South Korean entertainment isn’t just about crafting dramatic and suspenseful narratives; they also excel at producing heartwarming dramas.
Last year, the unexpectedly popular “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” became a dark horse hit, and this April saw the release of a similar series, “Our Blues,” which perfectly soothes the slightly anxious hearts of modern viewers.
A Glimpse into Ordinary Lives
“Our Blues” steers clear of the typical K-drama focus on high society, instead shining a light on the lives of ordinary people. The content is meticulously crafted, cleverly using plot points to emphasize the theme of “imperfect lives.”
The Unpredictability of Life
In the drama, the younger protagonist, Bang Young-joo, is cheerfully strolling along the beach when, in a comical turn of events, a seagull deposits a dollop of its waste on her clothes, effectively ruining her good mood.
This scene mirrors Young-joo’s own unexpected journey into young adulthood. She is the quintessential “model student,” consistently at the top of her class.
Living in a close-knit Jeju Island town where everyone knows everyone, she feels stifled by the constant familiarity and dreams of escaping to the bustling metropolis of Seoul to leave the small fishing village behind.
She shares a close bond with Jung Hyun, a young man from a single-parent family who lives in the same building. However, their fathers are bitter rivals, forcing them to keep their relationship a secret.
The screenwriter takes a harsh approach to this young couple, foregoing any romanticized portrayal and instead dropping a “bomb” – after two intimate encounters, Young-joo discovers she is pregnant, completely derailing her plans to leave Jeju at twenty.
Conflicting Perspectives on Love and Responsibility
The fifth episode delves into the perspectives of the three parties involved. Young-joo believes that love is fleeting, destined to fade with time, just as her mother abandoned her father. Therefore, she doesn’t trust in love, viewing Jung Hyun as a temporary comfort in her youth.
Her boyfriend, Jung Hyun, harbors deeper feelings for her.
After their first sexual experience, he shows constant care and concern for Young-joo. Even upon learning about her pregnancy, he is overwhelmed but doesn’t shirk responsibility. He gathers money to buy medication for her and worries about potential side effects. When he sees her in pain during gym class, he stays close to protect her.
Jung Hyun is a bright and optimistic character. Despite growing up in a less-than-ideal single-parent household, he believes that his love with Young-joo will be different. He is the one who feels insecure in their relationship.
When he learns that the hospital won’t perform an abortion, he pleads with Young-joo to keep the baby. However, she refuses and insists on finding a place to get an abortion herself.
Jung Hyun spends a sleepless night worrying and begs to go with Young-joo. But she has already left by bus. The scene where Jung Hyun races after her is the most touching.
He initially tries to catch a bus, but none arrive. He then takes a taxi, only to realize he doesn’t have enough money in his wallet. He gets out and runs the rest of the way to the hospital. He accompanies Young-joo into the consultation room, and upon hearing the baby’s heartbeat on the ultrasound, they ultimately decide to keep the child.
This couple’s love faces numerous obstacles, including the female lead’s reluctance. It’s all thanks to Jung Hyun’s unwavering support. He is even willing to give up his studies to embrace his responsibilities as a father.
A Realistic Portrayal of Young Love
In a domestic drama, this story of young love would either be a lighthearted tale or a depressing tragedy. However, “Our Blues” takes a rational approach. The story doesn’t lean towards idealization or deliberate negativity. It feels natural, relatable, and comfortable, which is something domestic stories about young couples could learn from.
Exploring Complex Family Dynamics
In this ensemble story, besides the young couple, the relationship between Lee Dong-suk, played by Lee Byung-hun, and his mother is also a highly discussed topic.
As a middle-aged truck vendor who makes a living by driving a truck, he is very rough, especially when he is with his mother, he is like a fighting cock, always tit-for-tat.
It must be admitted that Lee Byung-hun’s personal character is somewhat unreliable, but he is worthy of being a grand slam winner of the Blue Dragon, Grand Bell, and Baeksang Awards. The truck vendor he plays is truly vivid.
After setting up the stall, he directly stands on the platform, stomping his feet and clapping his hands to shout and sell, and there is no sense of violation in his whole body, including his facial expressions. Is this still the former “Mr. Sunshine”?
His relationship with his mother is very similar to the mother-son relationship in China.
Mothers from difficult families do not have extra energy to experience their children’s feelings. They have tried their best to make their children eat and go to school.
Lee Dong-suk, who grew up in this discordant atmosphere, has more negative emotions towards his mother. In addition, neither of them is good at communication, and eventually they become each other’s biggest knot.
But the ending is quite beautiful. When his mother has cancer and is running out of time, she hears Lee Dong-suk say that the snow under Baekrokdam is very beautiful, and asks to see it like a child.
Because Lee Dong-suk, who was cared for by his mother, had expectations for his mother, and also wanted to fulfill his mother’s wish, but at this time, his mother’s physical strength could no longer support her to go to Baekrokdam by herself.
So he went to Baekrokdam himself, took a video for his mother to watch, and made an appointment to bring his mother here next time.
Here is another emotional climax. Dong-suk kept choking while filming the video, because he knew that his mother could no longer go up the mountain. When filming this section, there was a long period of silence, enough for the audience to resonate. Therefore, when Korean dramas are serious, not only the story is well written, but also the emotional processing is delicate and moving.
Stellar Cast and Crew
The cast of this drama can be described as star-studded: screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung, winner of the Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Director Kim Kyu-tae, Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actor Cha Seung-won, Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Awards, and Grand Bell Awards for Best Supporting Actress Lee Jung-eun, Blue Dragon Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actress Han Ji-min, Baeksang Arts Awards and Grand Bell Awards for Best Actress Uhm Jung-hwa, and more.
Just looking at this cast makes people sigh. No wonder the rating of this drama has not decreased two months after its finale. It is obviously trending towards becoming a healing masterpiece.