The Potato Lab (2025)

Reminds me of Brewing love, but better

I have been waiting for this one for a while now. It's finally here and I couldn't wait to start.

At first it seemed too much like Brewing love, which I only finished because of Chanhwi. There's no fantasy element, there's potatoes instead of beer but other than that it's very similar. The first episode wasn't very good but I gave it a chance because it's the introduction we have tonget tonknow our carachters before the fun begins.

Episode two took of and I could not stop laughing, This show is absolutely ridiculous, full of clichés and absurdity. The male lead is so unlikeable the female lead is so loud and over the top but it just works. It's not to be taken seriously just sit down and have a laugh. It's dumb fun and I will continue to enjoy it as such.

A little update after watching 6 episodes it's becoming sillier and sillier, episode 5 made me laugh so hard my belly ached.

I understand why people aren't liking it it's just a dumb shutdown your brain and watch kind of drama and the humor is very stupid which is not for everyone and it's OK.

I finished the whole thing today and it was Ok overall, it just kept getting dumber and dumber as the story progressed with the last scene being so stupid it was cringy.

There wer some minor hiccups here and there, Like Park Kise should've been ground up and used as potato fertilizer but it's fine it's not that kind of drama. (I'll just imagine it happened).

While The younger brother and the best friend might have been the funniest duo I didn't quite like them together, I don't know why. He's so freaking adorable and she's crazy and so funny but as a couple I didn't like them much but it's probably just a me problem.

I will be generous and keep the 8.0 rating, this series is inoffensive, give it a chance if you like silly and you'll have a good time.

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Potatoes might save the world but they couldn't save this drama !

I’ve been hyping this show like it’s the second coming of comedy gold - raving about how a drama set in a potato research lab turned into my weekly dose of chaotic fun. But as they say, don’t count your damn potatoes before they sprout.

Turns out, all that initial charm? Just a smokescreen for a half-baked storyline. The strong character sketches we were promised early on quickly dissolved, leaving behind personalities so watered down, they twisted themselves out of shape just to drag the plot along.
The writing has been inconsistent for ages - barely throwing us crumbs of actual plot while drowning in slapstick. And I let it slide because hey, at least I was laughing... until I wasn’t. When the humor dried up, all that was left was a messy script and characters who lost their spark faster than a firework in the rain.

Mikyung? Sis gets mad at Baek Ho but barely flinches when her ex - the walking red flag who trashed her life - shows up. Like, why are we reserving all the cold shoulders for the guy who’s actually on your side, and giving your villain-era ex a free pass? Where’s the wrath? The fire? The “watch me burn your memory to ash” energy?

And the side characters? They were elite as chaotic roommates - a comic relief dream team. But instead of letting them thrive in their lane, the writers decided to toss them into emotional subplots no one asked for. For what? To fill 20 more minutes of runtime? Peak mismanagement. They deserved better. We deserved better!!

As viewers, we got roped into a subplot that actually had depth - convincing, well-executed, promising. Only for it to get tossed aside with the most lazy, nonsensical exit imaginable. It’s like the writers got bored halfway through and hit “wrap it up” with zero remorse.

The ending? Don’t even get me started. It disappointed me in ways I don't have the energy - or desire - to unpack. Just know it felt like betrayal with a smile. And I am mad like very mad !!

In the end, it wasn’t the plot holes or the slapstick that ruined this show - it was the forced friendships and unnecessary reunions that nobody asked for. You had the perfect romcom recipe, and you still managed to burn it. Bravo.

I barely have anything else to say, so I’ll just wrap it up like this:
Watch it for the laughs, the chaos, the absurdity - whatever floats your boat. But don’t make the mistake of hoping for a satisfying payoff. Drop it whenever you feel like it, guilt-free. That’s that.

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This drama was so fun to watch! Such a breath of fresh air in the current landscape of k-dramas.

Honestly, I loved everything about this drama. It was such a fun ride, and I anticipated the next episode every week. I was hooked! This was the perfect comedy drama to wrap up my week with! It had just the right amount of romance, friendships, enemies, and funny moments to balance out the story and make each episode enjoyable. I also loved how they did their own twists on typical romance (rom-com) tropes.

