This review may contain spoilers
A CRASH COURSE IN LIFE
DISCLAIMER: These are just my thoughts; we don’t have to agree and I’m not looking to argue with anyone.This show should be called Crash Course in Life, not Crash Course in Romance. Overall it had more comedy, slice of life and drama / thriller than romance aspects.
First off I wanna say that I really enjoyed this show and before it was finished I was excited to rate it super high like a 9/10 but now my feelings have changed and I give this show an 8-8.5/10. Studio dragon definitely doesn’t really miss with the shows they produce… for the most part, they seem well put together, thought out, and executed. You can feel all the actors efforts no matter the script and I think that’s what makes their productions truly worth watching / amazing.
For episodes 1-8 I was super invested and loved the direction the show was going in even with the annoying controlling moms but then after that, the show took a different turn and idk… it became very predictable, and I found myself not as invested as the first time. Maybe because I watched this drama weekly instead of binging it in one go is the reason, I feel this way but idk… the show ended up missing the mark in some ways. Don’t get me wrong the comedy and light-heartedness of the show was really touching and I even found myself tearing up a few times. At its core, you can really see that love and family relationships is an ongoing theme throughout and that these people will always fight for and protect the ones they care about.
In my humble opinion, since Haeng-seon and Chi-yeol got together I felt myself losing interest… there weren’t as many obstacles in their relationship prior to dating and it seemed like their romance got overshadowed with trying to find out more about the murders and who exactly was targeting Haeng-seon and her family. It was predictable because Dong-hui seemed suspicious from the get-go. Honestly, I was not satisfied by his suicide because he got the easy way out instead of having to rot in prison and pay for his crimes. I keep saying this, but I hate when female leads are always so carefree and nice to persons who clearly don’t mean them well… same goes for Su Ah’s mom. I literally did not care or feel sorry that her husband cheated on her. If anything, it was karma and it served her right. She was always praying on the downfall of other moms and their kids so that her child could remain on top and well… what goes around comes around.
Hae-e’s mom coming back the moment she got into a coma was your stereo-typical drama moment. I’m sure everyone could see that coming. I really felt bad for Hae-e because you could tell she didn’t see that woman as her mother after so many years and felt obligated/forced to be nice to her and tolerate her bullsh*t. It was painful watching her pretend to care for and be interested in Hae-e when you knew the real reason she was here was to try and pimp Haeng-seon and Chi Yeol (him specifically) out of money. She literally had no scruples or shame about doing it either and I’m sure at that moment Hae-e realized she was nothing like her mom at all… and she didn’t even want to be. Her bio mother was a nuisance and to me, she added nothing to the plot other than tension and unnecessary drama. She was only a plot device trying to create strife and break their little family apart.
In the end, I’m glad she realized that Hae-e grew up fine without her and she was just intruding on her life by sticking around. She was a sh*tty mom and I’m glad she realized that and packed her bags to allow Hae-e to be happy with the family who raised her.
This show really got me in my feelings, especially the last episode. Scratch a lot of the bad things I said before I absolutely loved this – THE LAST EPISODE CAME THROUGH!!
Chi Yeol and Haeng-seon both deciding to buy each other rings and proposing to each other was golden. They really are made for each other and I love that their feelings have never wavered. Even if this show is frustrating keep watching because the love between the characters will really get you. It’s about the pure love between a mom and her daughter. That scene when Hae-e ran into Haeng-seon’s arms just like in the flashback had me crying!!! Even Sun-jae's mom making amends with both her sons and accepting Hui-jae as he was touched me so deeply. Su-A's mom becoming a mentor/coach at the pride and helping other parents to get their kids on the path to seeking higher education was a good turn of the tables aswell. It seemed like everyone really changed for the better. A big surprise for me was Geon Hu and Su A liking each other, Hae-e actually giving Sun-Jae a chance and Jae Woo getting Young Joo pregnant. I mean they added it all at the end/epilogue but I still ate it up.
All in all, this drama was good. It gave what needed to be given and tackled a lot of situations while still maintaining the funny, lightheartedness of it all.
