‘Not Exactly a Hero’
This drama aired on JTBC back in May 2024,
(Oh my)
I stumbled upon the details of this drama a few days back through YouTube. Described as the chaotic growth story of a family that loses their special abilities due to modern ailments and the con-woman who becomes an extraordinary part of their lives, it’s penned by Ju Hwa-mi, known for ‘Introverted Boss’ and ‘Marriage, Not Dating’. I haven’t seen either, and honestly, this was my first time hearing about them. (Oops) But, to put it briefly,
This drama, it’s pretty good.
The music is just too good to ignore! 🎶 If you’ve been following Jeong Jae-hyung’s YouTube channel around mid-year, you’d know. He often talked about how challenging yet rewarding composing for the drama was. Yes, that’s this drama. True to Jeong Jae-hyung’s style, the OST is a classy, classical masterpiece that stands out on its own. Perfect for coding, reading, or just taking a walk while listening to the entire album!
When we think of heroes, we usually envision someone with almighty combat skills, right?
Smashing rocks with a punch,
shooting beams from their eyes,
muscles bulging.
Heroes who crush villains without a blink. Yet, over time, we’ve seen heroes emerge with just one quirky ability – not quite battle-ready. These heroes, who make us go ‘What is that?’ from their first scene, are a bit pitiful, evoke empathy, and feel like the awkward geniuses next door. Like the misfits in Netflix’s ‘The Umbrella Academy’. (I found it incredibly entertaining) This drama kept reminding me of that one throughout.
A returning champion who can revisit happy pasts,
Bok Man-heum who sees the future through dreams,
Bok Dong-hee who flies,
Bok In-a who reads minds through her eyes,
Not quite hero material… But this drama, disguised as a fantasy romance, has a surprisingly solid logical structure. Many romance stories start strong but lose their charm once the main leads get together, becoming predictable. Yet, this drama maximizes its story’s dynamism with fantasy elements, maintaining a tight grip on the audience till the final episode. (Impressive for a 12-episode series) While it doesn’t boast numerous iconic lines, the understated emotional moments hit just right.
Time-travel stories often involve chaotic timeline meddling, leading to future changes. But this show avoids that mess, with a premise where the past remains untouched (mostly) and the future unchangeable, which made it a relaxing watch. (Except for the final episode)
The actor Jang Ki-yong gives off a young So Ji-sub vibe, though I later realized he was the notorious thug who tormented IU in ‘My Mister’. (Suddenly annoyed) He’s not only easy on the eyes but also has a great voice. There must be some flaw, right? Chun Woo-hee, whom I admired in ‘Be Melodramatic’, is captivating. Her acting fits romantic comedies perfectly, feeling incredibly natural. She may not traditionally be pretty, yet she seems so, and she looks youthful despite not being young. Her lively performance in ‘Idol’ suddenly comes to mind. Park So-yi, who played Jang Ki-yong’s daughter, also delivered a fantastic performance.
It’s heartbreaking that such a well-crafted drama didn’t hit it big. If you haven’t watched it yet – and I suspect many haven’t – you can catch it on Netflix. Trust me and binge-watch it, will you?
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