Love love!!
Eeeek, my HEART. This show was so gosh darn CUTE. I came to love all the characters, and by the end of it, I couldn't help but grin (especially that airport scene). This show is perfectly lighthearted and cute, and makes me feel all types of ways. Particularly at the end — I was nostalgic for my own time at university as well as all of theirs.There were serious issues discussed, but they all had pretty concrete arcs that never dragged too long. I never got that invested in Si Ho's story, but the rest of them are all so gosh darn lovable (and I liked her by the end of it too). Overall, the format was more similar to a western TV show — the episodes were somewhat self-contained.
It was adorable watching Kim Bok Joo stumble through all the awkward bits, the hard bits, and the swoony bits that come with all the "firsts" around that age. I'm so glad we got to see all these characters succeed. I swear, all the main plot points were re-introduced at some point, and tied up perfectly! I can already see myself going back to some of the night-time terrace contemplations or "lying-down-outside" scenes. The only mystery remains: any follow ups from that movie date?!
To be honest, I thought the show was a bit slow to start (I even had trouble staying awake to watch the first few episodes), but I LOVED the second half (and especially the end!). This is how you write a romance, my goodness. Can someone say SWOON? Wait, scratch that... more like "SUH-WAG." :)
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All Time Soft Heartwarming Favorite
When you need to watch something to warm your heart and reminiscence about those good ol' days, then this is that perfect drama for you. This is probably one of the most popular dramas of all time and I know that it deserves its spot. It may not have the best plot or dramatic arc or anything but that's what makes it perfect. It's light, character-driven, and tickles your heart.The best aspects of this drama. for me, are the casts, OST's, cinematography, and chemistry. We all know how top-tier Sung Kyung and Joo Hyuk's chemistry. Besides that, I love how the characters are made, from their backstories, struggles, and motivations, it gives them that depth that would make you greatly connect and empathize with them. They're flawed and that's how it made them feel real. They're not those perfect genius characters that can do everything, instead, they struggle to reach their goals and I think it greatly reflects real teenagers' situations.
It might not have the best plot but I love that it's character-driven. I am seriously a love triangle hater but I didn't mind the start at all where there's a slight love triangle between Book Joo, Joon Hyung, and his brother. I really think that it greatly helps in the development of Book Joo's character and the growth of Joo Hyung's feelings towards her.
Besides the two, I also love their family. They're really supportive especially Book Joo's father. He might not be sweet and frequently scolds her but he shows it through his actions. Joon Hyung's family also proves how much they love him despite the truth. And of course, we won't forget their friends who are ever so loving and supportive to them! They really gave so much fun to the show.
The coloring and cinematography are also fascinating. Just looking through the pictures will make your heart melt. I've been looking for a drama like Weightlifting Fairy but I guess it's really unique and stands out from the rest. I'm still hoping for the second season even though it seems impossible. In that case, can I just have another Nam Joo Hyuk and Lee Sung Kyung tandem pretty please?
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TLDR, I recommend this drama if you want to watch a lighthearted rom-com drama and the chemistry between the leads.
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Dorama perfeito
Não aguento mais dorama com confronto bem no final ou com triângulo amoroso sem fim. mas esse dorama não tem nada disso. a história flui, personagens engraçados, romance na medida. Amei. Veria mais vezes. Ótimo pra esquecer de tudo e descansar a mente. 😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Was this review helpful to you?
The plot is simple, but it's so funny and moving at the same time.
The cast is overall great (although I didn't care that much about some of the subplots to be honest, imho the only weak parts) but, most of all, Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk's chemistry is off the charts! No wonder they were dating in real life, back then. They're both so good in their roles and soooo cute! Lee Sung Kyung manages to be more boyish than what she usually is (i.e. a beautiful, very feminine woman), which speaks volumes about how great she is here. If you're looking for a show that will make you smile and feel good, then look no further!
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Nothing memorable for me
I might be in the minority but I honestly wasn't that impressed. The only redeeming quality for me was Nam Joo-hyuk was SO cute and adorable. This was my first drama of his I watched and he made me want to go try his others that he's in. Sure, he's not your typical "super hot swoon worthy" type but his mannerisms and smile and character make me love him so much. PLUS he does have a really nice body to look at.TW:
There were a lot of things in this that made me uncomfortable. The physical abuse and literally SEEING it happen was a bit much for me.
Also the whole weight loss thing was not handled well imo. She CLEARLY is in shape and even the Dr notes her muscle mass and healthy bmi, so why is he still pushing weight loss? This, to me, portrayed a poor image of body positivity and was pushing weight loss for an already healthy person.
Side note- I know a big portion of this was supposed to be "slice of life" for most of the characters but I honestly found a lot of the side arc boring and skipped a lot.
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Cute Romcom
Overall I liked it, it’s a cute lighthearted drama!The cast is really good, my fav character was the ML I feel like he got the best character development and was the only mature one at times lol. The FL is your tipical dumb girl that is supposed to be “not attractive”, she’s not like other girls yk lol but more tolerable than most FLs imo. The only thing I don’t like about her it’s that she’s a bit selfish and immature mainly in her relationship with the ML.
I honestly skipped the love story of the ML’s brother, it just felt forced and I wasn’t interested in the man after the story with the FL was done, I would’ve love to see if Seon-ok and Tae-Kwon got together at some point we only saw them flirt one episode and then the story jumps to 2 years later and that’s it, the last episodes felt quite rushed tbh.
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This review may contain spoilers
Thoughts after rewatching
A little while ago I’ve decided to rewatch this drama just to see whether it was as good as I’ve remembered it from almost four years ago. Turns out it wasn’t, but I still very much love it.The female lead, Bok Joo, just has it all. She is fierce yet caring and cute in her own specific way. She always tries her best, but her clumsiness (which might feel a little bit too much sometimes) gets in her way. Her story is well-developed and although one can argue with some of her actions, the reasoning is always there. Joon Hyung, the male lead, is as fun, caring and loyal as she is. He deals with a lot of stuff, but never laces into anyone. What I’ve refused to notice before is how officious he is at times, especially at the beginning. It is also a shame that his character wasn’t explored as well as Bok Joo. But at the end of a day, he’s still a loveable, supportive guy who can easily gain viewers’ sympathy despite a very few flaws.
Perhaps the most heart-warming feature of this drama is seeing those two grow not only as a couple but also as individuals. I must say, I’m still at awe of how smoothly a relationship between the main pair flowers. Throughout the show, both characters keep supporting each other in every possible field from sports career to mental health issues, which is a really nice alternative to all toxic kdrama relationships. Although a few of the occurring conflicts might feel childish to some, they all feel natural and get resolved in a fitting time and manner. As for personal development, I really loved the lack of stigmatisation of Jong Hyung’s therapy. Even while going through breakdowns, the couple still supported each other without being “too much” for one another, which felt absolutely refreshing.
As I could go for the whole day about how much I love the drama, here I’d like to concentrate on a few issues I find a bit annoying. First of all, what really bugs me is the lack of research on sports the characters were performing. I’m no professional, but it took only a few google searches to prove that some of the sports-related issues presented in this kdrama would never occur in real life. Secondly, I really dislike the irrational ex-girlfriend trope. As much as I like and feel for Shi Ho, her introduction as an obsessive ex well, unnecessary? Moreover, the relationship between Jae Yi and Ah Yeong felt a bit off – out of all fun characters Jae Yi felt like he had nothing but a doormat personality and thus no one can tell whether he really cares about Ah Yeong or just does what he is supposed to do. Additionally, I absolutely hated how Joon Hyung was encouraged to make up with his mother – again, I had literally no reason to have any sympathy for her and found it disturbing how everyone justified her behaviour as she had not traumatised her son before. Lastly, I was sad to see that Tae Kwon’s and Nan Hee’s personalities were based on a single trait, which made those characters a bit cartoonish.
