Crash Landing On You Review

Wow! Crash Landing On You (or CLOY for short / 愛的迫降 in Chinese) has been such a blockbuster that many K-drama lovers have not been able to get enough of the main couple. With such a huge following and high ratings, I couldn’t help it but to jump on the bandwagon and see for myself what the hype is all about. After watching it over 2 days, I can totally understand the craze over this romance drama. It has all the ingredients that make it moving, funny, and memorable. So, I’m no different and I do recommend a watch for this Korean production. But I’m doing it for more than just the romance. The Crash Landing On You review below will tell you why.

My Rating: 8.5/10
Episodes: 16
Type: Romance
Aired: December 2019
Images Credit: tvN

The Main Cast Of Crash Landing On You

Hyun Bin as Ri Jeung Hyuk

Jeung Hyuk is an elite captain in the North Korean army. His team’s duty include patrolling the countryside area near the demilitarized zone. Jeung Hyuk is a good-looking captain who attracts lots of admirers from the womenfolk. But he is also very low profile and hides his identity as the son of a high-ranking officer of the North Korean government. Before becoming an army officer, Jeung Hyuk is an up-and-coming pianist.

Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri

Se Ri is a successful businesswoman who founded her own health and beauty company called Se Ri’s Choice. She comes from a chaebol family but is an illegitimate daughter with an estranged relationship with her stepmother and half-brothers. She is stylish and smart with the habit of having the best luxuries in life.

Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan

Dan is a musician and comes from a rich family in North Korea. She is also Jeung Hyuk’s fiancee through a marriage agreement between their families. While Dan loves Jeung Hyuk, the latter only sees it as a family promise that he needs to fulfill. She may look cold outwardly but is someone who is very reserved and will protect those she loves.

Kim Jung Hyun as Gu Seong Jun

Seong Jun is a conman and Se Ri’s ex-fiancee. The prospective marriage was arranged by her half-brother to send her away but Se Ri was smart enough to see through Seong Jun and broke it off. Thus, he went on to con her half-brother out of a huge sum of money instead and ended up fleeing to North Korea to hide.

Synopsis

Se Ri, a rich businesswoman, was blown off-course while paragliding due to a sudden storm and landed just inside the border of North Korea. She meets an army captain, Jeung Hyuk, who is patrolling the area. Jeung Hyuk’s team fumbled in their attempt to capture her and Se Ri makes her way to a nearby village. He manages to find her eventually but due to the team’s carelessness in their duties, the soldiers have a reason to keep her hidden to avoid punishment initially. Jeung Hyuk also trusts that Se Ri is innocent and doesn’t have the heart to send her to the National Security Bureau.

To explain Se Ri’s sudden presence at his home in the village, Jeung Hyuk introduces her as his fiancee. Over time, they start to develop feelings for each other as Jeung Hyuk and his team try different ways to send Se Ri back over the border to South Korea. Jeung Hyuk also goes out of his way to protect Se Ri. While waiting for her departure, Se Ri builds up a great friendship with Jeung Hyuk’s team and the villagers. But her presence arouses the suspicion of Jeung Hyuk’s enemy, Cho Cheol Kang, who is a Lieutenant Commander of the National Security Bureau and a corrupted official.

How will Se Ri make it back to the south then? What will happen to her relationship with Jeung Hyuk? Can Jeung Hyuk overcome his enemies that are trying to bring him and his father down?

Crash Landing On You Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Crash Landing On You has a sweet ending although not completely satisfactory either. Due to the limited contact allowed between North and South Korea, Jeung Hyuk and Se Ri can only find a way to meet 2 weeks a year in Switzerland where they first met years ago. Jeung Hyuk’s final scheduled message (he keyed in a year’s worth of message for Se Ri into his phone prior to being sent back to North Korea) to her gives Se Ri the idea to set up a foundation using her company’s name to support talented young musicians from around the world. This foundation would then hold a concert for the students once a year in Switzerland. Se Ri spreads news on this foundation with the hope that it would reach Jeung Hyuk.

