Title:SKY 캐슬 | SKY Kaeseul | Princess Maker | Sky Castle
Genre: Drama | Satire
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: JTBC
Broadcast Period: November 23, 2018 to January 26, 2019
Synopsis:
Sky Castle is a luxurious place to live that shows wealth and success. And, being successful comes with a price, including not only the status of the adults but the children as well. Majority of the parents are obsessed in making their children perfect especially in school and achievements at any cost. The story evolves to 4 different families who live in Sky Castle. Han Seo Jin who is married to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kang Joon-Sang, with right influence and lineage. She has 2 daughters, Kang Ye-Seo and Kang Ye-Bin. She lives for Kang Ye-Seo’s ambition to be the 3rd generation doctor of her husband’s family. Doing everything she can to be better than anyone else while living in anxiety and fear that her deep secret if revealed can destroy everything she worked so hard for. Lee Soo-Im, children’s book writer, who married a neurosurgeon, Hwang Chi-Young with a loving and intelligent son, Hwang Woo-Joo. She loves gardening and taking care of her family. An oddity in Sky Castle environment. No Seung-Hye, a loving mother to her 3 children, Cha Se-Ri, Cha Seo-Joon and Cha Ki-Joon. She’s always afraid of upsetting her husband, a law professor, Cha Min-Hyuk, who makes her children miserable by so much pressure given to them by her husband when it comes to studies. He always blamed her father for his failure in achieving his political ambitions, thus, she didn’t have the willpower to go against her husband. And, lastly, Jin Jin-Hee, who grew up in wealth and privilege is married to an orthopaedic surgeon, Woo Yang-Woo, an underling of Kang Joon-Sang. She looks up to Han Seo Jin so much that she tries to emulate everything Han Seo Jin does including pressuring her young son, Woo Soo-Han to be exactly like Kang Ye-Seo in academic excellence. All of them will go through a journey in life that will make them discover what’s truly important in life and family.
Characters:
- Yum Jung Ah as Han Seo Jin
- Jung Joon Ho as Kang Joon Sang
- Kim Hye Yoon as Kang Ye Seo
- Lee Ji Won as Kang Ye Bin
- Lee Tae Ran as Lee Soo Im
- Choi Won Young as Hwang Chi Young
- Kang Chan Hee as Hwang Woo Joo
- Yoon Se Ah as Noh Seung Hye
- Kim Byung Chul as Cha Min Hyuk
- Kim Dong Hee as Cha Seo Joon
- Jo Byung Kyu as Cha Ki Joon
- Park Yoo Na as Cha Se Ri
- Oh Na Ra as Jin Jin Hee
- Jo Jae Yoon as Woo Yang Woo
- Lee Yoo Jin as Woo Soo Han
- Kim Seo Hyung as Kim Joo Young
- Lee Hyun Jin as Mr. Jo
- Kim Bo Ra as Kim Hye Na
- Jung Ae Ri as Madam Yoon
- Song Min Hyung as Choi In Ho
- Kim Jung Nan as Lee Myung Joo
- Yoo Sung Joo Park Soo Chang
- Song Gun Hee as Park Young Jae
- Lee Joo Yun as Lee Ga Eul
My Review:
I am familiar with some of the actors on this k-drama but this is the first time I watched a k-drama without any of the k-drama actors I adore and got curious solely based on the online buzz about its story. On the first episode I thought I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it as the topic I thought is all about privileged people who have nothing else to do but be concerned on their status and achievements. But, alas, it caught me by surprise that after the succeeding episodes it totally captured my intense interest on the lives of the characters. The k-drama was executed in such a manner that it made me care about the characters and provided the right dose of mystery that I wanted to find out as it unravels the secrets of these characters.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) I’m in awe of the great acting talents of all the actors here including the children especially the 4 leading actresses. They made the story relevant and draws the audience like me to find something they can relate to what’s going on even if some of their desires are in extreme.
(2) I find admiring the writer and the director that executed this k-drama. The story may have been initiated by the competition of having children that excels in school and how to get into the best university, the Seoul National University. And, for these children become who their parents expects them to be but this k-drama is actually more than that. It has more depth and quality than any of the k-dramas I have recently seen with big and famous actors in it. It tackles so many issues like about parents who sometimes see their children as their trophies or an extension of who they are wherein their children must achieve what they failed to do themselves. The pressures we allow ourselves to get sucked in because of the kind of society we live in. And, most of all, it shows a journey that people go through to figure out what’s really important in ones lives both as an individual and as a member of our family.
(3) Even if some of their situations are kinda extreme, they were still very relatable and real. The desires and ambitions of the characters are the same for all in probably varying degrees and circumstance no matter whatever economic class one might be in. For me, I remember that we are only encouraged to study in college that will result to a title such a doctor or a lawyer. Although, my parents are not as obsessive as the characters on this k-drama, me and my siblings can’t help but be pressured to excel especially having a father who is brilliant and finished 3 degrees with high honors while being a working student. We all craved for the love of our parents and for them to be proud of us and whether, generally, their intentions maybe good for the sake of their children’s well being but, still, this put unnecessary pressure and stress. I, personally, believe that today’s society put so much emphasis on success in terms of educational background and financial status which have nothing really to do of being a good human being who can make a difference in this world and make it better. Thus, the story of this k-drama is quite relevant and an eyeopener for the parents and the society in general.
(4) This k-drama shows different kind of villain, it doesn’t use guns and knives but psychological tricks that brings out the worst of who we are as flawed people. We become our own enemy and Kim Seo Hyung as Kim Joo-Young effectively delivered the character and handed the audience excellence in acting on a silver platter.
(5) The OST is very apt and the story moved along in a good pace with not much wasted scenes to act as fillers. Best of all, it took time to end it properly and gave the audience a feeling of satisfaction after spending 20 or so hours of watching it.
(6) This a woman-center story wherein the female characters are the main focus of the story. And, if there’s an award for a k-drama for the entire cast that gels together in harmony and in talent, then, this is the k-drama that deserves that award.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
There’s really not much I can say I didn’t like about this k-drama. It was generally well done from the actors down to the entire production team.
Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes. Highly Recommended.
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
OST:
01. We All Lie – Ha Jin
Play Me:
02. Time is On My Side – Baek In Hyuk
03. It Has To Be You – ABOUT
04. Princess Maker – Chun Dan Bi
05. Rest – WAX
06. I Do – MIIII
07. I Can Live Well – Yook Joong Wan
08. We All Lie (Slow Version) – Ha Jin
09. Butterfly – Choi Jung In
10. Le jardin féerique from Ma mère l’Oye – Park Jung Eun
11. Mask & Revelation – Han Sang Ho
12. Bolero – Park Sang Woo
13. Whisper of Evil – Choi Jung In | Lee Mi Hyun
14. Kim Ju Young – Park Jung Eun
15. Tell You The Truth – Park Jung Eun
16. Agalmoery – Park Jung Eun | Lee Mi Hyun
17. The Top Of One’s Desire – Lee Mi Hyun
18. What I Want – Lee Mi Hyun
19. Endless Night – Kim Tae Sung | Choi Jung In
20. We All Lie (Orchestra Version) – Kim Tae Sung | Choi Jung In
For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE