This review may contain spoilers
It’s overhyped
I immediately started watching after seeing all the big hype about it and I was so excited but became quickly disappointed after properly seeing the reviews on this website and I’m happy I did because I decided to them read all the summaries and watch a few more episodes and I was quite annoyed and I don’t understand why people r so impressed by this drama when really it wasn’t greatActing:
I love both actors and I’ll admit it wil be hard seeing them with others I loved their chemistry and they did well in portraying the script well
Plot:
Started off really well I liked it and found it really funny and was looking forward to seeing their romance unwind after finding out they went to school together but was quickly disappointed when she began to hv a crush on Jae Yi. Now I love the guy he is such a gentleman truly an amazing character but I just didn’t like the idea that this crush lasted for so many episodes and that he is the ml brother I find that so weird that u go between brothers I just don’t understand that idea. I generally thought it would be like other dramas where she would shortly find out he has a gf and then give up on him but this lasted for ages and really annoyed me as it took away from the potential of an extremely nice friendship the ml and fl could hv made in the mean time. There’s nothing wrong with her liking someone else but I find it took ages for her to get over him and the fact Jae Yi is the ml brother made it kinda annoying. Kim Bok Joo is amazing in her own way she’s a strong woman who fights for her dream I don’t like how she hid that from Jae Yi to make her seem like a more feminine person that took away my respect for her in a way as she before kept saying she has no interest in guys but the sec she meets Jae Yi she tails after him and acts completely different there was too much juxtaposition in her character which was not helping with the plot as well as the offer for her to go higher in weightlifting kept seeming further and less important due to Jae Yi and she wanting to impress him.
I hate how it’s like she didn’t care about her career at that point just wanted to impress him I don’t like this kind of plot at all it makes a woman seem like she will do anything for a man which this was directly hinting in the storyline.
The ml was a very intriguing character from the beginning clearly talented slightly cocky but knew that he must respect others. The storyline of him losing his mother was also very interesting and I liked that quite a bit he also made sure to set boundaries immediately when his ex showed up he refused to make others uncomfortable because of her and avoided her as he did not care much of her after the break up which I found admirable as majority of the dramas have it where the ex is like welcomed back and it’s as if nothing happened but here he clearly set a boundary and was vocal about anything he disliked so she would stop. Only thing I didn’t like about him ig is that he teased the fl a bit too much which isn’t really a big issue ig so it’s not a big deal.
Second lead characters were all awesome I liked them all very much.
Overall the plot was the issue had the scriptwriters made a more sensical approach this drama would be much more entertaining.
So here is what I would change. Firstly keep the story around the development of both main leads as friends to lovers and also their career. A side story could easily be the unravelling of the mystery about Joon Hyungs mother as well as Kim Bok Joos father as he was in hospital quite a bit and that would hv been enough for plot.
Had their needed to be a rival thing the appearance of the ex gf is fine as Joon Hyung clearly set boundaries and disliked her.
If a crush at the beginning was extremely necessary they should hv maybe chosen someone that isn’t Joon Hyungs older brother I’m not Korean so maybe this isn’t odd for Koreans but I think generally no one would fall in love with one guy and then after that’s over his younger brother that’s just odd to me and causes potential issues within the brothers.
Romance scenes r cute af so their rewatch value is good but the whole thing I wouldn’t rewatch again
Was this review helpful to you?
Story; The 'Slice of Life' style of drama was a good choice for the characters that they made. It was an lighthearted and funny show that made me fall in love within a few minutes. It wasn't about true love or people who were destined for each other, it was about friendship and a cute and innocent kind of love and that is what distinguished it from other dramas.
Acting/Cast; Brilliant, simply brilliant. The actors and actresses were made for these roles and I don't think that I wish that they would have done anything differently. Even though the characters could be like stereotypical K-drama characters in some aspects, I felt that they were different and very loveable. The quirks of Bok Joo and her friends made my cheeks hurt from smiling, I usually don't think that K-Dramas are all that funny but this one really fitted my sense of humor.
The relationship between the main character felt so real and I loved that they didn't rush the characters into falling in love with each other right away.
Music; I don't really remember the OST of the series but I don't feel that it was something that I missed either, so it probably was fine.
Rewatch Value; I think that most people who watched it will rewatch it at some point, I have and probably will again. I miss the characters all too much for not seeing them again.
Overall; Loved it a lot as you can tell.
Was this review helpful to you?
MY COMFORT K-DRAMA! SWAGGG!!
