My Sweet Mobster

So Far So GREAT

At first I wasn’t sure as I wasn’t aware of the ML and FL. ML is cast perfectly! He fits his character well and good looking! I have not seen him in any drama before. FL is pretty good but hate her hairstyle. ML’s side kick is very handsome and tall! Story line is interesting. It will be interesting how this all ends up. Enjoying the funny parts of this drama too. I have high hopes for this one. Give this one a try. Will update my review as I watch more episodes. *Update* Highly recommend this drama! This is now on my all time favorite drama list. This will be a re-watch too.

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ONE OF 2024'S BEST. ??

I am SO GLAD, I waited for the drama to finish just so I could binge-watch it. This was such a ride!

Let's start off with the plot/storyline. Of course, there's a ML who is a big rich loser for the FL. There's obviously a cute FL, who is hated / irrelevant in her workplace. And obviously, there's some hospital scenes! Is it even a k-drama if there's not a single hospital scene?

And duh, her love life is related to her childhood! The FL and Hyun Woo were very close when they were young, but he vanishes one day and is never seen again. ofc she's been looking for him her whole life, basically. i mean, i wouldn't blame her, we got dozens of flashbacks and he was so sweet, nice and kind to her. if i was her, i'd be looking for him too. she even becomes a kid's content creator because of him! that was rlly cute to find out. but, there is a plot twist that we find out in like episode 6, but ofc the FL only finds out at the END of episode 13. so if you're not a fan of waiting for reveals, you will probably tear your hair out but i swear it's worth the wait.

the acting is superb. that's all i need to say.

the ML, our emperor penguin 🐧🐧, is WHIPPED for the FL. he's such a loser and binge watches her videos on her channel. the first few times they meet, the situation is so weird but i guess it adds to the comedy. usually, you'll catch me yelling through the screen at MLs for not confessing their feelings but emperor penguin looked genuinely confused, hurt and scared about confessing. his reasons were also so valid, i felt empathy for him. but be aware the confession takes until ep 10. for the actor, he did an amazing job. he portrayed every emotion so well and made it seem so real. if you watch interviews and other irl things of Uhm Tae Goo, you'll notice he is SO SHY. he barely speaks but he is very sweet when he does.

the FL, Eunha, isn't cringy, selfish or clingy. she's smart, makes up her mistakes, and stands firmly by the ML for majority of the show. ofc there are certain moments where she gets pissed off and they have their hard moments, but she would definitely choose him over any other guy. that's what makes her mature in my eyes. Han Sunhwa did a really good job too, her acting is amazing and not dull like many other actresses out there. :( I like that throughout the show, some of her outfits are repeated, making her seem like an actual ordinary/average person. idk if it was just my eyes, but i feel like her bangs look very different in episode 16, compared to episode 1. also, i think she has a few similarities in appearance to kim jiwon, just slightly.

Usually, I don't feel much during hard moments of couples in kdramas, but I definitely FELT for this couple. every bump they went on, it felt so real. you could intensely feel that they both care for eachother, it's just the problems that SJH faces.

NOW, the SML. This is one of my favourite topics from this drama. At first, i HATED HIM. especially in episode 6, like he was on my nerves... He's so obsessed with SJH and won't stop breathing down his back. he won't let the fact go that Thirsty Deer is made up of ex-cons who are just trying to live a normal life!! Instead of looking into the Cat Group, the real antagonists, he's hellbent on investigating SJH and thirsty deer, who have done nothing compared to the cat group. but then I started warming up to him in later episodes. he showed that he genuinely cares for the FL and just wants her to be happy. he doesn't try to manipulate his identity to her and make her believe false lies. AND he finds out who the real hyunwoo is and tells Eunha despite knowing he'll lose his chance with her. that's because he wants her to know the truth and not be manipulated. *cough cough, yoon eunseong from qot..* AND, he saves her and gets hit on the head by a BRICK. he even teams up with our ML to serve justice, so his morals are on point. and in the end, he supports the ML and FL's relationship and isnt a sour bitch. *cough cough, yoon eunseong from qot..* ultimately, he's genuinely a good guy.

now the SFL (she didn't have many scenes but shes basically the SFL), Kang Yena. Honestly, after I found out her motivations for "liking" the ML, she reminded me so much of Star Jin from my demon. they both have the sort of, loyalty to the ML and similar reasons for having that loyalty. but in the end, they're both good people even if they act like desperate bitches at first.

