Details

  • Last Online: 1 day ago
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Kent, UK
  • Contribution Points: 6 LV1
  • Roles: VIP
  • Join Date: October 2, 2019

MattPeddlesden

Kent, UK

MattPeddlesden

Kent, UK
Welcome to Samdal-ri korean drama review
Completed
Welcome to Samdal-ri
3 people found this review helpful
by MattPeddlesden
Jan 23, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Finding yourself

Originally picked this one up because of the cast - Ji Chang Wook, Shin Hae Sun, Kim Mi Kyung, and more, what an amazing cast! Special shout out though to the younger of the three sisters and her daughter, I loved some of their interactions, really well written and performed. I'm a massive fan of Shin Hae Sun's work so I'd have watched this regardless to be honest!

I recall there were fears online about it being a bit like Hometown Cha Cha Cha but honestly it's nothing like that at all, this is very much its own story.

Predominantly set in Jeju-do we see our three sisters return there after Sam-dal's career goes up in flames and they each go on a journey of reflection and growth to find their real path in the world. Sam-dal had been under a pseudonym while in Seoul and wasn't really being her true self, her elder sisters marriage had ended and she'd not really found her place or any direction following that and the younger sister who has a daughter, her husband had died.

Being set in Jeju-do means that you've just got non-stop beautiful scenery in this drama. It's also good to see the Haenyeo's (female divers) feature prominently in a drama too, it doesn't happen too often, but in this one they're fundamental to the whole story. Lots of fun banter and interactions, they're fun, fierce and loyal and will go to the ends of the earth to defend their own.

I never thought the story wandered, it always seemed to be continuing in a direction, and I didn't get bored watching it. For me, from the start this was a must-watch each episode that came up.

It's a pretty light easy going story on the whole, there's no violence (well, beyond what could only be described as comedic violence) or abuse, there's no murders, just people figuring out their path.

There are numerous moments that will dampen the eyes as things progress.

I think of all the journeys undertaken, the father of Yong pil is probably the most meaningful, dealing with bereavement for 20 years and never getting past it, creating a huge rift between two families that were closer than blood and how that all intertwines fundamentally in the whole premise of the story, as well as its conclusion. It's not an easy answer, there's no magic button moment, you're on this journey with him and his performance is superb throughout (even if you do kinda want to throw things at the TV sometimes...)

The daughter of the youngest sister is brilliant, she's going to be an amazing talent to watch develop as she gets older I think, the future is bright for the cast of dramas to come!

Definitely worth a watch if you're in the mood for something a bit lighter, some occasional tears (assuming you're wired that way, not all are!), some good laughs and a feel-good trajectory throughout.

The drama also does a fairly good job at supporting Jeju-do tourism - I really want to go do the Jeju Olle Trail now...

Is it entirely perfect without flaw? Well, the final bits of the ending where they cut to the various people in "The Power Rangers" (the name of their group) is a little silly, things that didn't work before suddenly work magnificently at the end, but, I'll allow it, it really doesn't matter to the story and fits with the up beat tie-a-bow-on-it ending.

Interestingly, I thought this was a much better "weather" drama than the "Forecasting Love and Weather" which just fell flat for me - this one has some actual weather-moments and you feel like you're a little more involved in the KMA's work. I really need to dig a little and see if anyone's actually managed to pull off a good drama based entirely around the KMA.
Was this review helpful to you?