We are all trying here especially when trying to write a half decent review
Okay I don't usually write reviews of dramas or movies I've watched because I suck at it like really bad. However this was a drama that I i just had to express my love for so here we go.The story was something that personally i had never seen before. In all my life that i have watched hundreds and hundreds of dramas, shows and movies I have never really given a thought for the directors, writers and crew. When watching this drama it felt as if a door cracked open and there was this whole new world in another perspective. The story felt real and painful. It felt as if it was actually happening and it seemed like it wasn't fiction. The whole time I was watching the show I felt this thrill and excitement which was unusual because this wasn't a thriller. I was waiting for what could happen next?
But even though I was invested in the story and the characters I cant say it didn't feel jarring at some points. Some moments felt a little too long. To watch this guy just write nothing but even then i stayed and watched. I watched and remembered the feeling of being trapped because you are not brave enough to write what you want. The agony of being scared of hurting others with your writing or so atleast i read it. Even in the jarring moments i thought and wondered. It felt fresh to always see something in the smallest scenes that usually mean nothing to me.
If we talk about meaning nothing, we need to talk about the characters in a deeper level. Every character in the drama felt real. They felt like they were there and they were living. It felt real. I couldn't bring myself to hate anyone in this drama because everyone was so real. I could see what was going on. I couldn't see it from their words that said it straight but the mannerism, their lifes and their actions. As if they were actually living and breathing.
The love and romance need to be mentioned too. This drama showed love and relationship in such a raw and real way. The romance was suddle and secret it didn't yell and it didn't scream that "hey im here im here" but it was secret and quiet about it even in the moments that it wasn't.
The relationships in another hand were all beautiful in their own way. It showed the hardships of loving someone and the beauty too.
Though after all this the drama wasn't perfect. Nothing is perfect. The drama had it's problems here and there like the ending that kinda felt perfect but still as if something was rushed. It had scenes that got you thinking whatt. But like i said nothing is perfect.
Now I know that this review isnt the best like i said I suck at this but overall this drama opens your eyes and makes you realize how important the small wins are. It makes you realize that you are not the only one trying and that even in the hardest times you can find a reason to continue. And now to end this yapping seasson please no one attack me I wrote this review on my own interpretation.
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Makes you think
I liked this a lot at the start but I think it sort of fizzled out a bit.Some things that happen feel a little convenient, and there some other plot points that are set up but don't have the pay-off I expected. While I understand that this is more of a quiet and contemplative slow burn, the final episode left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
With that being said, however, there were a lot of interesting themes introduced here — it addresses depression and envy in extremely creative ways, and I appreciate the drama even more for being brave enough to make its main character unlikable.
I think My Mister is still my top Park Hae Young drama by far, but anyone who enjoyed that and My Liberation Notes will like this one too.
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We Are All Trying
One thing that amazed me about this drama is the number of different characters and how we somehow grew attached to all of them. They are all incredibly endearing, and you can relate to each of them in one way or another.There were times when I felt like I had enough of this drama, yet somehow I already miss them. It is a slow, healing drama about passion, dreams, and life. It reminds us that regardless of what we are going through, we are all trying our best
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Koo Kyo Hwan is definitely not an actor I actively follow, but I know that when he is in a drama, it is going to be good. On that note, Go Youn Jung is the queen of picking scripts. Her range will forever amaze me and how different each of her characters feels from the last.
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A Slice of Depression
Starting this review of by saying acting was amazing. I had some reservations about GYJ's acting which she sucessfully overcame. Since I had seen other actors in other dramas, I wasn't really worried about overall quality of the performances.What left me somewhat cold was the writing. I understood what the writer was going for, but some of the comedic and melodramatic moments felt out of place. Overall, directing and music choices fit the drama genre very well.
My review probably leaves you wondering why I gave this drama only 7.5. The reason is quite simple. If you're already struggling mentally, this drama will likely leave you feeling even more depressed. Because of that, I think it's important to watch it at the right time.
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Not Made for Hype, but for Warmth
Park Hae Young has made a name for herself with her former kdramas, but We Are All Trying Here is much different than her 2 past slice of life works.Our lead, Hwang Dong Man, is the antithesis of a KDrama male lead. He is a known loser, he acts deranged, he is down for majority of the drama, and he can get on your nerves. But that is what makes him HUMAN. At the end, this story is about humans. messy humans, depressed humans. And this story is about WRITING. Why do writers exist? Why does film exist? And why should it be protected? The drama is the writer herself asking her industry these questions to remind themselves of the power of arts. Poetry, film, love, that is what makes us human.
