Review of Goodbye Solo

Seriously, I bought the show because I fell in love with Chun Jung Myung. I love his smiles, his eyes and his acting.
However, after the second episode, I couldn't stop. The suspense kept me going and I finished the show in 2 days.

I don't know if I could do a proper summary of the show. The reason being that the show has a high level of complexity in human relationships and there are too many characters.

Story/Plot: 5/5
The show started off in a confusing and complex manner in episode one. It was very tough telling how each character was related to one another.
Basically, in the story, each character presented has a hidden past. They became who they were because of their past. Throughout the show, their secrets were slowly revealed and the show showed how each of them learnt to walk out of their past and moved on.

It has a fantastic plot and the way each character's past was revealed was done with sufficient suspense that kept me going on and on. I walked in and out of my room in between the long hours of watching to get drinks and food, talking to myself, "Boy, what a good show!"
A brief summary (Boy, this is tough for Icysnowqueen for once):
Kim Min-ho (Chun Jung Myung) left his home after finding out that he was an illegitimate child. He came to live with an old woman (Na Moon-hee) who was mute and deaf.
This old woman played the role of old granny to many characters in the show. She had a past she would love to hide too. I won't touch on this. It would kill your joy watching the show.
Min-ho's best friend, Yoo Ji-ahn (Lee Han), lived with Min-ho's parents since high school. He lied about his past and his family. He made use of Min-ho. As time past, he grew to be attached to everyone around him. However, his sad family background stopped him from being genuine. Throughout the show, he struggled between the truth and his pretence. His girlfriend, Chung Soo-hee (Yoon So Yi) in the end fell for Min-ho and left him for Min-ho. This caused strain in their long-standing friendship.
In this show, there is another set of relationship. It was between a young girl, Min-ho's best buddy, Choi Mi-ri (Kim Min Hee), and a near-retirement gangster, Kang Ho-chul (Lee Jae Ryong). This relationship had its ups and downs. Through this relationship, the past of these two people unfolded.
Finally, another major character would be Oh Young Sook (Bae Jong-ok). She was deemed as crazy by her husband. Thrown out of the house, despised by her own children, she came into the lives of this group of people.
Trust me, if I tell you everything here, you won't enjoy the show. The beauty of the show is wanting to know the past of each character. The suspense will keep you going.

By episode 14, most of the past of all the characters would have been revealed. I find episode 15 and 16 rather predictable and a little draggy. However, for episode 2 to 14, it is still worth the time and money.

Casting:
I really have to say this. This show has a whole lot of good actors and actresses. Some of them have the looks and the acting skills. I am truly impressed.

Chun Jung Myung as Kim Min-ho
Acting: 5/5
You might think that I am biased because I have already liked him from Foxy Lady. However, if I compare Foxy Lady and Goodbye Solo, I think Goodbye Solo has stretched his acting skills even more. I was very surprised that he could cry with tears so easily.
In this show, he portrayed himself to be a carefree person who had deep pains and hurts. However, his selfless personality made him do many things for others. Even when he knew that his best friend was making use of him during high school days, he forgave him because of his family background.
When handling his relationship with granny, he managed to melt my heart with his warm smiles and loving eyes.
This show demanded a lot from him. He was expected to portray warmth, cheerfulness, playfulness, insecurity, anger, pains, hurts, maturity and understanding. I think this show basically stretched him to the fullest. No wonder in just year 2006, he had 2 shows to his name.
There were many scenes done by him that I love from this show . One of them was when he asked granny in if that was what she really wanted (won't tell you what happen). His eyes was filled with love and pain for granny. Aw! I cried when he finally gave the look of acceptance.

For his fans, I am so sorry, he would be away for 2 years as he has been enlisted by the military. Gosh, I would be waiting for his new show. I am sure directors would look for him because he can simply throw out good shows.

Yoon So Yi as Chung Soo-hee
Acting: 5/5
Yoon So Yi didn't have to try very hard for me to believe that she was the artistic Soo-hee. She has the looks and the poise. I love the way she looked at Min-ho with love. I love the way she cried when she was torn between Min-ho and Yoo Ji-ahn. I was very surprised that other than her looks, she could really act. I was won over by her smiles and her tears. It wasn't difficult to love her though she betrayed the love that Ji-ahn gave to her.
I think she deserves a 5/5 for her fantastic acting. It wasn't easy handling the emotions Soo-hee had to go through because of her mother. This girl did it well. I love the scene when she had to tell Ji-ahn that she could understand his plight but could never go back to him. Her pain was visible and her friendship for this torn friend was there. She made an impact.

