K-Drama 
This review may contain spoilers
Engaging melodrama - Jang Hyuk was such a babe!
Marriage of convenience is one of my favourite tropes. I have seen this kdrama in many lists so I decided to watch it. Oh boy, I was in for a ride!What I liked:
1) Jang Hyuk - wow, Jang Hyuk was a babe! Handsome, quirky hairstyle, hot body (washboard abs), nice teeth and eccentric personality - I was hooked from the first time he appeared on screen. Brilliant actor, great at conveying different emotions of his character.
2) Lee Gun characterisation - The quirkiest male character I've watched in kdramas. His maniacal laughter, his unconventional approach to personal and professional matters.
3) Kim Miyoung characterisation - I usually get annoyed easily with doormat female leads but Jang Nara played Ms Nice Girl very well that I cried a few times. It's great that she grew as a person - I love that she had a successful career on her own and was very firm with her beliefs and principles.
4) Romance - Their romantic scenes at the start of th the relationship were so sweet. There were two intense scenes that I love so much: 1) the auction and 2) the press conference. Both Jang Hyuk and Jang Na Ra gave their all in these confession scenes. I also enjoyed scenes when Lee Gun desired Miyoung. Haha!
5) Supporting characters - These characters had depth: Manager Tak, Miyoung's mother, Lee Yong and even Jiyeon (Miyoung's friend and Yong's love interest). Manager Tak and Lee Yong's shenanigans were hilarious!
6) Daniel Pitt characterisation - He gave sensible advice even when he was a stranger to Miyoung. He is a great friend. I like that he's not just in this series as a love rival but Daniel has his own story to be undiscovered.
What I disliked:
1) Confidentiality - I hated when doctor shared Lee Gun's medical diagnosis with Kang Sera. She had no right to that information and her actions after that disclosure were unacceptable even though she had good intentions.
2) Lee Gun - Kang Sera interactions - It sucks that Lee Gun cheated on Kang Sera and I understand that he wanted to inform her personally but I think he cared too much for her feelings over his own feelings.
3) Spiked drinks - It was hilarious the first time but I don't understand why the culprits were not apprehended. Anyway I don't like that their drinks were spiked again.
4) Lee Gun's hairstyle - It's refreshing to see male lead with more than 2 hairstyles in a kdrama. I disliked the hairstyles in the last 3 episodes. That severe fringe made him old and less handsome.
Favourite scene
The press conference. I love that Miyoung was the courageous one and took charge!
Was this review helpful to you?
All of the actors and actresses carried their own characters well. All of the scenes, characters, episodes, OSTs and even the places had an impact on me. This drama ate and left no crumbs. It will make you laugh, cry, a little bit frustrated, and most especially; loved. Where can I find my own Lee Gun in this world? (ᵕ̣̣̣̣̣̣﹏ᵕ̣̣̣̣̣̣)
Worth it to give a 10/10. It is a masterpiece and will make you feel warm. 100% recommendable.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
I give story 9 marks. I love this story line itz interesting.. but some jokes are too mutch..
Acting is ok but gun's laught feel irritating for me.. snail is ok.. and daniel is my favorite.. oh man why is he soooo cute. His acting also perfect... i gave cast for 9.5 becz of daniel ❤️❤️
overall it is good drama tht must watch..
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
a surprising cliché drama
I watched this because I love Jang Nara, but I was worried (dramas prior to 2014 make me worried) because it might be problematic and strange.Although the plot is cliché, the acting between all four leads is good. Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk offer chemistry and are in their elements as their characters. The second leads do well on their own.
If I have to complain about something is the length - it could have easily been a 16-episode drama, or maybe even a 12-episode. But that was expected given the relatively simple plot and it being a 2014 drama, as the story goes on and on until everyone reaches a complete happy ending.
I did throw fits against Sera and Daniel, so I have to say I >>really<< didn't care about them in the end. But the central couple made everything worth it and it's definitely in my top 20 dramas.
Was this review helpful to you?
Jang hyuk is just simply mind blowing. The whole time I was infatuated by his acting and his unique laugh! The chemistry between Jang na ra and Jang hyuk is on another level. They made me laugh and cry, overwhelmed by emotions that I couldn’t control. The whole time I was wondering how charismatic an actor could be! It is impossible not to love him. I'll keep this drama on my most favourite list amongst all the rom com I've seen so far.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is what happens when partners fail to communicate!
