Perfect Family (2024)

Offbeat! Complex! Intriguing! Not for every taste. Nevertheless, consistent in itself

“Perfect Family” presents itself in the now almost impenetrably dense jungle of the KDrama orbit with an idiosyncratic selectivity. The production, which is carefully selected down to the last detail, contributes to this, as the mimes, music and story are perfectly coordinated and prepared as a splendidly distinctive thriller soufflé. And it is rising so well! Perfect.




(I could actually leave it at these words. But for all those for whom that isn't enough...)

The Perfect Family? Does that exist at all? Or isn't that concept made up of a highly controlled lie? Doesn't the control issue inherent in (whatsoever) perfection rob family life of its air to breathe? There are those pretty clean and distinguished in pole position for life. And then there are the ones with the 'loser' card, rather daring and lost, provocatively repulsive. And yet, if you look closely, both are just human beings, with light and dark - neither just saints nor devils.

“Perfect Family” also juggles themes such as friendship and betrayal. (And then there's more to it - but especially with this KDrama, a spoiler would be downright fatal.) In its consistently calm pacing the 12 episodes stroll along by leading us on one wrong track after the other, thus keeping us hooked with our open questions.

Ultimately, the story revolves around what follows a sudden death. At the beginning, together with the young protagonist, we are stumbling from one nightmare of conflicting feelings and confusion into the next. Over time, the confusion seems to clear up. The conflicting feelings, however, remain.

All of this is musically framed by a selected mix of classic classics and plenty of cello, piano, etc. - on top of that there are a few enchantingly soothing songs as a tasty acoustic icing on the cake.

Offbeat! Complex! Intriguing until the end!
In terms of pacing and style ultimately not for every taste, though.
Nevertheless, consistent in itself!


PS:
With a progressive message about the correlation between perfection, family life and authenticity... rounded by the exemplary reflection of when it comes to one's own accountability...

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Not for everyone.. but interesting nonetheless.

I acknowledge that this drama is not universally popular or liked, but has value or merit in its own way.

It is quite a tricky feeling to watch the backstory of annoyingly criminal minded villans. or rather how they became villans. if given another choice will they still be devilish? I was thinking about the Female villan.
The series is cleverly crafted in a way that makes you think it might another typical repeating drama and you start predicting it and start betting who is the criminal.. because of this reason I find it interesting to watch. I don't understand why it recieved low ratings. It deserves a little better rating.

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Deceptive Drama - Looked Promising, Failed to Deliver!

Extremely disappointing drama, one of the worst of 2024. Despite a promising cast (Yoon Se Ah, Kim Byung Chul, Yoon Sang Hyun, Kim Do Hyun) and an intriguing poster, trailer, and summary suggesting a suspense thriller with a twist, the show failed to deliver. The first 2-3 episodes offered some character development and suspense, but it quickly lost direction. The storylines were completed poorly, making it hard to stay engaged. I had to watch it at 2x speed just to finish the remaining episodes.

The only redeeming factor were the young child actresses playing Sun Hui, Su Yeon + the parents' performances - noteworthy, despite a bad script. I hope to see them in better dramas. Overall Rating: 3*/10 = Do Not Watch. This drama squandered its high potential of cast for bad storytelling.

*(My Rating Method: https://mydramalist.com/profile/omo-omo-omo)

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Boring and senseless

The premise of the plot is to find out who the friend's killer is but this is already known from the first episode and it's obvious, then the suspicion that the parents were psychopaths and would be the villains and then the real father... 12 episodes of a senseless plot, repetitive flashbacks, a backstory that took up a lot of time and for nothing.
...
Sun Hui girl won the award for the worst FL in history, she took the blame for the murder just to protect Su Yeon, which makes no sense and is so stupid.
...
The plot that caught me the most and ended up being for nothing, the suspicion that the parents were the villains and the suspense at that point was the best of the drama, but this was just pure filler to get to the "real" plot.
...
Now the worst, the biological father and the real villain, that backstory took up a lot of time, it was enough with 1 and at least half of another one, this really doesn't make sense... Why did FL choose him over her adoptive father? Her "beloved" biological father pointed a gun at her head minutes before... but the only good thing she did was kill her biological father.
...
Now the end... 3 years later, Su Yeon is released from prison, did we never see how she was arrested? and Hyeon U FORGIVES HER yes, he forgave the killer of her best friend... Then there's Sun Huí who comes back and manages to make her grandmother reconcile with her parents and happy ending, they became a perfect family again... Such a ridiculous drama with an annoying plot without any sense

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The PERFECT family was crumbled once ... twice ... would there be a third time?

Based on my watching experience, this drama is highly an option if you are a goer for mystery genres.

