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Short but good. If you want something to "fill the gaps" while watching something "on air"

8/10 is my rating for this 2017 Chinese comedy drama. Run time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is a remake of a 2015 South Korean movie entitled "Wonderful Nightmare."

After a fatal car crash Li Yuran (Gwei Lun-mei) who has been too focused on her career ro give any thought to having a family, is given a second chance. There was a mix-up and she was taken too early, so she is asked to assume a role of a woman was admitted to the afterlife too early while they sort out the error. After seven days she will be able to resume her life as a career focused, high power, attorney. The role she is in is about as different from her former life as it could be she has two children, a working architect husband, Zhang Tao (Chen Kun) and is a full-time housewife. Her daughter Xing Xing (Ouyang Nana) is an angsty teenager who has just began seeing a boy. Her son, Tian Tian (William Wang), is young and immediately senses something is different about his mother.

Spoiler 🚨 I really liked the premise. It had sort of a "Freaky Friday" feel. The fact that she was so out of her element in the beginning gave it a strong comedic aspect. I liked the relationships she developed with the daughter and the son although seven days did not seem like long enough to have that occur to the depth that it did. I could see her finding a way of having the "best of both worlds" if she were to be able to continue in that role. I was a little disappointed with the ending, not in the way the story went for her, but in not knowing what happened to the family she had been a part of. She looked for them but never found them and I did not feel there was a good explanation as to why she could not find them. Overall enjoyable but not a rush out to watch. I am interested in the South Korean version just to see how closely the two follow.

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Really the best of kdrama

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2013 South Korean television series with 18, 60 minute, episodes.

Jan Hye-sung (Lee Bo-young) and Park Soo-ha (Lee Jong-suk) share a bond around a crime that occurred when they were children. One was a victim and the other a witness. The tragic event impacts the lives of both main characters as well as the daughter of Hye-sung's mother's former employer (Hye-sung grew up with the daughter as her mother was a live in housekeeper). The killer vows revenge on Hye-sung for her testimony as a witness and Soo-ha states his intent to protect Hye-sung for her brave deed. Time passes and Hye-sung becomes a defense attorney. She had an impoverished childhood which makes her original intention in law just to make money. Soo-ha looks for Hye-sung knowing the killer will soon be released. Hye-sung does not immediately recognize Soo-ha from that childhood connection. However, when she finds out he has a unique ability, he can hear what people are thinking, she beings to utilize his skill in the court room to solve cases. Soo-ha's childhood housemate and frenemy has now become a prosecutor (who was with Hye-sung and was also a witness to the crime but did not testify). When the killer is out he begins his plot for revenge but in a society where reform is believed in, will anyone believe the two that he hasn't changed? Soo-ha will stop at nothing to protect Hye-sung but can she convince him that killing the killer makes him no better?

Spoiler 🚨 I loved everything about this drama. It had romance (and a love triangle of course), suspense, action and mystery. It was very well acted - I have loved everything I have seen with Lee Jong-suk. The roles he takes are complex and the storylines are always exciting and surprising. Lee Bo-young's evolution from a non caring only out for me person to someone that cares deeply about justice is great to see. You can tell it was always there and just took the right person and right set of circumstances to develop. I also liked the friendships that developed and the competitive nature of both the women and men who bettered themselves through their interactions with each other. It is a deep, moving and complex story. I would put it at the top of any list to watch especially for those that love a good mystery or suspense romance. Just a great drama!

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Both of the leads are great hard to miss when they star

This is a 2018 South Korean romantic comedy that has 32, 30 minute, episodes.

Yoo Jung-eum (Hwang Jung-eum) was a diving athlete until events in her life caused her to give up the sport. Her friend hires her into her match making agency because Jung-eum was a much better athlete than she is a matchmaker. Kang Hoon-nam (Namkoong Min) seems to be everywhere Jung-dum is and they have a series of encounters. Hoon-nam ghost writes a relationship column and is so successful at helping people groom themselves to be a love interest that he turns his cousin into a player who causes havoc in Jung-eum’s company to the point that she is blamed for her client’s bad behavior and given one last chance to redeem herself by getting dates for a cadre of clients who are deemed undateable. Not having the skill to turn the folks around herself she seeks out the person ghost writing the advice articles that have proven successful. Jung-eum is surprised to siscover the relationship guru is none other than Hoon-nam a man who, based on their earlier not so positive encounters made her agree to never appear in front of him again. Can she convince him to help her? If he helps can they get dates for the Undateables and even find love themselves?

