This review may contain spoilers
Seriously... I didn't like the drama much
I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the leads. The story was good, but it felt a bit slow—more of a slow-paced drama.I think the drama should have included a marriage scene between the leads; that would have made the ending perfect.
In my opinion, the writer needed to put in more effort to make the story more engaging. Something felt lacking.
The acting of the child actors was very impressive.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love Scout starts decently, peaks halfway through the show and fizzles out somewhat towards the end.
Love Scout is an interesting one. At one point during my watching I was fully convinced I'd give the show an 8.5 or a 9 score. The middle section was very strong and had quite a few powerful moments. Not to mention it showcases female lead's character the best and showed some really progressive writing decisions but at some point after the leads get together that strength just kind of fades away and we're left with a decent but unremarkable romance story. Don't get me wrong, the leads were lovely and the chemistry was undoubtedly there but the show was clearly trying to do more but fumbled a lot of it in my opion.For starters Byeol, male lead's daughter, carries with her a mountain of plotholes. If you watch this show through the lens of being a single parent you start to realize many of the things that are happening should not be happening. Male lead is perpetually at work untill it's dark outside which means he's staying ATLEAST untill 6 pm, many times much later than that. The show tries to cover this up by making a single mom look after Byeol because she brings her to kindergarten and also takes her home. But if we actually try and take a moment to process that if this were real life, Byeol would be spending FAR more time with this person than her actual dad. The amount of times I was thinking; please dude, just go home you have a daughter. Was far too often for me to ignore. Byeol as a character is also empty. Has nothing to her other than being in love with her dad and is written the exact same way as every single child in a kdrama. Meaning unnatural dialogue and acting twice, if not thrice her age. I seriously hope kdrama's start figuring out how to write children because the dialogue they come up with is always laughable and unfortunately Love Scout is no different. A perfect example of how disposable her character was and how she creates plotholes by existing is when in the final episode male lead and all the company employees are at female leads house for dinner, including Byeol. After the dinner we transition to a scene of male and female lead on the couch together while it's pitch dark outside with Byeol nowhere to be seen, nor sleeping in female leads house somewhere. So... where did Byeol go? Did one of the employees take her home even though they don't really know her and DEFINITELY don't know where male lead lives? Even if I were to stomach that extremely flimsy logic why is male lead staying? His daughter goes home but he stays? AND he sleeps over? Where is Byeol? Did a 6 year old just get left behind at home alone for the entire evening and following night? What a baffling sequence of events.
Byeol is such a perfect example of a character included for the sake of having the audience go Awhh, she's so cute! whenever she's on screen. The show doesn't even really explore what being a single father is like whatsoever so why does Byeol exist?
We only hear verbally that it's hard but we see none of it. For the record, I don't doubt that it's incredibly hard to be a single father but I want to SEE this and experience it with the male lead. If you're going to include this story beat then do something with it. It just exists to immediately make you sympathetic towards the male lead but it's honestly just a cheap trick. He does everything flawlessly yet we're meant to believe he thinks he might be a bad father? Alright sure, impostor syndrome is a thing, but this also isn't explored whatsoever so can I really use that to defend it?
Why did we need to do a redemption for Jeong Hun's father at the very end? It falls flat completely as I don't believe for one second this man would act like that. Why was Hye Jin's downfall so incredibly unsatisfying? She got betrayed by the guy who was obviously going to betray her? Just... ugh, so lame. This entire Hye Jin/Ji Yun backstory thing was flimsy as well honestly. It just existed so Hye Jin's character could exist but as with many things in this show it only exists but is not utilised all that much.
Why the whole firefighter thing with male and female lead? It was resolved so easily and quickly. If anything, I was happy about that. If we did the whole breakup arc in this one I'd have lowered the score by another 0.5. That aside if we're just going to resolve it super quickly and effortlessly why even bother to include it to begin with? Love Scout does this multiple times where seemingly important things just get resolved rapidly and moved on from leaving you left to wonder what purpose it served.
If my review seems overly negative for what is ultimately a passing grade then you'd be very correct. I'm always far more negative in reviews for shows that disappointed me than the ones that surprised me positively because a show that goes from great to average is more frustrating than one that goes from average to great. Progression and regression basically.
For the sake of not having this review be mostly negative I'll quickly summarize what I did like.
The lead's romance. It was acted well, they had clear chemistry and I enjoyed this thoroughly.
