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cutesy
very cute and light drama, this isn’t an actual review i just have to say that i HATE the mom. i keep seeing people say that they’re happy the drama didn’t do the whole “mean mom” thing but huyeong’s mom was insanely manipulative and disrespectful to him. she spent her entire time on screen disregarding her grown son’s wishes to stay in his home country, going so far as to SUE him to force him to go back to the US. that is not a kind mom. so i am a bit disappointed that they ended up going to the US but in my head they don’t stay there and come back to kore soon.Was this review helpful to you?
Great visuals, romance is flat
I love everything this actor does, and one thing he does incredibly is bring the chemistry with the way he interacts, looks and kisses his FLs. Sadly though that didn’t show up. But honestly I kind of expected. This FL is pretty much frozen fish. You can imply chemistry all you want but it didn’t show up here, which, since the premise of this whole show is romance-impacts the plausibility of the entire thing.I’m not really quite sure why comments are calling the ex toxic? I felt for him almost the minute we discover the reason for the break up. Naturally there is frustration at his lack of communication and honesty, but they do a massive disservice to those who are struggling with mental health issues by villianising him. That felt really uncomfortable.If they wanted to make him a part of the plot there should have been more development there, and some growth, instead we get one scene where she continues to just be mad.
The length of the drama probably leads to the under development of too many sub plots. I almost feel grateful they tied up the bestie relationship because I was started to feel that might drop off too. Bestie was the best part of this show, she had such a well written role.
At the length of the “Soundtrack” dramas, you can’t really go beyond a couple plots-and Soundtracks do that expertly. They have all the sexual tension and simple plot. This one had beautiful wide cinematography and a OST that hits Sh**ting Stars vibes, but I felt almost nothing with the romance, the hugs the frozen kisses made it real hard for our ML to make up the difference.
Disappointed honestly-the ratings are high but I can’t give it more than 7.5.
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Uma nova palavra aprendida
Gostei muitíssimo desse drama. A história não tem nada de especial: são dois ex-colegas de classe que se encontram 10 anos depois. No entanto, é daquelas que aquecem o coração e vc passa o tempo todo suspirando. 🥰 Ótimo para descansar. A OST também é demais! Super animada.Aprendi uma palavra nova: serendipidade.
Ato ou capacidade de descobrir coisas boas por mero acaso, sem previsão.
Circunstância interessante ou agradável que ocorre sem aviso, inesperadamente; casualidade feliz; eventualidade: encontrar meu irmão depois de 30 anos foi pura serendipidade.
Lição: Não deixe as oportunidades passarem. Se deixar, que não seja duas vezes.
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Simple yet beautiful..
This drama is like a breath of fresh air for me.. No over the top argument, no overly annoying villain, no unnesassary breakup.. Just a sweet, nostalgic, innocent love between the leads, that's somehow being forgotten for a while, but come alive again because fate wants it to.I love how they portrayed each character, and I love the way they face their relationship and dealt with its issues.
Serendipity's Embrace will be on my rewatch list for its heartwarming qualities. Oh, and btw, the ost are all soo good... highly recommended!
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Kind of feelgood romance
A rather nice, easy-going lovestory, shorter than the usual K-dramas.Brief synopsis:
Who was your first love? The story revolves around FL Lee Hong Ju and ML Kang Hu Yeong, and their friends from high school. LHJ was head over heels in love with an author, who broke her heart when he left for unknown reasons without saying goodbye. LHJ's best friend was in love with KHY (the ML) in high school, and had LHJ deliver her love letters to him. He never gave her a response, and then he abruptly moved to the States.
10 years later he returns to Seoul on a business trip, and reunites with his old friends. At the same time, LHJ's first love also reappears. How will the reunion of first-loves unfold?
The story is quite straight-forward, without big surprises or plot-twists. There are several elements in the story that could have been explored further if they wanted to make the drama longer, but it doesn't feel like you are missing out either.
Acting was good, but I wouldn't say it was any jaw-dropping performances.
I was positively surprised by PE teacher Son Gyeong Taek played by Hwang Sung Bin. His expressions and clumsiness added a comedic element.
