Extraordinary You Full Review: When Fiction Meets Reality in the Most Beautiful Way
Suppose, one day you wake up from bed and realize your life is not real and you are trapped in a comic book, what would be your reaction? Today in my Extraordinary You full review, I will tell you a story where you can see exactly this kind of situation. The story of Extraordinary You takes the viewers to a world that is in a sense different from our regular world. In this world, everything is scripted and every moment and every step is written by a writer. But the twist is, in this scripted world, some rebellion happens.
For sure this is a school romance drama but is far from the typical school romance with a blending of fantasy and reality. So now, let’s dig into the rebellious love story of Eun Dan Oh and Ha Ru.
The Plot: A Character’s Quest for Autonomy and True Love
The story is set in a prestigious high school and the central character Eun Dan Oh studies there. She belongs to a very wealthy family and is engaged to Baek Kyung who is one of the most handsome boys of that school. But Eun Dan Oh has a heart disease which is actually very serious. Anyway, she always thinks of her as the main character but she also realizes that whatever happens around her is nothing like the main character. As she likes her fiance so much but he gets irritated with her presence. One morning suddenly she sees something unusual in her mind and that particular thing actually happens around her. She understands she is seeing her near future. She is confused and roams around her campus and again sees something unusual with Jinmiche who is the chef of the cafeteria and asks him what is all happening. He informs her that all the people here are in a comic book called “Secret”. And the cruel part is she is not even a main character but an extra with an ego who will die soon. Eun Dan Oh refuses to believe her fate and wants to rebel against the writer who gave her an unfortunate character. Now she is determined not to go after his fiance who doesn’t care for her and find her first love who will make her heart flutter.
One day, she was about to fall down the stairs when she was about to die according to that comic writer. At that moment someone saves her. She didn’t see her face but only felt her back and then she felt her heart flutter. Now Dan Oh wants to find that boy and change her fate. Eventually, she found that boy who does not have any name. As they get closer Dan Oh gives him the name “Ha Ru”. And from here the love story of Dan Oh and Ha Ru begins.
Cast and Performance:
To be very honest, the cast and crew are the strongest points of the drama Extraordinary You. The whole cast is a mixture of some rising stars, veteran actors and some seasoned talented actors and altogether they created a masterpiece. Mentioning all the masterclass characters is quite impossible right, so I am here talking about some main characters.
Kim Hye Yoon as Eun Dan Oh:
Kim Hye Yoon and Eun Dan Oh, the role she played both are sweethearts. Kim Hye Yoon gave an amazing performance as Eun Dan Oh who is both feisty and determined heroine. When Eun Dan Oh realized she was not a main character but just an extra with a short time span, she pushed herself to the edge just to give herself a happy ending. She finds Ha Ru and creates her own love story. She even rescued her dignity by not crying over her scripted fiance.
As for Kim Hye Yoon’s performance, she deserves a lot of praise because how she switched her character between the scripted Dan Oh and her real emotions in the “shadow” is absolutely brilliant. She carefully showcases the emotions such as frustration, courage, and unwavering hope of Dan Oh. Hye Yoon actually lived the character of Dan Oh and Dan Oh was so lively that the viewers were compelled to adore her.
Rowoon as Ha-Ru:
The character Ha Ru is kind of mysterious and gentle as he popped up from nowhere. In the whole comic “Secret” there was no one called Ha Ru. Ha Ru came up as an unknown character but as the story moves forward he becomes the anchor of Dan Oh. Ha Ru is a soft-spoken person and mostly speaks with his eyes. If you look at his eyes you will definitely feel like you have a past connection with him, and that is Ha Ru’s charm.
Rowoon played the role of Ha Ru, as he was a member of a boyband SF9, he proved himself a rising star in the field of acting too. Through Rowoon’s journey with Ha Ru, his performance came out sharper and more refined and Ha Ru became one of the most adored characters of Extraordinary You.
