An Endearing Superhero Tale — Early Review of 'WONDERfools'

But I'm a creep — I'm a weirdo ♫♪

I'm a weirdo — I'm a freak, you know ♫♪

What the hell am I doing here — damn it, what on earth am I doing here ♫♪

I don't belong here — I'm not cut out for a place like this ♫♪

In late 1999, at the turn of the century, Chaeni (Park Eun-bin), Haesung City's officially designated screw-up, prowls the streets listening to Radiohead's "Creep." Thinking the end might be near, she tells herself she wants to see everything collapse together—so why can't she even have the freedom to watch that spectacle?

Everyone there is fighting their own sense of worthlessness. There's Kyung-hoon (Choi Dae-hoon), a notorious public nuisance who files complaints at city hall and even delivers flowers for his wife's shop; and Robin (Im Seong-jae), an absolute doormat since schooldays. These people, living on the fringes of society and desperately grappling with feelings of worthlessness, somehow gain superpowers.

Having binge-watched 〈WONDERfools〉 before its release, it turned out different from my expectations — but in a pleasantly surprising way. The Netflix series 〈WONDERfools〉, premiering on the 15th, is a superpower comic adventure set in late 1999, where a group of neighborhood losers who accidentally gain powers struggle to protect the world from villains threatening the peace.

Because of the title "WONDERfools" and the fact that it's the next project from the director of 〈Extraordinary Attorney Woo〉, I had vaguely expected a harmless, warm comedy drama. I assumed 〈WONDERfools〉 would be a modest comedy that merely borrows the shell of a superhero story.

But that assumption is only half correct. It's warm, but not entirely harmless. It's comedic, but not just a comedy. When you open 〈WONDERfools〉, it feels distinctly "genre-driven." It's as if a dish you never ordered arrived—and yet it's so delicious you keep eating until the last bite. 〈WONDERfools〉 is a flashy, large-scale superhero work—not merely wearing the skin of a superhero story, but truly a full-fledged entry. At times it tightens like a thriller; at others it hits with full blockbuster force. Even amid spectacular set pieces, 〈WONDERfools〉 never loses its humor or personality. One of the most common traps for genre pieces is sacrificing character for spectacle, but 〈WONDERfools〉 knows precisely where its strengths lie. As the stakes rise, the four leads' personalities only grow more distinct. What breathes life into a story that feels familiar is entirely the direction and the characters. Thanks to those distinctive characters, it's like a trendy dish with a signature seasoning—you never grow tired of it and want to finish every last bite. 〈WONDERfools〉 feels like a delightful variation that places minor, offbeat characters within a major genre.

Although the drama is based on an original screenplay with no preexisting source, 〈WONDERfools〉 feels even more cartoonish than 〈Moving〉 because of the quartet's absurdly hilarious, offbeat chemistry. Chaeni, who gains teleportation but is herself startled by where she ends up; Kyung-hoon, who acquires a sticky-glue ability but finds the wrong things are always the first to stick; Robin, who develops super strength yet remains timid; and Un-jung (Cha Eun-woo), who deliberately acts awkward so no one discovers his powers. Each of the four is awkward, lacking, and constantly bickering in their own way, yet at decisive moments they come together in perfect sync and exude an adorable, delightful chemistry. Because of that, 〈WONDERfools〉 completes itself as a fun adventure no matter where it goes.

Ultimately, 〈WONDERfools〉 is a story about so-called "misfits." The four fools were the kind of people society sees as flawed. After gaining powers, Robin says, "Now that I have strength, I'm useful!" but in truth they were whole people even before their abilities. Chaeni's line, "It's not that you're nothing; you just haven't done anything yet," runs through the drama. What the show ultimately stresses is the value of "togetherness," which is greater than any superpower: the humble wish to sit together, blow out candles on a birthday cake, share meals in a small house, and simply not feel lonely but happy every day. 〈WONDERfools〉 puts that modest longing to share another meal with the person beside you tomorrow into the flashy container of a superpowered comic adventure. That is why, after binge-watching 〈WONDERfools〉, you're left with a warm feeling.