MilicaB

People wonder why I gave 10 to this kdrama.
If you are not smart enough to see it :) This drama is about a "new world" where differences are handled without prejudice and the genders are equal. The ML and FL are **** E Q U A L ****. She is not a loser, she is competent, and THEY COMMUNICATE. THEY ARE A FUNCTIONAL HEALTHY PAIR THAT WILL HAVE A LOVING PRODUCTIVE HAPPY RELATIONSHIP ALL THEIR LIVES. I think this kdrama is a pioneer.

The first episodes made me think this was just a fluffy rom-com for youngsters full of hormones. Like sneaking up on him to see his naked back with a tattoo etc. I was like ... omg I think Neflix is ruining kdramas.... ok.... I will just sleep through this... I was using the drama to destress from some ugly legal stuff, so my expectations werent high... The drama has an upbeat vibe bc ML and FL are very rational, adult, responsible characters although they are in their 30s so I watched because I was benefiting from that positive vibe. I am also a fan of the ML actor bc of Twinkling Watermallon, and FL is not a loser, she is highly capable, so I kept watching...

So at the very start, ML and FL were fighting against their own feelings in ways that were ... well... boring :) But ... there was no needless drama. ! I liked that. ML and FL are smart people and did not waste time and very quickly realized they liked each other and went along with it. They are smart and know it is necessary to hold onto your dream to make it happen. They are go-getters. That was fun to watch but still not quite it.

Then they had to resolve a conflict based on their animosity and hatred for each from the past. That was not quite fun to watch either but was getting more interesting. THEN the drama very sneakily took the turn to raise the curtain and for us the audience to watch behind the scenes and see MORE, and to see how it all fits together perfectly.

SUDDENLY we got to see the strength and the depth of ML and FL as individuals and as two lovers committed to each other. That was really impressive.

So everything that looked fluffy and over-the-top exaggerated and shallow, suddenly became a piece in a very nice looking overall picture. The two of them MATCHED with their personality and traits and ways of doing things, and were there for each other. THEY COMMUNICATED CLEARLY. They were committed.

So this drama ends on a note that is deeply satisfying, a very warm, solid, reliable relationship, human and humane note, and a lifelong love in a very positive, solid, reliable, sophisticated, mature way. By the end of the kdrama, ML and FL demonstrated HOW you can achieve it. Both were bossy and perfectionists, and both understood the deeper requirements of human condition and relationships, and both took steps to make it happen. They had arguments and fallouts and always cleared it out and came back together ON THEIR OWN. THis kdrama is not about them meeting by chance somewhere or friends rehooking them. EVerything good that happened in their relationship, happened bc ML and FL were mature enough to think it through , self observe, self correct, and step forward towards the other to fix the mess they caused. IT was very inspiring and positive.

THe underlying story is about accepting ourselves and living our life as we are, creating good karma, and about having loving clear productive family and personal relationships.

So that message that it is possible to pull it off if you try, properly :) and clearly, and bravely, was the message that was so powerful and so warm and educational. I started watching this bc there was nothing else to watch on Mon/Tue/Wed and it was boring at first but by the end, I felt good about watching it. IT LEFT A WARM FEELING IN MY HEART. It showed what is possible if you try properly.

Imo the key was the FL character. She was no-nonsense and relatively mature enough to see what was important, and to ACT on the important stuff before it was too late.

For me the breaking point was when the FL was talking to the evil Grandma and told her that this was not about who is the successor but is about the family of her love, how to keep his family.

As for the ML, his character is complex but the script did not leave room to show him as a complex person. The filmmaker made ML role so flat, always stiff, pompous and kinda grumpy and poker faced, so that really did not show even 0.5% of the actor's ability and made ML boring to watch. Some of his funnest scenes in this kdrama is when he gets kicked out and cooks, etc. I think the drama had to show him more in his HUMAN state, not just cheabol-idol-perfect-successor fake ACTING state. The drama forgot to mention how the ML character acted tough for his cheabol job and how different he was in his normal life. Not at concerts but when he was cooking, etc.

I saw the ML actor in "Twinkling Watermellon" one of the best scenes is when he communicates with the guitar player at the start of their first concert. Also, in My Dearest Nemesis, he had just a few moments where it seems like he ran wild and did not listen to whoever was filming him, and showed some of his fun, flirty, romantic, and charming side.
SO he can act a wide range and for some reason some bozos always put him in rough dumb flat shallow roles. Like Weak Hero Class 1.

I guess filmmakers are scared to lose money so they put an actor in a role he already did well at least once before. Like putting Meg Ryan ONLY in romantic comedies.... But that really messes up the filming and drama. It is boring. I cant even distinguish between Meg Ryan's films, they are all the same thing.

You need to milk the actors for all they got.

Well I understand you have to make money off dramas too so perhaps it is easier to recycle actors in the types of roles they already did...especially if the actor is not capable of acting anything else LOL there are those.... !!!!
But it is better to let the actor show more acting. Imo.