Moo Hak, my love
I love everything about this drama. EVERYTHING. So I decided to write a quick review capturing my everlasting feelings for this drama. Pardon my spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings ahead.This drama sweeps you off your feet and runs away with you as soon as you begin watching. We're introduced to our much adorable leads and there's something about them that yells "Hey there! Meet your new favorite characters" and eventually that is exactly what they become. Moo Hak is one of my favorite male leads of all time. He is the fruit of the recent transition the Korean drama male leads have been making from toxic jerks to sweet dependable leads these past few years. He's so sweet and so dependable. He's so likeable and so so sooo funny. There are so many scenes where I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe thanks to this guy. I was crying a few times thanks to his infinitely best boy personality too.
Dali is one of my favorite female leads too. I love her, dare I say, almost as much as I love Moo Hak. She is smart, wise and she takes initiative in a relationship. She doesn't raise her voice but when it comes down to it, she's not a pushover; she's far from it. I love her dignified composure. Each time I watch Park Gyu Young, my respect for her amplifies because she's such a versatile actress. All her characters have unique color and you can tell them apart. It's almost as if it's a new person altogether. She impresses me as much as Shin Hye Sun (Mr Queen).
More than anything, I just love them as a couple. If they were a real-life couple, they would be my favorite real-life power couple. There are no misunderstandings, no miscommunication, no useless breakups. He knows exactly what to say. He's a character written with outmost perfection for a woman of today's times. Guys, if you want to learn how to treat your woman, go watch this drama lol.
As a romantic comedy, even if there are cliché tropes, they are written with such a refreshing take, the whole drama is a breath of fresh air. They fulfill all your fantasy scenarios for the main couple, but do so in the most non-toxic way possible and at the same time keep things entertaining. It is rare to find this balance in romantic comedies. The last time I found such a balanced drama was probably Marriage not Dating.
The supporting cast wasn't all likeable at all times, I must admit. But there were some very likeable characters like Assistant Yeo and Uri Won Tak Shi. These two were absolute gems. Rest were really testing characters. But overall, definitely all stellar performances, by a veteran cast that understood the assignment.
Also, I have to have to mention the music. Literally every song on the soundtrack is addictive. I can't even pick a favorite song because they're all my favorites T-T
I'll go watch it again in a year or so (or a day; maybe I'm already rewatching). I'm so ready. Also looking for my next victim to force this drama on (my friends are so lucky to have me^^). If you're confused about whether to watch this drama or not, here's your sign to watch it right now.
Was this review helpful to you?
WE NEED MORE OF THIS
Light, heartwarming and entertaining, in times like we are in today, we need more dramas like this!Da Li and Moo Hak happened to meet by chance abroad, with DaLi saving Moo Hak in his predicament. They parted ways, but then circumstances where reversed and with a sprinkle of the typical telenovela coincidence scenes, fate has brought them back together in Korea, this time, it is Moo Hak that offered a helping hand. An overused sure-fire and tested "knight in shining armor save the damsel in distress" formula.
Kim Min Jae is back and played the cocky prince perfectly, and I must admit it is always a pleasure seeing him in a drama. The lovely Park Gyu Young, in her officially first main lead role as the Da Li is just as good and convincing - I would love to see more of her in the future. There is also a well rounded support cast, I especially loved Hwang Bo Ra, Kwon Yuul and the always amazing Hwang Hee.
Special mention should be given to the wonderful stylist and costume designers.
This drama stands out by the way they defined family and second chances - that family is not defined by blood relation and that no matter how many times you fall into bad situations, its your ability to get back up and fight that matters. There was a scene when Moo Hak was in confrontation with his father after a big incident that really touched me - that as a son, he is willing to sacrifice for his father's happiness.
If there is one thing that I wish to be changed is how they handled Jang Tae In, because he was likeable at the beginning and it felt that they made him do atrocious things just to make people like Moo Hak better.
Totally recommendable. 8 out of 10 stars.
Was this review helpful to you?
