Eye Love You

Good but not great but the mix of cultures carries it

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 Japanese Supernatural Romantic Comedy drama with 10, -45 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Yuri Motomiya (Fumi Nikaido) does not know why an accident years ago gave her a unique telepathic ability. Being able to read the thoughts of others is both a blessing and a curse. She has learned how to use the thoughts she hears to help people. However, she finds it impossible to fall in love with anyone as she inevitably hears unkind thoughts. At 30 she is beautiful and successful as a CEO of her own company. Yoon Tae-O (Chae Jong-Hyeop) is moonlighting as a delivery man while studying to be a biologist. He has a very outgoing and bright personality and is able to break through Motomiya”s social introversion. Because Tae O speaks Japanese as a second language, all his internal thoughts are in Korean. Since Motomiya cannot speak Korean, he is the first person she is unable to read. Which is only part of the reason she is attracted to him. Things chill down when 26 year old Tae O starts an internship at Motomiya’s company. Her co-owner has a strict no mixing business with personal life rule and now Tae O is Motomiya‘s subordinate. She tries to push him to a distance but fate and love have other plans for them.

Review

It is a cute, predictable romantic drama with the cross cultural element adding some additional intrigue. I would watch it again if it was on and would recommend it if someone was looking for a relatively simple plot. It is good and ends happy.

Spoilers

There were a lot of problems with the story. Why and how exactly did she gain the ability tipo hear thoughts? Yes she almost drown but a lot of people nearly drown yet do not develop a supernatural ability. How did her father become so seeverely paralyzed? We know he saved her and was in a coma but neither of those things alone explain his paralysis.why is she a CEO but her friend and partner would be able to fire her.

Two break ups? Really? I dislike one breakup but two was really ridiculous. I seriously dislike the I cannot be with you because someone likes me and I do not want to hurt them trope. If the other person waited until someone else liked you to declare their feelings how deep and genuine are those feelings? In this case he was afraid she would reject him but new guy wasn’t. So that break up was ridiculous. Then they find out some book says if she stays with him he might die and they all buy it? Why? How? It did not even make logical sense they would all believe what it said in a picture book.

I found it interesting how each had to learn aspects of each other’s culture and thought it was heart warming she made an effort to learn Korean.

#EyeLoveYou #YuriMotomiya #ChaeJongHyeop

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someone will love you for who you are, quirks and all

I don't know if I've watched any other collaborations between countries aside from this one. If I have, it's not coming to mind, so I will assume this is my first one. I liked it. The story was enjoyable, the leads were cute together, and this series made me really hungry. I liked seeing the sharing of culture and language. Also, I am a huge otter fan, too...very relatable.

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● SHORT REVIEW
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[ --LIKES-- ]

✔ I enjoyed the chemistry and cuteness of the main couple.

✔ The second male lead was also very likable. Genuinely good guy. Adorable how easily he gets drunk.

✔ The dynamic between Mahiro the chef and Gaku the researcher guy was fun and cute to watch as they developed.

✔ I enjoyed the cinematography of the bubbles and the rooftop scenes.


[ --DISLIKES-- ]

✖ For a researcher, I felt like the professor's concern for Tae Oh lacked any real scientific foundation. Maybe it's the illogical part of a parent's fear kicking in, but wanting to break up a couple based on just a children's book and one person's experience is extreme for me.

✖ Not enough otters.


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● IN-DEPTH REVIEW
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[ --STORY/PLOT-- ]

There was a lot of things in this series that I enjoyed and found really cute, otters aside. Our female lead gets hangry whenever she is hungry, which I found cute. It was also cute when our male lead was internally deciding if she was angry with him or not when snapped at him due to being hungry. Our male lead's thoughts and behavior was very cute in general. Very golden retriever energy. I enjoyed the pair's chemistry. From him sharing his food suggestions to their interactions, it was all very cute. The second male lead who got drunk super easily was also cute and funny. I loved the dynamic between the baker and the researcher guy.

