![]() To make matters worse, in attempting to subvert the typical fairy tale love story that befalls so many K-Dramas, “Love to Hate You” ends up providing a cop-out answer to this problem of casual and flippant sexism. In this way, instead of uplifting women or challenging this patriarchal perspective, the show falls back on traditional tropes. It is never condemned that Kang-ho’s attraction is conditional upon Mi-ran proving herself special and different, through her unconventional hobbies and can-do demeanor. “I’ve never met a woman like that,” Kang-Ho muses thoughtfully after Mi-ran becomes his martial arts teacher, as if she finally met some threshold of interest to become worthy of his attention. He repeatedly assumes that women only enter spaces in order to woo a rich man, and only gains respect for Mi-Ran once she shows that she’s not like other girls (think Y/N Wattpad fanfiction). ![]() “Women are busy flirting and slack off on work,” Kang-ho spits derisively while enjoying drinks in a ritzy high-rise. ![]() However, Kang-ho’s behavior proves to be genuinely problematic as he makes degrading comments about women in the workforce, and the show’s treatment of Kang-ho’s conduct is even worse. The grounds of their enmity - the highly anticipated enemies to lovers plot - are initially flimsy and implausible, beginning with offhand comments and instigated actions from the arrogant actor followed by immature retaliations by Mi-ran. The show follows the love story between Mi-ran (Kim Ok-bin), a young lawyer with a hidden talent for martial arts, and Kang-ho (Teo Yoo), an A-list actor with a false reputation for kindness. Though it attempts to open a meaningful conversation about misogyny, its execution plants it firmly in simple feel-good rom-com territory. The rest of the show similarly falls short. “Men do it all the time,” she quips by way of excuse, leaving the audience unsure whether to laugh or raise an eyebrow. Those invested in the plot will no doubt be frustrated, though, especially since Sky High seems to be angling for multiple seasons, and is in no hurry whatsoever to add anything notable to the world.“Love to Hate You,” a new K-drama streaming on Netflix, opens by showing the main character in various stages of likeability: One moment, she beats up a mugger with some impressive martial arts moves, and the next, we see her cheating on her boyfriend. That felt overcomplicated but mostly entertaining this feels overcomplicated and cripplingly tedious.Īs mentioned at the top, though, fans of the film may still enjoy the return of characters like Sole and Rogelio they may still enjoy the simple pleasures of double crosses, action scenes, and secret agents and agencies. ![]() All the usual genre hallmarks are here, but much too spread out or lazily implemented to have even the same kind of appeal as the film did. The creators of Sky High: The Series wildly overestimate the appeal of this material and these characters, and the pace is reduced to a crawl to compensate for long-winded drama that is exceptionally difficult to care about. While watching Sky High, the film, I never once considered that it would be better served being stretched across seven episodes, and it turns out I was right not to. Estrella remains very dead, and that matter is addressed during the series, providing something for Sole to feel guilty about, while trying to take control of her new life and navigate its dangers and responsibilities away from her established fence father, Rogelio. Sole is devastated to have received a call informing her of the loss of Angel, putting her in charge of not just a son but also a notorious gang – one with some outstanding debts that might prove problematic down the line. The plot picks up right from where the end of the film left things. Sky High: The Series Season 1 review and plot summary If you enjoyed the film, the series provides more of the same just in a slightly meatier package. Questions about whether this was a property worth continuing in the first place are another matter. It brings back some of the same actors and characters and scratches mostly the same itch for uncomplicated action fare. ![]() Anyone who saw the 2020 Netflix movie Sky High will know what to expect from Sky High: The Series, and not just because of the laughably on-the-nose title. ![]()
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