I was deeply immersed and my mind was actively working on figuring out every conflict introduced in each episode as to why the parents behaved suspiciously. We have this saying, " We reap what we sow", tragically in the story, the kindness extended to a stranger was repaid by wickedness that disturbed the once peaceful life of an outstanding family.

The execution of mystery was powerful to anchor the viewer's attention in determining who was the real protagonist and antagonist in the end. The ending was a wonderful scene of healing and forgiveness and a reflection that having a perfect family doesn't have to be blood related.

The cast members lived up to their acting reputations.

Again, I'm sealing my approval for this drama!!!

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Drama atipico!

Finitoooooo uhhh lascio un sospiro di sollievo!!! Mai drama fu più difficile di questo da finire...

Non per la storia in sé ma per come è stato impostato!! Tutte queste musichette ..tristi ...ansiolitiche...hanno reso difficile guardarlo a volte!!!

Comunque nonostante i pronostici l'happy ending è arrivato un po per tutti..chi doveva scontare la sua pena l'ha fatto e si spera continui sulla buona strada...

Il padre psicopatico ha avuto la fine che si meritava..dalla stessa figlia che ha messo al mondo ..che ha abbandonato e ha cercato di uccidere più volte...

La famiglia adottiva invece sono stati fantastici sia all'inizio del drama a depistarci con i loro atteggiamenti, sia alla fine perché mi hanno davvero emozionato ...famiglia non è per forza legame di sangue e loro ce lo hanno fatto capire benissimo...

È iniziato facendoci pensare una cosa ...ed è finito in tutt'altro modo per questo applauso ai registi!! Ma per 7.5 come voto ed è già alto, solo perché la penultima puntata mi ha emozionata.

End.

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I PRAY, I ASK FOR THE HEAVEN

I have to admit, I was a bit taken aback by the low rating for the final episode of “완벽한 가족”. I’m not sure what people were expecting from the conclusion, especially since the pacing and plot development seemed like they could’ve fit better in a film rather than a full-length drama series.

The entire storyline was built around the drama’s theme song, “TO HEAVEN”, beautifully sung by Jukjae. So, I’m going to break down the song verse by verse and connect it with the storyline. This drama deals with themes of isolation, family secrets, and the constant pursuit of a perfect image, while the characters navigate deep emotions and personal struggles.

First Verse:

Lyrics:
“Quietly, loneliness creeps into me
When will this long day ever end?
The sky I saw while walking with heavy steps
Is dark, as if it’s looking into my heart and painting it.”

Analysis:
The first verse speaks to a deep, creeping loneliness. The feeling that the day drags on endlessly suggests ongoing anguish, a sense that the problems and burdens are never-ending. The “dark sky” reflects the emotional state of the person, symbolizing hopelessness and the weight of their internal struggles.

Connection to the Drama:
This verse mirrors the experiences of the main characters, who seem to have the perfect lives on the surface, yet beneath it all, they carry the heavy burden of maintaining appearances. In “완벽한 가족”, there’s a stark contrast between what the characters show to the outside world and how they truly feel. The drama explores how, despite being surrounded by people, especially the protagonist’s parents, they feel a deep loneliness, which is reflected in their expressions and the “heavy steps” of their daily routine. The “dark sky” represents the secrets that haunt the family.

Second Verse:

Lyrics:
“I close my eyes in silence and slowly count to ten
In the moment I open them, I wish it were all a dream
I pray, I pray, to heaven.”

Analysis:
Here, the lyrical voice seems to seek a temporary escape from reality by closing their eyes and hoping that when they open them, it was all just a nightmare. Praying to heaven represents a search for a way out, a desperate hope that the difficulties will magically disappear.

Connection to the Drama:
In the story, the characters often seem to be living in a dream or an illusion of perfection. The mother, who upholds this facade of family happiness, could be seen as someone who’s constantly praying for that illusion to stay intact, dreading the day when the family’s secrets come to light. This wish for everything to “be a dream” reflects the moments when the drama’s characters yearn to escape the tension and stress that weigh heavily on their seemingly perfect lives.

Third Verse:

Lyrics:
“I let out a sigh bigger than my breath
I try to walk back, but I remain in the same place
My wish, finally written in tears
Yes, I want to go back to the beginning.”

Analysis:
This verse expresses frustration. The lyrical voice is stuck in a repetitive cycle, unable to move forward. The melancholy of wanting to “go back to the beginning” suggests a longing to undo choices or fix the mistakes that led to the current situation.

