“Crash Landing On You” (2020) is a big hit drama series aired through Korea’s TVN channel and Netflix. It was a perfect antidote to the lockdown blues, providing a much-needed respite during the pandemic.
After more than a year since its release, it still leaves a big mark on the hearts of CLOY fans. Notably, the drama captured a worldwide audience that it was picked by 9.5% of hallyu fans as the most favorite Korean series, followed by “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay” at 4.1%, according to the annual survey in South Korea.
Locally, it broke records with its final episode at 24.1% viewership and reported to be the second highest-rated cable television drama in South Korea at 21.7% (6.3 million views) nationwide, beating the record of “Goblin” at 20.5%.
Whereas, internationally, the CLOY fever continued as it exceptionally remained at the Top 10 most viewed on Netflix in many countries for several weeks, even after the series has ended.
Truly a one-of-a-kind Korean show, it received several nominations and awards through various award-giving bodies.
It earned nine (9) nominations at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards namely Best Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Bazar Icon Award, and the Popularity Award was granted to the main leads, Hyun Bin and Son Yejin.
It also achieved the Most In-Demand Korean Drama Series at the 3rd Annual Global TV Demand Awards; Outstanding Korean Drama and Outstanding Korean Actress (Son Yejin) at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards; the Best Drama Series through Asian Academy Creative Awards; and the Overseas Drama Special Award through Tokyo Drama Award 2020.
Winners at the 7th APAN Star awards was also given to Son Yejin (KT Seezn Star Award), Kim Young-min (Best Supporting Actor), and Kim Sun-young (Best Supporting Actress). Remarkably, Hyun Bin won the Grand Prize (Daesang) for his role as a North Korean soldier.
Here are the five (5) key points on what makes CLOY the most outstanding romantic-comedy Korean series ever produced:
The Perfect Screenplay, Plot, Direction, and Production
“Crash Landing On You” is a fated love story about a South Korean heiress and a North Korean army officer, hindered by political walls.
Park Ji-eun, the writer, did a brilliant job adding an interesting element in the drama, the vibe of North Korea—a courageous yet credible dive in the most mysterious society in the world. It was also a genius idea for her to merge two completely different lives through the two opposing cultures.
Written meticulously, the plot is a top notch with many twists and turns, making each episode engaging, unpredictable, exciting, and intense. Thus, it keeps the audience intrigued and glued to the storyline. The border, restrictions, and conflicts that arise make the drama unique as it adds depth and suspense to the show.
However dissimilar, the show gave a good representaton of the contrasting culture, lifestyle, and values between the two countries. It delivers a perfect blend of romance, comedy, action, tension, and drama, making the the viewers laugh, squeal, and cry buckets.
Likewise, how the production team devised the set-up, props, and special effects to make the location shoots look like North Korea is impressive.
The Excellent Cast and Performance
The well-written screenplay was well-executed by the entire cast. Every single character portrayed by the good set of actors uniquely stands out that each one received immense love from the audience.
The quality of teamwork performance is compelling enough that you will laugh, cry, and feel the emotions of Captain Ri’s squad, the nosy neighbors, and the secondary duo roles. They all provide entertainment, humor, and thrill. At times, heartaches.
The annoying antagonist or villain is also impactful as it adds tension to the storyline, making the drama more engaging to watch.
The Stunning Visuals and Cinematography
Notably, the picturesque landscapes of Mongolia, Switzerland, and South Korea added to the charm of the storyline.
Everything is equally stunning and breathtaking from the scenery to cinematography, allowing more depth to the drama’s intense and heartfelt scenes.
The gorgeous visual of the lead actress, Son Yejin, is also impressive. You will fall for her pretty looks and sweet charms. Moreover, her stylish attires in the drama stand out that it became popular, leading many female viewers to go online shopping and get the same set of outfits.
Likewise, the irresistible and manly charm of the lead actor, Hyun Bin, is a delight to watch in all angles. His visual look—handsome face, dimples, height, broad shoulders, strong arms—was a guaranteed hit for the general audience.
The Beautiful Original Soundtrack
The music is another masterpiece in this drama. Each song perfectly fits and fills the important moments and scenes.
The OST has a unique kind of emotional impact that it makes the farewells more heartbreaking, giving the audience the “feels and chills”.
Notably, it captivated the hearts of many that it became one of the most downloaded original soundtracks of all time. Several YouTubers and musicians around the world also did covers of the songs.
The Undeniable Tandem and Chemistry of the Main Leads
The best highlight of this drama is the undeniable tandem of two hallyu stars, Hyun Bin and Son Yejin. Visibly, this pair is a perfect combination of good looks, excellent acting, and overflowing chemistry.
Dubbed as “Binjin” by fans, they did an incredible teamwork in performing a heart-wrenching love-across-borders story that sex or nudity is not needed to make the romance convincing. In fact, the couple’s on-screen charm is so powerful and heart-fluttering that it made the audience believe they are dating in real life.
Definitely, CLOY fans are the happiest when it was confirmed by their agencies on January 1, 2021 that Hyun Bin and Son Yejin are officially in a relationship.
DRAMA RATING: 10/10
“Crash Landing On You” has a lasting effect. It has a unique kind of charm that makes it pretty hard for viewers to stop once they start watching it. In fact, many viewers suffered from the post-drama syndrome who could not move on after the series ended.
The rewatch value is great. It still gives that kind of warm feeling everytime—definitely worth a re-rerun.
CLOY is a flawless masterpiece. It’s one of the few crowd-favorite, phenomenal, excellent Korean drama series. Truly outstanding.
KORB 