Spoiler 🚨 Jung-eum’s job as a dating consultant or matchmaker is very interesting. I like how sweet yet feisty she is. This is another one where I wish I could split the female lead in two because I liked the second guy a lot. I like all of their friends and the side stories are really cute too. It is funny that the lead guy is supposedly a dating expert yet he has such a hard time figuring out his own relationships.The leads acted this very well as you can see them as a couple and their personalities, in terms of their characters, were very complementary. There was just enough intrigue with a mysterious past that it made you want to discover the whole story. I was surprised I liked this as much as I did. It is very predictable and not very complex but so well acted and overall still entertaining that it is one I would highly recommend.

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Well paced heartwarming romantic series with small town, friends to lovers and revenge elements

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2023/2024 South Korean romantic comedy with 16, 70 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) and Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun) were childhood friends who grew up in a small community on Jeju Island. The adults termed them soul mates as they were born minutes apart on the same day. And their life follows the trajectory of that destined fate as close friends as children then a young couple later on. An incident drives them apart and lead both to separately pursue their dreams. Yong-pil remains on the island as a weather forecaster to fulfill his dream of providing accurate forecasts so that others will not die from weather events as his mother did. While brilliant in his field, he is a thorn in the side of the other forecasters as he is very vociferous in his demands for perfection in forecasting. Many of the youth from the Island are eager to escape that limited geography and make their mark in big city Seoul. Sam-dal also wants to escape the small town and is determined to thrive in Seoul. After much hardship, Samdal finally becomes a highly successful fashion photographer known under the professional name Cho Eun-hye. At the peak of her career, she is in the circles with all the top celebrities as a highly demanded artistic and entertainment photographer. A series of events causes Cho Eun hye’s professional and personal life to completely come apart. Samdal decides to take a pause on her career and leave the city that now felt like it turned on her. Her hometown has always been her safe haven filled with all the people she was once very close to. When Samdal and Yongpil find themselves back in the same circles, they discover their feelings for each other never died. With two very different dreams is there a way for them to be together without sacrificing their own life goals? Can Samdal prove her innocence and re-establish her career?

Review

This is a really good romantic drama with friends to lovers, coming of age and even revenge elements. People who grew up in an island culture or in a small town will relate to a lot of the content. It is an overall feel good romance served up with slices of small town life. The small insights into Haenyeo (female diver) culture is a bonus.

Spoilers

Yong pil’s dad Cho Sang-tae (Yu Oh seong), was so emotionally and physically abusive to others I seriously disliked the character. It was satisfying, in the last few episodes, when the rest let loose in him. Look she wasn’t just your wife she was my best friend, my mother etc. You are not the only one grieving. I wish someone had said your wife would have hated this. He was obsessed with her leading up to them being together and was obsessed with her after she died. Blaming her best friend when his wife as an adult who chose to go was misplaced anger. He was such a cruel selfish person, I was glad he came around for the other characters but I did not feel there was any redemption for him.

The assistant who falsely accused her was eventually revealed as a liar. That was great to get to see some justice served. A little bit more about her and the fall out of her misdeeds would have been better as so much of Samdal’s story centered around her assistant’s lies.

I loved the story with her older sister and ex husband who so clearly still loved each other but had been driven apart by his horrible family. I would have liked to see them get remarried.

The chemistry between Shin Hye sun and Ji Chang wook was surprising. I just never pictured them together as they typically choose very different scripts. But they are both such great actors it was completely believable. I became a fan Of Ji Chang wook from his action shows but this sweet boy next door role worked perfectly too which just shows his diversity.



#WelcometoSandalRi

#JiChangwook

#ShinHyeSun

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Perfect classic romantic drama

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean romantic comedy series with 16, 60-77 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique Synopsis then reviiew.

Synopsis

Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah) has finally landed her dream job as a concierge at the King Hotel. She has a smile that was made for the role and her beauty and above average capability has her climbing the ranks at the hotel rapidly. Although her aspirations and goals are on path, Sa-rang often finds herself squarely in the cross hairs of Goo Won (Lee Jun-ho) the handsome chaebol who is set to inherit the conglomerate.

At first the two only find the other annoying. But they soon realize there is way more common ground in common as they each pursue their dreams in the hotel world.