Lee Han as Yoo Ji-ahn
Acting: 5/5
It was surprising that a mature looking man like him managed to pull of as a high-school boy without much change except the uniform. Obviously, he has a rather versatile face. In fact, after watching this show, I realise he could easily play the nerd or the crook.
What really impressed me was his ability to cry. For a guy, his tears come really easily. His eyes will turn red and beads of tear would drop. In this show, he played a really torn person. Torn because of his upbringing and beliefs. His inability to tell the truth and trust others caused him to lose much. It was painful to watch him make the wrong decisions again and again.
However, the story is such that the producers explore all facets of human nature. Hence, he is not a totally undersirable character. In fact, no one is in this show is. Everyone in this show has reasons and a past to explain themselves. Isn't that all of us?

Kim Min Hee as Choi Mi-ri
Acting: 5/5
I think not even one of the main characters will get anything less than 5. They did such a fantastic job in this show. I think the producers (Hwang In Hyeok and Ki Min So) must be really good. They managed to bring out the best potential of each actor/actress. Kim Min Hee played the character of Mi-ri superbly well. Mi-ri is someone who is smart, bold in love and actions. I was totally convinced by Kim Min Hee's acting.

In this show, Mi-ri was cohabiting with a middle-aged gangster, Kang Ho-chul. Mi-ri tried really hard to get Ho-chul to commit more to the relationship. In the process, she went through a lot of pain and hurts.
Her acting is really good. She could act-cute without making all my hair stand. She could cry and make me cry with her. Her cool appearance could convince me that she was the strong-headed Mi-ri. Her gentleness towards Ho-chul made me love her even more. I simply like her.

Lee Jae Ryong as Kang Ho-chul
Acting: 5/5
He wasn't very convincing as a fighter in the show. However, who is expecting a middle-aged gangster who is near retirement to anyway? He managed to win my heart as a gentle but act-tough gangster. He struggled constantly with guilt and low self-esteem. Ho-chul kept thinking that he didn't deserve to have happiness with anyone.
Ho-chul couldn't bring his pride down to the woman he loved. He has too much in the past. Lee Jae Ryong portrayed that well. He acted well enough not to appear disgusting when he was with Mi-ri. Afterall, it was very obvious that Mi-ri was a little too young for him. He managed to show enough gentleness towards Mi-ri that I accepted that he loved her.
In fact, both of them did a good job. As in Foxy Lady, if such relationship is not well-acted out, it could be disgusting. However, this pair won the battle too.

Bae Jong Ok as Oh Young Sook
Acting: 5/5
In this show, Young Sook was a rich but disturbed woman. She was initially snobbish. Her loneliness and disturbed past haunted her constantly.
Bae Jong Ok did a very good job here. She managed to show hints of her loneliness even when she acted snobbish. It was in the eyes and body language.

As we move on into the story, her character would become clearer in her troubled life. Bae Jong Ok managed to make the character pitiful yet strong. Seriously, I really think it takes quite a bit of acting to be able to act in this show. She has it.

Na Moon Hee as Mi-young (Granny)
Acting: 5/5
This show is a no-go without her. Granny was like a centre point for all the characters. Na Moon Hee did such a fantastic job that I was totally touched by her. She was so kind to everyone. She was Min-ho's support. She was like Young Sook's mother. Yet in her, there was a painful past.
I really can't fault her acting at all. In fact, I love all the scene of interaction between Min-ho and granny. I think the chemistry between Chun Jung Myung and her was just so strong that they could have got along very well off screen too.

Overall: 5/5
I am seriously recommending this show to anyone who wants good story. It has romance in it. However, don't expect too much humour. This show has enough suspense to keep you going. There are many characters, many sub-stories and really good acting. Please do not mistake this show as one that will make you cry non-stop. It will make you cry. It will also make you smile. It is just about human relationships and human nature. The producers added one story in the last few episode about envying others' lives. I think that's basically what the producers wanted to show. I shall not preach here. Find out for yourself.
It is a show that really impressed me with good storyline, superb acting and great thinking. It has a great deal of substance in it.

If I were to rank all the shows I have watched, this should be one of the top few amongst Snow Queen, Foxy Lady and Thank You.