Mr. Plankton: Episode 1 (First Impressions)
by lovepark
Surprisingly considerate and interesting, the primary episode of Mr. Plankton introduces its two flawed protagonists and their struggles. The current guarantees no options, the previous gives no solace, and the long run stays dim for this couple of loners who solely wished to like and be cherished. Nonetheless, as their paths cross once more, our hero hopes for a distinct ending to their story, and so, their journey begins.
Editor’s notice: That is a gap evaluate solely. For a spot to talk about the complete drama, go to the Drama Hangout.
EPISODE 1
On prime of a snow-covered mountain lays a person staring up into the sky. Drops of purple stand starkly in opposition to the white, and the person utters his last phrases — a curse for this forsaken life. From afar, a lady runs in the direction of him, and the person turns his head. As the sides of his imaginative and prescient flip black, the girl turns into his total world, and he whispers, “I wish to reside.”
The dying man is HAE JO (Woo Do-hwan), a “fixer” who lives by his namesake and runs an errand home the place all requests are accepted based mostly on enjoyable. The workplace is rundown, the landlady hounds him to vacate, and his third-to-last pet fish simply died. Aimless and indifferent, Hae Jo is unbound to folks, locations, or issues; not due to a dearth of choices (his beauty are appreciated by each lady he comes throughout) however from his lack of need.
His newest case is a request from a soon-to-be bride: she needs to be kidnapped on her marriage ceremony day. The dangerous proposition intrigues Hae Jo who accepts the job in opposition to his lackey’s recommendation, and in his borrowed swimsuit, our fixer interrupts the ceremony of a gang boss. The complete factor was a honey lure with Hae Jo because the bride’s getaway, however quite than settle for this humiliating actuality, the gang boss assumes the love of his life was stolen and vows to get revenge.
Getting on the hit record of a infamous gang chief seems to be the least of Hae Jo’s worries as he crashes his motorbike mid-escape. On the hospital, he wakes up with a number of scratches — his shopper already lengthy gone with the gang’s cash — however in any other case, all appears wonderful. That’s till his physician takes him apart and informs him of his uncommon hereditary situation that would trigger him to die any day. Hae Jo scoffs on the irony of the information for the reason that household he by no means knew left him with an inheritance that will declare his life.
Whereas Hae Jo was unconscious, his nightmare was of his youthful self chasing after a pair. He cried for his mother and father to return again, however the man stopped solely to inform Hae Jo to cease calling after them as a result of they weren’t his mother and father. They didn’t know him, and little Hae Jo screamed, “Then who am I?” This haunting query turns into the crux of our hero’s journey as he learns of his analysis and the lasting impact of parentage (or in his case, the absence of it).
Elsewhere in that very same hospital, the girl from the start receives devastating information as nicely. That is JO JAE-MI (Lee Yumi), an anticipating mom with an upcoming marriage ceremony in three days, besides she isn’t pregnant. In reality, the physician tells her that she has untimely menopause and can probably be unable to conceive. Whereas this information would break many hearts, it’s particularly life-altering for Jae-mi whose fiancé is the primary son of a longstanding clan. In different phrases, he has an obligation to supply an inheritor, which might disqualify the already “unqualified” Jae-mi from marrying into the household.
As she trudges via the halls and into the funeral parlor to weep in peace, Hae Jo spots her and follows. From a distance he watches Jae-mi assist one other mom together with her fussy toddler whereas she berates her husband for not getting a vasectomy earlier than she obtained pregnant with twins — numbers eight and 9, to be precise. In an act of desperation, Jae-mi gives to take one of many youngsters and wails because the mom pries her son from her fingers.
Reflecting their unfair fates, the sky cries for our heroes, and Hae Jo silently covers Jae-mi with an umbrella earlier than strolling away. A sudden headache halts him, although, and his thoughts is flooded with reminiscences of the previous. These two had been as soon as in love, and their world was crammed with laughter and the tender glow of the solar, tender hugs and passionate kisses. She wished at some point to turn out to be a mom, to bathe her youngster with love that she by no means obtained, and Hae Jo informed her that she would make a beautiful spouse… however not an excellent mother. Their love is changed with fights and harsh phrases, then ends one chilly winter day as Hae Jo tells Jae-mi that she is not enjoyable like her identify.
