Drama Hangout: Snowdrop
by missvictrix
Snowdrop finally premiered this past weekend, and I’d say it’s half what I expected, and half what I didn’t? So many layers to unpack! The first, of course, is the momentous era in Korean history which the drama covers, and the baggage (for lack of a better word) that comes with fictionalizing that time period (or any really, as we’ve seen in the past).
Politics, historical accuracy, and poetic license aside, the drama also has to deal with the aesthetics and world-building of being a “period” piece. And while the fashion, tech, and the warm, brownish palette the drama captures are quite strong — and the drama indeed feels set in the past — it also feels a bit contrived, which is the struggle of making the recent past feel more like the real world, and less like theater.
Finally, there’s the cast. Jung Hae-in is as beautiful and swoony as ever, but his magic is his same old magic (I can’t believe I’m complaining about this). However, his performance successfully pulls in the very green Jisoo, who’s in our lead role, and hey, together they can make a tower of matches seem like an exciting romantic backdrop.
The drama has long episodes, tons of characters (so many great actors in these secondary roles!), and a strange set-up of storybook-esque dormitory of a women’s college, all with a hint of political danger. It wants to work, and I want it to work, but I’m not sure if it actually works yet.
Time will tell how the drama fares in the coming weeks — whether that’s plot, pacing, or even controversy — but whatever the case may be, this Drama Hangout is open for business.
Chat away in the thread below, but Beanie beware: spoilers may be rife.
RELATED POSTS
- Premiere Watch: Bad and Crazy, Snowdrop, Bulgasal: Immortal Souls
- Blackpink’s Jisoo helps Jung Hae-in escape danger in Snowdrop
- Yoo Inna joins cast of JTBC’s Snowdrop
- Jung Hae-in considers joining Kim Hye-yoon and Jisoo in new JTBC drama by the SKY Castle team
- Drama Hangout: Bossam: Steal the Fate pt. 2
- Drama Hangout: Bossam: Steal the Fate
- Drama Hangout: Mouse
- Drama Hangout: Revolutionary Sisters
- Drama Hangout: River Where the Moon Rises
Tags: Baek Ji-won, Blackpink Jisoo, Drama Hangout, Heo Jun-ho, Jang Seung-jo, Jung Hae-in, Jung Hye-young, Jung Yoo-jin, Kim Hye-yoon, Park Sung-woong, Snowdrop, Yoo Inna, Yoon Se-ah
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Radily
December 21, 2021 at 12:59 AM
Do you guys think the show will get cancelled?
Required fields are marked *
Jun
December 21, 2021 at 1:04 AM
No chance. Jtbc is too powerful and rich. They don't need to care about public opinion.
Required fields are marked *
Au
December 21, 2021 at 1:36 AM
The show will go on.
https://www.soompi.com/article/1504834wpp/jtbc-releases-new-statement-regarding-snowdrop-controversy-over-alleged-historical-distortion
Required fields are marked *
welh
December 21, 2021 at 8:34 AM
Advertisers and PPL sponsors are dropping out. One even questioned production company's business practices.
Required fields are marked *
Jun
December 21, 2021 at 9:38 AM
Drama is fully pre produced and overseas rights have already been sold. Whatever money was spent has been fully recuperated. The drama ranking is steadily rising on Disney+ and they plan to roll it out to more countries soon. The fandom is big they'll make bank.
Required fields are marked *
Lai Pei Yee
December 23, 2021 at 5:14 PM
Knetz are prepare to take it all the way to the court and Blue House! Disney is facing a loss because of this drama.
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/a-blue-house-petition-launched-asking-to-shut-down-jtbc?fbclid=IwAR3nmhXMsbmxPgtNb_7HvAUgsLBLGXxmmsxqIgQy0Bv5IvUwD5eKC2pwo68
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/citizen-organization-files-lawsuit-with-the-seoul-district-court-to-stop-the-broadcast-of-jtbcs-snowdrop?fbclid=IwAR2eCAEM6Ld7ZQ-8IwkjyrVktU8wr0eoAOR-Z5WMjTHeMcb88mSi24vkx1k
Required fields are marked *
2 Manya
December 21, 2021 at 1:12 AM
So the drama isn't that bad actually. The episodes are too long but have a magical realism feel to it. Jisoo is green but not bad. She has potential but maybe this won't be the drama where she achieves them. Jung Hae In's character needs more exploration because it doesn't feel like we really met him yet. Yoo In Na had maybe 5 minutes of screen time so nothing to write about but I'm willing to bet she's a NK spy. Kim Hye Yoon is the one person I strongly disliked because this just feels like a rehash of her Sky Castle character without the depth. I'm not going to enjoy her arc. The biggest surprise was Jung Eugene as the NSA agent. Her acting was layered and complex. Maybe the only interesting character till now.
Required fields are marked *
Over-Dramaddictally
December 23, 2021 at 6:36 AM
I was surprised by Jung Eugene too. I had only seen her in romance dramas before this and I actually think this role suits her better.
