Started well with a cute love story but ended with rushed cliches.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25“Ikinari Kon” aka “Sudden Marriage” started off so well. Despite being a little predictable, it was light and easy for the first ¾ of the drama. The female lead, Mao, though shy, is not a pushover. I am so glad she would speak up and put people in their places (in a nice way). Male lead, Hajime, is a little pushy, clingy and stalkerish to start, but he grows on me. He’s a tall and good-looking guy but that hairstyle makes him look so old. I might be in the minority of not liking that height difference. However, the leads have good chemistry and I enjoy all the scenes they are in together.
Unfortunately, things went downhill in the last few episodes. I have coined this drama, ‘Marriage of Coincidences’. I am fine with one or two coincidences to make it seem like the leads are destined to be together. But, 3, 4, 5 times? That’s a little too intentional and fake. The drama also gets all tropey when ML’s father was introduced and the whole business plot was introduced. There’s no way Hajime disappears for a week with no contact when he’s been so in love and clingy. It doesn’t matter if your cell phone is stolen, broken, or evaporated, it’s not hard to still give your girl a call or a text. A rom-com about a sudden marriage goes to waste into a rom-com full of cliches.
I did enjoy most of the drama despite my rant. I just wish we got more cute scenes and lovely kisses. Maybe the drama should have ended a couple episodes sooner.
Completed: 4/13/2025 - Review #565
Was this review helpful to you?
Waking up in the bed of a handsome man after a drunken night. A Cute and endearing story.
Story: Mao was secretly dating someone at work. However, when she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her with a co-worker, she impulsively went to a bar and got drunk. The next day, she woke up to find a handsome man who had also been at the bar next to her! She also learn that she is now his wife.This drama was just beautiful and endearing. I loved all the characters with all their shortcomings. And I was very pleased to wait to watch each episode of this drama weekly.
I was pissed at some and happy about others. And we did not have those crazy "ready for anything to get the Male Lead" kind of Second Female Lead. What a relief !!! I was tired of those lately, after watching several J-dramas. I was happy the woman figure wasn't tarnished in this show.
I loved the secret romance and rooted for the leads.
I found this drama also very realistic. Nothing out of this world happened. No coincidental encounters that serve the plot. That kind of shortcut. However, the last character to appear was very useful, I must say.
And we have to speak about Male Lead. He is extraordinary as a husband, commited, protective, patient .... No Wonder Female Lead fell for him. She is also very cute and I loved her growth, her bestie and the way she handles things. even if I was not ok with some of her methods.
The side stories were cute as well.
The OST is also very beautiful. Her is the official music video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tff7KtXbJA
So I recommend this drama.
Pros :
- Acting.
- Story was great and the pacing was also good. Because the plot was logical.
- Character development. This gives big value to the show because even the antagonists are redeemable.
- Good chemistry.
- No trashy Second Female Lead.
Cons :
- Plot logical so sometimes predictible. But even if I have a hint about the destination, I still love to see the landscape.
- Stupid break up.
- Misunderstandings.
- The second arc is understandable but it made me pass through fictitious despair and I don't know if the characters needed such dire situation.
Overall :
I liked this drama very much. It features some super cute moments and the setting of the story sparked my interest.
So, if you like light hearted romcom with endearing characters and no trashy gold digger SFL, this drama is for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
There is just no way one cannot recognise a MAN like that!!!
I went into it without any expectation tbh. I don't remember if I have seen any show with the same leads. But man...who would have thought....that I WOULD BINGE WATCH IT ALL in one go and I need more of it😭. What a beautiful pairing.The story isn't something new and we have many Jdramas which are pretty similar in plot but this one has a feel to it. Felt more genuine and believable unlike a few where overdramatic scenes and exaggerated dialogues just takes away all the reality from it. Seriously I can easily recommend this drama to simple office romance lovers.
( By the way is it just me who thinks ML looks like Leon from Resident Evil game, especially his hair in front of his face?)
I loved the acting. It felt calm and genuine it is like when you feel and hear them emotionally rather than watching it with exaggerated lines and complex poetry and what not. Plus the chemistry is lit what more do we need?
To conclude it all- Is it good? YES! Is it re-watchable? Hell YEAH!
PS:I am still struggling to understand how could FL not recognise ML and not just once but twice???
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So cute!
Most of the recent manga adaptations have this crazy CEO/manager/director who comes on really strong with no clear reason for liking the female lead. I’m glad this series actually explores and explains why he fell so hard for her. It made it more memorable, and honestly, I was giggling and kicking my feet like a little schoolgirl in love. It was so sweet and cute! I can’t wait for the rest of the episodes to air!Final update:
I finally got the chance to complete this series, and I’m a bit disappointed with the direction the story took. Was this an adaptation? Maybe that’s why the drama went this route—typical rich in-law sabotaging the marriage trope. It's been a while since I started watching, and maybe the magic of the fluffiness has worn off. I might have to rewatch the entire thing from beginning to end to see if my rating changes. For now, I’m dropping it a few points just because I didn’t like how things went after he left for Canada.
Was this review helpful to you?
I wouldn’t be mad if I woke up and found out I was married to Hajime!
Mao and Hajime made for the cutest couple navigating this new life together with their ‘oops, we got married when I was drunk!’ I loved how the storyline revealed feelings and secrets. Each episode was a satisfying watch.For his devotion to Mao, Hajime stood out as one of the most exceptional male leads I've seen in a while. Some of the most memorable moments for me were those showing their domestic life.
