Cinderella Game

Predictable Yet Surprisingly Enjoyable (My 1st Daily Drama)

This was my first experience with a daily drama, and I’m happy to say it wasn’t overly frustrating despite its ~100-episode length. Daily dramas often come with their share of exaggerated conflicts, catfights, oblivious characters, and manipulations—all part of the genre’s charm (or curse). While these elements occasionally tested my patience, the show remained incredibly addictive.

PROS:
(1) Story and Pace: The plot revolves around secrets of childhood, tragedy from lies, revenge, chaebols & scheming antagonists under a classic Cinderella trope. Its pacing struck the perfect balance for a daily drama.
(2) The cast delivered commendable performances, suited to the genre’s scale. Special mentions—
➔ Goo HaNa (FL): Returning to the screen after a long break (I loved her in Marriage, Not Dating), she brought charm and sincerity to her role.
➔ Goo Ji Seok (FL’s Brother): Portrayed with depth and conviction. His transition from a vulnerable individual to someone driven by revenge felt authentic.
➔ Eun Chong (Child Actor): He was the show’s soul—a captivating presence who outshined many adult actors. Truly impressive!
(3) Direction, Cinematography, Music: All elements were well-executed. The theme song “Nobody Knows” is unforgettable and will always remind me of this drama, given the number of times I have heard it.

CONS:
(1) Some Villains were left off easily: The ending for certain antagonists felt underwhelming. Some characters deserved harsher consequences; however, their story aligned logically with the narrative.
(2) Younger Goo Siblings: They were literally extra in the plotline, possibly just there to create unnecessary conflicts and promote products within the drama. At times they were right & funny, but they were not used well to the main story.

OVERALL:
If you’re willing to embrace the quirks of daily dramas, this one is worth exploring. As my first foray into the genre, I can’t compare it to others, but it’s a solid choice with all the predictable yet addictive tropes that define such K-dramas. Set the right expectations, and you’ll find it to be an entertaining watch.

© omo-omo-omo | Review #65

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GARBAGE

Cinderella Game had potential with its intriguing plot and a cast that, for the most part, delivered solid performances. However, the male lead (ML) is completely ruining the whole drama. His acting is so lifeless and emotionless that it feels like he wasn’t even paid a single won for the work. Every line sounds like he’s reading straight from the script without any attempt to connect with the character or the emotions of the scene.

What’s truly mind-boggling is how he was even allowed to act this horribly when everyone around him is giving their best. It genuinely feels like he’s on some alien planet, completely disconnected from the rest of the cast and the story. Emotional moments that should hit hard end up feeling awkward and empty because of his wooden performance. The director’s decision to cast him is baffling and drags down what could have been an engaging show.

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"Cinderella Game" is a revenge drama about Goo Ha Na, who was adopted as a child by an incredible family, but by a twist of fate her parents end up dying in a car accident while they were going to her piano performance. Ha Na becomes an adult, but she keeps the guilt inside her all this time. She grows up to be a very good person, she even raises the son of her friend from the orphanage who died. This friend is the great catalyst of the story.

Yu Jin is the daughter of Shin Yeo Jin, one day she disappears while playing with her cousin Se Young. The girl loses her memories and ends up in an orphanage where she meets Ha Na. The two become friends. Yu Jin's mother tries to find her for several years, but without success. When she finally finds her daughter's whereabouts, it is to discover that she is dead, but has a son named Eun Chong. Yeo Jin then creates a plan to get her grandson, who is being raised by Ha Na... turn her into her daughter Yu Jin.

This whole plot was kind of stupid in my opinion, because it wouldn't be possible to hide the truth for long and honestly, Ha Na believing it in the first place was really absurd. There were several conflicting facts and she simply decided to ignore it. I think if the story portrayed Ha Na actually finding her biological parents, if Yeo Jin was really her mother, it would have been a much better development.

Besides, what was the point of all the wrong things Yeo Jin did? Ha Na and her family forgave everything in the end and they formed a big happy family. And what about the whole story about their parents' death? She wasn't involved in the accident, but she robbed their factory and when Ji Seok came to her for help, Yeo Jin ignored him. She deceived Ha Na, saying she was her mother, then tried to steal Eun Chong in every possible way, even messing with Ha Na's siblings in the process and seriously, Ha Na agreed to be adopted by her? Where does that make any sense?

