Conflicting watch
When you start this you kind of try to understand the background of the characters and as the story progresses you start making sense of behaviours and decisions. Won Jun was extremely tolerant and understanding of Doona's situation even when she left him alone in the middle of nowhere. The end was bittersweet, they both matured and overcame their obstacles (specially Doona) and just when the final confrontation happens and you get a glimpse of what the future might hold we are left with an interpretative ending.I understand this was maybe done to keep fans engaged and asking for a second season but for a 9 episode show they could have carried on with the story.
I'm just a sucker for happy endings and this ome was not what I expected. Still I enjoyed the watch and did it in one sit so it kept me pretty engaged.
Overall good, with good performances.
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Where is this hot and toxic?
There were so much reviews Like " oh wow, toxic hot powerful, Drama" - so i gave it a try.And it was...
Quite average.
The main leads chemistry
was just not there, felt flat.
Doona was like "a baddie", but not really, if you watch the show you know what i mean.
The love story... I don't know- was just not something that blew my mind away, with acting, connection or originality.
The kpop thing was cool, but the potential was quite wasted, as the relationships between the characters, this topic was not shown in depth.
The ending was okay. I think it suited the flat relationship of the main characters and it is the most realistic ending, under this circumstances i guess.
The visuals and doona were pretty, music was okay.
Side couples were mediocre.
All in all - pretty average, would not watch again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Open Ending not a sad Ending
The ending of "Doona" left me emotionally stirred and profoundly moved. As I watched the final moments of the series, tears welled up in my eyes, and I found myself weeping unabashedly. It was a testament to the storytelling's power to evoke genuine emotions and the connection I had developed with the characters.This visceral reaction mirrored the deep empathy I had cultivated for the characters throughout the series. It wasn't merely a drama on a screen; it felt like a part of my own experiences. Their struggles, hopes, and unyielding love resonated with me on a profoundly personal level. I wept not out of sorrow but out of an overwhelming sense of connection and understanding.
The denouement of "Doona," the beloved Korean drama, has sparked spirited debate among fans. Some have lamented what they perceive as a melancholic conclusion, but I submit that the series indeed culminates with an open ending, an artistic choice that leaves the door ajar for myriad possibilities. It invites us to ponder the power of unwavering love and the ongoing journey of the characters.
In this denouement, it is crucial to recognize that the story does not merely come to a close but rather leaves its protagonists at a crossroads, poised to embrace the uncertain but hopeful future. Far from a sad ending, it is a testament to the intricacies of human relationships, where the road ahead is obscured, and the outcome remains hidden, much like life itself.
The central theme of "Doona" is the resilience of love, an enduring emotion that defies temporal constraints. The two main characters are seen diligently striving to be together, reminiscent of the struggles that unfold in real life. The beauty of this open ending lies in its mirroring of the authentic human experience, where the culmination of our journeys is yet to be unveiled. It is a reminder that love is an ongoing, dynamic force, an ever-evolving narrative that continues to unravel with each passing day.
To label this ending as sorrowful would be a myopic assessment, for it captures the essence of the human condition. The uncertainty it encapsulates is not merely a narrative device, but a reflection of life itself. As long as the enduring flame of affection remains ablaze within their hearts, there exists the promise of a future replete with possibilities. Thus, "Doona" concludes not with a finality, but with the ever-present potential for a beautiful, unwritten chapter.
The ending's poignant beauty, with its open and uncertain nature, struck a chord deep within me. It made me realize that life, just like this story, is a mosaic of emotions and experiences, often leaving us teary-eyed, yet profoundly appreciative of the journey. As the credits rolled and my tears flowed, I found solace in the notion that "Doona" had, in its own unique way, mirrored the complex tapestry of existence, leaving me with a heartwarming and tearful reminder of the power of love, hope, and the ongoing nature of our own stories.
