude hit a nerve, after all.
There's no glass in Na-mu's jaw. Geu-ru's friend from across the street is played by Hong Seung-hee. Na-mu's a brawler herself; an indefatigable one. Ms Hong is an upstart with only 3 bouts on her card, but all of them are winners. In fact, having just finished Run On-7, in which she's part of the 2nd couple's story, her talent is evident. She steals the show, along with her other half, in convincingly playing the "poor" little rich girl. She looks leaner, taller, & as hot as burning thermite. (Apparently, nothing burns hotter than thermite). Anyway, between the 2 roles she's barely recognizable.
Having already been plagued by a twisted desire for Na-mu to hook up with Sang-gu in a S2, I now see that Ms Hong's potential to rock Sang-gu's world is just "Mama-said-knock-you-out." Can you imagine how stunned he'd be, once he realizes that Na-mu would outmatch any ring girl? It writes itself. Oh please, please, bring it on! We should keep her in the family, shouldn't we? Given her competitive hostility toward him, it would be hilarious,. While the cop who's been scouting her is a better man than Sang-gu - at the moment - she was quite tenderized by S1's final ep. Sang-gu should be a contender. The ending is oblique. Hopefully they are leaving an opening for a S2. More rounds with them is a good thing.
Let's now take an intermission to evaluate proper treatment of those with special needs. In several scenes Geu-ru is misunderstood & mistreated. Sufferers of Aspergers are human beings, and being so, they long for positive interactions & relationships. The tragedy is that they are denied the skills to satiate this longing. For example, they are unable to make small talk, but they love to talk about their favorite topics, as with Geu-ru & fish.
Ignorance begets fear. Modern day living does as well. Our innate reaction when confronted with somebody different, is to recoil. Understandable; it's a dangerous world. Here's a challenge to help make the world a better place: Stop for a moment & assess. Whether you sense danger or not, utilize politeness. An "Excuse me" will do. If you recognize that this fellow human merely wants to talk about h/h favorite subject, be an angel & exchange a few smiley sentences. Watch their beleaguered guardians un-tense as warmth replaces protective anxiety. Always be safe, but also be decent.
While Geu-ru has no obvious affliction at first glance, many precious humans do. We have friends w/ a severely disabled child, and it's obvious to spectators. I had the honor of escorting this little soul down the boardwalk one night. His parents never warned me about the looks. People blanched unpleasantly at the sight of him. At least we were afforded the benefit of a wide berth, lest they get too close. Being taught when growing up that every person is of the same value, I was naively shocked - More than that, I was ready to slug someone, People will subconsciously act casually cruel. We all love us some Rainman... in a fictional tale. In real life? Give it some thought. Shining the spotlight on our repulsive behavior should be the cure. Seriously, who is truly repulsive in the prior scenario? Not me & my boy. Kindness is free. It costs you nothing, yet it provides life's highest rate of return.
As this bout ends, we go to the Cards for a decision: Right before Sang-gu threw in the towel, Geu-ru calculated his final move for the win. Sang-gu hits the canvas in round 10. Geu-ru is the new champ.
You'll also feel like a champion after spending time with this group; this family.
QUOTE~
You see things as you are.
IMHO…
?8.5 ?6 ?8.5 ⚡5 ? 6 ? 9
Directing 8.5
Thought provocation 6
Acting 8.5
Action/Excitement 5
Warmth 6
Age 13+
In typical Kdrama fashion, they introduce people that, early on, are impossible to imagine caring for each other in a neutral corner. Geu-ru is a 20 y/o w/ Aspergers Syndrome. It's on the ADHD spectrum w/ bonus challenges. Aspergers victims are akin to fragile angels. They tend to be highly intelligent & focused on a narrow range of topics that captivate their interest. They have no social skills, no comprehension of non-verbal communication, body language, or other such subtleties. Innately pure, they would never understand stealing, cruelty, or even white lies. They don't have the resources to roll with the punches. Without proper oversight & gentle handling at home, they won't make it. Geu-ru's intellect is the glove on the hand that prepares him for a counter punch. His name means “tree”, and like a tree, he's hard to move.
Geu-ru & his father are "Trauma Cleaners." Cleaning up messy deaths, crime scenes, & the aftereffects of deaths occurring at businesses or other properties is what Trauma Cleaners do. But Geu-ru & Dad don't just clean. They respect the deceased. They also console the "survived-bys". Geu-ru and his father would doggedly follow the departed's wishes regarding disbursement of their worldly goods. Absent explicit instructions, detective Geu-ru pieces it together w/ the evidence at hand.
Many of the early episodes are about the work-ethic and care Ge-ru has adopted from his father. Geu-ru is inspired & compelled to scry the deceased's wishes & carry them out to the shock of the bereaved. These scenes are emotional. Don't get Caught Cold: Hankies out!
Geu-ru is suddenly left alone. His father had pre-bequeathed a domicile & occupation to his brother/Geu-ru's uncle, Sang-gu. - as long as Unc cares for Geu-ru in dad's absence, that is. Sang-gu is a pugilist and a boxer who competes in underground fights. He's suffered a series of low blows in life. Just released from prison post an attempted murder sentence due to a tragedy in the ring, his life is on the ropes. Geu-ru, unaware of the arrangements made by his father, had never met his uncle. Unannounced, Sang-gu arrives at the house one day. He takes a dive onto the couch, & demands a beverage. He's angry, impatient, flippant, & aggressive - the scary variety.