Ji Yun's character writing. The line that really sold me on her character is when male lead steps inbetween her and the director, sensing her discomfort. It's the classic ''saving the damsel in distress'' scene. After they leave together Ji Yun asks male lead if he looks down on her and whether he doesn't trust her to handle it. I thought this scene perfectly showcases why I liked her character so much. This definitely wasn't a situation where he needed to butt in. If you wanted to show comfort do it afterwards but this only paints her to be weaker. Her character is strong but not impenetrable. She's jaded and pessimistic due to her past and this was acted out fantastically. Han Ji Min is not an actress I look out for particularly but while her acting was good and serviceable in all the other drama's I saw her in she really came into her own for this one.
Side characters were cool. None of them were really annoying. Although it's definitely a drama cliche to have your quirky office squad this was a decent one. Although their switch in attitude towards female lead and the company was a little jarring it wasn't overly egregious so I won't really make an issue out of it.
Lastly, Seo Mi Ae, Ji Yun's friend. Lovely character and the frustration in not knowing how to deal with early Ji Yun was well acted out and very convincing. You could tell she cared but was mostly at her wit's end. You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped after all.
All in all Love Scout was a show I don't regret watching as it had it's moments but unfortunately had far too many issues to be considered anything but slightly above average.
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best kdrama of 2025 so far!
i had to change my rating from 8,5 stars to 10 stars after realizing there was a 'stop genocide' sticker in ep12overall this kdrama was really good(even tho i wasnt really a fan of the ost). I loved how the FL wasnt less dominant after they started dating/relationship started she was just like before. Even tho i am a sucker for drama i hate it when there is always a crazy ex that comes back and ruins everything so i was happy when there was no crazy ex this time. and the break didnt even last an ep which i loved even more. this kdrama was pure perfection in my eyes it was a whole green forest.
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This review may contain spoilers
A beautiful blend of Business and Romance
The perfect balance of business and romance is achieved in this drama, which maintains a high level of engagement throughout its entire run. The show's plot, acting, and ending are amazing. The chemistry between the ML and FL is incredible. I think we all need Eun Ho in our life. I love how they present him as single Dad taking care of his daughter. I watched Han Ji min in two more shows, but she never caught my attention. She did a great job here. She developed her character here and from ice cold CEO she became warm, sweet and likeable woman. I wished to see more from the second couple in the drama but at least we witnessed how they started their sweet romance. For some people, the drama may be a cliche romance, but it is the perfect cliche and I highly recommend it. It is 100% your next comfort drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting role reversal but unable to balance multiple elements well.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75“Love Scout” boasts a mature romance and an interesting role reversal with a straightforward and relentless FL and a considered and friendly ML. Those two are definitely the selling point of the drama.
Looking for a Mr. Green Flag to soothe your lonely heart? Yoo Eun Ho to the rescue! Aside from being a divorced, single father, he’s basically Mr. Perfect. He’s warm, kind, friendly, considerate, organized, cooks and cleans and never gets angry. The total opposite of the stubborn, relentless workaholic Kang Ji Yun, a CEO who doesn’t care much aside from her company. I did enjoy the romance, but also think Eun Ho is way too perfect that he’s a little…… boring. I need some flaws, not red flags but someone who shows a little more vulnerability or gets jealous and petty every so often. I also wanted a little more longing, flirting and push-and-pull before the leads actually got together. I was hoping this main character isn’t the first one to confess. But given the circumstances, it does make sense that they bring this up first. At least it’s done in a way that is true to the character’s personality. Once the main leads are together, they are honest and communicative, with some cute scenes and nice skinship. I might have expected a few more steamy kisses.
The kids are cute and are total scene stealers. I just wish there were more scenes of ML and his daughter, and maybe show me a little more of a struggle to be a single father. After the initial episodes, single parenthood doesn’t seem to be a problem anymore. In fact, the drama seems to have forgotten that ML should probably spend more time with his daughter, not have another family take care of her, or leave her in a bookstore, especially when he is not forced to work overtime.
Unfortunately, the rest of the drama is somewhat average. The business plot and the headhunting stories are somewhat bland. Nothing is high stakes enough for me to feel worried or excited. Everything seems to be resolved really quickly and doesn’t create excitement. This is not a good business drama at all.
