Misaeng

I'm not usually one for Korean TV, and before seeing Misaeng, I never thought I'd enjoy an 'office drama' so much.

Featuring structures of the traditional 'bildungsroman', snapshots into the grueling lives of salary-men and office politics, the show intertwines these concepts with humour, emotion, reflectiveness, wisdom, finely executed through a fitting soundtrack, impeccable cinematography and directing and outstanding acting.

A solid show thematically, it handles with great sensitivity and deftness the many delicately captured aspects of human nature and society. The characters and their development throughout the story are extremely well written and by far one of the most impressive aspects of the show, fleshed out by the complexity and subtle nuance of the relationships depicted. Entirely believable in both their strengths and vulnerabilities, the show allows an audience to connect with the characters on a very fundamental level.

You will find something of yourself, or someone that you know reflected in the characters of the show, the persistent underdog in Gurae who struggles against all odds, the talented but down to earth Young Yi whose exceptional ability as a woman incurs the resentment of her colleagues, the at first seemingly stoic Oh Sang Sik who over the course of the show reveals his deep capacity for empathy and self-sacrifice. Even the 'villains' are never cliché, one-dimensional cardboard cutouts to fill a gap in the story, but all serve towards Misaeng's intimate and moving exploration of the human condition.

Misaeng shows many aspects of mundane life, but never itself, becomes mundane, taking the viewer on a at times beautifully poignant, vividly evocative and greatly inspiring journey from start to finish.

As I believe this is a show that leaves a viewer of any demographic something to take away, I'd urge anyone reading this to give it a try.

For me, Misaeng certainly gave another small unexpected fragment to the missing pieces of my 'incomplete life.'

I can't keep writing and talking, and writing and talking, and writing and talking about Misaeng over and over again for days. I must say if u have'nt watch this drama, go watch it !! it's a drama that i rarely seen on k-drama world. i can't stop thinking about the motivations behind the characters, about how certain events complicated others, about how to put it all together. It's just well written, well directed and well prepared in details The ending it self it's so..... reasonable. As in life everything happened for a reason, and thats how nicely the story wrapped. After all, Misaeng is Incomplete Life and we are all incomplete lifes trying to become complete, Thats how Misaeng change my opinion about k-drama <3

I'm a huge kdrama fan and I'm a lazy person when it comes to writing. I just couldn't help myself of giving my opinion about such a well-directed kdrama! Unforgettable performances! In love with the characters! How strong, sensible and sensitive they are. My view about the corporative world has just changed forever! I found out I really didn't know what working for big companies can be. Well written, well directed, wonderfully played! Get some free time on your schedule and be amazed by this awesome drama!

I've had my doubts when checking out the cast - it sure looked like an office romance to me, but man, I was wrong.

This is not romance nor is it a mere office soap. It's about people working in an office and the moments they share with each other. You got each office type you'd meet in real life portrayed as realistitc as possible for a drama series. You get to know each person's flaws even and yet you never end up fully hating on anyone. Every person has a believable storyline, motives, motivations.

On a sidenote, I'm an offive employee as well. Most of Misaeng is what my life is about - the work, the colleagues, the problems and epically funny moments, the bullying, the psychos, the coffee breaks... Wish I was as ambitious as Jang Gu-Rae, but mostly I enjoyed his naivety when facing problems and his loyalty towards Oh Sang-Shik and his colleagues.

My favourite characters would be Oh Sang-Shik, Kang Hae-Joon and Han Seok-Yool. I remember my first job as an intern and that first boss. The only boss so far I've ever actually looked up to (well, before that I'd worked at schools which was a completely different experience anyhow). Oh Sang-Shik reminded me of my boss, the only boss I've ever met that was absolutely loyal and who everyone was loyal to because of that. I've learnt alot from him and will always be grateful. Manager Kang, oh well, not gonna lie, I have a weakness for people like that and I loved his taste in women - I think this is the manager I'd definitely learn the most from. While on the other hand, Seok-Yool, that one co-worker you really need in an office, who has more empathy than anyone else, yet sometimes seems like a dork. He's that good soul that'll keep the group together no matter what.

I don't really want to go to work tomorrow, it's a heck load of work and people are sick these days, so it's more work for those who aren't on sick leave - but I feel motivated after finishing Misaeng.

10/10 would recommend because Misaeng has that spark - that charisma that so many k-dramas are missing.

The opening sequence, shot in Jordan, suggests we are in for 20 episodes of action. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Office politics in a large Korean corporation. But don't switch this off.

As a westerner, much of what goes on is, well, 'foreign' to me. The hierarchy, the Korean sense of what is proper and who is to be respected, how to address your co-workers - most of these are very different in the society I was raised in. And the subtitles need some interpreting. But I couldn't stop watching.

It doesn't matter that some of the episodes revolve around arcane corporate issues. What does matter is how the leading characters handle the situations they are thrown into. And the writing doesn't let us off with the facile resolutions we have come to expect. It also avoids the easy 'office romance' - basically there aren't any, and the series is better for it.

I have to wonder if there is really so much shouting at work, and as much sexism today, or if alcohol consumption in the Korean business world is as shown here - but maybe this is an accurate portrayal, and livers don't last for long.

By the last few episodes I was devastated by what was happening to characters I had come to care deeply about.

There's almost a happy ending, which also explains the strange opening sequence in Jordan. But that's not really what this series is about.

Try it. Give in to it. And you'll surprise yourself by falling in love with the most unlikely people.