Review

This was very good and perfect for anyone that likes a slow build, well developed, heartwarming and enduring romance. The lead couple had perfect chemistry to the point if you discovered they were dating in real life it would not be a surprise. It has a happy ending and all major plot points are resolved.

Spoilers*
Lee Jun ho plays a chaebol that is sensitive and caring and very sweet. He has a gruff exterior but it is a very thin veil for a vulnerable but very kind person. Once he fell for her he did not change his feelings or interest from that point despite family and social pressure.

Even those who tried not to like Sa-rang were unsuccessful. Her amazing competence and unflappable concern for the customers and all those her around her won over virtually everyone.

I loved that she reached the dream team level and realized that it was not all about providing an experience and making people happy. From the classic maid uniform to the tone of that highest privileged experience of serving the Chairman and his guests, it was clear that it was about the elites flashing their elevated status by having the best wait staff at their beck and call. It paid extremely well but she did not think it was worth prostrating your pride on the alter of social narcissism. It was disillusioning for her. So when she decided to quit the King Hotel and create her own experience it made sense. But I was not a fan of the cliff hangar where it made the viewer think she was going to break up with him for his or her own good. I hate that trope and it just so happened that was the episode I was ending on for that night. It was a good and surprising twist but not one I was fond of.

I loved Sa-rang’s grandmother, Cha Soon-hee (Kim Young-ok) is a character that is always in lead girl’s camp, strongly supporting her in all she does. Soon-hee plays the elder in many dramas but thus very cantankerous exterior was a new twist on her usual much more amiable roles. Social status did not intimidate her or overly impress her and she felt her granddaughter was invaluable and not someone to be won with mere money and social status. Her relationship with Won was endearing. Although she made it hard to win her favor, once she decided he was the one she was proud and happy to have him as her grandson in law. It was cute he tried so hard but also that he seemed to genuinely care for her and felt like her trials were reasonable as he understood it reflected the deep caring and love she had for her grandchild.

I did not feel like the story between Won’s parents made a lot of sense. She was supposedly his great love where he was willing to buck social traditions, and be with her, but the minute she did something his father seriously disapproved of not only did he abandon their relationship, but he stole her son and cast her out. They never showed who the wife of his daughter was (his other wife and someone that was socially acceptable) and that might’ve helped explain how that whole situation went down. It just did not make sense that somebody who loved another enough to go against society would so easily give up on them. Later when she comes back, he doesn’t seem to have any remorse over what happened in the past, and instead sort of doubles down on the way he is with his son until the very end when he does have a slight reversal. On has a brief touching encounter with his mom but, other than her attendance at the wedding, we do not get to see the mother and son grow closer. Overall the way that played out did not do justice to the build up to that point. .

The other minor plot flaw was how much it showed her roommate and friends unfair treatment at work without significant satisfaction is seeing them flip the script. I mean the airline stewardess revealed who the ex was and kicked him in his sensitive parts (which he well deserved) but you never saw her make that next level. There was significant screen time devoted to jer desire to become purser and how she was continually passed over unfairly. The romance with her friend and fellow flight attendant was bonus level but it would have been good to see some positive resolve to her unfair work situation. Her other friend had a dead beat husband who she got back at but it never seemed like she had the relationship with him she deserved.

When Won’s sister gets in a verbal altercation with her soon to be ex husband and he slaps her, I was shocked and not okay with that scene. It played through like she had it coming but I personally do not think partners should be physically violent with each other, She slaps him back and that was slightly satisfying but still, men should not hit women in general. Now if it is some psycho woman who started things, and he has no choice, then defending himself is acceptable. But that was not the case, he was angry she bought his girlfriend off and slapped her. Men are built more robustly than women and have greater muscle mass so they should protect not harm.

#KingtheLand
#ImYoonAh
#LeeJunHo

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Had potential

Also known by the titles “Hi” and “Welcome”. This is a 2020 Fantasy Romantic Drama with 24, 30 minute, episodes.

