“Some stories need to be told at that very moment.” – Ma Seongu

Annyeong bes, it’s been a while.

I never stopped watching KDramas and KMovies but it took me a while to write a recommendation again. 2024 was hard for me and it wasn’t easy to admit that. Unfortunately, it showed in every aspect of my life and one of them is writing. Regardless of how much I liked what I watched, I just can’t seem to find the passion to share it with others.

It’s not hard for me to like something, especially if the KDrama or KMovie made me relate to it. I just didn’t expect that I would finally find the Series that would make me write again, and that’s “Melo Movie.” 

At first, I wasn’t really interested in watching it. Especially after finding out that it tells the story of two people, one who loves movies so much, and the other who hates it. It was tagged as a rom-com and while there are moments when it made me laugh and feel ‘kilig’, there are more times that it made me reflect on myself.

I don’t see myself as a movie critic. I don’t even know how cinematography is reviewed. I make my recommendation based on how a specific series or movie made me feel. What lesson did it teach me? How can I relate to the characters? How the background music moved me. And would I recommend it to others?

With that being said, let me try to convince you to watch “Melo Movie”

The Casts

Park Boyoung

Do I need to say more? Hehehe.. Honestly, I was surprised at her performance lately. If you have seen the “Daily Dose of Sunshine” you would understand what I mean. But if you hadn’t, let’s just say that the characters she portrayed will always make you understand or sympathize with her. There will also be a time when you feel like you are her. That’s how good she is. Just how she would make you like her role as Kim Mubee in this series. 

Choi Wooshik

His character as Ko Gyeom was made for him. It was like he was born to play this role. It shows us a glimpse of the versatility we saw in his role in the award-winning movie, “Parasite” and his ‘melo’ side just like what we saw in “Our Beloved Summer.” I look forward to seeing him more in this kind of genre though, instead of the freaky side of him in “The Witch: Part 1 – The Subversion.” Still, it proves how great of an actor he is.

Kim Jaewook

My Ryan Gold. He might not be the main lead but his presence in the series had a huge impact on me. Maybe because I could relate to him so much that even small clips of him made me remember his role as Ko Jun. I couldn’t think of anyone else playing the role other than him. I really hope that I see him more in projects like this.

Second Leads

Lee Junyoung and Jeon Sonee

Just like how the main leads tell the story about growth, patience, success, and the right timing, these second leads do the same but with a different ending. Watching the two of them throughout the series was quite painful to watch as it is refreshing. They are so close to reality that I can’t help but understand what happened between them. I sympathize so much for Hong Sijun, the way all his confidence disappeared and for him to be stuck in a time that no longer exists. It might even seem to you that Son Jua was the one to blame at the beginning, but how can you blame her for wanting to live the life she dreamed of? Their story is just like the stories we see from ordinary people. It just makes me curious what would you do if you had the same story as theirs?

The Story

The story seemed simple. Two people with traumas, with Movie as their common denominator. And yet despite their differences, something beautiful came out of it. But that’s not what “Melo Movie” is all about, it’s more than that. Aside from the main theme of the story, the way the side story blended with it was just magnificent. The way it tackles love, dreams, heartbreaks, grief, and life will make you reflect on yours. Hell, it might even give you the answers you have been looking for.

Remember when I told you that 2024 was hard for me? There was a scene in this series that caught my attention. It was the line that Hong Sijun (played by Lee Junyoung) delivered,

“Because I’m still trapped in that day you left me.”

Regardless if this was for people in a relationship and broke up, or people who lost their loved ones. This line, just like the series, has an impact on both. And this is exactly what I meant about how this series blended its mini-stories into one magnificent story. How a simple line can touch people differently. ‘Melo Movie’ is not an ordinary series because it is our story. Not all of it, but parts of it. A story that’s meant to be shared.

The Lessons

For ten episodes with more than an hour each I was surprised at how it was able to tackle each subject in flawless transition. The lessons they learned and the hardships they survived were something everyone can easily relate to. This series is not just a series, it is the kind of series that will show you the harshness of reality without leaving you there because it also shows you all the possibilities that real life can offer and even help you heal the wounds you never knew existed. This is the power that this series holds, the power to make you realize that there’s still hope. Regardless of what it might be, life goes on and as long as we are alive there’s a chance for us to live our life the way we always dream it would be. 

My Thoughts

This series broke me into tiny million pieces but it was not just that, because by the end of it, I found the pieces slowly mending and creating something new, something stronger than what existed before. It was also the reason why I was able to write this recommendation now. I love writing and I love sharing my thoughts and feelings and finding people who share the same passion as me. But due to some personal reasons, I stopped. Until this series made me realize that the world is already cruel, so let’s not be cruel to ourselves.

For those who are lost and are still finding their way, this series is for you. I hope that by the end of it, you will be able to find the answers that you have been looking for. Or maybe find the healing that you deserve. This series is not just an ordinary love story. Because it can be your story too.