Story-wise, my only real criticism is that plot with the storybook. While I understand that parents worry about their kids and that Tae Oh is like a son to the professor, the professor trying to break up the couple due to a storybook is very unlikely/unrealistic behavior. Idk, I guess I just feel like he's a researcher and would want more scientific evidence than one person's experience.

Other than that, I think everything else was either fine or cute. I saw a lot of criticism about the female lead's character but I didn't think she was frustrating at all. Yes, she is hesitant, shy, awkward, indecisive but it didn't really annoy me. A lot of the time, I understood her concerns. Plus, when you have an ability like hers to read mines upon eye contact, it can be scary. It's already scary enough to put your heart out there without the ability, reading thoughts makes it harder. And much more when suddenly, you can't read someone's thoughts because he's thinking in another language. Personally, female lead was very cute and considerate.

[ --ACTING/CAST-- ]

So the over-the-top anime dramatic acting style in romcom is actually pretty common in Japanese series, but it's also present in other countries' romcoms too. Some people like it and some people don't. I don't mind it, but maybe because I am use to seeing it. I don't look at that and think it's bad acting. That's usually a director's choice, usually for dramatics or comedy. So with that said, I very much enjoy the lead actors. They were both very cute. Both also very pretty people. I also enjoyed their chemistry and interactions. The supporting actors also did a good job.


[ --MUSIC/OST-- ]

Not sure if there were other songs, but the only song that I remember is "Omoinotake", which I liked. There really wasn't any scene where I felt any of the music was out of place or anything like that so the only thing I can really say is that there is at least one song that stood out to me, which I just mentioned. Is it something I would add to my own playlist though, not really.

[ --REWATCH VALUE-- ]

I wouldn't rewatch the entire series but I would probably watch like the few beginning episodes again for their cute interactions.

[ --FINAL THOUGHTS-- ]

I hope to see more collaborative works in the future and there may be some already out there I need to check out. I came in not really knowing what to expect and while it didn't blow me away, I still enjoyed the journey. I would say to give this a try. You may like it, you may not. I fall into the group that liked it. Overall, very cute, very funny, very sincere.

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● NOTE
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I'll always conclude my review by saying that ratings and reviews is not really a indicator of whether you may enjoy something. We all have different criteria and standards. Don't let a bad rating, review, or comment discourage you from watching something. My advice will always be to give something a chance if the premise interests you, and only use the ratings/reviews to determine priority if you have a list, or if you're deciding if you want to continue it due to time limitations.

♥ Thanks for reading my review! Feel free to comment or hit me up if you want to discuss anything ♥

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The story was beautiful cause of Tae Oh

If they manipulated Tae Oh's character even a little bit it wouldn't be this beautiful.
To be honest when I started the episode I just clicked it cause I saw a Korean actor in a Jdrama so it made me curious but then it didn't took me even 10 minutes I mean the way Tae Oh's character met Yuri I instantly got the vibe like "it is" and I'm sure I'm gonna love it and yeah I was right, cause the further it went, the more interesting it was becaming. The cutest series I have seen in the last few months, really glad about the ending, If I have to make a complain or say something negative about this drama would be
"why they didn't give us some more sweet moments, of Tae Oh and Yuri together"

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Cute rom-com

The story is nothing to write home about. It is your run of the mill blessing/curse/forbidden love story, with no surprising twists to speak of.
Still, I binged through it smiling.
It does not take itself too seriously. It sometimes felt like it was making fun of the very cliches it relies on (such as the hilarious misunderstanding involving the second couple).
The secondary characters are hilariously quirky. I laughed out loud at the "Korean culture for the Japanese" youtube bit :) And Yamashita Mizuki's interpretation of 2FL is comedic gold!
While I found FL a bit bland, ML was adorable.

Overall, it is a light-hearted, unpretentious, often hilarious rom-com.

