Welcome to Samdal-ri

Have been a Ji Chang-wook fan since I saw him in "Do You Believe in Magic?" so definitely had to watch it. Also seemed to be a little reminiscent of Cha Cha Cha the first couple of episodes (successful female moves back home to JuJu island from the city (Seoul) and runs into the local boy who never left. That drama was the 2nd one I ever watched and got me hooked on k-drama so got a good feeling about this one. True, was a little slow in the beginning, as others have suggested, but it is a sweet love story - soul mates that are destined from the beginning. I took off a few stars for the final because the one thing I don't care for is when loves get back together after being separated for so long and then they have to/or chose to be separated again for one reason or another - can't the ones that love each other just be together?

I think that this drama (rom-com), beyond the two main actors who are amazing and versatile actors, as well as the secondary characters, and the love story, has a depth far beyond what you see, and it touches on the point - how unbearably easily celebrities can fall and be destroyed because Whim, jealousy and rumors of others (actors, singers, models, etc.), without even giving them the opportunity to explain themselves or defend themselves, the first step is to cancel contracts with them, which is really sad. Another point is to show the huge difference between city life (Seoul) and village life, in the big city everything is disconnected, workers are based, jealous competition and achievements at the expense of others, in the village there is warmth, caring "one for all and all for one" (it is true that sometimes it is suffocating , because everyone knows everything about everyone, but that's how it is to live in a small village and that's what's beautiful about it. Another point is the soul-searching we do after something happens to us that shocks us (recalculating the course of our lives) I hope the drama will continue to be deep in the plot ( again beyond what we see) and achieve high ratings. Aim for both drama and actors Ji Chang Wook, Shin Hye Sun totally deserve it.

This one didn't made it into my list as i don't follow much kdrama headlines or review articles but man oh man i got hooked after the 2nd episode. God this one will go down in history of the best KDrama Production,Acting and Visuals. Its a must watch for those who loved Reply 1988 and Twenty One Twenty Five.

I haven't seen other show of any of the cast members but these actors and actresses are very well fitted in their respective roles. Thanks for producing a high quality show like this. Looking forward to the next weeks delight.

For me i think my December and start of a New year will be great because of this show & fingers crossed for a great run and finale in January.

Note: this is an incomplete review as the series is still running.

Admittedly I almost checked out of this show after the first couple of episodes. Between the flashbacks and some painfully slow character development, you'd be forgiven if you lost interest early on. But if you manage to get past some of the more forgettable background-setting you'll be rewarded with a much better story that lies beneath a very superficial beginning.

I think a lot of K-drama series that originate with Netflix are hurt by the typical 12-16 episode series order. The first few episodes of "Welcome to Samdal-ri" are focused on the events that bring Sam-dal back to her home on Jeju. It's a catalyst that gets the story into its primary setting, but it's not the main focus of the overall arc. The relationships between Sam-dal, Yong-pil, and her family and friends is where the real heart of the story is. A half an episode focused on the abuse of power scandal would have been enough to propel the story where it needed to be.

Once you get to the root of the story, though, "Welcome to Samdal-ri" begins to shine. The multi-layered relationships are very smartly woven together and facets revealed at a good pace. The comedy provided by the haenyeos and the sisters (particularly the relationship between the older sister and her ex-husband) are evenly balanced with the tragedy that underlies the main story arc. By the end of "The story of the two Mi-jas", the series is hitting all the right emotional notes.

Upcoming episodes will return us to the abuse of power story, but I hope it doesn't linger too long there. The real heart of "Welcome to Samdal-ri" is, like all good K-dramas, in the relationships of its characters. Revenge stories have their place, but this series is so much bigger than a revenge story.

The beauty of Healing rom kdrama Visual aesthetic of Jeju Island ..

REMINDER:- Let's put aside comments and low ratings aside. This is one of the best drama in kdrama land placed All time top 50 kdramas in South Korea also worldwide.. I enjoyed every episode, highly recommend to every kdrama lover. Don't let negative reviews negative comments ruin your drama.. just go and watch and enjoy the show, if you haven't started watching it yet you're literally missing out, its so good every episode has the perfect balance of laughter, sadness, romance and friendship..the cast is so good and the mains have chemistry!

Let's dive into Samdalri's review

After suffering a fall from grace, a photographer returns to her hometown and bumps into her childhood friend - rekindling an unfinished romance.

In this drama Apart from the main protagonists, multiple characters have their own narratives, and each relationship is sophisticated and dynamic. Relationships that ranged from neighbors who seemed to be around me to friends who seemed to have been with me when I was a child to sisters who are always by my side to past lovers attempted to connect with viewers.

Personal thoughts/review :-

_THE BEST PART OF THE DRAMA_

• best siblings trio
• best friendship/support system
• best romance
• great family dynamics
• best moms!!!

• great hometown people
• great life lessons
• great story unfolding

Story progression, acting.

In Welcome to Samdalri Emotions are sparked by characters heartful that make you great emotional feel. Viewers who are sick of the harsh realities of modern society find comfort in this story of growing up after losing everything in Seoul and escaping to Jeju in particular. And the story gives equal importance to all characters in this drama, mostly in healing dramas the plot/story mainly focuses on main protagonist stories but what I like in Welcome to Samdalri is how it's given more important story scope to side characters in the story, every frame refreshing with nature view. Unlike some other life & healing dramas this drama is mainly focuses on the story more than rom.

