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Lost count of the number of times I have rewatched this ( 4-5 would be my guess so far)
It's not perfect, there are certain things about the plot that have you raising eyes but the leads make up for whatever is wrong with the story. They have a such a blazing chemistry! This is the show that made me like Ji Chang Wook even before I knew his name. His pairing with Nam Ji Hyun is best to date. I'm sad that they haven't worked together again in any other dramas. Especially, Nam Ji Hyun, I really would like to her in more romcoms, but she prefers more serious roles. The entire cast is also great.What I like about both the characters is that they have enough spine to leave to their cheating exes. They didn't beg for them to take them back but made it clear that they wouldn't want them back under any condition. Jang Hee Joo, Bong Hee's ex was such a pain in the ass, not only did he show no remorse for cheating, he went out of his way to make it so that she was the one who cheated. The women in the hotel, Na Hi Jae, wasn't any better either, she contributed to this plan knowing that they both messed up but still behaved all high and mighty. These are the kind of people that scare me, the ones who don't understand the difference between right & wrong. What makes it even more scary is that they get away with it. Even by the end of the drama, Na Hi Jae didn't face any repercussion for damaging Bong Hee's reputation, and irony is she is the one who becomes a prosecutor, who's supposed to uphold justice, whereas Bong Hee who was framed continues to struggle.
One thing that bothers me the most about the ML is he thinks that not submitting the second knife would have let him be continue to fulfill his father's dream of him being a prosecutor, but he doesn't even consider what his father would have thought of him being a dishonest one by hiding the other knife. Instead, he blames it on the FL. And everyone around agrees that he gave up his career not for the truth but because of the FL. I don't think this thinking was ever addressed.
While they end up arresting one Stalker, they glorify the FL's stalking of the ML. Between the two of them, the ML didn't really notice that she was stalking him, but once he found out, I don't think he minded it that much.
The best part about Bong Hee & Ji Wook's relationship is that there was always a nascent attractions between them, neither of them aware when they started to have feelings for each other. One day, they just knew that they did. Ji Wook did his best to deny those feelings but ultimately decided to stop resisting. Bong Hee surely had a tough time of it, since she was the one who recognized those feelings first and had to deal with it being one-sided for long, then came the rejection. It is beautiful to watch them be together, even when they fight about silly things.
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Exciting murders and hot prosecutors
This was my first Ji Chang Wook Drama, and I really understand now exactly why this guy has soooo many fans. No only is he really pleasant to look at, but his acting skills are really dang good! There wasn't as much romance as I would have liked in this drama, but the main action plot with the killer that drives the story was, even though a bit predictable, really interesting and kept me entertained through all 40 episodes. The dynamic between the two leads was just wonderful, and there was plenty of comedy relief sprinkled throughout the drama, to my great relief. They also really killed it with that soundtrack. This was, overall, a wonderful drama, despite it lacking in the romance department for me.Was this review helpful to you?
A Feel-Good Legal Romance with Flaws but Plenty of Charm
Suspicious Partner was a very enjoyable watch. The story had an engaging mix of romance, mystery, and humor that kept me invested throughout. I could empathize with the characters easily, and while I definitely liked the male lead, I have to admit I ended up falling for the second lead.The drama did a good job of portraying the ups and downs of relationships, with roller-coaster moments of confusion balanced by heartfelt surprises that caught me off guard. However, I do wish the second lead couple had more screen presence and a more satisfying conclusion, as their storyline felt a little incomplete.
That being said, the male lead truly stole the show, especially in the courtroom sessions where his performance shone the brightest. Overall, it’s a feel-good drama that left me with a warm impression. I really liked it.
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I liked the amazing acting by the cast and the most amazing I felt was by the main couple and the amazing chemistry they developed (except the ending). I liked the OST and the moments where the OST's were used. Big thump's up from me on that! I was drawn in the story by the main villian and ML and I definitely liked that. I cannot say I completely agree with the way story developed, which in it's entirety felt dragged out upto certain extent, but it wasn't bad at all, except the fricking ending which annoys me to no end.
Even after seeing amazing performances from the cast, even after experiencing cute moments powered by OST's, things were left out and the ending was frustrating. I feel this heavy need to express how much of joy the series was for me for it's entirety and that I fuckin loved this series until the last few eps. I found it very annoying that nearing it's end, the series decided to trample on the cute and forward-going relationship it built itself on. I agree that during the series there were many up's-and-down's but they had their lovely moments wherein they became closer each step. But when everything gets sorted in the end, the series decides to reset the relationship or move tons of steps backwards. They had lived with each other, they had their cute moments, they respected each other, they loved each other, they wanted each other. But it looked as if nothing of these mattered in the end and it irritated and frustrated me to a large extent that the series tend to act like all those cute lovely moments between couple in-between the series didn't happened. Like oh my god, the way FML acted towards each other makes me rethink whether those moments actually happened in the series or not and it just makes me so much fricking sad man, it's just unbearable, it just gives me headache ughh!! I understand what Prosecutor Na said to FML in her living room regarding same thing, increase of fights and then breakup and what the f that really felt like happening. Why the f they changed FML's character nearing the end huh, she's so much nitpicking bruh! And I don't even know how the f ML is handling that bruh! I just felt that they were way more close before than they were after they resolved their things and it's very sad for me. Everything was reduced to a shitty relationship!!!! Ughh this gives me headache man!
