Painfully beautiful, realistic and poetic
"What comes After Love" is a melancholic drama that tells the poignant story of two people reuniting years after their breakup. The narrative skillfully transports us back to a time when their love was vibrant and full of hope, only to bring us back to the present, where a sense of gloom hangs over their lives.I truly love the vibe of the series; it strikes a delicate balance between uplifting flashbacks and heart-wrenching present-day moments. The emotional and melancholic atmosphere is what connects me to this drama the most. As I watch, I find myself deeply affected by the storyline, feeling both the characters' pain and the joy from their past together. It's an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you engaged.
The characters are portrayed exceptionally well. I appreciate how the story centers on just the two of them, allowing us to witness their struggles and emotions as they navigate their reunion after so long. Each episode presenting one character's point of view adds an intimate layer to the narrative, helping us understand their feelings on a deeper level.
The acting is undoubtedly impressive. Both leads excel at conveying their emotions, with silent yet powerful expressions that capture the heartbreak and longing they experience post-breakup. It's painful to watch yet beautifully executed. The chemistry between the leads is remarkable; even after their separation, the tension stemming from their shared past is palpable.
The dialogue is so good, and most of it is relatable, tugging at the heartstrings. It really adds to the emotional depth of the story and makes the characters feel real. I love how the conversations reflect their struggles and feelings, making it easy to connect with them. It’s definitely one of the highlights of the series!
I really enjoyed their journey of exploring the heartbreaks that come after love. The series skillfully captures the essence of their past and present, and it’s intriguing to see how they navigate their feelings and the complexities of their relationship. The emotional depth kept me hooked throughout the entire series.
The ending was okay..for some reason it felt short..it din't really feel like they both solved anything between them but rather just decided that time must have healed all wounds and solved all problems..I wish they focussed more on building their relationship in the future rather than the flashbacks in the past but other than the ending this was a great drama.
Overall, "What comes After Love" is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human emotions. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt drama that resonates on so many levels.
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“A Love Story That Heals: A Poetic K-Drama for Heartbreak”
I first got into this K-drama because of the clips circulating online—it seemed like a lovely story, and I was intrigued. Right from the start, I enjoyed it; the love story felt sweet and genuine, something simple but charming. But as the episodes went on, my feelings changed, and I found myself disliking parts of it, feeling frustrated at times with the back-and-forth between past and present. I’m not usually a fan of stories that blend timelines within episodes, and that did lower my rating a bit.Still, by the end, I had fallen back in love with it. It’s a rare show that can take you on such an emotional journey, making you feel conflicted but ultimately touched.
The drama is only six episodes, which I think worked perfectly for the story. If it had been longer, I imagine they would have dedicated one part to the past and the other to the present. That could have been interesting too, but in the end, the shorter format brought an emotional intensity that hit me deeply. The reunion in the final episode was incredibly moving—it felt as though the actress was speaking directly to me, reaching out in a way that felt personal and genuine. It’s one of those rare scenes that stays with you, especially if you’re someone who’s experienced heartbreak.
I’d highly recommend this K-drama to anyone going through a tough time, particularly if you’re healing from a breakup and seeking something comforting and gentle. It’s a show that won’t overwhelm you with excessive drama; instead, it’s soothing in its simplicity, filled with quiet moments that feel like a balm for the heart. And I have to say, I’ll definitely be buying the book. It’s beautiful, truly a work of poetry that stays with you long after you’ve finished watching.
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Muted, poetic, thoughtful
Although it is a Korean drama it has all the hallmarks of a Japanese production. The sombre moodiness and the underplayed emotion. The observation of thoughtful faces in a muted colour palette. The poetic rather than the pragmatic approach softens the tone so that it sits comfortably in melancholy. Any raw emotion is smoothed out by gentle music and there is no wailing going on. The OST was good, setting the tone for the drama.There is a thoughtful progression to the feelings that work their way through right to the end which has a gentle landing. It delivers what it promises in the title, “What Comes After Love” so don’t come into this thinking it’s a standard romance. The messages in the show resonated with me, and reflect the changing perspective of what love and relationship are/should be as we grow older. It is the journey the protagonists take as they learn to appreciate who they are and what is needed to sustain themselves and a relationship.