The structure of the story, which has been densely stacked since the beginning, is showing its light toward the second half and showing its backside properly. This is because the story that have been sprinkled slowly are recovered one by one in an unimaginable way, giving a pleasant feeling.

_BEST SUPPORTING CAST ( ACTING )_

Kim Mi-kyung( Samdal mother ) who is stimulating the tears of numerous daughters in the small screen with her deep maternal love like a "people's mother," portrays various aspects of the character by enthusiastically playing Go Mi-ja, the mother of Jo Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun), the chairman of the Haenyeo.

Yoo Oh-sung ( Young Pil father) the owner of the inaccessible acting inner workings, is showing a heavy presence by exuding a different aura in every scene that appears as Yong-pil's father, Jo Sang-tae, who has been missing his late wife, Boo Mi-ja, for decades in his heart. He is a very friendly father to his only son, Yong-pil, but he stands upright like a huge mountain that can't be crossed when it comes to three months. At the same time, the complex state of mind that sometimes softens due to the past times we have been close has been revealed everywhere.

On the other hand, Seo Hyun-chul plays Ko Mi-ja's husband, "Cho Pan-sik," showing the charm of Samdal-ri's other pure man and cute younger man. Having lived as a "mija" for more than 40 years, he is taking care of his wife, who is suffering from heart pain, until the middle of the day. His presence as a father also shone.

Cho Jin-dal (Shin Dong-mi) and Cho Hae-dal (Kang Mi-na), the first and third of Samdali's official "Three Sisters of Horror," are their own distinct characters, and they have perfectly built up the chemistry of the three sisters, which is not common on the small screen. In addition, Ha-dal's daughter Cha Ha-yul (Kim Do-eun), who sends a fact bomb with sharp insights that are not like a nine-year-old child, joined the team, completing the invincible laughter hunting combination.

The best slice of life & healing drama with deep message

The series perfectly balances multiple stories. Excellent storytelling, well-developed characters, and heavy emotional depth, also this drama masterfully connects themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring power of friendship. I would like to say, This series holds the viewer's interest, promising a captivating narrative journey that explores the complexities of love, destiny, along with family relationships. Life in a city is intertwined with people. Countless people who are so involved seem to be "my people," but it is when they face difficulties that the substance is revealed. There's a scene the title of the photo exhibition, which was canceled due to controversy over power abuse, is "Human, My Person." Cho Yong-pil, who came to the exhibition, which was considered to be my person but was eventually canceled, leaves his name in the guest book that the exhibition staff is about to throw away. The drama is trying to convey the warmth of a person who stays by their side until the end even if everyone leaves, such as a hometown.

DIRECTION, WRITTING, and OTHE DEPARTMENTS:-

-- Well directed Despite with some flaws writting is impressive, Quality cinematography. I will 10/10 to direction, director well known for his previous projects, but this work of his standout from his previous projects. His work brandish on every character role, succeeded in using actors potential work.. -- Soundtrack, It remastered 10 colorful tracks across all generations with comprehensive emotions such as dreams, hometowns, youth, and friends, words that often appear in Cho Yong-pil's music, giving viewers warm empathy and deep lingering feelings.

-- Cinematography provides quality framework, each frame adds more beauteous to scenes. Especially Jeju Island view just wow.. -- Well-formed SCREENPLAY and superb EDITING i loveeee them..i love how the flashbacks are shown...at the exact moment when its needed.. -- Bonus plus point is " EPILOGUE" story telling section, they show perfect short stories in Epilogues at the end of Episodes.

-- Writting is impressive but writter failed in to create more dynamic characterization of ML & FL. Except this flaw, his work shines in every scene, especially the Second Half grandstand as his best work, the dialogues and conversations between main characters helps to get emotional from Watchers. It will be best of best drama if the writer concentrate more on subtle plot like choosing emotional not as comdey track..

FILMING LOCATION JEJU ISLAND:-

Jeju Island provided a quaint countryside setting that contrasted the bittersweet life and love story of each character. And it has been memorable. Welcome to Samdal-ri' stands out not only for its engaging storyline but also for its beautiful cinematography capturing the charm of Jeju Island.

MORE :-

As a Ji Chang-wook fan I'm proud of him for accepting Young Pil role, because as we see his filmography this character role is different from those shows his versatility.. Power house of acting like Ji Chang-wook & Shin Hae Sun the kdrama fans expected more rom from them but sadly they disappointed i think, what I'm trying to say here is nothing to be disappointed because this is not a complete Romance drama, it's a slice of life/healing drama with romance sub-plot. But scenes between Ji Chang-wook & Shin Hae Sun gives us pure rom vibes that's enough to fill those as rom . :)

Due to low marketing & promotions by Production house JTBC Welcome To Samdalri failed to create buzz in kdrama Watchers, But what more surprising is Welcome to Samdalri placed #1 on Netflix in some countries only because of the masterclass acting of Ji Chang-wook & Shin Hae Sun, other actors performance and good content of drama. This reveals how quality is drama, no need to promote it's self. Yes, i accpet there's some flaws in writing but writter and director succeeded to bring what they want to show us perfectly.

FINALLY:- Every detail is connected to the story. Its like a big ball of puzzle unfolding and solving itself. Every single Actor is award worthy. Subtle emotions of Ji Chang-wook & Shin Hae Sun make you swoon! A journey to healing and self discovery. Must kdrama for everyone kdrama fan.

Brought by :- Shinnosuke_Lee.