This review may contain spoilers
about the ´art´ of becoming an egoist
You may consider "Red Balloon" being one of those family makjang stories that come up again and again in different versions in KDrama-land. Tangled ties of fate and trauma that continue to get even more tangled and traumatizing. You might think “Yeah. Makjang again. Family drama again. Forbidden love again. Ok, you´ve seen it all. You don´t need another one.” So should you watch? You definitely don´t have to. But oddly enough: you may want to. The characters, with all their sometimes almost disturbing ambivalence, drag and pull you under their spell. Subtly, unperturbed, whether we're watching or not: they are struggling to function and survive within their dysfunctional relationships and families... and on top of it: they are even longing for far more than that.2022/23 "Red Balloon" infiltrates South Korean homes as the red-hot contemporary document of a complicated ordeal, which society increasingly has to deal with. On the one hand, family is regarded as the highest value in society. On the other hand, within the last decades national divorce rate has reached the tops in worldwide comparison. Yet, divorce is still seen as a shame – a topic for ´other´ families only (if at all). Nevertheless, more and more South Koreans are choosing this path, even the 'elderly' (those over 60 and even over 70) are increasingly opting for divorce. The KDrama juxtaposes the hardened socio-cultural fronts within a fictional story that listens to both sides equally, gives space, allows themselves to be rubbed against each other – sometimes loudly, sometimes violently – and struggles to find solutions.
Throughout the KDrama, events and emotional ordeals continue to get worse. Seasoned with gradually increasing makjang tension, with complex personality portraits, as well as poignant, excellent pleas (sometimes for one, sometimes for the other and sometimes for yet another position), the KDrama screws itself deeper and deeper into the increasingly heated minds of the audience. "Red Balloon" succeeds excellently in taking its often head-shaking viewers into truly impassable, controversial socio-cultural terrain and, with the concentrated confrontational dramaturgical charge of emotional ambivalence, exemplifies what would be, could be, yet must not be, however wants to be possible, (and after all IS possible in South Korea 2022/23).
There are multiple storylines that are heartily intertwined. But they all deal with the same topic: the critical fine line between a so called ´satisfied´ life (as one normally lives / should / has to live / pretends to live) and a self-abnegating, self-deceiving ´dissatisfied´ life; the latter mostly going unnoticed, though, because actually everyone lives that way and it seems to be the most natural thing in the world... Dissatisfaction only becomes critical, if someone can no longer ignore that this supposedly ´satisfied´ life is actually a 'dissatisfied' one. The subtle psychological tension of the KDrama emerges in the conflict between traditionally unquestioned, accepted customs and the individual urge for deviation, which (here) rages more or less intensely in almost all of the protagonists, and erupts in an attempt to break free. Daring to dream, being honest with oneself and eventually even making the necessary efforts... but, alas, also being sincere in respect to the social environment? Ready to disappointing the expectations of others? Prepared to missing duties and responsibilities? To hurting loved ones, too? Has actually anyone ever honestly tried to truly walk along his/her individual path sincerely upright? (At least when it comes to South Korea 2022/23, so far there are hardly if any role models whatsoever.)
"Red Balloon" can be considered a social study using the example of the microcosm of three families, that are connected, among others, through a (not quite balanced) childhood friendship between two female protagonists. Yes, one could bitch and nag about prevalent adultery among the protagonists. On the other hand, in this case I´d like to set a different focus, that is: Collectivism in conflict with increasingly burgeoning individualism. Against this background, it is more about the 'art' of becoming an egoist. (See side note below). In a society shaped by collectivism, social class and hierarchy like South Korea, 'egoism' (=standing up for individual needs, even in the face of social pressure) has so far not been a quality in itself. On the contrary. The development of such an independent and socially recognized value is in its infancy there. The protagonists are correspondingly insecure and sometimes stumble, doubt themselves, look for a turnaround and reflect on the old values... which include: doing what other, older, financially better off fellow human beings say, want, demand. (And thus, often enough being humiliated, too. A life full of sacrifice, humiliation and shame is quite normal. Most people live that way. Accordingly there is nothing wrong with it, right?)