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REALISTIC
This drama is not for everyone, but at times you need a realistic relationship like this. Not everything is lovey-dovey all the time, and at times you have to let go of someone you love as it might not be the right time, but that does not mean that they never shared a connection. I feel like people really just want a happy ending and find it frustrating when there is some kind of open ending. Believe me, I am the same lol, I try to look for hints and go over the drama again for details. I think this is the case for Doona, there are some hidden but important details and clues in the last episode and in the intros and outros to each episode that personally made me think that the director very cleverly wanted them to be picked up by the viewers themselves.The drama as a whole was beautiful to watch: the cinematography, the ost, and all the actors were superbly talented. I loved the friends group, and all the support cast was amazing in their roles. I do like more straightforward dramas with more rom-com elements as well, but I also love it when there is a more realistic twist and here, there was a realistic portrayal of how your twenties are such a tumultuous time of your life, and how complex love can be when paired with all the other things one has in their plate in this period of their life. Doo Na can be very unlikable and almost toxic at first, but as all her layers come down, you see that she's just a girl struggling to understand what makes her happy and who just wants to be accepted and loved. It showed us how tough things can get for idols, how little help they can get when they are struggling with anxiety and confusion, and how quick people are to hate them. Of course, this does not mean that all that she does throughout is acceptable, but I could see where she was coming from. Won Jun also just loved her for what she was but also told her when she hurt him and eventually let her go so that she could be herself while doing something that she loved, which was singing and being an idol. But at the same time, he let her go for his own good too, because he realised they were not happy together at that time and prioritised his and her individual happiness, but never stopped loving her. By the end, they were both doing what they wanted to do, and from the hints I picked up from that last episode they might even have given each other another chance at being together, as this time they were older and knew how to handle some things better.
I feel like everyone should try and watch this drama as it is, and try to understand the underlying meanings and the characters. I personally really loved it and I felt so understood while seeing all the various characters go through all their different experiences, feelings and emotions. The director was really clever, he so beautifully gave us the ending without actually giving it to us directly.
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This review may contain spoilers
IN DEPTH review + alternative endings and where to stop for viewers that dont want open ending
Writing this review freshly after finishing all 9 episodes, everything is very clear in my mind as I binged it all in one sitting. I did not read or even look up the original manhwa or novel (whatever it is called), so I have nothing to compare the drama version to, and I also DID NOT come in with any expectations. Usually when viewers read the novel first they may be more biased since things may be different from the plot in a good or bad way, but I came in with no expectations, just to clarify. Apologize for long review, but I try to be detailed and helpful. It is totally okay to disagree as its just my opinion! Disclaimer: it may seem like im bashing the ending and everything, but I still gave the drama a 7 rating so im not really hating to clarify, rather I am not satisfied. If I were to describe this drama it would be like competing in a race and doing well on the first few laps, then just not completing the last lap. You see, this is a romance drama. Not a healing drama, not a slice of life, not action, not comedy, not historical. Least they could have done was a satisfying romantic ending.Things I liked:
1. Good romance and kiss scenes. Actually thought they had more and better kisses than most dramas I see nowadays.
2. 9 episodes of like 35-40 minutes (the last 5 minutes are just credits so its not actually 45 min), it can be binged, and even if you dont like it, its a short watch, you dont really 'waste' a lot of time. Also, if you wanted to rewatch for whatever reason, it would be easy.
3. Nothing much going on in the drama other than the romance aspect, which is good as you dont have to give your attention to many subplots. However, the drama is still a bit confusing with plot holes and time skips which I will talk about below.
4. Characters are likable, there's no character I didnt like, and love triangle was not overly annoying. Acting was also good, everyone was pretty good but I just thought the ML acting was okay. Not bad but not good.
Things I didn't like: (SPOILERS AHEAD, but I really think people should read this before watching)
STAR: I am fine with open or sad endings but for this specific drama I can think of more reasons of why they couldve/shouldve been together than not, which is why im so frustrated (see #4). I would also like to point out that this drama really has no plot other than 1. Doona going back to her career and 2. romance. There are only 2 overarching plots, yet they couldn't even make it clear and things were very confusing to me as a viewer (see #2 & 3). There were details left out, no explanations, time skips, some things just dont make sense.
1. Open ending. Obviously not every drama will have a good ending. But we (or at least me personally) watch dramas to escape from reality... why would I as a viewer want to spend my free time to watch a 'bittersweet' ending when they can just give a happy ending for romance, as its literally the only plot. Also, many others argue that it was a 'realistic' ending, but realistically they would and should have ended up together as Doona literally explains they can date after 2 years, which have passed, and they both still have feelings for each other. Correlates with my fourth point.
