MBC's Friday-Saturday dramas, once reigning as the "drama kingdom" with high viewership for every release, have recently been stuck in a deep slump. Even highly anticipated works have received disappointing results, failing to recapture their past glory. Amidst this, a new Friday-Saturday drama, "Let's Go to the Moon," based on the novel of the same name by Jang Ryujin, has ambitiously entered the scene. Many are watching closely to see if this drama, which combines the sorrows of office workers with the bold subject of "crypto investing," can become the savior for MBC's drama lineup.
The drama hit an unexpected snag right from the start. A teaser released before the official broadcast was embroiled in controversy for allegedly caricaturing Middle Eastern culture. A scene where the three main actors wore traditional Middle Eastern attire in a comedic context became the problem. While such a scene might have been overlooked in the past, we now live in a global era where respect and understanding of different cultures have become crucial. It was a case that showed as the status of Korean content has risen, so has the weight of its responsibility. The production team acted swiftly by deleting the video and issuing an apology, but the rocky start remains a regrettable point.
"Let's Go to the Moon" is an adaptation of the popular novel by author Jang Ryujin, who has a solid fan base. There is much anticipation to see how the novel's realistic settings and detailed psychological descriptions of the characters will be brought to the screen. At the heart of the drama is actress Lee Sun-bin. Known for her lovely charm in various romantic comedies, she takes on the role of Jung Da-hae, a non-regular employee, representing the harsh reality of office workers. Her diverse acting spectrum, which elicits viewer empathy through delicate and deep emotional performances that go beyond the rom-com genre, is expected to shine in this work as well.
The lineup of colleagues who will lead the story alongside Lee Sun-bin is also impressive. The renowned "acting master" Ra Mi-ran plays Kang Eun-sang, Jung Da-hae's dependable coworker, anchoring the drama with her presence. Her rich emotional acting, which allows her to perfectly embody any role with her unique color, is set to make audiences laugh and cry once again. Furthermore, the transformation of idol-turned-actress Jo A-ram is noteworthy. Taking on the role of the comical character Kim Ji-song, a 180-degree turn from her previous serious image, she injects vitality into the show with her surprisingly adept comedic performance. On the other hand, actor Kim Young-dae's character, through the first two episodes, doesn't seem to deviate much from his existing image of a sophisticated and cool figure, leaving viewers to wait and see what new sides he will show.
The drama's setting is not the present day, but 2018, at a food and confectionery company during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. There is a clear reason for deliberately setting the story in the past. It is closely related to the core subject of the drama: cryptocurrency (coins). The drama's synopsis mentions that the main characters dream of turning their lives around through crypto investment, hinting that this setting is not just a temporal backdrop but a crucial element for the plot's development.
2018 was a time when the crypto investment craze, led by Bitcoin, began to sweep through South Korea. It was an era when the slang "Gazua!" (Let's go!) was born, and myth-like stories of ordinary people becoming rich overnight through crypto investments poured out. The drama captures this specific moment, unfolding an interesting "what if" scenario about how the lives of ordinary office workers who invested in coins at that time might have changed. The premise that the characters could have amassed immense wealth, enough to not have to work, if they had bought crypto in 2018 and held it until now, provides viewers with a strong sense of vicarious satisfaction and curiosity.
The protagonist, Jung Da-hae (played by Lee Sun-bin), is a character who, despite getting a job at a large corporation through fierce competition, suffers from invisible discrimination and sorrow due to her status as a "non-regular employee." Her struggle, constantly hitting the wall of permanent employment and being passed over for promotions no matter how hard she works, captures the pain of many non-regular workers in this generation. Her only comfort comes from her colleagues in the same boat, Kang Eun-sang (Ra Mi-ran) and Kim Ji-song (Jo A-ram). The bond between the three, as they support each other and share a strong camaraderie in the tough office environment, is like a ray of light.
One day, Kang Eun-sang makes an unexpected proposal to the three friends, who feel unappreciated at work and anxious about their future: to invest in cryptocurrency together. Back in 2018, crypto was an unfamiliar, unknown territory for the public, and the perception of it as "dangerous speculation" was strong. Naturally, Jung Da-hae and Kim Ji-song scoff at the idea as absurd, but this proposal was the beginning of a massive wave that would change their lives entirely.
To make matters worse, Jung Da-hae is devastatingly dumped by her long-term boyfriend for having no money and no future. At work, the project she ambitiously prepared is rejected, seemingly because of her non-regular status. As these hardships repeat, her self-esteem hits rock bottom, and just when she loses her will to live, she suddenly remembers Kang Eun-sang's suggestion. Opening the crypto app she had invested in half-heartedly, as if grasping at straws, Jung Da-hae can't believe her eyes. The value of the coin, which she expected to have plummeted, had skyrocketed to an unbelievable degree.
The viewership for the first episode was a somewhat disappointing 2.8% nationwide. With strong competitors in the same time slot, the ratings battle ahead is expected to be challenging. However, as the story of the characters dreaming of a life reversal through crypto unfolds in earnest, it is entirely possible for the ratings to rebound by stimulating viewers' dopamine. "Let's Go to the Moon," which accurately taps into the desires of modern people dreaming of a big break from their frustrating reality, is drawing attention to see if it can capture the hearts of viewers and lead the revival of MBC's Friday-Saturday dramas.
댓글
댓글 쓰기