Cheese in the Trap

Unique and realistic characters

I watched this drama when it first aired & I loved it & gave it a 9,5 … now I’m rewatching it while reading all the conflict and debate in the comments section… wondering if I missed something in my first watch but now that I’m in ep 09, I may understand those who didn’t like it.
The ML may look like a manipulative person but in reality he did nothing wrong by those who didn’t do him any harm ( he is very sensitive and loving to his dear ones), so why is it always the one who forgive and forget is the better person, why is the one who never take his rights by hand and play along is better … there is a proverb that says : « an eye for an eye and the one who start it is at fault »
I think Yoo Jung was always wise and calm, he hated drama and talking too much, he just wanted to be left alone unless the company is genuine, that’s why he fell for Hong seol ( after he got to know her), anyone who blames him should put himself in his place.
As a Libra Sun & Scorpio in Mars, I can relate to him, I’m always friendly and hates conflicts but when provoked many times I do take grudges, that doesn’t make me a bad person , I do give as much as I get be it a good or bad deed. of course we’re not promoting violence but sometimes it’s better to take care of things quietly without all the drama ( like if someone stole you pen in school you stole his without saying anything 👀)…
I hope I was not misunderstood 🤭 😇 and I hope you enjoy watching it as Much as I did..
the casting and music was amazing too , and I’m planing on reading the WEBTOON after 🤭

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I've just finished watching the last episode and...wow. My heart hurts so much but I'm not unsatisfied, I'm optimistic.I have never read the webtoon but judged solely on the drama adaptation itself it was well worth my time.

At first the only thing that attracted me to it was the extremely refreshing character of Yoo Jung, who unlike any other similar characters in other kdramas was actually the main lead. Next came the familiarity with all the supporting cast and the storylines that developed - all extremely relatable to everyday life as a student. Then came the tugs on my heartstrings with the brilliant second lead.

Honestly, I don't think I could've asked for any more. Like a lot of things I developed a massive soft spot for the second male lead...and seriously, his scenes were always straight up 100% adorable or just heartbreaking in all the right ways. But plots developed. Characters learned. The acting was superb and the music amplified all the emotions and laughter. The ending is...perhaps too open-ended for a lot of people but it's true to life and gives me hope. I'm not left feeling sorry for anything.

Watch it.

Don't just deliberate and at least TRY it for a few episodes! I loved all the characters, even the ones that I loved to hate. Depth is definitely not something which this drama lacks.

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I loved this drama over all and recommend it for others to watch. There was romance, comedy, action, etc
rolled into one. Wherever anyone feels the drama fell short is on the interpretation of the viewer. In life we
truly dont always get what we want, when we want or how we want it. Also who we love and how we love
them doesnt always meet the expectations of others. The acting was superb, the characters likeable, the
story could have been tweaked a little bit and the ost was awesome. I would love to see a continuation of
this drama in the future, after the webtoon is over, to see how well the lives of these characters have
improved.

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I wasn't really planning to watch this drama yet because it didn't appeal to me enough to watch it but as fate would have it, I chanced upon the Official MV of this drama's Part 3 OST, 'Such' by Kang Hyun Min (ft. Jo Hyuna of URBAN ZAKAPA) and I naturally got hooked.
I definitely could relate to the College Life setting, it was pretty much how College Life is in general, you either use or manipulate others or you get used.
Episode 11 was my favorite episode of all, although I'd hate to admit that the story after Episode 11 started to lose it's charm. But overall it is a very real-life-like drama. The dynamics of all these characters and why they act the way they do and how they also question their actions and how they all try or don't try to understand each other, how their fixated with their own emotions and their 'seemingly' lack thereof, and how behind all those,the source of all those actions stemmed from an innocent good intention. it shows the complexity of Human Relations and also the simple solution to the complexity. It shows not only love between a man and woman but also involves friendship, sibling love, familial love, love for self, and for others.
Acting and Casting was AWESOME! DAEBAK! Chemistry was there (I secretly even wish some romance happened in real life for the main characters and the supporting characters.)
Enjoy!

