The Interest of Love

A Realistic Drama

The acting, music, writing, and production were superb. I watched the series three times and feel sad that there are no more episodes or series. Korea is known for its good dramas, but so many on Netflix are comprised of impossible plots, silly characters. However, the Interest of Love is a fantastic character study aided by the great acting of all the major stars. No gimmicks, but a story of love, its dangers, its heartbreaks, its happiness. Some questions I had: What was the brief glimpse of Mr. Ha and Miss Ahn going into hotel room 1243 at the introduction to a new episode (episode 13). It was never shown again or developed. Was it a scene cut out? Did Mr. Jung, the police officer, ever pay Miss Ahn back the money? If Moon Ka Yeung acts in a similar drama, I would like to know.

Aside from romance, it dealt with some of the problems of Korean society, its foibles, its problems.

This has become my favorite Korean drama and perhaps I will watch it a fourth timenext year!

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This show is just a roller coaster of emotions

Alright so I started watching this show and I didn’t like the FL character at first as she came across as being very cold and just plain rude. But I needed a filler show so I went back to it and binge watched it which I regret don’t do that ever. This show is basically about two people who are in love with each other but because of fear, pride and cowardice they don’t get together and end up dating other people to mask their feelings so they can move on. Obviously that balm backfires and they end up cheating on those two people with each other and hurting them and each other in the process. What I hated the most about this show was that when the couple could have been together they didn’t get together. But suddenly when the love became forbidden they realized that they are so right for each other and ended up hurting two people and cheating. I also hate the fact that in the show they never outrightly acknowledged that they cheated together. In fact the FL lies about cheating with the guy’s best friend in order to push away her current boyfriend and ML. Which makes no sense to me as she ended up hurting that poor guy badly and ML came back to her anyway. Which was a dumb decision considering he had just learned that she allegedly slept with his best friend but he did not even ask questions. In the end it seems like when the guy was confident to be with her she just kept running away. My conclusion is she was trying to make herself suffer as she felt she did not deserve to be happy after what she did especially considering her mother was a cheater too. But it teaches a good lesson that when it comes to love you should not do anything that will cause you to have regrets. I really hated how both ML and FL just had this thing for hesitating like little kids. I feel like this show was such a drag I skipped through that last few episodes because it was annoying you could figure out what they would say at this point because it was the same thing over and over again. I feel like this showe could maybe have been shorter 8 episodes. Or they could have used that time better. I don’t know how many times the FL ran away, I don’t know how many times times ML broke up with his girlfriend. I don’t know how many times that guy failed his police exam and we never understood why he kept failing and suddenly when the girl leaves he passes. Which I hated their relationship because the guy felt useless as he could not provide anything for her and as he felt insecure because of ML he goes out and buys a ring and then he gets offended that she doesn’t wear it or does not seem genuinely happy but he knew their relationship was dead anyway. They also made him seem a little too innocent but as ML said he seemed happier and more relaxed with other people, that girl was basically her provided. Also, the girl who came onto ML she never acknowledged her stupidity of going out with him when she knew he didn’t like her, and she said that she could fill in the gap of love for the both of them which was so naive. It was also annoying that they made the guy out to be sincere and that he couldn’t do anything without being convinced but then he dated a girl he didn’t like, cheated on her and could not get with the girl he liked because he was too much of a coward to express his love. Overall the acting was actually really good, ML and FL portrayed a passionate love and you just wanted them to be together and find happiness and you could even just see emotions in their eyes. The supporting characters was good but some of the storylines on the side didn’t make sense. I hated the fact that the ML and FL would make decisions based on what people say. The final episode made no sense to me it was just another drag. Episode 16 was a waste of time they still hadn’t learned from their lesson not expressing their love which was clearly present. The guy searched hi and low for her and when he got to see her he did nothing but all her with the loan like what? They just walked up the hill to go eat pork cutlets like okay all this for that?

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Give me my time back

I should have known from episode 1 that this series was not for me. I love fairy tales, happily ever afters, empowering, concrete endings and etc but I can also enjoy a decent bitter sweet series but this one was one of the worst experiences for me in the supposed romantic genre. In all fairness, just because the word love is in the title should not grant automatic permission to be placed in the romance genre. Whew!!! This was a depressing toxic mess.

We have a male and female lead who clearly like each other but they never get together. Why? The FL got issues…….
Just because she’s calm and quiet doesn’t redeem her at all.

ML like female lead, very evident. She goes through great lengths to push him away, only to slightly give hope again. So what you’ll view is a man in love with a woman getting disregarded, then given hope, then being hurt and pushed away. No dating. Just a guy falling in love with someone who got emotional issues. Never really getting accepted.

From the female standpoint she didn’t do anything g wrong by not being with a guy.

From a viewers standpoint we watch a sincere mans ‘ affections get trampled. The end.


