[Feb 28] "The Impossible Heir" Episode 1 & 2: Recap & Review

A new TV series called “The Impossible Heir” or “Royal Roader” combines mystery and revenge in its plot. Han Tae-Oh is played by Lee Jae-Wook, who shows his character’s intelligence and rationality. Tae-Oh wants to change his fate and joins forces with Kang In-Ha, the Kwang-O Group’s illegitimate son, to gain the ultimate power in Korea. However, their scheme is jeopardized by Ro Hui-Won, a woman who has a similar past and goals as them. She adds more complications and surprises to the story.

"The Impossible Heir" episode 1 & 2 recap

In-Ha is clever and funny 😂. This friendship is a bright spot in the gloom… I enjoyed every moment of their screen time.

We begin with a glimpse of their high school life, where both Kang In-Ha and Han Tae-Oh look out of place as students, but this part is short-lived. They encounter each other by accident and not in a friendly way, but soon they become close friends. On the rooftop, Han Tae-Oh vows to assist Kang In-Ha in fulfilling his aspirations, laying the foundation for their partnership to seize their rightful inheritance.

Let's be friends. let me rephrase, instead of friends, let's be partners. My smart brain, top 0.1% in the whole country, I'll give it to you. We just have to decide what we will do and what we want to do, together. (Tae-Oh to In-Ha)

The story then jumps to 2013, where we meet Ro Hui-Won, who shares a similar history of struggle with the protagonists. She attracts the attention of both men, but Tae-Oh is focused on their mission and tries to distance himself from Hui-Won to avoid trouble. Hui-Won wins over In-Ha and even moves in with him, making us wonder about their relationship and what lies ahead.

Hong Su-Zu’s character, Ro Hui-Won, is still hard to judge, as she seems to have a limited range of emotions. The rest of the cast do a good job in their roles.

“The Impossible Heir” shifts from the high school scene to 2013 and then advances 5 years later, where In-Ha and Tae-Oh are now deeply involved in the corporate world. The series is fast-paced, with only 12 episodes. It offers a lot of drama, with a fight for inheritance and corporate schemes at its heart, as long as Ro Hui-Won’s plotline doesn’t become annoying.

The series also examines themes of loyalty and ambition, as Hui-Won is torn between the 2 leads, who have their own complicated agendas and schemes. Tae-Oh’s choice to put their common goals above personal feelings shows the characters’ resolve and the sacrifices they’re ready to make for success.

Review

I loved the first 2 episodes. They made me feel sad, lonely, hurt, and hopeful. 

I cared for the 2 main male characters but In-Ha seemed the most unlucky until now, used by everyone, including the male lead Tae-Oh and the female lead Hui-Won. His family, if you can call it that, shows no love for him and it seems like he’s just living. Only his rude sister really cares for him from his family. Her character is super interesting.

I can also see the real care between In-Ha and Tae-Oh even if Tae-Oh uses him as a golden rope. If Tae-Oh has to choose between In-Ha and his goals, I hope he will choose In-Ha over everything. 

Both of them have great chemistry. I like how In-Ha sticks to Tae-Oh. They can compete with some of the best pairings on TV right now :).

As for the female lead, I don't like her character. The love triangle is really really unnecessary. It's only 2 episodes but this love worked to drain me. 

This show is like a mix of "Reborn Rich" and "The Golden Spoon" but with more depth. I like how the family is complicated. I think most of them are complex characters, unlike the other shows where I felt the supporting characters were not.

The acting was great. The bad, complex characters were scary even with their small screen time. Lee Jae-Wook and Lee Jun-Young were amazing with their acting. 

Jae-Wook depicts Tae-Oh as cold and strong, always hiding his emotions. He said that Tae-Oh is a character with a clear vision and persistence, who can solve any problem without revealing his cards. Jae-Wook adjusted his acting to express his character’s inner thoughts, making Tae-Oh more subtle, calm, and resolute in "The Impossible Heir."

Director Min Yeon-Hong is impressed by Jae-Wook’s acting skills and the depth he gives to his characters. He thinks that Jae-Wook’s performance as the serious and secretive Tae-Oh will appeal to and be loved by the viewers. 

The drama is written by Choi Won, a seasoned writer who wrote “The Great Escaper,” and directed by Min Yeon-Hong, who has notable works like “Missing: The Other Side” and “Insider.” "The Impossible Heir" is not only a story of ambition and revenge, but also explores themes of family, power, and identity. 

TLTR: "The Impossible Heir" episodes 1 & 2 made me a fan. I can’t wait for the next episodes.~