The Sound of Magic (안나라수마나라)

Written by Kim Min-jeong and Directed by Kim Seong-yoon

Escaping Reality: A Five-Star Journey Through the Emotional Landscape of Magic

Rating: ★★★★★

Sometimes, a show comes along that doesn’t just exceed expectations—it disarms them, slipping past your defenses and settling somewhere deep inside you. The Sound of Magic was that for me. I don’t typically gravitate toward musicals—my only exception being the brilliant Les Misérables and Anne Hathaway’s unforgettable performance of “I Dreamed a Dream.” Yet, this Korean drama held me spellbound, weaving together narrative, music, and emotion in a way that felt both intimate and profound.

At its heart, The Sound of Magic is about belief—belief in oneself, in dreams, in something beyond the weight of everyday struggles. Magic here isn’t just spectacle; it’s an allegory for courage, the kind we often forget we have. That message resonated with me in ways I didn’t expect. The story follows two lost souls: a high school girl worn down by the burdens of reality and a mysterious magician who refuses to let go of his inner child. Their journey is both tender and haunting, asking a quiet but urgent question—at what point do we stop believing in wonder?

Ji Chang-wook’s performance as the magician is nothing short of mesmerizing. He embodies both whimsy and melancholy, making it impossible not to root for him. And I have to mention Bella, the red parrot, whose on-screen presence rivals that of some seasoned actors. (Yes, I said it.) Her moments add an unexpected levity that only deepens the show’s emotional impact.

One of the things I love most about South Korean dramas is their ability to hold a mirror to society while offering solace. Whether it’s the raw depiction of bullying in The Glory, the resilience in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, or the quiet heartbreak of youth in The Sound of Magic, these stories don’t just entertain—they heal.

But this five-star rating isn’t about production budgets or critical consensus. It’s about something more personal: how this drama made me feel. It left me raw and hopeful, reminded me of forgotten dreams, and, in the end, made me believe—just a little more—in magic.

So, do you believe in magic? Maybe it’s time you did.

Image courtesy of Netflix 

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