REVIEW: The Inheritors
| Title | The Inheritors, The Heirs |
| Male Lead | Lee Min-ho as Kim Tan |
| Female Lead | Park Shin-hye as Cha Eun-sang |
| Writer | Kim Eun-sook |
| Episodes | 20 Episodes | 60 Minutes per Episode |
| Release | October 9, 2013, to December 12, 2013 |
| Genre | Teen Romance, Drama |
| Language | Korean |
| Country of Origin | South Korea |
Plot Summary
The Inheritors or The Heirs is a romantic love story about two high-school students with very different backgrounds who meet by chance and fall in love despite their differences.
The male lead is Kim Tan played by Lee Min Ho. He is the second son of an affluent family who owns a conglomerate. Coming from a rich family, he is a spoiled brat, barely studies, and loves to party. While the female lead is Cha Eun-Sang played by Park Shin Hye. She is the younger daughter of a single mom who is deaf and mute. Her family is poor so to help out with their needs, she works multiple odd jobs to make ends meet.
He who chooses to wear the crown, bears its weight.
Kim Tan, The Inheritors
A Chance Encounter
The two leads had a chance encounter in the US. Eun-Sang personally came to bring the money that her sister asked for. She came across Kim Tan while she was looking for her sister who they all thought was studying there. Kim Tan was studying at the school where Eun-sang’s sister was supposedly enrolled at.
Through a series of mishaps, Tan was forced to help Eun-Sang out. They were able to spend time and get to know each other without thinking that they would meet again back in Korea. As Eun-Sang searches for her sister, she begins to realize that she lied to her and their mother. She gets very upset but knows her sister will do what she wants to anyway.
Meeting Again
After their brief encounter in the US, the two find out that they are classmates in a prestigious high school for kids of Chaebol families back in Korea. While it is no surprise that Kim Tan is studying in Jeguk High-school, Eun-Sang got a scholarship from the rich employers of her Mother so she was able to enroll at the school as well.
They develop a mutual attraction for each other that quickly evolves into a deep love that surpasses norms and boundaries that society has set for them to navigate.
Comments and Observations About the Series
The Plot is a Dream Made in K-drama Land
It is the modern-day Cinderella story. The Inheritors is a must-see drama for every K Drama fan. If you are just starting your K Drama journey, and you are looking for a good romantic drama to watch, then this is a good choice. The plot is a dream made in drama land. It is for crazy romantics who want to swoon at rich handsome high school kids falling for the poor hard-working classmate with a good heart. It is a story that makes you want to hope and believe in happy ever afters.
On The Leads
The chemistry of the leads playing Kim Tan and Eun-sang is palpable. Almost every encounter they have makes you squirm in excitement. Their portrayal hooks you inside the story. As if you are part of their story just by rooting for their relationship.
At times, the road seems far and you will shed tears with a sad heart. But until the day everything becomes a memory, let’s be each other’s resting place.
Kim Tan, The Inheritors
Park Shin-Hye’s Cha Eun-Sang and Lee Min-Ho’s Kim Tan are perfect for each other. Kim Tan is a bully at school while Eun-Sang is his perfect target. It would have gone on exactly as before, with the bully harassing the meek girl who will just take it.
Except that this girl will not take it. And the bully unexpectedly falls for the girl. They are worlds apart and in fact, the possibility of something like this happening in real life is next to none. But in The Heirs, it did happen, and now we have this series to gush about.
The Second Leads
Kim Woo-bin who plays the second male lead, Young-do, is perfect for the role. He played the role of a bad guy secretly in love with the lead believable and for some who experience being a third wheel, also relatable. Young-do’s devil-may-care attitude masks his real feelings for Eun-sang. Undoubtedly, he will crush your heart and make you root for him while secretly thinking it is actually okay if Eun-sang ends up with him instead of Kim Tan.
Your enemies are not the ones holding their swords against you. They are the ones standing by your side with their daggers behind their back.
Choi Young-Do, The Inheritors
His relationship with his soon-to-be step-sister, Rachel Yoo made me think for a while, what if they fall for each other instead of being a constant pain to the two leads? Too bad it did not happen. It would have been a nice happier twist.
An Unexpected Friendship
The friendship between Park Hee-Nam, mother of Eun-sang, and Han Ki-ae, mother of Kim Tan is a respite from all the conflicts between the two lead characters.
Ki-Ae is the kept woman of the chairman of a conglomerate who is still legally married to his wife. She is the biological mother of Kim Tan but on paper, the legal wife is his legal mother. She cannot openly acknowledge that she is the mother of Tan so this has led to her drinking problem.
Hee-Nam on the other hand is a single mother of two girls who try very hard to give her daughters better opportunities than what was available to a mute person like her. She works as the live-in maid in the Kim family household. She was able to secure a scholarship for her younger daughter to study at their prestigious school.
The bond between the two is born out of empathy and a deeper understanding of their complicated lives living together in the same house.
Great Supporting Cast and Notable Characters
The rest of the cast portrayed their characters very well. Ji-won is the evil antagonist personified. She will make you hate her selfishness in her petty attempts to split up Kim Tan and Eun-sang. The playful Chan-young and Bo-na provide a light comedic twist to the heavy emotions of most scenes. Kim Won as Kim Tan’s older half-brother willingly pays the price it takes to inherit their family’s empire.
A great story can only be as great as the cast who portrays it. In this drama, every character has been interpreted by the actors to make everyone come to life as if they are truly alive. Kudos to the cast and crew for the wonderful performances.
Final Thoughts About The Inheritors
The Inheritors or The Heirs is a classic Korean Drama series that is a must-watch for every K-Drama lover out there. It was made with the romantic idealist in mind. It might not be the rom-com that is typical of teen romances but it definitely makes up for its misses. Whether you like it or not, this is one drama that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The kind that will keep you awake past midnight. Definitely binge-worthy so prepare to lose some sleep and stock up on snacks!!! You will definitely be needing it.
Binge Star Rating – 9 Stars
Re-watch Value
If I needed to choose only one thing from all the things that I liked about this drama, it would have to be the chemistry of the leads. Some would say that the plot and characters are problematic. I ship it just the same. Don’t we all have skeletons in our closets? If you are looking for your first Korean Drama to start bingeing, then I would suggest starting with this. I have watched this series at least 3 or 4 times, if you ask me if it is re-watchable, YES it is!
Where to Watch
Watch The Inheritors on Netflix with full English subtitles. What do you think about the series? Did you like it too? Drop your comments in the comments section below. I’d love to know your views, please let me know what you think!
The Inheritors Character Chart
Check out who’s who in the drama series by clicking on the link provided below. Enjoy binge-watching!!!
The story of The Inheritors starts when two high-school students with very different backgrounds meet and fall in love despite their differences. It is the modern-day Cinderella story. The Inheritors is a must-see drama for every K Drama fan. The plot is a dream made in drama land.
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Images from promotional materials from SBS may be subject to copyright. [Last Update 04262024]
Also one of my favorites! I think I watched this 4 or 5 times. I hope they create season 2 ?
Great review! Will watch this drama.