I cried a lot of happy tears when watching this drama. It's so interesting how this drama really got me emotional, but in a good way. This is the first drama that I've watched in which the female lead, male lead, and the antagonist male and female characters were not at fault for the tragedy that happened in the drama. Although, no one's actions were perfect, they were however, realistic based upon the situations that lead to such tragedy.The male lead actor is so handsome, and I liked the way that he portrayed his character. However, his character is a tad bit toxic (btw, most humans are toxic, and most dramas have characters who are very toxic). Luckily, the male lead character is a little toxic and not a lot! The reason why he is toxic is because he is the MASTER OF SENDING MIXED SIGNALS. In 3 months, he told his wife 3 times that he wanted to be with her, and then he didn't. Granted, he had a justifiable reason to have mixed feelings, but what made him toxic was his communication style. Lying to his wife in order to save her from future hurt. While that may have seemed like an admirable thing to do, it only ended up hurting everyone in the process ... including the antagonist. If there was a song to describe the male lead character it would be 702's - Get it together [https://youtu.be/LdpQfyJFu9A]. LOL
The female lead, like the male actor is attractive (although they painted her to be decent looking and stupid) and she too had one toxic trait and it was justifying everyone's bad behavior. Being overly kind, sweet, and easy going may seem like a notable thing to do, but without holding people accountable for their actions, you will inevitably becoming a target of abuse (e.g. physical, mental, emotional, or verbal abuse). That is exactly what happens to the female lead, her husband was able to play with her emotions by telling her once per month that he wanted her, and then that he didn't want her. Out of all the dramas that I've watched in 2021, I resonate the most with her character. Although, I wasN'T as soft spoken as she is, I definitely justified everyone's bad behavior up until 2021. I didn't hold people accountable for their bad actions, especially the people closest to me. It eventually lead to people emotionally abusing me, because I had conditioned them to treat me as a punching bag, that will never hit back (metaphorically speaking).
The male antagonist is freaking amazing. Finally an antagonist who isn't toxic, forceful, or even arrogant. I am on episode 15, and I only have 5 more episodes remaining. From what I can tell, he isn't going to marry the female lead because she would be marrying him out of gratitude instead of out of love, and like female lead said, he deserves so much better than that.
Overall, this was a well written, well produced, well acted, romance comedy. I recommended watching it, and really thinking about the dilemma the male and female lead were in between episodes 1-13! The writer did a fantastic job, as the writing of this drama really allowed us to sympathize with each character, instead of hating some characters, and choosing sides.
Edited:
I am now watching episode 17, and at this point, it'll take a miracle for me to cheer for the female lead and male lead to get back together. There's no explaining, that can repair the emotional damage the male lead caused the female lead; not to the point where they fall in love again. I am hoping that in the remaining 3 episodes, it shows the female lead and male antagonist getting together and happy in bliss. I dropped this drama after watching the end of episode 17 because I do not want to see the female lead and male leading back together. His circumstances does not justify his poor communication. Episodes 17-20 sends the wrong message to women, and to men - that women will take anything, and that men should expect women to be there for them no matter what.... I'll pass! For goodness sakes, dramas will have people thinking that females love attractive toxic men, while hating the good guys who are caring and attractive.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Not My Kind of Comedy
**This is just my opinion. I truly respect and appreciate all of the hard work that went into the making of this drama. Thank you.**You Are My Destiny was one of the first Chinese dramas that I ever watched. When I saw that there was a Korean version, I was eager to watch it. Fated to Love You was aired 6 years earlier but was still remarkably good for the time. The actors were very good and the characters were well developed. I was especially impressed with Jang Na Ra as Kim Mi Young and Jang Hyuk as Lee Gun for their emotional scenes.
I was prepared for some goofy scenes at the beginning and regular comedy after that. I wasn't prepared for an extremely eccentric male leading character with a bizarre laugh that I don't even know how to describe. It was jarring and unpleasant and not at all funny. He kept it up through all 15 episodes that I watched. I think I only heard his nice, normal laugh once. He would do this offensive clap whenever and wherever. He behaved so outrageously and obnoxiously that it got to the point that I didn't care that he was actually nice and sensitive underneath it all. I just couldn't stand to watch him anymore. It was a shame that they wrote his character that way. Jang Hyuk is clearly a very talented actor. Both he and Jang Na Ra made me tear up with them when they cried.
The story itself was nowhere near as good as in You Are My Destiny. It didn't have the same kind of heart and seemed to be more focused on comedy. That's just my take though.
The soundtrack is very good. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the stylist/wardrobe department. There is an appalling amount of gaudy outfits (they apparently had a fondness for orange/salmon).
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Some things to like but mostly not
Honestly I don't know why some people like this series. Yes there are a few funny and lovable moments, but overall this series just didn't click with me.I felt like the main lead was the worst part of this series, one of the strangest male lead characters in a kdrama series I've watched. His hyperbolic and exaggerated characteristics didn't go well down with me. You've been warned.
Jang Na Ra was fine, loved her in the Last Empress. She excellently portrays a vulnerable down-on-her-luck clumsy and mouse like character. If you like Jang Na Ra and haven't seen The Last Empress, I'd recommend that series over Fated to Love You.
I dropped Fated to Love You after 10 episodes, I just wanted to watch something more interesting. I may return to it later, but for now I have more interesting things to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