I give this drama a solid 8.5/10 and some brownie points for being able to tug on my heartstrings ❤️ I would 100% recommend it to others and I would rewatch it in a heartbeat.
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An enemies to lovers adult comedy.
I started it with no expectations. It's true that we're only five episodes in, but so far I can only say that it's a wonderful drama. Lately I haven't found any drama that made me feel like this. It feels like watching Business Proposal or 2521. Not that they are similar.... But it's the feeling of being comforted. Of forgetting your day. And just laugh, get excited and fall in love with all the characters. A very enjoyable story, well written and well paced. If it keeps going like this, it will be one of the best dramas of 2023.Was this review helpful to you?
Wholesome rom com
It's a story about an aunt who takes in her niece and raises her as her daughter sacrificing her youth and sport career. I can't begin to describe how much I liked our fl she is the definition of good vibes, always so energetic and cute, a bit nosy sometimes but you can't help to like her. The ml seems to have everything going on for him he is rich, not bad looking and the top teacher.. He is badly stressed and can't really eat or sleep well, but he finds solace in our fl, which I think is so freaking wholesome. When asked why he likes her, he says because she is kind and a ball of joy and happiness, that made me swoon. In kdrama or other countries drama you would almost always hear oh I like her because she is so pretty and I am left with ahh ok wow what a love story you love her because she is hot.. Umm ok. The moms are unbelievable, they stoop so low to help their children especially sua's mom and it showcases the intense study atmosphere in sk I also loved hae yi and sunjae and their cute friendship not friendship. Ps how hot is sunjaes mom like I am in love😍. I think this is such a classic, I have to admit last few episodes didn't hit as much as the earlier episodes but nonetheless enjoyable all the way which is why I am giving it the high ratingHigly reccomend
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It's frustrating
Before anything I'll avoid talking about the age gap bc it's overdone at this point.However, that doesn't mean I won't talk about the fl.
-1st of all her fashion choices? In my life I've never seen a heroine dress that way. And this says a lot bc I don't even care about fashion or what the actors wear ever! Literally ever! But what was happening in this drama punched me in that face so I couldn't ignore it how much I tried (I did try, a lot)
The outfits she wore were all grandma like outfits. Literally. I mean everyone has their taste but it doesn't even look good on her or flattering. On the contrary she's a beautiful and youthful looking woman (in her irl everyday life) but the outfits made her look older than she actually is.
-Second of all Never in my life have I seen a fl with literally ONE hairstyle throughout the 16 episodes? (a part from a bathroom scene and the end scene) her hair is in a tight bun 99.9% of the time. She looks gorgeous with literally any other hairstyle except that!
Okay enough about the fl, she's a great actress and
a beautiful woman but she didn't make the best choices this time around.
Now the drama itself.
-There's ZERO chemistry between the leads ZERO! And it's not about the age it's just a compatability thing.
-the plot is predictable and flat and every time they face a problem, the problem solves itself in the dumbest way possible or they straight up IGNORE IT AND NEVER TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN!
-so many useless subplots that didn't turn out to anything in the end.
-bad characters that didn't get what they deserve and good characters that didn't get what they deserve either.
It started out okayish, had potential. It was even funny but all went downhill after the first third of the drama.
The only good thing about this drama is the acting bc they all are really good actors.
Overall it was a frustrating experience for me and I'm sorry yo say I wouldn't recommend it.