Art Appreciating Art
Are you one of those people like me who were suffering from romantic cuteness withdrawl after Hometown Cha Cha Cha wrapped up? In my quest to find a similar sweet plot, I stumbled upon Dali and The Cocky Prince....and what a refreshingly pure series it has been to unwind to!Dali and The Cocky Prince or Dal-Ri and Gamjatang (as it is referred in South Korea) is painted as a romantic comedy with a tinge of murder mystery, connecting contrasting worlds of art galleries and global food chains.
The appetizing promotional teasers and iconic portrait paintings recreated as character posters fuelled quite an excitement for this drama amongst fans which otherwise did not boast of any prominent cast.
The 16-episodes drama chronicles the colorful romance between Kim Dali (Park Gyu Young) and Jin Moo Hak (Kim Min Jae), with a crumbling art museum at its backdrop. Dali is a purveyor of fine art studying in Amsterdam, who is the only daughter of the Cheongsong family- a prestigious South Korean family. Sudden events leads her to cross path with Moo Hak, a money-minded businessman, who runs a family food chain. Dali is your typical bookworm who is fluent in seven languages while our Moo Hak has got nothing to do with books or art and laughingly confuses over kid's café as kiss café.
The writing is exquisite, despite not being groundbreaking, as we’ve seen this premise in many romantic comedies. A coincidental cute meet-up which later turns out to be fateful for the main leads, opposites attract trope, FLs which can easily be labelled as damsels in distress and the ML who seems brashy and crude at first glance. Except, in this case, there is more than what meets the eye. The coincidental meets which usually nurtures budding romances here surprisingly acts as a repellent to whatever scope of romantic reunion the viewers hoped for and not gonna lie, it served as the backdrop of few of the most quirkiest moments of the show.
The entirety of the show is about how people of different view points can still accept and help each other while growing together in an extremely healthy and non bickering manner which mind you, is very rare in an opposites attract cliché. While we are at it, a special shoutout to Kim Min Jae and Park Gyu Young who had off-the-charts chemistry as the cute couple. Their on-screen passion, affection and silent understanding for each other spoke through every scene they shared together.
As for the downtrodden female leads, the show does seem to hold vengeance against them by piling one crisis after another in every other episode. Sometimes it sure may seem that they are mere vulnerable puppets. But their silent resilience and calm patience to continue fighting will give us hope when it may seem everything's lost. So contrary to popular opinion the show in actuality does not lacks in feminist themes and rather promotes men who support it.
This is very much a character driven drama and represents an in-depth case study of character dynamics and eventual growth of the central characters. So truth be told, my favorite part of the show has been the character development of Moo Hak. A man who started out by appreciating pig portraits and then went on to adorably woo the embodiment of life-size art that was Dali, was nothing short of a miracle. But beneath all his laugh-out-loud exterior lies a man lacking family affection and going through his own set of emotional traumas that'll make you sympathise with him in more ways than one.
Art lies in the eyes of the beholder, foes impersonating friends and the concept of complex familial ties acts as the central theme of the show. That being said, watch out for Hwang Bora as Moo Hak's quirky secretary. One of my favorite plot point has to be the crazy boss and his equally crazy but doesn’t show it secretary, who’d go to the ends of the earth for him. Another character that will make you both dazzle and disgust in equal amounts is Kwon Yul as Jang Tae Jin. He's hot but he's mostly odd.
Visual appeal at its peak, this KBS drama features commendable production value. The sets are amazing, Chungsong art gallery- the very heart of the show and centric plot point was accurately displayed. As a viewer you'll have a hard time resisting virtually diving into it to appreciate the displayed artworks yourself. The touch of genius also lies in the camera pulling away from a scene at times, like leaving the leads framed in a window, and applying a textured brush stroke pattern over the picture. It’s beautiful and a whimsical way to make the story its own painting. Take it from an aesthete, by the end of it, this drama will definitely urge you to visit your nearest art gallery, if it is in a financial crisis probably the better for easing of the conscience.
Another bonus for the visuals (yes the drama clearly comes off as a visual fest) the hairstyles and costumes are very well put together on every character. Embodying their inner self and presenting it to the world. Just like they've stepped out from a painting.
