The Interest of Love

We Were Definitely Robbed. More of a Stick Up Than Highway Though...

THE TRACK Wonder Why GIVES MY LOVELY SAM SOON!!! I love it so much, I just love Sam Soon lol. That track alone means I can never hate this drama.

The acting was phenomenal! Everyone played their roles so well. You love characters when you are supposed to love them and hate them when you are supposed to hate them. Beautifully done. Superb casting. Give the casting directing a medal.

Ha Sang-Su - This is my second drama with him as the ML. I was watching his new drama WTPR and ran out of episodes and then this was suggested. I saw MKY was the FL and was sold. He was very good at acting hesitant and ever so longing. It was very frustrating for me when he got with Mi-Yeong, I didn't know that was going to happen lol. The pushing and pulling we went through because our dumb main couple decided to go the long way.

Ahn Soo Young - Moon Ga-Young is such a good actress, and she played the role very well—a lovely and complex FL. Loved her in Tempted, although I dropped that drama, she should have ended up with Woo DoHwan. She has a very good poker face, she gives off the impression to everyone that nothing phases her. After everything went down with the fake-out she pulled, everything became too much and my girl needed a fresh start. After all the disappointments from not being promoted, all the nasty rumors, the harassment, the straw that broke the camel's back ended up being her not being comfortable hurting 3 people she cared about. So she decided to destroy everything and have them all turn on her instead. I was reluctant to see her leave since she had finally received the promotion she deserved but also happy because that company didn't deserve her. It was a great decision in the end, leaving that micro-toxic world in order to create her own was for the best. It really goes to show that the ones who look the toughest on the outside are usually the softest.

Main Leads Chemistry: OFF THE CHARTS! The chemistry was soooo good but they never ended up feeding us until we were full. I remember thinking, around episode 7 or 8, that once they get together I hope it doesn't get too happy since it gets boring sometimes in dramas when they do that. Little did I know they planned on making us suffer until the end. If their chemistry were not good the fact that the leads stay in a semi-awkward state the whole time would have been unbearable. They finally get comfortable and then BOOM, ASY pulls off her stupid little trick. We kinda get over that hurdle and BAM ASY disappeared and we were back to the initial hesitant and shy atmosphere the main couple called home. Fortunately for us and the director, the underlying tension between the leads spoke for itself. Episode 10. Nothing else needs to be said about their kisses except ELECTRIC! They have to pair together again for another drama because I need more of them!

Jeong Jeon Hyeon - Adorable. Annoying but still adorable. The initial happy phase with him and the FL made me even consider that they might just live happily ever after. Then his financial troubles kicked into high gear and I got tired of his shame after a while. There was only so much I could take. Like you chose to not give up, just buck up and understand that you have to lean on her and pass that flipping exam! Then that girl he was studying with was very annoying. Like even if he and FL don't end up together to get with someone so happy to flirt with you while you have a GF and who would disrespect that GF in front of you is crazy. His telling that girl that he only had fun with her still ticks me off. I am very happy he passed that test and became a police officer but the downfall of their relationship tired me out and I was ready for him to be gone lol. When he punched Gyeong-Pil I was surprised because I thought he was cheating with that study-group-girl lol, I was like "Oh, he does care" 🤦‍♀️

Park Mi-Yeong - A sweet girl. A bit annoying at times. She was so privileged but desired to work for the things she got, unaware of the fact that everything she was blessed with was handed to her. She was ungrateful to her father and resented him for his seemingly overbearing assistance, causing their relationship to weaken. The moment when she thanked him was very touching. She finally realized that he wasn't trying to buy her affection with the things he provided, he was trying to show his love for her in the only way he knew how. Mi-Yeong although full of herself, had her heart in the right place. She was definitely foolish to get into a relationship with a man who told her he was not in it 100%. I don't see her as a victim in that aspect. She saw many signs and ignored them. The power dynamic was tilted in her favor even though her feelings caused her to be the one at a disadvantage. Getting with a man who hardly likes you is risky business and I could never feel bad for someone who puts themselves in that position. If you turn his heart towards you, great you win, but if his heart stays on whoever it is, you only have yourself to blame and the hurt caused to your heart is basically self-inflicted. She's still my girl though, don't get it twisted.

Honorable Mentions:

Gyeong-pil - He's actually a pretty great friend, all things considered, lol.

The Two Moms: I'm glad they reconciled since their relationship was cute.

