This review may contain spoilers
Endearing lead characters with their cute story but the rest is flat.
1/ STORY:Young, pretty and multi-talented young woman offers service of contract marriage to men in need of having a wife for a certain period of time renewable. After 13years of activity, she decides to quit but she is soon embroiled in two situations that she has to manage until things "get better".
The first part of the story was interesting as we get to know her background story and how she ended in that line of job. Her past and the remnants of her past made her character endearing and lovable. The ML also has a touching story even if we just learn enough to explain his lack of social skills. SML is annoying. These three try to sort their true feelings and finally make their choice. Then the story doesn't seem to know where to go anymore. It creates new confusions and challenges from a very old situation just to show that these people care for each other. In the end a deus ex machina stunt arrives from the past and saves the day.
2/ CHARACTERS - ACTORS:
- FL : Choi Sang Eun was endearing considering her past since childhood and she still managed to make a living using her talents. She dealt with the sad part of her upbringing by bottling things. Loved that she and the ML gradually opened to each other. PMY was ok in this drama. Better than her previous ones that I dropped. Still sometimes she had to carry the scene and she kind of overdid it. Still like her tho.
- ML: Jung Ji Ho: His lacking and flaws were properly explained and he did improve and developed into a brighter more open guy. First time seeing GKP as lead actor. He did the part.
- SML: Kang Hae Jin : Deluded kid stuck with his infatuation that turned him into a weirdo talking on the phone to an even weirder interlocutor. He is very annoying but finally turns decent guy when he finally knows where his place is.
- SFL: Jung Ji Eun. Not the evil ex. She went from great evil spouse to clingy ex then good lawyer, understanding rival and finally helpful friend.
- The Roommate: Good friend but what a waste of talent and of a character. Very underused and underdeveloped.
- Mme Yoo: weirdly written character who did things very questionable.
3/ OST: Pretty good
4/ Rewatchable Value : Probably will never watch it again
5/ OVERALL: Starts well with weird but endearing characters who try to deal with their own sad past, to fight their own difficulties to give a new direction to their life and make it better. The main couple is especially endearing. Their relationship, how it starts, develops and how they find a way to become a couple is really cute funny at times and nice. They are the best part of this drama. In the end for them, all is not well (contract couple) that ends well (real couple). 7.5 /10.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I'm not sure how I feel about this show, I feel like it started off better and got worse. The drama started off being a mix of romance and suspense/mystery and then the suspense element sort of disappears. You start off learning about Choi Sang Eun, who has a really interesting job as a "single life helper" and this one client of hers who she has been seeing for five years now who just might be a serial killer......or is he? There's also hints at a troubled past, like Sang Eun paying off a 13 year old debt. Her backstory is really sad, and I'm glad that you do end up being able to see the full picture of what happened in the past that is hinted at in flashbacks throughout the story.
There are a few big reveals towards the end, like finding out who her real mom is, but I feel like the way they wrapped up everything was disappointing / anti climatic compared to the buildup. Eena Group literally tries to run over Madame Yoo and people break into their home and things seem very serious and it is resolved super easily once Sang Eun steps in. I get that the brother was the "enemy" and with him out of the way things are easier, but it just didn't really make sense to me. And then the chairman of Eena Group turns over on a new leaf and retires and decies to donate everything? What on Earth is happening. Even more ridiculous, the superstar's mom spends years pressuring him and pestering him and then after one conversation with the FL, she decides to let him do what he wants. And all of a sudden, Gwang Nam's family is fine with him being gay because he's going to be a celebrity. I think that was probably the most unrealistic part, because throughout the show, Gwang Nam's character shows the discrimination that LGBTQ people face and repercussions from coming out... and then at the very end, it's like oh well everything is okay since you're going to be a celebrity now. *face palm*
7/7.5 not bad but not a must watch, with an unsatisfying conclusion
Was this review helpful to you?
Bland
Dec/Jan 2025An "Oh dear" from me, I'm afraid. Whilst there were aspects I liked, they were far and few between, as I found the story hard to get into and stick with. So disappointed.
The 2 main themes of the plot were overly contrived and far fetched, with some laughable characters.
Over acting, although not by the main cast members, and a gay character arc that could have been so much more.
