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Moving- Full Review
Welcome to Moving – Full Review. Three teenagers with superpowers are caught up in a case of national security, and their parents will have to step in to protect their precious children. If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.
Moving
♥ Aired: August 9 – September 20, 2023
♥# of Episodes: 20
♥Where to Watch: Hulu
♥Genre: Supernatural Action Drama
♥Starring: Lee Jung Ha and Go Yeon Jung
The Story
Three teenagers with special abilities inherited from their parent end up at Jeongwon high school. But they soon find out that all of them being there isn’t a coincidence. A secret government program is being initiated that would train young people whose superpowers could be used for top secret missions. And a school is the perfect cover for training special agents. But neither the students nor their parents have any idea what is actually going on. And when the adults become aware of how their children are being used, they will stop at nothing to protect their loved ones
The Leads
Lee Jung Ha as Kim Bong Seok
Kim Bong Seok’s parents knew from the time he was a baby that he inherited his dad’s special talent for “floating”. Through his childhood, Bong Seok and his mother lived in hiding, while they worked on ways to control his abilities. Now that he is in high school, he has learned coping strategies to keep his powers hidden, although his mother still worries constantly. When a new girl shows up at school, Bong Seok is immediately drawn to her. And when he finds out that she has her own secret, he understands their connection. But little does he know that connection goes beyond them to their parents and their job within a special government organization. And now a similar program has targeted Bong Seok and other students who display similar abilities.
Kim Bong Seok is cheerful and kind. He is a disciplined student who longs for a life that will allow his mom to live a worry-free existence. But his secret gets much harder to hide as his heart responds to his feelings about his new friend, Hee Soo. And to his surprise, she is not horrified or scared of his “specialness”. Lee Jung Ha was really wonderful in this role. I heard that the actor had to gain a considerable amount of weight for this role. But I loved how that made him a less traditional looking hero. His sweet smile and unquestioning generosity made me truly fall in love with this amazing character.
Go Youn Jung as Jang Hee Soo
Jang Hee Soo’s father has always suspected that she inherited his ability to heal from any injury, no matter how serious. When she is expelled from her latest school for violence, only Jeongwan High school is willing to allow her admittance. So she shows up as the new kid, on her best behavior. But when she meets Bong Seok, she feels like she has met a loyal ally and friend. And as details about the school and the three gifted students unfold, a sinister plan comes to light between the school administration and a special government program.
Jang Hee Soo is brave and honest. As much as she wanted to avoid any trouble at her old school that would cause them to have to move again and put even more financial stress on her father, she couldn’t look the other way when an innocent classmates was mercilessly bullied. Bong Seok is the first person who seems to really understand her, and she is not afraid to tell him exactly how she feels — after she gives him something heavy to hang on to! Go Youn Jung is a great young actress and I think this role was perfect for her. I liked the quiet chemistry she shared with Lee Jung Ha and I really enjoyed their story.
Supporting Characters
Zo In Sung as Kim Doo Shik
Kim Doo Shik is Bong Seok’s father. His ability to fly made him a priceless assest to the government years earlier, until the top secret NIS program is disbanded. After being captured by the agency, Doo Shik disappears without a trace, leaving his partner, Joo Won, and his wife and son with no idea of where he is. While everyone fears he is dead, Doo Shik finally escapes his North Korean prison and comes home.
Han Hyo Joo as Lee Mi Hyun
Lee Mi Hyun is Bong Seok’s mother. Her special ability is an enhanced sense of hearing and sight. These abilities helped her become a high-ranking agent with the NIS. She met Doo Shik when she was assigned by Director Min to spy on the young agent. But Mi Hyun and Doo Shik fall in love and end up running away together. After Doo Shik’s disappearance, Mi Hyun has devoted her life to protecting their son from living the same kind of life they were forced to live.
Ryu Seung Ryong as Jang Joo Won
Jang Joo Won is Hee Soo’s father. Like his daughter, his special ability is the power to heal from any injury. He was Doo Shik’s partner when the two worked for the NIS. After Doo Shik’s disappearance, he stayed with the agency working a desk job for awhile. But when his wife is killed, he takes Hee Soo and goes into hiding. Currently, he owns a chicken restaurant near Jeongwon High School.
Things I Liked
♥ Backstories
This drama really sets out to give as many characters as possible their own private backstory. Even the North Korean soldiers were given some depth, so that their actions felt understandable, rather than just portraying them as evil. The individual episodes devoted to each of the stars and their stories felt very much like the kind of webtoon the drama was based on. I enjoyed getting to know each character and seeing each of their stories unfold.
