[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Drama Special - Persistent Happiness"

Seon-joo (played by Ryu Hyun-kyung) is feeling restless and agitated by the many small things in life. In one such moment of minor suffering, she makes an impulsive decision to go out and have an adventure. To start out with everything seems to be going fine. Seon-joo's meeting new people, not exactly great ones, but passable, and sees some of Korea's lovely beachside scenery in the process.

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These moments become rather short-lived though, as Seon-joo discovers a terrible secret about her traveling companions. They invited her on the trip impulsively too, and consequently, quickly realize they have no idea what to do with her. Seon-joo becomes awkwardly enmeshed in their interpersonal dramas, learning new facts about these people that might seem cute, if this drama were a romantic comedy.

In actuality, "Drama Special - Persistent Happiness" is attempting something quite different- to demonstrate the awkwardness a generally non-social person feels when they decide that the solution to their problems is to act more outgoing. I don't know how the men on this roadtrip function in day-to-day life. Do they always ask random strangers to tag along on excursions because the more the merrier? Actually, from their perspective, it actually does seem like having Seon-joo in the room somehow makes thing more fun. How I have absolutely no idea- it's not like they make fun of her or really do much of anything except relate to the woman as a cipher.

As Seon-joo's uninspiring road trip moves on, it's pretty clear that there's a reason why she doesn't travel more often. I suspect at some point Seon-Joo knew this too, but forgot because that was, like, an eternity ago. But she's far less likely to forget the events of this particular trip, with its constant awkwardness, the realization that after that first exciting moment there really isn't anything else to do, and laughable moments that after awhile just turn into a big cosmic joke.

That's essentially the character arc Seon-joo goes through here. There is no particular magic formula for happiness. Just because a person is outgoing, cheerful, and obviously wants cares about being liked is not a good reason to spend an extended amount of time around them. Sometimes you're just much better off having those quiet moments of introversion and introspection. The world is, by its nature, a frustrating place. But this drama shows that even these moments of clear failure can be funny ones. It's not really that we laugh with Seon-joo so much as that eventually she starts laughing with us.

Review by William Schwartz

"Drama Special - Persistent Happiness" is directed by Kim Jong-yeon and written by Jang Myeong-woo and features Ryu Hyun-kyung and Jung Eun-woo.