i think this is one of the dramas where i love the side characters (obv only the good ones). this drama did a GREAT job building on everyone's backstories and motivations for why they do the things they do. there's a huge sense of brother-hood in this. We witnessed Dong Hui's unfortunate history and the guilt he lives with. i'll mention that one because i found it quite interesting. also jae-soo and hong gi, any scene with them is never a dull moment. i was laughing so hard, i almost became ripped asf. and il young is like a smiley puppy, i love his smile omg.

the music used, especially in the intro, are quite catchy. i never skipped the intro for MSM because i love the music.

anyway, some people say this drama should've been 12 eps, i partially agree. certain bits felt drawn out, but overall it was paced really well imo.

also i was expecting the comedy to be cringe, but everything feels so natural. and its so funny.

BUT for the romance, there's not as much as there should've been. i wanted more kissing scenes and more heartfelt conversations so i was hoping the last few episodes would have more of that.

OVERALL:
this drama has minor flaws, but it really is great. the story is entertaining and the characters are built well. acting is on point and the comedy is just perfect and everyone lives happily ever after! i truly think this will be one of 2024's BEST. it might be a stretch to put it in the top 3 , just yet but its quite up there!

still, this is just all my opinion. you may think this drama is trash and that's fine because we are different people who are entitled to different opinions!

if you haven't watched yet and decide to, happy watching! :)

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Addictive Cough Syrup

Don't give up after first two episodes. This show really surprises me. Not gonna lie, the first two episodes are highly-cringe to the core yet, I'm keeping back for more. Why? The leads are just amazing. Both represents a stark difference aura but share the same kindness and care. I trust that they will deliver me a good story.

Story
Story wise in short is a bit predictable and I could guess some of the outcome. Again, cliché to the max, not a big fan over childhood bonding and long lost relationship, HOWEVER it fits well to a bigger narrative about how life is full of unexpected twists, turns and second chances. It dwells into social-taboo about people who made mistakes and their strive to get redemption and recognition from the society.

Can we really look past over people's mistakes/ crimes and moving forward for the future. It's a pretty heavy subject but the writer manages to balance its dark cloud and brings rain, bubbles and sometimes rainbows once in a while.

Cast
Uhm Tae Goo as Seo Ji-hwan is brilliant. I'm unfamiliar with his work before but boy, his aura really gives you the cold shiver to the spine. His comical and seriousness alternate in a surprisingly natural yet unexpectedly refreshing. I'm having a blast with his portrayal of a kindhearted, often misunderstood man with a hidden/ dark past.

Han Sun Hwa as Go Eun-ha is such a goody-two-shoes-natural, effortlessly lovely without being too obvious. She is believable as this kindhearted girl who always cheerful and thinks positive about other people, even when their malicious intent was made visibly obvious. At times, I do wonder could I have reacted the way she did, and my answer is yes. Just because I refuse to a confrontation, it doesn't mean that I'm weak. It's just that I chose not to waste my energy on people who doesn't deserve it. Agree to disagree.

As for Kwon Yul, I feel bad for him as second ML (Hyeon-u), who is doom from the start. His character is pretty predictable in my book. No matter how wonderful he is or how hard the writer will sugarcoat his lines in pursuing justice, I will naturally be on Ji-hwan side, if they ever face off with each other. For me, the story's weakness is the love triangle itself, which I think is unnecessary and can be overlooked from the start, but like I said, cliché in kdramas are unavoidable. It's like a sacred manual. It's hard to resist or to take another route. Just drink it like a cough syrup.

BUT our second pair of couple (Il-yeong and Mi-ho) are just purely fun and entertaining to watch. This is quite exceptional. The director/ writer excel in balancing their chemistry and manage to make both of them shine and stood out, and not over shadowing the lead couple. Tricky but it's doable. Kudos to that.

Other Cast
The Thirsty Deer Crew - Funny and very entertaining.
The Cat Gang - Almost equal to the latter.
Prosecutor's Office - Funny but can be forgettable.
Eun-ha's work colleague - Pretty solid and made you want to avoid in RL at all cost.

Music
Decent and quite pleasing.

As always, would I rewatch the series in the future?
Solid YES.

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Não prometeu nada, mas entregou tudo!

Nossa! Que história gostosa de acompanhar, me senti voltando na adolescência e assistindo meus primeiros doramas. Não que hoje os doramas não sejam bons, claro que não! Mas fazia tempo que não via uma história fofa, simples e encantadora, sem muitos floreios. E meu mafioso favorito foi uma grande surpresa para mim. Fazia muito tempo que não ria tanto!

