Number One ~ The Descendants of Dangun Are Alive and Well
“Number One” (aka “Dan’s Family No. 1”) is a 2022 Korean movie based on a mythical tale, categorized as Fantasy, Family, High school, Youth, Supernatural, Action, and Comedy; and streaming on Viki.
SUMMARY: A high school student with supernatural abilities wants to know why he has to hide his great strength and endure until the “right time”. What is the “right time”?
♦ Why Must I Endure?
“Number One” is about a family living in modern-day South Korea, who are the descendants of Dangun, the mythical founder of Korea’s first kingdom. Specifically, it’s about high schooler Kang Dan who possesses supernatural powers. They were passed down through the genes. He descends from Dangun. Even though he has these awesome powers, he’s not allowed to use them. He must endure.
Kang Dan has a bit of a temper, and if he does not train himself and learn how to control his abilities, innocent people could get hurt. According to his older brother, he must endure restraining himself, especially when he gets angry, until it’s the “right time”. But what or when is the “right time”? Not sure. But when that time comes, his powers should only be used to protect people.
So why is Kang Dan called “Number One” among his peers? Because when it comes to shuttle service, he’s Number One. What’s that? It’s when you serve a bully. You bring them snacks, but you have to make it to the cafeteria BEFORE the snacks run out. Kang Dan provides shuttle service for Ki Woong. He refers to his classmate as a “best friend”, but they’re not. Ki Woong is a top athlete and pretends to like Kang Dan.
But one day Kang Dan did something to make Ki Woong angry. He didn’t really try to provoke him, but Ki Woong became jealous because, Hee Yeon, a girl the bully liked was being nice to Kang Dan. Ki Woong associated with some bad people who shared a compromising video of her online. Hee Yeon demanded that he take the video don. He told her he couldn’t and she needed to talk to the person who owned the video.
Ignorantly, Hee Yeon followed Ki Woong and ended up in a place where the guy had planned to do something to her that was even more unsavory. It was criminal. When Kang Dan found out, he could no longer control himself. He had to protect Hee Yeon. Had the “right time” finally arrived?
Main Characters:
- Kang Dan (played by Jang Jun Hwan)
- Ki Woong (played by Kim Dong Ho)
- Hee Yeon (played by Kwon Go Eun)
Viewership and Rating:
My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers, as an adult viewer.
It appears that “Number One” was made for a younger audience. A kid might give the film a 9.6 out of 10 stars.
Dangun (also known as Dangun Wanggeom) is a part of Korean mythology and folklore. He is the legendary founder of Gojoseon, Korea’s first kingdom. There are many myths and tales about the Korean civilization and its origins. The Dangun myth is one of the more prominent ones.
Looks like this movie didn’t make anybody’s list. But so what! “Number One” was a fun watch. Worst fight scene choreography ever! LOL. No doubt, it was done that way intentionally, which made the film so sweet. It had an “old school Disney vibe”, where the bad guys were bad, the good guys were good, and the superheroes were downright LOVABLE! Some said it focused on “family values and teamwork”. Yes! That’s exactly what you would want to impress upon a young child’s mind.
The actors in this film are newcomers. There’s not much to say about them … yet! I hope they have a successful career.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Dan’s Family No.1 (2022) | The Movie Database (TMDB)
Best K-dramas of 2022 (First Half) | GwenchaNoona
TRAILER/TEASER:
KiKo Movie TrailersTM. “DAN`S FAMILY NAMBAWAN Official Trailer (2022) 단’ㅅ 패밀리 남바완, Action Movie.” YouTube, 14 Jan. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs-As9LWKG0.
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Other K-Dramas Based on Korean Folklore:
Cinderella Game ~ This is a story about 3 little girls
Hong Gil Dong, the Hero! A Legend Comes to Life
Heung-Boo ~ The Revolutionist ~ Who is the “True Man”?
Kokdu: Season of Deity | Viki Original Korean Drama
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