So, for those of you who have missed watching some teen stuff like XO Kitty, Gangnam Project is your go-to place. The plot follows the life of a bubbly named Hannah Shin (played by Julia Kim Caldwell). Hannah is a 16-year-old biracial Canadian-Korean teenager who wishes to reconnect with her Korean heritage in order to become a part of the K-pop world. She begins her journey by accepting a summer job as an English Tutor at OME. Wondering what OME is? It is one of Seoul’s premium K-pop training academies. And you might think things will go like a routine from here, but that doesn’t happen. Her enthusiasm catches the attention of the academy's CEO, who offers her a place as one of the K-pop trainees. And thus she begins her journey.
From the first few scenes, the vibrancy of the show will catch your eye. It is one of those comfort shows that you watch, and it manages to deliver the expectations, too. There is a lot of excitement, love angles, and everything else that you see in a typical teen romcom. The vibes are similar to those of XO Kitty. So, for fans of that show, you will enjoy this one too.
Other than that, the cultural heritage is also well shown in this show. Korean culture is explored through the K-pop era, with a touch of the modern world. We all know how much young girls end up idolizing K-pop stars. So for that reason, many will find it relatable. Some struggles are shown, some moments that actually give you a glimpse of the depth that the plot carries, and lots of humor to keep you watching this show. For Hannah, we see how she is handling two identities and trying to fit in both worlds. That is one of the key moments of the show, which is what makes it stand out. I personally find it very rare to see shows/movies where such a theme is explored so well and beautifully. Gangnam Project, thankfully, does the job well and smoothly. All this goes on to make this series worth watching.
The acting is good. Julia Kim as Hannah does full justice to the role. She is bubbly, humorous, and stunning when she plays Hannah. It is difficult to differentiate between the two. The rest of the cast also does a great job. No one feels out of character, and that is the beauty of the show.
The pacing is surprisingly good. I wasn’t expecting that, but thankfully, the makers knew the importance of having an even-paced show, and thus they gave us that. With a plot like this, pacing plays a crucial role, as one dip can make it sound very boring. But that is not the case with this series. Hence, dear viewers, this can be a good watch for you. With just ten episodes, you can finish it off easily if you are someone who likes feel-good shows for a change.
Final Score- [7.5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times