However, the true strength of Dali and The Cocky Prince lies in its cast, their nailed-to perfection acting, the brilliant writing and the OST.
After being part of multiple dramas as a supportive character, (Devil Judge, It's Okay To Not Be Okay and many more) the charismatic Park Gyu Young transformed as a female lead this time into an artistically inclined and elegant Kim Dali. She effortlessly sells the character of an intelligent , rich but friendly girl who excels at the hard things while struggling to take care of the basics – like eating a proper meal. As first time goes, Park Gyu Young does an impressive job.
My second favorite character, however, has been played by Hwang Hee as Joo Won Tak- the brave and charismatic detective named Won Tak (or as Dali likes to call him, Uri Won Taki) from violent crime squad. He was a teen gangster who got rescued by Dali's father and was treated like his own. The fact that Won Tak being protective over Dali and helpful is never played off as romantic, they really just consider each other's siblings despite not being officially related which could've made it so easy to write Won Tak off as "the man who's in love with his non-biological sibling because after all even if they were raised together they don't share blood so it's okay" trope which is honestly, a bit disturbing, made the plot quite refreshing.
Another appealing factor (at this point, you might have guessed this isn't a critique, this is me forcing you to watch this show like right now!) is the drama's OST which has a collection of both heartfelt and melancholic tunes belted out at key moments during the episodes.
In short, Dali and The Cocky Prince is an artwork inside an art frame cause those real scenes morphing into abstract painting shots, appears to be a cinematography masterstroke, literally. So like Mona Lisa, who?
Was this review helpful to you?
When the Gamjatang boy falls for the Art Gallerist
A refreshing, funny & cute drama…[ STORY ]
I think it's Dali's dresses & the aesthetically beautiful posters that attracted me here but Kim Min Jae aka our cutest character Jin Moo Hak kept me till the end…
The story begins just as written in MDL sypnosis but there's a connection between Dali & Moo Hak that hits off back then in Netherland. No, it's not a childhood connection. So it doesn't looks cliched at all. Dali is apparently an art researcher who is a well educated knowledgeable girl with all social etiquettes of a rich girl & then on the other hand our male lead - Moo Hak is money-lover yet a simple boy who understands it's value. He compares everything with Gamjatang & keeps wondering how many bowls of Gamjatang will this or that cost… lol Moo Hak is hilarious since the beginning. People measuring money in every sentence could be annoying personalities but surprisingly Moo Hak impresses us with those genuine talks & his expressions is off the charts. Tbh, I continued this drama 50% because of Moo Hak…
The first few episodes are dipped in Art. The viewers explore art through the art gallery & emotions of people working there. Also through the journey where Da Li is trying to save the gallery… The Father-daughter relationship is another major thing here. Family drama is something you cannot avoid while watching this. There's lot… like really a lot of inner family troubles, emotional dialogues. The whole suspense they tried to create was quite predictable. My wait for the next episodes was tough… so this is how much this drama kept me hooked up… the chemistry between Moo Hak & Dali reminds me of the cute k-drama "Strong woman Do Bong Son". Their cute scenes & Moo Hak melting up while talking to Dali looked similar to "Ahn Min Hyuk" in SWDBS… but of course, except that cuteness, Min Hyuk & Moo Hak are totally different characters…
♡ Favorite Dailogue ♡ ~ "We all started as a dot. The dot caused the Big Bang and created stars, the sun and the Earth. So, we are nothing but dust and stars at the same time." (by Dali)
♡ My favorite role here ♡ ~ Moo Hak's secretary. She's the best. She's capable and loyal and of course funny too. I loved the acting as well as the character. Just perfectly written & acted.
[ CAST ]
✦ Kim Da Li (acted by. Park Gyu Young) — is the actual main role here. She is good. Like very good. Her crying scenes made me more connected to her role & Yes! she looks so cute with that artistic vibe… she's also cool
✦ Jin Moo Hak (Kim Min Jae) — Ahh, just by his name now, I remember that weird dance & that scene where he said "India's capital is Indonesia". Lol, me being an Indian. I died out laughing in that scene… Jin Moo Hak deserves the limelight he gets through this drama. He's handsome & the way he played this character is great…
✦ Joo Won Tak (Hwang Hee) — he had to be the most close person to Dali after her dad & Moo Hak & I think dramas need more role like this. I was scared he won't be a brother & create an awkward love triangle but No… he was such a caring brother to Dali like helping her all the way & Hwang Hee purely acted this role.
