What Happens to My Family 가족끼리 왜 이래 - Review

 

Title: What Happens to My Family 가족끼리 왜 이래

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Comedy, Romance, Family

Release: 2014

Starring (Main Cast): 

Yoo Dong Geun as Cha Soon Bong

Kim Hyun Joo as Cha Kang Shim

Yoon Park as Cha Gang Jae

Park Hyung Sik as Cha Dal Bong

Kim Sang Kyung as Moon Tae Joo

Nam Ji Hyun as Kang Seo Wool

Seo Kang Joon as Yoon Eun Ho

Son Dam Bi as Kwon Hyo Jin

Director: Jun Chang Geun

Writer: Kang Eun Kyung

Rakuten Viki Rating: 9.6/10

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Audience Rating: 4.8/5

MyDramaList Rating: 8.2/10

Rakuten Viki Synopsis: Click Here

Watch on Rakuten VIKI in some regions: What Happens to My Family 

Episodes: 53 (abt. 1 hour (+5 min) each)

Content Rating: PG-13

Violence: Hitting, yelling, some blood

Sexual Content: kissing, hugging, some verbal references

Language: Mild (but may depend on where you watch)

Ending: Happy, satisfying

My Synopsis

Cha Soon Bong (Yoo Dong Geun) has worked hard to do his best by his children since their mother passed away with the birth of his youngest child. Now grown, he struggles to still be a part of their lives, even though they still live with him. They take him for granted and often blame him for the problems in their life. Frustrated by their disregard, and the stress of unpleasant news, he sets out to teach them a final lesson in gratefulness. It will turn the family inside out and shake them to the core. Will they learn to find the value in each other before they fall apart?

Trailer/Preview

My Review: 9/10

This drama is bound to bring about a roller coaster of emotions for anyone who watches it. It does an incredible job of making you laugh and making you cry and everything in between. You will really dislike some people at times and really love them at others. It portrays a family extremely well. The ups and downs, the times when people get along and the times they fight. It was very believable in every aspect. There are an awful lot of characters to address here. I don't know if I will get to all of them but will try to hit on the main ones. So, be prepared for a long review! It is a 53 hour drama after all.

Cha Soon Bong (Yoo Dong Geun) has been a mild-mannered man his whole life. He just wants to care for his family and be a part of their lives. But, the poor treatment he receives in return starts to get to him, and he has finally had enough. After receiving some poor health news he sets out to teach his kids a lesson in gratefulness. But will his methods bring them closer, or will it actually tear them apart?

Cha Soon Bong

Since the story mainly focuses around the family of Cha Soon Bong, played by Yoo Dong Geun, I thought I should start there. This man really is the glue that holds his family together. Yet, he is way under appreciated. In fact, the kids look at him as annoying and an interference in their lives and take for granted all he does for them, the least of which is feed them and house them. He endures until one day he receives some news that he knows will have a profound impact on his family. He determines to teach his children one of the most important lessons there is. Gratefulness. Yoo Dong Geun plays a very dynamic role in this drama. He will cry and yell, and be soft and warm. I think almost all aspects are covered here and he does an incredible job with it all. 

Cha Kang Shim

Cha Kang Shim, played by Kim Hyun Joo, is the oldest of Cha Soon Bong's children. She starts out as a secretary to the head of a large company. She is the best of the best in her field and highly admired by her boss. He eventually assigns her to his son in the hopes that she can refine him a bit. It is a relationship that definitely starts out as a hate one as Moon Tae Joo (Kim Sang Kyung) is determined to get her fired. As time passes those feelings change.

Her job is extremely important to her and she truly has made herself indispensable. At home, however, she generally ignores her father and hates him interfering in her life. Especially as she ages and his encouragement of marriage becomes more intense. However, she is more than willing to ask for his help (financially or otherwise) whenever she needs it. Though she generally likes to keep the peace she has quite a temper, and almost everyone experiences this part of her at least once during the course of the drama.