Shameless adultery might be one side of the medal. The other side, however, represents the widespread, customary long ignored individual dissatisfaction for the sake of ´the group´ (family etc.) that some can no longer cope with. The KDrama team draws memorable portraits of people at different ages, who have their quirks like anybody else. At some point, they try to stumble free from the expectations of others and rather follow their gut. They want to, and choose to live up to their own desires... struggling, staggering, falling in the face of the mercilessly blowing headwind. There might be an urge to break free of a tight corset of expectations and obligations – yet, just daring to think in this direction is considered shameless and despicable... Sympathy for family struggles, sacrifices, deprivation and suffering, on the other hand, is widespread, because this individual pain results out of self-sacrifice for the 'group' and in this case is downright virtuous. (The KDrama Orbit has told countless stories of this virtue since the earliest productions.) Sympathy for 'individual' pain however, e.g. suffering from the group pressures and demands, is hard to find. With a newly found egoism and its associated pains one is left alone... Well, has been, so far. Not anymore. This is where "Red Balloon" comes in… at least with an example of role models on fictional playground.
With its tricky, controversial topic, the KDrama hits the mark of many minds in the country. The audience of "Red Balloon" had quickly doubled and after half of the 20 episodes even tripled. Eventually, for the audience throughout the rest of the world it offers plenty of KDrama-Quality, too.
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SIDE NOTE: --- Life satisfaction in South Korea ---
The latest data on quality of life, published by the Republic's statistical office in 2022, ranks South Korea 36th among the 38 OECD countries. (Only in Turkey and Colombia life satisfaction is worse.)
What feels like exaggerated makjang for some (especially for audience with nationalities of the other 35 member states) is pretty close to everyday life for many (South Koreans) sitting in front of their home TV...
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SIDE NOTE --- The ´art´ of being an egoist ---
In 1976 the book “The Art of Being an Egoist” by Josef Kirschner was published. In it, the author works out the necessary, ambiguous psychological process and the stamina, the required perseverance, you need regarding individual (=egoistic) life decisions that are geared towards personal needs (=against the interests of the community/group/family). Self-love is a crucial step towards accountability (vs. behaviour determined by others) and thus forms the basis for free, responsible, caring citizens. However, even after all those centuries, egoism is (still) widely devaluated in individualistic Germany/Europe, too.
That´s because, egoism and the group are generally at war. The more submission the family/group/society structurally expects of its members, the less space individual needs have and the more shameful and banished they are. The protagonists in South Korea 2022/23 (which is characterized by collectivism and has a strong hierarchical structure) have to deal with just this problem. The theme here is the struggle for a psychologically healthy egoism for one's own good. The thesis behind: Honestly towards myself and content, I am able to approach others sincerely and freely give of myself, contribute and care about others. That´s because I want to. Not because I have to, (even though I feel wronged, indigent or missed out.) I care for myself. And then, additionally, I can truly care for others, too. Like the sign in the airplane says: you should put your oxygen mask on first before trying to help the person next to you…
PS:
(This 'egoism', which is based on self-love and mature personal responsibility, should not be confused with insatiable, ruthless and mostly immature greed. KDrama-orbit is full of greedy contemporaries, because unfortunately greed is cross-culturally human and can thus be found all over the world. Greed has no social component. With greed, nothing positive flows back into the group.)
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Looking at the characters, their past, their reason of actions brings to life the complexities of humanity. These people did not wake up and decide they were gonna act as is. Look at the path. Humanize the characters. Although it seems like viewers takes the story at its face value of the actions, and rated it as such, it’s too bad. There’s lots of depth that if people would be open minded to, then it’s a story that is sad and thoughtful.
The cast are exceptional. I think everyone delivered and their performance is worthy of applause. I’m saying it’s okay to feel about the actions of the characters per se, but don’t put down the entire production because of it. Give the show a try.
Scored low on rewatching because I know what I need to know so most likely not to.
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A Comedic Show About the Price of Revenge and the Pain of Enduring Failure
Red Balloon is a series which quite elaborately showcases the mixed emotions of troubled marriages and failed relationships. There are comedic highs and dramatic lows which Red Balloon fluidly alternates between in an effective manner.Seo Ji Hye's character, Jo Eun Gang, is perhaps a tad humourless in this; however, I quite enjoyed her performance as someone who mostly watched this to see her acting chops. I think people who are perhaps sensitive to infidelity in marriages will have a very hard time watching this show, but there is an intense, objective truth to how hard Eun Gang fights for her future despite her background and personal strife. One could easily see the character she plays as 'two-faced' or some sort-of 'stony' sociopath, but I think througout the series Seo Ji Hye is consistently able to convey how desperate and sometimes confused Eun Gang really is in her private life.
