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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "The Greatest Thing in the World" Episode 1

The first distinctive image we're treated to in this drama is of a father discovering that his teenage daughter is pregnant in a remarkably surreal absurd way, punctuated by stock music and sound effects that really hit just how stupid this guy feels for not figuring it out sooner. It's a generally serious moment that's totally wrecked by the way the drama's editing conspires to turn the whole incident into the butt end of a joke. And I have to admit, I laughed.

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"The Greatest Thing in the World" is wide genre humor in the service of a family drama, that engages social issues regarding unwed unplanned pregnancy by injecting heavy doses of humor into it. Teen dad Bo-Hyeon (played adorably by Maeng Se-chang) is a horribly naive goofball who literally resorts to broad humor in this desperate effort to make sure that he has a relationship with his daughter. These are some of the lowest denominator jokes possible, but Maeng Se-chang really sells them by bringing so much charm and heart into the performance.

The drama has the same sense of comedic timing and synergy with sound effects common in Korean variety shows. It has this great element of surprise that often goes a long way to helping the viewer forget how low-brow the humor really is. The characters are just so utterly determined that it's easy to root for them. A simple set-up and delivery on a basic joke can go a long way with the help of an impassioned delivery.

This works best in the plotline of the teenage pregnancy, though. The other half of this story, that of aspiring stage actress Woo-Seon (played by Choi Yoon-young), is more problematic. It's still funny in the same way, but it's much more difficult to sympathize with her character because of the context of the situation. Woo-Seon discovers that she's pregnant- but this does not in any apparent way change her plans to become a stage actress, even though being a stage actress and carrying a baby to term are two mutually exclusive goals.

It's understandable that teen mom Ja-Yoo (played by Kim Hee-jung-I) failed to really think through what having a child was going to do to her life. She's just a dumb teenager. But Woo-Seon is an adult that should know better- it's especially frustrating seeing her go to a home for single mothers. These are safe places for those unfortunate who have absolutely no other options. A financially secure woman with a supportive family like Woo-Seon should not be using its resources. Hopefully the drama does a better job of explaining why we're supposed to want her to succeed in the next episode.

Review by William Schwartz

"The Greatest Thing in the World" is directed by Lee Eun-gyoo, written by Kang-ha Ji-eun and features Choi Yoon-young, Lee Sang-yeob, Jeon Min-joon and Goo Eun-ae.

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