English Title: Goodbye Earth
Korean Title: 종말의 바보 (lit. end’s fool)
Director(s): Kim Jin-min
Screenwriter(s): Jung Sung-joo
Studio: IMTV & Studio S
Released: 2024
Runtime: 12 episodes, 47m – 1h 5m each.
Starring: Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Sung-woo, Kim Yoon-hye
My Verdict: Opening is a bit muddled but settles into a grim slice-of-life “try to leave out our final days in peace” drama. Ending is bad and cheap.
● This series is based on the Japanese novel by Isaka Kotaro that was first published in 2006. The Korean title is a literal translation of the Japanese title (終末のフール). Please note that I have not read the novel so the review is purely of the series.
● Set in 2025, an asteroid is heading towards Earth. Its impact is predicted to be near the Korean peninsula such that the only way to survive is to leave the region. Much of the population is unable to leave. The plot follows the residents of Woongcheon in their last two hundred days.
● This series does not contain sci-fi and/or military action. It arguably would be better if there is a plot thread on that but this is not the genre.
● The opening rushes through some preceding events as flashbacks. There was supposedly an attempted coup in which missiles took out communications. There was also a jailbreak that led to the kidnapping of school-aged children, the criminals subsequently trafficking some of them, killing others with some surviving. Whilst mayhem is expected, these events come across as rather convenient with too many details unclear. Although the timing (day countdown) is clearly superimposed on the screen for these flashbacks, the first episodes still come across as muddled.
● Despite the above, the series does settle into a mostly linear narrative at the usual K-Drama pace. It will be slow to some.
● The incident of the abovementioned mass kidnapping in some ways frames and even drives the series. The main character Jin Se-kyung (Ahn Eun-jin) is a schoolteacher of the kidnapped students and she is obviously affected by the event, subsequently wishing to go after the perpetrators. She is in essence the “stubborn hero” of the series and can be annoying in that respect.
● Meanwhile, her friend Kang In-ah (Kim Yoon-hye) is an army captain in command of a group assigned to her hometown. Se-kyung insists In-ah help hunt down the human traffickers but the latter is somewhat by-the-book and lacks the resources.
● Ha Yoon-sang (Yoo Ah-in) is Se-kyung’s fiancé. He was working as an academic researcher in the US but returns to South Korea. The two struggle to communicate after being apart and given the current stressful situation.
● The other main character is Woo Sung-jae (Jeon Sung-woo), a young priest at the local parish. Since the arrest of the head priest Father Baek earlier and has not been heard from since, Sung-jae tries to fulfill the role by himself. The plot follows other residents of all ages, all of whom are part of the local Catholic community.
● The series is somewhat slice-of-life but obviously in a crisis setting rather than the ordinary. Society has partly broken down with martial law in place. Military checkpoints and curfews are the norm. Power and water are still on but food supplies are inconsistent and therefore low.
● Whilst the situation portrayed is generally plausible, it does require some explaining. Many have left but it is implied most are still in the country. Although some degree of panic and breakdown is expected, if the power and water are still on, then one expects the manpower to be available for most other things. In other words, the situation is conveniently dire in some respects but not in others.
● It does not shy away from portraying corruption with some elements of the civil authority and military involved in the aforementioned child trafficking. Of course, there is a shortage of supplies, including ammunition, which prevents In-ah from taking action.
● Having said that, if certain crimes increase, then one expects people will find a way to retaliate but this frustratingly does not happen. After all, the same lack of ability to stop the crime will be the same for any retaliatory activity. Also, if kidnappers are around, one would expect the adults to be stricter with their children regarding when and where they are permitted to leave the house but this point seems to be neglected.
● In any case, for the purposes of this drama, it does generally convey effectively enough how grim the situation is.
● By following many characters, it keeps it fresh and potentially draws in the audience so that they feel like they are living there and part of the community.
● The cinematography is not bad. It is mostly conventional and mildly gritty. Tight one-shots are common and although that fits the genre, it sometimes comes across as trying too hard artistically. The performances are solid so at least that sells it.
● Whatever the weaknesses, all of them could be somewhat mitigated with a proper conclusion that is missing. This cannot be explained without some spoilers. [Spoiler]
First, the series ends before the asteroid impact. This is not shown and there is no epilogue or the equivalent thereof. Even though everyone knows the asteroid will hit, to view 12 episodes, in effect living with these characters in their final days but not being with them to the end, is frustrating.
Second, as if the above isn’t bad enough, there is insufficient closure for all the characters. As already mentioned, the kidnappings in a way frame the story and the ending addresses that in a semi-arty way by showing Se-kyung’s resolve. However, even that is not done properly as it goes for the semi-arty approach, one small step away from the “it’s up to the audience to interpret” ending.
In other words, the ending is cheap. It is the sort of ending that should be banned.
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