Required fields are marked *
3 panshel
December 21, 2021 at 1:52 AM
JTBC lied about the leaked synopsis being taken out of context when it is literally word for word. Jung Hae-in is a North Korean spy, while Kim Ji-soo believes he is a protester. They just did the bare minimum by changing the heroine's name from Eun Young-cho to Eun Young-ro.
The SKY Castle cast must be loyal to writer Yoo Hyun-mi and director Jo Hyun-taek. Kim Jung-nan and Song Geon-hee are in this drama. Kim Hye-yoon is practically playing Kang Ye-seo, and Yoon Se-ah's backstory as a protester(?) North Korean defector(?) came as a surprise.
The romance is heart-fluttering, and I do think if Jung Hae-in were not a spy, then the stakes wouldn't be as high. Kim Ji-soo will realize "beschütze deine geliebten" means "protecting my love." Why did the library not hear steps every time she visited him?
Jung Shin-hye is fantastic as Go Hye-ryung. I find dormmate Yoon Seol-hee shady, although she is the first to suspect Kim Hye-yoon. What did Jung Yoo-jin do before to be able to become a National Security Planning agent?
I don't put much stock in Episode 2's rating increase, so next week is the key to whether Snowdrop gets Joseon Exorcisted. If it manages to escape cancellation, then I hope the episodes aren't all ninety minutes long.
Required fields are marked *
Manya
December 21, 2021 at 3:03 AM
The spy part is still ambiguous but he is NK, a soldier and is potentially going to be swept up into the pro democracy movement so those bits will be problematic. The writer said she was inspired by the journal of a NK defector so there she must have borrowed his premise.
Required fields are marked *
Lai Pei Yee
December 23, 2021 at 5:15 PM
If she is inspired, why the court case and petition to the blue house?
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/a-blue-house-petition-launched-asking-to-shut-down-jtbc?fbclid=IwAR3nmhXMsbmxPgtNb_7HvAUgsLBLGXxmmsxqIgQy0Bv5IvUwD5eKC2pwo68
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/citizen-organization-files-lawsuit-with-the-seoul-district-court-to-stop-the-broadcast-of-jtbcs-snowdrop?fbclid=IwAR2eCAEM6Ld7ZQ-8IwkjyrVktU8wr0eoAOR-Z5WMjTHeMcb88mSi24vkx1k
Required fields are marked *
4 mmmmm
December 21, 2021 at 2:22 AM
I think missvictrix nailed it when she wrote a strange storybook-esque dorm. That’s really how I feel every time I get to see it. It’s pretty, yes, and it also feels magical. However, together it feels strange. We have romance going on with the backdrop of the country with political unrest, both inside and outside the screen. Perhaps, this makes the show uneasy for me to watch.
I don’t know the intentions of the writer: why she intentionally/ or inconsiderately added in many things that would lead to controversies. There are many shady things in and about the show, but I found the most shadiest person is the writer.
I have never found magic in JHI’s acting, so I won’t dwell on this topic.
Jisoo is cute and beautiful. It helps a lot that she seems to be a lovely woman in reality because most of the screen time she is acting cute and clueless. However, the around the end of ep1 when she is supposed to look shocked because she found the ML injured in her dorm room, she looked funny instead. In ep2, she looks so in love and is all giddy around the ML -like a young, innocent woman who has never been in love before. I think this is a bit off-putting because I think it did mention in ep1 and she had written letters to boys before, so it isn’t like this is her first love.
In all, I am staying for the production. It looks beautiful, and I can use some magical background music at the moment.
Required fields are marked *
mmmmm
December 21, 2021 at 2:24 AM
*a lively woman*
Required fields are marked *
Manya
December 21, 2021 at 3:00 AM
Wasn't she writing those letters to her brother? She was cribbing how he never replies to her.
Required fields are marked *
Nadia
December 21, 2021 at 3:48 AM
You’re right. She was writing and waiting for her brother’s reply. Coincidentally, she made a paper plane out of one of the letters. It matches Suho’s object at the blind date. Seems the writer is going for a Romeo and Juliet type of story. Political turmoil. North and South Korea. These are her drama ingredients. I’m not expecting a happy ending for this one.
Required fields are marked *
mmmmm
December 21, 2021 at 4:03 AM
Yeah.. especially when the ML’s name is “protect your loved one”.
Required fields are marked *
ruve
December 21, 2021 at 6:20 AM
I see the Romeo and Juliet vibe too and the writer is definitely hoping to rehash the same political scenario as Crash Landing but she chose the worst historical background to place her story.
Required fields are marked *
mmmmm
December 21, 2021 at 3:53 AM
Ohh.. thanks for the correction. I thought she was writing to some other men. I also felt that it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet sorta vibe. I also feel it’s following the Crash Landing on You’s route -, the separation of lovers because of the barrier between the two countries, but that one has a somewhat happy ending.