Kim Sol-Ah (Shin Ye-eun) has an artistic mind and an active imagination and works at an ad agency but dreams of writing Webtoons. She categorizes people as either dog like people or cat like people. She thinks she prefers dog like people because cats are generally quiet and independent. When the boy she has had feelings for since high school (10 years), Lee Jae-sun (Seo Ji-hoon) suddenly returns Sol-ah finds herself thrown back into longing for the guy who broke her heart by suddenly leaving and having anither girlfriend. It is a mystery as to why he kissed her and acted like he wanted to be with her and then suddenly left. Friends before the brief interlude Sol-Ah falls back into the pattern of friendship all the while wondering what happened and wanting more. Jae-sun seems relatively cold toward her but does not say why. Seo Ji-hoon newest ex brings a cat they both had and says she can’t keep it and for him to take it back. . The problem is he’s very allergic to cats so Sol-ah steps up and says she will keep the cat while he finds another place for it. What she doesn’t know is this is no ordinary cat. Something about being around Sol-ah makes the cat turn into a human. Suddenly this strange boy is appearing around Sol-ah. When she finds the stranger in her house she mistakes him for her step brother she never met but is to share a house with. She renames the cat Hong-jo and decides to keep hi. As her feelings grow for the cat she begins to feel an attachment for her new housemate as well. As she grows more distant from Jae-sun he discovers he still has feelings for her after all. Who will Sol-ah choose?

spoiler 🚨 I started out liking this one really well. The premise was interesting and I like the supernatural aspect. I was also really happy when the lead girl did not continue to pine after someone that did not seem to have any feelings for her. I thought the relationship she developed with the cat was one any animal lover could understand. They sort of creep into your heart even if you don’t really mean for them to. It was a little harder to understand how she developed such a deep connection when he turned into human form. While I was happy to see her able to move on and not long for somebody that didn’t seem to want her, it was sad for her to love so deeply someone she could never be fully with. When the second guy actually came around and you found out his backstory I found out I was rooting for him too. There were several ways this could’ve ended happily but, for me, it made me feel really sad towards the end and I was not happy with the way it ended. In fact I would’ve found it much better and rated it much higher if I wasn’t as disappointed with the ending as I am. For those that don’t mind endings a little sad it may not bother them as much but I don’t like ending a series I otherwiseI enjoyed on a sad note. It had “Pirates of the Caribbean” Syndrome in terms of a sad Situation. It reminded me of how I felt about “Absolute Boyfriend” where the ending had me irritated - it felt like such a waste.

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So much wasted potential to be a top supernatural romance

Review

8/10 is my rating. Liked the premise. The acting was great. Main couple was cute. But dang! Lots of problems with elements and just the flow of events and how plot and subplot points were not well tied up.

Overall, this is a charming coming-of-age romance that weaves a compelling supernatural thread through high school life. The drama, starring Cho Yi-hyun and Choo Young-woo, blends heartfelt emotions with Korean shamanism, creating a unique narrative that balances youthful love with mystical stakes. The chemistry between the leads, Park Seong-ah and Bae Gyeon-woo, is engaging, but also frustrating because they never do the things that would make it feel like it fully blossomed. She had a dream sequence of a first date but no real first date. They slept in the same room and cuddled and even held hands but that was out of necessity. So, it was never quite there, never reached the emotional peaks that this genre had attained in other shows. The second male lead, Pyo Ji-ho, is a standout, his sweet and loyal nature sparking a strong case of second-lead syndrome that may leave viewers torn. The show’s exploration of Korean shamanism is a highlight, offering a glimpse into its rituals and cultural significance, though it occasionally feels more theatrical than impactful. Not knowing, from a native Korean perspective, how accurate the depiction is, I don't know if it was just lacking in any spiritual depth in this show or if that is the overall view of the practice. But I think fans of romance, supernatural stories, or Korean folklore will find it an enjoyable watch, and it is perfect for those who love a mix of heart and mystery. It’s not a drama I’d rush to rewatch, but it’s one I wouldn’t skip if it popped up on my screen.

Spoilers 

The grandmother, Oh Ok-soon, was a heartwarming presence, anchoring Gyeon-U’s lonely world with her unwavering love. Her death hit hard, and I found it frustratingly unnecessary—her loss stripped away a vital emotional tether without adding much to the story’s progression. It felt like a plot device to deepen Gyeon-U’s despair rather than a meaningful narrative choice.

The villainous shaman, Yeom-hwa, was chillingly manipulative, orchestrating Gyeon-U's misfortunes by convincing his family he was cursed while profiting from their desperation. However, the drama never fully explores her connection to the family or explicitly confirms her schemes, leaving a sense of incompleteness. They touch on Gyeon-U's family, and their poor treatment of him because they think he is cursed, but we never find out if, after Yeom-hwa is no longer able to manipulate Gyeon- U as directly, if there is any level reconciliation with his estranged families. Most families, even selfish families like his, would come out of the woodwork just to claim shines of fame with his archery fame. This lack of closure on his family made that whole loop where they shunned him, seem unnecessary. That could have just been mentioned by one of the characters if there wasn't going to be any follow through.