Though it clearly does not start out this way, the love interest of Cha Kang Shim turns out to be a man she detests early on. Both are determined to best the other. However, Moon Tae Joo is a good man and when a situation occurs that compromises Kang Shim he can't help but step in and do the right thing. I think that was the beginning of the change in tides. His character in the drama is one of my favorites. He can be weird and goofy, and then serious and very warm and comfortable and I loved seeing both sides. Both Kim Hyun Joo and Kim Sang Kyung had very dynamic characters to portray and they did an amazing job. I loved the chemistry between these two and thought their budding relationship was one of the sweetest to watch. Especially on his side as he had predetermined never to be in a relationship. You will enjoy learning about him and his backstory. 

This was my first time seeing Kim Hyun Joo in a drama but it is my second time seeing Kim Sang Kyung. The first was in The Crowned Clown, which was an entirely different role from this one. That role was quite serious where this one was generally the opposite. It was fun to see this side of him. He kept me entertained, for sure! 

Cha Gang Jae

Yoon Park has the honor of playing my least favorite character in the drama, Cha Gang Jae. He, by far, has received the most from his father and yet is the least grateful of all of them. In fact, he despises his father for being "poor" and not giving him a better life. Working as a top surgeon at a large hospital he earns the interest of one of the rich heads as a potential match for his daughter. This being because he feels he would be the perfect person to inherit his spot. Seeing a way to shed the family he detests he drops his current girlfriend like a rock, signs off on his family, and enters the loveless relationship for his coveted elevated social status. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to reach into the screen and punch this guy square in the face. 

The actor himself does a fine job of portraying this character and making him detestable. I feel sorry for him though, as this is the second time I have seen him as a jerk-face doctor (the first being in Good Doctor) and I have yet had the opportunity to like him as a character. Maybe next time. Ha!

The girl he is with, Kwon Hyo Jin played by Son Dam Bi, is fully infatuated with him. I don't know why... but she is. She is somewhat likeable, but she has a whiny personality that also makes her a little annoying. But... they do suit each other in a strange way.

You may find some redeeming qualities in Gang Jae towards the end, but he just isn't much of a likeable person. I do think that if it hadn't been for him, his father may not have went to such extreme ends.

Cha Dal Bong (and friends)

Now I have to admit that these three above are the actual reason I watched this drama. Three of my favorite actors together? I couldn't resist. We have Nam Ji Hyun on the left who starred the leading female role in one of my top three favorite dramas, 100 Days My Prince. Then in the middle we have Seo Kang Joon who starred in my very favorite drama Are You Human Too. And, then on the right, my favorite actor, Park Hyung Sik. I felt, even if the drama wasn't great, it would be made up for by these three. How could it go wrong?? Really!

Park Hyung Sik plays Cha Dal Bong, the youngest son of Cha Soon Bong. Dal Bong is the most sensitive and loyal of the three children and for the most part he avoids a lot of his father's anger because of it. His dream is to be like his father and take over his tofu shop. This is not what his father wants, however, since he has higher expectations for him. Dal Bong tends to flounder the most in life. Unlike his older siblings he has a hard time fitting into a job and deals a lot with feelings of worthlessness, especially as he compares himself to them. You really can't help but love him the most despite his flaws as he really does try. I found that his struggles broke my heart the most, and his successes uplifted me the most. He was the family underdog. One scene particularly broke my heart and also gave me a huge respect for Park Hyung Sik as I feel it can be very hard to pull off the deep emotion he portrayed in it. In the scene, after a crushing day his father finds him on a park bench in tears. He pours his heart out to his dad and wonders why he was even born when nothing works out for him - even the death of his mother he felt was his fault. 😯😪💔

Thankfully, you will see him grow through this and he finally learns to stand on his own two feet. A huge help to him in that is Kang Seo Wool (Nam Ji Hyun), who comes to his house under the misunderstanding that he was the boy she saved when she was young. And, that following that they had promised marriage to each other. However, she doesn't believe him when he tells her it wasn't him and eventually, he doesn't want her to know as he develops feelings for her. But, he is torn by his love for her and his feelings that he is not dependable and worthy enough for her love. These feelings cause him to make some bad choices, but also some good ones.