I'm not a person who rewatches kdramas no matter how I loved a series, but THIS? I've rewatched a kdrama for the FIRST TIME and I didn't skip a single second in rewatching it! I find it hard to find good kdramas to watch nowadays so I thought why not rewatch some of my favorite ones? And I did! I really loved their OST ever since I was young when I first watched it until now. I remember my favorite moments of the main characters and it still hit me as it did watching it again. I really love their trope, such a healthy relationship of a couple. The ML had outright communicated with the FL immediately when he couldn't understand on why she was angry at him, which is something I don't see often in kdramas that a couple does. I really loved that, no wonder why in my future relationships I'd really want to have that kind of comfort and communication with my future partner! Both actors were dating that time no wonder why the acting felt more natural and it was definitely NAM JOO HYUK's prime era kdrama. This wasn't like other kdrama's I've watched, the story isn't common. I really loved how chaotic and funny they were together even before they got together. I'd love to have a relationship like them one day, I just love how CHALANT Nam Joo Hyuk is towards Lee Sung Kyung in that kdrama. I can rewatch it a million times and would never get bored as long as I see my comfort kdrama couple on screen! The sports academy really shows the life of an athlete like a swimmer, gymnast, and a weightlifter. I was so glad that Si-ho weren't those typical ex girlfriend's who wanted to get back with the ML even though they're already with the FL. I like her. I didn't like what she did to Bok-joo, but she definitely had some kind of character development at the end. Maybe on my sad days I'd rewatch this for some sweet rom-com moments and if I'd really need a good laugh! This will always have a special place in my heart. 🫶🏻Was this review helpful to you?
funny and well acted
I had a lot of fun watching this show. The story was nice, the script interesting as weightlifting is not sucha a popular sport dyscypline. Background knowledge on sports is sth I am curious about and it Goes for many other like soccer or baseball. the main plus is for the FL and ML very well chemistry and good acting. The comedy scenes were so good and they are the hardest to act well. I am jot suprised that both actors were to be set in new main cast roles in new dramas. Both deserved the investment in their talent to grow in new projects. Wish the can meeting on another show together.Was this review helpful to you?
I actually watched two or three episodes of this drama right after it came out because a friend of mine really liked it. I was enjoying it but because I had to travel that Summer I stopped watching and never finished. Almost two years later I decided to watch it. And that was probably one of the smartest decisions of my life. I'm not hard to please when it comes to dramas because I haven't watched a hundred of them to be THAT critical but I can say, from the bottom of my heart, that Weightlifting Fairy Kim Boy Joo will forever stay at the top as one of my favorites, no matter how many I watch. It's so perfect that it's hard to write a fair review so I'll talk about each aspect individually. From now on there will be spoilers so please don't read the rest!! If you're wondering if you should watch it: YES! yes yes yes yes, please do.
Plot/Story- Even though it's not the most complex of the plots, I think this story is absolutely fascinating just as it is. Its simpleness shines throughout the whole series and the scenes make your heart skip multiple beats. Even though it's a very lighthearted story, there are some more deep and emotional moments, like Joonhyung's relationship with his mother (which made me cry so hard I couldn't fall asleep after that episode). Unlike many other dramas I've watched, none of the relationships feel forced here because they're perfectly constructed. The friendships warmed my heart and I almost died of laughter in every single episode. I also discovered new things about sport teams and teamwork and how everything happens inside the competition world which is pretty cool, in my opinion, especially because swimming is my favorite sport and I would love to join a swimming team. It was never boring and each episode made us want more. I don't know if I've ever given 10 whole stars to a plot before but WFKBJ totally deserves them (and more).
Characters/Cast/Acting- The characters are PHENOMENAL. So so so so good. Even the "villains" were likeable because you could truly feel for them. Everyone grew throughout the show which surprised me because there are only 16 episodes. The cast was perfect, they fit their roles so well that I wonder if it's not their real personality after all. Their chemistry... GOOSEBUMPS. The kissing scenes? Jesus Christ, I literally cried in every kissing scene, I just can't deal. This drama made me fall in love with Joohyuk (like everyone else on this planet) and my goal for 2019 is to watch all of his shows. Watch me follow the whole cast on Instagram and love them for the rest of my life.
Music- I loved loved loved the soundtrack, I think it fit perfectly.
Rewatch Value- I'll rewatch this show at least two times a year until I die. Yep, that is it. Life mission right there. But seriously, I'm 1000% sure I'll never get tired of it. I could watch ten other seasons like this one that it wouldn't get boring. I guess I just love watching sports dramas and animes. Does anyone have any recommendation??
Conclusion- As of January 2019 this is my favorite drama of all time and I think it will stay this way for a long long long time. This was also my first review of the year and I'm really proud of it haha I'm so happy with this drama, I have no words. Well, I do have ONE word.
...
SWAG
Was this review helpful to you?
THIS DRAMA HAS CHANGED MY LIFE
I know a lot of you may think that I'm being dramatic but I'm really telling you the truth. I first watched this drama in 2017 and I ADORED IT. It was everything and made me fall for all the characters, it even made me wish that I had a boyfriend like Joon Hyung. But in 2019, I went through an extremely difficult phase of my life and I found it really hard to be happy. You see, I only wanted to be happy even if it was only temporary. I was sick and tired of everything. I love reading novels by the way and I found myself in a huge slump and couldn't even bring myself to read a single page of my favourite novel. Then I got recommended a funny scene from this show and it made me want to watch the show all over again. And this show made me happy. Ever since then, I've watched this drama so many times. I have the entire drama downloaded on my phone so that I can rewatch it whenever I want It's so lighthearted, funny, adorable and realistic. Ever since then, I started to watch a lot of new kdramas and not all of them match with Kim Bok Joo's charm but I always find myself coming back to this show 💜Was this review helpful to you?
surprisingly fresh and heartwarming
This drama starts off surprisingly fresh and heartwarming. The main strength is definitely the natural chemistry between the leads. It feels very easy to watch, especially in the beginning, and there are a lot of genuinely sweet and funny moments that make you smile without feeling forced.The main couple is the real highlight – their interactions feel organic and emotionally convincing, which is something not every romance drama manages to pull off.
