No Gain, No Love

One hell of a found family

Found family is one of the oldest tropes in a writer-nim's repertoire. It has all the ingredients for a banging meet-cute plus bonus characters development as all the complex relationships change and evolve over time.

This drama certainly doubled down on this premise with the parents being saintly foster parents to a string of disadvantaged kids. This did not go down well with their own daughter as she sees her parents giving them more love and attention than their own flesh and blood. There is a lot of unspoken angst and resentment bottled up inside her. What is a little odd is that her BFF's are two of the foster daughters, so her feelings towards at least some of them are ambiguous to say the least.

As in dramas of this ilk, there are always secrets and double dealings. In this case, everyone is pulling double duties. It did not go down well when some of the secrets were revealed. I must admit that some of the twists were clever but there is a lack of finesse. You feel that the dice is loaded from the start.

To be honest, this aspect of the show leads to some of the best and worst plot developments. It gave us some surprise revelations and swoon worthy moments as well as misfires that pile on the angst and take us down several garden paths.

I suppose if you want to be brutal about it, there is not a lot left to the A-plot once we get past the cute and swoon-y start and sort out who's who after some surprise reveals. The middle section was stretched to fill in the allotted time. It leads to some odd plot developments which are quite contrived and added little of substance.

The ending was as sweet as you can expect. Every loose ends are tied up with pink bows. However, there is minimal fan service surrounding the OTP. Similar to shows of late, the 2CP seems to be more interesting and is given a lot of attention. I'm not complaining per se, but it does feel a little odd.

In the end, I enjoyed this show. The ML was the star for me. He looks cute in many scenes, and he will make you swoon. The FL is solid as ever, but I feel that she is in her comfort zone and is happy to stay there for now. The support cast, production and OST are all fine.

This is a solid series that delivers but there is not a whole lot to distinguish it from the rest of the pack. I’m happy to have watched it but I’d be hard pressed to remember it in a few months’ time. That is a shame.

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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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Same Old Tropes, Missed Opportunity!

I was very excited when I first read the concept of this drama, about a girl that wants to get ahead but the company only promotes married people so she decides to find a fake groom. That sounded fresh and exciting.

I wanted to see more of the struggles of a working class female or females. I was thinking they could talk a bit more about the problems Korean women face with the glass ceiling.

I thought this would be a normal workplace drama, with a woman challenging the patriarchy as she tries to climb to the top or gain recognition for her hardworking. Wait, that was only two episodes of the drama.

It was pretty obvious that he was hiding something & I was praying it wasn't the chaebol secret. After that it's back to the old kdrama trope of chaebol's secret son. Disappointed!!!

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Absolutely Fun Packed

Fake marriages are no new trope in KDramaland, but somehow the crew has succeeded in making the plot refreshing.

The marriage here is justified with real socio-economic challenges faced by South Korea, and a business firm that attempts to eradicate such crisis through exclusive employee incentives. What one must remember is how they shouldn't seek logic or relatability in this drama as it is clearly over dramatised for the comedy aspect. Regardless of that, it does succeed in keeping the audience engaged, and had multiple scenes where I burst out laughing. This is my favourite airing drama at the moment. It is an easy watch, as it is straightforward, fast-paced, and doesn't make one overanalyze things. The second lead couple also has a fresh storyline, it doesn't feel forced in without a purpose. It is only the third friend's story that hasn't really offered anything substantial [or proved it's potential] to the plot yet, hopefully this will be resolved in future episodes.

Eagerly waiting for upcoming episodes.

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