2. Many plot holes. Like we still dont even know clearly why Doona even left the group, we just know it's somewhere along the lines of being overwhelmed, but we dont know clearly. We dont know if she really couldn't sing or if she faked it (she sings perfectly well in ep8 and also debuts again as a singer) We dont know if Mr. Park (the manager dude) is a good or bad character and his relationship with her. He is such a grey character, and obviously his role is big as he is the one that sends her to the house alone, but we dont even know really if he has a good or bad intent. ML and FL family is not even talked about, which I dont mind but still it counts as a plot hole... like what sickness does the ML's sister have where he has to take care of her. Is Doona being an idol to help her mom out of debt? Did her mom pay back the debt? Also ML's best friend is literally Doona's biggest fan, but he doesn't even know ML and her dated???
3. Time skips (especially in ep8 and 9). As a viewer I often got confused in the later episodes of when events started happening. It's not very clear if it's a time skip to the future or past or present. And this is related to the plot holes, as literally we go from them dating to suddenly being split apart in ep8. Very confusing and it is not really shown when they leave each other. One moment they are in bed together, then the next moment she is already at the idol building, no goodbye no telling each other nothing. In other simpler words: Doona is edited weirdly, it's very oddly spliced. As someone said: "All events move forward in a non-linear pattern, with the story constantly moving back and forth." It would have been better to give better explanations and more straightforward storytelling so the reader is not left to presume or assume or guess on anything. Directors could have used 1 hour episodes or just made it 10 or 12 episodes instead of 9 to not rush things and skip explanations or events. This was a Netflix kdrama, the directors definitely could have changed the length...
4. The ending along with the romance is probably the most important thing, and what I dont understand is in the end, when Doona becomes an idol, she still wanted to secretly meetup and date. The ML has feelings for her obviously, but I dont understand why he doesn't want to. We are not given any reason why either. Okay, whatever, I can look past that... BUT
2 years pass, (Doona literally says they can date after 2 years when she's in a more stable position), the ML is back from the military, they meet again... but they still dont date???? And in the second to last scene, the FL goes to ML's house and they finally talk and hug and say they miss each other and cry. They also could have gotten back together here for a happy and realistic ending??? But no, the last scene they are back to strangers walking past each other in public. You didnt need to add scenes, and im fine with a 'realistic' sad (quote on quote realistic since in the drama Doona says she as an idol CAN date after she is stable as an idol, although in real life idols probably cant date) or happy ending rather than an open confusing ending.
Alternative Endings:
1. If you want sad ending, just stop in ep9 when won jun says he is going to the army and Doona leaves for the train. This is a realistic and sad ending for those that dont care about happy ending. Realistically she is now back to being an idol and cant date, like real life Kpop idols with restrictions on dating.
2. If you want happy ending, stop in ep9 where they hug and say they miss each other. If you end here, it will be like they got back together finally. They are back to dating and the end.
3. Open ending just finish the whole thing, then go back and watch the opening scene of episodes 1,2,6,7,8,9. They meet again at the railroad tracks. And in episodes 8 and 9 they go on a date. You can interpret this as they are secretly seeing each other despite being an idol. OR, the other open ending is that you see in the last scene where they walk past each other but dont say a word but Doona looks back at Won Jun. This can also be interpreted as they have broken up and are chose to prioritize their own careers over love. Either way, they have succeeded in their careers, and isn't necessarily a bad ending. People have heartbreaks in real life too, and not every partner is a marriage partner!
Something I noticed, not a judgement, just something I noticed:
The opening always has some scene where it can be interpreted as an open ending, but I went back to every episode just to see it. They just walk to the railroad crossing, in earlier episodes they are wearing black (keep in mind). In the later episodes we see them cross the railroad and walk to each other. But this time the ML is not wearing black, he is wearing tan suit (arguably this would mean a different day, or maybe they just didnt pay attention to outfit detail and accidentally wore wrong outfit) In the last episode, the opening scene the FL is wearing a cap and different outfit. (this outfit is NOT the same as her ending scene outfit, but the ML is wearing his ending scene outfit. I guess the opening scene would be telling the viewer that they meetup and go on a date. However, you would have to piece every opening scene together to visualize it, which is very hard to notice and do.