On his part, Jeung Hyuk gets discharged as captain of the army and selected as a pianist for North Korea’s National Symphony Orchestra. This gives him the opportunity to perform in Switzerland for Se Ri’s foundation and a chance for them to meet after a few years of waiting. The last scene shows them being lovey-dovey amid the picturesque Switzerland landscape. Some reports that I have read seem to suggest that there are deleted wedding scenes which were taken out due to political sensitivities. If it is true, it would be regretful indeed as a wedding would certainly be more satisfying for fans. Maybe that is why I also get the feeling that the ending seems chopped and rushed.

What Happened To Seo Dan And Seong Jun?

Seong Jun died while freeing Seo Dan from the thugs who were after him. He had a chance to leave North Korea but the thugs hired by Se Ri’s half brother, Yoon Se Hyung, captured Seo Dan to force him to come to them. Seong Jun died of gunshot wounds in an ambulance with Seo Dan by his side. She has fallen in love with him by then and is devastated by his demise.

Seo Dan also breaks off her engagement to Jeung Hyuk after Seong Jun’s death. She found Jeung Hyuk’s old camera with a picture of Se Ri which he had taken years earlier in Switzerland and accepts the fact that some things are destined to be. Seo Dan goes on to lead her life as a musician.

The Fate Of Cho Cheol Kang

Cho Cheol Kang is killed by South Korean agents. He was pressured to stop Jeung Hyuk and bring back Se Ri to North Korea to absolve his guilt of the many crimes he has committed. Jeung Hyuk manages to find Cho’s hiding place but is tailed by South Korean agents. With no place to run, Cho tried to kill Jeung Hyuk so that they will die together. But Jeung Hyuk dove out of the way and the South Korean agents shot Cho to death. Yoon Se Hyung and his wife are also arrested and jailed for working with Cho and ordering Se Ri to be got rid of.

Crash Landing On You Review – Good Reasons For Watching

Crash Landing On You is more than just romance to me which is a good reason to give it a high rating. Some aspects of North Korean life is projected in the drama which is not only an eye-opener but also gives it a unique background to the story. No doubt, the plot is all pure fantasy but the North Korean angle adds an interesting layer to the romance that follows.

Moreover, the drama manages to evoke intense feelings in viewers as the cross-border love becomes stronger but separation between the 2 lovers is inevitable. You will cry buckets in some scenes especially the separation in the last episode. So, getting tissues ready is highly recommended before you start watching. But apart from the romance, you will also be able to feel the care and camaraderie among friends. There are comical moments to lighten the mood too after more serious scenes that weigh down your feelings. In short, the drama has a little bit of everything that gel together very nicely into a great production.

Chemistry Between The Leads

The chemistry between Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin simply sizzles in Crash Landing On You. They certainly played their roles well to convince us that they are falling deeply in love deeply with each other. Perhaps the events in the story help it along as they need to sacrifice much to protect one another. But their eyes, facial expressions, and body language are often able to convey their deepest feelings to make us feel moved. The tears seem real as we cry along with them. I guess Son Ye Jin does live up to her Melodrama Queen tag each time.

I think the supporting cast also did a great job especially the soldiers and village women. Their portrayals of the unique personalities of their respective characters give the drama much more depth. They are interesting to watch rather than just mere props to support the main leads. The guest appearance by Ha Seok Jin as Jeung Hyuk’s elder brother is also a nice surprise. I first noticed him in Something About 1 Percent and that is a fun watch as well.

My Verdict

Crash Landing On You is definitely worth watching although the starting could be a little slow. It takes about 3 to 4 episodes for me to warm up to the story before I was really into it. But once you get on the ride, you will be rooting for the couple. The idea of lovers being forced apart is always going to hurt and yet, there is also always hope. Set against the political realities of North and South Korea, the story becomes even more melodramatic and the feelings more intense. Hence, they don’t even need steamy kisses to sell this romance drama. Well, they do have kisses but they tend to be sweet and far more innocent than what you would see in Her Private Life or What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.

For this Crash Landing On You review, I would give it a 8.5/10 rating. I deducted some points for the slow start and the rushed ending. Watch it for the North Korean element, great chemistry of the main leads, and intense emotions it successfully evokes. And of course, the good-looking Hyun Bin and beautiful Son Ye Jin!