Maybe one knock on the series is that almost every character really come off as heels who don't really stand up for themselves until it is too late. That seems to be the recurring theme of all the storylines.
That said, the moments of righteousness and catharsis in the series are very satisfying.
One other major problem was that the background of Jung Yoo Min's character (Jo Eun San, the little sister of Jo Eun Gang) was a little undercooked. I suppose her character is written as a loner, but I thought she should've had more interactions outside her household: failing to show that character's social life outside of Ji Nam Cheol is a major flaw in Red Balloon. I'm guessing the demographic for this series is supposed to be for older women judging by the writer's past series. The writer's age is how I personally justify there being less attention paid to the youngest character outside of her romantic life! Take that with large grains of salt and no insult is intended! I quite liked the show regardless of this problem.
I think the main attraction with Red Balloon is actually its comedic elements. There is often a switch from the dramatic revenge storyline to slapstick dinner conversations or clown-like behaviour from the older characters. That levity is an important fact to point out about this series. Yes, Red Balloon's main story is mostly dramatic and yes, it explores infidelity in a mostly heartbreaking and anxiety-driven way. The show's various subplots involving the extended family, however, are very amusing. They also drive the main plot(s) which involve infidelity to interesting places. There's a real mixing of comedy and drama in Red Balloon that I find fairly accurate to our daily lives. Even at our worst moments, in a break-up or the death of a loved one, there's often a sense of serendipity that makes hardship almost surreal. I don't want to spoil too much in regards to this series, but there are a lot of suprising character interactions near the end of the series (especially involving Cha Won's father's patriarchal concerns and Eun Kan's uncle's personal problems) that really pushed me to re-appreciate the series as I was watching it.
Overall, I think the middling reaction to this show is justified: Red Balloon is not going to edge-out your favorite Korean dramas from their top spots any time soon. I do think, however if you are a fan of the leads involved like I was you'll find a tremendous amount to appreciate.
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Trash ending not worth it to watch
Trash ending waste of time to watchDont watch it the ending is ?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️. Not worth it to watch bada is so forgiving. Show showing mistress win affair with friend husband whole family is a fraud
Trash ending waste of time to watch
Dont watch it the ending is ?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️. Not worth it to watch bada is so forgiving. Show showing mistress win affair with friend husband whole family is a fraud
Trash ending waste of time to watch
Dont watch it the ending is ?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️. Not worth it to watch bada is so forgiving. Show showing mistress win affair with friend husband whole family is a fraud
Trash ending waste of time to watch
Dont watch it the ending is ?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️. Not worth it to watch bada is so forgiving. Show showing mistress win affair with friend husband whole family is a fraud
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The review should be higher than this
I don’t know what’s the problem with people but 7.8 review so far is too low…. Everything is so perfect except that the story is a very sensitive issue in this world that we live in and most people would like to deny the fact because it’s something that touches home to them like me…EK met CW first and even thou she was ready to move on if her ex wasn’t a jerk of a guy and a disappointment but it would have been nice if BD has more physical with KH or give us a hint if her daughter is his or not.
I really do like it and wish it was going to be longer…. Can’t stop and won’t stop watching it.
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The good side of selfishness
I discovered this drama in a trailer on TikTok and I immediately fell in love with the vibe it gave off.First of all, I really liked the fact of including all the arguments that revolve around the Cho family and the Go family, which led us to have distinct perceptions of each character. Then I found the rehearsals of little Min Poong and her grandfather cute. (Gosh!! I'm so lonely:)
Secondly, I found all of Eun Kang's actions completely justifiable even if some would find them outdated. To tell the truth, I think she could have done worse and even then, I would still agree with her 200% because no one chooses which family they are born into and in her case it is far from being the ideal family, but despite this she doesn't hold a grudge against anyone and so her goal follows its course.
Ultimately, I loved everything about it. the Ost who was always there at the right time, the impeccable acting not to mention the BREATHTAKING story. I also have to point out that it was so good I finished the drama in less than 72 hours
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Korean entertainment loves cheating husbands
This is another kdrama enabling cheating husbands.I found the involvment of children in the affairs .. yikes.
Also what the hell is going on with that age gap relationship, it was disgusting!!
Why would they use the past of these characters to justify clearly bad action? It's really outstanding that the writer is a woman.
Kudos for the FL for carrying the burden of the rest of the cast, she managed to show a wide range of emotions throughout the series, and this is an unbiased review, it's not related to her playing the role of the victim.
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I think the scriptwriter is too ambitious about having 2 forbidden relationships in a show
Good acting cannot save a lousy script.Having two forbidden relationships in a drama is just chaos and distasteful.
Having a best friend seducing her best friend's husband and an young lady having an affair with someone old enough to be her dad and having intimate scenes, is purely disgusting.
The scriptwriter portrays the stupidity of the characters really well.
Bada is clueless about the affair until the end. So silly!
I love Seo Ji Hye but somehow her acting is awkward in Red Balloon, i wonder why.
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Trash but addictive
1/ STORY:Two best friends working together have their friendship and their life turned upside down due to unexpected events. One decides to stir up the life of the other until the shit goes up the surface and hits the fan. Trash characters making trash choices out of their own miserable situation and justifying all this by the pain they are suffering. The horrible circus of lame human beings gesticulating and hurting each other, taking advantage of each other, lying to each other, yelling at each other, begging forgiveness, crying their heart out of their misery is pathetic and irksome but also fun to watch as we want to know what happens them in the end.
2/ CHARACTERS/ ACTORS:
- EK: Lame character who became obsessed and started hurting people she thinks mistreated her. Lame excuses for a lame behavior. Challenging role for Seo Ju Hye but she did well as a master of puppets.
- Ba Da was the best part of the drama. Sure, she had her shortcomings, and she prejudiced many people while being too selfish but at least she was not ill intended. In the end she facecd a big choice and did something good. Bravo girl. Loved Hong Soo Hyun in this drama.
- CW: His life was fine until he started to lust after someone. Lame, bland, a coward, undecisive, the guy had no foresight and never saw the manipulation coming. Weak link in the drama. Lee Sang Woo perfectly bland and annoying faces.
- Eun San: little brat who needed to prove she can turn a loser 20y older than her into a decent father and man of the house she never had. Her falling in love with him in the process is a good case for a shrink.
- Old Cow NC eat young grass and in the end, he becomes a boss. Good job. The actor really looked too old and unsophisticated for me.
- The two mothers: take the head of one to smash the head of the other with it.
- EK's mom and dad: pathetic losers and unworthy parents who raised two lunatic daughters.
- The rich chairman grandfather: Should be sent to jail for assault.
- Uncle: started decent man but then entered the crazy cheating maelstrom.
- Ex of EK: Jerk and a real moron. Well done.
- Mi Poong: please shut her up.
3/ OST:
A bit repetitive but good overall.
4/ REWATCHABLE VALUE:
None for me. Too long. Too trash. No memorable scenes to enjoy.
5/OVERALL:
Most of the characters are annoying and crazy indecent persons at some point of the drama or all along the drama for some of them. They all are imperfect and doing some crazy trash thing but somewhere, they manage to gain your sympathy and make you interested in them and in what will happen to them. I was hooked enough to watch until the ending which was good enough to not make me think I lost my time. I found a logical evolution in most of the main characters that is satisfactory enough.
Not a great show but it was enjoyable putting myself in the shoes of these crazy people. I will rate this 8/10 but only recommend it to people who are not afraid of crazy hysterical plot with lots of trash situation.
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Trying To hard to justify Sins
What will you say if both of your daughter become mistress of married manyou don't raise them well
Male lead knows Eun kang from before but was never interested in her, but after 7 year of marriage suddenly when she start seducing him, suddenly Love develop from one night stand,
so our male lead love from between his legs only
he suddenly fall in love after reading a Letter ?
Before that it was just fling for fun but now
Male lead never try to help his wife but has all the time to find fun for himself, selfish leech
female was evil two faced witch
it wasn't ba da fault that eun kang was slow in telling her feeling so she isn't justified in doing what she was doing
that ( happiness = love ) isn't true
Love is love that remain in both happiness and sadness
those who run away at hard time can't love anyone
that is for sure male lead or female lead eun kang are too selfish to love anyone other then themselves.
By watching how intimate scene were shown Ending is so obvious
not interesting at all
i don't know why they weste money to produce such kind of Story
Free Advice Only watch Ep 15 and then leave this show....
