Fast Forward Romance
This is one of those dramas that would have perhaps benefitted from a longer run of 16 episodes.. Or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking as someone who enjoys Jung So-min and Choi Woo-shik. As it stands, the drama feels too rushed for its own good. It jumps from one story beat to the next so abruptly that even with my “tolerant glasses” on for JSM and CWS, I found myself frowning at the screen more often than not.Story & Execution
The premise is simple: The FL’s long-term boyfriend (and legal husband) cheats on her and dumps her. On top of that, she ends up financially strapped. She then wins a conditional prize that requires her to be married, and through a series of coincidences, she ropes the ML into pretending to be her newly-wedded husband. Conveniently, he shares the same name as her awful ex. He agrees due to his own motives. Eventually we learn that she happens to be his childhood first love. From there, the plot hits every standard rom-com checkpoint: fake marriage setup, sentimental flashbacks, family power struggles, and the inevitable conflict-resolution loop.
Unfortunately, the writing never gives these beats room to breathe. The pacing is so compressed that character development feels superficial. Important moments appear and disappear before we can invest in them.
Tropes & Weaknesses
The childhood-first-love trope is especially tired here. It’s hard to tell if the ML genuinely loves the FL as she is now, or if he’s simply clinging to nostalgia. It’s a trope that’s been used to death in K-dramas, and as it is, here it adds little beyond eye-rolling predictability.
The secondary romance is barely a romance at all. The connection between the second leads feels forced, like a bullet point on writer-nim’s checklist. The cheating ex overstays his welcome by at least six episodes. Although he faces consequences, he doesn’t actually grow. Meanwhile, the “mystery” behind the ML’s parents’ accident is so predictable that it borders on parody. Nothing else in the supporting cast or subplots stands out in a meaningful way.
Performances
The two leads are the saving grace. Even when they’re just average, their average is still better than many others’ best. I finished the drama solely because of them. Without them, I would have dropped it by episode three despite being a completionist. They make their rather bland characters, Me-ri and Woo-ju, at least somewhat charming. Ironically, they shine more individually than as a couple. The lack of chemistry is probably another casualty of the rushed execution.
Overall
It’s a meh drama, somewhere between forgettable and mildly watchable. Despite the two leads’ earnest efforts, the show never finds its footing. It wobbles, stumbles, and ultimately crashlands. Sadly, it’s one for the red side of my entertainment ledger.
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fun premise but… why are the ex’s family STILL here??
This show had so much potential but the biggest problem is 100% the ex’s family hanging around way past the first act. Like… why are they still in every conflict? Why do they get THIS much screentime?? People keep saying the leads lack chemistry but honestly they don’t; the show just wastes all their moments by stuffing in secondary characters who don’t matter to the actual romance. Every time the leads start building momentum, boom: unnecessary side drama. It could’ve been a tight, cute romcom, but the pacing drags because we’re stuck watching plotlines that should’ve ended 10 episodes earlier.Was this review helpful to you?
1Would You Write Me a Better Script?
Oh, Jung Somin, the sh-t that I have to go through because of you.It's not bad, but not good either. Like, you literally have to turn off your brain to enjoy this. The writing is nonsense, the plot is ridiculous and irritating a lot of times. Especially the last episode.
Also, I'm so done with this "main characters have to know each other from the past" trope. It's so boring, honestly. The show wouldn't be any different without that.
The two main lead and some other side characters carried the show, but that's all. The adult baby and his family should've been removed from the show after the 6th episode.
My advice: Unless you really love Jung Somin or any of the actors, don't watch this if you can't turn off your critical brain. I don't know why so many Kdrama fans love to forgive or just ignore bad writing, but I'm not one of them.
I gave it a 6/10, because overall it's a lighthearted fun nonsense, but you won't miss much if you skip it.
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Forgiving Over The Tons Of Mistake, And Forget It!
A romance comedy drama. Another woman's life destroyed by a basterd man. Following a woman who caught her fiance cheating, then she's straight to breaking up with him. But, yeah, that jerk was destroying her life by leaving a tons of debt to her. While he enjoying his new life with his so-called-wealthy-woman.I thought this was pure rom-com, but not at all. Yes, heavy on romance-comedy, but the sub-plot wasn't a lite at all. There's a sub-plot about political bussiness and the bussiness monarchy. Not full of lovey-dovey, instead the sub-plot might be overshadowing the main-plot. At least, for me.
I would hundred percent enjoying this, if the sub-plot not stealing the whole spotlight of main-genre. Instead of focusing on the growth of fake marriage and their relationship, they're focusing more on the sub-plot of Kim Woojoo's family and the dirty political bussiness, kinda miss.