Only reason I'm giving this series anything beyond a 6.0/10 (which would have ben 9/10 thanks if not for the ending) is thanks to amazing acting and the entire journey of drama except the last few eps! I just hate them so f much!
*PS: Ik there were many cliches anol that shii but this was my first KDrama so I'll give them a pass!
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Romantic comedy with a serious side
This drama started off brilliantly, it got me hooked straight away. It was really funny & cute but has a serious side with some quite dark moments but the overall feeling it leaves you with is hope & happiness.I really was going to give this a rating of 9 but just a few things were nagging at me. The main reason for not wanting to give it a 10 originally is that it can drag a bit, not enough so that it's unenjoyable but enough so that it's not perfect. My next reason is to do with the plot, while I loved it in general, specifically there were some plot holes, the main one being that we never find out exactly why Go Chan-ho was "helping" Jung Hyeon-su, I really wanted that to be explained.
Nonetheless this is a super drama with a great cast 🧑💼
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Enjoyable but fairly forgettable rom com with a side of murder
Suspicious Partner was fun. It combined a murder plot and legal drama with a classic rom com and still maintained a light tone. It clipped along at a good pace and had likeable characters. But a week after watching it I've already forgotten a lot about it, so for me this is an enjoyable but largely forgettable show. Good for when you want to switch your brain off and just have fun with an entertaining plot.The writing was generally good, though this drama did manage to include practically every trope in existence. The writer did a great job of weaving an ongoing serial killer storyline, weekly legal cases, romance, and side plots together and creating engaging characters. I did get frustrated with some of the writing choices every now and again, especially when they lost some of the momentum in the murder sub plot near the end, but this was a generally well written show. I liked the romance to begin with, but by the time the show neared its conclusion there had been so many obstacles placed in their way that I'd slightly lost interest. The secondary romance didn't really work, largely because they wrote the second female lead to be pretty unlikeable and attempted to remedy it too late.
The performances were great, especially that of Dong Ha and Nam Ji Hyun who played the female lead. I thought Ji Hyun was charming and was really impressed by her, and Dong Ha was so good he stole the show at times. I also really enjoyed a lot of the supporting characters; Choi Tae Joon was very engaging as the second male lead, and I particularly liked the character of Ji Hae. It was a minor part, but I wanted to see more of her, which is a credit to the performance by Kim Ye Won. I know Ji Chang Wook is incredibly popular, but his performance was one of the weaker ones for me. He's good when he's doing action scenes or serious scenes, but I found him less convincing when required to act happily with someone he loved. There was a scene with his mother where he grinned inanely at her in a seeming display of affection and I found it pretty jarring, and I felt the same in some of his scenes with the female lead. He's better at playing darker emotions than happier ones and I'd have preferred his performance if it was more restrained in those lighter moments.
Overall this is an enjoyable show and I'd recommend it, just don't set your expectations too high.
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This review may contain spoilers
A drama that swallowed numerous genres at once
Warning: This is a long and opinionated review. You can beg to differ. Plus, spoilers are ahead so beware. Please don’t report me for the spoilers, I tried my best to filter out specific events from the show. If you don’t feel safe reading the contents of this review, feel free to skip it.The beginning of the drama was highly engaging. The visuals and acting were chef's kiss. The train to the hotel to the office scenes was hilarious. It was a force to be reckoned with. Later on, when the crime suspense would start to arise, it'd be super interesting. You will start to create crime theories and wonder what the antagonist's true intentions are. And of course, the revelation will be slow progress. The same goes for the romance aspect of the show. Just when you thought it was developing, it really wasn’t.
What I loved the most about the show was the writer's pattern. The writer did a great job executing the transitions of the early to midway episodes. She basically gaslighted me more than once. First, she made me believe it was the other guy that murdered the victim. The way JiBong got me sympathizing with the “protagonist guy” because he got "wrongly accused" just like Bong-hee from 2 years back. Second, for making me think Prosecutor Nah was an actual daredevil. She won my heart after that hallway scene where she purposely sideswiped Bong-hee towards Ji-uk. And near the ending scene where she let Bong-hee stay at her place, I loved her a lot there. It's a shame, all this greatness didn't last long.