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Middle-Aged Couple Finds Love
It’s refreshing to see a mature, seasoned-by-life couple, late30s/early40s, finding love and having a passionate romance. Sweet love isn’t just for the young and gorgeous! This drama is so full of warmth and love and healing. This good woman—kind, selfless, plain, down-to-earth—heals the stomach troubles and the troubled soul of a cranky, lonely, persnickety man with her excellent cooking and cheerful personality. Her family, which includes her lovable autistic brother, a studious daughter, and her ever-loyal best friend, becomes his family. Funny, heart-warming family drama.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
More than a classical romance this is about the elite education hype, Gangnam mothers & scandals
"Crash Course in Romance" ... well.Starting with the title, makes me jump right into my criticism. Don´t get me wrong. It doesn't concern the KDrama itself. On the contrary! Yet, this international title business... again I don't know why... (well, I'll probably never understand it...) Why does the international title have to suggest a completely different story? Why does (in this case) Netflix for the international audience want to present something completely different than the tvN (co-)production? Why can't the story announce its story for what it is in the first place? In this case: A KDrama about the one shot scandal involving Gangnam's one shot math teacher. A story about Gangnam rivalries between students, between mothers, between teachers. A story about Gangnam scandals that can easily destroy lives... There is also a love story (or two) on the side, but if you tune in specifically for the romance, you have to see how you´ll deal with what is actually offered. (I would guess that might be a bit disappointing.)
Surely, a romance is brewing, but in fact it's the characters, the story and the context around it that create a substantial with plenty of life of its own – apart from the amorous relationship dynamics. There is something like a criminal case, too. It get´s more and more dramatic. Gripping, even. Overall, as a dramaturgical leitmotif, with a socially critical wink it nonchalantly pokes fun at the recent education hype. At the same time condemns, too. So, in fact, this is something completely different than the title suggests.
I last saw, experienced and appreciated actress Jeon Do-yeon almost 5 years ago in the KMovie "A Man and a Woman". She is not an international superstar, but a nationally respected and recognized actress in film and television. Besides her mostly profound and meaningful play, here she also shows a clownesque, quirky, yet adorable side. She is actually 50 by now. However, here she plays a woman in her 30s. Imagine that. Here (as well as most recently in 2022 in the KDrama "Twenty Five Twenty One", where the main actress, as a 31-year-old, slips into the role of a senior high school student,) it is working. In fact, this gives the characters more lifelike substance, apart from just being 'young and pretty'. At least that's my opinion. Some may be more critical about this casting-philosophy. However, in South Korea it probably bothers less. The number of viewers has exploded over the course of the 16 episodes: from almost 1 million to more than 4 million.
The competitive advantage here, that generally carries this KDrama and sets it apart from the Rom+/-Com of many a style, is substance and grounding that comes with life – a life which is hard enough, for the protagonist at least. She may run light-footedly down the streets and take life's challenges in a sporty manner, but she has also lost some feathers along the way and made severe sacrifices. She´s past her youth by now. But she stands in the middle of a sound and solid life.
The male protagonist, too, has already experienced a lot in his vita, including some unpleasant encounters with life – despite everything he seems to be living in the fast lane at the moment. Among other things, with his stress-related eating disorder, he brings in a topic of the time that is comparatively rarely addressed in series - if only marginally, and certainly not among men. Here the eating disorder is even the hook for the encounter between the two protagonists...
Nevertheless, "Crash Course in Romance" has a upbeat side to it. ...It´s the clown's job to bring some jokes and fun into bitter seriousness – some say that you should be able to laugh about your own life, otherwise you are probably not taking it seriously enough... Others say, you should be more serious about bringing wit and humor to your life… Whichever you prefer, this KDrama here and there contributes to that, while the background against which the plot unfolds is actually peppered with serious jabs at the normal madness of South Korean everyday life in Seoul, south of the river - in Gangnam: The educational stress and pressure to perform among the students, among their mothers, among teaching staff, as well as in tutoring academies. It´s serious stuff. There is stalking vs. MeToo, social media terror, escape tendencies up to suicide, you name it. Bitter seriousness here becomes the hook for plenty of drama. And these dramaturgical stumbling blocks (or rather metal balls in this case) keep getting in the way of two hearts that want to beat faster. Nothing compares to a scandal in Gangnam. That keeps the characters within the story on their toes, and the KDrama audience superbly entertained.
Re.: Romance... yes, there is.
