[REVIEW] 'PENTHOUSE', the Crazy Rich Korean Drama that Makes Viewers Emotional

Kapanlagi.com - Since the end of October last year, SBS has been airing a new drama series titled PENTHOUSE directed by Joo Dong-Min. The 21-episode drama has received both praise and criticism. Despite achieving high ratings and setting records, the Korean public felt uncomfortable with the portrayal of violence among students and voiced their protests.

PENTHOUSE itself highlights the lives of crazy rich Koreans living in Hera Palace, a luxurious hundred-story apartment located in the Gangnam area. The apartment is home to an exclusive friendship among four couples who have children of the same age and want to enroll them in the Cheong A Art School.

Before diving into the review, let's get to know the four couples and their teenage children!

1. Hera Palace Residents

PENTHOUSE (Credit: SBS)

The first couple to live on the top floor of Hera Palace (referred to as the penthouse or the sky house) are Joo Dan-Tae and Shim Su-Ryeon. Dan-Tae is a successful businessman in the real estate industry, while Su-Ryeon is a housewife who is not only beautiful but always looks elegant like a goddess from heaven. This couple has twin children of different genders named Joo Seok-Hoon and Joo Seok-Kyung.

The next couple is a doctor named Ha Yeon-Cheol, married to Cheon Seo-Jin, who is a perfectionist. They have a daughter named Ha Eun-Byeol who is guided perfectly by Seo-Jin. This is not without reason, as Seo-Jin is a famous soprano who works at Cheong A and is waiting for the opportunity to be appointed as the director of the art school by her father, who is the owner.

Then there is Lee Kyu-Jin, a lawyer married to Go Sang-Ah, with a son named Lee Min-Hyeok. This couple lives under the shadow of Kyu-Jin's parents who dominate their household.

Lastly, there is Kang Ma-Ri, who enjoys gossiping. She only lives with her daughter, Yoo Jenny, as her husband is working abroad.

These four couples, as well as their children, form friendships and often organize events together. Joo Dan-Tae takes advantage of this situation to invite Ha Yeon-Cheol and Lee Kyu-Jin to invest in a real estate project worth trillions.

2. Anna Lee's Death

Outside the circle of crazy rich Korean residents of Hera Palace, lives Oh Yoon-Hee, a poor widow who has a talented daughter with a golden voice named Bae Ro-Na. Ro-Na's desire to enter Cheong A school brings Yoon-Hee face to face with Cheon Seo-Jin, a rival from the past who made her decide to quit school and bury her dream of becoming a soprano.

In addition to reigniting Yoon-Hee's old grudge with Seo-Jin, Ro-Na's ambition disturbs the calmness of the mothers in Hera Palace who intend to send their children to Cheong A. It is not appropriate for a poor girl like Ro-Na to enter their exclusive lives.

Not only with Ro-Na, the tranquility of the apartment residents is further disturbed by the death of Anna Lee, the math tutor of those rich children. Anna Lee's fall brings evidence of an affair between Joo Dan-Tae and Cheon Seo-Jin from the 47th floor, putting these four couples and their children at risk as suspects. Who is the real killer?

3. Heartless Characters

PENTHOUSE (Credit: SBS)

Watching the drama series PENTHOUSE, which was written by Kim Soon-ok, requires a strong faith. Because since the first episode, it has been presented with various bourgeois and proletarian characters who meet the standards of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, envy, lust, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

It is not surprising that as the episodes change, the emotions of the audience are made uncontrollably fluctuate. There is almost no character that evokes sympathy. They are all depicted as having an evil side. Even if there is someone intended as a protagonist, in another episode they are treated unjustly.

And that is where the excitement of this drama series lies, with most of the scenes taking place on sets with the help of a blue screen. Although sometimes it cannot be reasoned, it is enjoyable to see a group of heartless humans deceive each other, quarrel, and pursue their ambitions.

This is inseparable from the skill of the actors, both adult and teenage characters. From the senior side, there is actress Lee Ji-Ah who portrays Shim Su-Ryeon, Uhm Ki-Joon as the tyrant Joo Dan-Tae, Kim So-Yeon who successfully portrays the villain character named Cheon Seo-Jin so convincingly, and Eugene's comeback after a five-year hiatus from the entertainment industry as Oh Yoon-Hee.

Then, among the young cast, there is Kim Hyun-So who portrays the character Bae Ro-Na, who is truly despicable, Choi Ye-Bin as Ha Eun-Byeol, whose character transformation from the beginning to the end is spine-chilling, and Kim Young-De as Joo Seok-Hoon, who can easily capture the attention of handsome oppa lovers.

4. Critiquing Parenting Patterns

Although it always evokes emotions when watching, PENTHOUSE also provides insights that parents should examine. One of the main plots critiques parenting patterns towards children.

Joo Dong-Min brutally demonstrates the cause and effect relationship of treating children as mere fulfillers of dreams and imposing their own will without listening to their desires. This is gradually summarized and executed well, making a striking impact at the end: don't turn your child into a 'monster'.

In conclusion, despite being excessive and often exhausting due to constantly introducing new conflicts in each episode, PENTHOUSE remains captivating, especially for those who enjoy stories with twists and turns. As mentioned earlier, prepare a strong faith... to avoid getting too emotional.

(kpl/abs/tdr)