Can a clueless superpowered team really save the world? There are unexpected evils lurking around a humble town in Korea, and an unexpected bunch gathers to put an end to the unsolved abductions and mysteries.
The storyline for Netflix’s newest series, The WONDERfools, seems quite captivating: it features a star-studded cast and the teasers already garnered mass interest with its cinematic effects and dramatic display— but is it worth the binge? Award-winning actress Park Eun Bin, alongside the popular but currently controversial Cha Eun Woo delivered a spectacular performance that not only showcased their varying colors as actors but also opened the doors to their quirky charms through lovable characters Eun Chae Ni and Lee Woon Jung.
The story is set in 1999, and Choi Dae Hoon discovers that she is going to die. Fed up with life, she becomes cynical and deviates from the righteous path to harmlessly live a more self-absorbed life. As the story progresses, she and her abnormal neighbors suddenly gain superpowers and band together to protect Haeseong City. The humorous start turns grim when an evil organization and trio known as the “Wunderkinder” are mutating people for their own experimental curiosities and greed. The story is chaotic but comedic as their adventures revolve around the oddball powers that they slowly discover at a snail’s pace.
Episode one, unfortunately, is a real pain to sit through. Although it is nice to see Park Eun Bin’s new punk image and rowdy character portrayal, the main plot starts slowly, and her character’s story doesn’t smoothly dive into discovering her powers. It all just sort of happens and lacks connectivity or reasoning. Nothing about their universe feels like it is the late 90s aside from their cellphones, so the atmosphere isn’t as immersive as one could hope.
Episode two is where the fun starts, as it mainly introduces the group dynamic, their powers, and the idea of a bigger enemy with a bigger purpose. Episode three truly reels in viewers and makes the series a must-watch till the end due to the looming danger of the organization who are looking to kidnap Eun Chae and battle with Lee Woon Jung.
As the story progresses, the group undergoes individual moments of self-discovery as their powers help them find a purpose in their not-so-average lives. Despite some powers, such as Park Eun Bin’s teleportation or Choi Dae Hoon’s sticky powers, being questionable and hard to understand at first, each has importance in steering the story and aiding the team.
The series is comical but doesn’t leave one in stitches. A lot of the comedy is mainly animated and better suited to a webtoon rather than a live-action. The running gags are personality-focused, with the characters being dramatic in their expressions, vocal pitch, and emotional breakdowns. At times it lands and can make the viewers chuckle, but other times it feels childish or overdone.
For a comedy, the storyline definitely takes an unexpectedly dark turn, and a lot of the flashbacks are shocking to see. The story of the Wunderkinder and mad doctor Ha Won Do (played by Son Hyun Joo) is quite cruel, and the merciless experimentation on children strips away the comedic aspect. However, if it weren’t for this heavier plot, The WONDERfools would definitely lose its edge and viewers’ interest. Unfortunately for the heroes, their eccentric yet familiar story pales in comparison to the villains who play a more pivotal role. They have more intriguing powers, and their background stories make the audience engaged and want more from them. From their visually unique looks and edgy way of speaking to their dark pasts being painfully intertwined, this portion of the storyline was well-written and could easily outshine the main direction of the drama.
As for cinematography, the CGI is both good and bad. When used to suspend Park Eun Bin mid-air, it can look evidently cheesy, but action scenes, explosions and overall displays of mutant powers are done in a believable manner. The scoring for the drama is enjoyable, as upbeat and silly instrumentals that complement comedic highlights transition into moodier tones that enhance darker or more chaotic scenes.
Overall, The WONDERfools is a charming drama. Cha Eun Woo’s unpaid tax controversy caused no problems, and fans can still enjoy his performance. Despite the somewhat boring beginning, the classic third episode saves the day and makes the show worth watching towards the end. The final two episodes reveal a great portion of the mystery and their powers, which makes it worth the wait. While no one’s acting was particularly a standalone hit, the cast are fun to watch. The heroes live up to their quirky expectations, and the villains are delightfully sinister and fit their characters like a glove, making for an entertaining dynamic if you can sit through episode one. (7.5/10)
>> Park Eun Bin Responds to Cha Eun Woo Issue at ‘The WONDERfools’ Press Event
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