I get the dot of those political-bussiness-thing with Kim Woojoo's trauma, yes I got it. But, the way they switching the genre into thriller was a bit over, suddenly get darker, and suddenly soften. The tension was not build smoothly like the first 5 episodes. But, I'm glad the problem solving was undepth and simple. Eventho, not stick on the track.
Never doubting the performance of both heroine, Choi Wooshik and Jung Somin, they served their best chemistry. Both are success to delivering their endearing, cute, and cherish character.
The color grading that warmth and bright, giving the delightful ambience of romance comedy, while the cinematography looks pretty and simple. The soundtrack were ear-catching.
Anyway, shot out to Copywriter-nim, peak performance of copywriting by putting 우주 (Woojoo) 메리 (Meri) 미 as the title! The words-play of both literal meaning in english (Would You Merry Me) and the korean pronounciation (Uju-meri-mi) one was INSANE. So creative!
Overall, if you craving for romcom with fake marriage trope, this one might be for you. Not the best, but decent. I've been missing this kinda romcom honestly, so my experience still solid, cute and exciting!
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A dissapointment, despite my love for the cast
I have a very soft spot for Choi Woo Sik. He is one of my favourites in Korea since Our Beloved Summer. I just love seeing him act and does his magic with his soft personality and great acting that makes every role he takes has depth. But unfortunately, even my favourite could not save this cliche and very superfacial story.The things i hate the most bad rom-coms is that there is no actual context of the characters to full in love. No fluttering moments, no time to bond, no details to make you feel like ahh please just kiss already. His confession was so badly timed, the emotional development was non-existent. Even the very beautiful Jung So Min could not move my heart in this drama.
OSTs were bad, nothing actually worth hearing..
I am all in for light rom-coms that let you watch the show without deep thoughts and just for enjoyment, but ONLY when there are actual real emotional attachement in them. "Empty" would be the perfect word to describe it.
It just make me upset cause since years, every Jung So Min drama was so good. Why would they agree to such soulless show. :(
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Full of clichés and unpleasant leads
Similar to many rom-com K-Dramas, Would You Marry Me is another addition to the library of mismatched cast, missing chemistry and an overbloated narrative that doesn't find it's footing.The premise was as usual, a rom-com drama imvolving a girl in a mess and a rich handsome guy. And while the initial few episodes were atleast decent, it soon turned out to be boring and irritating to watch, with too many subplots introduced towards the last couple of episodes.
Speaking about the characters, I didn't feel any chemistry between the leads, nor any humour or comedy scene made me laugh. The show was trying hard to be into something, which it really wasn't. And adding to the agony, a mystery subplot in Ep 10 and 11 made it even more terrible to watch.
My opinion, go watch something better, which focuses either on the characters or on the story, as this one failed on both aspects.
My Rating : 4.5/10
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boring
It’s fine to watch once, but not something I’d want to rewatch. The acting and the chemistry between the characters are good, but the storyline feels generic and overused. A wealthy heir with childhood trauma, a sweet innocent poor girl, a fake relationship, and a childhood connection — all the usual elements you see in many dramas. Because of this repetitive plot, I ended up dropping it without watching the last two episodes.Overall, the plot becomes predictable starting from episode 6, so it gets a bit boring. But if you’re looking for something light and time-killing, give this one a try.Was this review helpful to you?
you will definitely be annoyed by the behavior of the main female character.
The behavior of the main female character is so illogical. It was so infuriating that she continued to be kind to her ex. or they called her, she didn't even let them say a word, she started refusing the house, even though they would have given it to her anyway. She didn't deserve the main character at all. It's just the poor girl's cliched behavior.and this constant understatement between the main couple - seriously, isn't it clear that it's better to be honest and deal with problems together? but no, it's better to take care of her ex in the hospital, and that's after his relatives just mocked her mother.
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They better not ruin this one!!!
At first I thought this one was just another average romantic kdrama. and I'm not saying it isn't, It's fake marriage that'll eventually lead to love. There's a childhood friend who's in love with one of the leads (she super cute, I love her and she better not suffer) and the tired childhood connection trope. We have Jung so Min playing a character pretty similar to ones she's played before (Because it's my first life, love next door) and Choi Wosik's character is again the humble rich kid very much in parallel with Our beloved summer's Choi Woong ,however, it works beautifully!4 episodes got me hooked! I have laughed out loud many times and maybe for the first time in a loooooooong while I'm not rolling my eyes at the childhood connection trope.
This drama is throwing every possible cliché at us and make it work in a way that feels fresh! I'm just hoping that this one of the exceptions were the ending doesn't disappoint.
