Why You Should Watch and Rewatch Crash Landing on You

What better news could there be on New Year’s Day than to hear my favorite K-drama couple officially dating! If you’ve read my previous post “Five Things I Am Grateful for in 2020,” this happy revelation is one of the things I am thankful for. Learning that Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin have become real-life sweethearts since Crash Landing on You (CLOY) wrapped up filming made this K-drama fan super kilig. That’s also what prompted me to watch CLOY for the third time, with the prying eyes of someone who is now privy to the unfolding love story of the BinJin couple. I actually wanted to see once more those swoon-worthy moments that made me fall in love with Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok and made me root for RiRi (Captain Ri and Yoon Se-ri).

PLOT SUMMARY

Because of a paragliding accident, South Korean heiress and businesswoman Yoon Se-ri (Yon Se-jin) crash-lands in North Korea. There she meets army officer Ri Jeong-hyeok (Captain Ri) who helps her go back to South Korea. They eventually fall in love which further complicates the situation. Will the star-crossed lovers have a happy ending?

REASONS TO WATCH AND REWATCH CLOY

The Lead Actors’ Outstanding Chemistry and Excellent Acting Skills – The undeniable chemistry on- and offscreen between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin leaves viewers with no option but to root for the star-crossed RiRi couple in CLOY and to ship the two K-drama superstars in real life. Their acting chops are top-notch, too. We all know Son Ye-jin as the Queen of Melodrama, but in CLOY, she excels in both the heart-wrenching and funny scenes. The same can be said of Hyun Bin. Those facial expressions when he sheds tears or when he sulks, pouts, and gets jealous. I like him in My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Secret Garden, but I love him even more in CLOY! He’s really grown so much as an actor.

Remarkable Cast – While the story of CLOY primarily revolves around Seri and Captain Ri, the supporting cast members portrayed unforgettable characters as well. First on the list are Captain Ri’s Company Five soldiers, namely Pyo Chi-su (Yang Kyung-won), Seri’s grumpy and funny nemesis; handsome oppa Park Kwang-beom (Lee Shin-young); Kim Ju-meok (Yoo Soon-bin), a true-blue K-drama and Choi Ji-woo fan; and Geum Eun-dong (Tang Joon-sang), the youngest member of the group. They’re the ultimate squad goals, walang iwanan! The nosy North Korean ajummas, Captain Ri’s neighbors, also make CLOY even more engrossing. How Seri won them over and her touching gesture to honor their friendship is truly heartwarming!

A Total Package – CLOY, a beautifully written story, has it all: romance, drama, comedy, and action. Your heart will flutter over the blossoming love story between the RiRi couple. You will cry buckets over the star-crossed lovers’ trying moments. You’ll laugh your head off with Pyo Chi-su’s deadpan expressions and his endless bantering with Seri. And you’ll see Captain Ri in action, too, fighting off the bad guys and coming to Seri’s rescue. That motorcycle scene in Episode 6 is epic! He is truly Seri’s knight in shining armor!

Breathtaking Sceneries – You will also enjoy watching CLOY for its picturesque filming locations, like the Hallasan National Park in Jeju Island, which serves as North Korea’s demilitarized zone, and the spectacular sites in Switzerland, which include among others (1) Lake Brienz in Isetwald for Captain Ri’s piano scene; (2) First Flieger in Grindelwald where Seri paraglided before he reunited with Captain Ri; (3) Sigriswil Panorama Bridge where Captain Ri asked Seri to take a picture of him and Seo Dan (Seo Ji-hye); and (4) Lake Lungern in Obwalden where the final scene of CLOY was shot.

Heart-tugging Music – Who else aside from me fell in love with CLOY’s Original Soundtrack (OST)? The significant events happening between Seri and Captain Ri are made more heartfelt with the songs specifically made for this K-drama. Some of my favorite songs from the soundtrack are Flower, Here I Am Again, and I Give You My Heart. I actually remember specific scenes from CLOY where these songs are played:
• Flower (Yoon Mi Rae) – when Seri, after getting lost in the marketplace, found Captain Ri holding a candle to look for her (Episode 4)
• Here I Am Again (Yerin Baek) – when Captain Ri took the bullet meant for Seri (Episode 6) and when he reunites with Seri in South Korea (Episode 10)
• I Give You My Heart (IU) – when Seri got hit by a bullet (Episode 14).

I know I’m one of the many fans who will consider CLOY as one of the finest K-dramas ever written. Do watch it on Netflix if you haven’t seen it yet. I guarantee you’ll love it!