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The female lead started off as a shy, struggling but smart person. In the first episode she sees right through his nice guy façade. As the story progressed her character deteriorated. She is blinded and dumb when it comes to her boyfriend. Later they show she does know what he is like but overlooks his flaws which proves she is twisted in her own way. She learns to stand up for herself when it comes to others but with the male lead she is strangely submissive.
So there is a fine line between dark & mysterious and sociopath. The male lead is borderline sociopath. I believe a guy like him needed some serious psychological help which unfortunately he does not receive. They call him “strange” “weird” but no one pushes this guy to seek professional help. He has no redeeming qualities. Till the end he does not feel guilty for his actions against the second male lead or anyone else for that matter. There is no growth in his character he is completely unlikable
The main couple's relationship makes no sense. She is initially scared of him and very uncomfortable around him, suddenly out of nowhere she is falling for him. Women naturally look for safety. It becomes difficult to fall for a man who scares you makes you uneasy.
At one point I started skipping most scenes and would only watch the second lead. (scene stealer) the only person who shows immense development. He even apologizes to the male lead at the end even though he had been badly wronged. His relationship with the female lead was sweet and fun. He would bring out the best in her. The female lead cared so much about him at one point I was sure she has deeper feelings for him. #BaekInHoDeservedBetter
I like that they broke up at the end but hated the fact that she was still pining over him. She could have had great guy or moved on and stays single but instead she wants the unhealthy toxic relationship. Which was quite pathetic.

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Arrgh! In Cheese, the production team conjures up a dark, fascinating antihero in the character of Jung, and then spends the second half of the show running from its own creation. It’s as if they have no idea what to do with the monster they’ve made, especially as embodied in Park Hae Jin’s riveting performance. The norms of romantic comedy crash headlong into the uncomfortable reality of a male lead who can’t be whitewashed into a perfect life partner, sending the show on a desperate hunt for an alternative. Unfortunately, their attempts to turn audience sympathy elsewhere (hey, perhaps a scruffy but lovable second lead will do the trick!) feel forced and underhanded. Instead of letting their heroine tease out the risks and benefits of her problematic relationship on her own, they take away her agency, refusing to allow her to make choices that might lead into disturbing territory. It’s a grave injustice to Kim Go-Eun’s lovely acting work and to the character of Seol, and it completely undermines the central premise of the drama as the story of a shy young woman’s empowerment. It also squanders everything that is unique about the show’s set up in the first place. Because why take the road less traveled if all you’re going to do is literally or metaphorically throw your leads under the bus at the end?

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Rewatch Ready: A Captivating K-Drama with Heart

Picture this: you're diving headfirst into the chaotic world of university life, where every corner hides a new surprise, and every person has a story to tell. Sounds exciting, right? Well, that's just the beginning!

First off, let's talk about our main characters. You've got Hong Seol, who's like your best friend that you can't help but root for. She's not your typical damsel in distress; nah, she's got spunk, brains, and a heart of gold. Then there's Yoo Jung, the enigmatic and slightly mysterious guy who's got layers upon layers. You're never quite sure what he's thinking, but boy, is he intriguing!

But wait, it doesn't stop there! We've got a whole cast of characters that'll make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. From the lovable goofball Eun Taek to the sassy and unpredictable Baek In Ha, there's never a dull moment in this drama.

Now, let's talk romance. Oh boy, get ready for some heart-fluttering moments and maybe even a little second lead syndrome! The chemistry between our leads is off the charts, and you'll find yourself shipping them from the get-go. But hey, no spoilers here—you'll just have to watch and see for yourself!

As for the storyline, it's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scream at your screen in frustration (in the best way possible, of course). And the best part? It's all so relatable! Whether you're navigating friendships, love triangles, or just trying to figure out life, you'll find something to connect with in this drama.

And let's not forget about the soundtrack—it's like the cherry on top of an already delicious sundae. Every song fits the mood perfectly, enhancing those epic moments and tugging at your heartstrings when you least expect it.

Now, would I rewatch this drama? Absolutely! In fact, I've already found myself coming back to it time and time again. It's like catching up with old friends.

So, if you're looking for a drama that will stay with you long after the credits roll, "Cheese in the Trap" is definitely worth adding to your watchlist. Just be prepared to fall in love with a group of unforgettable characters, and maybe even shed a tear or two (or ten) along the way.

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Cheese in the Trap (2016) - I watched it because a friend of mine keep suggesting it to me which she is currently reading it as a webtoon but nevertheless it was great. I came to understand the webtoon because I watched it first before starting to read the webtoon. I really like the actors and actresses who acted the roles and I think that they suit it so much. I really like the fact that they kept the original story line and didn’t do as much changes as the story in the webtoon. If I didn’t read the webtoon I would have basically sorted this as a normal drama/typical drama but that is the charm of it. Although it tackles some parts of being a “chaebol” which is common in korean dramas, what I liked is that it focuses more of the struggles of being a college student and love of a normal student which cannot be seen in other dramas. I feel like I can remember my college days and I liked it that it speaks of the normal society and that a lot may feel that they belong, or they have a place in the story. Others may be disappointed with the ending, which I felt too after a few minutes after I watched the ending but after it, I realized that it was a good ending. I think it is done to respect the author of the webtoon (which have the basic rights to put an end to it), to let the viewers expect from it and also, I am positively waiting for season 2 which I hope would come soon.

