This article contains spoilers for the following K-dramas: Mr. Sunshine, Snowdrop, Goblin, and Queen of Tears.
Romance K-dramas usually have a happy ending, but Netflix’s upcoming Mr. Plankton series starring Woo Do-hwan and Lee You-min seems like it could have a tragic outcome based on the trailer. Although some of the most anticipated K-dramas of 2024 have been released already, including but not limited to Queen of Tears and Love Next Door, there are still some exciting shows left to be released this year. Netflix’s K-drama slate for the remainder of 2024 includes horror returning shows such as Hellbound and Squid Game as well as brand-new series such as Mr. Plankton.
A Netflix original, Mr. Plankton will arrive on the streaming platform on November 8. The show will consist of 10 episodes and will join the already long list of Korean webseries made for Netflix. A romantic comedy, Mr. Plankton is directed by Juvenile Justice’s Hong Jong-chan and written by It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’s Jo-young. Given how emotional and sensible 2020’s It’s Okay To Not Be Okay was, it will be interesting to see how Mr. Plankton will navigate its tragic premise of a man who has just found out he has a terminal disease.
Mr. Plankton Is Telling You The Lead Couple May Not Have A Happy Ending
Woo Do-hwan’s Character Has A “Bomb” In His Brain
The trailer for Mr. Plankton opens with the lead male character, played by Woo Do-hwan, finding out he has a “bomb” in his brain. Hae-jo asks the doctor how much time he has left, and while the trailer doesn’t show the answer, it is implied that the character might not leave much longer due to a brain tumor. The trailer also shows Jo Jae-mi, played by Lee Yoo-mi, navigating a difficult moment as she is diagnosed with premature menopause ahead of a marriage she doesn’t want to be part of.
Mr. Plankton's Cast | Character |
|---|---|
Woo Do-hwan | Hae-jo |
Lee Yoo-mi | Jo Jae-mi |
Oh Jung-se | Eo-heung |
Kim Hae-sook | Beom Ho-ja |
These difficult circumstances will bring Hae-jo and Jae-mi, who were once in a relationship, together again for what the official synopsis describes as the “last journey” of Hae-jo’s life. This implies that Mr. Plankton will be about Hae-jo and Jae-min making the most of the time Woo Do-hwan’s character has left, meaning the series may not have a traditional fairy tale ending like a lot of other romantic K-dramas. That said, it’s relatively common for K-dramas with tragic premises to have a happy ending anyway, with one recent example being Queen of Tears.
Will Mr. Plankton Have The Courage Of Killing Off Woo Do-hwan’s Character?
Not Many Romantic K-Dramas Have Had A Tragic Ending
There have been a few K-dramas where one of the leads, usually the male character, does end up dying at the end. This includes series like Mr. Sunshine, Snowdrop, and Goblin, all of which were not afraid of ending on a bittersweet note. However, there are also a lot of series that play with the idea of a tragic ending, only for things to work out fine in the end. While having a happy ending after a series of unfortunate events can lead to a cathartic moment, those are safer endings.
Lee Yoo-mi won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Player No. 240 in Squid Game.
For example, for most of Queen of Tears, we are led to believe that there is no way both Hae-in and Hyun-woo will make it through everything and have a happily ever after, yet it happens. This is why it is always impactful when a K-drama does not give its lead characters an easy way out and shows that not every story ends like a fairy tale. It’s too soon to say which kind of show Mr. Plankton will be, but the fact it’s penned by the writer from It’s Okay To Not Be Okay is exciting.
Woo Do-hwan & Lee You-mi’s Mr. Plankton Chemistry Already Looks Great
Mr. Plankton Has Paired Two Great Actors For Its Leading Roles
While Bloodhound season 2 might not be released until 2026 since filming is expected to take place through 2025, fans of Woo Do-hwan will get to see him in another, very different leading role this year. Mr. Plankton will not be Woo Do-hwan’s first romantic K-drama, but it’s exciting to see him leading a series in that genre shortly after his action-packed role in Netflix’s Bloodhound. Woo Do-hwan’s character in Mr. Plankton appears to be hilarious and charming, not to mention the noticeable great chemistry between him and Lee Yoo-mi’s character.
Related
20 K-Dramas That Didn’t Have A Happily Ever After
K-Dramas often leave viewers feeling bittersweet by the end of a series. Here are times when they did not have a happy ending.
After stealing the show in two worldwide Netflix successes – Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead – in minor roles, Lee Yoo-mi is now leading her own streaming webseries. Mr. Plankton will not be her first leading K-drama role, though, as Lee Yoo-mi recently shined on JTBC’s Strong Girl Nam-soon. Given how great Lee Yoo-min has been in every series she has appeared regardless of how big the role was, seeing her leading a Netflix rom-com alongside Woo Do-hwan is incredibly exciting. Hopefully, Mr. Plankton will live up to the expectations.
Mr. Plankton
Romance
Comedy
- Cast
- Rich Ting , Woo Do-Hwan , Lee Yoo-mi , Oh Jung-se , Kim Hae-sook , Lee Hae-young
- Character(s)
- Wang Chil-seong , Hae Jo - Considering , Jo Jae mi- Considering , Ho Eung , Criminal
- Release Date
- November 1, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Main Genre
- Romance