Required fields are marked *
Shae D
December 21, 2021 at 6:08 AM
I mostly agree that it seems the writer is trying to be controversial for controversy's sake, but then I think about the artist and their right to creative license. And do they not get the opportunity to tell salacious tales?
The answer is they do. Artists should be allowed to do whatever they want, but maybe just not as loudly and mainstream as they would like. Best if this were released independently.
That being said, I'm thinking the drama will survive, but it will be a major headache. Making it harder to enjoy. I feel guilty that it's causing so much strife and I can't begin to fully understand and process how and why. It seems complicated and deeply rooted 😬.
Required fields are marked *
5 cannon
December 21, 2021 at 3:40 AM
Any idea how or where to watch this in the US?
Required fields are marked *
Green
December 21, 2021 at 10:41 AM
Kdramahood
Required fields are marked *
Kfan
December 27, 2021 at 8:59 PM
Disney+
Required fields are marked *
6 Scottie
December 21, 2021 at 5:51 AM
All the politics past and present aside, the Sky Castle connection is very obvious and, for my taste, not in a good way. For the wives club, their bickering and fake smiles, I can only hit the fast forward button. Same for the men's club drinking their own blood, which is gross and also boring.
The dorm matron on the other hand is fun to watch, I am looking forward to details her story. And I want to see more of Yoo Inna.
What I really like is the way Jung Hae-in is playing his part. At this point he is clearly using the girl and her obvious crush on him, because he needs her. His eyes grow very cold and calculating when she does not see it. Jisoo is doing fine as well so far. I do hope that the drama will continue to be screened.
Required fields are marked *
lvl80
December 21, 2021 at 8:17 AM
I totally agree with your point of view..I fast forward every scene that had to do the rich wives and and the men's club and politics .
Actually I really don't get why they are necessary for the plot but anyway..
As for the drama in general.. Part of it reminds me of age of youth (by the way, have you noticed their posters? SO SIMILAR! Probably because we will be getting a similar ending )
Also part of it reminds me of crush landing on you and I don't know why but the aesthetics give me Cruela's movie vibes.
I enjoy the main couple way too much!
I really hope they get a happy ending (which I doubt )
Jung hae-in is slimmer than ever 😳 and looks a bit older than usual. He has lost his a bit of his baby face 😁 but looks more handsome than ever😅🌟
I will continue watching for the couples chemistry.. I really don't get the point of the rest of the story yet
Required fields are marked *
7 ruve
December 21, 2021 at 6:17 AM
The dynamics between the girls of dorm 207 was actually the most interesting part of the first two episodes. The political background, mechanisms, gross blood drinking, petty wives club, spy chasing agents and annoying telephone booth operator with her massive inferiority complex were tropey and uninteresting. The romance has potential and I even liked the head girl or whoever she was. Though I feel like the happy spot for this drama will be the friendship and rivalries between the four dorm mates. Maybe its because all the actresses are relatively new or green but they play off each other extremely well.
Required fields are marked *
KimDewdrop
December 21, 2021 at 11:40 PM
I won't call Kim hye-yoon's character as having a massive inferiority complex. She is just stupid, in episode 2, we see her reveling on stolen clothes from the students. She wants to match up but deep inside of her, she is stupid.
Required fields are marked *
8 ssen18
December 21, 2021 at 8:11 AM
Jisoo is green but she's doing pretty good. There are times she overreact and sometime she underreact but I think she will improve if she chooses to continue her acting career.
Required fields are marked *
9 Sifimoyo
December 21, 2021 at 12:26 PM
I don't understand the political implications and have no idea why it should be cancelled. I think it's a beautiful production and the acting is great - I'm not a drama critic, I just want to be pulled into the story and to care about the characters and so far I'm 100% there. Can they really cancel a drama because it is "politically incorrect"? Wow, that surely cannot be the case, I think I've missed something important here. I shall read all the comments and hope to understand a bit more about what people find offensive, and why.
Required fields are marked *
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
December 21, 2021 at 7:30 PM
If it helps, I wrote up something about why I wont personally be watching it
http://invisibledragon.home.blog/2021/12/19/snowdrop-and-revisionist-history/
Required fields are marked *
DancingEmma
December 21, 2021 at 10:47 PM
@LT - Thank you for your substantive and impassioned post. Artists have every right to creating fiction even when it is controversial. However, they are entitled to be shielded from condemnation and ramifications when they distort real historical events.
Required fields are marked *
DancingEmma
December 21, 2021 at 10:49 PM
@ DancingEmma: Yikes. My possessed IPad strikes again. I meant to type “However, they are not entitled to be shielded from condemnation and ramifications when they distort real historical events”.
Required fields are marked *
Sifimoyo
December 22, 2021 at 12:49 AM
Thank you, that is really helpful, I'll read up on what I can. We have a series in UK called The Crown which distorts the history of our royal family which makes me sick to my stomach to watch, but which is watched - and believed - widely around the world. I agree entirely that distortion of historical facts is egregious and I clearly need to read and understand more of Korean history to understand why people are upset.
