i started this drama because of the webtoon but i ended up really enjoying it all the way through.
without giving away any spoilers, this story is a masterpiece but the producers absolutely massacred the ending. i don't think it was either bad or good, but it was definitely different from the original plot and it left me kind of disappointed and sad at the end.apart from that, CITT takes this very basic-ass plot base of a poor girl, a rich chaebol son and the bad boy second lead and puts a twist on it with a lot of varying topics. from stalking to dealing with a patriarchic household, the show gave off some really dark vibes at certain moments and i really liked the way the characters interact. a lot of people didn't like yoo jung and how he solved his issues but i think it's one of the key points that made this show so interesting. a lot of people also complained about the chemistry with the main couple - saying that they're awkward - but that is actually supposed to be the main point of their interaction. with the awkwardness, come a lot of hilarious moments and conflicts. apart from the main leads, baek in ho, baek in ha and all the other background characters are really memorable and enjoyable. i also think i'm the rare minority that didn't get second lead syndrome, but i can 100% see the appeal as their relationship was great.
the actors all seem to suit their roles well (kim go-eun was absolutely i c o n i c) and i also really liked hong seol's outfits in every episode. the visuals give off this college aesthetic kind of vibe that i haven't seen in any other k-drama and the interior design was really pretty.
the soundtrack isn't one of the best but there are a few gems (maybe i like you, cheese in the trap, perhaps this is love)
i don't think how it could be compared to the movie version, it's a disgrace to the drama's name and i don't suggest you watch that one.
all in all, i would rec. this drama to anyone who wants a plot that's both fun and endearing and also lowkey chilling at the same time. i also recommend to everyone that isn't satisfied with the ending to check out the webtoon to heal from the trauma :D
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Light hearted and Slice of Life
This drama is light-hearted and has a good romance score. I enjoyed the chemistry the actors shared. The story was engaging more or less. The female leads did an excellent job as I could actually feel their agony and emotions. At some levels, this drama tends to be relatable in a few lines.Let's talk about where it fell short.
Although in some places I felt that the story was predictable as all kdramas pulling out their usual cards, what intrigued me the most was the psychology of the male lead. I felt he could do better acting cause at some points I expected more emotion as in some places he was fake trying to keep it within. His complex character is what kept this drama's storyline different from the rest. But he served the best visuals and did look good when he was angry xD.
Aside from that the ost was good. In some places the cut scenes were random, there few flaws here and there but this drama is old so that's acceptable.
All in all, it's a good drama if you're looking for a good cozy romance to divert your mind to, but at the same time it makes you think about how people behave and have different battles in their lives that result in their actions, especially the complex character of the male lead separates this drama from the rest.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Cheese In The Trap" is a drama about Hong Seol, an introverted girl, and Yoo Jung, the most popular guy in college. Unlike everyone else, Seol wasn't fooled by Yoo Jung's fake smile and he noticed that in her. At first, Yoo Jung decided to make her life hell, making everything difficult for her, until Seol decides to drop out of school for a while. When she returns, it's as if Yoo Jung is a different person and he's determined to make her fall in love with him.Yoo Jung is manipulative, cold and calculating, he has all the characteristics of a psychopath and that was one of the things that caught my attention the most about this drama, seeing a person like that trying to change for someone he fell in love with. It also has to do with the way people treated Yoo Jung, no one was sincere with him, everyone wanted something from him, friendship, closeness, it was never something real and pure, so he reciprocated in the same way.
The whole situation with Young Gon, Seol's stalker, was the worst thing Yoo Jung did during the drama. It was when he didn't like Seol and maybe he didn't imagine that Young Gon was that crazy, but Yoo Jung's white lie was what created all this and then In Ha pretending to be him, since she stole his phone, saying that Seol was playing hard to get, that if he kept insisting, eventually she would give in. I know Yoo Jung didn't care much when he did this, because the rest was all In Ha, but when Seol finds out the truth, that it was all his plan, he finally realized that his actions hurt.
The second lead syndrome was heavy in this drama, In Ho is very charming, how can you not fall in love with him? Only he could make the nickname "dog fur" something cute. HAHAHA'
But at the same time, I couldn't root for him, since Yoo Jung was much more lonely, he had no one by his side, while In Ho had In Ha, even though she was completely crazy.
Speaking of In Ha, she is a very intriguing character, because she is complex. At first you don't think so, she seems like a spoiled rich girl, but she is full of insecurities, traumas and problems that she simply ignored. That's what ended up culminating in the end where she freaked out, threw Seol in front of a car and almost killed her on an impulse.