Rest all actors also did a good job with their roles.
[ MUSIC ]
❥♪The sweetest love♪ — Ham Yonji (the song is sunny and cheerful)
❥♪With you♪ — Ha Hyunsang
❥♪That's ordinary love♪ — Seo ho ~ (Those lines "One step closer. Two steps closer" is just magical… loved hearing this song…)
❥♪Can't you love me♪ — Fromm
❥♪Straight♪ — DinDin (who expected a rap in song up here? lol… but it's cool the way he sang it.)
[ REWATCH VALUE ]
I am not someone who easily rewatches things… but this was good like the comic elemets and some particular scenes that just sounded good. So I will rewatch some clips later…
[ OVERALL ]
Give it a go if you like Rom-Coms with strong & smart female lead. The Comedy is there, cuteness is there, family drama is there & a "little sprinkle" of suspense is there. Pretty much predictable and a light & refreshing drama…
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A HIT AND MISS AT TIMES
I have a love-hate relationship with this show.First, pardon my French and probable cussing because I'll just get right to it as there were a lot of WTF moments for me.
-Da Li staring off into space and walking in a daze became so repetitive she could've been sleepwalking for all I care. Seriously, I was so confused about her character. She had some shining moments, (okay, maybe like two), and then she pretty much becomes the doormat for all the men who were a**holes to just walk all over her. And not just the men, let's not forget the mother-in-law too. Sure, I get it they're elders blah blah blah but stop writing verbal and physical abuse by ANYONE especially family members as acceptable and the norm. Times are a' changing and it's time for k-dramas to start portraying this as unacceptable. Let's repeat: UNACCEPTABLE. Honestly, I really don't think people realize just how damaging verbal abuse can be as well. I think elders written this way ruins a lot of Asian dramas for me because apparently all the supportive elders are usually deceased or die early in most of them. Ugh.
More WTF moments:
-In the beginning, Moo Hak's yelling was very annoying until he toned down a lot. He's literally verbally abusive towards Da Li , (several times I might add) and practically gaslights her but somehow we overlook it because awww.... look at how they stare at each other. Whatevs. Let's pretend us women love that stuff. (I edited this paragraph after realizing I didn't add the ML's verbal and mental abuse tendencies.)
-The FL gets a beating while being robbed because she somehow foolishly showed off a huge wad of cash. Seriously?!! What was she? A drug lord? Who shows off a wad of cash in a seedy motel? Whatevs.
-Ki Chul's, (the stepbrother), constant stupidity
-Hang on, there goes Da Li staring off into space, walking slow. Oh... but now it's raining.
-I found the secretary annoying and clueless at times about Da Li's and her boss' relationship and her acting was always exaggerated. Don't even get me started on her oversized wardrobe. Like, if you wanna wear your dad's suits... well okay then.
-Uncle yelling at Da Li and saying the harshest words. Like couldn't they just let her walk out and have the Uncle find out the entire truth and then beg for her forgiveness?
-Did I mention Da Li staring off into space, walking slow?
-After Moo Hak telling off his father about Da Li, the father has the audacity to talk down to Da Li. The arrogance. Another k-drama cliche I hate. Parents/elders who never see the fact they ruin their children's own happiness and don't realize or at least admit they themselves are a bunch of a**holes.
-Tae Jin dumps Da Li after finding out she was adopted. Who the f*ck cares whether you're adopted or not? OMFG.
-Wait... Da Li's still walking in a daze. Someone shake her. Hang on... nevermind, here comes Moo Hak to hug her... AGAIN. It's all good now. *insert rolled eyes here
-Not a fan of the OST. A version of Chopsticks accompaniment song with piano (?)... nope. Uh-uh.