Lee Jae-Wook as Baek Kyung:
In the comic world, Baek Kyung is the cold and arrogant finance of Eun Dan Oh. He is one of the hottest boys in the school and is loved by many female students and Eun Dan Oh also loves him but he never cares for her because she is always sick. At first anyone will take him as a negative character but later he also develops an ego and is able to move as he wishes in the shadows. As you learn more about this anti-hero for sure you will fall in love with this pathetic and unfortunate lover who is desperate to save his love.
Lee Jae Wook amazingly played the role of Baek Kyung who performed Baek Kyung not just like a typical second lead but gave him his own charm. I can guarantee you that you will cry for Baek Kyung so hard asking for an ending for him.
Supporting Cast:
As I said earlier, the cast and crew did a superb job, so obviously the supporting actors did a splendid job too, they brought each and every character their own flavor. The supporting cast are the main plot (Yeo Ju Da, Oh Nam Ju, Lee Do Hwa’s love story) of the “stage” and scripted story. The comic story is a typical love story where a rich kid falls in love with a lower-class student and also consists of a second lead character who is obviously a green flag. And their own story keeps the drama more engaging and enjoyable.
What Makes this drama different:
This high school love story deals with some common tropes of love but there are some qualities that make it stand out as one of the most unique dramas of all time. And some of them are:
Direction and Screenplay: A Clever and Meta Approach
The whole concept of the drama Extraordinary You is nothing but a unique thought but it also came out as a huge success because of the brilliant direction and screenplay. The way the set was designed, especially the color palette they used was so eye soothing and gave a fictional vibe. I can’t help but mention the meta approach that this drama takes as they put ego into some of the characters who were aware of their fictional existence. The switching scene of the stage and shadow could easily confuse the viewers so it was surely a bold move and they handled it with such ease which deserves a lot of praise.
A Fresh Take on Storytelling:
The drama is an adaptation of a webtoon and it shows the most common trope of love triangle, everything is usual but still it’s not that usual. Here we can see two stories of love and both deal with the trope of love. The scripted love story was kind of the regular love story where a chaebol falls in love with a poor girl and another green flag falls in love with her. But the main spice was in the story of the shadows. When Eun Dan Oh came to know about her role in the webtoon and her time span in the story she became determined to change her fate. She also invented a new character and changed her whole fate going against the writer not only that here we see how two worlds get connected.
Balancing Humor, Emotion, and Fantasy:
The perfect balance of humor, fantasy and emotion makes this drama more engaging and dear to the viewers. When the drama starts we see Eun Dan Oh who walks like a heroine, talks like a heroine and also dresses like them and we all mistake her for the main lead but soon the viewers burst into laughter when it gets disclosed that she is not the main lead but just an extra in the stage story. How she wants to change her fate and be an important character is funny too but soon her determination makes the atmosphere serious. The idea of a world of comics is exceptional and the story makes it one of the most remarkable fantasy dramas of all time. Not only that, all the witty dialogues and the theme of self-discovery and free will no donut deserve a huge round of applause.
Music and Emotions: An OST That Complements the Story
Extraordinary You has a huge number of tracks including vocal tracks and instrumental scores, and the number is 81, crazy right? Here let’s talk about only the vocal tracks, as a bonus I will mention the most popular one, the best one, the fan favorite and the masterpiece among them.
Vocal Track List:
- Feeling by APRIL
- First Love by Sondia
- First Love (Drama Ver.)
- My Beauty by VERIVERY
- Today I Wanna Say That I Love You by GOTCHA!
- Draw You by Jeong Sewoon
- A Story Never Told by Sondia
- Story That Won’t End by Stray Kids
All the tracks are so soothing to one’s ears and give a perfect push to the viewers to get blended in with the story and the characters as well.
Most Popular: My Beauty
My Beauty is an upbeat as well as a catchy song which is the most popular song of the drama. This song perfectly covers the cute and playful love story of Dan Oh and Haru, and as fans love the love story they give immense love to the playful song too.
Fan Favorite: Story That Won’t End
Story Won’t End by Stray Kids can be labeled as the fan favorite because all the fans of the drama cherish this powerful emotional track. If you listen to the lyric then you will see it directly represents the determination and desperation of Eun Dan Oh and Ha Ru, and this melts the heat of the fans.