Episode 6 was disappointing, I'm loving the comedy but it's getting a bit too stupid for my taste, Ex-boyfriend Wojoo is too annoying but I do enjoy watching him suffer so I'm torn between wanting him to go away and wating to see him get what he deserves. I don't plan on dropping it but it's not as good as I expected to be.
My final thoughts.
Sometimes predictability can be comforting and this is one of those times. Would You Marry Me was simple no real complications, Villains were easily brought down and punished and all was solved and wrapped up in a neat little bow by the end. Full of cliches but still enjoyable it was really fun to watch.
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below my expectations
Ultimately the biggest problem with this drama is that the Soo Min / Woo Shik pairing just doesn't work. There is no chemistry between them whatsoever. I like these actors a lot, but even ignoring the lacking chemistry I feel neither of them tried very hard here. Also Woo Shik feels totally miscast in this calm intelligent role, I don't know.Beyond that everything else that actually matters is mediocre to a fault and that's pretty much it.
The photography is completely lacking even a hint of creativity. Sure they used expensive gear & have produced high quality footage, but it's lifelessly over-optimized & boring. TV is a visual medium & this matters a lot even if the untrained audience doesn't notice it consciously.
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1
1Too little internal conflicts, too much external bullshit.
What started as a fun cliche rom-com, ended up as a dumpster fire of convenient resolutions and dumb plotlines with close to zero proper development. How?Romantic comedies are as good as the characters and the chemistry between them - be it couples, friends and even rivals and villains. Sadly for Would You Marry Me, the writing left a lot to desire. None of the relationships was set up, developed and explored enough. When the big changes in dynamics happened, big plot twists that should have huge emotional impact on the audience, I actually felt nothing. Not only that, at times it felt as if the characters barely felt anything. Why are you reacting to this life changing moment as if it was nothing more than a daily annoyance?
Woo Ju and Meri were cute together, but all the crap happening around them made their relationship actually barely exist on screen. How do you even have time to develop the couple? Or any character? Or any of the plotlines you introduced? The same way dramas have main and supporting characters, they also should have main and supporting plots and use the proper ratio of screentime on them. Here it’s hard to even point out what the main plotline is. Was it the fake relationship and the house scheme? Maybe the mystery about Woo Ju’s past and his family? Both too poorly written, developed and concluded to be called the main. What exactly was the focus? What was I supposed to take away from this show?
I was watching episode 11 and 12, where everything was supposed to slowly get resolved and it just felt empty. Convenient ways out of serious problems, the most lucky police work when the evidence literally walks into their hands, last second relationships progresses - and I did not care at all.
I cannot even say the acting saved the drama, since it was rather mediocre. Not because of the actors and actresses - I know they are great. Jung So Min is one of my favorite actresses and I started this drama for her. The writing was just so bland and it lacked detail. Honestly, I don't know if this lackluster presentation was the result of poor writing, directing, or mix of both. One way or another, the show ended up as a huge disappointment.
On the positive side - I did like a lot of separate scenes. Some jokes were funny. I also really enjoyed the dynamics between Woo Ju and Eung Su (if Eung Su had more screen time he would probably be my favorite character). I found Baek Sang Hyeon’s story the most interesting and I liked how he was not necessarily just presented as a victim of circumstances, but also his own choices. Not to mention all the scenes with the second lead couple that seemed far more… natural and interesting than the leads.
I don’t have much to say about the production - your typical pretty shots with little to no innovation.
Overall, I’m just disappointed. There was so much going on plot wise, and yet I was painfully bored the whole second half. There were too many stupid external conflicts and issues with poorly written resolution and not enough internal development to truly make me feel connected to any of the characters. I wanted to love it, but the drama was on a mission to make me fail.
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Loved the main leads story but the ex was annoying
The story was very interesting and literally caught my attention since the beginning. I loved how the story developed for the main leads.What I couldn’t tolerate was her ex who literally caused more problems in the drama, although it’s normal since he was the “villain” of the story , I didn’t like the fact that there weren’t enough screen scenes for the second couple and the Ex’s presence kinda eclipsed them. If the 2nd couple had more screen time and a love story more developed, well it would’ve been definitely better and the drama would’ve been more beautiful. I was excepting them falling in love at the end with also a kiss but it didn’t happen; at the end of ep 12 in the last scene with them it seems like they were going to fall in love in the future but I would’ve preferred seeing them together at end in those 12 episodes 😅.
Despite this, the plot was great . I loved the twists and how bad people were punished for what they did and also the ending for main couple was beautiful.
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