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'Call It Love' review: one of the most depressingly beautiful kdrama you'll ever watch
This modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet filled with misery will make your heart grow heavy. The first few episodes may seem dull and bleak at first but you will eventually get the hang of the pacing and follow the healing journey of Han Dong Jin and Sim Woo Joo.
The story revolves around Sim Woo Joo (played by Lee Sung Kyung) taking revenge against his late father's mistress who forced them out of their home. Fueled by resentment, she approaches the mistress' son. Han Dong Jin (played by Kim Young Kwang) is unaware of Woo Joo's motives as he leads a workaholic and lonely life. As the story unfolds, the two grow closer together and find solace in each other's company.
No doubt, this is Lee Sung Kyung's best acting performance to date. I really loved how she portrayed Woo Joo who is the sibling that holds the family together but is actually falling apart inside ever since their father cheated and left them.
Meanwhile, Kim Young Kwang's nuanced acting is chef's kiss. He inhibited Dong Jin's character with every heavy step he takes, every heavy sigh he heaves and even the way he slouches screams depression. His worn out bag also symbolizes the emotional baggage he has been carrying all these years. Dong Jin is vulnerable yet he's hiding this by constantly being stoic. The physicality of Young Kwang's performance was tremendous and at the very least deserves a Baeksang award.
The whole time I'm watching this show I can't help but think that this is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet but the depressed version. The Romeo and Juliet parallels are so interesting. Woo Joo's sworn enemy is Dong Jin's family. Interestingly, their lives became intertwined because of a house. We also have Rosaline in the character of Kang Min Young, Dong Jin's cheating ex who suddenly comes back and is running after our Romeo.
Woo Joo plans to take revenge on her father's mistress by ruining the life of the mistress' son. However, the second she laid her eyes on our Romeo, she thought he was living comfortable and content life when in reality it was the exact opposite. Dong Jin's slouch, heavy footsteps and unspoken words on his glaring face has proved that his life is everything but well. Her revenge plan has only made the two of them closer and empathize with each other.
Without him realizing, Dong Jin is beginning to lean on Woo Joo. The same goes for Woo Joo. She starts to root for Dong Jin and save him every time he feels like falling on the precipice.
It's like misery has brought the two of them closer unlike Romeo and Juliet who were only inseperable because of horny hormones. There is also something magnetic about characters who appears to be nonchalant and composed when in fact they are simply bottling up their emotions and a ticking bomb waiting to explode.
At the end of the show, you can't help but root for these characters and hope that their miseries will end. You will find yourself sincerely wishing them a good life and for them to stop loathing themselves. Then, you will realize you need to do the same for yourself.
This was such a masterpiece, a melo-romance with depth and fleshed-out characters. Although the antagonists' intentions (Min Young and Dong Jin's mother) are still questionable for me, I'll give them their due credit for succesfully making my blood boil.
The story revolves around Sim Woo Joo (played by Lee Sung Kyung) taking revenge against his late father's mistress who forced them out of their home. Fueled by resentment, she approaches the mistress' son. Han Dong Jin (played by Kim Young Kwang) is unaware of Woo Joo's motives as he leads a workaholic and lonely life. As the story unfolds, the two grow closer together and find solace in each other's company.
No doubt, this is Lee Sung Kyung's best acting performance to date. I really loved how she portrayed Woo Joo who is the sibling that holds the family together but is actually falling apart inside ever since their father cheated and left them.
Meanwhile, Kim Young Kwang's nuanced acting is chef's kiss. He inhibited Dong Jin's character with every heavy step he takes, every heavy sigh he heaves and even the way he slouches screams depression. His worn out bag also symbolizes the emotional baggage he has been carrying all these years. Dong Jin is vulnerable yet he's hiding this by constantly being stoic. The physicality of Young Kwang's performance was tremendous and at the very least deserves a Baeksang award.
The whole time I'm watching this show I can't help but think that this is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet but the depressed version. The Romeo and Juliet parallels are so interesting. Woo Joo's sworn enemy is Dong Jin's family. Interestingly, their lives became intertwined because of a house. We also have Rosaline in the character of Kang Min Young, Dong Jin's cheating ex who suddenly comes back and is running after our Romeo.
Woo Joo plans to take revenge on her father's mistress by ruining the life of the mistress' son. However, the second she laid her eyes on our Romeo, she thought he was living comfortable and content life when in reality it was the exact opposite. Dong Jin's slouch, heavy footsteps and unspoken words on his glaring face has proved that his life is everything but well. Her revenge plan has only made the two of them closer and empathize with each other.
Without him realizing, Dong Jin is beginning to lean on Woo Joo. The same goes for Woo Joo. She starts to root for Dong Jin and save him every time he feels like falling on the precipice.
It's like misery has brought the two of them closer unlike Romeo and Juliet who were only inseperable because of horny hormones. There is also something magnetic about characters who appears to be nonchalant and composed when in fact they are simply bottling up their emotions and a ticking bomb waiting to explode.
At the end of the show, you can't help but root for these characters and hope that their miseries will end. You will find yourself sincerely wishing them a good life and for them to stop loathing themselves. Then, you will realize you need to do the same for yourself.
This was such a masterpiece, a melo-romance with depth and fleshed-out characters. Although the antagonists' intentions (Min Young and Dong Jin's mother) are still questionable for me, I'll give them their due credit for succesfully making my blood boil.
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