Call it love or chaos, this is a story that revolves around the lives of people played as tools or should say used as pawns in a political chessboard. With North and South Korea set against each in the public eyes but allies in secret for their own selfish benefit.....here loyalty, friendship and love would all be put to test.
Snowdrop is an ongoing Korean tvseries directed by Jo Hyun-tak, starring Jung Hae-in, Yoo in-na, Jang Seung-jo, Yoon Se-ah, Kim Hye-Yoon amongst many others. Following the recent drama in the korean movie industry where some group of people netizens, have become so vocal than they were before. They, not sure who or what to refer them as have made it a point of duty to criticize or call for a cancellation of series or movie that speaks different from what their history says or that doesn't portray a good image of their history....more like historical distortion.
To be clear, I am not in anyway against this guys standing or defending history, making sure it is not disrespected. However, I think they forget that some...if not most are based on fictional characters. So many series/movies has taken the hit from the recent trend as production of many have been put on hold or cancelled. Although, I get how sensitive the topic is, as it has to do with their democracy and all, I really don't have indept knowledge about it, but you can read here for more information Indiatoday. I also hope that moving forward writers would put more consideration on these things as they pen down their stories. I don't know how to feel about this but I do feel bad for the actors and crew members trying to make this work amidst all this.
The story revolves around Eun Young-ro, a young girl in Hosu University who stays in the school dormitory with her roommates turned friends. Just like any ordinary day, Eun Young-ro would make a choice that would kick start a beginning of hell for all the students in the school. As innocent as saving a dying man was and hiding him away from Anti-Communist Investigation Bureau, Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) agents, thinking he was an ordinary student who was going to be framed...Young-ro saved and hid Lim So-hoo, a North Korean spy. An event that unfolded into a ticking bomb....waiting to kill everyone, as kindness was being paid back with blood.
What if she did not save him?
To fulfil their own selfish interests the government officials in the North and South would gamble with the lives of these university students held hostage. For the North, it was about the money and for the South it was about winning the presidential election. As the series progress, you would see loyalty put to test, the twist and turns of events as it becomes the search for truth and survival. Where enemies would now become allies, and friends become enemies.
Not forgetting the unpredicatable story of love between Young-ro and Lim So-hoo which I can't help but ask if it is going to grow into something more than we already have in the first couple of episodes. Imagine how it must feel for Young-ro to realise that the man she saved and fell for is indeed a spy...now holding all the students, her friends hostage. I bet she is filled with regrets, anger and betrayal. To make things worse having to loose someone so dear to her because of the spies.
Will she ever be able to forgive him?
Although, it is almost similar to one I saw a few years ago Crash landing on you, but different at the same time. I like the storyline, however I feel they started dragging on too much at a point, especially with the hostage situation. You see so many things happening all at once, as different characters tries to utilise their screen time. One I find surprisingly interesting but annoying is Gye Boon Ok (Kim Hye-yoon), the telephone operator. As insignificant as her role appeared to be initially, the character development there was pretty amazing.
I also applaud Ji-soo as Young-ro, as this is one of her first kdrama and she is doing pretty well in portraying her role. You see the effort she's put in as this is not just a all "lovey dovey" drama, but one with serious emotions. From one pain to another....I think she cried for most part of the series. Not because of the tears, but how she owned the character. Ofcourse, Jung Hae In as Lim So-hoo, did what he knows how to do best...been a while I saw him in movie, so this was quite refreshing....too bad it has to be one with controversies surrounding it.
Despite the criticism that came with it I still think it is a good one. The harsh reality of life, as those in power would play chess with the lives of people to achieve what they want, amidst all we find a way to be happy with loved ones...while some find love, some with family.
Snowdrop is surrounded with lots of negative reviews and controversies quite alright, it has it's downside....I mean ofcourse it is not perfect, it is not bad either. It has a couple episodes to go so let's see how it ends. I advise you see it with an open mind, then let me know what you think.
Trailer