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Not bad if u want to watch short drama
The finale was genuinely satisfying. There was no unnecessary drama, and the story wrapped up neatly, with plenty of sweet moments between the leads and their side characters' plotlines being resolved as well. The K-drama felt like a cozy hug, especially in the last two episodes, where we saw the main couple truly in love, overcoming all their issues and backstory problems. The series, titled "우연일까?" ("Is It Fate?") in Korean, is centered around the themes of coincidence and destiny.From the start, it’s clear how intertwined Hoo Young and Hong Joo’s lives have been, with their paths crossing in ways they hadn’t even realized.For some, the story might feel rushed, but that’s part of its charm—its simplicity. The way Hoo Young and Hong Joo find and fall for each other through a series of coincidences, as if guided by fate, is what makes it beautifully touching. Even within the short span of 8 episodes, the series manages to explore the main plot and side characters thoroughly, presenting everything clearly without extreme highs and lows, making for a heartwarming watch!
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A short and sweet romance drama
I clicked on the 1st episode because i wanted to watch something short and i got hooked on the first episode onwards. Its a story told quickly yet briefly in 8 eps of two people reconnecting and falling in love. I liked the pacing very much. Since it was short they didn't pull all the annoying cliches. All the characters were so simple yet complex people. I loved the romance and even the angst we got from the ex-bf. Even the side characters were well done, they were fun to watch on their own and when they interacted with the leads. The only annoying thing would be the last conflict they put in but even then it felt a bit different from usual romance drama. The solution also felt good. There were no unnecessary misunderstandings or arguments, even the one argument they had became an opportunity for them to see each other's pov.I'm glad i decided to watch this, I really enjoyed it. If you are looking for a short simple drama to make you smile I would recommend this to you
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Where is the depth that the title hints to?
A good drama which run on the clichè trope of ML running to abroad and breaking up but gone wrong 😂😂 Cause The (Actual ML) another dude shows up to give her the love she deserves or rather give her hope for a romance. Before the ML(Ex) could come finish the angst part of the drama episodes after.I initially went in thinking this would delve into a grander theme but it was to put it simply shallow. Not to say that it doesn't have depth but I wanted to see him struggle through more emotions I wanted to see her be more torn to some extent (not to say give the jerk Ex a chance). 🐣
I loved the side couple's relationship dynamic it gave birth to many hilarious moments. The Main couple was enjoyable to watch too.
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Started of great, but needed a few more episodes
I binged watched this show due to clips I saw and it started off great but I do feel that they need a few more episodes. I have not watched many Korean dramas in the recent years, but I feel that 8 episodes was not enough to develop the storyline. It needs at lease 4-6 more episodes. Don't get me wrong, the actors and actresses did a wonderful with what they have, but I would have liked to explore the story and conflicts more. I am a sucker for misunderstandings to be solved quickly, but I also feel that they needed to work on the chemistry.It just feels weird that he wanted to change his whole life for her after meeting her again. She wasn't given enough time to "fall in love" with him. The only inkling that we got that she may also like him 10 years ago, was when they were stuck in the pit but then she was always about Bang Jun Ho.
Speaking of Bang Jun Ho, his character was giving me a total stalker vibes(?). I mean, he left her without a goodbye but yet, he expected her to always loved him because she had always loved him in the past. Like dude, you BROKE her heart, do you think she'll jump for joy when you return? Like Mr. Kim said to him, he should have told her his reason for leaving when he left, because now, it's only excuses. He hurt her and just waltz into her life like nothing happened. He was obsessed with her and I hated how her boss encouraged it too. Like lady, did you see how affected she was by him? Couldn't you just assign someone else to the project? I get that she was the one who wanted to project in the first place, but circumstances changed. She can be as professional as she wants, but if he's not being a professional towards her, what she can do? I am still shock that her own boss would throw her into the project when she clearly knew what happened to her. Smh.
Hye Ji and Teacher Son's relationship was also so sudden too. I mean, they could have explored that story line more with more episodes. I get that they "fell" for each other during the hiking trip, but it was just so sad how they wrote that love story. Hye Ji had confessed to him and he flat out shut her down. I get that he is awkward around women, but what the hell. He was such a gentleman, and then they made him someone who was so clueless. I would have love to see more of their relationship.
