No Gain, No Love

Funny first half but a more serious tone in the second half.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I was quite surprised that I had a pretty good time watching “No Gain, No Love”. I wanted something fun and this fits the bill as it’s funny enough without going overboard, but the tone of the drama changes in the second half. I was also a little hesitant in the beginning because I am not a fan of noona romance. Luckily, the age gap was not mentioned much in the drama.

Shin Min Ah shines in her role here. This role reminded me of her character in “Oh My Venus” in a good way, as I didn’t like her in “Our Blues” or “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”. But her chemistry with Kim Young Dae is not as good as with So Ji Sub.

The first half of the drama is hilarious. I like how the leads dislike each other, yet their interaction is funny. I enjoy the contract marriage trope, and how they come together in creating this fake wedding. When watching wedding scenes, I often have happy tears because I am moved or happy for the couple. This fake wedding moved me to tears because I am sad. The whole reason behind it is not funny at all, despite it being an interesting and exciting event.

The chemistry between Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae is decent. It’s cute at times but not sizzling. I actually think the portrayal of them falling in love could have been written better. There are a few kisses but nothing earth-shattering (maybe a slight disappointment because I expected more?). We don’t really see too many cute and fluffy scenes of them before the drama goes down a more serious path.

There are quite a few mentions of other dramas and guest appearances. The supporting cast did fine and I’m glad there’s no one evil or annoying. There are rave reviews about how cute the second couple is. They are OK to me but there isn’t enough screen time for me to truly fall in love with them. I guess I’ll just have to check out their drama special. The third long-time couple surprises me with their setup, but their story is boring. I do not miss them at all when they’re not on my screen.

The second half of the drama, especially the last few episodes, feel rushed and jam-packed with more serious side plots. Knowing the story of how FL’s dad died is enough for me. I don’t really need to know about the other father. I wish the drama could have tied up the sisters' stories without wasting precious screen time on him.

Lastly, there is a lot of product placement in this drama - all the snacks and Kopiko coffee candies, Subway, Banaespresso, cars, and beauty products. With all the revenue from advertising, they could have dressed the female characters with better clothes. They all dress like old ladies.

Overall, I did have a pleasant time watching “No Gain, No Love”. It started off very strong but only ended on an average note. But 12 episodes zoomed by in a jiffy!


Completed: 10/29/2024 - Review #506

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interesting storyline

I had high hopes for this drama due to the ML and FL. They each played their part well. Stayed pretty true to their characters. Not sure of the age difference in the characters played any significant part. I wish there had been some clarification on how the ML grandma and FL mom relationship came to be. Also enjoyed the support casts storylines as well. They each brought a different perspective with their own story intertwined with the main story. The premise of the show was unique. Not too typical I feel. Overall it was an easy to watch, funny and entertaining drama to watch. I can’t wait to see the follow up drama to one of the support casts storyline. Only 12 episodes…give it a watch!

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Alright, I guess?

K-dramas can't cope with 12 episodes these days either, y'all. They should cut it down to 8 once and for all 🤦‍♀️

Either way, this was entertaining of course. It's worth a watch just for the wacky comedy and maybe the secondary couple bcz of their chemistry. The main couple, on the other hand... It's not that they DON'T have chemistry or anything, their story is where they lost me.

The first half was seriously fun and romantic, but they looked like they were running out of ideas as their story went on. Therefore, what we saw was unnecessary backstories and plot twists being shoved in left and right. It felt like way too much was happening at the same time, and in the end, everything was only slightly brushed along and half-assedly concluded. Had they only focused on the romance and the comedy, this could've been a really good romcom. Unfortunately, the writer (who also wrote 'Her Private Life'-- which suffered from the same repercussions towards the end) seemed to run out of ideas and it was... obvious.

I like Kim Young Dae.... when he's being unserious and funny. The man cannot play a quiter/less animate role for the love of god, I'm sorry. On the other hand, Shin Min Ah was quite nice to watch. I really liked her character for 70% of the drama, and I think she was able to bring that extra oomf to 'Son Hae Young' as well.

The music was whatever. None of the tracks were catchy or distinctive.

In conclusion, even though it was a 12 episode drama (plus the screentime they wasted on Kopiko, Subway, Bananapresso Coffee, BMW), it could've benefited from lesser episodes and lesser dumb plotlines.

