The brand-new series Four Hands, Two Sonatas wastes 0 time in introducing viewers to a Youth drama that is focused on rivalry. The episode begins with a flash-forward (yes, not a flashback) where we know that we’re going to see the prequel soon to realise why the rebellion is on.
The episode starts on a dark tone, making us understand that the musical drama is all about vengeance. While the main leads are teenagers in this series, we can already feel their emotional atmosphere, which feels heavy and dark. It’s going to be a high-school-themed dark nuisance, but I like it already.
Four Hands, Two Sonatas Episode 1 has a runtime of 60 minutes. The series (포핸즈) stars Song Kang, Lee Jun-young, Jang Gyu-ri, Kim Joo-heon, Yoon Se-ah and Jung Jin-young and is directed by Park Hyeon-seok.
Four Hands, Two Sonatas Episode 1 Review
Two Pianists With Two Different Vibes
The episode shows that Kang Pi-o and Choi Jeong-yo are two excellent musicians, but they’re unique. Pi-o comes from a very privileged place, but his life is hard. He is brought up by his single mother, and he constantly has to work hard to please his strict and demanding grandfather. He has to be perfect, or else his grandfather won’t respect or adore him. Pi-o is seen constantly running for perfection.
Whereas, Jeong-yo comes from a very difficult background, and his upbringing has always made him feel less perfect. He isn’t a perfectly talented musician, but he is an expressive and raw one. This makes him distinctly unique, and his perfection isn’t even required.
We can instantly see that Pi-o is perfect, but Jeong-yo has the ability to break it.
Hong Jae-in Steals the Spotlight
Ah, here comes the female lead and, to be specific, the only female lead. Hong Jae-in is a smart and confident girl who can make the whole series feel less heavy. With her sarcasm and her knack for resources, she is a key character in this drama. She isn’t just a romantic interest of the guys, but she has her own ambitions. She is creative, and she’s going to be the main reason why these two guys probably might become great friends.
Song Kang and Lee Jun-young Deliver
Though we know Song Kang and Lee Jun-young are literally adults playing teenagers, they actually are doing pretty well. Surprisingly, both the male leads fit the character sketches of Pi-o and Jeong-yo, likely. We can see their raw emotions as they play the piano, which could instantly make us believe that they’re actually the characters being alive and not actors wrapped in the series.
Speaking of Jang Gyu-ri, she as Jae-in also adds so much personality to the series, making her presence essential on screen. Without her, the drama might have missed some flavour.
Familiar Tropes, Better Execution
Well, as expected, there are some scenes that make one think that it’s familiar. Say the childhood connections, rich background, elite expectations, poor family, family pressure, enemies to friends, etc.
But thankfully, something about this classical music drama seems to gel all these familiar tropes into a unique one. The actors are bringing out the dark tone well, and the tropes are understandable for the main plot.
Final Wrap
Episode 1 surprisingly has caught my interest despite starting with a negative aura. We can see family drama, hate, youthful ambition, rebellion and a romantic interest that’s going to become a war. Despite all these themes, something about the drama feels powerful and positive.
Now, the big question that we are all waiting to seek an answer to is: how Pi-o and Jeong-yo, despite hating each other, will work together in the near future. The two opposites are going to perform the four-hands duet, but will they let each other win, or will they seek revenge through rivalry?
With beautiful music, great visuals and a cast, Four Hands, Two Sonatas has set the stage by striking the right chord!
Four Hands, Two Sonatas is streaming on Netflix. What do you think about the premiere? Let us know in the comments section.