Se Young doesn't have the energy of a villain, she's actually a pretty pathetic character and Park Riwon's acting is very weak.

The romance is terrible, for lack of another word. Ha Na and Jin Goo have no chemistry at all on screen, in fact I was rooting much more for her and Ji Seok to become a couple... Just to have a comparison, I preferred her with her brother, at least it would be more interesting and also since the two are not biological siblings, it wouldn't be anything too shocking.

There's no revenge whatsoever in this drama, if that's what you're expecting, choose something else to watch. Ha Na is a disappointing character, when she returns after finding out the truth about her parents' death, I thought we'd see someone else, but she fools you for a few episodes and then comes back with that submissive personality. It's a waste of time and since it has 101 episodes, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

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Cinderella Game ★★☆☆☆ (2/5 - "Frustrating Potential")

SPOILERS AHEAD

As someone who typically enjoys family dramas, I wanted to like Cinderella Game—the premise showed promise, and the early episodes had an engaging pull. However, the inconsistent writing and characterization ultimately made it a disappointing watch. The biggest issue is the uneven storytelling. What begins as a revenge plot quickly loses momentum, with protagonists who remain passive while the villains dominate the narrative. Seriously, there's a point after episode 85 (maybe sooner) where I legit believe the writer just gave up on writing anything comprehensible. >> Hello, embezzlement scheme where there's evidence staked against me and I have been CAUGHT, later I'll just blame my Aunt and all is right in the world! 😖

Se-Young's arc is particularly jarring—despite actively plotting with her mom to keep her aunt in a coma, attempting to kidnap her cousin, and lying about the Chairwoman's missing daughter, she's bizarrely granted a redemption arc that feels unearned. The female lead's journey is equally frustrating. After enduring episode after episode of mistreatment, her brief "empowered" phase (complete with that striking red suit and bob haircut) leads nowhere meaningful. Her decision to forgive the man who deceived her about her birth mother—while continuing to resist the Chairwoman—strains logic. A more compelling story might have had her strategically accept the Chairwoman's offer, adding layers to the conflict.

Positive Note: The cinematography deserves praise—Se-Young's wedding dress breakdown was visually stunning, even if the character's writing didn't support the emotional weight of the scene.

Side characters are underutilized, particularly the siblings, who devolve into comic relief. The eldest brother's continued obsession with Se-Young, despite her crimes, defies credibility. Meanwhile, Jin-Koo lacks any real agency, serving more as a plot device than a person.The writing's inconsistency is the biggest flaw.

Key plot points are introduced and then forgotten, making it feel like the story resets itself every few episodes.

Final Thoughts: There are elements of a good drama here—the makjang-level conflicts, the strong visuals—but the execution falters too often. If you don't mind rooting for underdogs who rarely win and villains who face little consequence, you might find some entertainment here. For me, it was a letdown.

★★☆☆☆ - Had potential but couldn't stick the landing
☆☆☆☆☆ - I will never watch this drama again (re: Rewatch value)

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It’s a HARD-UNFILTERED-NO

I am in to clichés, soaps, and melodramas that very much include the damsel in distress. So my expectations are not really high due to my familiarity of the writing styles. However, this failed horribly. After about 10 episodes it started to change gears and the momentum shifted. By the time we got to episode 30 it was being stretched, but again I’m use to it so I was okay with that. The writing started to take a drastic turn, as if mid-script, someone else took over, and that someone else is either a rookie or a vet stuck in a rut.

There is one thing to be on a roller coaster of emotions making it worthwhile, but to be completely and utterly exhausted from having no emotions whatsoever is insane. When I could manage to conjure up some emotions it could only duplicate anger and frustration every two-three episodes.

I would *NEVER* watch this again.

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DONNO WHY THE LEADS IS MORE STUPID THAN THOSE EVIL ONES.

