Renai Mangakka (2021)

This Drama has top-notch Witty Chemistry *No Spoilers*

At the heart of this drama, it is about characters that examine their feelings of inadequacy.

At first, for me, the start of episode one was not very intriguing but before it was over and how it developed had me HOOKED.

The show checks all the marks of great storytelling, as it weaves through each episode; even most of the small details presented are there for a reason. The writers are not sloppy by just incorporating something random for humor’s sake. Yes, some of the elements in the story are cliche, but it is done in a most tasteful way. The cliches are presented in a way that makes the viewer laugh at the cliched scenes rather than roll our eyes at them. It's not cringy.

That being said, this story isn't always predictable but the show forges its own way as it presents characters that don’t always make the decisions we expect them to make, which makes for an interesting watch. The characters in the show are naturally connected in an authentically comical way. If you like a somewhat over-dramatic taste of comedy, this may be for you.

The chemistry between the leads really comes out in their witty bickering. It is fun to watch and doesn't leave the viewer with a headache. (Just about every scene is meme material.) The casting is spot-on, as they deliver eccentric and quirky characters in a natural manner.

One thing I find myself not caring for is the music. Although a lot of the OSTs fit the work, I find that some of the soundtracks are not my personal preference. But for the casting, the script and production, I can overlook it.

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Good Enough

Japanese Drama " Renai Mangaka " is a well paced romance. The drama has a smooth structure, though most of the twists and turns were predictable.

The romance doesn't start right from the beginning, as the two meet in an odd setting and their relationship starts on an even odder note. The short dating adventures of the female lead were all enjoyable and left room for the two main leads to get to know each other and bond on a deeper level, though the love confession was a bit rushed. The ending episode was also a letdown, as it was a bit too much. However, the family drama was enjoyable and the little boy adorable. The side characters were interesting too.

Finally, the performances were great by everyone in the cast.

So, overall, seven out of ten.

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