I don't get why everyone in the comments thinks this was an "open" or "unclear" ending. As far as I am concerned, the main couple is happily married with baby #3 on the way. Do you think they had that much chemistry, went through 4 years of no contact only to meet and be just as obsessed with each other and they didn't get together??? Tsk, tsk, tsk, not the brightest bulb are you huh? Lol, but seriously our OTP is living happily and well. If they had gotten together before the time skip the relationship would have probably been very strained and it might have ended badly. They both had ample time to collect themselves and improve and found their way back to each other even when they did not intend to.

A great drama where you can't completely hate anyone. Magnifique ✨😚👌

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My heart still aches with pain and turmoil

This drama took me through a journey. The end was not very favourable to me. Lots of disappointment mixed with a feeling of wanting more leaves me in an oppressive state of wanting more. I was so excited through the drama hoping that all the knots and entangled feelings and relationships will smoothen out but this drama leaves me unsatisfied to my very core. It does not do justice to its characters. I do not see any character development. After a progressive start, the storyline just went on to become far more confusing. I wanted the leads to have a moment where they could understand and acknowledge what they were actually feeling and what they wanted for themselves and their love interests where as some of the actions taken by them still remain a mystery.

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It's not romances and love....

Loves make maturity man......this not like this....
Every human respect they past .. because makes u perfect..I'm totally irritating.and disappointed..I don't know what I write...Im simply bad mood...

Loves make maturity man......this not like this....
Every human respect they past .. because makes u perfect..I'm totally irritating.and disappointed..I don't know what I write...Im simply bad mood...


Loves make maturity man......this not like this....
Every human respect they past .. because makes u perfect..I'm totally irritating.and disappointed..I don't know what I write...Im simply bad mood...

Loves make maturity man......this not like this....
Every human respect they past .. because makes u perfect..I'm totally irritating.and disappointed..I don't know what I write...Im simply bad mood...

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One of the best series on Netflix, but not a typical k-drama

I want to be very clear: this is a superb series for whomever is looking for a westerner, social + romantic, full of very very interesting ideas type one. However, the problem is that k-drama watchers are mostly the ones watching it, so the rating is low because of this: they expect a nice bubbly story, with all kind of hidden relations that are going to be revealed in the end, full of romantic, unexpected turns, so of course, for them this is going to be boring. Again, the series is superb, depicting perfectly the social segregation, power abuse, difficult to reach relations, but the final idea that a relation should be stopped after an amazing climax has been reached is stunning (and it's so very difficult to stop...) despite there are counterexamples when two people live happily ever after (yes, you can count them on the fingers of a single hand, but... there are!!). An excellent director, who used picturesque effects to show a large variety of feelings on the screen. It's absolutely everything else but boring!

Long time ago, when I was a teenager, I was discussing a lot with my best friend about a climax in love and the meaning of marriage after that. The truth is that a relationship can go only down from reaching a top. Everyone knows that all marriages have problems, misunderstandings, etc. Why continue something that was extraordinary, just to drag it to trivial? My ideas changed while aging, but the questions are still there. I guess this is the only show which bluntly treats the same problem in the same way. That's why I loved it. Of course, I am subjective, but this show impressed me a lot.

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It's a strangely compelling story about broken people failing MISERABLY at relationships

I think the dichotomy in the reviews say it all, people either hated it or loved it. It didn't really leave people indifferent.

I imagine a lot of people were put off by the gap between what the series is and the expectations. It's not a rom com, it's not a comfort slice of life, it's not an ensemble series, it's not even a Makjang full of twists. It's not even really a love story, neither a realistic nor an idealized one, though maybe you could say it's a story about relationships, about how some people just can't make it work due to their shortcomings.

It relies a lot on execution: on the cast, on the direction, on the photography/cinematography, on the consistency... But here is the thing, it does work.

So you end up with a series about characters who self-sabotage, who lack the courage needed to make relationships work, who'll pick the easy path over the right one more often than not, who drown when life hits them without apparently even attempting to fight back, all in all quite gloomy and frustrating things, except you're inevitably pulled in as it's executed well enough to make you feel all the (often dark) emotions. It's easy to feel upset almost every time the characters make a decision because most of them will predictably give them pain, yet they still do it without breaking the willing suspension of disbelief. Characters are bad, but they can be strangely compelling and engaging; and ironically enough are consistent even in their inconsistency and lack of decisiveness.

I think if you can't handle it or really dislike the themes, then you're going to hate the series like crazy as a result. But if you're watching series for the emotions, good and bad, then I think it can be a pretty good watch.