What I'm afraid most in k-dramas are those that started great. You saw the potential, you fell in love with the story and the characters but tilted halfway. Sadly, this drama belonged there. It was a great loss. I'm not saying this is not watchable. But the story went plain and boring mid-way. It could’ve been one of the almost perfect k-dramas out there. After Prosecutor Cha got involved in Bong-hee’s murder case, we already knew who the killer was. The show just got longer because they couldn't find the evidence that will prove the antagonist’s guilt. And let me mention the obvious cover-up for the plain scenes where they have to handle cases that didn't do much for the show. It got to the point where it's tiring to watch. The only thing that got me hooked was my anticipation of more hilarious office meeting scenes, amusing beef in every single encounter of the main leads' mothers, and the overflowing chemistry between the leads. Without them, I would not second-guess my decision and drop the drama with no hesitation. It would've been better if they cut it shorter than the way it is. Nonetheless, it was still very entertaining. And it kind of gets back on track on the last episode.
Now, if you're debating whether to check Suspicious Partner out or not. I'd say if you're a sucker for crime rom-com, yes. The drama went bland but it wasn't that bad. There'll be scenes where you'll either be swooning over Ji-uk and Bong-hee or screeching because of the soaring tension in the suspense areas of the show. The whistle melody, My Oh My! Gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. The best takeaway from this review is to not expect much from the crime/suspense area of the drama. The start was good enough to attract attention but in the bigger picture, it's shallow. It only got confusing because they won’t reveal much info until a few episodes later. Anyways, there’ll also be a few action scenes. And if you caught a vibe for rom-coms, you'll surely enjoy this one. The comedy aspect here is insanely good! There’ll be an additional young character that would generate laughter and make the show more endearing. The visuals and acting of the cast are no joke. The OSTs really complimented the ambiance of the scenes. There are plenty of smooch scenes. We even got a bed scene but it wasn't that wild. But beware of the "aesthetic lighting" that genuinely got on my nerves every damn smooch scene. Like, it was blocking the beautiful happening on screen! And let me add the adorable morning kisses.
In conclusion, if something inside of you really wants to check out this drama, go for it! It’s really worth watching. In fact, I binge-watched this for 2 days straight. If a scene bore the hell outta you, the fast forward button exists for a reason. The ending was satisfying. Both first and second leads got their happy ending. The truth prevailed but in my view, after so many loopholes, the way the truth unfolded felt overdue. I wish the writer made the story more complex or just cut it out short. But this drama is a mixture of light-hearted romance comedy and legal with a little touch of dark suspense and action, so it quite made sense for the story to be this way. Maybe some scenes are there to complement a particular genre that concerns the show. That would be all. Thanks for reading, have a great day ahead dear folks!
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Lead actor and actress made a perfect companion for their roles. Realised the effort on make up to show the actor has consistent insomnia.... Supporting roles have incredibly blend into the story to deliver a comedy part of the drama. The drama contained suspicion at the same time..jovious...happy...sad..the truth behind that will keep you chasing after the story ..worth watching the third time....bought the DVD to keep for future recap....????????????????????????????
Cheers! ????
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Yes There Is More Chance Of Feeling That It Is Not Everyone Cup Of Tea either. The Romance Between Ji Chang Wook And Nam ji Hyun Worked Out Really Well. So Cute And Cheerful To Watch. And Am Ok With 40 Episodes Because I Didn't Felt Like It Was Too Big Drama That Each Episode Contain Only Half An Hour So It Is Watchable For All Audience
There Was Some Mistry Hided In The Main Plot And Also A Serial killler Chasing. No Lag Or Boring Part At All .. This Is One Of The Best Watchable K Drama So Far .. Really Liked
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The main antagonist gives a superb performance that is memorable and I really enjoyed that the drama would steer you in one direction and then suddenly swerve to deliver a great plot-twist.
The romance is very sweet and neither of the main characters are pushy or groan-worthy about it which was such a relief. Their development from friends to lovers was enjoyable to watch and Ji Chang Wook really is a treat for the soul.
There are many hilarious scenes and lines and all the credit should go to the actors and writers for their hard work.
It's been about a month or two since I first saw SP and it has still stuck with me- the hallmark of a great show. If I could, I'd want to watch it all over again like I'd never seen it before because it was really that good.
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good satisfying end
where exactly was the editor in this drama? this would good romance with strong plot but so many unnecessary filler scenes just dampens the real story. of course kudos to the cast, i don't understand the hate nam jihyun gets as she did her best with the character that was given to her. and ji changwook was good too. and maybe the second leads should have been given a chance to move on from each other, but giving them an open ending is also not a bad choice. i just wish tthis drama wasn't this long as at the end all i remember is the time i spent on this than what really happened in itWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Watching this with short span attention made me so bored. The cases were not interesting like I wanted it to be (I watched Seoul Busters before this lol). Initially dropped this in 2017 after episode 1 because it didn't make any sense. I continued this because of an edit I saw on Twitter. It started off strong but got weak but I understood that it's for the plot but OMG I did not want any of that anymore, I am Prosecutor Na in this. There were funny bits and also horror. The jumpscares plus the score was scary as a non-horror fan lol.This drama wants us to tune in until the end to know why the villains motive on killing. Mostly fujoshing with Ji Chang Wook and Dong Ha IJBOL. I guess my goal was just to log this here lmao nothing significant. Was this review helpful to you?