My only gripe is that the last episode feels slightly rushed. I feel like we could've gotten a more cohesive ending with 16 episodes instead of 12. However, I still enjoyed every episode throughout the drama and could always count on it to give me a good laugh!

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One of the loveliest romcom ever!

When I first started this, I didn't expect to like it this much. They skillfully maintained the comedic elements from the beginning till the end.

I must be in the minority who didn't dislike the FL. Actually, I loved the FL very much. Mi Kyung's nagging was actually another form of caring and showing love to people who mattered in her life. She was a devoted lover, true best friend and a passionate potato enthusiast. No way could I dislike or hate her character.

Baek Ho is the smartest, handsomest dimwit in this potato universe! No matter how much he tried to look cool, in the end he ended up being silly again and again. Loved his character arc. His transition from a stern, solid and emotionless career-oriented man to a "softie sweetie" smitten with love won my heart. His cold interior and exterior were melted by the love and affection he never got as a child.

Leads' chemistry was off the charts. They've become my favorite couple. Loved their bickering, loving and caring sides. Them being friends in real life makes it feel more natural and entertaining.

The side characters were also very entertaining. They kept it all together. No character seemed extra or could be skipped. All of them were equally lovely and supportive of the MLs.

Once in a blue moon, I got to enjoy a romcom without nitpicking little details and fully indulging myself in the laughter and fluffiness of the characters, and it was that kind of drama. Not complicated, no murder mystery, pure comedy and romance as the cherry on top! Delicious ^o^

Overall, if you are looking for a brainless and enjoyable light romcom, then this is definitely for you

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A Sweet but Safe drama That Misses Its Full Potential

When *The Potato Lab* was first announced, it sounded refreshingly weird. A rom-com centered around a potato research lab? That’s either going to be genius or a mess. The truth is… it’s somewhere in between. It’s charming, quirky, and has some genuinely feel-good moments - but it’s also shallow, overly predictable, and frustratingly afraid to commit to its more interesting ideas.
It is a cute, watchable rom-com that feels more like a comfort snack than a full meal. It had all the ingredients to be bold and original, but it sticks too closely to a well-worn recipe. Fun for a weekend binge, but don’t expect it to stick with you long after.

Lee Sun-bin is absolutely committed to her role as Kim Mi-kyung. She brings a chaotic energy that keeps the show watchable even when the script fails her.

Kang Tae-oh plays the cold, career-obsessed So Baek-ho, and while his performance is solid, his character is underwritten. His emotional development is so slow and subtle that by the time he opens up, it feels a bit too little, too late. Their chemistry is decent, but not electric. The romance feels more functional than passionate.

Visually, the show is pretty. The rural setting is refreshing, and the potato lab itself has a cozy, almost fairytale vibe. The production clearly cared about the look. But great visuals can only take you so far.

Where the show stumbles is in its writing. The plot is full of recycled K-drama beats: workplace conflict, secret backstories, corporate sabotage, second leads with feelings. None of these elements are developed in a particularly fresh way. There’s also a real pacing issue - episodes often feel like they’re spinning in circles, stretching out minor conflicts and wrapping them up too easily.

And while it markets itself as quirky, the quirkiness is surface-level.

The tone is another issue. The humor is often loud and exaggerated, which clashes with the occasional attempts at emotional sincerity. It’s hard to care about a heartfelt confession when it’s followed by a pratfall or over-the-top reaction.

That said, it’s not a bad show. It’s relaxing. It’s cute. If you just want something light to unwind with and you’re okay with predictable storylines and harmless fluff, it works. But if you're hoping for something that will surprise you, challenge characters in meaningful ways, or take creative risks, it’s going to disappoint.

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A Feel good romcom with sweetest friendship....!