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Why this drama is one of the best of the year, and it's not an exaggerated thought!
I have never written a review but I felt the need to do this one today. I hope to do fairly well.I think it is the perfect drama for the rainy season that is going on right now.
From my point of view, it makes you meditate, it is simple, but at the same time, it leaves you with a feeling of heaviness in your heart and you can't stop turning it over in your head.
For some reason I have felt comforted myself when I listened to Won-jun speak, and in some way, it has made me reflect as a person because of the character he has.
I think the story is perfect, I would not change anything, because I really liked how they developed it. The only reason this drama is not a 10 for me, is because I would have liked them to delve more into Doona's life before meeting him, otherwise it is perfect.
And for the detractors of the ending, I have to say that I think that what they wanted to tell and how they did it, was phenomenal. If you remember, Doona explained to him that only when her career stabilized could she be with him and he knew that for society to "accept" him he had to be an "adult", that is, graduate, settle down and get a job, as it is dictate on the standard that exists in society. That is why I think the ending has accurately captured how they have fought and achieved the "requirements" to be able to love each other.
I also want to emphasize that both the cinematography and the soundtrack of this drama are exceptional.
We must also talk about the level of the performances of both Bae Suzy and Yang Se Jong. She has never seemed like a bad actress to me, but I think she nailed it this time. And what can I say about him, I have been eagerly awaiting his return.
I hope this simple, although a bit short, review helps you.
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AESTHETICALLY DEEP !
Before you read this I hope you are not a fan of the writing because I in the most certain way possible am not !I guess the plot line is very clear. A shining star crosses path with a person who aspires to lead a normal life. Both of them belong to what we may call "Different Worlds" and most obviously pique each other's interest. Share some time and paint each other in a color we call "LOVE"!!!
This most basic explanation doesn't really give scope for you to fall for the characters but the characters end up being a part of you as the story unfolds. Then even their seemingly meaningless actions find meaning!
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LET ME TELL YOU ONCE - THE ENDING IS NOT WHY I RATED IT LOW !!!! (spoiler)
To be honest there was no apt ending to some happy ending would have done , to some sad, even tho I am a big - NO OPEN ENDINGS PLEASE kinda person I still believe some stories are better off incomplete because that's what completes them !
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But there lie oceans of depth that the aesthetics unfold and the story doesn't stay true to !
To put it normal words ....this drama was made for a way darker story , way deeper emotions and was most certainly made for the depths that is couldn't touch ! There had to be more I feel that yearning ... that so much more was to be there that so much more should have been focused on .
Messy characters, unreasonable behavior, screaming, crying, everyday desperately fighting to hang on to life , clinging to that last string of hope, being abandoned, feeling neglect, treating other person unfairly in hope of healing yourself this had all it took for a drama to be in depth perfect !
TO MENTION - the actors did a great job !!!
SHOULD YOU WATCH - YES , MOST CERTAINLY YES !!!!
--------------------------SPOLIERS AHEAD------------------
What went wrong ....I know how she felt when she was abandoned , I could see it in her actions in her behavior but not in her story . I do feel the story did injustice to the actor who beautifully held on to what she was given.
the person who abandoned doona ...what did he offer to the story ?
what role did he play...if he did not come back even then the impact would have been the same ...they what did that brilliant actor do on screen ? waste some screen time ?
what were the side character there for ...there was clearly no time to develop their story ...why waste screen time ? just let them out of the frame . I'll be good with one less couple meaninglessly falling in love.
they did not develop the last 2 eps ...they just rushed to end ...i'd rather see the main couple idle on my screen than see some random underdeveloped side characters ! thankyou !
also it would have been a treat if they introduced a therapy angle like imagine if the FL was getting professional help and still was a mess ....ofc people around have a role to play even after professional help ...I would have loved for the ML to be that ...it's not a love interest's responsibility to heal you of your past trauma ...but ofc they can help and support !
