Incheon Airport People

To be honest, I added this show to my watchlist because I liked the series cover visual. The short description of the show didn't convince me though so it actually took a while until I finally gave it a shot.

First things first: The description doesn't do it any justice. This show isn't about a common romantic relationship between two ordinary co-workers. The main plot is a little more complicated and unique than that. And you're gonna realize it in the first few episodes. Your curiosity is also what keeps you going at first.

Soon after, the chemistry between the main couple plus the supporting characters were what made me stay and also somewhat enjoy the show. In between, you're even served some nice life lessons and a few beautiful quotes.

Because this show kind of ended up being a mess. Too many side plots or characters that come and go and you never know what happened to them. In short: too many things left unresolved for the viewer. The relationship between the main couple, though I liked their characters and the chemistry between them, became a marathon of finding reasons why they couldn't be together and the reasons became more and more ridiculous towards the end until I couldn't understand their actions anymore AT ALL. And although that didn't keep me from continuing to watch the drama, it did get exhausting and kind of annoying towards the end.

Last but not least, the final scenes were unsatisfying to me although there is somewhat of a happy end.

In conclusion: It's a good show you won't regret watching but also one which won't make it into your favorites list for the reasons mentioned above.

Where the Stars Land (Yeowoogakshibyeol) had the potential to soar as the mighty planes in the background of this series, but it never quite took off. There was the potential for a few interesting main plot lines that the viewers could have boarded into that were left on the runway. Why did the writer go into a tail spin? Why did the writer clutter the series with too many plot lines only to crash, leaving them unfinished. The nose dive of the finale was a big disappointment of all the stories, it was grounded on the runway. There was a terrific cast fulfilling their roles, especially the male lead, Lee Jehoon! The actors showed up but stayed stuck at the gate too many times. My rating of 8 is based on the actors commitment to their roles with good performances and the landing of a few plot lines.

This was very entertaining throughout. The main couple chemistry wasn't that compatible but I liked them individually. There isn't much plot it's more of a slice of life drama that follows employees at an airport. I liked that aspect the most and it was good to learn the workings at the airport. Overall I did not like it's commentary on disability and it did feel quite ableist but the support did give him some liberation.

I think it is enjoyable and the side characters are the main charms.

Chae Soo Bin is the only reason I started watching.

And how could I not after her totally charming performance in the totally charming "I'm Not A Robot" ? I said in my review of IANAR that I was desperate to marry her and for some reason I've never had a reply, but I'm not one to hold a grudge ( plus I'm poor and ugly ). So I was keen to see her again and see if my love might be re-kindled.

The answer : yes and no.

Underwhelming is probably too harsh a word, yet the central concept here just doesn't work for me. The setting is a major Korean airport and CSB is a new employee with an unfair reputation for being unreliable. The male lead is Lee Je Hoon and therein lies the problem. Let's say that he is...not like the other employees. So in the tradition of K Dramas with super-strong women or exceptional weightlifters, this character provides the concept which the producers hope will hook you in. There's also a sub-plot involving shady corporate dealings which is ok but hardly riveting.

THE BIG IDEA didn't work on me, unfortunately. It does offer some fun and novelty early on, yet the further we go the more I felt the writers had painted themselves and the character into a corner. The ending we're given is consistent with the central idea and therefore unsatisfying, What increases the frustration is this : a good ending IS feasible and, in my opinion, maybe even obvious, yet we don't get one. Aargh ! That said, WSL is made watchable because various incidents/events occurring at the airport are both interesting and well written, with some bringing tears and emotional impact as well. The other aspect serving the show surprisingly well is the secondary romance.

Normally the main romance is a show's primary asset, and this is the first time I've seen a sub-plot relationship take centre stage. That's clearly necessary when the lead couple are so romantically dull and the Airport Security team duo doing relationship back-up duty are actually excellent. Kim Kyung Nam is great as the shy, stoic Team Leader trying to gather the courage to confess his feelings to a subordinate, yet it's the ferocious Lee Soo Kyung who leaves a lasting impression. She's so terse and focussed and tightly wound, which means we almost cringe whenever the two of them interact because she's more likely to put him in a head-lock than speak. The writing and the acting combine very well as this fractious and entertaining couple intrigue us at all times.

As for Chae Soo Bin, my offer of marriage and undying devotion is still on the table ( but I won't hold my breath ) and she's typically likable and sympathetic as an audience surrogate. Not much more she can do with a script like this, and I can only assume LJH was directed to behave like a robot ( and yes, irony noted ! ) with a blank look on his face most of the time. So calm, reserved and even lugubrious ( such a great word; is even ugly to look at or say ), this strategy works for a while due to his "otherness" and consequent anxiety, though I can't see the average woman swooning or being swept off her feet by it in the longer term.

I expect any modern K Drama to be technically proficient and WSL looks good ( that opening scene with the slo-mo in the rain is beautiful ), though the title is clunky and conjures images of some special airport for celebrities. Now, I do try and suggest improvements when I criticise but struggled for a better name. We could be silly with "Departure Gate For Love City", but I think "Fly To Love" is a slight, um, upgrade on WSL.

That's the question, worked really well, waiting for the west to take up the challenge. Netflix have only shown 16 episodes, so waiting for the next 16. But anything with Lee Je Hoon, main character or even as a supporting role is usually worth a watch. First series that we've seen Chae Soo Bin in, very impressed, she has the cute innocent look about her, just what Lee Je Hoon fragile character needed in this drama. But as per a lot of Korean dramas, the main character always has more than one suiter and there's the obligatory hook at the end of each episode. Again, Korean drama will need to stop having characters that over act like it's a Hollywood show set in the 1950's.