This review may contain spoilers
Standard melodrama and is predictable. Good actors though.
Good story, premise, and actors; but it has a lot of the same melodramatic stuff going on when it comes to the triangle relationships. It is so predictable and I could guess exactly what was going to happen once a scene started. When i saw her pet the lost dog at the park i knew the SML was gonna show up LOL. Your standard melodramatic drama, but the premise is different so it was worth the watch. Wish they included her kid in the story more instead of just having her living in the Philippines and just mentioned as a part of her backstory. The leads do not get together til late in story like normal, but they do have a lot of nice moments with the build up. The ML is a genuinely nice guy who cares a lot for the FL who of course never saw everything she did for him until it all culminates and slaps her in the face. Even after he confesses she does not accept it...after everything he has done for her which would not be a problem, except she does have feelings for him so why reject him? Yeah there are superficial reasons you could say but that is your standard melodrama for you. To be frank the ML is kind of a simp which is normal for these melodramas i guess. He has unrequited love for decades while the FL marries and has a kid with someone else. He stalks her whenever he gets drunk. They make it romantic but it is all just melodramatic repetition.Good drama, but i am kind of getting tired of the same romantic tropes being overused, but that is not this dramas fault and more my bias. I am kind of upset I did not enjoy this drama as much because it is actually very good. I think i need to take a break from melodramas.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Romance is Just A Bonus
As the title says, romance is just a bonus in this show. If you're expecting some cheesy and fluttering romantic scenes, then you won't find a lot here. The romance is quite mature in this show, since this show is about an older woman and younger man couple. The story is quite heartwarming, about a woman who never gives up fighting for her life even with age disadvantage. They create a great couple, who is always there for each other in every hardship. The comedy is also good here. And since the romance is calm and mature, the comedy scenes are more powerful in my opinion. It doesn't appear frequently though, since it's not the main genre.Although the summary above is quite heartwarming, the biggest problem in this show is nothing more special of that. It's just about a woman struggling to find a job for living, then after she finds it she still struggles while doing it, then she finds someone who is willing to be there for her, that's all. It's like the romance show that you can find on TV every week. The soundtracks are somewhat great. I personally like the screenwriting style with book-alike type like what the do at the end of each episode. The visualization of unrealistic thought like when Dan-I dances at the first episode is also seems interesting. However, these styles are not consistently applied and only come occassionally.
Unfortunately, I am kinda dislike the ML character. While chasing Dan-I as well as competing his feeling with Seo-Jun, what Eun-Ho mostly does is nothing. He looks like a coward who just sit down and wait until the universe serves it for him. Dan-I is a super caring mother to her daughter, but after she becomes together with Eun-Ho she suddenly forgets about her daughter. Everything outside this complicated relationship also seems too much, for example the Kang Byeong-Jun mystery. Though some of the additional tropes are more enjoyable.
With 16 episodes on this show, I think it's too long. Maybe it'll be better if it's shorter and more focus to the ML and FL. It's still good for rewatch, but in my opinion there are a lot of better rom-coms than this for rewatch.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Solid Story
Romance Is a Bonus Book is one of those rare dramas that manage to stay gentle yet engaging. The world of publishing forms a thoughtful backdrop for a story about rebuilding one’s life with persistence and quiet wit. I especially liked the realism of the first episodes, when the heroine hits rock bottom and tries her best to survive and build a solid life again. The leads have natural chemistry, and their scenes together are a pleasure to watch. The pacing dips a little in the middle when her naïveté wears thin, but the story soon finds its rhythm again. Warm, well-acted, and quietly comforting.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A good read.
I think the title of this drama kept me from watching for a while, but eventually I dove in. Overall, it was a solid watch. I don't think I'll intentionally watch it again, but I think I could enjoy it if it came up in the future.This was my first drama with Lee Jong Suk, and that confident smile of his was so appealing. However, the highlight of this drama was the ensemble cast. I think everyone was was well-chosen and played their roles wonderfully. The new-hire fake couple: the way he told off her mom was great (until the crying started); the CEO: somehow likeable in spite of all his quirks; the divorcees: their (over)reactions were amusing; the Ice Queen: she's got a talent for shutting people down and her club reveal was pretty funny; Eun Ho: treats the CEO with love and care, but also...realism? He also was fantastic during the emotional scenes. Episode 9 hurt my heart. And the FL was...vanilla I guess.
I don't remember anything about the music, which means it wasn't inspiring but also not annoying. I noticed some great wardrobe choices for the ML and 2ML; FL not so much. And by not so much, I mean maybe one in every five managed to look presentable.
A few comments from specific episodes:
ep5
Smoking? Really? I was shocked to see that happening. How long has the surgeon general been educating us?
ep6
ML: "You have me. You keep saying you have nowhere to go. Stop saying that. I'm your home. You can always come to me."
FL: "Girls don't like lines like that."
Me: "What is wrong with you?? This girl loves lines like that!"
ep7
The 2ML's reactions to the triple bomb drop were fantastic. The ML's glee during the retelling was better. That whole scene should be required watching in film courses.
