Crash Course in Romance

This Is How You Make A Show!

Not a SINGLE dull moment! Loved Crash Course In Romance from start to finish! The only flaw, so to speak, is that this is a mixed genre show with A LOT happening and that might not be appealing to everyone who love pure Romance or Rom Com dramas. But there is so much realism and amazing (as well as toxic) relationships and a wholesome storyline that you will be missing out on if you skip this drama.

What I loved:
The main plot revolves around a 30s-40s couple, their connection, their enemies to lovers journey, and their supportive nature towards each other. It's a couple that is perfect for each other. It's a bit of a slow burn romance.
The female lead's relationships:
- First with her sister's daughter who was abandoned and has been raising her in such a pure and loving way. And that upbringing has made her daughter a strong person.
- Secondly, with her brother who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He works in the store along with her best friend. Again, it's such a supportive and understanding relationship. One can imagine how she would have had to also raise him after their mother passed early on.
- And thirdly, her friendship with her amazing and supportive best friend who runs a side dish store with her. Both are super-caring towards each other and this is a friendship we all wish we had. The best sismance!
We also see the daughter's friendships and how much they care for each other. But we also see insecurity because of the unusual family she has and has been judged in the past for.
The rivalry to bromance between the students was heart-warming.
The crazy competitive education system and how it drives students but especially their mothers bat-**** crazy.
The mystery element and the whole back story. It's a tragic one.

Normally I would write about what I disliked but I genuinely can't think of anything wrong with this show. I don't know what to criticise which is RARE. Maybe more romance would be my only expectation.

The show is a 10/10 for me! I would definitely rewatch and recommend to others!

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This show is INSANE

I absolutely love the writing. The plot is meticulous. Moments you don't pay attention to are brought back up and become relevant. There is never a dull moment.

The characters are so well written. The love story is realistic and really entertaining. Their chemistry is incredible. The young stars in this are also absolutely brilliant actors. The way they act their struggles is brilliant to watch.

The thing I love most about this drama is it takes tropes that at the start you really think will go a certain way, but it turns everything upside down until you don't know what to expect. Where you think the story is going, it will undoubtedly go a different way.

It also tackles issues that aren't very commonly tackled, like eating disorders in men, and other things I can't reveal because it will ruin the story.

Basically, WATCH THIS SHOW. The final two episodes are on this weekend and I can't wait!

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Beautiful execution, but some loose ends

It's really hard to execute equal amounts of romance, drama and comedy in one show, but Crash course in romance has managed to master this balance reasonably well.
I would argue that the title is misleading, as this show is so much more than just romance, to the point that I believe the romance would rank quite low in terms of the priority within the story. However, the romance aspect was not lacking in any way, its just that it was not a major part of the plot, even though it was quite enjoyable.
The casting of this show was perfect, and everyone did justice to their roles quite well. I remember Jeong Yeon Nam from it's okay not to be okay, and here too she portrayed her obsessive character wonderfully. Oh Eui SHik shined as Nam Jae woo, even though his romance with Kim Young Joo came out of nowhere. The best was Ji Dong hui and his character was quite fascinating and wonderfully done by the actor.
Now for some aspects I really enjoyed in this drama
1. The friendship between Sun jae and Geon Hoo.
Typical of many dramas, here too we had a love triangle. As someone who has come to having two guys fall for a girl, it was refreshing to see the friendship between the two boys bloom. They both liked Hae-e and while there was a sense of competition with none of them backing out, it was nice to see that it did not affect their friendship deep down. I would more such non-toxic portrayals in the future too. Also the Sua and Geon hoo angle toward the end was quite cute.
2. Dong-hui's true face.
Having watched a lot of thriller dramas, it was quite surprising how late into the drama I started doubting Mr. Ji as the one behind the metal ball attacks. Portraying him as a sweet person who really wants the best for Chi-yeol, it did not even cross my mind that he could be capable of ruthlessly killing people off. But it once it was revealed, everything he had said previously that I had merely brushed off made more sense to me. I loved the plot twist, even though a part of me really wanted him to be a good person.
3. The pressure of the education system
This story managed to highlight all aspects of the korean education system, and showed how parents, students and teachers alike are affected by this system. They also portray the consequences of fame, and how it can make or break a person's career. Seeing the mother's fight against each other in an effort to put their children in an advantegeous position was very reminiscent of sky castle and done well.

Loose Ends
1. Dong Hui's arc was cut too soon. For all the suspense surrounding the identity of the killer, I felt that the reveal to chiyeol and subsequent confrontation was too short. Felt a little underwhelming the way they dealt with the ending.

2. Hae-ee's mom leaving
It was frankly quite irritating to see Hae-ee birth mom return. But what was more irritating was the fact that Hae-ee made some stupid decisions in an effort to try and make it up to her aunt for raising her. Instead of properly showing her gratitude, she ended up pushing her aunt away, making everyone in the house sad. Haee mom leaving was the best thing she ever did in her life. But what bothered me is that we didnt get a conversation between aunt and niece in the aftermath of the mom leaving. I would have loved some family bonding time, but it was skipped over.

