Cute but not so Cute ....
Okay so to start off with, drama was not really on my watchlist or in my sights to watch it, however I did stumble across it mainly because the two ML looked kind of familiar, it is only after watching the first episode that I realized where they from ...As much I liked and enjoyed Kissable Lips with these two in it, I wouldn't say that this drama was bad or not watchable, these two do have good chemistry and the acting is always good, however the story was kind of boring and literally so see through that you could make out what was going to happen.
I honestly cant say to much of this drama, it was one of those that so is predicable and sort of boring in its own way, the rich kid comes to daddy company to work to prove himself, the landlord working to make ends meet and then get taken for a ride by both of his friends, and then we have the whole self doubt and overthinking and running away after googling some shit instead of just asking straight up ... it was a like a real life coaster with this drama .
Overall: As I said earlier it is not bad, but its not that good either, its short with 8 episodes so probably watch while doing housework or something.
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If you suck enough lemons they start tasting sweet
The story is very basic, but sometimes basic is good.it was just a fun and sweet drama that was OK to watch if you are bored and have time to pass. I only have 2 problems with the drama, other than being basic it is like painting by numbers.
The story is a little different, but it follows the same old formula, we all know that they will get together, split up and then get back together for the end.
My other problem was the ending, the last two episodes just left a bitter taste in my mouth. People do things for ridiculous reasons and then it just seemed to snowball from one ridiculous thing to the next.
The two ML's are both good looking ( lots of teeth ) and work well together, the story is fine but other than that it's just an OK past the time drama.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Hated Ji Ho Joon Then Fell For Him!
Spoiler only at bottom of review.Ep 1-2 were written overly dramatic and a bit goofy. Ep 3 I starting liking the characters. Ep 4-6 were a 10/10! Ep 8 felt rushed and hastily wrapped up so it didn't end quite as strongly as I'd hoped. Still very satisfying overall and I will rewatch.
The confession scene actually had me tearing up and crying (rare). It was so sincere and poignant. No big scene or flowery speeches made, just taught with all the emotions that would be present in real life, followed by the relief and gentle awe/joy of reciprocation. It was beautiful.
I loved how the two lead character's competitiveness continued to be a part of their interactions even as they went from enemies to friends to more. Instead of just being used as a plot contrivance at the beginning, it transitioned from hostile to playful and continued as part of their dynamic. It felt realistic that way.
Chemistry was great and skinship and kisses felt natural. Kim Ji Woong was especially good at creating tension with physical proximity. And his eyes became more and more expressive as his character's feelings grew.
I liked how the story balanced the power a bit from the team-leader/intern dynamic with a building-owner/tenant situation. And once they had called a truce, Ji Ho Joon and Seo Jae Yoon worked very well together. I liked how the series showed their respect growing as they watched and interacted with the each other on their projects.
The soundtrack was pretty and fitting when I noticed it.
VERY GENERAL SPOILER of the ending:
The total lack of communication from one side in Ep 8 was was a little frustrating and kind of felt like lazy writing for plot contrivance.
The end solution for the familial/social/work concerns made some sense, but because it was laid out and glossed over so quickly in Ep 8, it didn't feel like a realistic resolution, which slightly reduced the satisfaction of the ending for me. I didn't get the time to feel fully re-grounded in their happiness before the credits rolled. But the last scene was funny, cute, hot, and sweet so I just replayed that a couple of times, lol.
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not bad but not impressive
The first half of this show was very slow moving and boring. It started to pick up and get really good but then started to drop off again at episode 7.Also, I just cannot get behind the conflict; it was stupid to me. I don't agree with nor condone Jae Yun's actions and I think he should have at least explained if not 100% apologized for the hurtful things he said. Overall, if you have some time to spare and less exciting things to watch give it a try, but you're honestly not missing anything if you don't.
