Nice drama. Good acting. For the most part it's a straight drama. But i thought it was parodying one particular cliché of korean dramas ie the piggyback ride. There are a few attempts at it, but only one successful one, where one of the main actors carries the other. Now the last episode gets a bit weird. I'll put it like this, if you didn't like the ending of "Big" you won't be happy with this one either, and I'm still not sure whether he was her brother or not.
3 Reviews
Long and Sad
Xiayu15 May 2006
Ireland, aka Aillaendeu, is a mini-series about the lives of 4 people.
Lee Jung-a (Lee Na-young) is a medical doctor with a severe depressive illness that requires daily medication to control. Adopted as an infant by an Irish family, she returns to Korea after witnessing their violent deaths.
Kang Guk (Hyeon Bin) is a kindly security guard who works in a plush hotel that frequently houses movie stars or otherwise famous and successful people. He can't stop himself from reaching out to those who need help, whether they ask for it (or want it) or not. In Lee Jung-a, he sees such a person.
Lee Jae-bok (Kim Min-jun) is a twenty-something guy with few prospects. He's not very smart, and poorly educated, but he has charm, enough to be able to sponge off his actress girlfriend.
This girlfriend (Kim Min-jeong) is working in the blue movie industry and desperately trying to break into legitimate movies. Not only does Jae-bok sponge off her, so do her parents and her four brothers and sisters.
The plot is quite simple - it turns out that two of these four people are actually brother and sister. The complications come from their not knowing this fact, and consequently falling in love.
The adoption theme is common enough, particularly in Korean dramas, but incest as a topic for a sudsy drama is quite novel, and perhaps a bit touch and go. Nevertheless, it's very well-acted and worth watching. Hyeon Bin in particular manages to make a potentially weak and effete character into something resembling noble, and Lee Na-young is one of the most effective on-cue-weepers I've ever seen.
If you're a sensitive soul who hates seeing kind people treated badly, have the tissues ready and settle back for some fine entertainment (a whopping 960 minutes of it).
Lee Jung-a (Lee Na-young) is a medical doctor with a severe depressive illness that requires daily medication to control. Adopted as an infant by an Irish family, she returns to Korea after witnessing their violent deaths.
Kang Guk (Hyeon Bin) is a kindly security guard who works in a plush hotel that frequently houses movie stars or otherwise famous and successful people. He can't stop himself from reaching out to those who need help, whether they ask for it (or want it) or not. In Lee Jung-a, he sees such a person.
Lee Jae-bok (Kim Min-jun) is a twenty-something guy with few prospects. He's not very smart, and poorly educated, but he has charm, enough to be able to sponge off his actress girlfriend.
This girlfriend (Kim Min-jeong) is working in the blue movie industry and desperately trying to break into legitimate movies. Not only does Jae-bok sponge off her, so do her parents and her four brothers and sisters.
The plot is quite simple - it turns out that two of these four people are actually brother and sister. The complications come from their not knowing this fact, and consequently falling in love.
The adoption theme is common enough, particularly in Korean dramas, but incest as a topic for a sudsy drama is quite novel, and perhaps a bit touch and go. Nevertheless, it's very well-acted and worth watching. Hyeon Bin in particular manages to make a potentially weak and effete character into something resembling noble, and Lee Na-young is one of the most effective on-cue-weepers I've ever seen.
If you're a sensitive soul who hates seeing kind people treated badly, have the tissues ready and settle back for some fine entertainment (a whopping 960 minutes of it).
Alone in Love
Park_Min8 May 2024
The writer has a good track record of writing good unique shows and this drama was no exception. The drama stood out for its deep rich story and multi-layered narrative, offering a compelling journey through the complexities of life and relationships. Its strength lies in its ability to delve into the human psyche, exploring themes of love, family dynamics, societal expectations, ambition, and identity with a nuanced hand. The drama had a lot of story to tell and explore, yet it didn't feel bloated. The characters went through a tremendous development and growth during its runtime. The drama was filled with great characters and characterizations, each character is meticulously crafted, with their own hopes, fears, trauma and desires, adding depth and dimension to the storyline. I particular liked the subtle humor that lied in their casual interactions and dialogues. However, despite its many strengths, lied flaws that somewhat tarnished some of its brilliance. There were many things that could've been done better but nothing was too major. The entanglement of love square relationship may have lasted for too long and could've been navigated better, though I still love their unconventional dynamic. The drama kind of ended at episode 15 while the last episode was more like a real proper reflection and a graceful send off, I don't think I've seen something like that before in a drama. Despite some missteps and its unconventional approach, the drama remained a strong compelling watch with a star-studded cast.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