However, the pacing is not always consistent. Some episodes feel slightly stretched, and there are parts where typical K-drama misunderstandings and repetitive emotional loops slow things down. A few side characters also feel a bit exaggerated or written more for comedic effect than realism, which can be hit or miss depending on the viewer.
That said, the drama manages to recover with its charm and warmth. Even when the story becomes a bit cliché or predictable, the overall vibe remains comforting and enjoyable.
Visually and emotionally, it’s an easy watch – not groundbreaking in plot, but very strong in chemistry and feel-good moments.
Overall: A light, charming drama with excellent leads, occasional pacing issues, but a very warm and satisfying viewing experience.
Was this review helpful to you?
a perfect school romance
this is i think the predecessor to 2521, my previous favourite show, but this is better. it has everything 2521 had and more, cool characters, a nice friend group, a fun romance, is funny, good sideplots, everything. i do wish jae-i was treated a bit better because he does get shafted a lot. And also the dogs i wanted to see more of. i found the ending a little disappointing, i feel like i wouldve easily watched 10 more episodes and the timeskip i didn't like much. AND i'm mad we never got the intro wink scene because that was cuteWas this review helpful to you?
1 I love Nam Joon Hyun, he is a really good actor and played in many hit dramas of 2016, like Scarlet heart and Cheese in the trap
2 My favourite theme is school life But, part from those two, this drama has one thing that many others lack; a strong couple. The chemistry between them was amazingly powerful, even though their romance didn't start till probably the tenth episode. But even so, the dynamics were great! Cute and romantic, they were the it couple!! The story is nice too. The performances were nice and the soundtrack was great. One thing that maybe wasn't that good, was that the leading lady supposed to be overweight, or at least not skinny to be able to do weightlifting, but the drama only had her wearing buggy clothes and she not even looked strong enough. But other than that it was a quite enjoyable drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Weightlifting fairy Kim Bok-joo swag
With a full heart and uncontrollable giggles, I felt like I was 15 again, watching those classic romantic comedies from the 2000s. This drama had a magical power to transport me away from reality.All the credit goes to Nam Joo-hyuk (Jung Joon-hyung), who absolutely shone in his role. He played one of the cutest and most lovable male characters ever. His temperament, personality, kindness, humor, and sensitivity were spot on. Without him, this drama wouldn't have been the same.
And Kim Bok-joo? She was simply adorable. Her cuteness, authenticity, and silly moments left me completely charmed. Sure, sometimes her immaturity and insecurity, along with some selfish and inconsequential actions, could be a bit frustrating. But most of the time, I was just mesmerized by her.
The secondary characters were just as amazing. The coaches, in particular, won me over with their warmth and guidance.
While the overall story was interesting, the script sometimes struggled to keep me fully engaged. Some of the smaller plotlines didn't quite capture my interest, and the main storyline of the weightlifter felt a bit underdeveloped. It could have been done differently to make a bigger impact.
But honestly, the charisma of the characters made up for any flaws. This drama wasn't about overcoming and growing in sport; it was about a girl's insecurities and her journey to self-discovery, and I'm totally okay with that.
Criticism aside, thinking with my heart, this drama was a delightful experience that will stay with me for a long, long time. It doesn't need to be perfect to be unforgettable.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is unforgettable and...
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo ✨ swag✨
Was this review helpful to you?
Lee Sung Kyung was not a convincing weightlifter to me, although I did appreciate that she put on weight for this drama. Other than that, I loved the whole drama from beginning to end.
Rather than annoying conflicts that don't get resolved, what you will get from the show instead is a lot of satisfying giddy moments from all of the cuteness. Cuteness in the leads' relationship, which has me smiling ear to ear, cuteness in the friendships and the family relationships to the relationship between athlete and coach.
Can't say enough good things about this drama. Don't watch if you are looking for an intricate plot line and heart thumping action. Instead, get a cup of hot chocolate and curl up to this show and enjoy it for all it has to offer.
Highlights / uniqueness of the show:
- the sound effects had me cracking up all the way through (you will have to watch to see what I am talking about)
- natural chemistry and skinship between leads as the relationship progresses
- one of the best portrayals for female college friendships I've seen in recent dramas. cute bromances also
No critiques for this show other than casting an unbelievable weightlifter. But I fell in love with the actress LSK after watching this (who knew pouty lips can be so adorable) and she is simply beautiful. Both leads were beautiful to look at and fulfilled my eye's need for candy :)
I was fully satisfied after the show and only wished there was more cuteness to watch!
Was this review helpful to you?
