Snowdrop, review of the Korean TV series by Disney plus
Snowdrop
As promised in the October showcase, Disney Plus has begun to add some of the titles presented to its catalog, including Snowdrop, a new Korean drama that stars Jisoo, a member of the k-pop group BLACKPINK, in the role of the protagonist. In addition to celebrating on the platform the fifth year since their debut with the documentary BLACKPINK - The movie, the singer took part in the television series in her first starring role.Subscribe now to Disney + for 8.99 € per month or € 89.90 per year Snowdrop is set in 1987, a very important year for South Korean democracy. In fact, during that period there were several struggles and protests to have free elections, free of fraud and civil liberties . Yeong-ro (JiSoo) and Soo-ho (Jung Hae-in) meet on a blind date, but their relationship takes an unexpected turn when the boy shows up covered in blood at the girls' dorm, chased by the police. >
Snowdrop
Snowdrop, love at the time of the Korean dictatorship
The girl falls in love with him at first sight and although their first meeting does not end as desired, the paths of the two immediately intertwine. As already mentioned, there were several peaceful protests in South Korea at that time calling for the government to conduct free and un-rigged elections and Young-ro, and believing that the police were looking for Soo-ho for taking part in the demonstrations. , Young-ro decides to save him from two guards.
It is only, however, when the student enters the girl's dormitory covered in blood, that the story between the two begins to take hold. Finding himself cornered again and with the police on his heels, Young-ro decides to take care of him and hide him, at least until he gets better. But if Soo-ho appears to be an ordinary university student, in reality he hides a much more peculiar and mysterious story.
Snowdrop and the controversies related to the plot
The television network JTBC Studios that broadcast in South Korea the show tried to reiterate the falsity of the allegations, but despite everything, many institutions linked to the peaceful mass protests of the June Struggle of 1987 have harshly criticized the series, calling it in some cases a denigration of the movement for the democratization of the Country.
Snowdrop
According to the television network, these episodes were the real key that explained the background of the protagonist Soo-ho, also revealing the collusion between the ANSP (Korean intelligence) and the North Korean government within Snowdrop. Unfortunately, however, this has not diminished the criticism of it, which had as its main fear that of creating a distorted reality in the rest of the world about how events really took place.
Snowdrop and the rest of the world. world
If at home Snowdrop has aroused several controversies and petitions against its broadcast, the rest of the world does not seem to agree, so much so that it reaches the first place on Disney Plus. Climbing the charts even in Asian countries close to South Korea such as Hong Kong, Singapore and coming in third in Japan, the television series seems to unite fans under the same love for k-dramas.Snowdrop Probably, the story of Snowdrop served a bit of a forerunner especially for Westerners, to learn more about the history of a country that has recently made us fall in love with its stories. In fact, the series presents social and historical themes that in shows like Squid Game or Love and Leashes it was not possible to deal with for obvious plot reasons.
While differentiating itself from many more well-known series among the world audience, Snowdrop does not leave none of the characteristics that we have now come to love or accept in Korean dramas, either for good or for bad. The most impactful sore points of the series are undoubtedly the length of each episode which is around an hour and a half of episode viewing, and the drop in pace at many plot points.
The combination of these two characteristics could make Snowdrop almost boring, especially for Western audiences who are used to the much more sustained narrative rhythms of American cinema. It must be said, however, that these are qualities that go well with the typical South Korean narrative: the story proceeds at its own pace, almost to equal reality, without ever rushing any scene or action, especially in the romantic field. br>
Snowdrop This is probably one of the aspects that most fascinates viewers in k-dramas: the psychological side and the emotional reactions of the characters are almost the focal point, and in Snowdrop a 'particular attention to the political and historical situation that is the background to the love story between Young-ro and Soo-ho.
