Although I Am Not a Hero (2024)

A unique time travel superhero romance drama

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 fantasy romance drama with 12, 70-76 minute episodes.  It is also known as "Although I Am Not a Hero." 

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis 


Do Da-hae (Chun Woo-hee) has participated in several cons where she marries men then works with her step family to relieve them of their assets.  That is her goal when she first meets the Bok family.  Bok Gwi-ju (Jang Ki-yong) is a depressed man who is so grief stricken over the loss of his wife, he is not very involved with his teenage daughter, Bok I-na (Park So-yi).  What Do Da-hae does not know at first is this is a family of people who used to have superpowers.  They lost their powers when they started partaking in modern vices like overeating, lack of sleep and poor mental health.  Do Da-hae cozies up to the family to swindle them but her attentions start to heal some of their issues and she finds herself drawn to them in a real sense.  There is Gwi-ju who used to be able to time travel to happy events but is now too depressed to think of anything happy.  Bok Dong-hee (Claudia Kim), the older sister, used to be able to fly but overindulging in food has left her grounded.  The mother of the household, Bok Man-heum (Go Doo-shim) can see the future and used it in the past to amass a family fortune.  The father, Eom Soon-gu (Oh Man-seok), is the only family member without any powers although it was first thought I-na did not have any powers.  She is hiding her ability to "read" people behind shaded glasses.  Can a con artist unintentionally heal this wounded family?  Is Do Da-hae the motivation for Gwi-ju to move on from his past tragedy?

ReviewIf you are looking for a unique premise and different spin on time travel this is a good one for that.  It does have a strong romantic element but there are so many tragic events around it, not a feel good or light hearted type romance.  There is also a very different "take" on superheroes.  I enjoyed this a lot because of the unusual perspectives on themes and tropes that have been frequently done in other movies and dramas.  He is an unusual male lead character and she is an unusual female lead character.  Overall, this series is a good addition to the time traveler and super hero dramas and is also something romance fans would enjoy. 

Spoilers

The story ends happily with the main couple together, in fact they have a child who is born with superpowers.  All major plot lines are resolved.  There are a lot of emotional and sad moments so those that are really sensitive to that type of content may want to consider this one has some darker and emotionally draining moments.

The main female lead character was a con artist and was part of a larger family of con artists.  She was being coerced to con people to pay back her father's debt to the loan shark he wound up acting as her mother.  But she doesn't resist the role even when it is clear it is hurting other people who are good.  It made it hard to really like her and be hopeful in her relationship. 

The chemistry between the leads was off for a couple of reasons.  First, their height difference was such that their passionate kisses often just looked painful.  And, second, so much of the series was spent with one or the other rejecting their feelings that there was such a relatively short period when they were actually together. 

The mother was just mean to the main female lead character well beyond when it seemed she should have known she wasn't conning people because she wanted to.  Even as a con artist she had done so much to help the family you think they could forgive her having that type of motive to start. 

They never explained main lead girl's "uncle" and "sister."  Were they kids like her or were they her loan shark "mother's" actual children. 

#AtypicalFamily   #JangKiyong  #ChunWooHee  #GoDooShim  #CladiaKim   #ParkSoYi   #OhManSeok  #KimGeumSun  #RyuAbel  #ChoiGwangRok  #AlthoughIAmNotAHero

Leia Mais

One of the best things I have watched this year!

As I mentioned in the headline, this drama was one of the best things I have watched this year. The characters were all so well-written that I enjoyed everyone's story and never felt even a bit bored. Even the "bad" characters won my heart in the end because they weren't just plainly "selfish" and "evil." Watching Dahae's and Gwi-ju's families was incredibly fun.

Some people didn't really like the male leads because they seemed boring to them, but for me, it was the opposite. It was more of a slow burn, but I truly felt the chemistry and connection between the two leads. In some scenes, I was on the verge of tears because it felt so real. This drama had a good mix of fantasy and realism. It also showed us how everyone dealt with their own problems, like depression, different kinds of fears, and the feeling of being lonely and misunderstood.