Required fields are marked *
bomibeans
December 24, 2021 at 8:18 AM
Wow, thank you, this puts everything so much into perspective. This post should be re-posted here, on Dramabeans.
I for once suspect the production crew felt they fulfilled its obligation with Disney+, and justified to themselves discounting domestic concerns by having such a monstrous streamer as a backer. If that’s the case, they can easily just as well cancel the show on their channel. It’s not like Disney will stop distributing it. As much as well-intentioned Disney is, it’s clueless, just like international audience is. It’s unbearable though that the history gets distorted (and traumas re-inflicted) in the process.
Required fields are marked *
Sifimoyo
December 27, 2021 at 12:24 PM
Thank you for this, I read the report and it was fascinating. I'm still checking around, but it seems to me that the main issue is that people believe the North Korean spy is portrayed as "masquerading as a Protester", which was the fictional excuse used by the authorities to come down brutally on the students (yes I watched Youth of May also). But in the story so far there is no suggestion that the NK team were pretending to be protesters. The girls' clearly assumed he WAS a protester and he clearly was not going to correct them bearing in mind that he was wounded. I'm enjoying this drama a lot. BUT, I can't help wishing they had picked some other point in history, when so many citizens who are alive today have painful memories of those times.
Required fields are marked *
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
December 27, 2021 at 12:26 PM
The fact that he is a North Korean is enough. If there really were University students who were secretly North Korean then that fact alone is enough to provide a justification for the NSA's actions. Unless the twist is that he's not actually North Korean then it's revisionism.
After all - the NSA at the time was right! There were North Koreans they were pursuing in the universities!
Required fields are marked *
Sifimoyo
January 12, 2022 at 12:26 AM
More information, thank you. Huge learning curve here!
Au
December 21, 2021 at 8:09 PM
You may want to check out My Dramalist if you want more varied information. Just filter through the noise :)
Required fields are marked *
10 Mike
December 21, 2021 at 2:05 PM
I'm losing track of all the instances of K-drama fan outrage. Did Hwang Jung-Eum's career get 'canceled' last year for daring to get cast in some historical drama?
Required fields are marked *
11 zaizai00
December 21, 2021 at 5:20 PM
I'm not that heavily invested in this drama (or it's actors) one way or another, but folks trying to argue "well this is just a drama it's clearly fictional" or "let's just take it with artistic interpretation". Media has a huge influence on how not only a country's history is viewed within its borders but also internationally. Most int'l folks definitely didn't use Duolingo for 3 years to learn English. They watched sitcoms like Friends or Seinfield or something similar. In watching those, all the American stereotypes and generalizations that are presented in those shows go along with it. Unless you're going to go live in every country in the world, generally your perceptions about that country are based on media consumed.
Dramas are fun to watch and I get it, but if it's not your culture/country, I wouldn't be quick to jump the gun here. Think about in your own country how bad something would have to be to get the amount of petitions that this show has gotten.
All in all, I think JTBC got greedy and instead of pulling the show when there was opposition early on they already made so much money on it that they are unwilling to let it go. They'll make big bucks int'l but I can't say what'll happen to their (and these actors) reputation domestically.
Required fields are marked *
Scottie
December 22, 2021 at 6:09 AM
I am watching it, as I do not want to point the gun so easily, because of what I have seen happening to dramas and actors in Korea in the last year alone due to the power of offended viewers/netizens. I am not quite as offended in almost all of these cases.
An actor cheating on his real life girlfriend edited out of his scenes for this 'crime', Joseon exorcist cancelled, not because it was bad, but because one character is a highly regarded historical figure, Mr. Queen also for mockery, unfortunately the list could go on and on.
All that makes it hard to make a judgement on how serious the offence is here, although from what I have been reading that drama is really asking for trouble.
I also keep in mind that drama writers and producers may have an agenda, but so do protesters and I am very reluctant to make a judgement either way in this case and prefer to both watch it and listen to the critics. That will be more enlightening.
Required fields are marked *
zaizai00
December 22, 2021 at 10:39 AM
Think it's the same issue in the west with cancel culture. We've gone off the deep end cancelling everyone for everything that we've lost sight of how to use it appropriately.
I'm not here to say whether the judgement call from Koreans netizens is right or wrong - just that int'l fans shouldn't fight with them about what's wrong about their own history on their own screen esp without the right background (guessing that the number of int'l fans who went and took a crash course on Korean history before defending the drama is preeeeetty slim).