The slight romance between Eun Ah and Dong Man is lovely. Together, these two lonely people heal one another, and even those around them. But the real love story is between Dong Man and Gyeong Se; our two parallel male leads, each so imperfect and messed up, but their bond and hatred and love defines every episode of the drama. Jin Man ended up being my favorite character however with an utterly outstanding performance. Tbh every performance is incredible in this drama. Koo Kyo Hwan is a maestro of acting.
This is not a drama you binge watch. It is not a drama you watch for OTP heart fluttering scenes. It is one you must digest slowly, and think about the dialogue deeply. If you want to sit down and watch worthless people find some worth in this world of ours, this is a must watch. PHY has done it again.
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Saddest One
I have seen just 4 eps and I’m already sad like each eps shows each pain and suffer of each individual through two great actors. when Dong-Man said that he wanna be in the other side of the world, I was in tears. And when Dong-Man and Eun-a both fought up there places it was masterpiece, like showing that quiet people can sparkle very thoughtfully. it a best one to watchWas this review helpful to you?
Great acting, torturous watch
Watching this drama felt like torture.Getting through the first few episodes was genuinely painful because the male lead's character was completely unlikeable. I kept waiting for him to grow on me, but it just didn't happen. If you manage to push through that rough start, the drama does get a little better and becomes more watchable—but honestly? It was still too much for me.
The thought of sitting through another 8 long episodes? No. Just no.
What made it even harder was watching the female lead struggle and not being able to fight back. It was frustrating rather than engaging. By the end, I started skipping scenes just to get through it.
The acting was great—I can't fault the performances. But great acting alone couldn't save this one for me. I just couldn't force myself to finish it.
Verdict: Great cast, unbearable watch. Only for those with a lot of patience.
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Unpopular opinion...
But I didn't enjoy as much as everyone else :(The beginning was SO difficult to really relate with the main leads (honestly both of them). Their "understanding" for each other seemed forced? Like especially the female lead; like yes let me be the one person to go for the craZy guy...
Even after watching the entirety of all the episodes; YES I did get more context as to why each person is as so (this is for ANYONE in life) BUT there were so many instances that I didn't agree with some of the actions and words said by the main leads... Of course no one is perfect and we all fall short, make some regrettable decisions... but it was just really hard to really LOVE the leads.
I do think this storyline was realistic as in terms of some people really do never make it (whatever career choices, sports, blah blah) so I totally can see why others have really enjoyed and loved the artistic approach.
Definitely a more slice of life sort of drama, daily life, and a lot of emotions...
I would say, I would WARN those that are maybe not emotionally stable (very depressed or anxious); I think the beginning is a really hard watch.
Acting was definitely great though!
Overall; I would not recommend this drama however I do think it had a unique and artistic approach that others have already and would enjoy.
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Great Ideas, Untapped Potential
I thought this drama was okay, but it never became much more than that for me. On paper, it has everything I usually enjoy. I liked how it explored loneliness, low self-esteem, and that feeling of existential emptiness through characters who are just trying to get through life while carrying the weight of their past choices and struggles. The drama handles these themes with empathy and ultimately delivers a comforting message about healing, self-acceptance, and finding the strength to move forward.The two leads were easily the strongest part of the show. Dong-man is deeply flawed and often his own worst enemy, which makes him feel incredibly human and relatable. Eun-ah carries a quiet sadness tied to her past and her mother's abandonment. What I appreciated most about their relationship was how grounded it felt. It wasn't some idealized romance; it was built on mutual understanding and support. They accept each other's flaws, stay true to themselves, and refuse to let other people's expectations define who they are.
One of the most interesting aspects of Dong-man's character was his struggle to fit in, even among people he's supposed to call friends. As those around him become more successful, they gradually turn him into the group's scapegoat, constantly pointing out his failures while ignoring their own flaws. He's loud, impulsive, and frustrating at times, but the more I watched, the more those traits felt like defense mechanisms against the judgment he's constantly dealing with. Despite all his flaws, he remains authentic and unapologetically himself, and I often felt that's exactly what the people around him resented.
The cinematography and soundtrack were also great and added a lot to the overall atmosphere of the drama.
That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. While the drama touches on several interesting and sensitive topics, it rarely goes beyond the surface. A lot of the ideas it introduces are compelling, but it never fully commits to them or explores them as deeply as it could have. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I was hoping for a more nuanced approach to some of these themes, but it never quite got there. In the end, it felt like a salad without any seasoning: all the ingredients are there, but it's missing that extra layer that would bring everything together.
