Movie Review

'The Atypical Family' On Netflix Review: An Exploration Of Modern-Day Issues Elevated By Chun Woo-hee And Jang Ki-yong's Captivating Roles

Outlook Rating:
3.5 / 5

Starring Jang Ki-yong, Chun Woo-hee, Go Doo-shim and Claudia Kim in lead roles, the first two episodes of 'The Atypical Family' are available to stream on Netflix. Is this show worth watching every weekend, or can you skip it? Read on to know more.

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'The Atypical Family' Photo: Netflix
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Are you in a slump and unsure of what to watch on Netflix every Saturday and Sunday now that 바카라˜Queen of Tears바카라™ has run its course? Well, worry not, as the streaming giant has got you covered. The much-anticipated show, 바카라˜The Atypical Family,바카라™ has finally premiered, and in a typical K-Drama release format, it dropped its first two episodes over the past weekend. So, in case you바카라™re planning on watching this supernatural fantasy drama, here바카라™s all you need to know about it.

바카라˜The Atypical Family바카라™: Story

As the name itself suggests, the drama tells the story of an atypical family indeed. Bok Gwi-joo (Jang Ki-yong) and his family are unique, each possessing supernatural abilities. Gwi-joo has the power to travel back in time, but only to revisit happy moments of his life. However, he바카라™s unable to alter the past, leaving him trapped. Unfortunately, this constant dwelling plunges him into depression, causing him to lose his unique ability. Similarly, his family members also find themselves grappling with 바카라˜modern-day바카라™ problems like insomnia, bulimia, and smart-phone addiction, which ultimately result in the loss of their own supernatural abilities. Enter Do Da-hae (Chun Woo-hee), who unexpectedly바카라”or, expectedly바카라”becomes intertwined with this extraordinary family. Despite learning their secrets, she decides to live with them for her own reasons, unknown. With her cheery presence in their lives, a gradual transformation begins to take place in the family.

바카라˜The Atypical Family바카라™: Performances

It바카라™s good to see Jang Ki-yong back on screen after a long time. His portrayal is subtle and nuanced. Despite the cold and hardened exterior and outwardly emotionless demeanour, the actor skilfully conveys the depths of his character바카라™s inner turmoil. Whether it바카라™s the way he바카라™s drinking or the way he바카라™s dressed, he has handled his role with care. Similarly, Chun Woo-hee바카라™s performance truly showcases her remarkable versatility as an actress. Her role is just too believable, making you question the authenticity of her motives. Both stars have such potential for character development, and it will be intriguing to see how they play it out, provided the script doesn바카라™t lose its momentum midway.

All the supporting stars play their roles well. Go Doo-shim as Bok Man-heum, Park So-yi as Bok In-ah, and Kim Geum-sun as Baek Il-hong are the only other supporting cast members who have contributed to carrying forward the storyline. While Claudia Kim as Bok Dong-hee and Ryu Abel as Grace also play pivotal roles, their characters just seem a bit exaggerated.

바카라˜The Atypical Family바카라™: Script, Direction & Technical Aspects

Kang Eun-kyung is a name that is associated with many popular hit K-Dramas. So, when I found out that she바카라™s the brains behind the creation of the show, I was more than convinced to give it a go.

While the ideation is great, the script, though off in some places, has further enhanced it. Joo Hwa-mi has penned the show that deals with an abnormal family against the backdrop of their traumas and mental health issues. So far, it doesn바카라™t feel too sad or heavy. It focuses more on the positive side and keeping hope alive rather than dwelling on the tough parts. While the characters바카라™ struggles are mentioned, they바카라™re not explored deeply. Hopefully, future episodes will dig into how and why the characters are the way they are. What didn바카라™t sit well with me are the fat jokes and constant weight comments on Claudia Kim바카라™s character; it feels like her role is only to bring about laughter, which isn바카라™t cool anymore.

As far as the mystery goes, a lot of the plot points have been revealed, and with already so much happening, one can only hope that more such interesting twists come along, instead of picking one and dragging it along. Additionally, what I have truly liked is how, as atypical as they are, they바카라™re also typical in a way many can relate to. Familial relationships are strained, and they are trapped and saddened by their own doings. It바카라™s a creative way to show that no matter how much wealth you have, it can바카라™t keep you happy. Overall, this story is complex, so that has left me excited.

Under the direction of Jo Hyun-taek, the show is in good hands. With attention to detail and powerful visual storytelling, the show aims to resonate with audiences on both emotional and visceral levels. So, I have a really good feeling about it. Also, the camera work and editing are really well done. The camera captures everything in a clear and interesting way and establishes surroundings. The editing is smooth, with scenes flowing seamlessly from one to the next, keeping you engaged without any distractions. Coming to the music aspect, that doesn바카라™t really stand out much; I was too engrossed in the show that I, quite frankly, didn바카라™t pay any heed to the compositions.

바카라˜The Atypical Family바카라™: Cast & Crew

Creator: Kang Eun-kyung

Director: Jo Hyun-taek

Cast: Jang Ki-yong, Chun Woo-hee, Go Doo-shim, Claudia Kim, Park So-yi, Oh Man-seok, Kim Geum-sun, Ryu Abel and Choi Gwang-rok

Available On: Netflix            

Duration: 2 episodes (as of today), approx. 1 hour each       

Premiere Date: May 4, 2024

Genre: Fantasy romance

Language: Korean

바카라˜The Atypical Family바카라™: Can Kids Watch It?

Yes.

Outlook바카라™s Verdict

바카라˜The Atypical Family바카라™ is off to a promising start. It offers a refreshing blend of supernatural fantasy and familial drama, propelled by strong performances from Jang Ki-yong and Chun Woo-hee. After watching the first two episodes, it바카라™s evident that this show has a lot of potential. The premise is intriguing, and the characters are engaging. Overall, it has the ability to keep you hooked and make you want to come back to watch it every week.

*Disclaimer: This review is done after the release of the first two episodes.*

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