♥ Human Superheroes
One of the things this drama did so well was showing the humanity of each of our heroes. Having superpowers isn’t always the picnic we envision. They have their own struggles and limitations. Being “different” can be lonely and frustrating. It was nice that this series went deeper than the average superhero show and gave each character an individual personality and story.
♥ Generational
I loved the way this drama was about both the children and their parents. Through the beginning stages of the show, it seemed like the story would revolve around Bong Seok and Hee Soo, and, to a lesser degree, Kang Hoon. So I was pleasantly suprised when the focus shifted to their parents and how it all started. While the students stories were sweet and interesting, the history of their parents gave the drama more texture and dimension. Their tragic lives are a cautionery look at what will happen if the parents can’t find a way to protect their children from the NIS and Director Min.
Things I Didn’t Like
Reunions
The ending of this drama left me wanting so much more. I especially missed some of the happy reunions that must have taken place. We see Doo Shik appear on Mi Hyun’s roof, but it would have been nice to see a sincere reunion between the two. And that first father son talk between he and Bong Seok must have been so touching. Also, I would love to have seen Doo Shik’s reunion with his former partner. Undoubtably, the two must have plenty to talk about. Lastly, I missed a sweet reunion between our young couple Bong Seok and Hee Soo. It would have been great if the drama had come full circle to have them meet a second time.
Past vs. Present
I am never one to complain about backstories and character development. But I will say that devoting entire episodes to the past sometimes made the story of the present seem inconsequential. And this made the pacing seem off at times. I think a better balance beween the past and present would have given the drama a more consistant feel. As it was, the final couple of episodes that took place mostly in the present seemed almost like an afterthought. I would have loved it if they had been able to include all the backstories while still bringing it back to the overarching plot in the present.
Ki Soo
It seemed like Ki Soo was going to have a more significant role in the overall plot when he was introduced. And I was disappointed that he didn’t. He was an interesting character, and his experience being injured by Sung Wook was a hint into the darker side of Jeongwon High School. They even gave a small nod toward a romance between him and Han Byul. But none of these stories ever really led anywhere. I just wish we could have gotten to know him a bit better.
The Ending
It’s a drawnout, bloody battle to get to the end of this drama. But in the end the good guys win and South Korea is safe, at least for the time being. Mi Hyun, Joo Won, and Jae Man step in to protect their children and defeat the North Korean spies. But Joon Hwa lives to go home and finally help Doo Shik escape prison, warning him that his son needs his protection. Graduation Day shows everyone except Bong Seok back at school. And Hee Soo is definitely feeling his absence. Later we see that Kang Hoon has kept his word to begin working for the NIS, but he requests that in exchange, his father’s criminal record be dismissed. Director Min agrees to consider it once Kang Hoon has proven himself. In a short but shocking development, as Kang Hoon is leaving, he sees his former classmate, the bullied Hye Won going into the Director’s office. And we see that she is actually the one Director Min is taking orders from. Apparently her superpower is not aging. She has the Director killed before leaving. For the end, we see Hee Soo go home to her dad’s shop where her new “uncle”, North Korean soldier Young Deok is now working with Joo Won. And we see that Bong Seok is now donning his bright yellow jacket to freelance as a superhero who rescues those in trouble. Finally we see Doo Shik appear on the roof of Mi Hyun’s apartment as Mi Hyun and Bong Seok look on in shock. Fade to black. But…after the credits we get a sneak peak into a possible season 2. Agent Sang Gu is now sitting in the directors seat. While elsewhere, we see Frank has returned from the dead. And the ones who trained the children are now looking to call up Elias. Bring on the new villains!
Should I Watch
“Moving” is a character driven, action hero drama. For me, this drama was a real gem. I loved the fact that our “superheroes” also showed us their very human sides. The character development is well done, while not taking away from the thrilling fight scenes and action plot. I will say that the drama is pretty slow moving if you are just looking for a fast paced, straightforward action drama. Also, while slow and character-driven, this drama is rated Mature for violence. It can get a bit gory at times, if you are particularly queasy. But the story is exciting and touching, the cast is amazing, and the visuals are realistic and well-done. I fell in love with all of these charming characters. And I hear that the writers have started working on a Season 2, so it seems like we will have a chance to get to know them even better. I give “Moving” an 10 out of 10 ramen.
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