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This review may contain spoilers
a cute korea BL
overall I think its a cute BL. Is it mind blowing? no but it does its work being a BL. you can tell that their budget is limited but hey they made it work.what i like:
-this might seem weird but i like how jaeyoon IS dating the toxic boyfriend instead of being an ex
-the chemistry between the two actors
-office romance
-the usage of side characters, they really made the series not boring
-they actually kissing and not just a peck
-how they potrayed that hojoon is actually rich
-Holland. stan him
what i dislike
-the lack of places used make me feel kinda bored
-in most scenes, the camera and lighting dont really flatter the actors
-maybe its just me being needy but i want more scenes of them accidentally falling in love before they confessed bcs i dont really see it
-the acting can be better but its not so bad until the point you cringe
-the ending felt a bit rushed but its fine
i would recommend watching this in case you are thirsty for some korean BL but is it better than to my star, semantic error and blueming, not really but it does its job being enjoyabe and thats what matter
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It's not perfect, but it's fun. It's at some points over the top ridiculous and in other moments it tries a more serious note. It's light and cute.
The leads have a lot of chemistry, their BTS kiss that tragically didn't end up in the drama made me watch this. Their acting wasn't particularly strong in the beginning, but I felt like we gradually saw them getting better each episode.
The story line is simple and sometimes even very cliche, the angst is predictable and in my opinion not properly resolved, the writing lacked in that aspect. The ending felt weirdly rushed but it was cute at least!
More couple moments would have been really nice, I think fans would have enjoyed that more and also shared it more on SNS therefore gaining more attention but oh well.
Even though I thought it was a light, no brainer drama I kept thinking about this couple the entire next day. For a niche BL drama the quality really wasn't all too bad. The chemistry is everything though.
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BL office romance: platonic and cute, with a cohabitation trope and some amusing bickering
The story is quite simple but effective: the two main male leads find themselves forced to cohabitate and work together. Despite the short length of the drama, the script manage to make the viewer care about the characters and be invested in their relationship and professional successes. The plot is not really original but it is a compelling watch with some very cute moments.The main actors were pretty good. I found their acting totally believable and they had a good chemistry together. Maybe some of the more comedic scenes or dramatic ones were a bit overacted, but overall they did a good job conveying the feelings of their characters. The performance of the supporting cast was also quite solid even if the side characters were a bit caricatural and not super developed given the shortness of the series.
The soundtrack was really pleasant with some catchy songs even though quite forgettable. In terms of directing, I was happy that the director did not shy away from the couple of kisses, it remains rather chaste but it has the merit to exist and to be visibly showcased.
I would recommend this to people looking for a cute BL office romance. If you like cohabitation trope, bickering and secret relationship in an office setting, this one is for you!
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Almost dropped it but I'm glad I didn't
Started watching with high expectations because of the actors but the first 2 episodes were SO boring, it was lacking chemistry and nothing happened so I decided not to watch the show anymore. What made me come back was some clips of them kissing on instagram and I wanted to see it because they still are Seobin and Jiwoong and I do love them. The series actually got so much better and interesting and it turn out to be good. I liked it very much 'cause they finally showed their chemistry and cuteness and made me happy.Was this review helpful to you?
a cute and fun series
"Roommates of Poongduck 304" was a series I was really looking forward to for a while (though I didn't have time to watch it until now).With a duration of about 30 minutes per episode and 8 episodes in total, this is a rather short series. Because of the shortness of this drama, there were things that weren't really explored enough - for example, I would have loved to know more about the past of the characters. Despite that, the series did a good job with making the characters interesting and kinda lovely in their own way.
The chemistry between the main characters and the overall dynamic between all the characters was great. Personally, the acting was good - nothing special but not bad, just good. The story itself is simple (a typical enemy-to-lovers trope) but still tries to be original without being ridiculous. If you are in for a cute love story without a lot of drama, I would recommend this drama to you!
Overall, "Roommates of Poongduck 304" is a cute and fun drama with a high rewatch value.
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Things I liked:
* The story has two of my favourite tropes (emenies-to-lovers and accidental/forced roommates), which are are really well done. The boss/employee vs. tenant/landlord dynamics give good balance to their relationship. Overall the plot is a bit predictable but the characters' development and the interaction of the team members make it enjoyable.
* The team members were great, they provided both comic relief and an outsider's point of view for the developing relationship. They were also quite cute.
* Kang Woo Jung's acting was brilliant -- I hope he'll get the chance to act in productions of different genres, so more people will see him.
* Both lead actors seem comfortable with each other, which makes the intimacy between the characters believable. (It's sad that I have to say this -- but in some Korean BL dramas the actors seem so uncomfortable!)