-Not an entire fan of the ML actor Kim Min Jae and I felt someone else would've been better casted for the role but that's just my personal opinion.
-Is that Da Li in a daze again? Yup, it is.
-Let's not forget to add the father assemblyman hitting his daughter because apparently, we need more physical abuse towards women in kdramas
-The FL lead gets berated and insulted by her new lover, her uncle, her cousin, the father-in-law, the ex-boyfriend, a female co-worker, the mother-in-law, and whoever else I'm forgetting... oh add me to the list now too. Sorry but not sorry.
What I did like:
-The dialogue between Moo Hak and Da Li and heartfelt moments were shared. There were some pretty nice writing there I gotta admit especially after the adoption reveal
-The art and gallery scenes
-I love Won Tak's character... and I had a few good chuckles at some of the scenes he was in
-The bromance between Won Tak and Moo Hak
-When Da Li had her great moments but unfortunately they didn't give her enough. For all her class, upbringing and smarts, she should've been written a bit stronger or at least been able to hold her ground and talked back respectfully against the BS the elders yelled at her. I'll blame the writers for that missed opportunity.
-The plot and mystery about the gallery and the twists and turns at least kept me interested
-The backstory of Moo Hak's upbringing and his contribution to the growth of Dondon F and B
-Moo Hak's scenes against Tae Jin were well written
I was annoyed at first with ML and his yelling and when that got toned down and they wrote him to be more empathetic, that was when I enjoyed the show a bit more. I think I had a lot of respect for the FL earlier in the series as a strong woman but all that went out the window soon after. It was disappointing not to have her show some growth as they did for the ML. It was all about the FL acting shocked and crying during most episodes in the entire series. She basically puts up and takes everyone's sh*t. I wasn't a fan of the ending either. They put in an unnecessary time jump and twist. The lover's spat was just uncomfortable to watch with the ML yelling all over again and really, no one cares about the inlaws.
Was this review helpful to you?
Can a smart, composed and elegant woman, and an arrogant and loud man find a common ground?
I think that there is nothing extraordinary with the drama's premise. It's actually quite similar with the classic kdramas I've watched from my childhood. But what makes it different is the fact that it veered away from the usual kdrama tropes and plot devices. Also, it'll let you experience a variety of emotions in every single episode: one moment you're laughing like there is no tomorrow (I swear it is indeed top-notch comedy), and then you'll feel annoyed and angry, and later on, you'll find your tears falling from your eyes.However, I believe that the selling point of this drama is the chemistry between the leads. Park Gyu Young and Kim Min Jae are both flawless in the way they portrayed Dali and Moo Hak, respectively. One can tell that they really embodied the characters that they are portraying. I can't remember the last time I felt this much butterflies watching the sweet and cute moments between the leads. It was a thrill ride witnessing how these two complete strangers with contrasting personalities slowly developed a relationship that is so special. As the story progressed, I kept on realizing how perfect they really are for each other despite their differences.
As for the music, I think that all of them were beautifully written, but my personal favorite would be GIFT by CHAI (OST Part 8). Aside from the fact that I love soft music, the lyrics of this song, I believe, sums up the leads' story.
Finally, I want to share my favorite dialogue in the drama.
"When things get hard, people say 'This too shall pass'. Pain, sadness ... they'll go away in time. But if you think about it the other way, that's a sad saying. It means that the happiness and love you had will all disappear eventually." ~ Kim Dali
I hope you'll give this drama a try :)
Was this review helpful to you?
A hidden jem that you die laughing and crying from a definite "10".
