The Impossible Heir (Review)

(로얄로더; aired from February 28 to April 3, 2024; available internationally on Disney+)

The Impossible Heir is a thriller and workplace drama once again focusing on chaebol politics, like many K-Dramas before. We have had quite a few of them in recent years, the strongest of which in my opinion was. The Impossible Heir takes a radically different tone, though: it is heavy, gritty, and doesn’t refrain from violence. I would even say that this is not the show for more sensitive viewers, since the themes of violence, abuse, and similar are prevalent in this show.

The Impossible Heir is a thriller and workplace drama that once again delves into chaebol politics, a theme seen in many K-Dramas before. We’ve had quite a few of them in recent years, with Agency and Reborn Rich being the strongest, in my opinion. However, The Impossible Heir takes a radically different tone. It is heavy, gritty, and doesn’t shy away from violence. In fact, I would caution that this show may not be suitable for more sensitive viewers, as the themes of violence, abuse, and similar issues are pervasive throughout.

The premise of the show seems straightforward: Kang In-ha (played by Lee Jun-young) is the illegitimate son of Kang Jung-mo (portrayed by Choi Jin-ho), the chairman of Kangoh Group. In-ha harbors an ambitious goal — to become the owner of Kangoh Group. With his two friends, Han Tae-oh (played by Lee Jae-wook) and Na Hye-won (Hong Su-zu), they devise an elaborate plan to achieve this. However, The Impossible Heir is one of those shows where the initial premise can be misleading. To avoid spoilers, let’s just say that the series takes unexpected twists and turns.

The spotlight in the show primarily falls on Lee Jae-wook’s character, Han Tae-oh. Lee Jae-wook gained international acclaim for his performance in Alchemy of Souls. However, his role and portrayal in The Impossible Heir are radically different. Here, he embodies a genius executive, shrewd and calculating, adeptly navigating the intricate network of connections within and outside the chaebol. For fans of this talented actor, the show is undoubtedly a must-see.

The show deliberately avoids a typical romance arc, yet we have a love triangle among the three main characters. While this trope is common in K-Dramas, The Impossible Heir manages to infuse some originality into it. Rather than solely focusing on romantic aspects, the series delves into the intricate relationships between the three protagonists and how these dynamics evolve over time. However, for some reason, the show introduces many secondary arcs that are not developed much. For instance, the relationship between Tae-oh and his mother receives insufficient attention. Similarly, the whole story arc involving Na Hye-won seems to be a partial afterthought. With a total of 12 episodes, the show occasionally feels like a result of trimming down the original footage from 16 episodes. Therefore, it’s possible that some of these secondary arcs were abbreviated in the process.

The Impossible Heir joins a genre of shows that closely examine the impact of chaebols on people, often resulting in individuals consumed by ambition, greed, and rivalry. Consequently, the series’ narrative can be interpreted as yet another critique of South Korea’s chaebol system. It casts chaebol executives in an especially harsh light, highlighting their involvement in violence and abuse against employees and family members. Unlike other series, this one does not consistently cast the main characters in a positive light. They, too, are altered by the chaebol influence, and seldom for the better.

One of my main critiques of the show concerns its editing. It frequently employs a technique common in K-Dramas, where a shocking scene from an upcoming episode is shown at the end of the current one to create an artificial cliffhanger. This tactic can be both annoying and confusing, as the scene often appears deep into the next episode and lacks context as a cliffhanger. Moreover, it forces a viewer to rewatch the same scene, which is particularly bothersome for those binge-watching the series.

In conclusion, The Impossible Heir deserves praise for its raw and insightful depiction of chaebol politics. Nonetheless, the show’s editing approach is somewhat flawed and may prove irritating for some audience members.

The Impossible Heir on Wikipedia and MyDramaList