Comecei assistindo sem esperar muita coisa, mas ainda bem que me deu essa vontade, pois foram momentos que pude vivenciar uma história leve e tirar um pouco a tensão do dia a dia.

E O QUE FOI MEU MAFIOSO FAVORITO, AMIGOS? Ele só demostrou que é sim possível fazer algo encantandor sem muitos rodeios. O engraçado que eu não acompanhava o trabalho dos atores ou atrizes que o fizeram, o único que já tinha visto em um dorama foi o promotor.

E o que falar de Uhm Tae Goo? Nosso lindo mafioso?! SENHOR, COMO EU NÃO O CONHECIA JÁ? Pensava até que ele não era muito conhecido, mas depois de pesquisar vi que ele é muito querido na Coreia, mas faz mais filmes. Que voz! Que atuação fofa! Eu simplesmente me apaixonei por um mafioso! Ele transformou um personagem com uma história complexa, num verdadeiro humano.

Outra coisa que me encantou foi o grupo que o acompanhava, sua família, me fez lembrar muito Pousando no Amor, aquela irmandade que você torce para que sempre permaneça junta. Eles me fizeram chorar de tanto rir!

Além disto traz uma temática séria, mas de uma forma leve: você pode sim refazer sua vida, se tornar uma pessoa melhor, é só se permitir!

Meu mafioso poderia ter tido mais capítulos que eu não iria reclamar! Pois o que resta agora são saudades!

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Not quite there!

I had very high expectation of this show, and was patiently waiting for all episodes to air so that I could binge watch it. The ML is a ex-mobster, now a stoic CEO running a company which hires ex-cons and gives them a chance to change their lives. He has a serious personality, and has no romantic experience despite being 36 yrs old. The FL is an online influencer who makes content for kids, does honesty work, but fails to garner the attention her company expects her to achieve. The interactions between our leads are all good till episode 10. There is an additional pursuer of the FL, who is a public prosecutor, good hearted, nice to the FL and weary of the ML. His interactions with the FL are great too. We see a love confession happening between the leads around the 10th-11th episode and that is when things start going south. In one scene we see the ML getting all awkward about physical contact with the FL, and in the next scene we see them acting all googly eyed, making finger hearts at each other and being lovey dicey to the point of being silly. Seeing the character of ML in previous episodes, this sudden change was a little hard to digest. Then there were unnecessary tropes added in episode 12-14 where we see the history of other characters, and problems being created because of them, which felt like they were added just to increase the screen time of the actors. I didn’t dislike the show, but I had to forward quite a lot of portions in these episodes because they felt stupid and unnecessary.

The serious, no-nonsense character suited the ML a lot, and I wish we didn’t have to see his silly romantic side. Serious romances are good too, given the age of the leads, that would have naturally looked better. The series got interesting again from the middle of episode 14 when things stated getting heated up between the ML and his dad’s gang.We see the silly side returning for a bit in episode 16 again, but thankfully it wasn’t as cringe as before. The FL was very pretty, but I didn’t like her kinky, super short bangs somehow. I guess Korean actors think that wearing bangs is the only way to look young, but looking one’s age is super elegant too. Anyhow, overall it was a good one time watch for me, I loved the serious ML, as well as the love rival prosecutor, the right hand man of the ML, however, was the best looking of all! Hope to see more of these guys!

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Never knew a mobster could be this soft-spoken and cute!

I came to know about this drama a few weeks before it aired, and the vibrant poster did attract me to click on the drama page, and after seeing the tags gangster and romance, I went feral!

This is literally a simple romantic story between a gangster and a kid creator who met in unusual circumstances at the right time but developed feelings for each other with a twist of fate.

If you are wondering why you would watch something this cliché, I know it is, but what makes it different is:

✓ Our gangster, ML! He's a pookie gangster. He has a low, raspy, sweet voice to soothe your senses. In the world of rom-coms, he's a hidden gem. His comedic timing, facial expressions, and body language are swoon-worthy!

✓ OMG, our mini-eonni, the FL, is such a sweet heart! Her natural beauty and acting are spontaneous, versatile, and full of warmth. The interaction between the two just gave me giggling moments.

✓ The storyline and setting are full of laughter and fun, which made me feel refreshed and energized. This is something I missed from the recent rom-com dramas.

✓ The chemistry between the leads is just awesome! They were co-stars in the drama Save Me 2, and you can literally see on-screen and off-screen how comfortable they're with each other. Their chemistry is just natural.

