Atypical Family
Summary
Atypical Family is a South Korean drama about a down-on-their-luck superpowered family on the brink of destitution. Barely hanging onto their abilities, the family must struggle to survive the past, present, and future, as well as the marriage scammer that has set her sights on their dwindling fortune.
Assessment
The show starts with a very ominous tone, but it eventually settles into a twisting and turning tale of familial love, reconciliation, letting go of the past, heroism, and self-sacrifice. There is a well thought out and designed time travel element that adds to the overall mystery and unpredictability of the plot. It isn’t too convoluted as far as time-travel stories go and should be fairly easy to keep track of for anyone who does not regularly watch time travel-centric stories.
In terms of production quality, this show is top-notch. The overall filmmaking and directing style are strong with hints of artistic flare that add to the story’s somewhat quirky plot. The music, too, adds a layer of surrealism or fun without taking away from the show’s slightly more somber tone. The acting is, like most South Korean dramas, really, really good with an excellent cast and some great chemistry between the characters.
Now, while this show is quite obviously secular, it never seemed to glorify any of the sins it presented. There is greed, gluttony, drunkenness, and suggested (but not depicted) premarital sex, but none of that is the focus of the show. The show remains solidly focused on this family’s collective redemption arcs and return to who they were meant to be, which largely includes getting rid of the old sins and addictions.
Light-o-Meter
Writing: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Acting: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Filmmaking: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Cleanliness: 4 out of 7 Little Lights (some blood and intense themes, including alcoholism and PTSD, but no violence, gore, nudity, or sex)
Theological Message: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
At its core, I think the show has two really great messages for Christians (although there are plenty more, including the importance of a strong father, forgiveness, reconciliation, etc.): 1. letting go of past pain and baggage so that you are free to be who you need to be for those around you and 2. what the world has meant for evil, God will turn for your good. Both of these are presented quite clearly as the main messages and motivations behind the story.
So, the family is completely and utterly dysfunctional due to how much pain they are holding onto from the past. However, unlike so many other TV families in that same situation, they don't hate each other. Even from the beginning, I could tell that they truly loved and cared for one another, there was just so much baggage from events years past that they couldn’t properly fulfill any of their roles. The matriarch couldn’t be a proper mother to her children because she was desperate to cling to their past wealth. Her son couldn’t be a proper father to his daughter because of the pain from losing his wife. His daughter couldn’t open up to her father because she felt broken and cursed.
As the show progresses, however, they shift from holding onto that pain to reaching for something else: hope. Each one goes through an arc where they must decide between keeping that baggage or letting go of it for the good of their family and future. The show does a really great job of giving each family member a “healing” arc that fits both their personalities and situations.
I recently began to rewatch this show with my mom (because I love it so much!) and the message of God turning things meant for evil towards our good really leapt out at me. Without giving out any spoilers, the way the family’s redemption arc plays out is such a great example of this. Things that were meant to harm them, meant to rob them, meant to cause them suffering, ended up leading to their reconciliation and ability to finally heal from the past. Is it a perfect example? Definitely not, but it is a really good one for a show with no obvious Christian basis!
Wrap-up
Atypical Family is a South Korean drama about a family that lost their superpowers due to various lifestyle diseases. They eventually fall prey to a marriage scammer in a story that is surprisingly full of hope and good, Christian messages.
Where to Enjoy
Watch Atypical Family on Netflix!
This review is for this specific product and this product alone. In no way, shape, or form is this review meant to be an endorsement of the private lives, individual choices, lifestyles, or behaviors of those company(ies), publisher(s), creator(s), producer(s), author(s), artist(s), etc. associated with this product. It is God's sole providence alone to judge, and we make no claim to this right. With our reviews, we're simply looking at the value and merits of this specific product alone through the content and perspective of a Christian worldview. We pray you find it helpful and useful.