I do like how he confessed to her, but I didn't like how "short" it took her to accept him. Like what made her like him when she has always seen him as nothing more than a friend. Like I said, the only inkling we got that she might have liked him was during the night they got stuck, but then that was the only time. Nothing else. She had been helping her friend get him before he left. So for her to suddenly accept him didn't make sense to me. I wish she would have hesitated more and come the realization that yes, she was falling for him. I feel like it was too fast for them. He disappears for 10 years, and then return for a few days and he just throws everything away for her, that part never made sense to me too.
Now, let's talk about her past. I feel like they wanted us to know that she was abandoned so that's why she had issues with people leaving without saying goodbye, but then they never really explored it too. There was like a clip that was part of her nightmare and then Kwon Sang Pil telling Kang Hu Yeong about her drunken talk and that people have wounds. I wish they would have showed us what exactly happened to her because they never showed her parents or mentioned her parents.
And then the ending, I'm just confused about it. She made a whole scene about not leaving with him, but then she leaves with him? Like, what? All I am saying is that they needed a few more episodes. The story feels incomplete.
Overall, I took points off because I feel that it wasn't complete. To me, this is a 7/10. If they added more scenes to elaborate the story, I will rethink my ranking, but for now, as it is, it's a 7. I was disappointed towards the end of the drama. I feel like I wasted my time binge watching this show.
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Cliché trope done right!
First of all I want to say that I personally don't like the trope of 'reunion romance' but I genially think this drama portrayed it very well.First of all our female lead is a girl who is still not over her first love, since she spent most of her youth chasing him . He left without an explanation which led her to question why he left, which she ended up blaming herself (encouraged by her trauma of her parents abandoning her). Her breakup with her ex left such a toll that her looking at her past just reminded her of him so she ended up blocking her past and forgetting memories of her high school days (memories of the male lead). I really liked her as a character and seeing her growth was very satisfying. She started of as a character who tried sorting all of her problems on her own and barely exploring her feelings. After meeting the male lead, not only did he remind her of past memories but also pursued her first.
The male lead was honestly such an adorable character who has liked the female lead for a long time. He has been living under his mother's control, since the mother holds very controlling behaviour from a response from her trauma of her ex-husband. After meeting the female lead, he falls in love deeply, since now as an adult he can pursue her. He is a very understanding character and his happiest memories of his youth was with her, the memories she can't remember.
I loved the parts where the female lead being with the male lead made her remember her memories from high school of being with him and developing a mini little crush on him, which was forgotten over time. Also the communication between the female lead and her best friend was so beautiful, when her best friend realised that the male lead liked the female lead and how the female lead has been rejecting her feelings in thought of her best friend. It truly portrays how strong the friendship was and complicated feelings can be. Plus shows a mature way of dealing with these feelings
I also enjoyed how the female lead and male lead communicated to each other, since the main reason I get put off this trope is the misunderstandings. It was refreshing not seeing a clueless female lead and male lead who resolved arguments through communicating!
The mother being involved, I thought it was definitely presented better than most other dramas, since it allowed the male lead and female lead to communicate more in the relationship and genially express each others thoughts about the relationship.
Also, reading the other reviews I was surprised how people didn't feel the chemistry between the leads because I definitely did.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Serendipity's Embrace '' is a romantic melodrama.The drama presents the current storyline, with what has happened in the past slowly being unfolded as the story progresses. That way, the drama got nostalgic and also kept the interest high, as the main story was more or less predictable.
The romance, in addition, was sweet and was nicely paced, though, in the final episodes, things got weaker.
Still, the side couple kept things interesting when the main one got boring.
On the other hand, the performances were all enjoyable.
So, overall, six out of ten.
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Cute fluffy romance
This drama was casted brilliantly. All the characters suited their roles well and delivered a cute romance. The relationships were healthy and it was wonderful to see, and despite some clichés I still adored this drama. It was relaxing and although the story wasn't really anything special, it was lovely enough to watch and, in my opinion, executed shat it set out to. I'm also loving the My Lovely Liar reunion haha, as I love that drama too.If you like relaxed romances where you don't have to stress too much (not that there isn't conflict, but it's not like serial killer conflict stressful haha), then this drama is certainly for you!
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