Here's the thing, it's not that a drama can't feature a toxic abusive relationship, because they sadly do exist.…
While Hae Jo’s actions in Mr. Plankton are undeniably problematic, they don’t seem framed as romantic or comedic. Instead, the drama uses this jarring moment sets up the narrative as one where the flaws and damage of the characters are exposed and dissected, not swept under the rug. Rather than endorsing his behavior, the drama delves into the consequences of his choices and the emotional fallout for all involved. This complexity pushes viewers to wrestle with uncomfortable questions: How do we empathize with flawed characters?
Unlike conventional romance-focused Kdramas, Mr. Plankton defies tropes, blending genres to reflect life's messiness. Hae Jo’s morally wrong actions are a reflection of his "plankton" existence—drifting and disconnected—meant to provoke thought, not validation.
absolutely. on the rare occasion, they give us a drama with less than perfect characters , we should cherish it.…
Yeah it's so wonderful where writers give us a story like this where we can see ourselves and empathize with the flawed characters. It took us out of the black and white thinking pattern and invite us to more introspective.
Very few screenwriter in this drama-land has the ability to masterfully infuse symbolism into their writing like Her. She is truly inspirational. Can't wait for her next project. 💚💚💚
Another One of my favorite series is the famous and critically acclaimed Fleabag, which has gained a massive following. The protagonist, Fleabag, is undeniably a "red flag" character—flawed, self-destructive, and riddled with complicated emotions. But that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. I didn’t watch it because the main character was "cute" or likable. I just wanted something funny, but the show turned into something much deeper—a raw exploration of grief, guilt, and love. What stands out about Fleabag is that audiences understand her flaws. They see her as a broken yet deeply human character who is still worthy of love, empathy, and understanding. The same applies to Hae Jo too. He’s not some cookie-cutter "green flag" lead. He’s messy, reckless, and burdened with his own pain and insecurities. But that doesn’t make him unworthy of care or appreciation. This obsession with labeling characters (or even real people) as "red flags" or "green flags" oversimplifies what it means to be human. Are we saying every protagonist must be a perfectly behaved "vanilla green flag" to be relatable or likable? That’s unrealistic. Real people are an amalgamation of contradictions. My own family and friends, for instance, can be toxic at times—they’ve said or done things that hurt me—but they also love me fiercely and would do anything to support me. That’s what makes them real. It’s this messy mix of red and green flags that gives depth, beauty, and authenticity to both people and characters. Purely good or bad people are rare in the common crowd. The best stories don’t give us perfect heroes—they give us people we can understand, empathize with, and root for despite their flaws. "The job of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them." – Anton Chekhov Stories like Fleabag and Mr. Plankton thrive on exploring humanity’s messy, unanswered questions, rather than offering simple solutions or judgments. So maybe instead of bashing characters like Hae Jo for being imperfect, we can be more understanding and appreciate the complexity they bring to the story.
yeah no this is kidnapping and weird as hell i am surprised at the ratings
Hae Jo and FL from IOTNBO are extremely flawed and complex character who went through a painful journey to grow as a character. Their journey was interesting to viewers because they have a lot of things to learn and improve. In real life not many people actually improve so it's understandable that for some people it can be triggering.
Is it crazy That I'm seeking comfort from the fact that Woo Do Hwan is alive and small part of Hae Jo is still alive within him cause he potrayed the character?
Just finished watching it and I'm in shamble. A masterpiece, Heart-wrenchingly delightful, Well written, Directed, acted, shot, edited, stunning OST. None of the drama in 2024 can compete to this !! Hands down. "So I lied with smile when I let you go" 😭💔
Episode 13 was just not it. The court scene felt wayyy to dragged out and the interactions between the ML and…
Couldn't agree more. So many wasted potential in the last few episodes. Not only with ML. Kang Bitna had wonderful chemistry with all the supporting cast but now it had become rather dull.
The revealation of the main culprits seemed to fall flat. If Kang BitNa could watch the memory before someone died by touching their forhead why couldn't she see Jung Tae Gyu in detecetive Kim Soyeong's memory?
If she exposed that she is murdering people she'll be sent in jail for serial killing lol? 😆😭 Why would…
That's what I was trying say if she doesn't want to get exposed then why is she leaving evidence behind. but I guess episode 8 will be interesting to watch.
I don't understand why Kang Bit Na is not choosing to be discreet about killing those murderers? She's leaving way too many common evidence behind. Maybe those mistake was created so Daon can be on her Tail all the time. But it still unsavory. So can any one explain? I'm in episode 6.
Unlike conventional romance-focused Kdramas, Mr. Plankton defies tropes, blending genres to reflect life's messiness. Hae Jo’s morally wrong actions are a reflection of his "plankton" existence—drifting and disconnected—meant to provoke thought, not validation.
What stands out about Fleabag is that audiences understand her flaws. They see her as a broken yet deeply human character who is still worthy of love, empathy, and understanding. The same applies to Hae Jo too. He’s not some cookie-cutter "green flag" lead. He’s messy, reckless, and burdened with his own pain and insecurities. But that doesn’t make him unworthy of care or appreciation.
This obsession with labeling characters (or even real people) as "red flags" or "green flags" oversimplifies what it means to be human. Are we saying every protagonist must be a perfectly behaved "vanilla green flag" to be relatable or likable? That’s unrealistic.
Real people are an amalgamation of contradictions. My own family and friends, for instance, can be toxic at times—they’ve said or done things that hurt me—but they also love me fiercely and would do anything to support me. That’s what makes them real.
It’s this messy mix of red and green flags that gives depth, beauty, and authenticity to both people and characters. Purely good or bad people are rare in the common crowd. The best stories don’t give us perfect heroes—they give us people we can understand, empathize with, and root for despite their flaws.
"The job of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them." – Anton Chekhov
Stories like Fleabag and Mr. Plankton thrive on exploring humanity’s messy, unanswered questions, rather than offering simple solutions or judgments.
So maybe instead of bashing characters like Hae Jo for being imperfect, we can be more understanding and appreciate the complexity they bring to the story.
"So I lied with smile when I let you go"
😭💔