Connection to the Drama:
In the drama, many of the characters, especially the protagonist’s parents, grapple with regret and remorse. They often question whether the choices they made — regarding their careers, family, or hidden secrets — were the right ones. Like the lyrics, they long to “go back to the beginning” to try and rewrite their lives, free from the mistakes and secrets that now haunt them. This desire for a second chance is a recurring theme in the story as they try to face the consequences of their past decisions.

Fourth Verse:

Lyrics:
“Once again, I’m alone, only my shadow remains
In the moment everything collapses, I wish it were someone’s embrace
I pray, I pray, to heaven.”

Analysis:
In this verse, the lyrical voice feels abandoned, left with only their shadow for company. When everything seems to be falling apart, they yearn for the embrace of another, a sign of vulnerability and a desire for emotional connection. Once again, there’s an appeal to heaven, a plea for divine intervention.

Connection to the Drama:
This verse fits perfectly with the storyline of “완벽한 가족”. The breakdown of family relationships and the loneliness of the characters are central themes. As the facade of perfection begins to crumble, each family member desperately seeks comfort in others. However, much like the lyrics, they often find only their own shadows — a metaphor for the emptiness that surrounds them. The desire for an embrace — a genuine and heartfelt connection — is something the characters crave but rarely find, as they’re all trapped in their own illusions and fears. The prayer to heaven symbolizes their last hope that something, or someone, might save this “perfect family” before it falls apart entirely.

This analysis shows how the song “TO HEAVEN” and the storyline of “완벽한 가족” are deeply intertwined, sharing themes of loneliness, frustration, and the search for redemption or comfort. Just as in the song, the characters in the drama are constantly praying — both literally and figuratively — for their lives to be healed from the secrets and pain that weigh them down. They wish they could go back to the beginning, to find solace, and to overcome the emptiness that surrounds them.

In the end, I hope you find my analysis insightful, and I truly wish that everyone can find their own version of the “perfect family” in the best way life can offer.

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The Perfect Family is most certainly above to crowd. Intriguing.

The Perfect Family is a well written Suspense Thriller Drama that may leave you breathless, similar to Atypical Family.

The Story

The Perfect Family is a brilliant drama, my kind of story. Hopefully the story does not collapse along the way. It is about two girls who use to be best friends. Something tragic happened to one of the girls and the misfortune of one appears to be the fortune of the other. Or is it? The details given by me must be sparse here, lest it ends up being a spoiler, the way the story is writing. The Internet is ablaze about this drama. The Perfect Family has invoked much thought and conversation all around.

The story is a contrast between someone in whose life nothing goes right with someone who has everything a person could want. Who is better off? One has a loving doting family, teen popularity, riches, opportunity, and a boy who truly loves her. The other has none of this, but whose life should this be? Was the trajectory incident the fault of the one? Not really. Should it be the guilt of the other to own? Probably. The girls reunite as teens and that is where the story begins. The Perfect Family would be a perfect Watch-Party drama.

Stars Park Ju-Hyun (as Choi Sun-Hui) and Choi Ye-Bin (as Lee Soo-Yeon)

How the story is written is important

The Perfect Family has a unique way to tell its story. One can tell that this story comes from a very complicated mind. Normally, I can take the facts presented after three episodes of a drama and tell you in a write-up exactly where this story is going. That is impossible with the story The Perfect Family. Its writing style is layered and complicated and I will need to write a spoiler follow-up just to keep it straight in my own mind. This story of The Perfect Family also is compelling and profound, invoking much deep thoughts around the issues presented.

The drama The Perfect Family is written in reverse chronology. You get the foreboding end of the story in the first four minutes of action. This is a flash-forward scene foreshadowing what is to come. This is a writing technique that is not often used and less so in Korean dramas. Using this technique throws the viewer into a quandary about the characters, because you have not yet grown an attachment to these characters. However, you are immediately drawn into caring about their fate.

Next, the writer layers the action like an onion, to establish how the foreboding opening incident happened. In continuous motion, the writer gives you the opening scene several times from several different points of view of each of the players involved. This keeps you in your chair waiting for the total reason why this foreboding outcome occurred, as you continue to establish a relationship with these characters. The writer is using foreshadowing, as the writer gives you portions of the complete puzzle, spoonfuls at a time. This is how the story is accomplished, but what is the true story?

The Perfect Family is such a profound Korean drama. I thought that the Korean drama Atypical Family was profound, but this is too. Whether it is your taste, is another story. However, is it profound? Yes.

(My mind is reeling like it was when viewing the drama Atypical Family)

There is a stacked cast in the drama ‘The Perfect Family’. The Perfect Family reunites the two principle leads of the Korean Drama ‘Forbidden Marriage’, Kim Min-ju and Kim Young-dae. While Forbidden Marriage was a RomCom, The Perfect Family is a Suspense Thriller.

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