Required fields are marked *
bezz
December 22, 2021 at 8:01 AM
JTBC's ratings can't possible get worse than what it already is. Every drama since May 2020 has had bad to mediocre ratings. They've been relying on the critical acclaim of their dramas to get by. The Snowdrop controversy isn't even the worst of it JTBC received a massive investment from Tencent and is adapting a Chinese Propaganda novel which has received heavy backlash from the general public. The drama in question stars Han Seokyung and Jung Yumi so you can already tell how the critics will eat that up. They already filmed the entire 1st season of 8 episodes and are preparing to film the 2nd season of 8 episodes early next year. JTBC will walk away without much impact and Jisoo will face some backlash but BP as a brand is too big to be hurt by something like this. YG has had their artists walkway unscathed from worse. The ones who will suffer are people like Jung Haein who is already being dragged heavily for being an ignorant airhead. This is already his 3rd controversy so he might not be able to recover from it quickly.
Required fields are marked *
DancingEmma
December 22, 2021 at 8:54 AM
Thanks for your insights and the additional info. If you get a chance, could you please elaborate on the other controversies re Jung Haein? It is revelatory that you noted him being dragged as an “ignorant airhead” as at the very least, it doesn’t speak well to his and his team’s judgment that he chose to be part of this historically distorted show with red flags going every which way. And it is very recent history with many protagonists who are still alive and/or have had family, friends and other loved ones to speak for them.
Required fields are marked *
Scottie
December 22, 2021 at 9:15 AM
One of them is that he stood in centre of the group photo of award winners, when that position should be given to the winners of more important awards than his. Clearly a very serious offence for which he apologized.
Required fields are marked *
DancingEmma
December 22, 2021 at 9:30 AM
Thanks for this. I appreciate that hierarchy is very important in SK ( even if it has many negative ramifications) but I wonder why no one intervened, eg, the photographer to reposition him. I can imagine this kind of cluelessness and/or arrogance really grating and irritating.
bezz
December 22, 2021 at 9:46 AM
@DancingEmma The photographer did tell him to move as did one other person but he claimed to not have understood what they were saying. He was apparently too happy to notice what was happening around him. Another instance was on the red carpet when Son Yejin was getting her solo shots he purposefully came back and stood next to her. She wasn't able to get her solo shot properly but he got all his solo shots plus the two of them together.
DancingEmma
December 22, 2021 at 11:12 AM
Thank you bezz for the extra info. That kind of behaviour is so immature and indicative of arrogance and entitlement. Why (rhetorical Qn) are some people so disappointing when it takes so little to be considerate and decent?
Scottie
December 22, 2021 at 11:54 AM
Thanks for making my point. If vanities amongst actors are treated with the same brush as political distortions, which are very serious if they are coming from a TV station, I need to see it for myself to get the picture.
sasik
December 22, 2021 at 3:51 PM
Go on and spread the hate. Your life must be so perfect, bright and happy to have so much hate in your heart ^^ People make mistakes. He apologized. But clearly people can't get over their hate and pounce at the chnace of their failures.
Required fields are marked *
Luna
December 23, 2021 at 5:53 AM
Also, how can people make up a controversy about him appearing on the red carpet beside Son Yejin? It was obviously something they agreed on, to promote their romance drama that was on air back then. I guess the only ones who see it as a scandal are narrow-minded shippers.
Kia
December 30, 2021 at 2:48 AM
Yeah what the heck are these "scandals" lol
And the people replying eating it all up and commenting on his "arrogance" over some randos words. If the guy apologised for this, which sounds like a ridiculously silly reason for backlash in the first place, then y'all need to move the f on
Pilgrim
December 27, 2021 at 1:48 AM
“Ignorant airhead” was probably referencing his reply at the SnowDrop Press Con when a reporter asked him what he thought about the events surrounding the drama setting and if he had researched into it. His reply was…tactless? He said he was born after the events and that he relied on the script to recreate it in his head and acted accordingly. In other words, he didn’t bother looking up the history books.
Required fields are marked *
Ui
December 30, 2021 at 2:44 AM
Sounds more like he tried giving a non-answer to avoid stepping on any toes and it ended up backfiring. He's in an impossible position where anything he, or honestly anyone from the cast and crew who doesn't have a crazy international following, will get dragged to hell for saying anything related to the drama, no matter how harmless
Trish
December 30, 2021 at 3:39 PM
You'd have to understand the intricacies of Korean culture in this context. I'm not sure whether to be shocked or amused at the number of people who actually think or believe Hae In wouldn't know their own history. Or the background of this history given the issues that have hounded this drama that any of the cast have no knowledge of this.
tabong
December 26, 2021 at 3:37 AM
I agree.
After the controversy earlier this year the production was supposed to change things, but the show still sounds like propaganda and romanticization of their trauma. They had it coming, so I don't feel bad for the production. I feel bad for me who wanted to watch the show and won't.
Required fields are marked *
12 Ally
December 21, 2021 at 7:41 PM
So I was all ready to watch this as my late night viewing ritual and found out that it’s only available on Disney+ Asia!!! Unless you watch through a VPN. I’m not that motivated right now, so guess I’ll catch it later. Will be reading spoilers here!
Required fields are marked *
13 spazmo
December 23, 2021 at 3:04 AM
i am entranced... it has a girl's hogwarts dorm feel to it...
