Thank You

This is a beautiful show and a wonderful story dealing with a very important issue. The writing is mostly excellent and the acting superb across the board. I like the play with perspective and camera position when showing major cliffhangers. The music and particularly the setting are perfect for the greater metaphor of how ignorance and prejudice can make us insular. I also find dramas that aren't just about the romance refreshing. Very well done.

However, there are two big problems with the show. First, it took major suspension of disbelief to accept that an industrialized and technologically developed country like South Korea wouldn't bother to screen blood donors for communicable diseases. Second, and this is the most alarming: no one on the show seems to know the difference between HIV and AIDS. Some characters, even healthcare professionals (!), keep going back and forth between the two as if they're interchangeable. This is not only annoying to those who have read a book or simply watched "The Real World: San Francisco," but absolutely unacceptable for writers who are apparently aiming to address a certain level of ignorance about these diseases among the Korean populace. Very disappointing.

Typically, a Korean drama follows a very routine path. It is only in the acting and the changes in story-line, along with some creative twists that make one different or stand out from the rest. In this particular case, it is that very creative twist that brings this drama a step above the rest. Taking to task the very real prejudice against HIV/AIDS carriers in Korea, Thank You sets this up by having one very little girl contract AIDS through a rushed blood transfusion that missed a crucial check in order to save her life. Ironically, it ends up being the very thing that threatens her life.

The storyline develops at an even pace, which is nice for a change, although the opening sequences are non-linear and a little confusing. It leaves one wondering who is who and where and when for the first little while until reaquainted with other characters. That said, the puzzle pieces do fall into place, and create an endearing sub-story.

The music, while good, like most Korean dramas is not very imaginative in its selection. The composition and production itself is wonderful, and the songs heartfelt, however, the constant repitition borders on tedious at times and often doesn't quite fit. There is an eerie sense of "ooo there's a ghost somewhere nearby!" in one of these pieces which is used for scenes that just don't match. Although it only marginally detracts from the overall production quality of the drama.

Thank You spends a great deal of time developing characters into loveable and hateable archetypes, and even surprises the viewer to tears in some cases. There is a surprising amount of depth sunk into each character's background and history with not a great deal of feet dragging as is done in most dramas. Thank You has a very elegant approach to character development, primarily through character and situational interaction. The viewer can derive a far greater sum on their own and decide who they like or dislike based on their own person perception of a given event.

Finally we come to the acting. The adult actors are amazing as usual and take their roles very seriously. They do a supurb job of handling each roll, however quirky it may be, with a delightful mediocrum of lifelike reality. None of it is really over the top if one has any experience with Korean families. But there are two that need particular mention. The grandfather who has alzheimers disease (incorrectly translated as dimentia (Dimentia, as a side note, is -exactly- the same thing, but the name is attributed to people UNDER the age of 60, while alzheimers is attributed to those 60 and over)) and the little girl "Spring". The actor who portrays the ailing grandfather does an award winning job of his role and I certainly hope some recognition for this part was given its due. The young actress who portrays the character of Spring is beyond good. If there were only more young actors and actresses like her in North America, then Hollywood movies wouldn't be so nearly devoid of talent amongst its child actors. As it is, the viewers can take solace that at least in the world of Korean Drama, the children CAN act, not just the character of Spring, but all the rest are as natural as any child on a regular day. It is just that this particular young lady is extraordinary. There is no other suitable word.

All in all, I highly recommend watching Thank You if you wish to watch something a little different. A warning though, it can be pretty graphic at times - they do not pull punches with the gore as doctors don't turn their heads, neither should you. Thank You will frustrate you, endear you, anger you, sadden you, enlighten you, and give you food for thought. Well worth every moment.

I loved EVERYTHING about this Drama. I normally don't cry during movies, or shows but this show had my tearing up so much!
The actors played their parts so well, it's like I was watching someone really living their life on set. You'll begin to love each character during the series, and really feel their emotion they portray.
I know, later on I'll go back and watch this series again. Thank You has a really unique storyline, one of the BEST. (:
I love it, and you will too!
So watch, enjoy!