Although Hae Jo tries to search out bodily consolation to uninteresting the ache, he has nobody who can fill the loneliness that plagues him. He muses on the inherent inequality of life the place the impoverished endure extra hardships, and he recollects the parting phrases he shared with Jae-mi. As if their curses got here true, he’ll die on their own as she mentioned, and she is going to by no means turn out to be a mother as he claimed.
Whereas watching TV, Hae Jo sees a industrial for “I’m Your Father” and bursts into laughs. A quick flash of a enterprise card given to Hae Jo reveals the identify of the identical firm, and our directionless hero finds one final goal in life: discover the Darth Vader who left him with these bombs in his head.
In the meantime, Jae-mi continues her bridal duties with out informing anybody of the information, however in all places she goes, she is reminded of the reality. Regardless of having no household, cash, or expertise to prosper the clan, she introduced them one of the best dowry, and future mother-in-law BEOM HO-JA (Kim Hae-sook) is as protecting of her unborn grandchild as she is of her son. Sadly, each congratulation provides to Jae-mi’s guilt, and after a frightful nightmare the place Ho-ja catches Jae-mi in her lie, she decides that no quantity of riches is price her life.
Together with her suitcase in hand, Jae-mi sneaks out of the compound, however the second she opens the door, somebody reaches out to her. Their id is stored a secret, and the subsequent morning, Jae-mi smiles at her reflection adorned within the wonderful nuptial hanbok. As she waits for her groom to return choose her up, a distinct man enters: her ex-boyfriend.
Hae Jo gives to assist her escape — or kidnap if she prefers — and divulges that he is aware of her secret. He reminds her that it is a rip-off, and Jae-mi asks if he’s threatening her. He says that it is a cooperation and extends his hand for her to take. As she decides what to do, the doorways open, and the true groom EO HEUNG (Oh Jung-se) enters with a confused face. Thus begins the unusual journey of Mr. Plankton, his ex-girlfriend, and her fiancé.
Whereas marketed as a romantic comedy, the primary episode was a far cry from humorous. As an alternative, the present was contemplative and heart-wrenching. Our heroes are met with horrible circumstances out of their management, however in that second when all company is stripped from them, Hae Jo whisks it again. It’s nonetheless unclear what he hopes to achieve from this journey, however whatever the vacation spot, I anticipate our unpredictable hero will proceed transferring ahead, unwilling to cease for even demise.
Initially, the present’s title Mr. Plankton appeared odd, however now I perceive why it suits so nicely with the story. Hae Jo’s identify means “marine algae” in Korean, an all-encompassing time period for the 1000’s of species dwelling within the ocean washed up by the waves. He’s Mr. Plankton, a single unnamed speck amidst so many, however even on this huge ocean, loneliness emanates from our hero. He isn’t solely deserted however forgotten, but even then, he can’t untangle himself from the previous, like seaweed clinging to the rocky shore. As Hae Jo mentioned, dangerous issues appear to occur to the weak extra often as a result of they lack the correct security nets, so as soon as they fall, there’s nothing to cease their descent or assist them again up. It looks like a vicious cycle, or like our hero’s identify, a small insignificant plankton caught within the huge tides of the ocean.
Regardless of the doom and gloom that adopted our couple all through the primary episode, there was a way of caprice as nicely — an exhilaration that stemmed from Hae Jo’s recklessness and a glimmer of liberation that radiated from Jae-mi’s smile. I doubt the highway forward can be clean for both of them as they wrestle with their very own demons, however one thing concerning the hues the director washes his scenes with or the undercurrent of suspense that our characters create that makes me consider one thing aside from demise will greet them on the finish. Maybe it’s silly naivety that comes from a need for escapism, however I actually hope Mr. Plankton learns that he isn’t alone and everyone seems to be allowed to wish to reside.
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