Overall the show is solid with good performances, believable chemistry and consistent quality in the production values. Although I enjoyed it very much, there was not that spark to lift it to something special. There were no new insights for me and the story played out in a safe and somewhat predictable way, taking no risks. Where it did do very well was to show the progression of emotions. The rating reflects the quality of the production overall, rather than the originality, which would have scored lower.
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Emotional contemporary romance
This drama is like a love poem. From the production and music to the script and acting. The couple's chemistry IS there, but is very subtle. I don't know if it is intentional or not, but the distance kinda works better for some scenes. A contemporary young romance with angst and misuderstandings. Cultural differences and everyday survival takes its toll. An open ending that leads to a promising future years later. Sometimes the person is right, but not the timing. I am sure you have heard it before. In conclusion maturity plays significant role in making us understand others and ourselves better.Was this review helpful to you?
What really comes after love
Angst and yearning throughout. The show captured the feeling of love and longing really well. Great acting makes you feel the emotions even better. Both the leads pulled off the roles with so much ease and chemistry is just oozing out naturally. It was quiet and beautiful in its own way. The story has you tugging towards both ends because their love was beautiful and their mistakes were human. Only con was the ending, could have been more detailed and settled well. A beloved drama with excellent takeoff but just the ending didn't pacify the angst that was present throughout the drama. A delightful melodrama watch and made me reminisce how much it emotes well when the leads can really really act !!Was this review helpful to you?
A rollercoaster ride of emotions brought to you by excellent acting
“What Comes after Love” tells a simple story of young and innocent love, going through the challenges of everyday life, and coming to the realization that only love is just not enough. These young lovers reunited 5 years after their breakup. The drama tells their love story through flashbacks to the past and present, and is narrated from both leads’ perspectives. There’s an added colorful touch with regards to cultural differences between Japan and South Korea.After the series ended, I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. There are so many frustrating moments where I want to strangle the leads because of the lack of communication and the lack of action. Towards the end, I did feel the interactions between the leads become somewhat repetitive but not to the extent that I dislike the drama. I just want them to speak up or do something!
However, I cannot deny the fact that I love this romance from innocent puppy love, to regrets and pain. Their smiles, laughter and passionate love for each other is so contagious. On the flip side, the longing, pain, depression, loneliness and regret break my heart. But none of the emotional rollercoaster could have happened if not for the excellent acting from Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro.
Both actors are perfectly casted. I am not sure how Lee Se Young’s Japanese sounds to a native speaker, but it sounded perfect to me. This might be one of her best roles yet. Kentaro has this dorky and shy charm. He conveyed the unspoken words through microexpressions on his face and his eyes. His character is a man of few words and Lee Se Young has very few lines in the last couple episodes too. Yet, I feel every emotion that they’re trying to convey.
If you like a melodrama of lovers reconnected after a difficult breakup, I would recommend “What Comes After Love” for you. The cinematography, music and the use of literature complemented the plot and the acting so well.
Completed: 11/5/2024 - Review #509
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All the Feels
What Comes After Love is not your typical romantic K-drama, and it may not be for everyone. Clocking in at just six episodes, the story unfolds at a slow, deliberate pace. It's very different from other more fast paced J-Dramas with few episodes, and is much more mellow in its vibe compared with other K-Dramas. The leads spend very little time together in the present, with most of the narrative told through flashbacks. The result is a nuanced story focused less on plot and more on the feelings of loneliness and love—themes that gradually build throughout the series until it resonates deeply with you as a viewer.What sets this drama apart is its emphasis on the subtlety of emotions rather than grand gestures. In a way reminiscent of Japanese storytelling, What Comes After Love is more about exploring the feeling of love than showing it through big, dramatic scenes. This approach may resonate especially well with viewers who have experienced similar feelings, like living in a foreign country and facing cultural differences with a partner. For others, however, the slow pace and understated approach might feel a bit tedious.
