‘Mr. Plankton’ Review: How a Predictable Death Still Broke Us All

The Show That Promised Heartbreak and Delivered — With a Side of Chaos, gangsters, and a Lot of Abandonment Issues

Korean Drama Name: 플랑크톤 (Plankton)

Where to watch: Netflix ← *Click for direct link*

My Rating: 8.0/10

Average Rating: 8.6/10 (MyDramaList)

One Sentence Description: Mr. Plankton will make you laugh, swoon, ugly-cry, and think ‘why is everyone abandoning everyone?’  as a dying man, his ex, his ex’s fiancé and a gangster chase closure across Korea.

Trailer:

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Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

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Simple Description

This show follows a dying man who, in a last-ditch effort to find his biological father, kidnaps his ex-girlfriend—on her wedding day—so they can search for him together. Naturally, this turns into a chaotic road trip where they’re constantly on the run. Whether it’s Jae Mi’s furious fiancé, Heung, or a gang of vengeful thugs who blame Hae Jo for stealing a bride (a different bride).

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⚠️Length Note: This post includes a detailed (and long) story breakdown. Want to skip straight to the review? Jump to the Review

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The Review

The Good

The Storyline

The storyline was excellent. I especially appreciated how they kept it realistic by having Hae Jo die at the end. As heartbreaking as it was, it was necessary. Usually, shows insist on forcing a happy ending  by adding some magical last-minute medication, a miracle cure, or the power of love to keep him alive. But not here. They said, He’s dying, and he’s gonna die. And I respect that.

What really got me was how, despite knowing he was going to die, his death still absolutely shattered me (and probably everyone else watching). I rarely cry at shows, but this one had me WRECKED. The way the show subtly showed his transformation was brilliant; it didn’t need to spell it out. We saw Hae Jo go from not caring whether he lived or died to slowly realising how much he valued his life, and by the end, he was desperately clinging to it. It’s not just something he says at the end; we actually see his perspective shift as we follow him through the months. It’s cleverly done, and it makes the ending hit even harder. Brilliant.

The (Potential) Real Father Connection

Okay, this could just be me reaching, but hear me out: The second father was totally the real father. Not just because they conveniently never showed the paternity test results, but because his personality traits were exactly like Hae Jo’s — including the negative ones.

Time to put on my fake psychology hat (disclaimer: not a psychologist, just a very opinionated person).

We all hated how the second father treated him, but in a way, it kind of mirrored Hae Jo’s own trauma responses and toxic tendencies. When the father was going off about Hae Jo being an orphan and spitting all those horrible words, it reminded me of how Hae Jo broke up with Jae Mi. It wasn’t just a clean break,  he made sure to twist the knife and say things that would really hurt her, just like the father did to him. Why?

Self-sabotage.

Think about this: According to TheReviewGeek, Jae Mi wanted kids, but Hae Jo didn’t. Now, I don’t know if this was confirmed (and if it wasn’t, pretend I didn’t say it), but if it was, then maybe he felt cornered and guilty for not wanting the same things as her. So he projected his fears and insecurities onto her and ruined their relationship before it could disappoint her further.

Now compare that to the father. He had a gambling addiction (or something close to it), and when he got caught, he was backed into a corner. What did he do? Projected all his self-hatred onto Hae Jo and pushed him away. He probably felt shame and guilt, so he projected those feelings onto Hae Jo, cutting ties to avoid future disappointment.

See the pattern?

And let’s talk about the money. If the dad always planned to steal it, why did he ask Jae Mi to convince Hae Jo to stay on the very day he had the money in his bag? If you just stole a bunch of cash, wouldn’t you want them gone ASAP? But no, he wanted them to stay. He cooked for them, bonded with them, made Jae Mi laugh, the fish market scene, and even had that emotional moment with Hae Jo by the fire. I don’t think it was just about the money. He probably didn’t find the money until that day, and his addiction got the better of him. I think, for a moment, he actually liked the idea of having a son. I mean, everything he said and did felt real, he just didn’t know how to handle the good thing in front of him, so he destroyed it.

Just like Hae Jo.

But hey, maybe I’m just overanalyzing. Either way, it’s interesting to think about.

The Scenery

Every single shot was visually stunning. The cinematography team really said, let’s make every frame a wallpaper. And they succeeded. The beautiful backgrounds made the show even more captivating, especially the ending. What a place to die. I mean, if you’re going to go, might as well do it with a view, right?

Woo Do Hwan

Just… Woo Do Hwan. Need I say more? Just look at the photo and every question should be answered.

The Ending

The reunion with Hae Jo and his dad at the end? Chef’s kiss. That was such a beautiful, heart-wrenching moment. Seeing the different versions of Hae Jo — his inner child, teen, and adult — hugging his dad felt like watching his broken pieces finally heal. It was emotional, poetic, and just perfect.