The only mistake in this drama is the ending. The audience deserved more than that simple email implying that Yoo Jung was still there, after what Seol went through because of him, him leaving seemed like a very cowardly attitude to me and him not showing up until the end made it even more so. I know he went because he was punishing himself, thinking that Seol's accident was like karma for everything he did to other people, but I wanted to see a redemption of the character, him coming back and saying that now it would be different. The ending is quite disappointing and ends up ruining the drama a bit.
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And what should I say? I really really really liked it! And I think that the ending is perfect as it is because it fits the drama AND leaves the possibility for a sequel (I would really love that).
I liked the cast and characters, although the character of Hong Seol could have been a little braver and have more confidence (I know it's based on the webtoon and that's how she is). And Lee Sung Kyung showed her acting skills by being the ultimate crazy bitch - damn annoying but really hilarious at times.
So overall it was a pleasant drama with the right wrap up in the end. I would really like a sequel!
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I really liked the cast but the screenwriters ruined the main characters and I couldn't even catch a glimpse of the webtoon's Seol and Jung. It got on my nerves but differently than all the people I've seen so far I don't blame the actors. (Yes, some people blame the actors for reading their lines!) After all they just portray what's given to them.
I love piano. Say whatever you want but those parts didn't bother me at all. On the contrary, Baek In Ho was a nice character that I really enjoyed watching. I hardly ever jump on ships by the way, but I jumped on this one. I would have liked this ship to sail simply to have something different once in a while, not always the usual fighting-hating-blindy in love thing.
After losing my interest completely because in my opinion not even Baek In Ho could have saved this drama (or could he?) I dropped it and haven't seen a drama since because it put me in a slump. So annoyed!
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At first I kept thinking I was watching a thriller or a horror only because the glare that Yoo Jung gave was killer and to me I felt like he would snap and rip your head off and you wouldn't even know it. but that of course did not happen. But the look was intimidating because you knew he did not play. I was captivated by this and kept watching. Until the very end I still was hesitant if I could really trust him. But I understood why he kept his guard up because he felt people were only close to him for personal gain or out of pity. hmmmmmmm. Besides that he was fantastic and as usual there is a method to his craziness and a reason to why his character can be often cold. But I think often enough people try to fix you and sometimes you can't be fixed or it will take lots of hard work and effort and the person has to want to change. Bring in Hong Seol who manages to chisel away at the hard exterior. I enjoyed her character as well. Loved the stories that took place during college as well. It was a reflection of everyday life and the types of people you will run into. People that are jerks, anti social, wanna-be's, awesome people, selfish, sometimes crazy people. But it's how we cope and not loose ourselves as well. I think the drama reflected that as well. YOu can't let one incident define you as a person. I loved Baek In Ho and his crazy sister. I just didn't know if I should love or hate her but I had both feelings towards her character for different situations. Baek In Ho was great and such a cutie pie. This might be one of the times where I wasn't sure if the male lead was the best choice or if the second male lead choice was better for the girl. I guess it's always great to have choices between 2 great people that care for you deeply. I think this drama had lots of onions and it was fun to watch some of the characters peel back each layer. Overall I was happy with the drama. My only concern is how long should one wait for someone until they heal themselves of all their angst, anger and issues. STill loved it despite the ending.
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The story for Cheese in the Trap was extremely interesting and brought so many unique spins, turns and ideas, even though it did diverge from the manhwa. However, I did have some problems with the story-line. First of all, like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, Yoo Jung's relationship with Hong Seol didn't feel as strong as hers with Baek In Ho - it felt awkward and forced, and that's not how relationships should be like. Maybe to start with, but it should have gotten better after a few weeks. And no couple have that many arguments and disagreements in that short space of time. Secondly, all the issues with Son Min Soo, Oh Young Gon and Baek In Ha were dragged out too much in my opinion and should be dealt with better. More screen time should have been left for the main characters.
The acting was absolutely superb, I would not exchange a single actor for someone else. I was skeptical of Seo Kang Joon after hearing some complaints from other users, but I absolutely loved him and his acting - In Ho was my favourite character of the series. He's definitely on my list of actors to watch out for. I now also love Kim Go Eun and Nam Joo Hyuk so much.
The music is great to listen to. If you put the entire soundtrack on a playlist and listen through it, you'll most likely not skip any of the tracks. I absolutely love all of Part 4 from the OST, since acoustic tunes just serenade with me so well. The only problem I have with the soundtrack is that since the plot is the main standout of the series, the music is faded into the background.
I would definitely rewatch Cheese in the Trap any time.
Overall, despite my issues with the story, this drama is a definite watch for lovers of drama and psychological series'. It's perfect even.
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Music: 2 or 3 really excellent songs but the rest were meh
Acting: everyone was good except Park Hae Jin who had as much emotion as a mannequin
Rewatch: lots of overused archetypes, lots of older Korean drama style angst
Overall: glad I watched it, didn't waste my time, not watching it again ^^
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