As for casting, I think we should all address an elephant in the room. It is kind of ridiculous how the story spins around “ugly girls have it worse” scenario and yet the ugly girl in question is the top model Lee Sung Kyung herself. Baggy clothes and short haircut don’t really portray her any worse. On other hand, what might sound quite controversial, the one good thing that in my opinion comes from this tragically reused trope are Bok Joo’s facial expressions. Although they might look a bit awkward, I find them really matched to the character. Yet, even though I truly despise this “ugly girl transformation” trope, I truly cannot imagine any other actress playing Bok Joo as good as Sung Kyung did. Nam Joo Hyuk did the hell out of a good job as well. The chemistry between both the main characters as well as the rest of the cast members is quite unmatched.
Rewatching this piece made me realize how many small or a bit bigger problems are here in the drama. Some of them were a bit annoying, some of them almost unnoticeable. Nevertheless, it might be my personal bias, but I would still name Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo the best comfort drama for both teenagers and young adults.
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The series is light and romantic
The series is based on the real stories of athletes—the lives of champions, their struggles, and doubts. It also explores the topic of female athletes, femininity, authenticity, self-acceptance, and the desire to be both a woman and a dedicated athlete, as well as how society perceives all of this.At the same time, it contrasts with a sport often considered more "feminine"—gymnastics. It’s a very interesting and refreshing subject, touching on sensitive issues but without delving too deeply. The storyline lacks boldness and feels somewhat watered down to appeal to a broader audience. It's a shame, but in terms of popularity, it works.
The female lead acts well—I think she managed to portray an interesting character despite not fitting the role perfectly. The male lead is likable, with moments of strong acting and others that are less convincing. Their love story is enjoyable.
The biggest flaw is the choice of the main actress, who does not fit the role. She is very pretty and not "big" at all, yet the script repeatedly insists that she is, which really bothered and annoyed me. They should have either acknowledged that she is attractive but simply less conventionally feminine or fully committed to the idea by casting a more convincing actress for this concept.
Secondly, the constant eating does not add much value to the story. If it was meant as a critique or had a deeper meaning, they should have explored it further.
Thirdly, the friendship dynamic between the FL and ML is unbalanced (at least until episode 15). The FL constantly shares her struggles, but the ML also has problems, and she never asks how he is doing. Even at the end, she encourages him to win so he can join her, but in a way, it’s still about her. Yet, at the beginning, the ML criticizes his ex-girlfriend for being selfish.
The series is light, romantic, and overall pleasant to watch, especially for younger audiences.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is amazing!! I can’t put into words how much I loved it! The story is just too cute! My favorite will always be Bok Joo and Soon Ok. Soon Ok little relationship with his friend was so funny. I’m not going to lie I really felt bad for the Doctor because he is such a good guy, and just so sweet. Same with the younger brother his past with his mother is so sad. I cried when she showed up at the school. I couldn’t get over the fact that he was really letting his feelings out. And when his aunt smacked him….. I could not take it. I could really feel every emotion. Now on the the three musketeers. I absolutely loved their friendship. When they finally found out about Bok Joo liking the Doctor and going to the diet clinic. I could not help but to cry with them.In conclusion, this is an all around amazing K-drama. I would definitely recommend others to watch this. You get so immersed into the story and you feel like you’re apart of it. Bok-Joo SWAG!!
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comforting soooo much
SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD wth. The story portrayed not only their childhood friends reunion that turned to lovers but also Bok Joo's hard working to always do her best as a weightlifting athlete.. love u sungkyung n joohyuk.And also Bok Joo's father that I really like. He's a hardworking person, and has been taking care of Bok Joo himself since long time ago. He seems so protective but he loves Bok Joo that much (and some dad's love language is like that.. ig)
And i love Bok Joo and Joon Hyung's scenes. Just like... your heart feels warm? And Joon Hyung's jokes always get me.. yes!
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