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I started watching this because I was curious about it's popularity. I didn't really know anything about it, so I am not reviewing this as a fan of the webtoon. Honestly, I thought about dropping this drama at the end of every single episode, but there was always enough intrigue to make me curious enough to keep watching. My score is low, because I can't say I liked this drama. There were parts I liked, and characters I liked, but I am not a "Cheese in the Trap" fan.

There were two major issues I had with this drama. The first is that I really could not stand Hong Seol. She irritated me, and frustrated me, and made me want to reach through the screen and shake her. Kim Go Eun does a decent job, and I totally believed her as an awkward college student, but there was a charm that was missing for me. Seol is a complicated character emotionally, and I just don't think she pulled that off. She kinda played the role as if the character was on anti-depressant medication. That approach also added to one of the biggest fails in this drama for me - I just never believed that Seol actually liked Yoo Jung. Their chemistry was awkward. Even if both characters are "weird", and she was on guard with him, there should still be a sense that they actually belong together to make the romance work. She had much better chemistry with Seo Kang Joon as In Ho, but still not enough to carry a whole drama.

Speaking of the two leading men, they were my favorite characters. Figuring out the dynamic of their relationship became one of the most interesting parts of the show. Park Hae Jin was great at playing the line between sweet and sinister, so I loved him as Yoo Jung, but I didn't believe he liked Seol very much either. Part of what may have made their dynamic weird is that Park Hae Jin is older, looks older, and behaved as if he were older than the entire cast of students. He could sorta physically pass for a college student (sometimes - from certain flattering angles), but not compared to the other main student characters (except maybe Sang Chul). He seemed more like Seol's older brother, than a love interest. Similar to the dynamic he had with Seo Kang Joon, but the bromance gone wrong story touched me more. In Ho was also a great character, the epitome of the bad boy with a good heart. I definitely look forward to seeing him in more dramas in the future.

The rest of the cast was great. Many of the supporting characters are more campy than realistic, which fits the style of the show. I hated most of the character's traits, and had very little empathy for them, but they were played very well. In particular, Lee Sung Kyung as In Ha was very over the top, and smack-in-the-face-able, but memorable for sure. Eun Taek and Bo Ra were cute together, and I thought they had a better love story than the main characters.

What about the writing? I think it was pretty bad. It was good enough to get me interested, but not good enough to hold that interest. Yoo Jung is almost treated as if he is Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho", when I didn't see anything really wrong with what he did, even at his worst. Maybe that's a cultural thing, or maybe that's because I like movies like "American Psycho", but he just didn't seem bad enough to warrant how people acted towards him. I think they should have made him temper much worse revenge thriller-style, or make the misunderstandings more obvious, but the weird in between just made things confusing for me. Why were his actions seen as unforgivable vs the other characters in the show (who's actions were equally terrible). It seemed like lack of empathy was supposed to be a big theme in this drama, and I don't think that was executed well.

Much of the show is told through vignettes, which matches the webtoon feel, but especially towards the end, the story felt less cohesive. And don't even get me started on the ending, which was terrible. The only reason I wasn't completely dissatisfied with the end, is because I was just ready for it to be over at that point. Maybe it was meant to give you that "sequel pending" feeling, but it seemed more like the writers rushed to finish. Or maybe it's related to the drama surrounding this drama that I didn't care enough to read up on.

Would I watch this again? Nope. I barely made it through the first viewing.

Now that I completed this show, the story still had so much potential for me that I started reading the webtoon. So far, I'm not a fan of it either (super confusing to follow - maybe too much is lost in the translation - but I'm only on #20). Like the show, the concept is interesting enough that I will keep reading hoping to like it more. Characters (certainly Seol), and relationships between them make more sense to me than they did on the show, so I wouldn't even recommend this drama to the webtoon fans.

Overall, I will say this is a drama whose concept, and potential, was much greater than the execution of it. I can't recommend it, unless you really like being frustrated by characters and their choices, but I can see how people could see this as an interesting look at human nature. It just wasn't interesting enough for me.

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