It's kind of like watching the Titanic; yes it's pretty, but you're still watching a ship inexorably heading towards the iceberg, with very avoidable, very tragic results.

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Real Love Isn't Always Pretty

~~Before you read: I read a lot of reviews about this drama once I finished it. Most were talking about how the main characters are red flags, toxic, & blah-blah-blah, categorizing the drama as "bad/cheap/trash." Honestly, all the opinions are valid as they are subjective, but in my opinion, this drama is not that bad. I think it needs to be watched as a social criticism of modern love. I understand perfectly that we don't want to watch "realistic" love; we want to watch a romantic and platonic representation of love—something to heal us and give us a chance to keep falling in love.

Also, since the drama is based on the novel Understanding of Love, I want to think that it's probably based on the writer's personal experience and/or expectations.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

For the first 3–4 episodes, I really felt it was a bit boring. Since it is a slow-burn exploration of relationships, mainly focused on the emotional struggles of its characters, it’s a drama that many might drop, and I was really close to dropping it myself.

I honestly hate Ahn Soo-young [Moon Ga-young], not because of the actress, but because, in retrospect, I felt represented by the character. It happens—we tend to hate the characteristics in others that we don’t want or hate about ourselves.

Of course, I also hate Ha Sang-soo. I want to punch him because he complicated everything too much and caused harm to the lovely characters.

Most of the characters' decisions felt frustrating, and I wished for more growth in their arcs. (Also, I want to protect Jeong Jong-hyun [Jung Ga-ram]—this character is as pure as fresh air.)

Anyways, the acting was good. The main characters delivered heartfelt performances, perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil of their roles. Even in the silent scenes, the look in their eyes said a lot about how they felt, and you could perfectly notice it.

The soundtrack complemented the mood well, though it wasn’t particularly memorable. The bank setting added an interesting perspective to the story. I worked in an office (I know it’s not the same), but I can say that it highlighted the pressures of balancing work and personal life in this kind of environment.

There were moments of raw vulnerability that felt relatable. I went through something similar about 10 years ago—I had been in love for 8 years (at that time), and the man I fell for was also interested in me, but... we didn’t even try because we were idiots too („• ֊ •„)੭.

So yeah, guys, it happens.

After 16 years of being in love with the same man, I can tell you that real love works more this way than we want to admit. We can mess up our own relationships or miss the opportunity just because we’re scared of losing someone if we fail in the attempt. Then, you find yourself wondering what would have happened if you had taken risks or made different decisions, and you learn to live with those noisy thoughts that come up in your mind from time to time.

That doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love again with someone else and live happily with that person. Most real relationships are based on the "easy" options—being with someone who provides you with peace and calm instead of the insecurity of wondering if it will work.

Maybe it’s because being in a relationship that doesn’t feel too significant is better for our mental well-being—if it ends, it ends, and nothing would really happen.

I think that is something really well portrayed in this drama. Even after everything changes, they try with someone else—someone who feels more aligned with their lifestyle or background, someone who loves them for who they are and not for what they could become. They try to fit into their "pattern" in society, adjusting themselves to social standards.

Since Ahn Soo-young feels inferior to her colleagues, especially to Ha Sang-soo—even though he is not in a particularly privileged position due to being raised by a single mother (something that seems unfavorable in Korean society, according to the drama)—she decides to give Jeong Jong-hyun a chance. I think it’s because, on one hand, he is really sweet and gentlemanly toward her, and on the other, he is closer to her "lower class," making her feel a bit more at ease with him than with Ha Sang-soo in that regard.

In the end, you can watch the drama as a good way to improve and take notes about yourself. It could lead you to grow and analyze yourself in a certain way. "Are you being honest in your relationships? Are you communicating, expressing yourself, and your needs properly?"... That’s what really matters. The drama is not just a time consumer; it can be a valuable learning resource with the right critical perspective. You can avoid the feeling of regret if you learn from others' experiences.

If you’ve come this far: Thanks for reading. ( ˙ᗜ˙ ) ♡

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The Emotional Interest of Love

He's the constant.
She's the variable.
Life is the equation
&
Love is the problem.

It's about the interest one has to pay after being indebted with love for someone. It's about the emotional cost of being attached to someone naturally. It's THAT INTEREST. It's that EXTRA YOU PAY.

A very mature & complex tale of a group of people with all sorts of differences from backgrounds, social status, education & emotional strength to deal with a job, love, life & relationships.

Beautifully filmed, Cinematography & Music was so brilliant. Characters were all flawed human beings & striving for that care but with so much hesitation in their minds & hearts.

