Business as Usual

Nonsense As Usual

So did Min Jun smile in this drama? Mfker walked around like he was allergic to happiness, like he loved being miserable and having a sad background story about his first love. Dude was out there acting like woe is him and heart break was made specifically for him. Give it a rest, Susan. Cuz what even was his problem towards the end? Jin Hwan a better person than me though, I'd have gotten on that plane. Go be incompatible in the corner with your foolishness.

And was I supposed to be happy for that airport scene? Literally this is what happened word-for-word. No, really, come see nonsense.

Min Joon: "You know, too. You and I are really incompatible. We will fight and get tired again. And we'd be worn out each time. You think everything would be possible now. But what if, I keep bringing up the past and ask why you acted that way angrily? Similar things keep happening. No one would be okay with that. And what if you keep doing that to me? I know myself well. I won't be able to stand it. You know how it'd end. And I know, too. Choi Jin Hwan. First love needs to be left as a memory. Stop. Please let me be free now. Please, just get out of my sight."

Jin Hwan: *confessing his love, begging, trying to reason, pleading.* Nothing works, he gets dumped, heart broken, he packed his suitcase, quit his job and decided to leave the country.

*Min Joon hears about it and runs to him at the airport. Cue a montage of their moments together and a sad song.*

Min Joon: "Choi Jin Hwan, what's with you? You changed your number and tried to disappear? You bastard. You and I are really incompatible. That is why I'll fight as many times as it takes. Even if you get tired, and beg me to let you go, I won't let go of you, okay? I know everything and I'm mad at you. I know things would get boring and obvious, but I like you so much that I'm going mad. I like you. So, don't go. As long as I am with you, everything is fine. I still like you."

Me: Thunder fire you and your ancestors' goat.

Cuz was that supposed to be romantic? I was making a face the whole time, rolling my eyes and just... why child, what even? Nonsense dey for some peoples backyard. Make someone's son come disturb my peace with this kind behaviour, na slap he go chop. Fool.

Listen, I liked the overall drama. Misunderstanding like this can happen, so I was enjoying the plot when the misunderstanding happened in ep1, I was like, oooh drama, sign me up. I was happy when they both found out that they've simply misunderstood each other. Enjoyed the in-between of getting to know how they got together, how they both loved but were shy, scared and didn't communicate enough so their first loved ended miserably for them both. Nice plot and drama, give me two more.

So yeah, after everything was cleared up between them, I was ready for these two to handle things as the adults they were, instead Min Joon acted like a broken spoon and decided to go with the annoying, childish, approach. Wth is your problem Susan? Like, why you causing unnecessary drama, Bob? So you got dumped one time, so what? Dude let his 2am thoughts won over his rational thoughts, and decided to frustrate us with his nonsense. Child if you don't go sit somewhere.

And, is the theme for this year's k-bl dramas misunderstandings? I wonder if the writers had a meeting and decided to frustrate us, while they laughed over soju. Cuz, again, why?

Anyway, a decent drama, give it a watch, it had its charm, but overall, the ending could have been done better, instead of whatever that was.

Once again, I say, k-bls needs to step up this year, like, why are you on the floor? It's only May.

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Chemistry at work, but angst and real growth is on break!

Have we seen the story of ex- lovers parting ways due to misunderstanding and reuniting in the workspace? Yes and honestly, maybe a better version does exist for the second chance love trope. So, while the premise is not new, the execution was just above the line. (Maybe subpar if I am being too critical)

This drama runs high on miscommunication and lack of communication simultaneously. It feels like two sides of the same coin.

Side A - Team Jin Hwan : Assuming others know what you mean and feel without stating your expectations clearly.
Side B - Team Min Jun : Hearing something and jumping to conclusions rather than giving a benefit of doubt and actually trying to sit and clarify the situation.

Starting with the positives, the chemistry between leads was the highlight for me. It was really good and evident from the start to finish. When they look at each other, I could sense all the hurt, the love and the weight of unfinished conversation between them!

Time alone doesn't heal everything unless you sit, communicate and truly process it all out. I am glad the drama didn't take the route of a fairytale reconciliation. While it was frustrating to watch at times, the back and forth between Minjun and Jin Hwan added the realistic layer of being too cautious and hesitant to re-enter into the same waters where both of them once almost drowned and barely survived in their own ways.

And a lot of people were mad at Minjun for not communicating and being as reciprocative as Jin Hwan when they met again after years but I believe that during those eight years apart, he was still struggling and had not fully accepted what exactly happened to him or why it happened. He actually never really had the opportunity to process it or work on his insecurities because technically, he never moved on. He was always under the impression that he was used and I do not think anyone can heal from something like that overnight.

Also the switch between past and present and vice versa was done well and very cohesively without being too messy or confusing. It gave a proper run down of what happened between them and why we are here right now. While in the past timeline, we get to see both the perspectives and it was interesting to see how the same situation can be interpreted in poles apart ways when communication takes a back seat.

Where this drama falters is the present day storyline that seemed rushed and underdeveloped. The emotional depth was missing and conflicts were left till the last minute to be resolved and honestly that is not my favourite kind of storytelling.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the worst second chance drama out there or it's not that the story didn't have potential. It did, but it just didn't dig deeper and enough to stir something inside me. I expected more believable character development where we could actually see them navigate their doubts, fear and misunderstandings together.
The angst between them felt lukewarm. Yes, there was tension and chemistry, no doubt, but it just simmered below the surface.
The short run time didn't help either. Maybe instead of 6 , 8 episodes could have made their journey and the ending more believable.

Clearly, the ending seemed rushed and very theatrical. It felt like we were robbed of the slow burn payoff. I still don't think either of them actually addressed their issues and if the drama existed in parallel universe and they are still together, I could see them making the same mistakes again. Again, I do believe in second chance romance but can it really happen if the people involve don't really change or atleast try to deal with their insecurities. Well, Minjun and Jin Hwan would never know because the writing didn't give them that chance.

Acting-wise both the new actors did a good job and their chemistry did all the heavy lifting here. I do feel with a better and strong script, we could have gotten something more because their performance does have potential.

Coming to OSTs, they were decent. I did like in a few scenes how they incorporated between dialogues without distracting from the delivery but nothing too memorable.

Overall, this drama isn't without flaws but the chemistry between them makes it a decent one time watch. I wouldn't say I dislike it but the pace and exploring their characters individually and then their dynamics together would have made this better.
Recommended if you are looking for something short filler like and wouldn't mind surface level writing.

Favourite Line from the Drama :
"I was stupid back then so I lost you,
If I have the chance, I want to do my best!"

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