Ryu Seung-ryoung and Ahn Hae-jong play two characters protecting a chicken nugget in ‘Chicken … [+] Nugget.’
The story of Chicken Nugget starts with a chicken nugget asking an odd question. Is it harder to be a chicken nugget for five days—they basically just lie there—or a human for 50 years? This question introduces viewers to the k-drama’s comic book quirky premise and, although a talking chicken nugget is already pretty odd, the plot gets more surreal from there. That philosophical nugget is really a woman named Min-ah, played by Kim You-jung. And despite the craziness of the situation, viewers may soon find themselves worried about the fate of that nugget.
The transformation happens when Min-ah stops by her father’s business, More Than Machines, to bring him chicken nuggets from the best place around. While there she decides to try out the strange machine that was left at the office. All she can think to say when the machine starts behaving oddly, is “chicken nugget,” because one is rolling toward her. The nugget rolls off a plate belonging to Baek-joong, who works with her father. Baek Joong, played by Ahn Jae-hong, has a crush on Min-ah, so he’s flustered when she compliments his attempts at self-care.
Kim You-jung plays a woman who turns into a chicken nugget.
For the first time their relationship looks promising. Then suddenly, poof, Min-ah disappears and what’s left in her place is a delicious looking chicken nugget. Baek-joong is inconsolable, as is her doting father, Sun-man, played by Ryu Seung-ryoung.
What should you do when your daughter turns into a chicken nugget? There are no recognized experts available for advice. It’s not like the police would take such reports seriously. So, Sun-man and Baek-joong follow every other lead they can think of, from a delivery man to a mad scientist to a food blogger, played by Jung ho-yeon.
As well as the endearingly silly premise Chicken Nugget has a few other things going for it—plenty of k-pop and k-drama asides, various kinds of physical comedy, as well as the characters’ tender concern for their very own nugget. The talented cast just runs with the wacky story and has fun with it, deliberately amping up every scene, whether they are laughing menacingly at quasi-aggressive jokes or crying terrified tears at the prospect of Min-ah being accidentally eaten. That nugget certainly looks tasty.
Ryu recently appeared in the film 20th Century Girl and also played a concerned single dad in the drama Moving. Ahn can be seen in the dramas Mask Girl and LTNS. Kim You-jung also appeared in 20th Century Girl and the hit supernatural drama My Demon. Jung Ho-yeon starred in Squid Game and can be seen in the 2024 film Hope. Chicken Nugget is based on webcomic Dakgangjeong by Park Ji-dok. The 10-episode mini-drama airs on Netflix
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