There’s no healthy love here. There’s no dating. This is one of those experiences someone has gone through that you remember but it’s certainly not something you’d want to watch.

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Hits and Misses

I had high hopes for this show. Although slow moving, I thought it would definitely pick up after Episode 10. Seemingly, it took a dive! Instead of picking up steam, it reversed to being slower and without direction. Unfortunate, since the acting is really great, and Sang-Su (played by Yoo Yoon-seok), is the greatest kisser on Kdrama tv. I became a fan! He makes it appear so authentic! That’s why it’s so disappointing, because the writer doesn’t grow the characters. Still, there are periods of great scenes (Hits), and potential storylines that were left inside an incubator (Misses). “The Interest of Love” needs to be rehabilitated with a second season (6-8-12 Episodes) to bring closure to the characters. Here’s hoping!

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Sad and Frustrating

I seen the finale at least 10 times, and I probably continue trying to reconciled with facts that they stoped loving each other. I feel so sad and frustrated at the sane time.
I have reading again the lyrics of the songs to realised that they were down the hill from beginning. The writers played with us from day one and give us some sort of hope in the chapter 16 finale.
Too late !!! Unfortunately my hope for a love history was just down the rubbish bin.
Although in my desesperación for them to find their love back, the open ending give me the opportunity to dream
- If they could have a fresh beginning after opening they’ hart’s realised finally after get to the top of the oblivion they were destined to be together.
I hope the writers would give us a better ending in the future when they write a Drama like this. We need a closures as well however I fund the acting and the production excelente!!!

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fantasy or reality

It will be a little harsh. Many don't like this drama and give it a bad score because it doesn't satisfy their fantasies. This drama is enough to describe the characters that exist in the real world. And storylines that happen a lot in the real world are also unfinished stories. Unlike other fantasy dramas that always finish the story. That's why this drama did not get good marks in the eyes of the audience. Of course I understand this. Many drama viewers want to run away from reality a little with the fantasy offered by drama shows. But unfortunately they were disappointed because they didn't get it in this drama.

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Such a pity, this dram is like a whole "it could have been different"...

What can I say about this drama? it seemed interesting at first and you continue to watch it because you hope that maybe it'll get better but in reality you're wasting hours of your life watching this total nonsense.
It was like the writers forced the story and the charachters to act as stupid as possible, in particular An Soo Young and the most infuriating thing is when they ask her why she did all of that, she answer with total nonsense phrases and no one asked wtf that meant...

In this drama the only unchanging character is An Soo Young. I tried to understand her but for me the writing really lacked to makes us understand her reals means and her true fears.

For it was like hoping for something that it never happen in this drama, it was very dragghy, boring and too pessimistic for no real reason, because true problems are a real different thing.
I don't suggest you watching this drama, you'll only be disappointed!

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Avoid

Might appear as realistic drama but
Gives you Depressing , negative, frustrating and toxic vibes thru out watching the drama……………….,…..
Should have called Misery Loves Company. The story is about a woman who makes everyone miserable and suffer around her. She makes the ML suffer for five years because he hesitated on the first date……….,,…….

I don’t usually write reviews but this one I just got deceived by the title, lead actors and Netflix banner………………

I think this is one series where viewers don’t feel sad even though the ending is ???

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Pity me please!

This must be the most frustrating series I have ever watched.

I dont know how many times I wished to flip the table, chairs , tv and everything around me because of frustration.

The characters are walking on eggshells around each other the entire time and makes me want to pull out all of my hair.

The level of self pity and the need for sympathy by all of the characters is just depressing!

It would make a world of difference to everyone's lives if they'd stop walking on a tightrope and grow some balls and be honest to each other.

The only saving grace in the entire series thus far is the pilot ep. I'm not even a fan of cringey kdrama romcoms but I wanted that fluffy, cutsey and happy vibes back again but instead as the show went on it just got slower and depressing.

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A relationship black hole that sucks the joy out of everything it touches

This show is a melodrama build upon notions of love. Note that I didn't say a romantic melodrama because in a way, this show is the antithesis of romance.

I watched 11 episodes before deciding to shelve it until it finishes its run. After reading final comments and reviews, I’ve decided to drop the show as it is actually worse than expected.

The setting of the drama is rather claustrophobic. It is a suburban bank branch with about 10 workers. The work environment is not particularly harmonious. There is a degree of workplace harassment and obvious office politicking. The employees have a propensity to gossip. Dating rumours springs up all the time. In this melting pot we find our leads.

The FL is smart and capable but only has a high school diploma. She came from a poor family and has a tragic backstory. Possibly suffering from PTSD after her brother's untimely death. The ML is a bit bumbling and was trained by the FL and yet he was promoted ahead of her by deem of his college degree. They worked together for several years before the ML finally decided to confess to the FL but she rejected him because of her inferiority complex and it is her way to avoid being rejected later.

