Stream K-Dramas at OnDemandKorea

[HanCinema's Drama Preview] "Super Daddy Yeol"

After 'Hogu's Love' and its 'odd couple plus child' start, tvN is following with a similar premise for its Friday and Saturday slot. This time, the child is older and father-to-be less than capable of handling her. This twist of family themed romantic comedies is one with potential and being tvN's choice of topic for the season, both of these shows need to play their cards well. It is now 'Super Daddy Yeol's turn to shine.

Advertisement

Premise

Han Yeol (Lee Dong-gun) is a baseball icon has-been who has given up on marriage and now lives like a slob. That is until Cha Mi-rae (Lee Yu-ri), the former sweetheart he could not forget appears with her daughter and determined to make an honest family man out of him. Mi-rae's reason for father-hunting is a dire one, however, as she has been diagnosed with cancer and only one year left to live.

The Worrying

Still 1Still 2

Terminal Illness

Combining romantic comedy or comedy with death is not exactly an easy task. It can work and it has in the past, such as in movies like 'Sunny - 2010' and "Never Ending Story", but it is still a challenge. Given this is a series, where there is often only days' worth of leeway to produce a script and an ingrained tendency for melodrama, it could get messy.

Resurfaced Writer

Even more worrying than a messy plot is one which does not treat its sensitive topics with respect and both are worries when a writer is not someone most viewers would be familiar with. Writer Kim Gyeong-se, if it is the same one listed around, has not worked since 2006. New writers can be chosen for showing promise, but an older one having gone through a long hiatus is a question mark.

The Reassuring

Still 3Still 4

Interesting Premise

While it may all become too dark and lose what seems to be the premise's focus, it is nonetheless an interesting take on romantic comedies and family shows. Most of them rely on two new lovers or then separated lovers getting back together without offspring on either side. Family shows often feature extended family members. Seeing a father-daughter relationship as a central part of this is exciting and it will hopefully be explored nicely.

Promotional Material

Trusting Korean drama promotion is never a good idea, but assuming the production does carry the same tone as that material, it is nice to see that the show will at least start as an uplifting story, rather than one about a very sad reunion. A person's end is always sad, but it is also an opportunity for a heartwarming story. If the drama's goal is just that, then it is a worthy goal to turn the webtoon into a television series for.

Final Thoughts

'Super Daddy Yeol' will likely turn some romantic comedy lovers away. Nobody likes the idea of a couple separated by death. Perhaps the drama can create a positive message out of this, but when the current tone seems to contradict the outcome, it needs extra hard work to convince on its ability to handle this contradiction well.

'Super Daddy Yeol' begins its run on March 13th and will air every Friday and Saturday at 20:30, on tvN.

YeolThe familyMi-rae and Sa-rang

Character Poster - YeolCharacter Poster - Mi-raeCharacter Poster - Sa-rangCharacter Poster - Doctor Sin

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

❎ Try Ad-free