The drama's ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments created a unique viewing experience that was both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The cinematography and soundtrack were outstanding, enhancing the overall atmosphere and making certain scenes even more impactful. Additionally, the cultural insights the drama provided, portraying family dynamics and societal issues in a nuanced and authentic way, were commendable.

The supporting characters, especially the elderly family members, were particularly noteworthy for their depth and the wisdom they imparted throughout the series. Overall, "Atypical Family" stands out not just for its story but for the way it connects with the audience on a personal level, making it a memorable and must-watch drama.

Leia Mais

The drama needed a stronger closure.

No one can beat Korean dramas in this genre. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this drama; not a single second did I find myself distracted. It was so captivating and intriguing. Every character delivered their best performance. I particularly liked the character Bok I Na—she's beautiful, and as a child actress, she portrayed her role amazingly well. The romance between the leads was mesmerizing. The kissing scenes and the emotions they conveyed felt so real that I was completely absorbed, as if it were happening in real life. However, I expected more from the ending episode.

Leia Mais

Superpowers

I love it.
Took a while to finish the drama because I was on vacation but this mini series is so good. Theres part where i was lost and confused but the overall story.. i like it.
The way Bok Gwi Ju healed and changed for the better was cute. Hes so ffff hot. After watching this drama it makes me want to watch MY ROOMATE IS A GUMIHO AAHAHHA.
The female lead tho... AAHHH SHES SO PWETTY. I did not know she was the chatcater in the movie 'UNLOCKED'.
BUT anywys i like this drama. Nice. Simple with supernatural effects.
I-na and the guy's moments are so kyut too.
Idk whay else to say.
Amazing. Abahahah.
955am 61724

Leia Mais

If "Parasite" included superpower and romance elements

More like a dysfunctional group.
At its core this is nothing but a 12 episode series about the love story between a conman and her victim. So other than the superpower aspect, the story isn't anything new. I guess most of us watch it just to see how the writers melded these elements together.
- a cuckolded man with a hero complex who tries to betray his family in order to get laid
- an unhealthy woman in denial of her weight
- a cranky insomniac
- a woman with Stockholm syndrome
- cringey teenage love with a touchy-feely boy
-
This series was definitely a fun ride - some scenes I found cringey because they seemed forced in order to fit the storyline - easily skippable. The series is a bit overhyped thanks to socmed content creator wannabes sharing clips of the series. But in the end there's nothing special about it.

All in all a great watch after you have suspended your disbelief.

Leia Mais

First kdrama that I've completed this year

Watching this kdrama was never in my plans. I threw it on to just watch something while doing a mindless task and I'm so happy that I did. This drama was beautiful and phenomenal.

The story and the colorful set of characters drew me in, making me curious about what happened to them and what would happen. I was sucked into their past, pressnt, and future. Which is very on theme for this story. The characters made you go through several emotions and live in all of them. The story makes you try to figure everything out and puzzle it all together yourself but still await the truths to find.

The acting was amazing and I'm already looking to finsih some dramas with the male lead and now look into sole with female lead. Their chemistry was chefs kiss.

I will be watching this again! And you should too!

Leia Mais

i binged this show in a day....

When the trailer for this drama first came out I decided to wait until it ends to start on it. Im glad I did that. This drama is heavy on the supernatural aspect most of the plot is related to that BUT thats not all. Surprisingly there are many other interesting stories as well for each character in the show.

When you think the female lead is your normal kdrama lead but actually she has an interesting family. She also has a story in the past which of course will somehow connect to the future. The male lead has a very deep storyline as well, he had his obsessions which made him oblivious to things around him and the FL is the person who brought him back to reality.

I enjoyed watching the drama it had great acting and the unexpected plot twists. Park Soyi was really good she was so good at bringing out the emotions i cried so much when she and her dad finally reunited. Jang kiyong was really good as well as he had to act so many different versions of him in a short period of time. Like his character was just a roller coaster ride. It kept changing. Plot wise there were quite alot of loopholes...but it didnt impact the flow much so it was fine.