...and then we come to this
Idiot. Why did you let him stay in your car? And then why didn't you drive him to NK? Or at least drop him off at the wrong house? Or the police station? And now you're just bringing him in? I'm just hypothesizing, but this may be a reason you still haven't gotten your girl after all these years. Oh I see- you're going to HELP him get together with your girl. How about you go pull something from the garbage and swap it out with the plushie before you hand-deliver the key to your future heartache?
ep8
I knew he knew she liked him. Scumbag. Don't act like that and get her hopes up when you have no intention of fulfilling her dreams. Don't smile at her like that. Don't tease her. Don't spend time alone with her. Don't sit on her desk having time together that she will find significant when it means nothing to you.
That face- grape jelly! How can she breathe when he's got that casual smile on his face while he puts the necklace on her? He should not be allowed to give anyone but his wife that look. Aiyah! Also, why do I keep seeing people share earbuds? That is so gross. And a random observation: The dog's name is Geum-be, and there's is a gumby looking thing holding folders on her desk.
ep9
Okay, on the one hand, that was a beautiful and sincere acknowledgement of her feelings. But on the other hand, how is she supposed to get over a guy like that? If he had been rude or cavalier, at least she would have been able to get mad and get over.
Also, I think he's going to regret the necklace and roses. Too soon. Let her process. Give her more of those "personal space invader" things like the necklace fastening to think about.
ep11
In line with the literary theme of this drama, there have been some very apropos uses of prose scattered throughout. For example, the words being dictated for the typed translation here. In addition, I have been noticing that there are some beautiful words that fly by during the first part of the credits. Just now one of them was something about it being okay for the other to take longer to discover their feelings- the first's love would just grow deeper. And by far the most beautiful moments in this drama were, "The moon is beautiful." and "The snow is beautiful."
ep12 or 13
I LOVE the seatbelt move. Every. Single. Time.
I liked how Eun-ho makes the other guy provide the lodging, then also moves in for the night to keep Miss Cucumber safe.
Yes, I also grab my sneakers when I'm heading to a fancy restaurant.
And finally, Crazy girl usurping smitten boy from his place? Priceless.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I love Lee Jong-suk and saw several series he starred in. For this series, he is a successful editor who has been in love with his childhood bestfriend Lee Na-young. This is the first time I saw her act.In this series, it was mentioned that Na-young will be older (as per the series, gap of 5 years). But I feel she looks a tad way too old for Jong-suk. I mean, she is pretty and great actress but that’s my opinion only :). The series will revolve partly on how Na-young got married and stop working. But since she got divorced and has a kid to support to, she needs to find a job. But the thing is, since she didn’t work for quite sometime, she found it difficult to go back. I’m not really sure if this is the reality in South Korea. If it is, then it such a sad thing. This is a first time for me to encounter such a plot. So, I find it very interesting.
And since they are adult, I find it quite cute how they act as a couple. I’m not against second lead syndrome or having other characters shine in a series but for this one, hhhmm so far, there wayyy ttoooo many love stories going on. I mean, the funny “relationship” between Park Hoon and Oh Ji-yool is fine but I feel they are focusing too much on it. Anyway, they made-up for it by giving several cute, funny, lovely anddddd most of all kissing scenes between Jong-suk and Na-young.
In terms of the places they shoot the series, everything were lovely so far even the soundtrack which I have downloaded already. I will update my review once I’m done watching it. But so far, it’s very highly recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
Anyway?the overall storyline is great. I like the publishing house setting?its pretty unique. I'm 100% for Eun-ho by the way. Originally I wasnt because he can be a little moody?but hes so cute and has really grown on me now. Dan-i's actress is wonderful and looks like kyary pamyu pamyu!! 10/10 best drama I've seen in a while. I work 60 hr weeks and I look forward to my free weekend evenings to watch each new episode!
Was this review helpful to you?
Feels boring
I don't know why at the beginning the story looked very promising but as time went on it felt boring. ML and FL don't feel like they like each other, it feels more like ML likes FL but FL doesn't like ML, it's like there's no chemistry between the two of them / you could say they don't really suit each other. The second couple has more promising chemistry than the main lead. The story is also a reference for knowing that this drama is boring, it looks like the writer is pushing the story too hard to make it more interesting but it is not conveyed well. I give a rating of 4.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is a nice relaxing drama to watch, no1 noona romance. The usual complications aren't present, the triangle is weak too, over the course of the 16 episodes nothing overly dramatic happens. The leads have good chemistry & the secondary characters are entertaining to watch too, for the most part. I like almost everything about it really. To mention some negatives, the last 2 episodes were really rushed, not all questions were answered in a satisfactory fashion and maybe the scenes felt a bit too structured, if that makes any sense. Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
The story is interesting and coherent. The cast is hilarious and completely loveble. I simply adore the gap age going on. Its love based on friendship! I couldnt be happier with the characters choice. I dont know how it is gonna end but I hope it keeps as fantastic as it is until the end!
Also, I havent found it yet, but the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. I love every single song that plays in it (to be honest I think until now there are only 3 o 4 songs, but they are catchy and they work just fine with the story).
I give it a 10 and I recommend everyone to watch it!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It was good until he refused to fight for her at work. More than once he lets that old hag screw Dani over and it’s sad because he’s a founding member of the company. Go over her head Jesus. Lost a lot of respect for his character. Not sure I’ll continue. After they take her name off the book it just gets harder to watch as he stands back while it happens and only puts in a few words to disagree with the hag but won’t go against her head on. Grow a spine man. Ugh. I am curious about the mystery but I don’t know if it will pull me in enough to save it.
Was this review helpful to you?
MORE POWER,
CHENZ
Was this review helpful to you?
