Mr. Plankton review: Is the Netflix series worth watching?

Mr. Plankton, a limited Korean drama series on Netflix, stars Lee Yoo-mi, Woo Do-hwan, and Oh Jung-se. The story follows Ho-jae (Woo Do-hwan), an unlucky man who discovers he was born from a mix-up with the wrong sperm, leading him to feel unworthy of love. After learning he has only months to live, he decides to go on a final journey to find his real biological father, accompanied by Jo Jae-mi (Lee Yoo-mi).

Jo Jae-mi, played by Lee Yoo-mi, is also an unlucky girl who dreams of having a family and is engaged to Eo Heung, played by Oh Jung-se. Eo Heung's mother is not happy with Jo Jae-mi as her daughter-in-law but due to Eo Heung’s lie about her pregnancy, his mother is left with no option but to accept. In reality, Jo Jae-mi goes through a premature menopause.

Mr. Plankton takes an interesting turn as Jo Jae-mi is kidnapped by her ex-lover Hae-jo on the day of her wedding.

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Mr. Plankton review: Woo Do-hwan and Lee Yoo-mi starrer rom-com is boring and too dragged

Mr. Plankton built up an interesting base for the unfortunate characters Hae-jo (Woo Do-hwan) and Jo Jae-mi (Lee Yoo-mi), followed by their nationwide trip in search of the former's father. Mr. Plankton aka Hae-jo was a typical K-drama hero who could do no wrong with a pinch of arrogance and his go-with-the-flow nature made him interesting.

On the other hand, Jo Jae-mi was one bright girl with a unique personality who got his attention. Woo Do-hwan’s performance keeps the viewers captivated and his visuals will have the viewers swooning. Meanwhile, Lee Yoo-mi is a delight to watch but her character is not as impactful.

The drama keeps you on the hook in the first half with Jo Jae-mi and Eo Heung's blooming chemistry and creating a strong atmosphere for their possible future wedding. Eo Heung was too good to be a second lead and with Oh Jung-se's remarkable acting skills, one may want to look forward to their endgame, which would not happen.

Mr. Plankton makes the viewer wonder where the show is leading after the first half. The questionable kidnapping scene involving Hae-jo and Jo Jae-mi’s desperate wish to return to Eo Heung add to the confusion. Additionally, Jo Jae-mi and Hae-jo's connection feels too weak for a believable romance to develop between them.

As Mr. Plankton was a wanderer with no plan in life while making his own drift, the drama at first seemed unique but as it moved forward along with Hae-jo's unclear goals the storyline went astray. By the end of the K-drama, viewers may be left confused as to what just happened.

Given the sappy background story of the characters, the drama certainly is a tearjerker. It dwells on the traumatic tales of the characters but fails to give closure to their wounds, leaving room for several questions. The characters' words and actions did not match creating a huge gap for emotional connectivity.

The dynamic between Lee Yoo-mi and Woo Do-hwan was showcased seamlessly in some areas but did not reach in others. On the other hand, Lee Da-hee's cameo and her synergy with Woo Do-hwan were notable even though it was too short.

Final verdict: Mr. Plankton is a rom-com cum more like a thriller with a very dragged storyline and a predictable ending. One may skip the show and watch the fluff romance between Lee Yoo-mi and Woo Do-hwan through short clips on social media.

Meanwhile, Mr. Plankton is available on Netflix for streaming.