Into this already sad state of affair is airdropped the rich and entitled SFL who was a classmate of the ML. If this is not enough, they added a SML who is working part-time at the bank as a security guard while he tries to pass the police entrance exam. He is struggling financially and surviving hand to mouth while support his parents. You can imagine his outlook on life. It definitely does not involve rainbows and unicorns. This square shaped cauldron is fast boiling over.

The writer-nim gave this witches' brew a good stir and we ended up with two tenuous and unfulfilling entanglements and a two-timing third (up to end of ep.10). The relationship between the ML and the SFL is a cat and mouse game of desire, greed and loathing. The SFL showers the ML with expensive gifts and the promise of a fast track up the corporate ladder. The ML is on a rebound and the honeytrap is hard to ignore. Nevertheless, his pride is hurt and he knows that he is hitting above his weight.

On the other hand, the FL reluctantly accepted the SML because she needs someone to distract her from the ML. On top of that, she sees the SML being in a worse position than her and for once, she can help him and claim the moral high ground. In both relationships, love or its facsimile, is overshadowed by a plethora of mixed feelings and twisted rationales. Needless to say there is constant foreboding as we watch on with tenterhooks.

By now, the show has created a pressure cooker where all those flawed characters are forced to live and work. Is this realistic? I'm not convinced. It is overbearing and distorted. There are tendrils of reality but the weightiness is too much for such a small space so it collapsed into a black hole. It sucks all the joy from the characters and much of the viewing pleasures.
We are confronted with situations where lies, disdain, trepidation and regrets sour and poison relationships at every turn. This is angsty, frustrating as well as unrewarding for the viewers. The writer-nim baits us into shipping the CP's only to offer up heartbreaks instead. Cobbe could have used this show as case study for schadenfreude.

It is a real struggle to keep watching by the end of ep.11. The dread is palpable. I'd return to the show in a heartbeat if there is even a hint of a happy ending or a satisfying but sad conclusion to the OTP's love line. Alas, from what I learn from feedbacks, the writer-nim double downed on the tortuous plot and littered the rest of the narrative with sad, broken and disillusioned people. I gather the show is unsatisfying and ambiguous to the bitter end. I suppose when you are in a graveyard spiral, you can't expect a soft landing.

The sad fact is that both the production and acting from most of the cast are good, especially the ML. He got put through the spin cycle and have to slog through a range of heighten emotions. The FL is not wooden, but she has distilled the essence of self preservation into her pose. Not much chance of second lead syndrome, no sir.

In the end, the script is the main culprit. Too much is never enough for our writer-nim so we ended up with this tsunami of relationship woes that spreads and consuming all before it. Love, desire, longing and fulfilment are cornerstones of a romance drama and this show is largely an antithesis of that.

To those who has finished this show, Salut! Thank you for taking one for the team. Peace out.

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The beauty, truthfulness and weakness of the human heart

As every episode goes by, the tone of this show drastically changes.

It starts off as any stereotypical romance drama would, but then when the wheels start turning the train falls completely off the tracks and into a roller coaster ride of emotions.

It begins slowly, but theres something special about the way the story is told, something captivating, that shows its hints in the opening sequences, but never fully reveals itself until about halfway through the drama.

Disguised cleverly at first as a typical rom com, what it is at its core, is a story about how social status, past events and experiences, can shape our lives; and the beauty, truthfulness, and weakness of the human heart.

The actual plot itself, begins light and slow - watching the first few episodes is not enough to see what the show is truly about. This is not a rom com, although it looks like it at first glance, and the show really starts making some interesting plot choices towards the middle of the show to really set the gears in. The more I watch the drama, the more I'm confused and left guessing at the directing, it is almost like a few different genres in one but each told at different points within the story, much like how a Shakespeare film may play out.

One key point I liked was when some key morally controversial actions were taken, the music or film techniques didn't really lead us to feel a certain way, but rather the focus was on why this specific action was taken by the character and I was left empathizing and understanding a character did what they did.

The acting is once again, hard to judge by the first few episodes. I thought Moon Ga Youn's acting was limited by her role, but the more I watched the more I understood and became immersed and captivated by her acting. What seemed lifeless and hollow at the start felt like it had purpose later on.

Same with the music. It almost felt too diverse with a bevy of feel good love songs at the start, but the key memorable pieces showed themselves later on.

Will continue to watch and see where this takes us.

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Implicit explanation of an implicit idea

Since ep5 I’ve been shouting at TV. The story is infuriating.
Absolutely infuriating. Throwing in a few class differences, sexism issues, bad biz practices doesn’t make it a good story!

What a sh*t character she has!
Her character is beyond comprehension. She came across so bad to me! He is a bit better, but not much!

What saved it for me was the acting.
Kudos to the two leads, it carried a story that could have easily be done in a film!! And all supporting roles were good.

It will be interesting to see if people who can watch it in one go think - watching it weekly was ok, tho the writes ears are probably burning!

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