Wasted Potential for Stellar Rom-com Lineups
I went into Would You Marry Me with genuinely high expectations, especially because the pairing of Jung Somin and Choi Wooshik felt like a dream combination. I’ve always enjoyed Jung Somin’s romcom performances, so I was excited to see how their chemistry would carry a classic coming-of-age romantic comedy.
And to be fair—the chemistry is there. The main couple has a natural charm, and the second couple is equally delightful (honestly, I ended up loving the second leads even more). The cast overall did a solid job, and nothing about the acting felt out of place.
But beyond that… the drama ended up being just okay for me.
The biggest issue lies in the writing. The romance for both couples feels underdeveloped; Wooju and Meri’s relationship is sometimes pushed too quickly, creating awkward moments instead of emotional depth. At the same time, Sanghyeon and Jingyeong had so much potential, yet their dynamic never fully blossoms because the story prioritizes unnecessary external conflicts.
And that’s another problem:
the series leans too much into crime-family-company subplots, which are executed in a somewhat messy way. The ex and his family storyline, in particular, feels like filler—loud, disruptive, and not contributing meaningfully to the characters’ growth. With such a strong cast lineup, these plotlines end up wasting screen time that could’ve been spent developing relationships we actually care about.
Overall, the drama has warmth, charm, and genuinely lovable performances—but the writing and direction don’t live up to the potential. With better focus and cleaner narrative choices, this could’ve been a standout romcom. Instead, it’s a pleasant watch that left me wishing it had made bolder, smarter decisions.
And to be fair—the chemistry is there. The main couple has a natural charm, and the second couple is equally delightful (honestly, I ended up loving the second leads even more). The cast overall did a solid job, and nothing about the acting felt out of place.
But beyond that… the drama ended up being just okay for me.
The biggest issue lies in the writing. The romance for both couples feels underdeveloped; Wooju and Meri’s relationship is sometimes pushed too quickly, creating awkward moments instead of emotional depth. At the same time, Sanghyeon and Jingyeong had so much potential, yet their dynamic never fully blossoms because the story prioritizes unnecessary external conflicts.
And that’s another problem:
the series leans too much into crime-family-company subplots, which are executed in a somewhat messy way. The ex and his family storyline, in particular, feels like filler—loud, disruptive, and not contributing meaningfully to the characters’ growth. With such a strong cast lineup, these plotlines end up wasting screen time that could’ve been spent developing relationships we actually care about.
Overall, the drama has warmth, charm, and genuinely lovable performances—but the writing and direction don’t live up to the potential. With better focus and cleaner narrative choices, this could’ve been a standout romcom. Instead, it’s a pleasant watch that left me wishing it had made bolder, smarter decisions.
Was this review helpful to you?