The possession arc, particularly with the spirit Bong-su, was a gripping twist, but it lost momentum. Bong-su’s initial menace as a child soldier spirit haunting Gyeon-U was compelling, but as soon as he arrived on scene his character turned out to be very different than what we had been led to expect. If anything, he was a character that garnered our sympathy, somewhat endearing, and it was hard to reconcile that with a spirit that had supposedly dispatched nearly 100 lives. And why? Why would he even have done that. There was nothing indicting he particularly desired to be evil. He wanted to be a teenager and have teenage experiences. The two-year plus year time skip after Seong-ah’s possession felt like a cheap separation trope, one I found particularly grating. This was way too long to spend on this one story. It moved what should have been a side story to make it become a main story. And it distanced the leads emotionally and narratively, with Gyeon-U’s search for her via archery-fueled ghost hunting feeling underdeveloped and rushed. They could have added all kinds of intrigue by having Gyeon-U uncover ghost stories based on his new ability to see them. The resolution, tied to uncovering Bong-su’s true identity as a manifestation of another boy’s pain, was poignant but arrived too late to fully redeem the chaotic pacing of the final episodes.

And I mean really why? Why the separation trope? It ultimately accomplished nothing. She hung out with angsty teenage boy ghost, let him possess her, only to have him transfer back to Gyeon-U again later. I mean Seong-ah possessed by Bong-su was amusing. She was way more "sex kitten" than when she was actual Seong-ah (which didn't make a lot of sense because she was possessed by a virginal teenage boy). Which just made this possessed Seong-ah’s arc super frustrating. Her dream of a normal life, including graduating high school, is a core motivation, but the separation trope—her possession by Bong-su and two-year disappearance—robs her of that milestone. I hoped for a poignant moment, like her showing up at graduation to share in the celebration (maybe even grabbing flowers during the ceremony setup), but her absence leaves her arc unresolved and hollow.

The shamanism, while visually striking, often came across as ineffective. Seong-ah’s rituals—lots of dancing and rattle-shaking—rarely succeeded in major tasks like dispelling evil spirits or breaking curses, making the practice feel more performative than powerful. This trivialized the cultural weight of shamanism, which was disappointing, though my daughter, who watched with me, loved the rituals for their immersive dive into the practice, even if their authenticity is questionable. The finale was another sore point: Gyeon-U’s Olympic archery tryouts were a big moment, but Seong-ah’s absence, tied up with shamanic duties, felt like a betrayal of their bond. After losing his grandmother, her not being there for him stung, especially since her spiritual tasks often yielded minimal results. The general’s (Dongcheon’s) death was another misstep—her sacrifice to empower Bong-su felt abrupt, and Yeom-hwa’s unrepentant cruelty as her daughter made the loss feel hollow, with no redemption or accountability for her actions. And what was up with the flower shaman who was so against handing out his talismans and seemed to have a grudge in the first part but then joined the team and handed them out like confetti later. He also seemed like a powerful shaman in the beginning but then, later, when he was really needed made some weird white rampy thing with a lantern maybe that he was trying to push toward the door but couldn't. So weird.

The drama could have soared if it leaned harder into Seong-ah’s empowerment as a shaman, giving her the ability to decisively save Gyeon-U rather than relying on drawn-out rituals and a disjointed finale. Despite these flaws, the emotional core—Seong-ah’s determination and Gyeon-U’s quiet resilience—kept me invested. It’s a story with heart, but it stumbles in tying its supernatural and emotional threads into a cohesive whole.

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Synopsis

Head Over Heels is a 2025 South Korean drama that blends fantasy, romance, and comedy in a captivating tale of love and destiny. There are 12, 60 minute, episodes.

High school student Park Seong-ah (Cho Yi-hyun), secretly a shaman known as Fairy Cheon Ji, navigates a double life, battling spirits by night while blending in with her peers by day. When she encounters the handsome but ill-fated Bae Gyeon-u (Choo Young-woo), whose tragic destiny she foresees in a prophetic vision, Seong-ah falls head over heels and vows to change his fate. As their bond deepens, she faces supernatural challenges, skeptical peers, and the mysterious spirit Bong-su (Cha Kang-yoon), whose presence complicates their budding romance. For those familiar with Korean folklore, this offers a fresh take on the folktale of Gyeon-woo and Jiknyeo.