YYS had the best emotional expressions through out the show. It's criminally underrated performance. Shadow love OST was fabulous.


It's a drama for mature minds & will need your time & attention to consume it.

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BORING and worst Female Lead EVER

This is my first time watching a K-drama (I always was C-dramas). This was the worst drama I've ever watched. So SLOW and BORING as hell. And god, the FL has to be the worst character of all time. Not one redeeming quality about her at all, yet all these men fawn over her, and the ML was obsessed but they had no chemistry. She constantly lied, created unnecessary, irrational drama that humiliated or hurt others she supposedly cared about just to concoct a narrative she thinks "is better." She always talked in circles - whenever someone would question her she always answers w/ a stupid rhetorical or condescending question!

Literally a drama full of really unlikeable characters - other than the 2 moms (the ML's mom and the 2nd FL's mom), they were charming and cute.

Every other scene was either a flashback (for the 100th time), a shot of their phone screens either making a call or a text, or the characters staring, blank-faced at each other. The scenes just kept bouncing back and forth, moving onto a scene that leaves you utterly confused, then it goes and replays flashbacks to explain the confusing sequence of events....OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I'd give this a ZERO star if possible.

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I'll admit it's slow, but stick with it.

I will admit this k-drama isn't the best in the world, but it's also not the worst. There are a lot of good things about the show which keep me going back to it every week.

IMO the strongest point of this show is the story. I love that it is character driven. There's nothing flashy about this show. It relies on the strength of the story, and performance of the actors. This show is the slowest of slow burns so if you aren't into that sort of thing you should probably look into something else. I'm up to date with the show (only 12 episodes have been released so far) , but the slow pace is starting to pay off. There was a twist at the end of episode 12 that I didn't see coming at all. Now I can't wait to see what happens next.

The strength of the show is also the weakness. The story (while good) is told at a very slow pace. For example, it wasn't until episode 10 that story of the show made me believe the ML and FL actually had feelings for each other. I became invested in the characters, but you definitely have to be patient.

All in all this is a good show IF you are willing to stick with the extremely slow paced story telling.

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Slow burners story

The lead cast of the series includes Yoo Yeon Seok, Moon Ga Young, Geum Sae Rok, and Jung Ga Ram, and in the supporting roles are Moon Tae Yu, Oh Dong Min, Jung Jae Sung, Park Hyung Soo, Yoon Yoo Su, Seo Jung Yeon, Lee Hwa Ryong, Yang Jo Ah and Park Sung Geun.
This show is so special, The writing of the show seems cliched with the character arcs based on particular prototypes. A bank employee who is unable to express his love, a girl who acts indifferent and the sheer awkwardness between the two. For me i like slow pace romantic show and i like the main lead for her i will this watch this show 😅

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Should be called “Will they EVER Get Together” OR “Do I Really Care?”

I gave up on this series in episode 7. But THEN I ran out of good Korean series … and while I am waiting for some new series to load up; I decided to go back to this one and to see if it was improving. Not a good move. I spent last night struggling through the mud with a new “lack of interest for love” burgeoning in ep. 8

Nothing changes in this series, except for one dreary character breaking up with the lead female who, for some weird reason decided to "date" him in the first place. (NO idea what SHE was up to connecting with this gentle fellow who suffers very very low self esteem, and she should have left him alone in the first place. ) Clearly, she is attracted to the lead male character in her own blurry way . The lead male is deeply attracted to her also, but he missed a date with her, and that ended that. Punishment from the lead female, to the male lead, was a sulky droopy-eyed “put down”. For now. But it was all crushingly boring and frustrating to watch.

In episode 8, as a viewer, I once again felt like I was walking along a muddy path behind the leading twosome … and I just really wanted a big stick to hit them repeatedly. Especially her, who is wish washy and wide-eyed sulky, at best. No one knows her parents run a small restaurant near the bank. She has hidden this information and is embarrassed by them, so she pretends not to know her family and they let her do it. Why lay out this old old theme again? So tiresome.

No doubt some sort of resolution will happen between the leads, but do I really care? As for the relationship between the lead male and an eager wealthy girl from the bank (who won't leave him alone) - for some unknown reason, he gives into her in a lackluster way and agrees to date her. But any young woman would recognize this lack of interest immediately, unless they were spoiled or narcissistic like this one is. Again, so stereotypical. And so tedious.

I like the lead male actor, actually. He was in the series “Hospital Playlist” which is on my absolute favorites list. Hope he picks a better script next time.

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