Mr. Plankton (2024) Mr. 플랑크톤
Directed by Hong Jong-chan, starring Woo Do-hwan as Hae-jo/Chae Seung-hyeok, Lee Yoo-mi as Jo Jae-mi, and Oh Jung-se as Eo Heung.
Watched 24 July - 9 August 2025 — 10 episodes (NETFLIX)
*This slice-of-life road series comes highly recommended by my 20-year-old niece who's also into K-dramas. Though I don't love it as much as my niece, I still really liked it, and with only 10 episodes it was a quick watch. I was immediately hooked from the first episode and found the male lead Woo Do-hwan as Hae-jo/Chae Seung-hyeok very appealing (reminding me a bit of Lee Je-hoon from Taxi Driver and Signal). I didn't like the female lead Lee Yoo-mi as Jo Jae-mi right away (I'd seen her before in Mental Coach Jegal). I did like her character for being quirky and goofy but she screams too much and her hysterical antics were unappealing. But I grew to like her and she and Woo Do-hwan have great chemistry.
*This is the story of a man named Hae-jo who's the product of an incorrect artificial insemination. He's terminally ill and forces his ex-girlfriend Jae-mi to accompany him on his last journey, in search of his biological father. I like this premise, though I knew I would have to prepare myself for a sad ending. Despite the bleak outcome, the series was uplifting with feel-good moments.
*I like Oh Jung-se as Eo Heung, the second male lead, who's Jae-mi's fiance. (By the way, Oh Jung-se was terrific as the villain in Good Boy, but it's nice to see him play a likeable character again.) I like the story with him and Jae-mi, their meet-cute, and love him for not minding her premature menopause at all. I felt for him because he was sympathetic and sweet.
*I love Heung's bromance with Hae-jo and how he treated the sick Hae-jo with acupuncture needles. I also love Heung's bromance with the mysterious John Na (played by Alex Landi, an American actor/model of Korean-Italian descent), sent by his mum. Alex Landi hardly speaks in this role and probably doesn't master the Korean language. Heung and John Na should have become an item! I was waiting/hoping for them to make out, haha.
*I didn't like the scenes with Kim Min-seok as Kkari, Hae-jo's helper/buddy, and the Prince Gang. At times things became surprisingly violent when the gang was involved, and my attention slackened.
*The last episode is satisfying. I love how the main characters came together and had a good time. How the series tied things up nicely and showed how everyone was doing. It was also an emotional watch because it doesn't end well for our main lead (as could be expected) and it made me cry. But what a beautiful way to die for Hae-jo! Seeing the blue sky and the face of his beloved Jae-mi! And the snowy surroundings were breathtaking. Overall this series has great cinematography. And I love hearing California Dreamin' (playing with the end credits of the episodes), it's such an epic song and fits the vibe of this road series perfectly!
(Screenshot by me, taken from episode 9.)