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The Bad

Not much character development

I wish we had seen more character growth from Hae Jo. I get that the show only covers three months, but considering that he knew he was dying, it wouldn’t have been a stretch to see him change alittle. Hae Jo was pretty much the same guy from start to finish. It got frustrating watching him abandon her over and over, only to sit around feeling bad about it. I mean, dude, at some point, you are the problem. If he had survived, I wouldn’t have been shocked if he abandoned her again somewhere down the line.

Compare this to Queen of Tears (description here!), where a character who learns they’re dying actually starts caring more about people. A doctor in that show even explains that it’s common for terminal patients to become more emotionally present. That should’ve been the case with Hae Jo. It would’ve been satisfying to see him grow, even just a little, as he came to terms with his death. It would’ve added depth to his arc and made his relationships more meaningful, rather than keeping him stuck in the same cycle of abandonment and regret.

Jae Mi was more of a supporting character

From watching the trailer, you’d assume this show was a deep dive into Hae Jo and Jae Mi’s love story, but by the end, it’s clear that the real emotional core was Hae Jo and Heung. While that’s not necessarily bad, I wish Jae Mi had been more of her own character outside of these two men. Instead, she felt like a plot device — there to help Heung gain independence and to serve as a catalyst for Hae Jo’s emotional journey. She always wanted to be a mom, and it would’ve been nice to see them explore that more. But instead of fleshing out her personal struggles and growth, the show left her underdeveloped while the two male leads had proper arcs. It’s disappointing that Jae Mi felt more like a supporting character than a main one. Heung found freedom, Hae Jo found peace (well, death), and Jae Mi… just existed. We have no idea what happened to her. It’s like the show forgot she was supposed to be a main character. No closure, no definitive ending , just vibes.

The Dad

Short but necessary: why did we get zero explanation from the dad? When they reunited, why didn’t he explain why he never looked for his son? He kept all of Hae Jo’s stuff like he was preserving a memory, but he never bothered to track him down. And in that earlier flashback, he acted like he didn’t even know Hae Jo. What was that about? What changed? The lack of answers here was frustrating.

The Ending

The biggest disappointment of the show was the ending and the reason it got a 8/10 instead of an 9 or 10. Two main issues: the lack of proper closure with side characters and the abrupt ending.

Hae Jo’s goodbyes were… not good.

Look, I respect the show for keeping it realistic and actually letting Hae Jo die. But his final interactions with Bong Suk (the landlord/mother figure) and Gi Ho (his best friend) were just bad. His last words to Bong Suk were straight-up cruel. He basically told her they were nothing to each other, that she was just someone he mooched off of, and then he spiraled into self-pity. She was obviously a mother figure, considering how much she clearly cared for him — putting up with all his nonsense, feeding him, letting him stay rent-free (when he was depressed), still taking care of him after he abandoned her in the middle of the road . She deserved better. When he went into cardiac arrest, she was a wreck. It was obvious she cared deeply for him, and while Hae Jo didn’t always show it, he must’ve known. He even called her his “jackpot” at one point, but he never said it to her face. Instead, her last memory of him is him being cruel. She deserved better.

Even Gi Ho, his ride-or-die best friend who took beatings for him and never wavered in loyalty, got a half-baked goodbye. It really drives home the idea that if you’re always chasing something better, you’ll overlook the incredible people already in your life. Hae Jo didn’t deserve them, but they stayed anyway. And for that, they at least deserved some heartfelt final words.

The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying

Okay, so the show cuts off the second Hae Jo dies..? On one hand, it makes sense , he’s Mr. Plankton after all and without him, the story’s over. But on the other hand… that’s it? We don’t get to see Jae Mi or the others cope, grieve, or move on? That would’ve been such a powerful way to bring everything full circle. Instead, we’re left with a ton of unanswered questions: What happened to Hae Jo and Gi Ho’s business? How did Jae Mi process everything? How did she break the news? What about the gangsters? And the dad? So many loose ends, and the show just… stops.

Would it have killed them to give us one last scene of Jae Mi and the others finding comfort in each other? Anything to make the ending feel more complete? Instead, we’re left staring at the screen, emotionally devastated but also slightly annoyed. A bold choice, sure — but not necessarily the right one.

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What I Would Do

Jae Mi an Actual Main Character

Jae Mi would actually be a main character in my version. She’d have her own moments — scenes where she’s alone, contemplating her life, or reflecting on her past when Hae Jo abandons her. We’d see her struggles, her dreams of motherhood, and her growth as a person. She wouldn’t just be a plot device for Hae Jo and Heung, she’d be her own person with her own story.