WATCHING BECOS WANT TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS. AS USUAL HATE THE 2FL THE MOST.
CANNOT STAND HER SUPERIORITY ATTITUDE WHEN SHE ALSO NOT THE REAL HEIR N BECOS OF HER EVERYBODY SUFFERS N HER EVIL MOM TOO.
HOPE THEY GET KICK OUT WITH NOTHING AT ALL N GO JAIL TOO.
NOWADAYS NOT MUCH GOOD KOREAN DRAMAS SO SWITCHING TO CHINESE DRAMAS. MORE CHINESE DRAMAS N SOME IS EVEN BETTER THAN KOREAN ONE. MY FAV ACTOR NOW IS CHENG YI. SO TRYING TO FIND ALL HIS SHOWS. MOST KOREAN ACTORS IS GROWING OLD. N YOUNG ONE DONT HAVE MUCH GOOD DRAMAS.
DONNO WHY THE 2FL CAN SLAP THE 1FL LIKE NOTHING AT ALL, NO CONSEQUENCES AT ALL. IS KOREAN SOCIETY SO TYRANICAL COMPARED TO CIVILISED COUNTRIES LIKE 1ST WORLD COUNTRIES. IF U DO THAT IN SG PROBABLY SENT TO JAIL OR FINE.

ALSO HOW COME SO EASY TO CREATE A SLUSH FUND FROM OTHER PPL JUST LIKE THAT, NO LAW AT ALL N THE CHAIRWOMAN SO GULLIBLE IT IS INCREDIBLE. NO SECURITY CHECKS IN THE CO N THE HOUSE ALSO. CAN JUST GO IN N OUT OF THE HOUSE EVEN AFTER THE CRIMES IS KNOWN , SHE DID NOT CHANGE THE LOCK OR PASSWORDS. LETTING THE STUPID WOMAN GO IN N OUT ANYTIME SHE WANTS. UNBELIEVABLE FAIRY TALE OR WHAT. IF SHE FOUND THE EVIDENCES SHE SHD MAKE BACKUP OR SEND TO THE SECRETARY OR BACKUP IN CLOUDS BEFORE FIGHTING WITH THE ENEMY LO, SO BRAINLESS. HOW SHE BECOME THE CHAIRWOMAN. THE WRITER CREATES ALL THE DUMB BLONDS. GOT THE MONEY BUT DONNO HOW TO ENFORCE PROTECTION FOR THEMSELVES. USELESS.



WATCHING BECOS WANT TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS. AS USUAL HATE THE 2FL THE MOST.
CANNOT STAND HER SUPERIORITY ATTITUDE WHEN SHE ALSO NOT THE REAL HEIR N BECOS OF HER EVERYBODY SUFFERS N HER EVIL MOM TOO.
HOPE THEY GET KICK OUT WITH NOTHING AT ALL N GO JAIL TOO.
NOWADAYS NOT MUCH GOOD KOREAN DRAMAS SO SWITCHING TO CHINESE DRAMAS. MORE CHINESE DRAMAS N SOME IS EVEN BETTER THAN KOREAN ONE. MY FAV ACTOR NOW IS CHENG YI. SO TRYING TO FIND ALL HIS SHOWS. MOST KOREAN ACTORS IS GROWING OLD. N YOUNG ONE DONT HAVE MUCH GOOD DRAMAS.
DONNO WHY THE 2FL CAN SLAP THE 1FL LIKE NOTHING AT ALL, NO CONSEQUENCES AT ALL. IS KOREAN SOCIETY SO TYRANICAL COMPARED TO CIVILISED COUNTRIES LIKE 1ST WORLD COUNTRIES. IF U DO THAT IN SG PROBABLY SENT TO JAIL OR FINE.

ALSO HOW COME SO EASY TO CREATE A SLUSH FUND FROM OTHER PPL JUST LIKE THAT, NO LAW AT ALL N THE CHAIRWOMAN SO GULLIBLE IT IS INCREDIBLE. NO SECURITY CHECKS IN THE CO N THE HOUSE ALSO. CAN JUST GO IN N OUT OF THE HOUSE EVEN AFTER THE CRIMES IS KNOWN , SHE DID NOT CHANGE THE LOCK OR PASSWORDS. LETTING THE STUPID WOMAN GO IN N OUT ANYTIME SHE WANTS. UNBELIEVABLE FAIRY TALE OR WHAT. IF SHE FOUND THE EVIDENCES SHE SHD MAKE BACKUP OR SEND TO THE SECRETARY OR BACKUP IN CLOUDS BEFORE FIGHTING WITH THE ENEMY LO, SO BRAINLESS. HOW SHE BECOME THE CHAIRWOMAN. THE WRITER CREATES ALL THE DUMB BLONDS. GOT THE MONEY BUT DONNO HOW TO ENFORCE PROTECTION FOR THEMSELVES. USELESS.

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