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No again no love recensione

Devo dire che sono partita con una certa aspettativa...e l'inizio del drama dava in effetti un altro tipo di tono... questo episodio mi è piaciuto per la parte che riguarda il funerale...vedere determinati aspetti della cerimonia..il dolore delle tre sorelle che si ritrovano all'arrivo dell'ambulanza con il corpo della madre..molto emozionante e sono stati tutti davvero bravi! La madre ha lasciato una grande famiglia e tanto amore e questo mi ha toccato molto ...Per il resto dell'episodio a parte il salto temporale che era inevitabile va bhe...non sono soddisfatta...è da metà drama che la coppia main è diventata di supporto alla secondaria..infatti gli ultimi episodi erano più incentrati sulla scrittrice e la sua storia che altro.. e anche in questo episodio finale hanno dato più spazio a loro che a quella main .. felice che tutti abbiano avuto il loro happy ending...ma non così...carina l'idea della start up ma buttata così non mi è piaciuta ...troppe cose che potevano chiudere meglio, non hanno fatto più vedere manco l'ex fidanzato dopo la sfuriata con la moglie e il suo voler tornare con hae yeong..morto li ...ma ha fatto successo a lavoro grazie alle idee di yeong...ahhh ma anche no ...

Do un 8 perché ci sono state parti che mi hanno commosso e divertita...ma speravo sinceramente in qualcosa di più..delusa ...

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started off good, but went a bit down hill for me

I was looking forward to this drama. I was like « something different » and I like fake dating trope.

I enjoyed more maybe the first half, I think it was funny and I liked where it was going. But around ep 7, I started to loose some interest and became boring for some reason even if I still enjoyed the comedy in general. I think the writing wasn’t that good. The romantic story of the leads became less interesting and not that develop well.

I think the leads have good chemistry and look good together. maybe not enough romance for me.

I also liked :
- the friendship between the sisters
- assistant-ceo duo
- brothers duo
- in general I liked the second couple, but I’m not sure them falling in love made sense with such few scenes. they were cute and think had chemistry. the office date was perfect, when they had matching energy by playing the novel’s character. they had a good ending too
- the fake wedding was beautiful
- ML fake proposal was so cute
- I think the acting was good
- SML coming to save SFL and fighting her dad
- few romantics moments between the leads
- 3FL finally ending her relationship and deciding to raise her child alone (with her sister of course). That relationship was just weird and very uninteresting to me.

SML was a bit annoying but not really

FL’s ex, he was trash. they didn’t give proper closure. what happened ? guy is living happily and getting recognition at work (unsatisfying) and what happened with his wife ? who seemed like a decent and kind person, still think it was trash of FL to not tell her she dated him, he literally dated both of them at the same time and wanted to have an affair with her.

The conflicts between the leads in the last few ep were just cliché and unnecessary… don’t talk to me about the stupid breakup in the last ep and 5-10 min reunion-happy ending. that was trash and lazy writing. Actually, the leads in the last ep in general was bad writing to me. Rushed and unsatisfying ending. The leads dated for real for like 2 sec

And feel like no proper ending regarding the brothers and their father(SML parents I could say too) even second couple and his parents

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O M G!!

I loved this so much!! I wasn’t expecting to like this so much!!
I wanted to cry after i finished it, the story is so cute, all characters were so likable and cute!!

I loved them all and im gonna miss them sm.
First time watching Shin Min-a and she didn’t disappoint! Also Han Ji Hyun loved her character and her cute relationship with the CEO. Cant wait to watch their short spin-off!

I think what i liked the most is how relatable all characters were and how easy it was to like them all! I just cant pick a favorite. Even Ahn Woo-Jae, i just can't not like him, he was so funny.

Such a lighthearted kdrama with such cozy vibes, im always looking to watch a kdrama like this and i feel like its always so hard to find!! Im so happy i watched this ❤️

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ROM-COM SUPREMACY

This is how ROMCOM should be done the romance is there and the comedy too. Except the last episode.

I really liked the older girl and younger boy trope & fake marriage trope a lot it’s sooo cuteee but they lacked chemistry and there was something missing between them, ML Kim ji uk and FL son hae yeong couple gave me mixed feelings they, Kim ji uk was the perfect guy he was soo soft and caring but he was more in love with her than she was and she kept pushing him away and what said at the grave yard really hurt so I don’t really like this couple they had way more potential, I liked the rooftop kiss, it didn’t give me that butterflies that other kiss scene in kdramas but the location, snowfall and hand placements with the pull in & the ost was perfect for a first kiss scene 10/10 for that

The MSL Bok gyu hyun and SFL yeon Bo are were kinda random to me the way they made them fall in love it was almost like enemies to lovers trope but They should’ve focused more on the second lead couple like they did in the last episode so the whole episode wouldn't have been all about them, I really liked their love though it is soo soft gentle so tender and a slow burn I loved them and an going to watch spice up our love.