Kang Seo Wool, is his biggest fan and support from the very beginning. Supporting him doesn't always mean she agrees with him, however. She is the most perfect character in the drama and is often the voice of wisdom. She ends up living in the upstairs apartment of the family home and is very quickly accepted as a member among them with her cheery personality and the way she takes care of everyone in the home. She loves Dal Bong with all her heart and they really do have a sweet relationship of both friendship and the deeper love they share for each other. 

Kang Seo Joon plays Yoon Eun Ho, the rich ex-friend of Dal Bong. He happens to also develop feelings for Seo Wool. As much as I love this actor, I did not have second lead syndrome. However, I did have to feel that Seo Wool was a little spoiled with having both of these guys after her. The actress must have felt she had struck gold when she got this role! Haha! At first, I was not fond of his character. He was not nice to Dal Bong and he kept trying to interfere in his and Seo Wool's relationship with his charming ways and persistent personality. Something Dal Bong does not take well. Which was quite funny at times to watch.

However, there was also a lot to like about him and I particularly enjoyed the growing relationship that does eventually happen with him and Dal Bong as well as with him and his step brother. His relationship with his new step brother and step father was probably one of my favorites. 

As always, Kang Seo Joon does an excellent job acting. I knew he was a good actor before I saw this drama. His role in Are You Human Too was quite dynamic and he has my respect as an actor as well as a top spot in my book. I found it a pleasure to see him in this role as well. It gave me a new perspective seeing him in a role that often painted him in a negative light.

As expected, these three actors were amazing. They truly brought each character to life and made them so very believable. Though, I did love the other stories going on, I really thrived on the ones that included them. 

Cha Soon Geum and Noh Yeong Sul

There are many more characters I could write about in this review, but this is already getting long so I thought I would end with these two. 

Cha Soon Geum (Yang Hee Kyung) is the sister of Cha Soon Bong. She lost her husband early, just like her brother lost his wife early and so they have lived together since the children were young. She had a huge hand in raising them. She definitely is the caretaker of the family, and is a priceless member.

Noh yeong Sul (Kim Jung Nan) is her mouthy daughter. She was another one I wanted to slap... though not as hard as Gang Jae. This girl had a habit of seeing things, or intentionally eavesdropping then making her own assumptions and spreading the (usually false) rumor. Oh, the conflict this girl caused. But, she also at many times was the best and closest friend to Kang Shim and so I found I liked and disliked her at the same time.

And, after a few closing words, I must send you off. This has become too long as it is! 

So... was watching a 53 episode drama worth it? Yes! I really loved this. I didn't think I would be able to keep my attention with such a long drama, but I was wrong. There is so much going on and you truly get invested in the lives portrayed in this story. If you are looking to get your feet wet with a long drama, I would definitely recommend this one!

Awards Won

What Happens to My Family - 2014 - Best Drama (22nd Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards)

Kang Eun Kyung - 2014 - Best Writer (KBS Drama Awards)

Yoo Dong Geun - 2014 - Grand Prize [Daesang] (KBS Drama Awards)

Kim Hyung Joo - 2014 - Top Excellence Awards, Actress (KBS Drama Awards)

Kim Sang Kyung - 2014 - Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama (KBS Drama Awards)

Park Hyung Sik - 2014 - Best New Actor (KBS Drama Awards)

Nam Ji Hyun - 2014 - Best New Actress (KBS Drama Awards)

Kim Sang Kyung and Kim Hyun Joo - 2014 - Best Couple Award (KBS Drama Awards)

Park Hyung Sik and Nam Ji Hyun - 2014 - Best Couple Award (KBS Drama Awards)

안녕! - 줄스