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Don't watch!!!!!! Very bad ending!! Just justifying cheating!!!!
Now normally I binge watch dramas but I decided to give this a try while the episodes were still not complete cos I didn't have anything to watch and I noticed people were dropping it cos of the plot but I like the lady who played Eun Kang and I saw a clip so I decide to go for it and honestly I didn't regret it , I was surprised why it was being dropped and people weren't talking about it more and I was always looking forward to more episodes until I watched that final episode, now I understood why it wasn't worth it and that's why I'm giving it a 4.5 , normally this drama deserves an 8.9 but that final episode totally ruined it for me.The actors were amazing, they totally delivered on their role, their was suspense but everything got ruined with that ending, the scriptwriter was the problem.
They kept on justifying the cheating and giving them excuses like Bada was wicked to her, Bada was a bad friend, their childhood was bad, their parents problem affected them, the family didn't treat that son in law well ,etc just justifying nonsense, I should have known that with this, that ending was coming.
I'm so annoyed Bada forgave Eun Kang cos that eunkang is a bad friend and a devil , nothing absolutely nothing justifies her cheating with her friend's husband and she even tried to destroy her business. She had known Bada for 20 yrs and she still decided to do that, scheming, plotting and looking for her friend's downfall and I hate that they tried to justify her actions literally nothing Bada did to her deserves it, I felt she was even trying to gaslight Bada by bring all those excuses and try to make her feel wrong like girl get out, you are a witch, the only reason she felt sorry was cos she was afraid the school would find out she was an adulterer in my opinion.
Cha won was a big disappointment and also a wicked person, it was his audacity to tell Bada he was disappointed in her cos she exposed Eun Kang family for me, like that's when I confirmed he was mad/ insane like you are the one who cheated and stooped low so why should she feel bad, and the fact that he even cheated on Bada when he saw her slap that man and push him away made me more angry.
Eun Kang's sister and Eun Kang herself are bloody hypocrite, angry at that man for cheating on your sister who was in a 4 yrs relationship yet you were sleeping with a married man and wanted him to leave his family and the fact that they knew what their mother went through from their father's cheating yet still did the same to other people and were trying to justify their actions and blame it on a bad childhood like would you get out of here, bloody hypocrites
The rest were all just annoying and the whole drama was just chaotic but at least it was still fun till that ending, how can you give Cha won and Eun Kang a good ending, how can you gaslight Bada into forgiving Eun Kang like that girl didn't deserve wickedness, I hate the ending with passion and it totally deserves a 4 out of 10 cos everything ruined with that ending
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The Korean drama OST "Red Ballon" makes me melt
If it's for a romantic drama that's not an affair, it's definitely better. Because as I said above, I hate affairs that only prioritize hormone drives, are selfish and forget that they have hurt many people.
However, in the Korean drama "Red Ballon", the writer-nim deliberately explored the affair, complete with the reasons. Not only Jo Eun-Gang's affair with her best friend's husband, Han Ba-Da. Also Ji Nam-Cheol's affair with Jo Eun-Gang's sister. The affair that Ji Nam-Cheol's wife reciprocated with her former lover.
Apart from stirring up the emotions of the audience with the affair, the writer-nim also makes the audience nervous and angry at the same time. Starting from anger at seeing Jo Eun-San who seduced Ji Nam-Cheol to have an affair, Jo Eun-Gang's courage to wear Han Ba-Da's bathrobe, to Jo Eun-Gang's action of including all his family members into the Go family circle.
Understandably drama makjang, made to confuse the emotions of the audience. It also feeds questions that don't have answers. Like Ji Nam-Cheol's "secret" kept by Jo Eun-Gang. The secret that made Ji Nam-Cheol willing to lay off the bookkeeping admin to be replaced with Jo Eun-San, Jo Eun-Gang's sister. Surprisingly the "secret" was not revealed until the final episode.
What can I do, someone has to be sacrificed in order to achieve the wishes of the writer-nim and director. The sacrifice is in the form of holes in the story of the Korean drama "Red Ballon".
It's fine, as long as the audience likes it when their emotions are like a roller coater, right? From being angry, grateful, cursing, crying, sad, then getting angry again, just like a soap opera should.
I will write my next Korean drama review "Red Ballon" here: https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2023/03/red-ballon-review-drama-korea.html
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