✓ In recent dramas, the visual romance is focused on the physical part, showing how intimate couples can be and showing skinship 24/7, but we forgot that without those, romance can bloom. I'm not an anti, but sometimes too much intimacy can be overwhelming and can be mistaken for lust. But here they took things a bit slower and concentrated on the comedy part more. Romance is all over the drama but shown in a very subtle and gentle manner, almost like worshipping "love.".

✓No annoying side characters, no unnecessary murder mystery, only pure entertainment.

✓ The Quad-Squad's comedy is extremely enjoyable. Sometimes their actions made me cringe, but they also made me laugh hysterically!

Is this too soon to declare it "My Best Watched Rom-com of the Year"? It was a refreshing summer rom-com, which I enjoyed very much, and discovering Uhm Tae Goo was the biggest treasure! Not gonna lie, I'm going to miss this show very much.

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How old would I have to be to enjoy this, 13?

It's normal for romantic comedies to not be well written, or have a large number of cliches, as long as the romance is fluffy and fun & the rest not too bothersome, then it's not very difficult for me to enjoy them & write a positive review. With Mobster though even the romance is very lacking. Maybe part of it is me having kdrama fatigue, but good gawd this whole very shy elementary school tier romance involving middle aged people is really not doing it for me. It was enjoyable until they started dating, but after that it has gotten really bad. I'm sure the writer thought it would be fine, since the second couple's romance is more mature, but in my view the second couple barely had anything built up before their relationship shifts..
The triangle ends relatively on time, but the second ML is a really annoying character in the first 66%~ of the drama and all of his scenes are very skippable..

As for the rest outside of the romance, it's very very sad. It's super silly and immature, way more so than what we see in an average kdrama that is. Calling this whole mobster / not mobster shebang trash would be perhaps a bit uncalled for, but it's close. Most importantly, all this is not very funny.

The emperor penguin thing is cute, but that's like the only thing..

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From Mobsters to Meatballs : A story of change and found family!

My Sweet Mobster is a story of two childhood friends whose lives diverge dramatically: one becomes a 'charismatic' mobster, while the other becomes a content creator for kids.
The series begins with exaggerated comedy that might be off-putting to some . Still, if you manage to stick with it for a few episodes, it slowly evolves into this heartwarming and sweet story about a criminal gang trying to reform their lives and fit into the society. It's both endearing and surprisingly touching.
The drama raises the question: "Can people really change?" However, as we witness the efforts, I want to believe it. I cheered for their every success - big or small.

The characters are nearly well-written with their own quirks and flaws adding a unique entertainment value. The romance between the leads was enjoyable but the camaraderie between the ML and Thirsty Deer employees was the highlight for me! Also, the bond between FL and the employees was so natural, healthy and funny! I loved it. The concept of found family is beautifully portrayed! <3 A special mention must be made of the ML’s voice, which is absolutely delightful to my ears.
I enjoyed the second couple's limited interactions. The pace of their story was a bit fast but considering the less screen time they had it makes sense.

But the show stumbles towards the end. Like always, K-dramas can't be just romcoms. They will introduce an unnecessary thriller /murder as subplot. I would have appreciated it if it added intrigue or mystery, but it felt a bit forced. The whole 'my dad is a gangster and I can't do anything about it' was such a drag for me.

Another thing that detracted me from the story was Mr. Prosecutor! Did he not get the memo of him playing the second male lead and not the father or guardian of FL who decides everything right for her? His heart might be in the right place but Man doesn't know boundaries AT ALL and he is a person of law!
While the ML was endearing at most times, when it came to sad scenes or portraying being vulnerable, he felt a bit flat. I couldn't connect to him in those scenes. And I would have loved it if they delved into the backstories of all the members. Their backstories would have added a deeper layer to their characters rather than just being silly.

Overall, what started as a slapstick comedy quickly escalates to an engaging plot with somewhat of a unique premise. The story attempts to tackle deeper themes but only scratches the surface amidst the laughs.

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Funny love comedy

I think it's the cutest, lightest drama of the year. I was afraid before I started that it would be a clichéd drama, too childish with a story that doesn't hold up because it lacks logic. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this drama, which has allowed me to escape for a few hours over the last few weeks.

The plot is simple but effective, with twists and turns that don't slow down the progress and development of the characters but, on the contrary, allow us to get to know them better and gradually understand the links and relationships between each character.

