Unconventionally presented, Cafe Minamdang felt all over the place in its opening week.
But interestingly, everything about the series makes you want to anticipate more of its engagingly chaotic vibe. Moreover, its crime comedy setting adds palpable charm to its projected story powered by a lively cast.
abbyinhallyuland watches Cafe Minamdang on Netflix
Opening Week Rating: 
Cafe Minamdang Opening Week Highlights
Extraordinaire shaman Nam Han-jun is famous for being the “rebel of the Shaman World.”
He is OC and lives with his genius hacker sister Hye-jun (Kang Mina) and former detective-turned cafe barista Su-cheol (Kwak Si Yang). Na-dan (Baek Seo Hoo) joins as one of the staff members in Cafe Minamdang.
Not really gifted with divination, he relies on his off-the-charts profiling skills when he began pretending as a shaman.
His sister and Su-cheol also helped in gathering information about their clients.
Aside from coffee, the team also serves “occult counseling”, especially for the rich and powerful. Han-jun’s VVIP client is CEO Lee Min-gyeong of big conglomerate company S&H Group.
When her husband Shin Gyeong-ho got involved in a hit-and-run case, Han-jun was consulted to help. Castigating the wicked client for his numerous vile activities in the past, he accepted the request but made him promise that it will be the last time he would have that predicament.
“You said a true cop is someone who protects both civilians and criminals within the law.”
In the process of helping out Gyeong-ho; Han-jun reconnects with Detective Han Jae-hui. She is the sister of a former friend whom he used to dote on and even had a judo sparring.
Young Jae-hui aspired to become a cop because of Han-jun’s initial advice and as a perfect example to her young mind.
However, when Jae-hui and her team chased after Gyeong-ho; Han-jun’s smarts beat them by orchestrating a premeditated trap that ultimately released Gyeong-ho for his recent misdemeanor.
Confronting Han-jun for changing from what she previously remembered him, subsequently nags on his consciousness. That leads him to plan a ploy to punish Gyeong-ho with Police Inspector Jung Cheon-gi, as the foreseen trap.
Living nearby, Jae-hui sees Team Minamdang go out and takes advantage of entering their place. She then sees the ruse, Han-jun and his team is brewing. Seeing her brother in the plan diagram, she mused about Han-jun’s intention.
Just then, she hears the team coming back so she hides inside Han-jun’s closet. However, a call gives away his presence to Han-jun.
Cafe Minamdang Opening Week Musings
To run for 18 episodes, the comic relief brimming in Cafe Minamdang hopefully won’t run out.
The effort of the characters to stand out is really amazing. Even the guest characters easily bring laughter to their oddness and quirkiness. Every actor has so far adorned their characters with distinct colors
Seo In Guk’s Han-jun honestly felt like an amalgamation of his characters in Shopaholic Louis and Task Force 39. His synergy with Kang Mina and Kwak Si Yang is so far addictingly hilarious. On that note, it’s nice that there’s an evident inclusive vibe for the supporting cast of the series.
As hinted in the opening week, the connection between Han-jun and Jae-hui runs deep. We are also looking to more flashbacks of what made Han-jun turn his back as an upright police officer to become a queer shaman.
Accordingly, this connection would most likely take the culminating conflict to be tackled in the series. Along the way, we can anticipate side stories
If you are looking for a zany series that is uniquely engrossing, book Cafe Minamdang every Monday and Tuesday. Global fans can watch it on Netflix!
Photos: KBS2 TV
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