ML doesn't have to be ....THE KNOW IT ALL THE ONLY SAVIOR !
Also I know the ML wanted to be with her desperately but was there anything the plotline offered him ? no it was just a 2 sec drinking scene a 3 sec work hard for your goal and a 5 min drama of why they shouldn't call out DOONA's name or he'll feel bad . LIKE FUCKING SERIOUSLY ? you made him in all fucking 8 eps to ruin all of that complex nature with jus a 5 min 5 sec clip ...?
I am not asking you to give me a reply when doona asked him what he was doing for them but atleast give me (viewer) a reply ...show me fucking how desperate he is to be with her ....
--------------------------------- Done Ranting ! -------------------------------------
all in all ...THIS DRAMA IS SO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING , there is so much more than what meets the eye ....give it time ...time to get under your skin and you shall be a new person by the end ! let it grow on you ....spend a weekend with the main characters ...skip the side characters if you want ...do not let the ending bother you ....and you have your treat !
will add my fav quotes in some time ....
till then pls do give it a shot !
HOPE YOU ENJOY !
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Netflix "realism" predominates.
Netflix has a definite style of youthful romance which may not be to everyone’s taste. The characters (not necessarily the plot) are more realistic and less “wholesome” or formal than the one’s coming out of Korean television. More willing to mess with the standard norms and to be concerned with the realities of things like depression. Less afraid to explore the uncertainties of youth, which make it more afraid of the finality of rejection than living with the denial of feelings or unfulfilled desires.The production style here is more akin to “Nevertheless”, although the storyline is totally different. It has a greater emphasis on showing more realistic reactions and character traits, such as smoking, swearing or anxiety attacks. The characters are often much less sure of themselves and can display behaviour that is obvious red flags, such as a dangerous tendency to want to be violent, or being caught up in abusive relationships. The actual impact that these situations have on an individual is more honestly portrayed. Often K-dramas gloss over the effects of trauma and create miraculous and timely recoveries so that the sense of a moral correctness, or fairytale happy-ever-after can be preserved. Whereas this story takes place amongst the uncertainties and messiness of life.
The director, Lee Jeong Hyo, has a string of hits in the last 5 years, including “Crash Landing on You” and “Romance is a Bonus Book”. Here he has adopted a less predictable style. He likes to observe the reactions on the actors faces and Bae Suzy is well worth looking at as she successfully conveys her inner emotions. Yang Se Jong is less convincing, but his character is lacking light and shade in the writing and it is very much a cypher and a foil for Doona. For me, the ML character is too young to be believable and as a result is played more mature. In general, his circumstances and themes were under-explored. At this length, the drama could easily have opted to focus only on the leads and gone deeper. There was plenty of material, particularly on Doona’s side to do so.
Instead, they chose to introduce secondary characters and subplots that did not hold up particularly well. There was an air of plot convenience about them with insufficient integration between their characters and the lead story. The script for these subplots, particularly between Lee Won Jun (Yang Se Jong) and his old flame, disappointingly often slipped into the banal and trite.
One annoying detail was that the continuity was bad. The weather and costumes were very mixed up. People wearing summer outfits in early spring and full tree foliage with snow. I’m prepared to overlook bright sunshine and rain, as that is often unavoidable due to a shooting schedule. But deciding on the season and dressing appropriately is something that should be unified.
There were some deliberate attempts at stylistic cinematography - especially towards the end. The breaking up the images into multiple rectangles (there’ll be a technical term for this, sorry not really my speciality). The use of a lot of close up reaction shots. It had a modern feel. Slightly smokey images, with the edge taken off by using less saturated colour, and moody lighting, nicely played into the slightly sombre tone of the piece. Greys, blues and browns predominate. The spare use of music carries emotional weight because it is unusual to have no background sounds.
Overall, for me, there was a lot to like about this production regarding the central characters and storyline, but the subplots and details let it down. It was an emotional 8, but a rational 7.5.
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This review may contain spoilers
Don't Watch this if you have read the Webtoon, If Not You are good to go.
As someone who has read the Doona Webtoon I can clearly say this is nowhere near the Original work. The whole freakin story has been changed.But if you watch this as a independent story this is quite good till the last episode.