You really have to watch this drama i just Binge-watch 8 episodes and want more.There are some serious issues at hand, but at the same you cant take it too seriously. The ML is hysterical as said he's good with money, but not with language and his one liner. The FL is book smart but not street smart in anyway I'm enjoying the chemistry between her & ML especially when they start with a contagious laught you just gotta giggle. I really dispies the cousin Si hyung everything about him yells "Dirtbag" and never appreciated what his uncle did for him. Then we have the obnoxious fraud Na gong joo who is an intern(working with Si hyung) and Lied about her work back round and always degrades the FL of what she owns and wears. I like Ahn kil kang who plays the ML dad and has a stepmother & step brother just like cinderella lol. His SB convinced him to loan 2 million dollars to an art gallery like an investment. Now back to a new storyline at least for me. Its about small food store that grew to be conglomerates and an art gallery owner who meet at the airport (Netherlands). After spending a day together and weird/funny things happened they realized that he is the wrong Mr. Jin. They cant find the Art expert so he stays with her next day finds out the other guy went to the pig farm gala and had a ball so all was good. He suppose to meet her, but forgot where and see her crying and tried to catch up. He returns home and thinks hes crazy to see her everywhere. He learn the owner of the gallery died so he goes to collect his money and finds her there. The story continues of him spending more time/money to help her keep the gallery open, but there are people trying to make her sell it. TBC
Was this review helpful to you?
The Best! Brilliant acting by the leads! Adorable and well executed!
After a really really long time, found the charm of Korean dramas in this! This one made it for me!💥🌈The leads were adorable to watch! They held the whole show together! 🥰💕✨
The OSTs were beautiful!🎶✨
There were many many laugh-out-loud moments!👻🤩✨
Comedy and Chemistry on point, well directed, with a decent story line and very very few plot holes!🦜🦉Binge watched the whole thing in 2 days without skipping, the clifhangers every episode made it interesting to watch the next one, not one dry or dull episode! 💯🎯🌟
My top favorite!
Brilliant acting by the leads and what you get is a wonderful drama to watch! 💥
Was this review helpful to you?
Well-crafted and beautifully acted
This is so much more than the basic "opposites attract" plot would indicate. Park Gyu Young is masterful as Dali, a refined, quiet, old-fashioned scholarly type (after a memorable turn as a crazy young editor in Romance Is a Bonus Book and a secondary character in several other dramas). Kim Min-Jae is heart-meltingly adorable as the gruff, but sweet and decent, Mr. Jin. You just want to hug him all the time. What a great OTP, so different from each other and yet they understand each other well. They are each a mix of naive, astute, resilient, and kind; and they get such a charge out of each other that it’s a joy to watch. Another reviewer here calls them "straightforward," and that's precisely true, and so refreshing.The writers keep us on our toes by having the characters repeatedly confound our expectations and transcend the conventions. The secondary characters are archetypes (goofy assistant, loyal thugs/chefs, terrible relatives, interfering exes), but still are richly portrayed and invested with humanity.The tropes are there, but get turned on their head. There is melodrama, but it isn’t dragged out. Clues are planted, but pay off in unexpected ways. The writers are particularly tricky toward the end! This was so enjoyable. I’ll watch it again soon to enjoy the craft now that I’ve seen how it turns out. Also, a shout-out to Dali’s lovely clothing.
Was this review helpful to you?
When art and gamjatang go hand in hand
One is a cultured and idealistic museum curator of fine and modern arts, the other an unrefined but street-smart nouveau riche CEO of a gamjatang empire. What happens when these two meet? You get Dali and the Cocky Prince, and the rest is history. What initially appears as an absolute clash between principled altruism and avaricious pragmatism slowly but surely blossoms into one of the most oddly curious yet boldly amorous pairings in K-drama rom-coms.Helmed by the director of Healer and Angel’s Last Mission, Lee Jung Sub while the screenplay is written by Son Eun Hye and Park Se Eun, both of whom co-wrote A Witch’s Love. The Cheongsong Museum of Art featured in the drama is actually the main museum of The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA). In addition, the initial setting of Amsterdam during the first two episodes actually belongs to various unique locations across South Korea, as pointed out and painstakingly researched by @Vya van Velaris (shoutout to my Dutch friend!). Choi In Hee (Unasked Family, Red Shoes) serves as composer for the production. I was somewhat surprised that this drama is based on an original script rather than an adaptation of a novel or webtoon because of the extensive world-building.
Dali and the Cocky Prince is a hit-or-miss kind of romcom which doesn’t work for everyone. You either love it or hate it, which is apparent from the rather polarised viewer responses here on MDL and even among my own circle of friends. Personally for me, I belong to the “enjoyed it” camp but the drama is certainly not without its flaws.
