Our Blues Drama Review

Drama: Our Blues (우리들의 블루스)

Director: Kim Kyu-tae and Lee Jung-mook

Writer: Noh Hee-kyung

Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Lee Jeung-eun, Cha Seung-won, Uhm Jung-hwa, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Hye-ja, Go Doo-shim, Bae Hyun-sung, Roh Yoon-seo, Park Ji-hwan, Choi Young-joon, Ki So-yu, Kim Kwang-kyu, Cho Hye-jung, Jung-Sung-il, Park Ji-ah, Jung Eun-hye, Lee So-byul, Baek Seung-do, Ryu Hae-jun, Kim Ah-song, Shim Dal-gi, Kim Jae-won, Yeon Shi-woo, Hong Jung-min and others.

About the show:-

The show revolves around the lives of the residents of Jeju Island, South Korea. The show is an Omnibus-style format where the interconnected lives of different characters are displayed.

Lee Dong-suk : a guy from Jeju who sells household items and other goods from the city in his truck, has had a rift with his mother and is in love with his childhood crush

Min Seon-ah : a young mother from Seoul who comes to Jeju and is hiding a past that the residents of Jeju are unaware of

Park Jung-joon : a ship captain in Jeju with a cheerful nature and high spirits, who also works at the seafood market. He has feelings for Lee Young-ok

Lee Young-ok : a new girl in Jeju working as a Haenyeo (female diver), and is harbouring secrets that she has left behind at the mainland

Jung Eun-hee : a woman living in Jeju, owner of a fish shop and other businesses and a lifeline/anchor to every resident of Jeju

Choi Han-su : a man born in Jeju and now living in Seoul, relocates to his hometown. He is Eun-hee’s first love but is now married to a woman in Seoul and has a daughter

Go Mi-ran : Eun-hee’s best friend from high school who now lives in Seoul. She is the life of the party in Jeju but has a personal life that is beyond repair.

And others.

(*This review may contain spoilers. If you have already watched the show, please continue reading. If you haven’t watched the show yet, you can still continue reading or you can come back to the review later.)

What I loved about the show:-

Real life is not always about Cherry Blossoms, dancing in the rain and a fantasy world. It's not handed to us on a silver platter. It's up to us to make our life and ourselves beautiful, joyful and blissful. But not everyone can afford that luxury. Reality is much harder. We have to put in so much effort and work very hard to live happily even when life throws many tests and lessons at us.
Our blues(우리들의 블루스), as the writer Noh Hee-kyung states is an omnibus style drama. The show tells the story of 14 characters and their supporting cast in a span of 20 episodes. The writer Noh Hee-kyung says she chose this format to show that each one of us is the lead in our own story.
Our blues is set in Jeju Island in South Korea. The writer also talks about the close knit relationship of the people in Jeju and how bringing that detail to the small screen would enable her to show why the characters are extremely family like.
It talks greatly about the Korean culture and life and as an Asian myself, I had much to relate to.
Our blues does justice to its theme. It talks about relationships, family, friends, love, trust, misery, mistakes, acceptance, hope, kindness, communication, forgiveness, community, unity, letting go, apologies, regrets, joy, depression, disabilities, loss, happiness, reminiscing and much more. The show is filled with every emotion known to man. The show can teach you so much if you just allow it to. Every character speaks to you beyond the story.

What each Character has taught me:-

1) Lee Dong-seok : Dong-seok taught me that some wounds and its scars dwell deeper than you can imagine. But he taught me forgiveness is the greatest virtue. You forgive not for others but for yourself. You forgive so you can move on in life towards the happiness that awaits you.

2) Min Seon-ah : Seon-ah taught me that the darkness that is in her mind and that is engulfing her is real. But she will not give in to that darkness. She will fight - for herself and for her loved ones and she will live a life full of brightness and happiness.

3) Jeong Eun-hee : Eun-hee taught me the meaning of hard work. She taught me that no good deed ever goes unnoticed. She taught me to love deeper, to laugh louder and to live fuller and to give without expecting.

4) Choi Han-soo : Han-soo taught me that what the world sees is not always true. He taught me that sometimes life throws a curveball and you may or maynot know how to react. But life gives you an opportunity to change, to do better and grabbing onto that one opportunity can change your life for the better.

5) Go Mi-ran : Mi-ran taught me that everyone’s life is full of problems. But you get to choose how you deal with those problems. Are you going to give up or smile through the pain and fight till you make it?

6) Lee Young-ok : Young-ok taught me that the world has a hundred different things to say about you, in front of you and also behind your back. It is up to you. Will you will let the words of the people get to you or will you dust yourself off and get back on your feet?

7) Park Jung-joon : Jung-joon has taught me to be loyal, kind, caring, loving, cheerful and high on life. He has taught me to make mistakes, own up to them and correct them. He has taught me to be the best version of yourself. He has taught me that when you find someone you love, don’t be afraid to fall harder in love and give it everything you’ve got.

8) Kang Ok-dong and Hyeon Chun-hee : Kang Ok-dong and Hyeon Chun-hee have taught me to be strong, independent and free in your old age. They have taught me to be unafraid of live and to just go with the flow.

9) Jung-hyun and Young-joo : These young kids have taught me to be responsible. They have taught me to be respectful, to be generous and to be open to life’s endless opportunities. They have taught me that you need to be willing to acknowldge and accept the highs and lows in life and work on doing your best at every step of the way.

10) Jung In-kwon and Bang Ho-sik : In-kwon and Ho-sik have taught me to give in you all in friendship and fatherhood. They have taught me that it is okay to feel angry, to feel sad and to be vulnerable. They have taught me to have a huge heart that is willing to forgive. They have taught me to be extremely loving and giving - be it in friendship, be it as fathers or even if it is just as humans.

11) Dal, Byul and Ki-joon : They have taught me to be honest. They have taught me to make the most of life. They have taught me to acknowledge my feelings, my hearts desires and my wants and to go after them. They have taught me to be joyful and fearless.

12) Lee Young-hee : Young-hee has taught me that it is okay to be different. She has taught me that God has created us all to be one of a kind and to make the best of what he has gifted us with.

13) Eun-gi : This little girl has taught me to believe in prayers. She has taught me to believe in the goodness of God, his creations and his marvels. She has taught me that it is okay to be innocent, naïve and pure. She has taught me that although life is a little difficult at times, we need to have faith that when the difficult days pass , then life only has the best to offer to us.

14) Hye-ja : She has taught me that when you make a mistake or hurt someone it is the right thing to ask for forgiveness and make a fresh start.

The Actors, the Director and the Writer:-

Made up of a stellar star cast, this show is a blessing to us Korean drama lovers. But I believe this show isn't just for Kdrama enthusiasts. This show deserves to be watched by more people, it deserves more recognition.
The show has excellent acting, sensational writing, beautiful aesthetics and background score, a wonderful location (Jeju is so beautiful), fantastic casting, a brilliant director and a magnificent writer.

I have genuine admiration and gratitude for director Kim Kyu-tae and Writer Noh Hee-kyung and I am looking forward to watching all of their works as a duo and as individuals.

Special mention to the outstanding OST. My favourites are Our blues,Our life by Lim Yoo Woong, With you by Jimin and Ha Sang Woon and For Love by 10cm.
This show is a precious jewel for the Korean Entertainment Industry.

The Purpose of our lives is to be Happy - Dalai Lama.