Overall a great watch, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a fun, interesting watch.

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A crash course to craziness!

A first look at the casts and if you are a fan of Korean movies and dramas, the first names you will notice is the acclaimed actress Jeon Do-yeon. A 4 times Best actress winner at the Baeksang Arts Awards, you are pretty much guaranteed a drama with good acting. Or course, Jung Kyung-ho is no slouch in the acting department either.

However, as the show progresses, what really caught me was the acting of the students, in particular the young and beautiful Roh Yoon-seo. Boy can this girl act. It's funny how i first saw her in 20th century girl where I thought she was really good, but due to her being the 2nd lead, she didn't have too much screen time so I sort of forgot about her. Then as I watched this show, I went back and watched her previous drama (which also happened to be a mega hit, Our Blues) and she really blew me away there with her acting as a pregnant teen student.

Coming back to this drama, it's not an exaggeration to say that the actors/actresses acting as students really carried quite a portion of this drama.

Funny scenes aside, with a focus on the overbearing parents and a dog-eats-dog world of high school life, this show really sheds serious light on how an uncompromising and competition-focused education system can bring not only honor and pride to successful students, but also massive pressure and heartache to students and parents alike.

At times, this show really makes you feel for the students. That is all thanks to the brilliant acting from the young casts.

Of course, as per the title of the drama, there's a healthy dose of romance and comedy involved, as well as some darker theme (serial killer, anyone?).

Plot-wise, I won't call this the best storyline or anything. In fact, I would say that there are quite a few major and glaring plotholes as well as some unresolved plot (guess the writer just forgot about it along the way). However, what is lack story wise, it definitely made up acting wise.

I would say this is definitely worth a watch, simply for the great acting by all the casts involved. Mark my words, Roh Yoon-seo is certainly a name for the future. I hope she will reach the heights of Jeon Do-yeon. (sorry if this turned into a Roh Yoon-seo worshipping post lol).

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é uma ótima comédia romântica

eu amei muito assistir, ele foi um dorama que me prendeu, mas nos dois últimos episódios me decepcionei bastante, fiquei muito decepcionada, primeiro pq o dong-hui não deveria ter se matado, ele devia ter sofrido antes daquilo acontecer, segundo a Nam hae-e devia ter pedido desculpas pra tia dela, so voltaram a se falar ficou meio sem graça, tambem que tipo de romance é esse plmd, ja iam se casar e não se beijaram decepcionada, e a Nam Hae-e demorou ficar com o Sung-Jae, e o outro menino devia ficar com a amiga da hae-e não com aquela outra, teve muita coisa incompleta nesse dorama

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Mostly A Crash, Very Little Romance

I tuned in to watch a mature, adult couple fall in love. I was ready for some cringey tropes because come on, that's what it's all about, man. It's all about experiencing pure, unadulterated, cringey love.
But, the story does too much OVER AND OVER.
When I started this and realized that it was going for a romance + work + hardships of life + serial killer vibes, I honestly thought of Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. Leaving the fantasy plotline aside, the plots outline is similar, wherein they're trying to do a lighthearted comedy with dark elements. I was very intrigued on how they were going to manage it.
One word: Not well.
They had too many balls up in the air. Parental pressure, college/studies pressure, a love story between two over 40 folx, a serial killer who's basically an obsessed fan/looking for a place to channel psychopathic vibes, and high school romance.
I understand what they were trying to do, I think a 20 ep show would have done better. This was far too much, too soon, too badly written.

I couldn't understand why he would propose so soon. I couldn't understand why Hae Yi would ever choose to end up with her long time best friend, and don't get me started on Yeong Ju and Hae Won? Because are you absolutely kidding me.
It's a mess, with a to-die-for cast.

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A drama that could put smiles on your lips but tears in your eyes at the same time

Crash Course in Romance is a light and heartwarming romantic comedy-drama. If you're familiar with Korean school-themed dramas, then you would know it will include those desperate mothers who worry nothing about their children but their education. 

They would move heaven and earth to push their children to the top levels. Yeah, sound typical right? But the first thing that kept me watching this because of the male lead, Jung Kyung-Ho. His charismatic character as a star mathematician made you forget that he isn't a real teacher.

Those who don't know Jung Kyung-Ho as an actor probably thought that Choi Chi-Yeol is a real teacher because of how great his acting is. I searched through the internet and apparently, he did train himself to be a real mathematician only for this drama.  Imagine how much time and effort he gave to give such a great performance and gained that professional level of acting, watching this as a viewer is really satisfying, his teaching method is so convincing.