Required fields are marked *
14 Elyna
December 23, 2021 at 6:34 AM
Look up Dramac**l
Required fields are marked *
15 Over-Dramaddictally
December 23, 2021 at 7:36 AM
Comment was deleted
Required fields are marked *
16 Over-Dramaddictally
December 23, 2021 at 7:40 AM
I’m liking this so far. The stuff with the politicians and their wives is so boring I tune out, but the dorm and JHI’s character really pulled me in. The setup of the young people reminds me of early episodes of Reply 1988 with the protests in the background.
I was glad that they had the student protestor say out loud: “No, he’s probably not a NK spy. That’s what they always say about us in order to arrest us.” It gives the girls motives for believing he’s a protestor (i.e., the NSP are liars). We also never see JHI involved in any protest activity—it’s an assumption the girls make because he’s being chased by the cops. Those are small but important elements to distinguish his activities from the protests.
Still, the fact that he really is a NK (spy?) involved in kidnapping and who knows what else seems like a tough problem to get out of later on as far as the leads are concerned. (Though, judging by JTBC’s latest statement, JHI is caught up in something that was orchestrated by the NSP themselves. My guess is that the main NSP agent who was characterized as a ‘good guy’ in early posters will end up fighting against his own organization when he realizes who the real bad guys are.)
Required fields are marked *
17 Mimi
December 23, 2021 at 11:07 AM
Literally everything about this drama is south Korean ( a bit of North too) and I’m pretty sure Jisoo and Jung Hae In wouldn’t choose to act in this drama if it actually did distort history, I mean they’re South Koreans too and they also will probably have some feelings of patriotism towards their country and it’s history. I feel like there’s more to this story than what we see from the surface and that’s why these actors chose to act.
Required fields are marked *
18 spazmo
December 23, 2021 at 2:19 PM
the "good news" is that they will be broadcasting THREE EPISODES on dec 24, 25 & 26 to try to straighten out the controversy regarding the storyline that have netizens up in arms... i think i read some commercial sponsors have resumed their ads, also?
gosh, so much hollering about a FICTIONAL story, this isn't supposed to be an historical documentary for pete's sake...
https://www.soompi.com/article/1505238wpp/snowdrop-to-air-the-next-3-episodes-for-3-consecutive-days
Required fields are marked *
Lai Pei Yee
December 23, 2021 at 5:35 PM
If she is inspired, why the court case and petition to the blue house?
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/a-blue-house-petition-launched-asking-to-shut-down-jtbc?fbclid=IwAR3nmhXMsbmxPgtNb_7HvAUgsLBLGXxmmsxqIgQy0Bv5IvUwD5eKC2pwo68
The bad news is: They are going to take it to the court and send a petition to the Blue House
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/citizen-organization-files-lawsuit-with-the-seoul-district-court-to-stop-the-broadcast-of-jtbcs-snowdrop?fbclid=IwAR2eCAEM6Ld7ZQ-8IwkjyrVktU8wr0eoAOR-Z5WMjTHeMcb88mSi24vkx1k
Required fields are marked *
spazmo
December 23, 2021 at 5:57 PM
it is a fictional story. from what i've read, it is the severe right wing groups that are promulgating this effort to ban the production from airing...
i don't understand all of it, but it seems there is a political motive to these petitions with the impending presidential election looming...
does south korea really want the government to intercede and be like North Korea in censuring productions based upon contrary political beliefs?
Required fields are marked *
K
December 23, 2021 at 6:26 PM
Wait till you hear the petitions are not all Koreans. People are spreading it around asking, for lack of a better word, haters to fuel the fire. And apparently, multiple names can be created to sign these petitions. I don't know whether to roll my eyes or just LMAO at how preposterous these people are. Someone said these haters are the ones doing the promotional ads on behalf of the network for free. LOL
Required fields are marked *
Jooa
December 30, 2021 at 3:00 AM
The right wing are pissed at the spy and the left wing are pissed at the nsa. Hilariously enough, neither side is actually watching the show but making up their own scenarios based on assumptions and spreading them everywhere. The only ones actually suffering are the cast and crew that seem to be talking to a brick wall whenever they try to clarify anything. Both the sides of haters only want to fan the flames of their own outrage no and could care less about the actual happenings of the drama. The whole situation is made worse by both blackpink antis and their stans jumping in and raging their own fanwars.
Tldr; it's a mess
Required fields are marked *
Lu
December 30, 2021 at 2:51 AM
The court has rejected the case so u can pipe down now and stop spamming this everywhere
Required fields are marked *
spazmo
December 30, 2021 at 3:46 AM
i am spamming? gosh, you see... i don't even understand the issues... i am really sorry.
what does this mean, that "the court has rejected the case"? i only ask because i don't understand what is going on...
