Disney+ is a streaming service that I waited a year for before it became available in the country. There were all these movies and shows that I liked that I was missing out on and wanted to see! I was so excited to start watching when I was finally able to sign up for it. One of the first shows that I watched from Disney+ was the Korean drama Soundtrack #1. I am excited to share my thoughts on this K-drama here on the blog. If you're a fan of the actors or K-drama romance shows in general, this is a post for you!
Plot
Starring Park Hyung Sik and Han So Hee, the series is about a friendship that becomes a romance. I have heard so much about this show and I was very curious about how they could pull off a romance in only four episodes. It turns out that the concept is doable and that it was more entertaining than I expected it to be.
Hyung Sik is Sun Woo, a photographer who has been in love with his best friend for 19 years. Eun Soo (played by So Hee), the best friend, is a lyricist. As much as he wants to tell her how he feels, he remembers how she had once said that she did not want to lose him as a friend. She said that she does not even want to consider having a relationship with him. So he keeps quiet about what he feels about her.
The series begins with Eun Soo needing to write a song about unrequited love. The producer told her that her lyrics were missing something. It; 's suggested that it could be because unrequited love was something that she had not felt before. She decides to recruit Sun Woo to help her understand how it feels and to help her write the lyrics. He agrees, even moving into her apartment so that they can work together.
Anyone who knows the premise of the series would know that this is a happily-ever-after drama. The ending is predictable, but it is still enjoyable to watch it all unfold. Watching the events that lead both characters together is part of the fun.
My Review
This show is very well-written. I loved that they were able to get this whole story squeezed into four episodes. Nothing in the show felt rushed or forced. If anything, I felt that having fewer episodes meant they had to do better. It meant ensuring that every scene would be worth the screen time because they had so little of it to tell the story.
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| Image Credit: Disney + |
I loved the little things that to this day remind me of this drama. When I see tangerines, I remember how Eun Soo had boxes of them at home. When I see a stuffed bear, I remember Sun Woo's gift for Eun Soo. Whenever I see a tarot card the same as the one featured in the drama, I remember this story too. Even the thought of an ID photo reminds me of this series!
There were a lot of good lines from the script, which of course I am basing on the English subtitles. I found myself having this little tip-tap in my heart hearing lines that I loved from the characters. I have to give credit to the actors for that one. I am sure that the warm feeling that I got from hearing those lines was not only because of the skillful writing. It was also in large part because of how they delivered it.
Speaking of the actors, I have something to confess. I felt that Han So Hee and Park Hyung Sik did not have any chemistry together. I did not feel a spark between the two of them at all. Something was missing, but I cannot point my finger at what it was exactly. Yes, they were sweet, and they were adorable together. Individually, they are good actors who were able to portray their roles very well. But for some reason, I did not feel the excitement of them being together. It's so different from other Korean drama pairs that I have seen in the past.
It's weird to say that I loved the show but did not see the chemistry between the leads. I loved the story. I loved the acting. And that was enough to compensate for the lack of chemistry for me. It helped that they are particularly good actors. If not, they would not have been able to carry the show with that lack of chemistry.
This is the first time that I have watched Park Hyung Sik acting, even if I have heard of his other dramas in the past. I saw him in the Disney special In the Soop: Friendcation but that was it. I couldn't judge him or compare his acting based on that one. That was a different type of show, so I did not have a formed opinion of him as an actor before this.
I have often wondered about his acting because I've seen a lot of him but never saw him act. I later realized after seeing another one of his shows that he can be quite versatile. I was happy to find out that he could do drama with romance but he could do comedy too. It's making me look forward to seeing his other projects!
Hyung Sik has a very subdued manner of acting, different from his friend Park Seo Joon, whom I have seen a lot of. I love how easy it is to see how he feels even if he is not saying anything. His facial expressions and his eyes say it all. His acting makes it so easy for me to feel for his character and his unrequited love for his best friend.
Han So Hee is someone I am familiar with because I have seen her in the series The World of the Married. It was refreshing to see her in a role different from the show where I first saw her. She turned Eun Soo into a distinctive character from her previous role and I liked that. I only found it sad that her role consisted of her being cute and clueless about Sun Woo's feelings. There was not much acting range or challenge for her to be anything else. It's not for lack of talent, but lack of things to do for the most part.
I read somewhere that one of the selling points of this show was that it was full of music (hence, the title) and that it was. Music plays a key role in making the show’s scenes stand out, especially the emotional ones. It helps that the show does not have overly dramatic or over-the-top moments. It made the music an easy fit.
The music helped to give the scenes that emotional push for the audience. The music enhanced the low-key acting that was going on. It gave it scenes the right ambiance for the viewers to immerse themselves in.
Where Are They Now
Park Hyung Sik (Seon Woo)
After this series, his next project is a show called Doctor Slump, slated for release in 2024.
Han So Hee (Eun Soo)
So Hee recently appeared as the female lead in the music video for the song Seven by Jungkook of BTS. Her next project is Gyeongseong Creature which is for release this December.
Kim Joo Hun (Kang Woo Il)
After this series, he is currently on the show Castaway Diva. He has a project with Lee Min Ho scheduled for 2024 called Ask the Stars.
Lee Jung Eun (Eun Soo's mother)
She has been in several shows after this series. Her latest is the show Daily Dose of Sunshine. She is also in a show called Alone in the Woods that currently does not have a release date.
Park Hoon (Gyeol Han)
He has been in several shows post-Soundtrack #1. This includes Remarriage and Desires and Payback.
Park Min Jung (Ma Ri)
Her most recent project after this series is the show Bloodhounds.
Seo In Guk (Jay Jun)
He only had a cameo in the show as the singer Eun Soo was writing for but I couldn't resist including him in this list! The latest project that I found so far was the show Death's Game and the theater production of Monte Cristo.
Yoon Seo Ah (Kim Seo-Yeon)
After the show, she has been on several dramas. Her next project is a supporting role in a show called Goodbye Earth.
With Soundtrack #1, the romance in the drama felt real. The characters made you feel for them. I loved that their relationship felt like such a perfect fit. I could not help but root for things to work out for them the entire time.
If you are starting on your Korean drama journey, Soundtrack #1 would make a good introduction. With only four episodes but full of great lines and heart-tugging moments, this one is worth the watch.
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