* I also like that we get to see a glimpse of the struggles some gay men go through -- unluckily falling for a straight man, the fear what would happen if you're outed at work, how people will judge you for being with another man. Yoon Seo Bin was good at portraying all of these with a side of internalized homophobia. This topic was there throughout the show, sometimes just as an undercurrent, sometimes more obvious, but it never distracted from the sweetness of the romance plot.
Things I did not like:
* The acting of both main leads was a quite muted at times. Especially in the scenes when their characters argue with each other, I did not feel the emotions as much as I could have. I think stronger body language and facial expressions would help. They are both really good at expressing their emotions with their eyes, though, so it's not a question of talent -- either they just have to practice a bit more or the director did direct them that way. (Or is it something more ... chemical, at least concerning facial expressions? With the entertainment industry as it is, I wouldn't rule it out.)
* I wish the show would have made Jae Yoon's motivation for his decision in episode 7 clearer -- either by characterizing him better in earlier episodes or telling the audience outright. I think Jae Woon's actions come across as more tropey than it was intended.
* Also it would have been nice to get more of Ho Joon's backstory earlier and not infodump everything in one (though very heartfelt) speech.
All in all, one of the better K-BLs I've seen, and very comfortable to watch repeatedly.
[This is an updated version of the review I posted at Viki.]
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Amazing Acting
This was short and sweet! I got a little annoyed towards the end where Jea Yoon decided they needed to end things instead of just telling Ji Ho that he found out he was the son of the chairman. However, the scene where they makeup is quite cute and the ending kiss scene is to die for. This is the only korean bl that I felt there was no resistance between the two actors.Overall I really live this show and you should definitely watch it if you are looking for a short but adorable bl to watch.
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Poongduck Villa Really Is Special
One of my all-time favourites that I just can't help but keep returning to.This is a truly excellent rom-com which walks some classic beats but also brings a lot of new ideas to the table.
It's got nice visuals, fantastic acting, a great supporting cast (looking at you Holland, truly noone steals the show like that man does), some great physical comedy, and authentic queer characters with real depth.
This show first won me over with the aforementioned physical comedy, however small a part it may play in the story. It's rare to see a rom-com incorporate a tangible, physical aspect into its humour without it being overly cartoon-y slapstick.
I mean when was the last time you saw one romantic lead deliver a round-house kick to the other romantic lead's face?
Then the show intrigued me with how realistic its characters feel. They all just seem like real, actual people, the main characters especially. Sure, they are both strange in their own ways and completely and utterly fail to be normal about anything at all, but thanks to the clever writing all their silliness feels like the respective idiosyncrasies of two oddly charming and deeply likeable people.
So much so that the two leads felt immediately and startlingly familiar to me. I kept thinking to myself "I know these gays, I have met them before, I know actual people like this"
All of the above are great points in the show's favour, but what really cemented its status as one of the all time greats to me is the deeply realistic and thoughtfully handled portrayal of queerness and queer experience that it depicts.
It explores the disbelief, curiosity, and relief of discovering your sexuality, the continuous heartbreak of pining for someone you can't have and the line between secret love and unhealthy devotion, the all-encompassing, giddy joy of experiencing a true romantic connection for the first time in your 30ish years of life, the way shame and repression affect queer people's lives and relationships, and the happiness and security that come from finding people who are just like you, who care for you, and who accept you.
And that dedication to depicting authentic queer experiences is what elevates the story as a whole and makes every familiar trope seem fresh and new. Take the show's climactic conflict for instance - this is an integral part of the standard rom-com formula which can easily become contrived and off-putting if a show includes it just for the sake of sticking to the format.
But here that conflict doesn't just serve to add drama for drama's sake. It stems directly from both characters' internal issues and insecurities and feels like a perfect culmination of something the show has been building up to from the beginning.
The entire thing is as painfully, achingly inevitable as it is necessary for the characters to progress, both as people and in their relationship. Rarely have I seen story with a romantic core woven together so perfectly and a relationship arc pulled off so masterfully.
I highly recommend this show to all rom-com fans, queer viewers looking for a believable queer romance with excellent representation which notably does not end in tragedy, and anyone in search of a solid romantic romp with great writing and acting and a fantastic wardrobe, that has some real bite and intelligence to it and is, most importantly, just plain fun to watch.
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