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The story makes you smile and I really enjoyed the mix of some of the best of J and K-dramas story lines put together in one heart warming watch. The drama does contain the typical J-drama sweet/introverted FL with lots of PTSD issues, but she is also a smart CEO, a dedicated daughter and friend and is a strong woman in her own way. The ML Chae Jong Hyeop is ridiculously charming, captivating, all kinds of adorable and sexy when the shirt comes off. It's super romantic with a happy ending, just enough angst to to keep you interested and at 10 episodes, entirely bingeable. I would label this as a light rom-com/slight fantasy, heavy on the romance, with two nice intimate scenes, but the kissing is just pressing mouths together....which is a bit of a bummer. The story brought a tear to my eye a time or two, this drama shows that life can be both bitter and sweet and you have to embrace both to be able to truly appreciate how fragile but glorious love can be. I felt that the support cast were quirky and really added to the value of the drama. The music was nothing memorable, but the scenery....from frosty winter days, night skies full of stars, the rush of the ocean waves and the charm of a city roof top patio.....was just lovely. This drama is like a nice vanilla bean scoop of ice cream.....simple, sweet, comforting, not too complex and sometimes that is exactly what you need when life becomes too chaotic.

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"they shouldn't date" plot

they started saying they shouldn't date at like ep 3 or smth like this and it frustrated me bc they didn't say anything and tried to kept you without knowing the goddamn true until ep 9, almost 10

i haven't actually finished the drama lmao i have one episode left but i do wanna say that i don't like when they say shit like "we can't be together", "it's wrong", "i love you, so i'm leaving you" and then go cry about breaking up with them ??? i know it's a drama but i think there's no need to do that?? idk, above all if they would act like it nothing happened getting back to eo💀

anyways, anything else about this drama was quite okay, i could say even the plot (the fact that she can read people's minds) and jonghyeop did a great job, he was so cute towards the fl <3

BUT I DO HAVE A COMPLAIN bc motomiya, at least until ep 9, never talked properly about knowing taeo knows and she just suddenly decided to break up with him. taeo only knew she knew because he asked her through his mind. they never talked about it and they have should

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Very Light-Hearted Cross-Culture Drama

I was very intrigued by the concept of cross-culture of my two most favourite type of dramas, korean and japanese, that was also mixed in with whimsical fantasy plot.

Though I must say that the fantasy part wasn't explored much and the story behind the power of why and how the FL got it. (Of course it was because of the incident, but the "why" part is not shown) So if you were looking for some heavy fantasy plot, this drama wouldn't be a good choice to watch.

But, the romance did not disappoint! The overload of cuteness and cheesy lines and sweet moments between the main couple made me want to watch it and never end haha!
Of course, for me or for anyone who giggles for cute and cheesy and emotional scenes of main couples would love this.
It's not too heavy emotionally but if you enjoy light-hearted and cute shy japanese and bold korean couples, this is for you.

I really liked the cross-culture concept mixed with the can-read-minds-but-can't-understand-the-language fantasy. I feel like it enhanced the sweetness and emotion of the romance plot and how the couple deals with what felt like a "dangerous" or "bad omen" for them.

Of course, that is very very cliché but I liked it.

I would love to see more cross-culture jdramas especially for japanese and korean dramas like this one.
I loved that the FL didn't know what the ML was thinking in korean and that we also didn't get to understand what he thought so that we can at least understand how she felt (Though of course I do understand a lil bit of korean HEHEH).
It is SUCH a cute concept and i wished they had made it a little bit more high-stakes so that it would increase the emotional tension between the main couple. But at this point I don't really care cuz they are just so cute!!

The ending wasn't the best and it felt a bit awkward that the way we find out that the mind-reading power wasn't even that threatening.
That part made me a little disappointed because it didn't make sense that Min Ha Na didn't even know why her boyfriend died.. I mean shouldn't she have found out about that already since she was his girlfriend? So yeah that was a tiny bit weird for me.

Regardless, I very much enjoyed the romance between the main couple. The meet-cute, tension, blushes, love confessions were all lovely and very well done by the actors.
Sweet to watch if you love light-hearted dramas with not a lot of heavy plot but still entertaining and fun.

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It was a weird one, but I enjoyed it.