I just didn't get, or like it, and the character of Choi Sang-eun really irritated me for the most part. No amount of (hear violin accompaniment) sad background story could change that, unfortunately.
I found the multiple marriages angle ridiculous, especially considering the attitude towards divorce, which is depicted in other dramas and S.Korean culture itself... maybe they were attempting to make a serious point.
Hope others enjoy/ed it, but not one I'll remember or revisit. Bland best sums it up for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Enjoyable for the most part
I actually enjoyed this show for the most part, but it has a lot to be desired. A lot of it was unnecessary... Let me get the bad stuff out of the way first...The story had so much potential, but I think the execution was a bit mediocre. They had me in the beginning but it quickly turned to confusion; unless I don't understand the law, you usually can't get married a second time unless the first is nullified. I am always sickened by people treating their children like cattle to be married off to some family for power plays, that is sick. Get a hobby. The acting was a little forced at times but it wasn't horrifying, just mostly over the top at some cringy moments. Also, no way the legal team wouldn't recognise the name that frequenting the documents in their office as the wife.
Honestly the best character in this show is Woo Gwang, I honestly wish I had a ride or die friend like him. Always looking out for everyone's best interests, despite always being treated like he isn't good enough. So many people did him dirty, but he still smiles and supports everyone. Most of them didn't deserve him. I hope he finds happiness.
Ji Ho was kinda hilarious to watch, I don't think he ever fully became human and that was a nice touch to his development. It would have been nice to know why he has no social skills, the small flash backs didn't really do anything to support his character but at least we know he was like this from young.
Was this review helpful to you?
Perfectly calibrated, except pacing
This is exactly what you expect from a production with this type of budget, so lots of cute and fun rom com moments with some dramatic B plot stuff. They did draw out the chaebol drama, then rushed other more rich storyline, which is why I say the pacing needed improvement.I'd love a spin off on Gwang Nam's next adventures, preferably rom com for him too.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
frankly? boring.
this serie had potential. we meet our protagonist a perfect wife... who works as wife. our FL is a skilled professional "dater". single men in need of a wife hire her to impersonate the perfect couple.everyone comes and goes but one man is sucked in our protagonist life.
and that's where our story begins... and where it ends.. it so so obvious that they LL end up together it is painfully to watch.
there was potential for a good triangle Story here. the second lead has a lot in common with our FL but no... that's a drama with no love drama.
I don't even know why she cares that much about a man who barely talked to her in 5 years. i get it if someone is being mysterious but he is just plain.
no offense to the actor who played his role perfectly. but I feel there is not really a reason for them to be together.. but maybe it is just me.
the main flaw is that the serie is too much predictable. I started skipping a lot after episode 12... the whole company drama wasn't really that interesting. it didn't hold any weight.
frankly, at the end it was just boring.. I wouldn't rewatc it
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I wouldn’t mind a contract romance with the Judge!
There is something appealing about a relationship contract so I was hoping this show checked all my boxes.For the most part it did – but I felt as though there was TOO much plot. Is that possible? It absolutely is (IMO) the first part was super engaging, I love how Park Min Young portrays a high-class female lead who is talented in everything. She’s one of my favorite Korean actresses and I’ve loved her other shows. This character wasn’t far off some of her other roles.
But by the middle of the show, I was a little bored and fast tracked through a lot of the needless plot, especially about both sides of the warring families. I couldn’t truly understand why they had beef or wanted to plot against each other. Had the show been kept tighter between the leads and the contracts it would have been better paced episodes, but the show threw in stalkers, ex-wives, horrid families that it distracted a lot from the growing romance.
Loved the judge. That stoic, stiff and awkwardness in social settings are some of my favorite character traits (I also love Seo Do Jae from The Beauty Inside for the same characteristics) He was so delightfully awkward, especially with his staff (who were so fun! And a notable mention for his mentor boss friend who was fantastic. Every time he called his wife “my queen” I melted) some of my favorite scenes were him and Sang Eun sitting opposite the dinner table together. The dialogues were awkward yet masterfully executed.
The mother figure, Yoo Mi Ho, proved to be quite interesting. It was difficult to discern if she was a villain or seeking atonement. I, for one, could never have let her off the hook, given the extent of her misdeeds.
