K-Dramas

“Our Blues” and other K-dramas with happy posters yet depressing contents

Posters are supposed to be indicators of a series’ plot and mood, but that’s not the case for several K-dramas. 

Before the release date, K-drama posters help to relay the basic information of the series to the audiences, and provide the general mood and tone. However, this doesn’t apply to the following K-dramas, who had the audience completely fooled with their posters. 

Some K-dramas boasted bright and happy posters but the show itself was saddening. 

Thirty Nine 

Thirty Nine” centers around three best friends who are at the age of 39. Before the drama aired, the producers continuously released bright posters of the trio smiling and happily interacting with each other, which suggested a funny friendship drama filled with wild antics. 

son ye jin thirty nine
The posters and teasers of “Thirty Nine” all gave off light and healing vibes. 
Happy couples in a setting full of sunshine. 
The trio of friends in a dreamy background with joyful expressions. 

However, episode 2 of the series took a giant drift, as it ended with the funeral of one piece of this trio. 

The entire episode 1 was also filled with sorrow, and the K-drama brought a slow pace and somber storytelling. A main character was even introduced as having feelings for an already married man – which came completely unexpected if you just look at the posters! 

thirty nine
One of the three main characters passed away as early as episode 2. 
Thirty Nine
And the drama’s atmosphere quickly got serious. 

Twenty Five, Twenty One

Right off the bat with its posters, “Twenty Five, Twenty One” felt full of youthful spirits. And this was true for the few first episodes, which are filled with happy, positive stories and kind characters who boosted each other’s morale. 

Twenty five twenty one
A healing and youthful poster of “Twenty Five, Twenty One”

However, as these characters matured and got tangled with life’s responsibilities, they also fell apart and focused more on themselves. The main couple, which consists of Na Hee Do (played by Kim Tae Ri) and Back Yi Jin (played by Nam Joo Hyuk), used to cheer each other on and smiled together, only to end their relationship on a bitter note. They truly embodied the troupe of the unfinished first love. 

Twenty Five Twenty One
The end of the series left many people frustrated with a broken relationship. 

Our Blues

Similar to the above series, “Our Blues” released a pretty poetic and hopeful first poster. The first minutes of the series also convinced the audience that this new series would be a tale that heals the soul. 

Our Blues
“Our Blues” became much grimmer than its poster…
Our Blues
…which looked super fun and cheerful.

However, compared to the poster that promised the simple life of Jeju people, “Our Blues” started to tell about their turbulence. The series started with a main character in heavy debt, then turned to a depressed mother and an unplanned teenage pregnancy. 

Our Blues
The teenage couple had an unplanned pregnancy, which hindered their future. 
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One of the female leads was mentally ill and struggling to find a way out. 

Uncontrollably Fond

“Uncontrollably Fond” is a classic K-drama to watch when you want to bawl your eyes out. Its poster seemed to suggest a peaceful and lovely romance for the male lead Shin Joon Young (played by Kim Woo Bin), but that was nowhere near the truth. 

Uncontrollably Fond

In the end, the main couple managed to resolve all misunderstandings and seek justice, but the male lead still passed away from his chronic disease. In his last days, this character barely remembered his loved ones, including the female lead No Eul, his mother, and even himself. 

Uncontrollably Fond

In the finale, Joon Young was seen sitting beside No Eul, before slowly losing consciousness. The ending, which cleverly suggested the male lead’s demise, managed to evoke strong emotions from its viewers. 

Uncontrollably Fond

Tragic yet meaningful, it’s undeniable that “Uncontrollably Fond” was a tear-jerking drama.