The Potato Lab is a lighthearted romantic romcom filled with clichés, heartwarming friendships, and engaging moments. If you love classic romance and fun friendships, this drama is a treat. Initially, I hesitated to watch it because of its name, but it turned out to be quite enjoyable. The cast is fantastic,lee sun bin is perfect for the role kim mi kyung she truly brings the character to life and especially the male lead, whom I loved in Extraordinary Attorney WOO. One of the best aspects of the drama is the beautiful friendship between Mi Kyung and Ong ju ❤️. Their bond was so strong and pure that I found myself more invested in them than the romance itself. Ong ju’s unwavering loyalty, especially when she stands up for Mi Kyung and chooses her over everything else, was truly touching. Every girl deserves a friend like Ong ju! 💕 I love how Mi Kyung and Ong ju are really comfortable and honest with each other the level of comfort they have is amazing. Their sismance was so good! Also, Mi Kyung's brother hwan gyeong's and Ong ju's relationship is so cute. The OSTs are really great and the sibling relationship between Mi Kyung and her brother hwan gyeong is well done. A fun surprise was hearing the famous dialogue "섭섭한데요"from Extraordinary Attorney WOO back in 2022 which brought back nostalgia. (I know that its just a dialogue but it has Seperate fan base....!only true kdrama fans will understand🤭🤌🏻) The lab setting and co-worker dynamics also add to the drama’s appeal. Overall, The Potato Lab is a delightful, feel-good watch with strong friendships and romance, making it a great pick for romcom lovers!

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Light, fluffy and undercooked. A recipe for mild entertainment!

The drama started off with a fun, chaotic energy that blended "city girl to village life" vibes in an entertaining way. However, that initial charm quickly fizzled out and the middle episodes turned into a snoozefest. The pacing became uneven and there was little to no character development.

One of the most frustrating parts was the lack of proper communication from both the ends. The ML started off as a total green flag, consistently trying to communicate throughout the first nine episodes. But then, in the last three, they suddenly flipped his character around for the sake of drama. It felt unnecessary and forced, like they threw in a cliché conflict just to stir things up, even though the story didn’t need it.

At first, it was the female lead hiding things that frustrated me. Then came this sudden “twist,” which only made it worse. No one really communicated about why they did what they did, and even when they did talk, it didn’t feel convincing or satisfying.

As for the romance, it was okay at its best. The leads shared some cute moments here and there and their chemistry had potential, but it became stale and repetitive as we the story progressed further due to the stagnant storyline. It honestly might have worked better as a straightforward office romance. I don’t mind clichés, but they need to be executed with purpose, not just thrown in to fill screen time.

The second couple FL's brother and best friend were just cringey as a romantic pair. While I appreciated their roles individually in the life of FL, their dynamic as a couple didn’t work for me at all. They seemed to be added for that extra comedic relief, but unfortunately, their scenes didn’t bring much to the table. They were funny with everyone except when they were together. I feel the story would have been exactly the same without their romance.

One saving grace was the Potato Lab team and the villagers. They injected some much-needed humor, chaos and a certain kind of warmth into the one dimensional story. I think I enjoyed that part the most compared to all the others here.

Overall, I would recommend this as a one time light watch. It’s the kind of show you can keep up with casually while it’s airing, fun in moments but not exactly gripping. The vibes are there and there’s some charm in the chaos, but it definitely struggles with pacing and feels like it’s just throwing tropes at the wall to see what sticks. With better writing and stronger character development, this could have hit way harder. As it stands, it’s a decent filler drama when you are not looking for anything too deep.

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funny crazy enjoyable

I found this show entertaining. There are many crazy funny parts, there are a few infuriating parts, all very close to actual real situations we all know, yet crazy funny enough that we lough or smile at them and do not get really sad or depressed.
Interestingly, all actors are doing a great job, from the leads over the seconds till the smallest roles, all are really good. It might be also the agility of the writer or of the director or of the camera who were up not only to the level of the star leads, but were also carefully enough for the others. The only vermouth part (in my opinion) is that they avoided showing too much of the marvelous nature of the places where most of the action happens. The music might be have been better, too.

Still, I find this well being show 100% worth its watching time.

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"This is the Potato Lab. Not a soap opera!" Touché

This review is going to read a bit different. Let's start at the end. EP.12 is the best ep by far. While there are nice moments embedded in the previous 11 eps, the last EP is the real saving grace. Not that it is a gem of an episode but at least it has a purpose.

On paper, the premise is functional. The fish out of water trope is hardly new but the rustic setting is interesting. Our leads are news worthy. The ML's profile is undeniable after his lead role in Attorney Woo. He is still handsome and charismatic in this drama, but his role is totally different. He is a model of self control and icy professionalism. If I'm honest, it hamstrung his acting.