I don’t have much experience with j-dramas, so it might have some impact on my review. As many of you, I started to watch this one because of ML - Chae Jong Hyeop

This guy is always a BIG GREEN FLAG in every drama I watch, and this one is no different.

What is probably the main disadvantage that people will see in this drama?
Absolutely stupid FL! And yes, She is. I think I haven’t seen more stupid one before, ever. BUT! The whole concept of this show is a bit like movies class B for me… So bad that it’s funny! You can especially see that with the second couple plot. It’s bizarre… but, it’s the best part of the show!
So if you like something that’s weird and cringy funny - watch it. If you’re looking for a serious romantic comedy - that’s not for you.

That’s why, it’s not easy to rate this drama: for me it was a real fun, but I know it was not a very good drama… So it really depends on what you like and looking for.

For the fans of Chae Jong Hyeop - you should be satisfied :) He’s a charm as always. And most of the stupid FL behaviours are somehow explained so you can actually enjoy the bond between them

So yes, not for all, but can be a real fun for some of us :)

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Charming Lead Can't Save This Mess

So, I just finished watching "Eye Love You," and I have to say, it's been quite a rollercoaster of emotions and impressions. I went into it thinking it might be just another run-of-the-mill romance drama, but it turned out to be a mix of cute moments, intriguing concepts, and, well, a fair share of frustrations.

First things first, the premise. How often do you come across a drama where the lead can hear people's thoughts just by looking into their eyes? I was hooked right from the start! Motomiya Yuri, our heroine, has this unique ability thanks to a mysterious accident. Cool, right? Well, it’s both a blessing and a curse for her. Imagine constantly hearing everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets. Yikes! No wonder she’s become a bit of a recluse.

Enter Yoon Tae Oh, the adorable Korean exchange student who, unlike anyone else, thinks in Korean. Finally, some peace of mind for Yuri! Tae Oh is like a ray of sunshine – cheerful, innocent, and utterly charming. Chae Jong Hyeop nails this role. His quirky yet lovable character steals every scene, making the whole watching experience so much better.

The chemistry between Yuri and Tae Oh? It’s a bit of a mixed bag. While Tae Oh's constant optimism and straightforwardness are endearing, Yuri's character feels somewhat passive and, dare I say, a tad annoying at times. She’s supposed to be a company boss but acts more like a timid teenager, which is frustrating.

Now, let’s talk plot. The first few episodes had me genuinely intrigued. The mind-reading concept was fresh and handled pretty well initially. But then, things started to go downhill. The whole subplot involving a children's picture book and its connection to Yuri’s power felt unnecessarily dragged out. I mean, come on, do we really need to give so much weight to a storybook? It felt like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the origins of her powers in a more engaging way.

One thing that really bugged me was how pushy Tae Oh could be at times. Not in a creepy way, but just enough to give off some weird vibes. And don’t even get me started on Yuri’s indecisiveness. The constant on-off game between them was maddening. At some point, I just wanted to shake her and scream, “Make up your mind already!”

But, credit where credit’s due, the drama does have its redeeming qualities. The subplot involving Yuri’s chocolatier friend was a delightful distraction. Their romance was light and fun, probably because it wasn’t weighed down by all the supernatural baggage.

The acting overall was decent, but there were definitely moments where I couldn't tell if the awkwardness was intentional or just bad acting. Some of the secondary characters had potential but were sadly underdeveloped. I get that he was supposed to be comic relief, but it often felt forced and exaggerated.

In the end, "Eye Love You" is an okay show that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s not a must-watch, but it’s not a total waste of time either. If you’re in the mood for some sugary, feel-good moments and can overlook the plot holes and frustrating main character, give it a go. It’s a decent dose of fluff with a quirky twist, and sometimes, that’s all you need for a cozy night in.

So, would I recommend it? Let’s just say, I wouldn’t push you to watch it, but I wouldn’t push you away either. Give it a try if the premise intrigues you, but keep your expectations in check. And if nothing else, enjoy Chae Jong Hyeop’s delightful performance – he’s definitely the MVP here!

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