The two of protagonists sort of stumbled into it. That wasn't on the agenda for either of them. Besides they aren't the youngest any more... (Don't worry: for the younger generation among the viewers, the KDrama also offers a touch of amorous teenage vibes in the subplot with the 'daughter' of the protagonist and her two admirers...) In any case, the love story of the protagonists is told with delicacy, sensitively, but humorously, maturely and at the same time chastely. Given the circumstances under which the two protagonists led their lives, this is quite authentic. In general, unnecessary cotton candy is avoided.
As so often, I initially had no idea what to expect from this KDrama – at least there was none of the totally hip superstars and no incredibly new or exciting story. I almost overlooked the KDrama because it's rather inconspicuous. I didn't have high hopes at all. And yet, just because everything seemed so banal about it, it made me curious. It's fascinating how this story was able to wrap me up with its idiosyncratic dramaturgical narrative style. Once again one of those productions that are becoming spectacular in their unspectacular way...
Well, if only it weren't for the title...
…but I already mentioned that at the beginning...
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This review may contain spoilers
Crash Course in Romance and I , The Union of Two Universes
Like many people, I got interested in the drama after watching a few edits on Tik Tok and OH how thankful I am for those edits! Crash Course in Romance for me will go down in my Top 10 dramas of 2023. Like many people, I had been in a drama funk and this drama sparked my love for Romcoms every Saturday and Sunday. The way they were able to showcase a mature, healthy relationship with a middle-aged adult was so REFRESHING! I loved how they allowed Nam Hae - E & Sun -Jae to end up together AFTER a few years passed when she was in college and healed her relationship with her mom and he healed his relationship with his mom. The thriller edge in this drama definitely kept me on my toes from episode 2 - episode 15, and I think they did well with wrapping up this drama in THE HAPPIEST WAY POSSIBLE. Thank you Crash Course in Romance for reigniting my love for K-Dramas. Hopefully, Mr. J will be a better man in Taxi Driver 2 ( which I am watching next)If you are interested in watching a drama that will keep you feeling all the emotions and more, PLEASE GIVE LOVE TO CRASH COURSE IN ROMANCE! I promise you won't regret it!
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This is how the real world works plus a few fate tricks
It's not everyone's cup of tea for sure, since the lead couple are not ordinary and certainly not young, but they are among the most realistic couples i have seen in Kdramas.Story:
Star math teacher. Heartthrob, rich, whatever you name it, he has it. There are dark secrets lurking around. there is also tragedy but filled with many good moments. On the other hand, we have a very troubled family with a secret of their own. not to mention the hardships and happiness shown are meant to depict a more realistic feature of life. Students' pressure in life. A world where justice has no say in it and the hierarchy of relationships. This is how real world is.
Not many loopholes and certainly everything wraps up perfectly. The story at its core is flawless, except for a few short mishaps.
Acting:
First time seeing the leads. They are mature in both acting and delivering a decent character. The chemistry is off the charts. silly at times, but beautiful. Wish they had more interactions as a couple, but this drama is more heavily focused on the story revolving around students.
production:
top-notch. The locations used for shooting and even the items of clothing worn by the cast is chosen with dedication and care. It's not just some low-budget drama. everything is on point.
soundtrack:
Beautiful songs are used throughout the drama. totally matched the mood.
Overall, if you like the Genre of teaching, students, family, and a mature romance, this is for you!
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Crashed Course or it delivered?
So I literally unaware of it's hype and jumped into this after seeing the tags and it's OFC intrigued TITLE "CRASH COURSE IN ROMANCE" like it's cute.This drama beautifully portrays a mother-daughter relationship that transcends mere blood ties. Additionally, it sheds light on the harsh realities of the education system and the extreme obsession parents often have with their children's grades.
GENRE/TAGS:
If you're seeking a pure Romantic Comedy, this might not be the right pick. It incorporates elements of mystery and thriller as early as the second episode. While there is chemistry between the characters, the romantic aspect may not be entirely satisfying due to insufficient development, especially considering it's marketed as a rom-com.
