Summer Strike inspires viewers to take a step back as means of moving forward and giving our life a new meaning.
Setting the narrative on self-discovery and taking a break from life, Summer Strike follows the story of a grief-stricken woman finding her path to healing and happiness.
Lyris watches Summer Strike on ONE TV Asia
Opening Week Rating:
Summer Strike Opening Week Story
“I always find myself standing all alone in front of the closed door.”
Running tirelessly in a school hallway, Lee Yeo Reum (Kim Seol Hyun) ends up in front of her classroom but is unable to open the door. Despite her efforts to come inside, her classmates and teacher had no response. The students turn in their exam papers and the school bell starts ringing. Suddenly, she woke up from the loud ringing of her alarm and realizes that it was just a bad dream.
“The lack of trying on your part is the problem.”
At work, Yeo Reum is preparing for a big presentation. Setting up the materials, tables, and drinks, her superiors entered the meeting room. The assistant manager noticed that the drink she prepared is canned coffee and told her that the CEO is quite picky with his and only drinks a certain kind.
Concerned and flustered, Yeo Reum immediately runs to the nearest coffee shop, even risking her life to cross the streets among the fast-moving cars. She rushes back with coffee in her hand only for the assistant manager to get the credit for the presentation she worked hard for.
Emotionally drained, she decides to visit her boyfriend and brought him his favorite sushi. At the restaurant, Yeo Reum expressed her confusion as to why her superiors lied to her about the coffee.
Having someone to listen, take your side, and assure you did well despite struggling, means a lot. Looking at her current situation, that is what Yeo Reum needs the most. But her boyfriend failed to do that. Instead, he criticized and blamed her actions.
As a result, Yeo Reum blames herself and apologizes for her actions. She then receives a reply saying that they should take a break from their relationship.
“Mom, I’ll do everything for you. I’ll make a lot of money, so I can take you out to look at the flowers and take you to the beach too. I’ll do everything for you. So, don’t age too quickly.”
Receiving a call from her sleep, Yeo Reum quickly ran to the emergency room with the shocking news of her mother’s passing.
As responsible and loving children to our parents, we endlessly worked so hard in hopes of providing them with a good life. That’s what Yeo Reum promised her mom. Being able to afford the material things that they like is what we thought of having the best life.
However, we are hugely mistaken. To be able to provide our parents with the best life is to be present at the moment. Each day, we get busier with our endeavors of being a grown-up that we often forget that they are also growing old and the time we have left to spend with them decreases. Sadly, that’s what Yeo Reum missed.
“The subway train moving away from Seoul on a weekday morning was so quiet and peaceful that I almost felt as though I had been transported to another world. Perhaps, life isn’t any different. If you go in the opposite direction of everyone else, you may be able to find a quiet, peaceful path that isn’t as crowded.”
Tired of her repetitive and mundane life, Yeo Reum ditches her work. She notices her surroundings and realizes that spring has come.
Hopping on a train away from the office, Yeo Reum dodge her manager’s phone call and went home.
Finally, she answered the call and was greeted by her manager’s angry voice but she replied with a stronger remark by saying she quits.
“I’ve lived my life in a daze. In order not to fall behind and not be criticized, I held out with all my might. But looking back now, I realized that I always criticized myself more harshly, than anybody else ever did.”
With a box full of her work belongings, Yeo Reum leaves the building with a heavy feeling and a lot of realizations. Grief-stricken yet hopeful, she immediately packs her things and aboard the bus going to the countryside with just a backpack with her.
“From now on, I’ll do nothing. I’m going on strike against this thing called life.”
Amazed by the scenery of the sea, she got off the bus, dropped everything, and ran towards the inviting crystal-clear water. It’s delightful sightseeing as she runs towards the beach like an excited child and lets go of her baggage momentarily.
Maybe that’s what we should do about our life too. That it’s okay to drop everything that’s bothering us for a moment, take a pause, and enjoy the beautiful things that are in front of us.
Sometimes we were too distracted by worldly success that we tend to forget to appreciate the natural things life has to offer.
“Excuse me, miss. Is there a real estate agency around here?”
Chancing upon the Angok Public Library, Yeo Reum explores the literature books and reads an excerpt from the book “The Old Man and the Sea” saying, “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
Among the bookshelves, she saw a person standing. She called the person and asked for a real estate agency but mistaken him for a woman. Embarrassed by her mistake, she hurriedly runs outside and bumped into the children playing football outside.
Causing more embarrassment, she accidentally kicks the ball straight to Dae-beom (Im Siwan), the librarian she was mistaken as a woman. Although dizzy and obviously in pain, he hands her a paper with an illustration of a map pointing in the direction of the real estate agency.
Luckily, she finds a place with a 50-dollar monthly rent! The good thing is she now has a home although it’s an old billiard hall where apparently, someone died. From then on, she meets a lot of people that are either angry, cold, or indifferent toward her. Will she be able to have a peaceful life in Angok?
Summer Strike Opening Week Musings (spoiler alert)
The first episode of Summer Strike realistically portrayed only the lowest and saddest moments in the life of Yeo Reum. Contrary to her name which means “summer”, her life was cold, dark, and weary. From being bullied by a power-tripping boss at her job, and breaking up with her six-year boyfriend, up to the death of her mother, she lost everything in life all at once.
While treading on a slice-of-life theme and realistic topics, the series has a high chance to appeal the young adults. Our heroine Yeo Reum faces a lot of dilemmas that people in their 20s could resonate with. Through its extremely relatable story, the drama establishes a promising start that will easily find its place in viewers’ hearts.
While the drama vividly portrays grief and loss, it also throws the spotlight on self-reflection and taking solace in the quest for self-discovery.
We can take inspiration as to how Yeo Reum finds the courage to break free from the pain and muster the courage to unapologetically live life to search for her happiness. Warm and soothing, the drama bares the story of personal healing, finding oneself, and the journey toward happiness.
I would like to commend Yeo Reum because it takes so much courage to leave the life she was used to, and live a completely different life in an unfamiliar place with just a backpack. Coming to Angok was like fate.
Although she receives a rather lukewarm reception from the people, I am hopeful that she would be able to find her place and her people. Hopefully, the helpful librarian Dae-beom will warmly extend his hands to her.
In the succeeding episodes, questions about Dae Beom’s mysterious identity and silence will be answered. Now that Yeo Reum’s life has been revealed, the remaining driving point of this will be the backstory of Dae Beom, how he will help Yeo Reum’s healing, and ultimately their connection with each other. They might have something in common.
A much-needed piece, the initial episodes are the perfect comfort for the sorrowful and tired souls wanting to be understood. Plus, if you are a big fan of dramas with striking cinematography, try watching the first two episodes and you will instantly fall in love.
If you want a healing drama with a slice-of-life theme that makes you ponder on your current life, check out the premiere episodes of Summer Strike.
Images | Videos: ENA Channel
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