The “Real” Father’s Redemption Arc

In the episode where Hae Jo gets the paternity results for the second father, I’d add an epilogue showing the results were positive  to  explain why he suddenly stopped the search. Not only that but I’d extend this storyline by showing the second father later on, perhaps through an epilogue or a future scene where he’s grappling with regret.

Here’s how I’d play it:

Option A: The second father, realising he truly wants to be a father to Hae Jo, is filled with regret and desperately tries to find Hae Jo. Maybe at the end, after Hae Jo’s death, he shows up in the city looking for him, only to be shattered when he learns it’s too late. Cue the waterworks.

Option B: We see the second father’s realisation that he’d only disappoint Hae Jo, and he deliberately pushed him away to spare him future heartbreak. His cruel words weren’t just an act of selfishness but in his (and Hae Jo’s) way, an act of love. Remember the episode where Hae Jo reveals people don’t just leave others out of boredom, but also out of love? Well this would be a great way to tie into that (really driving home how family thinks alike). Maybe we’d even get a scene later on where he admits this to someone, like Jae Mi or Bong Suk, after Hae Jo’s death.

Or, why not both? Let’s give the man some layers. He could start with Option B, then move to Option A when he realises he made a huge mistake. Either way, we’d get closure on his character and understand why he acted the way he did.

The Ending

This is where I would make the biggest changes. Ending the show the moment he dies might leave a strong impact, but it left too many loose ends. Instead, I would have extended the finale to show how everyone copes and heals. Here’s how I’d do it:

Hae Jo’s Death and the Aftermath

Hae Jo dies, and we get a montage of Jae Mi breaking the news to everyone. Bong Suk, Gi Ho, and even Heung are devastated. Maybe there’s even some tension, with Bong Suk blaming Jae Mi for not taking better care of him (because let’s be real, she’d be an easy target for their grief).

Time Jump: Then, we’d flash forward a few months or even years later, showing where Jae Mi (mainly) and everyone else ended up. I have two possible versions:

• Jae Mi is pregnant: Instead of outright saying she can’t have children, I’d have the doctor tell her that the chances are very low but not impossible. In a surprise twist, she finds out she’s pregnant with Hae Jo’s child. She raises the baby alongside Bong Suk and Gi Ho, who become her family. The baby becomes a source of healing for them all, symbolising that Hae Jo’s spirit still lives on in a way. This gives a bittersweet but ultimately uplifting ending.
• Jae Mi adopts a child: If the menopause plot point needs to stay realistic, then instead of pregnancy, she starts working at a daycare or somewhere near an orphanage. One day, she meets a child who reminds her eerily of Hae Jo. He acts and talks like him, but he’s still his own person. Over time, she grows attached and eventually adopts him. This way, she still fulfills her dream of becoming a mother, stays true to her character, and gets her happy ending.

The Second Father’s Return

The second father would reappear in the final episodes. Maybe he shows up at Hae Jo’s memorial or seeks out Jae Mi to apologise. We’d get an epilogue or a scene revealing his fears and regrets, and how much he actually cared about Hae Jo. Hearing about how happy Hae Jo was during their time together would hit him hard, giving us the emotional closure we deserve.

A Proper Farewell

This definitely needed to change. Before he dies, Hae Jo should have a moment where he realises the family he had been searching for his whole life was right in front of him.

We’d see him acknowledge Bong Suk as his mother figure, apologising for how he treated her and thanking her for always looking out for him. Maybe he even calls her “eomma” (“엄마” aka mom) in a quiet, heartfelt moment, which would have been devastating in the best possible way.

His goodbye to Gi Ho would also be deeper. Instead of just brushing off their friendship, he’d openly acknowledge Gi Ho as his brother, expressing gratitude for everything he did. But it would be said nonchalant and more fitting with his character.

Then, in his final moments, as he seeks out his father, it wouldn’t just be about finding his biological dad,  it would be about completing the family he’s only now realised he always had. He would die with a sense of peace, knowing he was loved and that he had a family all along.

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Final Thoughts

Mr. Plankton is a rollercoaster of emotions — heartbreaking, hilarious, and deeply human. It’s a story about life, death, and the messy connections we make along the way. Woo Do Hwan’s performance as Hae Jo was unforgettable, and the show’s refusal to sugarcoat his fate was both brave and heartbreaking.

That said, it’s not without its issues. The show stumbles in giving its characters the depth and closure they deserve and the ending felt rushed, leaving too many questions unanswered. Still, the show’s emotional core and stunning visuals make it a memorable watch. It’s not perfect, but it’s the kind of story that stays with you,  flaws and all. If you’re a sucker for bittersweet endings, insanely attractive male leads and characters who feel achingly real, this might be your new favourite show. A solid 8/10, with the potential to be a 9 if it had just tied up a few loose ends.

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What were your thoughts? Let me know!!

See you next week! 💕

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