Snowdrop is a South Korean drama series that premiered on December 18, 2021, and concluded on January 30, 2022. The drama was divided into 16 episodes. The drama’s plot is set in 1987, a pivotal year in South Korean history. Protests against the unjust rule erupted this year, and democratic elections were held for the first time. Eun Yeong-ro (Jisoo) discovers Lim Soo-ho (Jung Hae-in) drenched in blood while running away from government agents and chooses to conceal him in her women’s university dorm. However, things take an intriguing turn when it is revealed that Lim Soo-ho is not who he appears to be. Despite all political difficulties, the couple begins to form a romantic relationship. Eun Yeong-ro feels betrayed when she gets to know that Lim Soo-ho is the North Korean spy.
Controversies:
Snowdrop has been the buzz of the town since its premiere. Netizens even petitioned for the drama’s cancellation. They contended that the drama skewed historical truths. They regard it as a betrayal of the individuals who took part in this historically momentous era. JTBC (television network) has said that the plot would change throughout filming. The South Korean public also pointed out that the filmmakers and authors made the Snowdrop narrative absolutely romantic. They also claim that the principal actors should have requested adjustments before accepting the screenplay. According to the fans, the drama’s second flaw was that a select group was overly praised. The petition to cancel the drama was refused by Blue House. Thirty professors and experts petitioned the president of Disney+ Asia-Pacific to recruit professionals to assess the drama’s historical misrepresentation. Overall, there was a great deal of discussion about Snowdrop, both favorable and bad.
Is it worth watching?
Snowdrop was the female protagonist, Kim Jisoo’s, debut drama. She is also a part of the renowned K-Pop girl group BLACKPINK. Fans were overjoyed by the announcement and had great expectations for the drama. Jisoo did not let her admirers down. Despite the fact that it was her first drama, the way she depicted her role and channeled her character’s emotions on-screen was outstanding. Jung Hae-in also did an excellent job portraying his role. The story’s pace nicely establishes the world. On and off-screen, the leads had chemistry. Because the drama is set against a political setting, the romantic part was handled more realistically. The discomfort between the two protagonists was ideal. Despite the controversy, the drama had high ratings at the finale.
Snowdrop is unlike any other romantic drama since it has numerous twists and turns in store for its audience. The drama opens by showing the daily life of students in a Women’s University. The students dodge the strict authorities and try to have a social life outside of studies. At the same time, we see government officials planning to win the upcoming elections. Agency of National Security Panning is searching for a North Korean spy. Kim Jisoo handled both the romance and the political upheaval skillfully. Other supporting characters in the drama were Yoo In-na, Kim Hye-yoon, Jung Yoo-jin, and the late actress Kim Mi-soo. The suspense in the play has been built up in an innovative way.
The general mood of the drama promised an explosive emotional rollercoaster from the start. The forbidden romance and the pressing historical era made the drama all the more intriguing. The OSTs, the cinematography, 80’s romance, and the storyline of the drama are refreshing.
The drama might not have been a popular one among the South Koreans due to the controversies; however, among the international viewers, the drama is popular. The international fans proposed the idea that the drama should not be canceled instead the writers should cut off the parts where the main issue lies. It will save the efforts of the directors and the actors.
Fans have stated that the drama is definitely not a light-hearted one. Several people sobbed their eyes out just after the first two episodes. Each episode was one hour long but it did not bore the audience at all. In fact, all the episodes will keep you at the edge of your chair and as the episodes end with a cliffhanger, you will be pulled into the world of Snowdrop.
Many Blinks (official fandom name of BLACKPINK) watched the drama to show their support to Jisoo. The drama was a slow burn. The comical reliefs in the drama are A+.
The changes that the audience wanted were regarding the character of Jung Hae-in. They wanted his character to be a protester who is hiding from the government rather than being the North Korean spy which was random given the historical context. However, as the twists unveil, the audience gets to know that the story is not deeply or heavily based on the protest that took place.
The most important elements that get highlighted in Snowdrop are curiosity and suspense. The character developments are great. All of them emit mysterious vibes but in a good way. You will be eager to dig deeper and decode the conflicts on your own. The thing that stood out the most Snowdrop is that you won’t know what is going to happen next. It is unpredictable. There is always danger lurking at every corner of the episode. The thrill of things can go wrong in so many ways will push you to give out strong reactions.
Conclusion
The drama is unique in its own way and highly recommendable for people who love to watch K-drama. Even if you are not a fan of melodramatic romantic drama series, it is still suggested to you to give a chance to Snowdrop because there is nothing to regret. There will be several history lessons as well because the international audience will get to know so much about a country’s struggles.
