"They (children) are not some tools that can fix your (a parent's) inferiority complex. They are not some sandbags that you can use to vent your anger" - Na Seung Hye
Everyone has been jumping on the bandwagon of Hallyu Wave for a really long time, be it K-pop, Korean cuisine, or K-dramas! Honestly, I can see why people are so obsessed with it. They lure you in with their immense history, fashion, skincare (oh the porcelain skin!), and delectable cuisine! (Tteokbokki and Kimbap all the way!). And just like that, I fell in love with K-dramas. The perfect amount of drama sprinkled with the cuddle romance that makes you want to experience it in real life. (yes, even I want to dance in the rain with someone I absolutely adore whilst ignoring the stack of problems that's piling up!)
But today, I won't be talking about a loved-up romance drama that tugs at your heartstrings. It's a rather serious plot, that'll give make you question a lot of things and perhaps, anger you. It's an intense theme that involves rich people and education. One would think how can you make a plot enthralling and eye-grabbing with education?! Well Tomodachi, I present to you, Sky Castle!
Quick synopsis: The plot revolves around four rich housewives who reside at Sky Castle and their desperate ways to get their kids into Seoul National University.
Dropping you right in the middle, the plot begins with our very first housewife, Han Seo-Jin. The wife of a very high-profile doctor, Han Seo-Jin is the definition of prim, proper, and sophisticated. Her main goal throughout the 21 episodes is to get her eldest Kang Ye-Seo into SNU. Having two daughters, you can see she's more biased towards the eldest one, why? cause of their similar aspirations.
After Han Seo-Jin, we have Jin Jin Hee, she might not be as proper as her best friend Han Seo-Jin but she is sure to bring you the giggles and cackles with her presence. Like others, even she dreams of her young son getting into SNU (You know it's an Asian household if the bar is set that high!)
Next is Na Seung Hye, Mother to twin boys and a girl and wife of a very well respectable professor. She is the epitome of grace and simplicity, despite sharing the same dreams as her fellow housewives, she really loves her kids and adores them for who they are and not what they want to do or accomplish in life.
Simultaneously, We have Lee Soo-Im. Newly joined at Sky Castle, She is a children's author and comes from a fairly modest background, she and her husband focus more on their child's growth rather than which university their child chooses to go to.
Lastly, we have the oh-so-fierce, Kim Joo-Young. She is a well-renowned tutor that everyone wants to have as the success rate with her involved will be 100% percent. She is a one-woman army who only cares about herself and no one else.
I had so many thoughts while watching this K-drama. Firstly, how Asian households emphasize education so much. Education somehow is an important aspect in an Asian household. In the series, we see how much of a pressure it is on the kids to match their parent's expectations. It's as if their accomplishments are a one-way ticket to them (parents) being respected and hence climbing up the social ladder.
You can also see faint lines of misogyny whenever it came down to parenting skills, for e.g. when professor Cha says, "I'd love for you to teach my wife a few know-how" to Myung-Jae (Yeong Jae's mother). You can see all the females in the room looking at each other, the atmosphere suddenly becomes tense. Women being subjected to misogyny is not something new, clearly. The logic is simple, it takes two to tango. Similarly, raising a child is a job of two.
Another aspect that plays a lot in this whole plot is privilege. The other day, me and some of my friends were talking about how privileged we are as individuals. Similarly, the children are privileged, some boast their privilege while some are grateful for it and acknowledge it. All these kids are what they are cause of their parent's status and wealth, they are able to get the best of the best education primarily cause of their parent's bank account. Then we have Hyena, who enters the equation, who comes from not-so-well family background. She challenges and irks everyone cause of her 'low standards'.
The plot also touches upon issues like classism and elitism, the way the residents act to Lee Soo-im as if her family has infected the prestigious Sky Castle. The success of one family is jealousy disguised by lavish parties and get together. Instead, hypocrisy reeks in these four walls.
The 'Sky' in Sky Castle is an abbreviation for the three top universities in South Korea, i.e. Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University.
The show mainly boils down to one's parenting skills. Is it necessary for a parent to push their child to their limit to make them socially and economically secure? Is education more important than your child's mental health? Are they dreaming for themselves or for their parents? These are the few questions that pop up when you watch the show. The whole show is grim. Director Joo Hyun-tak and Writer Yoo Hyun-mi make sure to keep the audience engaged throughout the 21 episodes. Every episode comes with an unpredictable plot twist with humor as a cherry on top.
Parenting does not require an instruction manual that you need to follow religiously for a fruitful result, its rather a do-it-yourself project, where you try your best to give the child whatever they need. A parent will do anything to put their kid on top. They should be the ones leading the race if it means smashing the other child along the way. Parenting is a rocky road that requires immense care and nurturing, in today's race called life, a child needs and seeks that support from their parents. Yes, you can dream but don't let your dreams overpower your child's aspirations. Ultimately, they (children) are the ones who would lead their lives, to leash them and make them do what you (parents) want them to do is only going to make your child feel caged.
Therefore, Sky Castle amounts to a perfect show for you to binge, perhaps with your parents too? With a perfect background score and visual aesthetics, the show will leave you in awe. It's a perfectly executed story without any inconsistencies.
With this review, I'll just leave you with one question, Are your dreams, your dreams, or your parent's dreams?
Let me know in the message box! Thanks for sparing your precious time! I appreciate you more than you would know!
Background score - We all lie by HAJIN
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