Beautiful World Season 1 Review : This tearjerker K-drama ticks all the boxes

Story: In this drama, a family searches for answers regarding their son who, following a failed suicide attempt, is brought to the hospital and is fighting for his life. The life-changing event infuriates both the mother and the father, who are now determined to get to the bottom of the truth about what really transpired at their son's school which prompted him to take such a drastic step.

Review: After watching ‘Beautiful World,’ one can safely deduce that Korean dramas, like those in other genres, are equally strong and riveting and are capable enough to compete with thrillers, mysteries, and sci-fi dramas that have previously managed to garner attention. This drama series has a straightforward idea, yet it's executed so masterfully that it nearly has the feel of a thriller. Its superb acting and the compelling plot will have you utterly engrossed. In reality, ‘Beautiful World’ is a gloomy narrative with intense emotions and individuals that are almost universally odd in some way. The plot centres on the danger of bullying at school and how it jeopardises the lives of victims' parents in addition to the victims themselves.

The first episode of the series opens with Park Moo Jin and Kang In Ha driving on the day of the lunar eclipse when they receive the news of their son's accident. The parents simply do not understand why their son Park Sun Ho would attempt suicide. The school's administration is on an edge as a result of this incident. The school's director, Oh Jin Pyo, is a scrupulous individual who is desperate to prevent this occurrence from tarnishing the reputation of his school.

If one is familiar with South Korea's social structure, one must also be aware that bullying is a touchy subject and that the government frequently works to raise awareness of this problem through various programmes and schemes. This show chooses this subject and builds a compelling storyline around it. The show does a great job of expressing the characters' feelings after a tragedy that has shaken many others besides just the family. The authority will stop at nothing to protect the school's reputation, even if it means stifling the truth, which is in contrast to the victim’s parents' attempt to unearth the truth at any cost and find out what actually happened at their son’s school. And between the two extremes is an investigating officer looking into the case who is constrained by departmental procedures. The series' perspectives keep changing, yet never once do you get the impression that the author is biased in favour of one side. This drama depicts how our surroundings may mould us and the events play out like a slice of real life. Events do occasionally become overtly theatrical, but there is enough substance to make up for that.

In their roles as parents, Park Hee Soon and Choo Ja Hyun (Moo Jin and In Ha) give a very convincing portrayal. Both of the actors in the series have done a great job of capturing the stress and sadness following their only son's suicide attempt who is now struggling with his life in a hospital. Park Sun Ho's son, played by Nam Da Reum, has given a riveting performance. Oh Man Suk as Jin Pyo, the school's director and the antagonist of the plot, steps into a role and he absolutely personifies evil. His performance is very close to being faultless. The schoolchildren have also played their parts admirably.

The plot of "Beautiful World" is engaging and keeps you interested, but it is only toward the final episodes that the makers attempt to cram too much into too few episodes, making everything appear hurried. However, the series actually does keep you entertained with its thought-provoking message. If you love a good drama then ‘Beautiful World’ should be part of your watch list.