Given the large number of characters, I was worried that it would be too difficult to get attached to them, but on the contrary, it was a no-brainer. Each character, particularly Gwak Jae Su, Jung Man Ho , Yang Hong Gi , Lee Dong Hui , Yang Hong Gi and Ju Il Yeong, allowed us to tackle several themes, including the need to look beyond prejudices and appearances. Gwak Mae Su is a perfect example.

As for the couple formed by Go Eun Ha and Seo Ji Hwan, I enjoyed the reunion of two souls who were destined to be together and it was so sweet. The fact that Ses Ji Hwan is a Tall loser to Eun Ha was funny and contrasted with the serious, cold nature of his character. Similarly, Eun Ha's childlike side, which is contrasted with her maturity, served to underline the importance of keeping that carefree side while remaining mature.

The acting is great, the chemistry between the couple is definitely there and you can feel the comfort between them. That's what makes this drama so comforting and enjoyable.

I never thought I'd get so attached, laughing so much thanks to the film's editing, its very child-friendly content and, at the same time, the depth of the messages subtly conveyed. There are a few tears ( quite a few towards the end) but lots of laughs and smiles when watching this drama.

If you're sad or down in the dumps, this is typically a drama that will lift your spirits thanks to its lightness, cuteness and comfiness . It was with a twinge of sadness that I finished this drama.

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I want this male lead in other dramas. This drama kinda lost its spunk

I love the main male actor, he has that non-standard but hot look. Everyone is swooning over his deep voice lol.
The synopsis of this drama is a basically that FL was a youtube content creator who lost her job, ends up moving into the house of the CEO who owns a meat processing company. The CEO is connected to her childhood.
I didn't really see the point of SML in this drama other than that the writers needed some other relationship to take up screen time.

I think the issue with this show is that there's nothing driving the plot for 10 episodes other than her trying to find her childhood friend. (a lot of that screen time is filler) The cat villain gang with the drug dealers is kinda boring and doesn't really further the plot that much.
We are 10 episodes in and I wish FL would have gotten more character development by now. Like, she lost her job several episodes ago & hasn't been job hunting. I guess that the drama is trying to portray the struggles women have of finding a career, but it doesn't feel like she has a sense of urgency with her life... It's another rich CEO drama where he saves the day!

I think this show could have been more stellar if they actually made a decent villain figure, and we get to see our gangster male lead pull off some action like Healer drama. Y'all remember the OG kdrama Healer?
Episode 11: opens with both leads being very cutesy and sort of cringe at the dining table. I don't know. I can't really take them seriously anymore especially given their ages. Like you mean to tell me this guy has never had a girlfriend before lol. Does anyone else finding it hard to keep interested in this drama?
episode 13: why is FL suddenly confused that Seo ji hwan isn't her childhood friend? i thought this was already resolved several episodes ago. this padding feels so random and the pregnancy matter with side leads is resolved. now, i don't really care about this show anymore. oh well!

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Do Not Miss Out

I can affirm and confirm that this is one of the best (if not best) romcom drama this year. I can stop at episode ten and be very satisfied. In fact, it would be the most perfect beginning to an ending. For me especially, i find it more rewarding because i found it on my own without seeing or reading beforehand about it. Like the drama, Tell Me You Love Me, these two are like a gem that snuck quietly in when I wasn’t looking, yet hold the fiercest of satisfaction to become an embedded treasure.

My reason is simple. First the story. I’ve seen it all. Rich and poor, hate to love, first sight love, cold to warm, etc. I think I may have seen something similar as this, reformed mobster, girl falls in love. Yeah im sure I have. Regardless, I love it here.

The cast! Absolutely the best! The side characters, especially the ml “reformed” family makes me wanna have a bunch like them too. They’re hilarious, dedicated, and lifetime friends once in their circle. They are such an important bunch in this drama that made it super extra fun. Leads? What a perfect pairing. Uhm Tae Goo as male lead is superb as the cold, no nonsense, guy turned soft. Oh my gosh, how he acts, reacts at his own change of falling in love is hilarious but so so heartwarming. True to the saying, she fell first but he fell harder……add butterscotch with honey dripped in savory chocolate. Han Seon Hwa as female lead is soft, kind, and plays her role perfectly. Not only is she beautiful but she’s the one to tame and jellify the man.. Everyone, even fl best friend and her love interest are cute. Everyone in the cast makes this drama memorable.

Like I said, for me it’s perfect. Well weaved, acted, and one to definitely go back to over and over. It’s so good. If it ended at ep 10, it would be perfect. Glad though there’s six more of these guys that’s making my drama watching so fun. Don’t miss out on a gem.

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