Mr. Plankton

You’re the last scene of my life. Well, I guess then I had a pretty good life. It was so much fun. Thorough and complete. I love you. ​Mr. Plankton starts slow, but once it finds its footing after Episode 3, it delivers a deeply moving story about grief, connection, and what truly makes a family. ​At its core, the series contrasts two philosophies of love: Hae-jo, who believes love is conditional and transactional, and Jae-mi, who believes love is rooted in giving. Hae-jo’s road trip to find his biological father isn't just a plot device, it’s a search for the unconditional parental love he was denied since he was a child. But the show's genius is showing that his admittedly futile search isn't a tragedy. While he pursues a biological father, he ultimately finds his answer in the chosen family around him: Bong-suk, Ki-ho, and surprisingly, Heung. ​The gangster subplot is an incredibly weak point that just slowed down the plot, but the stunning cinematography and phenomenal performances by Woo Do-hwan and Lee Yoo-mi far outweigh it. The final shot, Jae-mi watching Hae-jo in his last moments, brings both his and the audience's journey to a quiet, heartbreaking, and beautiful close. I can't recommend this series enough.