Sang-gu must carry on the business w/ Geu-ru or lose the income & the sofa (Geu-ru won't allow him in daddy's BR). Their first job together is cleanup of a corpse that had been there a while. The scene is... unpleasant. Sang-gu has the heaving & hurling reaction one might anticipate. It progresses from there. It's hilarious to drive w/ them for the 1st time. We'll just say that Sang-gu is not methodical like his brother. He's a brawler, in & out of the ring. Upon landing, Geu-ru cites every law Sang-gu had just violated, along w/ the fines & imprisonment levies. Sang-gu starts to see that he's moved, not to a house, but down the rabbit hole. Sang-gu additionally learns that he can't win a battle of the wills with Geu-ru. As he's rarely wrong, Geu-ru is, in essence, landing a Bolo Punch to Sang-gu's hard shell. It's starting to crumble.
The distance characters must cover, to reach the main event and eventually unite, always makes the journey better. The bigger the better. In MTH, a vast quest handed down to viewers. The main 3 characters did an excellent job. Tang Joon-sang, as Geu-ru, is authentic. In the same year, he starred in Racket Boys-8, an adorable show, playing a hot-headed & uber aggressive/competitive athlete. Then there's Crash Landing On You-9.1. He's in that,and he's convincing in the roles, to his credit - a trifecta! (Don't miss CLOY, btw.)
Lee Jehoon is fantastic as Sang-gu. I'cve seen him effectively play a romantic lead, but he really dazzles in this sort of role. Did they speed up the camera for Sang-gu's punches, or is he actually that fast? He's ripped, too... Convincing body suit? I think not. He beats up people (all are in acute need of it) by slapping them. As a boxer, he could be arrested for attempted murder again if he punches anyone. Given their power, fists of some boxers may be considered lethal weapons. Sang-gu forgets all of that when he schools that abuser, though. Dude hit a nerve, after all.
There's no glass in Na-mu's jaw. Geu-ru's friend from across the street is played by Hong Seung-hee. Na-mu's a brawler herself; an indefatigable one. Ms Hong is an upstart with only 3 bouts on her card, but all of them are winners. In fact, having just finished Run On-7, in which she's part of the 2nd couple's story, her talent is evident. She steals the show, along with her other half, in convincingly playing the "poor" little rich girl. She looks leaner, taller, & as hot as burning thermite. (Apparently, nothing burns hotter than thermite). Anyway, between the 2 roles she's barely recognizable.
Having already been plagued by a twisted desire for Na-mu to hook up with Sang-gu in a S2, I now see that Ms Hong's potential to rock Sang-gu's world is just "Mama-said-knock-you-out." Can you imagine how stunned he'd be, once he realizes that Na-mu would outmatch any ring girl? It writes itself. Oh please, please, bring it on! We should keep her in the family, shouldn't we? Given her competitive hostility toward him, it would be hilarious,. While the cop who's been scouting her is a better man than Sang-gu - at the moment - she was quite tenderized by S1's final ep. Sang-gu should be a contender. The ending is oblique. Hopefully they are leaving an opening for a S2. More rounds with them is a good thing.
Let's now take an intermission to evaluate proper treatment of those with special needs. In several scenes Geu-ru is misunderstood & mistreated. Sufferers of Aspergers are human beings, and being so, they long for positive interactions & relationships. The tragedy is that they are denied the skills to satiate this longing. For example, they are unable to make small talk, but they love to talk about their favorite topics, as with Geu-ru & fish.
Ignorance begets fear. Modern day living does as well. Our innate reaction when confronted with somebody different, is to recoil. Understandable; it's a dangerous world. Here's a challenge to help make the world a better place: Stop for a moment & assess. Whether you sense danger or not, utilize politeness. An "Excuse me" will do. If you recognize that this fellow human merely wants to talk about h/h favorite subject, be an angel & exchange a few smiley sentences. Watch their beleaguered guardians un-tense as warmth replaces protective anxiety. Always be safe, but also be decent.
While Geu-ru has no obvious affliction at first glance, many precious humans do. We have friends w/ a severely disabled child, and it's obvious to spectators. I had the honor of escorting this little soul down the boardwalk one night. His parents never warned me about the looks. People blanched unpleasantly at the sight of him. At least we were afforded the benefit of a wide berth, lest they get too close. Being taught when growing up that every person is of the same value, I was naively shocked - More than that, I was ready to slug someone, People will subconsciously act casually cruel. We all love us some Rainman... in a fictional tale. In real life? Give it some thought. Shining the spotlight on our repulsive behavior should be the cure. Seriously, who is truly repulsive in the prior scenario? Not me & my boy. Kindness is free. It costs you nothing, yet it provides life's highest rate of return.
As this bout ends, we go to the Cards for a decision: Right before Sang-gu threw in the towel, Geu-ru calculated his final move for the win. Sang-gu hits the canvas in round 10. Geu-ru is the new champ.
You'll also feel like a champion after spending time with this group; this family.
QUOTE~
You see things as you are.
IMHO…
?8.5 ?6 ?8.5 ⚡5 ? 6 ? 9
Directing 8.5
Thought provocation 6
Acting 8.5
Action/Excitement 5
Warmth 6
Age 13+
Was this review helpful to you?
