The Sound of Magic
The Sound of Magic
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Sound of Magic is a South Korean teen-oriented drama (available dubbed and subtitled in English) that features themes ranging from bullying and romance to child abandonment, gangster activity, sexual assault, suicide, and murder. There are some violent scenes that briefly show people being hit, kicked, and grabbed by the throat, and injuries are sometimes shown. People are shown smoking cigarettes, too. All this being said, the series is also lively, fantastical, musical, and produced to appeal to young adults.
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What's the Story?
Adapted from the Korean webtoon Annarasumanara, THE SOUND OF MAGIC is six-part teen drama about hardship, love, and believing in magic. Teenager Yoon Ah-yi (Choi Sung-eun) doesn't know where her mother is, her father is hiding from creditors, and she's desperately trying to support her younger sister by herself. Meanwhile, at school she's competing academically with the top student, Na Il-deung (Hwang In-youp), without the necessary resources to prepare her for exams. It's a tough existence, but when Yoon meets a strange young magician named Ri-Eul (Ji Chang-Wook) living in an abandoned amusement park, she finds herself wondering if life can be magical.
Is It Any Good?
The series combines fairy tales, musical numbers, and crime to create a lively but intense teen K-drama. As Yoon Ah-yi navigates her difficult life and a budding romance, Ri-Eul challenges her to hold on to the sense of wonder she once had. The story isn't about remaining innocent, and navigates through some violent plot lines, only some of which lead to happy endings. But The Sound of Magic still manages to send the message that in life it's worth believing in the magical, even if only to help us survive a life that isn't.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the differences between U.S. and South Korean teen dramas. Are there similarities in the way they tell their stories? What kinds of things do you see in U.S.-produced series that you don't often see in Korean ones?
How does The Sound of Magic define magic? Does Ri-Eul ever fully demonstrate that it exists? Does Yoon Ah-yi ever come to a point where she fully believes in it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 6, 2022
- Cast: Ji Chang-Wook, Choi Sung-eun, Hwang In-youp
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: May 9, 2022
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