As for the female lead, although many complained about her age and her fashion sense whatsoever, well they have their right to complain but we have subjective views about it. But be honest with yourself, I admire Jeon Do Yeon's because of her great acting and her professionalism, I didn't realize she was way older than Jung Kyung-Ho in this drama because she always looked fresh and younger than her real age.

Nam Heung Seon and Choi Chi-Yeol have great chemistry and their romance is natural. Although they bickered here and there, I think that is what a normal couple does when in a relationship.

For murderer cases in this drama, if you're observant enough, you'd know there's something off with the main culprit in this drama. On the outside, he looks naturally warm but when the first Chi-Yeol's female stalker was shot from afar with a metal ball in the second episode, I KNEW, it was him. I was sure.

And the ending, I have never felt so satisfied with the ending until this one. Although it's too good to be true, the pure relationship between Nam Heung Seon and Nam Hae-e could make you cry. It's so satisfying to watch and everyone has a great conclusion about their paths.

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Lovely drama

This will probably rank as one of my favs for 2023.

While I was initially skeptic about the ML and FL's chemistry, after watching this, I believe both suited their roles very much.
This is my first time to see the FL (can't wait for her next project Kill Bok Soon), but I loved how she portrayed and gave justice to her character. The fact that she can make the viewer feel her sincere love and affection for her niece, is a testament to her acting skills.

Beyond the romance angle of the story, the FL's relationship with her niece is the best part of the whole drama. It reminds me so much of my relationship with my nieces. Roh Yeon Soo has been one of my fav young actresses after seeing her in Our Blues. It helps that she looks like my niece :)

The ending was also very fitting. Unlike some dramas which just gives you an ending open to interpretation, this one was unpretentious. It ended just like how it should be. No feeling of dissatisfaction at all.

Hope there would be dramas like this coming out soon....

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Such a mix!

Another well-rounded drama.
It hits a home run: most of your feelings are played with by the characters or events.
Different genres, charming characters to root for and an immersion in the school world.

The cast illustrates the feel of the story: It's okay to not be okay + Hometown cha-cha-cha (same director as the latter)

Urban setting. Seoul life is suffocating because of the stress adults exert on the kids.
Since then I have heard a former teacher complaining about "Gangnam mothers" ; now I know what they are!

The young actors have a big part to play and they are perfect. I hope they were well taken care of.

2 things bugged me:
The age of the female lead... I love her age and talent!
But she does not look "too young to have a teenage daughter".
+
A creepy thing is the time chosen for the first lovemaking of our leads.
My biased self figured a guy must have written the script to choose that specific day in the story (wrong! LOL).

I have rewatched this drama 2-3 times already ^^
(I can focus on the acting and not on subtitles).
The mothers were too intense for me : turns out I have missed some story bits by fast-forwarding.

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Great Family Drama

I really enjoy this drama from beginning to end. The emphases on the demanding parents for their kids to study to be the best and get into the best college is so correct. I felt it hit the nail in the head. The demanding mothers and their involvement in everything of the school reminded of so many parents I have met that are exactly that way. The main character is sweet, kind and and strong. She is a mama lion and protects her family. I love the cute romance between the leads. We get to know the kids and how we see how different their point of view is from their parents. I like the character of Mr. Jin even when he gives us the mean and angry look and that he is the murder. I kept thinking how cute he is. But my favorite was the brother. Nam Jae Woo was a great character and the actor Performance of this character was great. I love how cute he is when he be lives he likes his sisters friend. I think this is one of the top 10 in my catalog this year.

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Crash Course in Poor Parenting

I believe my headline is a more accurate title for the contents of this show which Netflix seemed to have marketed as a romantic comedy. I really looked forward each week to watching new episodes and watched as it came out. Overall, this series is solid and enjoyable but with a few things I didn't like.

While the story of romance is indeed there, you will find early on that the show actually has a darker side plot. Some felt this darker side plot wasn't necessary, and to some degree, I agree. That being said, I did find the side plot interesting as it progressed further and at one point felt I was watching a full-on thriller, no comedy to be found. I was not quite satisfied with how it concluded. I was really hoping the writers were going to go in a different direction with the character involved and to me this is the one of the biggest strikes on the series. It is a complete tragedy that ends up virtually forgotten in the end.

The show also introduces a secondary romance which I felt wasn't necessary late in the game. It definitely felt tacked on.

Going back to my headline, you will find at least five examples of HORRIBLE parenting. Ultimately, I think that is really the main takeaway of this show, especially once you see a key conversation of realization between two of the teens. Some of these horrible parents will be triggering and may be upsetting to watch. One of these horrible parents is really the root cause for the darker side plot as well.

I enjoyed watching the romance bloom between the leads and enjoyed their chemistry. When the comedy was there, it was great. I don't think is a must watch in terms of all the dramas out there, but if you enjoy seeing a fresh romance between a more middle-aged couple and can also stomach some annoying school-obsessed moms and murder mixed in, then by all means give this a try.

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