The Drama is hugely dependent on Suzy and Yang Sejong who did their part of the job brilliantly. You can just watch this drama solely for their chemistry.
Another good Thing about the drama is the Visuals they left no frame incomplete, every frame was like an artwork.
But if you really want to know about Doona and Won Jun just read the Webtoon it's just on an another level of storytelling and characters just make sense.
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Doona! A Introspective Review
Doona! felt like a perpendicular line at the moment the lines cross.I think the story was woven amazingly and felt realistic enough compared to other romantic dramas. The ending while sad and unfortunate felt more real. I know a decent size of people watch dramas as a form of escapism, I do to, but the show made me confront some feelings of reality that was hard to ignore.
Ultimately if I could point anyone to a poem that could capture this show I would point towards 'By Chance' by Xu Zhimo. I won't copy it here because that would spoil the show but feel free to read it yourself if you don't mind.
To conclude, I highly recommend you watch the show but if you can, make no real expectations or assumptions, so that the story can be appreciated more.
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DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME !!
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Llaryz
a day ago
This is my take on the drama I’ve got a lot to say about it, just to be clear this is my own opinion and I understand everyone won’t agree and have different opinions especially since I know others have attempted to watch this drama and found it boring and sure I get it but for me I absolutely loved it. The cinematography was my kind of aesthetic and the songs were giving melancholy but it also gave the feeling of peace at the same time. Ever since the first episode I was hooked and I never found it boring in fact I found it intriguing. To me it felt so organic and real mainly because of the main character/s and their story. I’ve read on a reddit post someone said it felt more like a character study than a K-Drama and I agree. To me it felt so different from the K-Dramas I watch that it felt like a breath of fresh air apart from the several love interests introduced in the drama for the male lead and some cliches. The reason why I agree that this drama is more of a character study is because it mostly centres around Doona (of course it’s the name of the series) and who she is, it shows her past, her struggles, the problems she faces and how it has affected her negatively. However that’s not the main reason why I was so intrigued in the first place. I was interested because the drama tackles mental health issues and mentions the abuse Korean Idols go through within the industry, it shows awareness and it’s one of the reasons why the actress of Doona (played by Bae Suzy, I love her) picked up the role because she related to the character. Now aside from all that I enjoyed and deeply loved Doona and Won-Jun’s (Yang Se-Jong) love story, there was amazing chemistry between the main leads in my opinion and they did a fantastic job portraying their characters. I love their relationship dynamic in the show where they come from two different worlds, a soft hearted, innocent and serious boy in university meets a famous Korean idol who puts on a tough exterior but is actually broken and struggles with mental health. He fell for who she is and didn’t try to “fix” her, he was always there for her and became her safe place and she needed someone that just loved her for who she was. Whilst Doona fell for how genuinely good and sincere he was, he was different to the people she met in her life and Won-Jun needed someone who was bold and got him to loosen up, they were a perfect fit. For me this show really hit the spot and it’s definitely my favourite K-Drama in 2023, it’s definitely high on my list. Regardless of the ending which for me was a good ending and quite realistic, at first I wasn’t sure what to feel all I know is everyone should take it easy on idols, with media nowadays they aren’t given the freedom they deserve as human beings and aren’t even given the right to date the person they like without a camera in their face or being judged and hated for it.
Anyways I should probably stop I still have a lot to say but I’ll just say this, if you think this is your type of show to watch based on what I’ve mentioned then of course I highly recommend you to watch it but if it’s not, then don’t waste your time.
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I don’t usually drop dramas but…
The premise of Doona! is very intriguing and attention catching. But upon actually watching it, the acting was stale and none of the characters were likeable. I got to episode 5 and it felt like the main leads had zero personality and even less chemistry. The two leads meet by chance and at their first meeting they have conflict which is never brought up again or moved on from. After that conflict Bae Suzy’s character becomes sort of a “pick me” following around the male lead. I wish her character had more of a personality because the story set the two up so well. by the time i reached episode five, I wasn’t rooting for a single character and I found myself bored trying to complete it.Was this review helpful to you?