The writing also feels uneven at times. Some subplots are introduced only to be sidelined later, several narrative threads feel underdeveloped, and the pacing can be a bit choppy. The dialogue is often fairly simple and occasionally falls into cliché territory.
The acting is also inconsistent. While some performances are solid, others feel exaggerated and unconvincing. There were quite a few moments where I became too aware that I was watching actors rather than real characters, which broke the immersion for me.
Despite its flaws, I still think it's a well-intentioned drama with likable characters and meaningful themes. I appreciated what it was trying to say, but I couldn't help feeling like it only scratched the surface of the story it really wanted to tell...
☆My summary rating:
● Script : 6.4
● Execution : 7.8
● Acting : 7.2
● Pacing: 7
● Enjoyment: 6
Final Score: 6.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐½
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Drama of the year ?
This drama shows how two persons heal each other when there having different personalities.. tbh it's a masterpiece they wrote so wellAll characters did their best..you will be involved and feel the pain with them, cry with them, laugh with them..you will enjoy every part of the drama.. first few episodes you may feel dong man talks so much but after watching him, you will like him more and Eun-a always calm and face every emotion without expressing her inner feelings..but it's turned out different when dong man and Eun-a met each other..that's where you will start connecting to this drama..i can talk more about this drama but i will say just watch it
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This review may contain spoilers
A quiet drama that stayed with me
“We Are All Trying Here” felt comforting in the most natural way possible. At first I kept wondering how they would carry the story till the end because it felt so simple and quiet, and my brain started making theories about the watch and everything. But somehow the drama just pulls you into everyday life naturally.There isn’t even a single kiss scene, yet the love between them overflowed in every interaction. Honestly, some scenes felt more intimate than actual romance dramas.
The chemistry between Koo Kyo-hwan and Go Youn-jung was amazing — silly, constantly yapping boy meets quiet introvert listener girl. Their dynamic felt so human instead of scripted.
What I loved most was the emotional realism. They supported each other exactly when they needed it most. The “cry for help” line still stays with me.
The drama is very calm with minimal fighting. Sometimes you hear only the voices of the characters and soft background sounds, which made everything feel even more real. The OST was used only when necessary and every track felt soothing. The opening song was beautiful too.
“If you want to run away together, I’ll run away with you.
If you want to live in hiding forever, I’ll hide with you.
I like that.”
One scene that will stay in my head forever is when Dong-man hugs Eun-ah while she’s wearing that oversized sweater. Somehow it felt hotter and more intimate than a kiss scene. Another memorable line was Eun-ah asking, “Are we human beings better?” during the early episodes.
This drama won’t be for people looking for constant action or typical rom-com tropes. But if you love slow slice-of-life stories that quietly heal you while breaking your heart a little, this is a hidden gem.
I genuinely don’t understand why it’s sitting around 8.3 ratings because this was easily a 10/10 for me. While everyone was busy watching bigger trending dramas, this one felt underrated and special.”
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Another Masterpiece From Writer Park Hae Young! Quiet, soft and painfully human...
DON'T HESITATE TO WATCH BECAUSE THIS DRAMA TRULY WORTH YOUR TIME!What makes this drama beautiful is how 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 it is. The emotions are never overdone, yet somehow they hit harder than loud melodramas. It reminds you that everyone is simply trying their best to survive life, love people and at the same time, heal quietly. Even the smallest moments feel meaningful.
Watching them feels less like escaping reality and more like being comforted by it The loneliness, regrets, dreams and the simple desire to keep going. No exaggerated drama, no overly perfect characters. Kinda soft reminder that healing isn't always loud or life-changing. Sometimes it's just having someone beside you who understands not only your silence but also when you're being talkative.
And the ending? Intriguing with solid 10/10. I love how the ending makes my chest ache a little while staring at the credit, realizing how deeply the each character touches my heart. The emotional payoff feels gentle instead of explosive and somehow that makes it hurt more.
Today, 25/5/2026, as this review was written, I can proudly announce that my personal podium of healing dramas from Writer Park Hae Young is finally complete. My Mister, My Liberation Notes and We Are All Trying Here will forever got a special place in my heart.. They don't just entertain but sit with you emotionally.
"Love isn't always grand... sometimes it is just staying, understanding and growing quietly beside someone."
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