Oh, Mao, my sweet martyr. I grew tired of seeing her mistreated by everyone, particularly her awful ex-boyfriend, but I was pleased she eventually stood up for herself.
This show could have easily earned a perfect score for its charm and smooth pacing, but unfortunately, the plot veered sharply to the right, and the writers overloaded it with so many elements that it lost some of its original tenderness.
But it’s definitely one I will watch again and wholly recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
Enjoyable
This is an enjoyable and fun dorama to watch as the conflicts aren't that deep or complicated to solve unlike some dramas.Shirota yu proves that height and look matter lol. 😂 Such a green forest flag ever and Mao even she has her own insecurities, yet still manages to overcome it without affecting her daily working class woman. And one of the top companies manager's wife too. Now she can brag that she is Hajime's favourite person.
Kudos to all the casts too even they only have little significant moments but still being left and right hand for both of ML and FL's journey.
Hajime reminds me of Gwansik from When Life gives you tangerine. So nice to see actual analog of Gwansik.
Was this review helpful to you?
chemistry
the female lead wasn't a good fit. the chemistry was way off. I enjoyed the plot, but it could have expanded on some areas and done away with others. over all it was ok. I do not believe that I could watch this show again. it just wasn't that believable for me. I did like the one episode where they got together. don't want to spoil it for the ones who haven't watched it. too many understandings in the show also. every time you turned around. there was one, oops... there's another.Just get on with the story dont drag it out.
Was this review helpful to you?
Something to watch if you like a silly plot and light-hearted stuff!
Up until later on in the series I have mixed feelings about Ando-san. How come that he is such a lovely and cool and empathetic guy who is soo sooooo creepy at the same time and why am i falling for him!!!Apart from that i enjoyed the plot just because it was silly. Even after Ando-san's reveal, it still was just silly. Silly enjoyable!
Sometimes I felt like there was a lack of acting skills with Mao's actor emotion-wise and her character drove me crazyyy a couple of times. Ando-san's actor was truly fine though! (i was kinda shocked after finding out how old he is, why he lookin so good - )
All in All, i still enjoyed it though. It really is a show that is for fun-sies. Nothing that will truly last forever in your head tho :) at least not in mine.
Was this review helpful to you?
Better Than I Thought
I went into this with pretty low expectations and yes, it is a pretty standard office drama but what took me by surprise was how much heart was in the story.Yes the FL is quite meek but she stops being a doormat, is very resilient and acts her age which I can never emphasis enough how much I adore this in a drama. Her chemistry with the ML was great too so I enjoyed their moments. I do agree with one comment that said it did drag a bit near the end. Personally, the final arc was a bit shounen-y for a josei and it would've been perfect ending at eight episodes but overall, still tolerable. I really liked the ending theme song too
Was this review helpful to you?
for a person who loves light series <3
This series is easily 100% binge-watched series and rewatchable!!I love how light the storyline is, but it's also somewhat frustrating with how misunderstood the male lead is. The plot is predictable, but the chemistry between the ML and the FL is perfect, from their acting to their appearance (I'm a sucker for height difference couple :P).
Was this review helpful to you?
Entretenida
Empezó como la típica serie romántica ligera para ver tranquilamente tomándose un tecito tranquila y sin drama al menos en los primeros capítulos porque luego empieza el drama digno de novela mexicana pero pese a eso fue un drama entretenido de ver,lo que más destacó es a la pareja protagonista que era un total placer verlos,Mao y Hajime desbordaban química ,todas sus escena eran muy bonitas ❤️Mi único pero con este drama son los últimos capítulos que fueron demasiado dramáticos a mi parecer
Was this review helpful to you?
Cute romance (full of clichés)
PLOT: The female lead (kind, hardworking, sly) has a secret office romance with a colleague, until the day she realizes he's cheating on her. She goes to a bar to get drunk with a stranger (the male lead), only to discover the next day that he's her new boss, that she have married him, and that he's determined to make this marriage work.+++ Very well acted (in a very Japanese style) with a magnificent ML (but the female lead must have had a sore neck during filming, because she looks like a dwarf next to him :)
+++ Endearing characters
+++ More or less coherent story
### Caricatural father character
### Female lead character too clichéd (Japanese standards of the perfect woman): self-effacing, hardworking, good housekeeper, kind-hearted, etc. I feel sorry for Japanese women if this is what Japanese men fantasize about !
｡ﾟ･（>﹏<）･ﾟ｡
=> Cute series for an evening.
***********************************************************
Cute romance (avec bcp de clichés)
PLOT: La FL (kind, hardworking, sly) a une romance de bureau secrète avec un collègue, jusqu'au jour où elle s'aperçoit qu'il la trompe. Elle va s'enivrer dans un bar en compagnie d'un inconnu (le ML) pour découvrir le lendemain que c'est son nouveau boss, qu'elle l'a épousé et qu'il est bien décidé à ce que ce mariage fonctionne.
+++ Très bien joué (dans un style très japonais) avec un magnifique ML (mais la FL a du avoir mal au cou lors du tournage, car elle parait naine à ses côtés :)
+++ Personnages attachants
+++ Story +/- cohérente
### Personnage du père caricatural
### Personnage de la FL trop cliché (standards japonais de la femme parfaite) : effacée, travailleuse, bonne ménagère, bon coeur, etc. Je plains les femmes japonaises si c'est là-dessus que les japonais fantasment ｡ﾟ･（>﹏<）･ﾟ｡
=> Série mignonne pour une soirée.
Was this review helpful to you?