The other sister cha hee-sung I didn’t really like her much because why are you with a man for ten years that that man’s a open relationship and he still hasn’t married you and only did when she got pregnant. I understand that he wants to take responsibility but man I hated that guy too I really wish she stood up for herself a little more, I’m glad she broke it off with that useless ugly man.

The ending

I don’t know what the ending was but it wasn’t it at all to be honest it took a turn for the worse it was as if the writers forgot that he needed to write an ending for the drama so he just picked one from his drafts and changed some of the words so he can close the drama, if he didn’t end this way I could’ve gave it a 10. The show was very engaging and had a good pass to it and I didn’t have to skip through the episode except for the last episode.

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A good show that could've been great.

The first 8 episodes of this are pure romcom excellence: captivating characters, strong chemistry (romantic, platonic, and familial) between the actors, lots of fizzy comedy seamlessly blended with more substantive, heartfelt moments and some smart analysis of workplace discrimination against single women. I also appreciated the refreshingly open and mature attitude the characters (with one notable exception) have towards their own sexual appetites. The way the show engaged with common romance tropes in a fresh, creative way was just a joy to watch. Another banger of a performance from Shin Min Ah, I can't praise her work highly enough in this.

However, things started to go awry in episode 9. The second ML acts like a hardcore jerk to the leads in episodes 9 and 10, and never makes amends. This made it hard for me to enjoy the cutesy scenes between him and the second FL, as winning as their performances were. While I enjoyed his performance for the majority of the drama because I think he did a good job with the comedy and his dryer, low key delivery contrasted well with Shin Min Ah’s effervescence, Kim Young Dae was flat and didn't emote well when he had to play angst. The other lead actors are so good the difference in their skill vs his was apparent to me. Finally, the the show had too much plot to cram into 12 episodes and as a result we were really short changed in terms of good couple moments between the leads. I was so annoyed they’re barely on screen together in the finale.

This is still an enjoyable watch but I'm a bit frustrated it faltered down the stretch.

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so balanced so good so peak...they hate it because they don't get it

This is romcom of the year for me along with lovely runner, one that I didn't expect to like much when I started but quickly fell in love with.

It had the perfect balance of comedy fluff angst sentiments it's almost too perfect, no episode seems unbearably draggy, all characters are fun and the plot does not take itself too seriously, as it shouldn't.

This is a kind of drama you watch after coming home from a long day and just feel giggly and satisfied! The various relationships portrayed in this romantic familial etc were the highlight for me

For example haeyoung and the sisters, relying on each other despite their differences, gyuhyun and his lucifer, who he couldn't bring himself to hate properly even when he was forced to, even haeyoung and her mother was so interesting. It was so bittersweet and sad for me when they showed how haeyoung was such a stranger to her mother, cause being both of them partially, still the love was very much there.

Watching Sangyi finally get a girl made me so giddy for no reason like hes so amazing!! please give him more lead roles. Shin Minah obviously shined as the star she was, and Kim Youngdae also played Jiuk like he was written just for him, the entire cast had great chemistry and comedic timing.

One thing that damped the experience for me(by a VERY tiny amount) was the freaks in the comment section of this every week though lol. Even before I type this review I saw a bunch of misogynists in the comments and it's just infuriating to see people would keep up with a whole series just to spew hate and slutshame women, well whatever goes around comes around, I hope the cast and team thrives and are proud of their work, they made a great drama.

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A mixed Salad

This series revolves around three grown women who have been friends/family for some years. I was immediately pulled into the main couple's story and looking forward to 12 episodes of what I thought would be a cute and fluffy rom-com.

The episodes were moving right along, and the dynamic between the leads was spot-on, and I enjoyed many laughs. I was also enjoying the side story of the writer and the CEO.

However, towards the latter part, the story became a mess of social commentary being tossed in, and we are dealing with heavy-duty issues.

I can't say that I would re-watch this, and am giving it an 8.5 for the humor and laughs I had in the begining episodes and the ML being dreamy to look at.

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