Note: The Korean folktale of Gyeon-u Jiknyeo, also known as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, tells the story of two lovers separated by the Milky Way. Gyeon-u, a cowherd, and Jiknyeo, a weaver, fall deeply in love but are forbidden to be together by the heavens. Moved by their devotion, magpies and crows form a bridge across the Milky Way once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, allowing the lovers to reunite briefly. This tale, celebrated during the Chilseok festival, symbolizes enduring love and the power of connection despite great obstacles.

#HeadOverHeels #CowherdandWeaverGirl

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Joyously overly exaggerated muscle buildery romance

Review



10/10 is my rating. I have watched over 400 Asian Dramas, and this is one of the most fun romantic comedies I’ve watched! It provides a blend of fitness, humor, and emotional growth. If you have ever been around body builders, you know how muscle building laser focused they can be. Do Hyun‑joong, a former world‑class bodybuilder turned gym owner represents an exaggeration of that body builder mind set. It pokes some fun at it. Hyun-joong obsessively loves all things muscle and protein. His antics had me laughing again and again, especially with exclamations like “What the fat?!” paired with "what the (fill in the blank) about everything. His amusing sayings and over the top fitness focus provided hilarious comic relief.



The chemistry between Do Hyun‑joong and Lee Mi‑ran, a travel agency assistant manager who joins the gym post-breakup, was natural and heartwarming. Their dynamic felt grounded and sweet, balancing gym intensity with emotional support.



Side characters like Rosa (the veteran trainer) and Alex (the baby-faced muscle assistant) added fun layers, especially with Rosa’s fierce attitude toward Hyun‑joong taking over her gym. Even the subplot featuring Mi‑ran’s sister (Lee Ji‑ran) and her boyfriend (Lee Sang‑jin) brought hilarious chaos and warmth to the story.



It’s impressive how well-developed each character was across the twelve episodes — rare in short K‑dramas but executed here with skill.



If you’re craving a lighthearted, funny, and affectionate rom‑com with emotional stakes, Pump Up the Healthy Love should be on your watchlist.



Spoilers



I’ve got to say, separation tropes feel overused in many dramas—it bothered me when Mi‑ran took off to Hawaii; it felt like a detour rather than an emotionally necessary shift.

I did not expect Sol—who wasn't on the full-time—to be as sweet and selfless as she was. I was certain she’d be scheming to win Hyun‑joong back, but instead she was a loyal friend to Mi‑ran. That made her tragic death hit even harder.

Mi‑ran’s sister and her boyfriend could be cringy at times. Hard to see what she saw in him but different strokes and all that.

Despite a few pacing and trope-related missteps, the finale gave a satisfying and emotionally resonant wrap-up. Every key arc was tied up and Do Hyun‑joong and Lee Mi‑ran closed with real payoff. Minor flaws aside, the humor, chemistry, and heartfelt moments made this a clear favorite in my book

Synopsis

This is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy-drama with 12, 60-70 minute episodes. It provides a slice of the gym life and muscle building fitness fanatics.

Do Hyun-joong (Lee Jun-young), was a world-champion bodybuilder but he inherited a gym and took over as director. His unique spin on fitness and training where "no pain no gain" is taken to the extreme does not site well with some of the staff who believe a softer approach is more appealing to draw in and retain members. Despite being open 24-Hours and having a world class bodybuilder at the helm, the gym is struggling financially. Not everyone can take his brand of training, which is a lot of "suck it up sister or brother type of training" but Lee Mi-ran (Jung Eun-ji), a woman struggling from a break-up with a longer-term boyfriend, decides she needs someone who will keep her motivated. Especially since the reason her ex gave for the break up was he was not attracted to her unfit body. It is not an easy change for Mi-ran who is a foodie and likes to explore new places to recommend in her role as a travel agency manager. But Hyun-joong promises to transform her body and life so Mi-ran says sign me up. Hyun-joong is the type who will show up as you are about to put the donut in your mouth and smack it out of your hand which sets up a lot of hilarious moments as Mi-ran has always used food for comfort. Having someone solidly in your corner with life's many challenges proves to be what Mi-ran needed and her energy revives the gym and softens Hyun-joong's approach. This series is a journey for both dynamic characters who learn from each other about fitness, life and love.

