New Netflix series The Wonder Fools is out now, with Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo as superpowered heroes saving the world

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Must-watch K-drama “Superpowered No. 1 Underachiever”: An unconventional story set in 1999

“Superpowered No. 1 Underachiever” is set in 1999, when apocalyptic theories were widespread. The story takes place in a place called Haeseong City, where residents unexpectedly gain a range of superpowers after an accident, against their will.

This isn’t a typical Hollywood-style hero-saves-the-damsel story. Instead, it’s about a group of ordinary people who accidentally end up saving the world. The series was created by director Yoo In-shik of “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and the writing team behind “Dr. Romantic,” and this stellar creative lineup alone assures the show’s quality.

Its smooth pacing and joke-filled dialogue make it an easy watch. Yet the show also cleverly plants clues about the mystery of Haeseong City’s population disappearing 20 years earlier, keeping the plot from feeling too slight.

Park Eun-bin plays a girl who can teleport

Park Eun-bin, who brings a surprise with every new project, plays Eun Chae-ni, the granddaughter of a restaurant owner. The character has had a heart condition since childhood, yet she’s blunt and hot-tempered, to the point that locals jokingly call her a “mad dog.”

She gains the power of teleportation in the accident. From her initial panic to eventually accepting reality with her optimistic nature, the whole process is full of laughs.

Who would’ve thought that Park Eun-bin, known for her gentle image, would be so natural in a comedy? She captures the character’s unexpected charm perfectly, especially in the string of mishaps that follows every use of her superpowers, which is sure to have you laughing out loud.

Cha Eun-woo takes on the role of a telekinetic civil servant

Cha Eun-woo, long known as a “face genius,” plays Lee Yun-cheong, a specially recruited civil servant sent from Seoul to Haeseong City. The character severely lacks social skills and is rigidly principled in everything he does. He seems withdrawn, yet harbors many secrets.

His real reason for coming here is to secretly investigate a string of disappearances. The superpower he accidentally gains is telekinesis, leading Chae-ni, played by Park Eun-bin, to idolize him like a mentor.

The two have great chemistry onscreen. They go from disliking each other at first to becoming partners who fight side by side, and their gradual relationship development is especially compelling.

 

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Beyond the two leads, Choi Dae-hoon’s troublesome villager and Im Seong-jae’s character, who is treated as a sucker, each gain superpowers with strange flaws. These imperfect traits make the characters more fully realized and endearing. The addition of veteran actors Kim Hae-sook and Son Hyun-joo also helps sustain the drama’s tension throughout.

The group may seem absurd, yet it shows the resilience of ordinary people in the face of a crisis. If you’re looking for weekend entertainment that doesn’t require much brainpower, can make you laugh, and still has a touch of mystery, this fantasy comedy, with all 8 episodes released at once, is well worth your time.

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