On the other hand, the FL is less well known but she has been in the industry for years including time as an idol in a girl band. She is attractive and has good chemistry with the ML. However, we have the opposite problem. She is personality overload. She dominates every scene and not always in a good way.

This yin yang setup should work a treat if the writer-nim allow the OTP to interact organically. Instead, they are placed in contrived scenarios time and again. There is no doubt who is the OTP but the amount of push backs, misunderstanding and confusion makes watching their journey very draining.

Their situation is not helped by the local community of ahjussi and ahjummas. They always show up when it is least convenient, and they are in your face. Then you have the cadre of "scientists" from the lab. I have not seen them do anything scientific. Their presentations are bumbling more than informative. They stumble from one crisis to another. Yes, they provide some comedic relief but that is because they are reduced to cliché caricatures.

If you thought the OTP failed to launch because of a vile SML then you will be disappointed. There is a SML, but he is a sad and broken man by the time we met him. He tried to interfere, but it was ineffective and largely pointless. The SFL does not interfere with the OTP but her backstory with the SML has huge impact on the FL. Yet their relationship feels contrived. It is there and we sat through their sorry tale. Alas, I felt nothing.

BTW, I’m not going to waste bandwidth on the FL’s brother and her BFF. They are the token 2CP and chew up screentime. Interactions between the various characters are wishy-washy and emotions are painted in board strokes. There are lots of tears and shouting. Lots.

The messy and inconsistent narrative makes the show hard to get into. We might get a nice swoonworthy moment and then it is pushed aside by some self-inflicted issue within minutes. Every weak joke is balanced by a cringey moment that makes you question whether they really live in an alternate universe.

In the end, everything worked out. The ending is more like nice-ever-after rather than HEA. I give thanks that I made it to the end, but I don't know why it took 12 eps to get there. A potato is still a potato. You can just watch the first and last episodes and won't miss much. Sure, it won't make much sense but then again, neither did much of the earlier episodes. At least you get the much needed fan service and "funny" moments in a neat package. Peace.

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Potato lab, but is it really about potatoes?

First off, they could change the potato in the title to any fruit, you could even make it a chicken lab for all it’s worth. They do a lot of so called research, which they never show, and do a lot of potato related activities that only count so far as creating plot drama.
Any real tension in the plot is resolved one of two ways: someone magically changes their mind, or someone simply says, wow, what a great potato.
The couple is decently developed, but every single emotional turmoil is handled by simply, forgetting about the problem.

Also, Mi-kyung is an interesting character. I simply wish they developed her more. Why does she like potatoes so much?? What does she want? And instead of resolving every uncertainty and letting us grow with her, we cut to an insane time skip after the end where she is instantly successful.

I actually like Seo Baek-ho. He was the best part of the show, I just wish they’d shown more about him. What were his thoughts? Flashbacks to his childhood? How was he uniquely shaped by his experiences? How is he best friends with Yoon Heejin? And they didn’t develop that friendship at all.

Yoon Hee Jin was the most pointless character of them all. I am not mad she did something morally wrong, but her time on the show wasn’t developed and we never got to see much of her relationship with Ki-se, another undeveloped cliche character. For those so ‘central’ to the plot line, they surely did absolutely nothing and didn’t really give their plot line a satisfying ending. Why did they even really break up? It’s a five minute montage. We are left uncertain.

This feels like a dream, unstructured, messy and full of potential.

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amazing!! give it a try

will never understand people who expect too much from slice of life dramas... they are literally made to be comforting and a little flat!! I personally enjoyed this one so much. It was so so funny I had to wipe my tears from laughing too much in some points, and it was so sweet and heartwarming it made me feel so cozy. There are several tropes who were clique but executed perfectly: the little town, the countryside, the town people, the tight office team... but also some who completely surprised me!! The friendship between Mi-Kyung and her bestfriend for example was one of the best I have seen in kdramas, and the way they handled past trauma was refreshing!! Sometimes I find a little unrealistic when characters just can't move on from the past no matter what. Because life does indeed go on, and honestly to me, the ending felt so real and pure. I am a very big fan of the genre so I know that I am biased but I must say, within this category lg Once-Upone-a-Small-Town dramas I like to watch this was refreshing, funny, charming and original!! Definitely a rewatch.

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