It's Meant to Be You (2025)

Lots of drama, but still light

Overall, this was an alright watch/good filler drama. Also, unfortunately, there's no eng subs. I've never seen this set of characters in one drama and the casting/acting was great, but the low budget really shows with the choppiness of the scenes and cliche screenplay/writing, and limited wardrobe. I think the premise of the story is actually quite complicated, so I'm not surprised the execution feels a bit amateur. ML and FL have a tumultuous relationship (as does essentially all other people around them), where love remains but is overshadowed by stubbornness. ML is an immature people pleaser/nice-guy-playa/中央空调 and FL is a sassy boss lady. The ML is essentially a child and the FL consistently falls for his antics, but at least it is mostly the ML putting in the most effort to patch things. From the moment they meet until post-divorce, they remain at odds, yet in love because of their mutual understanding that they are fated for each other. However, they are not the only stubborn characters. Nearly everyone in this drama (all ages) is unwilling to back down, which causes lots of arguing. Although, hidden within the arguing, are spurs of funny moments.

**SPOILER**
Now for my biggest cons of this drama.
I think there were very serious topics that were largely glazed over, such as r*pe, abortion, verbal domestic abuse (and manipulation), stalking, divorce, aftermath and patching of a friendship broken by serious career-ending backstabbing. These are very large topics that the storyline did not detail too much (it would dampen the mood, but, by selecting it for the story, they've opened a can of worms).
Additionally, as I mentioned, the scenes were really choppy, and when put together with the unchanged wardrobe, it was hard to measure the time progression. The drama probably covered 2-3 years of their life + 1 year timeskip, but it was really difficult to tell (especially with their whirlwind romance).
ML-FL relationship does feel a little off-balanced....FL puts a lot more in to the relationship because at least she has a better paying job, does the chores, cooks, etc.. ML is significantly less competent (doesn't wash clothes properly, doesn't do other chores, spends their money on buying his figurines). But maybe this echos some real relationship, where it is not always equal.
I really wished they had one or two more episodes showing the ML's change in his behavior at the end. After the initial divorce, SFL did mention to FL that ML has changed for the better, but I strongly disagreed with that assessment. In my opinion, ML has very limited growth throughout the drama, but we must assume that he has grown at the end (after a time gap).

What I liked about the drama:
SFL YMR's character growth is very strong, as she grows from delulu to understanding of other perspectives (without dropping her sassiness).
SFL GG's sufferings are very heavy, and her reaction and the reaction of those around her feel hopeless and without justice. Her character is timid and easily abused and manipulated. While I would've really liked to see the repair of GG's friendship with the girls, it feels balanced that this occurs after her ownership of her wrongdoing.

Overall, I think this drama had some big dreams (large topics, unlikely pairings (personality, background, etc.)) to be a story about imperfect people in an imperfect relationship and life's unjustified adversities under a comedic setting. If there was a larger budget (more experienced script writers/producers/directors and a better set), this story could've felt more complete as a 45-min 32-ep drama.

Leggi di Più