This series was one of the most moving, funny and inspiring dramas I've ever had the honor of watching. For any K-Drama fan, this is a must see! I will never forget each and every character I got to know in this series and I can't wait to revisit this title again in the future. If I ever forget what is truly important in life, all I have to do is watch "Thank You" again to be reminded. This drama is not in my top ten favorites; it's in the top three. Truly unforgettable!

Thank You! This was indeed an emotional rollercoaster ride for me. The characters were true to life, the situations placed upon each character was surreal. The stigma of raising a child with HIV in a small village,occupied by ignorant, narrow-minded people in itself was a terrific storyline. Add in devoting all you energy to care for an elder (grand father Mr. Lee) and make sure that there is stability, hope and most of all Love while working multiple but honorable jobs to make ends meet, and keep a supply of choco pies (aka) Moon pies is no easy task. to say the least. But one that Young Shin does without remorse, regret or complaint, ..trying at times but beneficial in so many other ways.

Enter a crabby old grandma, who constantly torments the mother and daughter's existance, so as not to let everyone know that the sweet, innocent little girl known as Spring - aka Lee Bom is her biological grand daughter by her one and only son. Ahhh ha..... the plot thickens!

Enter the city born and bread "craker jack" physician Min Gi-suh who gives up on life as he knew it, due to the death of his girlfriend, who he was unable to save due to complication of the progression of her disease. Also, the fact that she too was a physician who ended up running a clinic for the under priviledged because of her self imposed exile, due to her misdiagnosed of the sweet little Lee Bom after transfusion her with HIV tanted blood after a car accident. Her negligence with informing Lee Bom's mother Young-Shin of the post blood test results . She attempts to travel to Blue Island to tell the mother and say she's sorry for her mistake and ask forgiveness, but during the fairy boat trip, she dies in the arms of Dr. Min Gi-suh her boyfriend, but before she dies....she ask Min to take the child a present and speak to the mother on her behalf, just in case she doesn't get the chance to see them.

After being discharged from the hospital that his father founded and now works as a Taxi Driver (don't laugh) I'm serious. He starts a new profession working for his mother, the chairwoman of a large corporation with interest in architecture and real estate. She assigns him to be an Assistant performing manual labor to Choi Suk-hyun (crabby granny's only son) and so the sager begins. Granny is determined to get her son married off to the beautiful Eun Hee, who told Choi Suk-hyun she was pregnant...and after going to the doctor found out that she wasn't but instead because of an ultrasound that revealed that it would be difficult for her to have a child...by traditional methods, but wait...she tells the Granny..who then ask her not to tell her son...so Eun Hee and he can be married and not fall back in love with his baby mama Young Shin, who he claims he slept with on a bet when they were younger...only to find out that he still loves her..after all these years, but fears that it's too late to win her back...after everything his mother and he has done, especially by not letting Lee Bom know that he is her biological father.

I love this drama because it has all so many twists and turns...some are mildly predictable, but for the most part. each episode proved to be extraordinarily surprising. Love the plot changes every other episode, it made it more insteresting and you got the feeling of having to go the following episode to see what was going to happen next. I spent the entire day Saturday from start to finish 16 episodes. It was wonderful, and although the love interest were defined...it would have been nice to have a little more interaction between the two couples, (Young Shin, and Min) or Eun Hee and Choi Suk-hyun and the ending was nice and quaint...but lack that "you asked me to leave" but baby now I'm back, please lets become a family and live happily every after effect. Another reason I enjoyed this film is that I was familiar with some of actors...from previous dramas; Gong Hyo-jin (Hello My Teacher); Sin Seong-rok (3 Dads 1 Mom); Suh Ji Hee (One Fine Day); and now my new hunk of the year to add t the collection of Asian male hotties Jang Hyuk....too cute....too fine! Thank you, Thank You, Thank You for this drama.

At first, this movie moved a bit slow for me, but as it progressed, it was a very good story. It teaches us how we, as humans, can be selfish at times, when we should actually be selfless, and considerate of one another, no matter what the differences are. Its true that ignorance results from being truely unaware of things, no matter if its culture, disease, or personality. Sometimes, people are too quick to judge and are too easily influenced that they make the wrong decisions in life, only later to regret or resent it. This heart felt story is one that shows us situtations that occur that result from these human acts. The actors are all great, and I'm glad I got the ending I wanted. Take the time to watch it and maybe you'll have your own self-realization in situations you undergo in your own life.