Thank You (2007) 고맙습니다
Directed by Lee Jae-dong, starring Jang Hyuk, Gong Hyo-jin and Seo Shin-ae.
Watched 16 - 20 April 2023 — 16 episodes (DRAMACOOL)
*Was really hoping to love this series completely as it looked like something I would like and it also has positive reviews. But in the end, I liked it but didn’t love it. I had also expected more from the romance.
*One of the reasons I didn’t like this as much as I would have liked to were the characters. I like flawed characters but Jang Hyuk was at times too obnoxious. Though I like Gong Hyo-jin and her gentle and quiet demeanour, at times she was too passive and meek (yet at times she was also strong). While I was behind Jang Hyuk when he tried to shake her into a reaction, I thought his method was just too rough and bossy. I do like how determined and strong-willed he is.
*I was waiting for Jang Hyuk to redeem himself but after episode 6 he was still a bit of a jerk, although you can see that he finds himself more attached and drawn to the family who gives him lodging. Still, the way he dictates how Gong Hyo-jin should treat her child and dog is close to infuriating. In ep. 7 he shows some appalling macho possessive behaviour and says that if Gong Hyo-jin looks at someone else she’s dead. And he claims that she is his woman and is threatening the other guy to kill him. Excuse me? His redemption just took so long. Even in the later episodes when he was much more caring and also sweet with the kid and grandpa, I didn’t totally love him. And when he kicked the dog house, I was annoyed again.
*The sudden forced kiss at the end of ep. 6 was a bit weird and I didn’t like it. I also didn’t like Jang Hyuk kissing Gong Hyo-jin when she was sick and defenceless lying in the hospital bed.
*The 2nd male lead Shin Sung-rok (I saw him before in Kairos; he looks very different and young here) is also flawed and I liked him (especially playing basketball) but he was just too much of a stalker at times and moping.
*The doctor and nurse are totally weird how they break down in crying while attending to patients. But Ryu Seung-su as Dr. Oh grew in his role and I quite liked him.
*What’s with the music that sounds like Greek Balalaika music? I didn’t like it at all. Also the pan flute … ugh!
*Love grandpa Shin Goo and his choco pies. It was such a huge part of the story that I didn’t even realise that this was just an overt display of product placement. And Shin Goo gives a very convincing performance of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s.
*I didn’t cry but I was teary-eyed with the death of grandpa. And also the scene where grandpa puts a choco pie next to sleeping Jang Hyuk choked me up a bit.
*The child actress Seo Shin-ae is truly amazing. I also liked her character a lot.
*Sung-rok’s girlfriend looking for squid in the mud in high heels! How stupid is she!
*Last but not least … how annoying is Sung-rok’s mother! Still, I could muster up some sympathy for her in the end.
*Overall, I did like this series despite its flaws and would recommend it to fans of slice-of-life dramas.