What I Generally Loved
The art premise. The focus isn’t so much on art pieces per se but rather on the process of running an art gallery. In the context of the show, it is depicted as part artistic appreciation and philanthropy initiative that are based on a somewhat haphazard and risky business model. This aspect is explored with a degree of realism despite the lighthearted nature of the storytelling.
The humour and the romance. For the most part, I’ve enjoyed the comedic elements that incorporate slight slapstick undertones but generously OTT portrayals, particularly by certain cast members. This aspect is perhaps the main deal breaker for most viewers on whether to continue or to drop. I like the balance of the humor and emotions, while the chemistry between the leads helps immensely in making their interactions as well as the romantic development more endearing.
The story about opposites attract is as old as time itself. Despite not being groundbreaking or innovative, it does incorporate a number of themes to keep things interesting. In addition to the romance and the art, we have a love triangle and family makjang that play out amidst the burgeoning gamjatang restaurant business and shady realpolitik of chaebols and politicians.
For a KBS drama, the production quality is quite decent. As far as the visuals are concerned, the post-production editing of visual arts into B-reels or filler shots as well as scene transitions of the main footage is very creative and beautifully executed. This presentation fits with the overall artistic vibes of the production. The costumes, especially the FL’s dresses, are fashionably unique albeit unconventional. This includes her 1920s’ Gatsby-inspired hair styling which I thought matches her somewhat peculiar sensibilities.
The main cast comprising the leads Park Gyu Young and Kim Min Jae as Kim Da Li and Jin Moo Hak respectively. It’s hard to envision other actors in these roles because those two have successfully made the characterizations very much their own. This is my third time seeing Park Gyu Young this year. I thought her performance was intriguing in Sweet Home but I wasn’t impressed with the character design in The Devil Judge. Here as the titular Dali, she showcases a distinctive persona where she manages to infuse the perfect amount of quirkiness that brings out the eccentricity of her character. Meanwhile, Kim Min Jae deserves credit for his immersion into the character of Jin Moo Hak. At first glance, he comes across as cold-hearted and lowbrow but his gradual transformation from the opportunistic businessman to a warm teddy bear filled with rainbows and sunshine is quite remarkable because beneath all that bravado, deep voice and tsundere facade, there is a heart of gold after all.
Over the years, I have seen Kwon Yool expertly portraying a variety of villains and it is no different here with his understated depiction of the devious antagonist, Jang Tae Jin who possesses an extremely unhealthy fixation with the FL. Woo Hee Jin is fun to watch as art curator and Da Li’s confidant, Song Sa Bong. Her banter (and ideological debates) with Jin Moo Hak are one of the comedic highlights of the show. Hwang Bo Ra is a chameleon - her versatility in portraying a multitude of supporting roles extends to her utterly ludicrous depiction of the resident comic relief, Yeo Mi Ri.
As usual, no drama would be complete without the infusion of compatible BGMs and OSTs to elevate the key moments and heighten the overall feels. There are a total of 10 tracks for this show, some of which are collaborative pieces. My personal favourite is Kim Ye-ji’s Moon Crater for the quieter contemplative moments, while the playful That’s Ordinary Love by Seoho reflects the more adorable scenes between the leads. Full listing as follows:
I Want You By My Side 내 옆에는 너만 있었으면 해 by Ham Yeon-ji 함연지
That's Ordinary Love by Seoho 서호
Go Straight by DinDin
It's Strange (With You) 이상하죠 by Ha Hyun-sang 하현상
사랑할 순 없는지 Can't You Love Me by Fromm 프롬
U Hoo Hoo by Klang 클랑
Moon Crater 달 크레이터 by Kim Ye-ji 김예지
Gift by CHAI
The Kiss 연인 (키스) by Hodge
One Day It Will Be by Ian Hug, Seo Ho 서호
In addition, various iterations of the aria L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) from the French composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opéra comique Carmen feature prominently as part of the BGM.