The romance chemistry, i feel we went from 0 to 100 without anything in the middle. When the FL said she liked him I was like what exactly did you'll do to like each other. Like it was so random. For him I can understand a bit because the FL is the reason his daughter has someone to rely on. So maybe thats how he liked her but like it went from "r u here to marry me for money" to "please marry me" in like 1 eps or something. After they got together there wasnt alot of romance moments only some cute moments.

What the adults missed, the kids had it. The daughter and her crush although they didnt have many scenes together, i felt their chemistry was stronger. I just wanted the daughter to be happy towards the end.

The going to the past and seeing the future part will be quite confusing. But the ending twist was good!

Overall its a decent drama to binge but I dont think i will rewatch it. I really hoped they had more father daughter moments T.T

Leia Mais

One of the top dramas of this year!!!

i got this drama reccomended by netflix and was curious about it since it was in the top 10 at the time- I SEE WHY IT WAS IN THE TOP 10!! THIS HAS TO BE IN MY TOP 10 LIST OF AMAZING KDRAMAS- the plot is amazing and this is not your normal time travel drama or any of that. there are more aspects to the drama and i felt like the actors delivered it perfectly!! the acting was so on point- so much that it made me feel emotions ive never felt- ON AN INTENSE LEVEL. I SWEAR I CRIED IN ALMOST ALL OF THE EPISODES!!! every single one of the episodes had a captivating feel and some amount of suspense. each episode had me absolutly HOOKED to the story ,like and the ending was well deserved. i would very much reccomend this as a romance / time travel drama with some aspects of comedy!! I LOVE THIS SMMM

Leia Mais

More Than a Romance

Netflix gives the genre as “romance” and it does center around one, but it’s about a lot more than that. It’s about how the pressures of life mess people up. It’s about family and found family and the terrible (and good) things they do to each other. It’s about the helplessness of feeling like one can’t change the past or the future.

Some of the most moving moments in the show don’t even involve the main couple - though I did find them charming, especially Jang Ki Yong who seems to be a very versatile actor.

I also liked that it was something different. They had superpowers that had stopped working, and even back when they did work they were never superheroes. The FL was not insipid and sweet but a schemer.

It’s not a flawless show, and I was especially unimpressed by the use of the “self hating fat girl” stereotype. However even that is mitigated somewhat by the end.

This is one of my favorite shows of 2024 and I strongly recommend it.

Leia Mais

The Adam’s Family Meets The Hallyu Wave (Everything Korean)

All the up front synopsis for the new Korean Drama Atypical Family that I read on the Internet seems to be wrong. The story is not outlined as projected by news sources. Atypical Family did not meet my 15 min “love it or leave it criteria”. However, there certainly was enough hidden back story revealed to let me know that there was enough paint on the canvas to make me stick around. This story is so very complex.

Revealed in the first episode, therefore, these are no spoilers.

1. The male lead has superpowers which he feels are a curse.
2. The male lead was married to his wife, who gave birth to their first child.
3. She died in a car accident, which appears to have been caused by her.
4. He could not use his superpowers to save his wife.
5. His mother forewarned him of this pending doom.
6. The death of his wife caused his depression, which caused him to loose his superpowers.
7. The whole family has superpowers, but they all have lost them, because of modern medical diseases.
8. The female lead is actually a grifter. She has been planted into this family by a thievery gang, because the family is rich. Her sole purpose is to steal money from this rich family and to give it to the thievery gang for which she works. She thinks that the information about the family is nonsense.
9. This drama is so weird. It is so atypical from the typical Korean Drama.
10. I see the paint on the canvas and it looks like an evolving masterwork.

Mind sufficiently blown. I can’t even figure this one out. Left very intrigued. I am so excited. Episodes post Saturdays and Sundays.

@ Edit: This is such a brilliant drama, from the mind of someone who got in a perfect lane of thought. I am going to drop spoiler explanations in the comment section below, to help those who might be puzzled. Look for them.

What is a spoiler? It is when the drama is bicycling in one direction and then makes a significant turn to another direction and you reveal this. It is very rare that the first episode will contain spoilers, because the drama has not had a chance to progress forward.

Leia Mais