Drama Digest
The Good Supper is built around “Supper”, a run-down diner in the countryside. Young Shin, a high-schooler in her third year, picks up groceries and ingredients after school and puts her cooking skills, imparted to her by Gyung-soo, to use by assisting him to run the diner. Gyung Soo, the diner owner, is her guardian and has raised her since she was eight. Young Shin grows up with Da Jung, Jung Hoon, and Oh Bok, each of whom she shares a deep bond. Jung Hoon, the son of a divorced couple, moves to the countryside with his father. Da Jung is a regular at Supper with her parents, and Oh Bok grows up under the care of his grandmother and uncle after his parents abandon him. For twelve years, the quartet fosters a beautiful friendship and regales Gyung Soo’s life with love, friendship, and a lot more.
The Feel-Good Part
The drama has a good beginning, with the first few episodes being very intriguing. The characters’ childhoods are adorable, and they have glorious chemistry among them, and the viewers get a precise idea of what they will be like when they grow up. The show also does a good job highlighting how a good community functioning as a support system and a family can impact a child’s approach to life. The second half is nothing like the first, and it becomes a carousel of dark and twisted character arcs. The actors do an excellent job essaying their roles and are one of the most significant redeeming factors of this series. The OSTs are exceptional and are beautiful to listen to.
The Disappointing Factor
This is one of the most problematic k-dramas I have seen in a good while. This show builds a romantic relationship between Gyung Soo and Young Shin, which is downright creepy and paedophilic. The creators seem to forget that Gyung Soo has raised Young Shin since she was eight, and him being in love with her is not romantic; it has horrible connotations. It also does not make sense how the oedipal angle to their “romance” is recognized by the creators but is just used as a plot device to further the story. There are too many loose endings in the show. One of the worst characters receives forgiveness after committing murder. She has to face no legal reproach either and walks off free. The entire subplot with Jung Hoon feels very redundant after a point in time.
In-Depth Analysis
This show goes downhill and effortlessly takes the crown for one of the messiest series in a long while. The dynamics between Young Shin and the men around her are all highly questionable. A romantic dynamic between a girl and her guardian is not one of the most palatable things, especially if it is this creepy. Many of the secondary characters are not explored thoroughly, and their problems are mentioned only in passing. There are many other puzzling details like a woman being forgiven for murder and facing no consequences for her actions. Young Shin is poorly written, as well. She is given minimal personality and she remains aloof or weak for the most part. This completely contradicts and opposes the nature she had been assigned to.
The actors are the saving graces of the show. Without them, the show would have completely fallen apart.
Star Power
Kang Da Hyun is easily the star performer this season, and her realistic attempts at essaying her roles show how she outshines every other member in the cast.
Overall Opinion
If you have been busy and do not have the luxury to waste your time watching this complete disaster, I would recommend you avoid this and watch something worth the investment of your time and energy.