Required fields are marked *
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 2, 2022 at 1:14 PM
There was an injunction to try to stop the show from airing. It didn't work, which is not surprisingly really. But since the criticisms of the show aren't legal, I have no idea why the crazies think this somehow ends things. The show is still shitting on the graves of Korea's democracy movement whether it's *legally* allowed to keep airing or not.
thatstp
January 13, 2022 at 9:54 AM
I think Lu was referring to Lai Pei Yee who keeps spamming the same comment with the same links.
19 jamjam95
December 26, 2021 at 1:56 AM
Seeing a lot of ignorance in these comments... The actors in this drama (especially the leads) are gonna suffer a lot of hate and this will literally follow them everywhere. Blackpink fans are making it even worse by literally mocking the victims and causing a ruckus. Will definitely not be watching and I feel no remorse for the actors/production as they chose knowingly to star in a drama that distorts their history.
Hope it gets cancelled, but it probably won't be likely.
Required fields are marked *
20 Julika
December 26, 2021 at 3:05 AM
Snowdrop is an amazing drama . It also says that it’s fictional , the characters are fictional.
If it’s cancelled in Korea , then air it internationally.
Required fields are marked *
21 Kuvi
December 27, 2021 at 4:11 AM
The amount the NSA has been whitewashed in this drama makes even a foreign viewer like me cringe. Forget about Taxi Driver didn't anyone see Youth of May and the NSA torturing the students? This drama is shamelessly turning all of that around by pretending they cared one bit about a single student, professor or citizen pro democracy or otherwise. All they cared about was enforcing the dictatorship and anyone who stood against it was an enemy of the state. This is like saying the Nazi's were actually trying to protect the Jews and not incinerate their very existence. That concentration camps were safe spaces. No that is not okay. Why did this drama have to be set within this time period and within these particular events is still a mystery to me. If they wanted the nostalgic vibe they could have set it 2002 or something and it would still have the feeling of nostalgia without all the political upheaval. My biggest problem with the drama is I still don't see the justification of setting it within that particular context. The plot doesn't need it.
Required fields are marked *
22 Over-Dramaddictally
December 27, 2021 at 9:03 AM
Ok, the ML has pointed a gun at the FL’s head too many times. I don’t see any believable way toward romance in the story after this.
Required fields are marked *
23 Yuri
December 27, 2021 at 4:20 PM
As far as I can tell from the drama, there is no doubt how corrupt the government and ANSP are and just how far they can go in silencing the citizens. Frankly, I don’t see what the fuss is all about.
I find that there is more to criticize about other aspects of the drama than there is about the original outcry that has actually turned muddled with everyone taking a shot at what they can just to cancel or retain this show.
Both parties on the extreme side of hate and praise is not healthy, IMHO. I’d rather take the middle ground and see things with a more balanced perspective.
Required fields are marked *
24 Muleo
December 27, 2021 at 6:44 PM
The production saying they wanted to portray the NSA as "regular people" literally had me in fits. If this isn't revisionist whitewashing then I don't know what is. Clearly the family members of the NSA want their dignity and privilege returned. Let's just pretend the atrocities were downright inhuman because after all they are "regular people". This is all just one big misunderstanding. That my friends is called propoganda and the fact the SK Government doesn't care one bit about it does not spell well for the future of the citizens. Now keeping aside this obvious propoganda machine what the hell is this hostage situation? Are they really going to spend the entirety of the drama playing cat and mouse? Is this the whole plot? The writers have failed big time.
Required fields are marked *
Oro
December 30, 2021 at 2:54 AM
They are "regular people" in the show in the sense that they aren't literal monsters or mustache twirling villains but a group of pathetic, self serving, incompetent and corrupt clowns. They aren't exaggerated into comic book villains but satirized
Required fields are marked *
25 Kfan
December 28, 2021 at 12:05 AM
Hi, I finished the first 5 episode and I found the storyline entertaining with the right balance of romance, thriller, action and comedy. I take that this show is fiction (as with all kdramas), with the exception of documentaries (or those that actually state “ it is based on true story”) which this one is not with the bold disclaimer at the start of the show. I am surprised with the controversy surrounding this show following reading of reviews. I don’t follow Korean entertainment news but am an avid fan of kdrama. Can someone please help enlighten what is wrong with this show?
Required fields are marked *
26 Ayan
December 29, 2021 at 2:24 PM
I've finished EP 5 of Snowdrop and honestly I'm not sure what we were supposed to see in this episode to ease the citizens concerns about this drama.
Young Ro's father Changsoo was the former head of the ANSP and now runs the campaign of the ruling party. He and Tae il are rivals and have devised a plan to discredit the opposition by working with the NK government spy agency led by Soo ho's father. They demand 400 million for kidnapping a prominent member of the opposition Professor Han and bringing him to NK as a defector. The SK party would then spread this information to ensure a win in the upcoming elections. The head of the ANSP Kyung Hee is busy sucking up to the two campaign leaders and has no knowledge of this secret deal. his orders are that his spies should not pursue Soo Hoo.The power struggle between the politicians has also affected their wives who have ambitions to become the first lady.I guess the dark comedy comes from their scenes as they are exchanging insults over afternoon tea but things get stranger as they go to a fortune teller who says to Changsoo's wife, that his fate will be changed if 13 virgins are killed. The other women laugh it off but Changsoo's wife seems to be thinking of ways how this can be done!
