My Mister is a superlative meditation on life. The description does not even begin to do it justice. This is, without a doubt, the best thing I have ever watched, in any medium and from any country - and yet my emotions and reactions are indescribable, in part because there were so many in any one moment. The writing, direction, and acting all came together in such a way that it almost felt as if I was experiencing events as they happened onscreen, rather than viewing them.

This isn't a story of people with perfect lives; instead it is a story of people doing the best they can. The screenwriter did a masterful job of showing that everyone has their own troubles. More importantly, it showed just how much a kind word or act can make a huge impact, and the power of coming together in times of joy, trouble, and tragedy. At times the crushing weight of what the characters (all of them, not only the leads) were dealing with seemed almost unbearable, but each time there was someone there to help lighten the load or help - sometimes in the most unexpected ways.

The casting for this drama was as amazing as everything else about it. Every character was perfectly cast - it was apparent that thought went into every one, even guest roles that were on the screen for no more than a minute. The cinematography was breathtaking, and the OST absolute perfection. The best way to describe it that I can think of is that everything about this drama was done with intentionality.

One other note, as a viewer of this drama in 2024. The representation of depression was very realistic, and some of the lines regarding it and the feelings of despair and hopelessness that come with hit particularly hard thinking of Lee Sun Kyun's tragic death.