ACTING:
The main and supporting characters delivered their performances as per the script, showcasing their potential, although the writer didn't fully utilize them. Jeon Do Yeon portrays Nam Haeng Seon's simplicity and vibrant energy exceptionally well, making her optimistic views towards life palpable. Jung Kyung Ho as Choi Chi Yeol exudes charisma and a mesmerizing vibe, balancing humor, a hint of arrogance, and a soft side seamlessly.
MUSIC: The OST is soothing to ears
OVERALL OPINION:
This drama starts off strong, captivating viewers with its engaging, fun, and delightful storyline. However, after episode 10, it loses its way, becoming extremely messy with shallow plot development, numerous plot holes, and unresolved questions, leaving viewers puzzled and disappointed.
This drama would have been more effective as a character-driven story rather than relying heavily on its plot. The writer's attempt to keep viewers engaged by introducing numerous subplots in almost every episode ultimately led to a lack of resolution and coherence by the end.
To be honest, the drama could have benefited from a greater focus on developing its characters rather than incorporating a pointless mystery arc that ultimately felt underwhelming and detracted from the overall narrative.
One thing I know is this was goingggggg extremely well upto Ep. 10 (like you should literally watch till that only if you don't wanna pull your hair next 5 episodes LMAO)
In conclusion, the first ten episodes of the drama are worth watching, but beyond that, there's no guarantee of quality. If you're hoping for a compelling mystery or thriller, it's best to skip this one as it's poorly written in that aspect and may disappoint.
If you reached till here,
Thank you for reading my review (≧▽≦)
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This review may contain spoilers
Just my thoughts after I finished watching...
AFTER I FINISHED WATCHING THE DRAMAI really enjoyed the romance between the adult main characters. They had great chemistry.
The drama also touched on several topics related to the problems of Korean society, such as the pressure parents put on their children to study. And that leads to the question of what eventually happened to Sua? It seemed that in the earlier episodes she had quite a lot of screen time, but eventually she was forgotten and the creators focused on explaining the mysterious plot, the solution of which was obvious anyway.
Also what about Hui Jae and his mother? They went on a trip and suddenly everything was fine? I feel it's not enough to close their story.
I really enjoyed this drama until it turned out that the stories of several characters were not properly closed. Also, the dark plot took up a bit too much screen time, because only one person could really be the culprit - especially considering that the creators wanted to direct suspicion to Hui Jae in the first place.
But most of the time I had fun watching this drama. So my rating hasn't dropped much.
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AFTER I WATCHED 9 EPISODES
Rating 10/10
We knew from the beginning that there is some mystery in this drama. So we know that finally the dark subplot will be resolved. However, at the moment, most of the scenes are lighter and mostly do not refer to the dark part of the drama. This is quite a typical treatment in Korean productions, and I like it.
In the drama, we also have mothers obsessed with their children's education. Including one really annoying mother-daughter duo.
So far, I really like everything about this drama and I'm looking forward to the next episodes.
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AFTER I WATCHED 1 EPISODE
Rating: 8/10
I like that it looks like we've already gotten some introduction to all or most of the threads that will be covered in the drama. The first episode gave me the feeling that it will be a bit of a cute, sometimes dark story with humour typical of Korean productions. I really like actress Roh Yoon Seo and at the moment I watched all the things she starred in. I have high hopes for her character.
I've seen comments about FL looking old. Well, the actress is almost 50 years old and is 10 years older than the actor playing the role of ML. Of course, it can be seen sometimes. But it's not so noticeable that some people make such a big deal of it. They both look great and fit their roles.
I think I'll like this drama, but we'll see. So far it looks really good.
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There's A Reason Why 'Crash" Is in the Title
It's been a few days since I watched this and I feel obligated to write an unbiased review as I am not a fan of either lead. I don't dislike them (never even saw the FL before). I just don't follow them. Also, I don't write reviews of a show I'm watching prior to the ending of a drama or movie.The story is interesting. A star math teacher (Nerds unite! - sorry a star teacher just makes me happy) suffering from his own demons finds comfort first in the food and eventually in the company of a lady that runs a bon chan take out. Unbeknownst to him, murders that are connected to him are being committed. It didn't seem as if the writer knew where he wanted to concentrate or perhaps bit off more than he could chew. The story can't figure out if the main story is this budding romance, the serial killings, or the slice of life storylines surrounding the high school/secondary school aged teens. To be quite frank the SoL is the better of the 3. I don't know if that's the writer's or the director's fault, but the teens were more interesting and developed than their adult counterparts. They were also better cast.