The Best One: First Love
This one stands out as one the the best songs of the whole OST charts because this one is pure magic. First Love is a sweet and soft ballad that perfectly covers the emotion of the whole drama. Sondia’s voice also added its own charm that blended with the heartfelt lyrics and came out as a splendid one.
A Masterpiece: Draw You
When art and emotion meet it becomes a masterpiece just like this track. Draw You owns a beautiful composition, an emotional lyric and a beautiful vocal and complements the drama’s bittersweet and romantic moments in the most perfect way possible. This track is surely a masterpiece because it captures the true essence of the drama.
At first look, “Extraordinary You” can appear to the viewers as a typical romantic high school drama but as the story proceeds you will see it’s not just a love story of some school boy and girl. It is more of an emotional journey of a girl and boy who are eager to change their cruel fate and identity. When Dan Oh comes to know about her place in the drama she becomes heartbroken, the writer gives her the most pathetic character who is not loved by her beloved and also is going to die. Most of the time she stays in the hospital and other times she either cries for love or does something to pair the main leads of the stage and when she gets her ego she finds it unfortunate to her. So desperately she wants to have a good ending and for that she challenges the writer.
The unique plot, memorable characters and the melodious songs still kept it alive in the hearts of the viewers. And now I want to say if you want to experience something new or if you are more into good performance and heart-fluttering romance then Extraordinary You is a must-watch for you. For sure you will be stuck with it from the beginning to the end. If you already watched it then let me know your experience and if you have not then trust me like the name you will have an extraordinary experience with this drama and you are going to fall in love with Dan Oh’s innocence and Ha Ru’s silence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.What is Extraordinary You about?
Extraordinary You is a South Korean drama that blends fantasy and romance. It tells the story of a high school girl, Eun Dan-oh, who discovers that she is a character in a comic book. As she becomes aware of her fictional existence, she fights for control over her own fate, navigating love and self-discovery.
2. Why is Extraordinary You considered unique?
Unlike many typical high school dramas, Extraordinary You stands out for its concept of characters in a manhwa (comic) becoming aware of their fictional status. This fresh take on the genre, combined with witty dialogues, engaging romance, and fantasy elements, makes it a must-watch for K-drama fans.
3. Who are the main characters in Extraordinary You?
The main characters include Eun Dan-oh, played by Kim Hye-yoon, a girl who learns she is a comic character, and Ha-ru, portrayed by Rowoon. Ha-ru is a mysterious new student who defies the comic’s storyline and becomes a key figure in Dan-oh’s journey of self-liberation.
4. How does Extraordinary You mix fiction and reality?
Extraordinary You expertly merges fiction and reality through its premise where the characters are aware of their scripted lives in a comic book. This blend of fantasy and real emotions creates a unique viewing experience as the characters try to rewrite their destinies and challenge the storyline.
5. Is Extraordinary You worth watching for non-K-drama fans?
Yes! Even if you’re not typically a fan of K-dramas, Extraordinary You has universal themes like love, self-determination, and breaking free from societal constraints. Its innovative storytelling, engaging performances, and emotional depth make it accessible to a wide audience.
6. What are the key themes explored in Extraordinary You?
The drama explores themes of fate, free will, love, and self-discovery. It delves into the internal struggle of knowing your life’s path is predetermined and finding the strength to change it, which resonates deeply with viewers seeking inspiration.
7. How does the love story in Extraordinary You unfold?
The love story between Eun Dan-oh and Ha-ru develops as they defy the conventions set by the comic’s narrative. Ha-ru becomes Dan-oh’s ally, and their bond grows as they confront obstacles and challenge the fate that has been drawn for them, leading to a heartwarming and dramatic romance.
8. What is the ending of Extraordinary You?
Without giving spoilers, the ending of Extraordinary You offers a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion. The characters find a way to break free from their scripted lives, and the resolution touches on themes of empowerment and choosing one’s destiny, leaving viewers with a sense of hope and closure.