I feel sorry for Young-ro, her father sent her away to her grandmother after his remarriage. The Changsoo's wife is greedy for power and has no affection for her stepchildren. We see her faking the tears once she finds out about the hostage situation at the university and that Young -ro is inside.
I do think the villains of the story will be the politicians who have endangered the students and made corrupt deals for power.
Tae-il seems to be greedier of the three, he doesn't seem to care about the repercussions of his actions. Changsoo, I think will continue to go against what is right to save his own neck. In EP 5, it seemed like his son may have been killed by the rest of the Taeryung team at the docks and his daughter is a hostage in the school.
I'm intrigued about Han-Na, it seemed like she joined the spy agency just to find Kang Moo after he jilted her before their wedding? I forgot how much of a good actress Jung Yoo Jin is!
Kang Moo is another interesting character, he disregards the leaders command and continues to investigate and find Soo-ho. I wasn't expecting him to be so forgiving with Young-ro after he found out she hid Soo-ho in the school. I also want to know more about the case in Germany, as it seemed like he had been hunting Soo-ho for some time.
I'm now convinced that Yoo Inna's character is a NK Spy, mainly because I see no reason for the attraction to Tae-il lol
but I noticed her expression when he mentioned Soo-ho is in the school, I'm not sure if she is a relation of Soo ho, is she his sister?
Soo-ho- I can see why JHI has picked this character and I understand why people rate his acting so highly now. He is menacing and unemotional now that his true identity...
Required fields are marked *
Over-Dramaddictally
January 2, 2022 at 12:31 PM
you called it about Yoo Inna. I kept thinking about your comment when I was watching this week's episodes.
Required fields are marked *
Ayan
January 6, 2022 at 3:11 AM
hehehehe! I'm happy that my suspicions were right because I was struggling to think why YIN would chose this role. Her character is very interesting, I wonder if she is on the side of the deputy head of the communist party or Soo Hoo's father. I'm intrigued to see how she takes over the situation without giving away her cover. I definitely think she and Soo hoo will clash.
Required fields are marked *
Over-Dramaddictally
January 6, 2022 at 7:03 AM
The most interesting thing about this show is that you can’t tell whose side anyone is on! Everyone has a side deal with someone else, even when they are supposed to have allegiance to one side. I think the nuance is captured very well.
Oh, yeah, I definitely think she and SH are going to clash.
Required fields are marked *
27 Mumtaz
January 1, 2022 at 1:37 PM
The romance part is just to entice viewers!. All i have been watching is history!.just like youth of may
Required fields are marked *
28 Julika
January 2, 2022 at 3:05 AM
This drama is heated at the right temperature. Jung hae in blew minds portraying this role and ji soo is even more surprising at how good she is as an actress. The rest of the casts are shining too. Snow drop
Is no doubt one of the best dramas made in 2021 , if not it is actually the best!!
Required fields are marked *
29 la wants to feel liberated too
January 6, 2022 at 3:51 AM
I think i'm one of few people who still watching snowdrop. To tell the truth, its controversy is the one that makes me watch it.
Put it aside. Before snowdrop, i'm someone who like details in storyline. I like to see stories from many people's perspective cuz it might change my mind about the issue and also about them.
But snowdrop shows me that, you don't really need to know things that detail.
I skip so many scenes. There are many characters i want to throw away cuz they're wasting time.
Do they really need to show all 23 characters getting involved in the same matter? And few of them couldn't behave like adults?
And what's with this father who abandon his children by sending them off but suddenly cares about their lives 10 years later?
Are those things called black comedy?
I'm seriously asking because i don't know what this show is trying to aim and i don't know what is black comedy.
I acknowledge there are great actors here.
Jung Haein, Yoo Inna, Yoon Seah, Jung Shinhye, and the late Kim Misoo are putting their best efforts here. Especially Yoon Seah who acts like breathing.
It's unfortunate that their performance are overshadowed by the poor storyline and execution.
Am i too harsh?
I'm still going to watch this to see how this will end
Required fields are marked *
spazmo
January 9, 2022 at 4:29 PM
mysterious that they haven't stated how Kim Misoo passed away so suddenly... could it have been all the negative reactions to the drama???? poor woman, if that was the case - being tormented by angry netizens...
Required fields are marked *
la wants to feel liberated too
January 9, 2022 at 9:03 PM
We can't possibly know what someone's going through so it's best not to assume anything. It's also what her family wants
Required fields are marked *
30 WaterBottle
January 18, 2022 at 8:32 AM
This show has such a fairytale feel to it. I think it's a mix of the tragic romance, the beautiful music and the color palette.
Required fields are marked *