Additionally, the villains are taken down easily in the end. Are scenes being cut to keep this at 12 episodes? Family dramas and traumas loomed in the background but when they are brought to the forefront, all is resolved in a jiffy. The fire and the consequences are predictable and unoriginal. Moreover, I still don’t have a clear picture of what’s going on between Chairman Woo and his sons.
If you are looking for a perfect male lead and a role reversal, then this drama is worth a watch. “Love Scout” fails to find the right balance to tell a well-written story of single parenthood, interesting talent search firm cases, trauma, family drama and romance. I was going to give this a solid 8.0 because of the role reversal but in the end, it’s a 7.75.
Completed: 2/15/2025 - Review #545
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PS: I'm now officially a fan of both Han Ji Min and Lee Jun Hyuk😘. They both embodied their characters perfectly. Hwaiting!
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BEST OFFICE ROMANCE 2025 1rt HALF FOR SURE !!!!!!!!!! MASTERPIECE
Let's start at the beginning. At the announcement of the drama, it was quite natural that the posters would hit me in the eye and that it would end up on my imminent list after *Love Your Enemy*. A good replacement! From the first episode, the magic operates illico! I want to know more about the protagonist; I feel a great fragility hidden behind a concrete wall (it smells of experience...). The protagonist arrives at the right time: a single dad in search of a new job that will prove to be the remedy for our sublime business leader, a workaholic. I really loved this brief beginning of misunderstanding that created a perfect distance to fill in slow burn romance.Little by little, she learned to trust him, to REST on him, and we can say that our single dad was rather a solid shoulder! Exemplary. I already had views on his charisma and his game in *Vigilante*, but then he totally stole my heart! His character was full of empathy, and he expressed himself through his actions and eyes rather than with beautiful words, and we love that in the protagonists like that!
This drama has become a real obsession for me, so much I became attached to the characters thanks to their remarkable acting, their alchemy being palpable in every scene. The soundtrack bewitched me so much that I rushed to the physical album as soon as it was commercial release!
Of course, it is a drama anchored in the world of work, where the offices of our head of business occupy a prominent place, but I was not bored at any time. The protagonist's past with the father intrigued me deeply, and I was trying to understand the pain that inhabited her.
In the end, this drama turns out to be both simple and light, where the protagonists and the soundtrack do 90% of the work to captivate our attention. I highly recommend it to those who appreciate mature and family romances, because it overflows with emotions, especially thanks to the protagonist's little girl. It illustrates how a single, sane father can raise his child without needing anyone else.
It is admirable that the drama highlights the challenges faced by single parents, while showing that everything is possible in the end. It is important to remember that in South Korea, being a single-parent family remains a taboo subject. So, a big thank you to the dramas for thinking of everyone! Don't delay in finding out!
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Surprisingly paint by numbers
I started to write this review but then have to add a large addendum due to a lightbulb moment. Please bear with me.First thing first, the review. I like this show very much. The cold female boss and the warm, competent male assistant flips the old trope. It follows the trend set by Queen of Tears.
I like the OTP and I like the growth of their relationship. They are a good looking pair and have nice chemistry. There are some skinship and several swoon worthy moments that I'd like to bottle and sell.
It is refreshing that they don't need marriage/cohabitation to seal the deal. Most of the side characters are not annoying. The 2CP did drag their feet for too long but they are harmless. Both production value and OST are solid.
On the negative side, the antagonist is spiteful but her true motivation is never made clear. She is an annoying, one dimensional character. A loaded gun to be wield by the writer-nim at will. Ditto the Chairman. He is the classic manipulative father personified and of course, he has a redemption arc.
Ok, review done. You can stop reading now. Ha! Not so fast, chingu. This is where I start to question my own rumination in the cold light of day. After mulling over this, I made the following observations.
On the surface, this show ticks a lot of boxes. However, if we dig a little deeper I found the plot and writing rather clinical. To wit, lots of tropes are harmed while making this show. The script is well structured so that it is not immediately obvious. Each Ying does has its Yang. More than once I predicted what is going to happen next which is a little disconcerting. The show also plays it safe. Nothing is pushed to their limits. Most emotional strings are pulled at 7/8th strength. We know the character is hurting but it never becomes excruciating and resolution is a couple of scenes away.
I know other show does the same but I was surprised by my own "gotcha!" moment. I still enjoyed the show very much hence the high score but it just felt surprisingly paint by numbers once you peel back the gloss. It could have been more original.