Don't get me wrong. The cast from leads to support were good. I just feel that judging by the age the lead characters were supposed to be, either they and/or their younger selves were miscast. No, I am not a misogynist or an ageist as I was called just for asking how old the characters were supposed to be by a rabid fan. Not only am I female, but I'm in the same age group as the damn lead actress. But I am also honest and I know damn sure that not many 50 year olds can pass for a character in their early 30s. And when I say not many, I mean virtually none. I don't care how many shots the ML gets in his face, he can't pass for early 30s either. If they wanted to hire their leads, they should've altered the script. If not, they should have hired leads that at least looked the part. As for chemistry, there was none between the ML and FL. I have never seen Jung Kyung Ho have chemistry with any romantic character. The only female I've ever seen him have any chemistry with was a friend in Hospital Playlist. He's fantastic with bromances just not romances.
The music was ok. Nothing to write home about. The rewatch value is negative. I wouldn't recommend Crash Course to anyone. If you love mystery thrillers, not only will you guess way before the big reveal, but you will be ticked and underwhelmed by the resolution. Rom Com fans, you can do better. Yes, there were some good scenes, especially in the last episode, just not enough. If you just need to kill time and have watched everything you could possibly watch, then and only then would I say, check out Crash Course.
OK let all the hate comments commence. I won't read any of them anyway.
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A Seemingly Fun Drama Addressing Family Pressure on South Korean Kids to Succeed Academically
My take on this drama now that we are almost to the midpoint.I love, love watching Jeon Do Yeon. She is a natural and has this way about her, making me believe her in every role she takes. Here she is funny, fun, and almost over-indulged as a mom trying to keep up with other moms way over-involved, if not obsessed with their children's education. I adore Jung Kyung Ho; he is such an expressive actor and so much fun to watch. He is my third favorite South Korean Actor. I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect from him in this role, but I love this fun side of him, and his love and dedication to math and teaching make me want to go back to school and re-do all those math exams I took as a senior in high school -- who knew math could be so appealing.
The twist I didn't expect from this drama is the murder/crime/suicide aspect. It makes sense to have that twist, seeing how much pressure parents, schools, and the education system puts on these kids. I am all for pushing your kids to excel in school, but it shouldn't be at the expense of their mental health or life, for that matter. One of the biggest tragedies of the Korean education system is that children and teenagers must always study. They have little time left over for fun, relaxing, vacations, or enriching themselves in non-school-related activities. It's not forced on them, but they are given few options for success; if they do not excel, it's as good as forced on them. Some kids study 18 hours a day, spend 10 hours at school, go to cram-school classes after school, and spend their time studying at home to secure a good college and standard of living, and acceptance is beyond tragic. I wish the parents, especially the moms, would put as much time into providing their children with a more balanced life as they do with their education. It would amount to a much happier society with students/children who aren't as stressed or pressured to study all the time and wouldn't need to cheat, lie, scheme, or bully to be accepted, feel good about themselves, or stay ahead.
Not only Koreans but most Asians see education as a way of gaining success and bringing esteem to one's family. And what's even more bewildering is the extent these mothers would go to secure that success for their children even at the expense of other children, resorting to cheating, lying, and scheming -- which in turn leads to bullying others and harming others and themselves, even murder and suicide. I don't even know if a solution exists. Still, I think the system itself needs a massive overhaul, and so does the role of the family and education-crazy mothers who believe their child's life is not about freedom, personal choice, or happiness; it is about production, performance, and obedience -- life is so much more than that and just because one birth a child it doesn't mean then own them.
I appreciate this drama for bringing up the many issues related to the education system in South Korea, particularly the pressure families put on their kids to succeed academically and the consequences of those actions.
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