Korean Drama Review : SKY Castle

Title : SKY Castle, Princess Maker

Episodes : 20

Genre : School, Mystery, Family, Rich Community, Tutors, Social Standards, Crime, Black                  Comedy

Story : 9 out of 10

Characters : 9 out of 10

Cinematography : 8 out of 10

One of the surprises of the year, well so far at least, is SKY Castle. It scored high ratings on TV views and it gained many many fans, even celebrities among them.

Story

Sky Castle is a building complex where only rich live in. Four of the families living there are “friends” as well as neighbors. The women of the families focus on getting their children into the best universities of the country, by aiding them with scoring high marks at their school. However, when one of the successful women, who had just seen her son getting into medical school, just like her husband, kills herself and the son goes missing, everything turns upside down. Especially when Soo Im, a writer of children’s books and the spouse of the new doctor in the big hospital where most of the Sky castle residents work, move in with her family to the house where the unfortunate woman used to live, things go out of control.

The families of Sky Castle

Soo Im is not used to the rich world, as she comes from a poor family. She also wants to uncover the mystery behind the suicide. Her actions, however, unbalance the life at Sky castle, where Seo Jin is reining over. Seo Jin hates Soo Im for another reason, other than threatening their way of life; she knows her past, a past that she worked hard to hide. She also endangers her efforts to emphasize their children’s education, by taking extreme measures.

The story had many layers. It started with the presentation of sky castle’s residents’ rich life and their obsession with education. Then, there was the tragedy with the suicide that created a crack on their perfect life. Eventually, secrets start unveiling, as well as personal ambitions, family dramas, mysteries of the past and crimes that are yet to happen. The tension and thriller element were kept high throughout the drama, though the last episode was just a wrap-up and it didn’t add much to the plot. However, till there, the whole story was entertaining, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but overall makes you want to know what will happen in the end.

Characters

Seo Jin is the queen to be. After the death of the woman who ruled them all, she takes over. She tries to present a perfect family, but it is obvious that she is failing to do so. Therefore, she focuses her efforts on her daughter’s education. She eventually finds one of the best tutors, who, however, hides her own agenda. Overall, Seo Jin is a strong character, ready to do anything necessary to protect her image. And that’s why she especially hates Soo Im. Yum Jung Ah was amazing in her role as Seo Jin. She was annoying, dislikable, dynamic and overall the queen B.

Poster of the korean drama Sky castle

Soo Im is the innocent, wide-eyed new neighbor who still tries to keep her values, as she tries to fit in with the rest of the residents of Sky castle. However, she fails to do so, as she takes over the project of finding the mystery behind the suicide. She also cares for the children of the Sky castle and tried to protect them. Lee Tae Ran was the opposite of Seo Jin in character, a calm force that was more likable and easier to root for.

Seung Hye is Seo Jin’s antagonist. She is married to an almost tyrannic man who is obsessed with educating his two sons. She obeys him, clearly being unhappy with her marriage and powerless to do something about it. She eventually gains her confidence and overcomes her demons. Yoon Se Ah was a “twist” character, as she was an annoying character at first, but she turned out to be a strong, friendly one in the end.

Cinematography

There was a unique way they shoot some scenes in this drama. Other than that, it was basic textbook.

Overall

My overall rating is 9 out of 10. A very entertaining drama and the best one yet, for the start of 2019.