The same situation applied to Gwang Nam's family. Oh my god, they totally blew my mind with how awful they treated that sweetheart of a man just because he was gay! I hated them, but the show had to change their dynamic with him once they learned he was becoming a singer. Why? Why? Not everyone has to be fixed up in the end. Trash the crappy characters. Gwang Nam deserved a better outcome. I wish his role had been bigger – he was wasted just being the sidekick best friend.
Lastly, I got such “True Beauty” Seo-Jun vibes from Hae-Jin that my heart ached all the way through for him and was desperately keeping my fingers and eyes crossed that he’d find his own piece of happy romance by the end. Alas, like Seo-Jun that never happened so I’ll be quietly sobbing into my handkerchief for those two sweetheart men with second lead syndrome.
At least he got some love from his Jamie cat by the end. *sniff sniff*
Was this review helpful to you?
Muddled But Sweet
Go Kyung Pyo really carried this for me. The premise is fun, but the plotting really goes astray and some of the side characters were wildly annoying. This series has plot holes and abandoned storylines galore. Particularly with her profession involving contract marriages, you’d think there would be more drama around her clients, but we spend a lot of time on thinly-written chaebol backstories. Still, the central romance is sweet. Ji Ho was so precious the entire time. Also loved Gwang Nam, who frankly deserved better than he got for most of the series. If you can put up with some less than stellar plots and pacing, the central romance is still worth the price of admission.Was this review helpful to you?
Boring
I really wanted to give this drama a fair chance because I like the actress and usually enjoy her work, but this one is just not it for me. The storyline feels dull and predictable, and I found myself losing interest very quickly. There’s no real spark or chemistry between the leads, which makes it hard to root for the romance or get emotionally invested in their relationship. The pacing is slow, and the plot doesn’t build any excitement or tension, it just drags along without any standout moments. I kept hoping things would pick up, but after several episodes, it still feels flat. Overall, it’s disappointing because the cast had potential, but the writing and execution fall short. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be able to finish it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Maladroit male lead. plot device fails. warm fuzzies were " Meh"
the bad :a Glut of extended blatant Product placement.
I like the actor playing the Male lead , but his character was portrayed in such a way that his maladroitness ceased to be funny because it was really an undiagnosed form of Asperger's. A blank look can only work for so long before it becomes a detriment to the story.
2nd male lead: lacked character development.
Irritating female court worker-the actress plays the same character in every drama-super chatty, crazy, intrusive.
LGBTQ character felt contrived
The reveal of female lead's mother. It did not work. The resolution of thier relationship did NOT work.
The break/time skip-where the couple are apart is for THE dumbest reason ever.
Last 3 episodes were particularly dull.
Happy ending: on the scale of warm fuzzy to meh it was a Meh.
A disappointment overall, but not a flop.
Was this review helpful to you?
Male Lead was the highlight
Love in Contract starts off with a genuinely interesting premise. The main couple is easy to like. The female lead, follows a familiar archetype, capable, kind at her core, but shaped by difficult circumstances. While her character isn’t particularly groundbreaking, she’s still engaging enough to carry the story. The male lead stands out more. His introverted, socially awkward personality makes him both consistent and unintentionally funny. The way he approaches situations with complete honesty, without fully understanding social norms, creates some of the drama’s most endearing and comedic moments. His emotional sincerity gives the relationship a sense of stability that contrasts nicely with the more chaotic elements of the female lead and the overall plot.I also found myself enjoying the second male lead more than expected, he adds charm without completely overshadowing the main relationship. A highlight, though, is the female lead’s gay best friend. His storyline feels surprisingly grounded, especially in how it handles his relationship with his family. The fact that they never fully come to accept him, even until the end, adds a layer of realism that stands out.
However, despite all these strong elements, the drama never quite becomes memorable and it is enjoyable while you’re watching it. It’s sometimes funny, often charming, but I do not see myself revisiting the show again in the future.
Was this review helpful to you?
I like the main leads, their acting is great for me as a watcher. The chemistry is also there. I also like the OST. I think this is a pretty decent drama, and I would still recommend this one.
Was this review helpful to you?
