
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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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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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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This review may contain spoilers
I'm not a fan of humanizing villians
Honestly, there are a lot of comparisons between this and Brewing Love, and they would be correct to do that. But this drama is better. Maybe not way better, but still an enjoyable viewing. My problem with it, though, is that, while it tries to do something new, it kinda reverts back to old tropes of the past decade that we're long past tired of. For instance, the first kiss takes 9 episodes. NINE. I mean, there is a drunken peck on the lips, but that really doesn't count.My biggest problem is this: there is an antagonist in the show, despite some people saying there isn't. Here's what happened. A researcher is pretty much living a normal life. Her boyfriend has finally moved up the chain at work. She thinks they'll be married someday, or at least expects it. She trusts him blindly. However, even though they don't show it properly, he gets a chance to marry a chairwoman's daughter. He secretly dates her while still dating the female lead. Eventually, he dumps her right before his wedding. In fact he dumps her by showing her his wedding invitation. Pretty brutal, right? But it doesn't end there. His new family-in-law found out about his relationship, and they decided to tarnish and belittle the FL until she is kicked out of the company. In short, he ruined her life so that he could have his own rich and well-settled life. Sounds like a really crappy person right? But eventually the show kinda leniently glosses over what he did and turns him more human. Not by actual actions that show his remorse. I mean, we do see his regret, and he even confronts those he hurt and says he regrets his actions. He doesn't actually apologize, he just says he regrets it. But having the female lead forgive him and also attend his father's funeral just seemed so annoying to me. I'm not a forgiving person, and that's alright. Some people might call that a flaw. But there are some things beyond forgiving. I didn't want the FL to stomp on her old flame and get revenge, I wanted her to find her own happiness and move on with the ML. Instead, the show really tries to make us just forget the worst and move on, with everyone happy in some way. I felt this was the biggest flaw of the show. It didn't feel human or realistic to me. Don't humanize the people who left you to die or cared less where they left you.
Besides all that, the show itself was also kind of boring. I never once looked forward to the next episode. Kinda chugging myself along. Maybe because the ML was dense and calculating. He saw dating as a business decision, which made no sense to me. He's an orphan. So human emotions should be important to him, even if they are or were foreign. Sadly, we also never really get a history look at his former life. He never got to see his real parents or discover what kind of pain he must of have been in to live a life of such isolation. We also never understand or are properly told what his relationship to the chairwoman is. Everyone in the highest rank of the company adores him. But why? What's the connection? In the last episode, we didn't get answers. This was a missed opportunity.
For what it's worth, though, the FL is amazing. She can be a bit annoying and her acting can be a mixed bag. But there are some scenes where she completely nails it, and they're the best parts of the show. But I never really felt the chemistry there. Mainly because of how calculating and emotionless they decided to make the ML. Even so, I do think this show is worth watching, at least once, and skimming through if you find it hard to watch.
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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!Was this review helpful to you?

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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This review may contain spoilers
BIG SIGH
At the start this seemed like a fun show and first 6 or 7 episodes are pretty nice. The last about 3 or 4 episodes made me dislike almost everyone in the show.The acting in this is uhm, decent. Idk the first half the characters seemed ok, but sometimes there is so much over the top performances, i am not sure if its just the direction or the acting. Probably mostly the direction, looking at the way the show turned out.
The show didnt know when to be serious and when to be funny... or which one it really wanted to be.
Spoilers ahead.
The show pretty much starts with the ML's company taking over the FL's company, he is then assigned to the lab she works at and fires her. After the firing they are into each other, which is already a bit of an issue as a start. But ok, i can see her getting over being fired cause of budget cuts and she technically is not qualified to be in the lab. But the ML acts so arrogant, like he basically learns "everything" he needs about potatos in what is not more than a few weeks and shuts down almost any suggestions or complaints from the lab RESEARCHERS. The FL over the course of the show becomes more and more of a doormat. She forgives her ex, who cheated on her and while being engaged and then broke up with her by handing her a wedding invitation with the company owners daughter. She also consoles him a few times. And i know forgiving him is not really bad, but combining with everything else, its just so annoying. She unknowingly celebrates with the her exes ex and then later quietly listens to her about how they met without telling her anything. And then she finds out that her leaving her previous job was orchestrated by the ML. And this is a big one for me, even if he didnt do this to her, if he did it to another random employee, he is still a bad person for it. And she basically forgives him without any real effort, apart from meddling from the potato lab employees. So basically when her ex was about to marry the company owners daughter, one of the family wanted the FL gone, so she asked the ML to handle it. His plan was to drive her out without having to fire her, so he reasigned her to completely new department, which would imply it was a punishment for something, so she would be ostracized and quit. She then endured for weeks but eventually quit. Which btw, her ex was aware of all of this . And then they resolve this in one episode, but not with anything meaningful, the whole episode is spent on nonsense. Apart from her best friend telling her that she knew about her ex cheating and planning a wedding with someone else months before they broke up. She gets forgiven imediately.
The whole revelation of the past really feel so pointless, there was no real consequence to it, the episode was mostly spent joking. Him being the partial cause of her terrible past and her friend knowing about the cheating, didnt add anything of value apart from making me dislike them.
Also the company daughter, that married FL's ex, was at first portrayed sort of as a naive girl that sort of was used by the ex, but then she reveals she fully knew he was dating someone and told him to stay with her and she didnt regret anything and would do it again. Granted she doesnt know it was the FL, i dont think, but still a terrible thing.
So in the end none of the characters ended up likeable apart from maybe the FL's brother, though he is kinda annoying from the start, but still ended up better than the rest.
Everything got magically solved by coincidences in the end or just handwaved away. Last 3 episodes were really just a bunch of padding to get to 12 episodes IMO. Like the 10th episode was just some company "camping" used to delay the big reveal. Which btw, the whole time camping the ML now knew what he did to FL but was avoiding telling her.
The show didnt know when to be serious and when to be funny... or which one it really wanted to be.
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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.Was this review helpful to you?