Unexpected Takeaways
This drama surprised me in many ways, not necessarily negatively but they were completely unexpected. For a premise based upon the appreciation of fine arts, one would expect a certain level of refinement and sophistication in the characterization that complements the narrative. Not so. This drama utterly excels in manifesting the incredible depths of hitting rock bottom, as far as the FL is concerned, and the extraordinary levels of the cast’s vocal registers through impassioned yelling.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lead character in any drama repeatedly hitting the never-ending depths of despair as frequently as Kim Da Li. Some of it is caused by factors beyond her control but there is a fair amount that can be considered self-inflicted. As much as her character eventually develops as the plot unfolds, she will stumble many more times before she either gets rescued or picks herself up.
As for the intense shouting, NEARLY EVERYONE does it. It gets louder by the episode and at the end of it all, my ears are still ringing. I suppose it is part of the OTT portrayals and not necessarily for the comedy but also for the raw emotional outbursts which are aplenty. I honestly think there is more screaming in this drama than any dark crime thrillers that I have watched this year alone.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone will be enamored of Dali and the Cocky Prince. To be fair, it is one of those dramas that needs to be experienced first hand in order to make sense of whether or not to start it. I actually found entertainment value in its idiosyncrasies and witnessed a somewhat different side to the cast along the way. The story wrapped up neatly in a HEA ending at the end of the leads’ journey which perhaps makes this story a worthwhile and rather enjoyable viewing experience after all.
Was this review helpful to you?
YOU Can't Miss out on this one!
This might not be for everyone.If you are bit a like me,
Who thought vincenzo was over hyped, Women being enemies over a lover is a big no-no,
Rivalry between step siblings is a waste of time
and not
everyone should be in love with the female lead all the time,
this is for you.
Carefully served beautiful artistic shorts,
perfectly placed music,
absolutely amazing actors
And each episode better than the last.
Both the male and female and side actors are strong and carry significance to the storyline.
This is the only acceptable drama where i could tolerate a loud character
He makes a lot of sense and balances being logical and romantic, realistically.
The female lead has her opinions and works on bettering herself. Not an extrovert but also not a push-over.
Perfect match for elegence, strength, wit and ofc, the male lead!
Excellent protrayal of families and love.
Overall It also made me realise the importance of art galleries and museums and their heritage.
Do give it a try, while you can, and come back and tell me about it!
Was this review helpful to you?
A ROMCOM WITH A LITTLE MYSTERY TO IT
A ROMCOM WITH A LITTLE MYSTERY TO ITtbh, i actually watched this without any expectations at all but i actually really liked it! i really enjoyed it from start to finish, just the right amount of everything with extra fluff which i really liked. it's been a while since i've laughed and smiled a lot because of a drama and dali and the cocky prince did that. It's a drama that will make you cry because of laughing too much but at the same time there's a lot to learn, the way they speak things will really impact you. i was also kinda surprised but at the same time not with the twist! i found it surprising but not really surprising at the same time lmao idk how i should explain this without spoiling but ig you'll know what i mean once you've finish the drama.
the chemistry between the leads is off the charts! it feels so natural whenever you see them together!
Moo hak may be the most "uncultured" male lead ever but i find it a charm of his lol i thought he was a jerk at first but he's honestly one of the best ml i've come to know, there's also so much to learn from him, i also love how he's always there for dali whenever she needs someone to lean on, he's the type of person who knows how and when to take care of someone but knows when to step back and let them take care of everything on their own and i really love that of him.
Dali on the other hand is also just as good! she is the sweetest ever, a very soft, elegant and cute female character! she knows how to take care of herself and always stand up for what she think is right! she knows what to handle and how to handle things out, i really love her! she's been through a lot and deserves nothing but every good thing in this world (ofc moohak too)
the main characters including the supporting character are all so lovely and are very fun to watch except for the villains lmao.
one of the things i really loved too was the honesty of the leads, no stupid misunderstandings at all, if there was even one then ig i didn't really consider it as stupid and it was easily resolved with a simple conversation.
this drama is so underrated, i wish it would get the attention it truly deserves. It was really lovely and was such a mood booster. If you’re into light hearted and laugh with less angst then i highly recommend this drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