While the show excels at building a quiet, melancholic atmosphere, it’s not without its flaws. Certain characters, like the female lead's sister, felt underdeveloped and unnecessary, and the leads' current relationship could have used more depth. Given the short episode count, though, it’s understandable why some relationships weren’t fully fleshed out. Despite the overall mellow vibe, I found myself yearning for a few more significant, emotional moments between the leads.
Still, What Comes After Love is a uniquely moving experience with a classical romance feel—perfect for those willing to sit back, slow down, and immerse themselves in the emotions at its core.
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The real highlight for me was the depiction of an adult relationship on screen. Here, there were the little physical touches, the petty squabbles, the deep regret of a fully lived in relationship. Here, was the constant frustrations and loneliness of modern life with work all consuming, often living in new, strange places with no community, filled with a longing for home.
The pacing in the last few episodes slows dramatically. While it starts off with extremely understandable reasons a relationship may not work out, our main characters then dance around having a true conversation stretched over 6 episodes - - a concept that starts to wear thin.
The acting was excellent and these two characters were made real. The music was atmospheric. I wouldn't say there was much rewatch value, there's not much of a cathartic release to the whole thing.
If you love rekindled past romances, like Past Lives, Before Sunset, or even the Jane Austen novel Persuasion, this is for you.
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girl get up!!!!! men aren't all that :/
what comes after love is (subjectively) a very bad show. the lovey-dovey scenes aside, i dislike the "bright and cheerful woman gets cold and uncaring after a breakup" trope cos choi hong girl get off the floor he wasn't all that like jungo was a mid man at best minjun is better...he chose his career over her? i also dislike the "can't move on from my one true love that happened 300 years ago" trope in straight dramas for some reason like it's not that serious move on lol, lmao even. i get that her mother's marrying her off due to societal expectations but i HATE when they portray milquetoast heterosexual relationships as forbidden love bffr he's from japan ur from korea it's not like ur moving to atlantis.
i DON'T want her to get back with that man. she's finally unburdened from the weight of not one but two men and u want her to get back with jungo? all for a love she has already tried and knows isn't worth it? that was what happened in little woman have we not evolved since 1868
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This melodrama can make anyone crave for love!!
This is one of the best slow paced drama of the year 2024. The story was nothing extraordinary but what stood out for me was the acting, cinematography and background music. The main leads were imperfect yet beautiful. The shortcomings of the characters felt real to me. Kudos to ML and FL as well as SL for playing their part so beautifully.Was this review helpful to you?
Rare Gem
First off I love melodrama! This made it onto my top 10 from story to production & cinematography to acting to ost. The actors did amazing portraying their characters, so much that I fell in love with both lead characters.Reasons you should watch this drama:
1. Story - Mature and refreshing
2. OST - Beautiful music that fits well
3. Characters - Great acting, great chemistry between leads. No overuse of side characters as story focuses mostly on the lead couple.
4. Cinematography- Beautiful scenes with snow, cherry blossoms etc
5. Short series - Short and easy, not too drawn out, don’t feel like you miss anything or it was rushed. It’s just right.
Go ahead and give it a try! You won’t regret it!
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This review may contain spoilers
One episode more and it would’ve been perfect
Some dramas get way too many episode resulting in a watered down story.This one, on the contrary, should’ve had at least one episode to close the story as it would’ve deserved. I would’ve wanted to see Beni talking to her long time friend and almost husband one last time to definitely close their relationship and see his reaction. It’s clear he knew how distant she was but it would’ve been nice to see his reaction: composed, would’ve tried to win her back one last time, pissed as hell?
Also, it would’ve been nice to see what they decide to do: does he move to Seoul, are they back in Japan? He most likely moved to SK, still... Even a slideshow of moments after that last scene of them holding each other’s hands and walk together to see all the ends meet. It would’ve felt a bit more complete. Still, great drama, one of my favorite of the year!
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