Butchering the standard disclaimer; these are my personal views yada yada. Peace.
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This review may contain spoilers
The biggest problem with this drama was that it was formulaic with many tropes, such as the coincidental childhood connection and the father-son chaebol family conflict, to name just a couple in a drama replete with many. Compounding the problem is that the resolution for each conflict was predictable and seemed pat and somewhat perfunctory. All of the stock characters were present, including perky best friends, adorable precocious children, and the evil sneering rival. The writer attempted to create the perfect man in Yu Eun Ho and succeeded to a large extent but that also made him seem somewhat cliched. Kang Ji Yun fared better as the frosty CEO who thawed as she found love (yet another trope), but even she was little more than a caricature. On the plus side, the acting was good, everything was very prettily filmed, and Kang Ji Yung had the best outfits.Okay, I have a question. The Viki translation for the song during the opening credit says, "So just test me, I'll tell you." But that doesn't seem to fit with the story. Do you think the singer really sang, "So just TEXT me, I'll tell you?" They were constantly texting each other.
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Cookie Cutter k_drama
It was predictable and cute. Cookie cutter K-drama. It had a good cast, a decent plot, etc. but not particularly memorable.Was this review helpful to you?
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Best Viki drama so far!
I truly enjoyed this! I like that we're getting more drama's where the female lead is allowed to be complex, reserved and more "grumpy" than sunshine.I liked how Han Ji Min played Ji-yun as a complex woman with a backstory that made her less likely to be open and warm with new people. I loved how she bonded with Byeol and how the story established they had similarities personality wise. I loved her determination and how she made candidates appreciate their talents and experience and that she genuinely cared that they were being properly appreciated in terms of employment. She had principles and that made her one of the better female characters I've seen.
I loved Eun-ho! There were so many green flags for him. He was handsome, kind, supportive, talented at literally everything, and he was so attentive. I loved seeing him with Byeol and how dedicated he was to her. I worried that there would be a point that his attentiveness to Ji-yun's needs came across as overbearing, but it never did in my opinion.
I loved the chemistry between Eun-ho and Ji-yun and I kind of hope we see them in another romance drama in the future. This drama was well paced and, despite the confession coming earlier than I expected, we got a more time of them as a couple than I expected. Much appreciated! When the reveal came about Eun-ho's tie to Ji-yun's dad, I was surprised by how invested I was in the fallout.
I liked the candidate stories, while I think the authentification plot was a little too long. I enjoyed the cast of characters, especially Mi Ae. The 2FL and 2ML (I guess?) didn't get a ton of time. I loved the illustator's scene where she talks to her adoptive son about his parents. I thought that was really well done.
As for the antagonist - while I was annoyed at her vendetta against Ji-yun, I think her performance was well done. The show balanced the other plots well so that, while it was as frustrating as it was meant to be, I don't think it took over the majority of the show.
Definitely a recommend from me and I loved this couple! I hope we get even more grumpy/sunshine-like stories where the grumpy character is the female lead.
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Good enough but could have been a lot better.
An easy binge with a sweet story, but a bit to much cringe and predictability, and unnecessary choices to make it all the way to the top. That and the slightly to oblivious side characters that had lovely friendship vibes but also had me wondering if it ok to be that stupid and still hold up a job. The job-Hunt stories in this seemed to want to teach the viewers a lesson about the importance of seeing the person as well as right -person, right job which is not a bad message but it felt relative, slightly boring and shifted focus from the main story.Han Ji Min is an amazing actress (yes,I am bias, so feel free to deduct a star if you don't share this bias) who shows yet again that she can both be warm, cold, smart and stupid and everything in between within the same character. No matter who she acts with they will make fire works happen young an d old. there is this aura around her making her that just fits in.
While she has decent chemistry with the sides and male lead her chemstry with the kid topped it all. Their interactions where just lovely.
Our male lead was a lot of fun when he was a cold lightly offish character but once he turend soft and submissive he became just a little bit too sweet as well as had this slow slightly preachy way of talking that kind of put me off... That said kisses where good and so where the hugs. Also, the guy spent a lot of kate evenings away from his kid... making me wonder if he really had the work-love-paranthood in check or if he was more of an intervall father.
Some of the twist where rushed others draggy, not a single twist surprised me though...
A decent watch, that could have been better
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