#PumpUptheHealthyLove #Lee Jun-young #Jung Eun-ji

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I looked forward to every episode as it aired. Great chemistry. Well acted. Enjoyable.

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy series with 12, 60 minute episodes.  Other titles are “Spice Up Our Love” and “No Loss in Love.”

 

First, I provide a Unique Synopsis then review. 

 

Synopsis

 

Son Hae-young (Shin Min-A) was an only child but grew up with her parents continually taking in foster kids and, as such not paying a lot of attention to their only child.  In the balance of life, she felt like she was constantly having what should have been hers taken away by others that may have just been passing through.  That early experience, and the resentment she still bears as an adult, has shaped her so she wants equity in every interaction.  At work promotions and many other opportunities are restricted to those that are married.  This unfair policy reminds her of her childhood which she felt was completely unfair.  When a competition opens at work that is only available to married employees, Hae-young makes a decision which would allow her to participate.  A fake marriage she determines is the only way to gain all the benefits she can at work. 

 

Hae-young has been in an ongoing battle with convenience clerk Kim Ji-wook (Kim Young-dae) who has gained the reputation of being an angel for his kind nature and selfless volunteer work.  So, it is out of character for him to be mean or petty but Hae-young’s over the top antics, which he observes as she frequents his store, have made him her anti-fan.  He pettily deprives her of her favorite snack insuring there is limited, or no stock, and she does stuff like mess up his store shelves.   But Hae-young is desperate for a fake groom and her rival in her mind is the perfect candidate because he dresses bum sheik and their conflict ensures no feelings will develop.  Ji-wook originally refuses Hae-young’s outrageous offer until he realizes Hae-young will choose anybody, including this con man he knows, to fulfill her plan.  Even with their cold war Ji-wook cannot stand to see Hae-young get hurt so he agrees to her crazy plan, pretending he is in it for the compensation and assurance of a quick divorce.  But things start to change when Ji-wook cleans up to above average handsome.  As the two work in partnership on the fake marriage, they learn things about each other that change their opinion. Maybe Hae-young’s heart may not be as safe as she thought it was. 

 

Review



 This was a super heart warming romantic comedy which I waited eagerly every week to air. I like both of the actors a lot and have enjoyed many things they have been in so was excited to see them in this one and I wasn’t disappointed. They had great chemistry and their romance was very believable. It was really fun in the beginning when they had this bit of a rival going, it made it very interesting. She was really unique and you could tell it was gonna take a lot to win her over and convince her that there were more important things in life than keeping a tally. I would watch it if somebody had it on I might even seek it out to watch it again. I highly recommend it to anybody that likes romance or any of the actors.



Spoilers



It definitely takes you an emotional roller coaster as I felt for him every time she pushed him away emotionally. It was so clear she really liked him and was just getting in her own way. I wish we had more of reunion in the end. It was really just the very last few minutes. We actually saw more of the second couple together.



Her friend/sister was in some polyamarous relationship and I just think that’s odd. I’ve never known anybody other than swingers in that kind of relationship. I don’t know why they felt the need to include that and I didn’t really like it, but it wasn’t a big enough part of the story to ruin it for me. I liked her long time boyfriend and liked it when he wanted to be exclusive and was willing to accept the baby even if it wasn’t his. Their relationship actually wound up being pretty cute. I just didn’t think they needed that part where they each had another partner and that she wasn’t sure who the babies’ father was. Again just seemed completely unnecessary and actually a departure from why I usually like Korean shows where they’re much more wholesome typically. So I think that was a Prime effect rather than anything. Korean writers would’ve typically done.



I wanted to reconcile with her mom and understand more why she did what she did with the foster kids, but they never really took it there.



It was good that the brothers were starting to come together. I would’ve liked to see more of their relationship develop because they were both lonely in a way and needed each other. I also wanted to see him get to know his dad a little bit.



While it was cool that she started her own business and took the secretary with her. It would’ve been a step cooler if it had been highly successful and she wouldn’t have had to go back to her previous boss for a loan. I mean the interaction where he sort of tease them and then end up giving it to them anyway and called them. Traders was cute, but I still would’ve liked to have seen her being really successful on her own.

 

#NoGainNoLove  #SpiceUpOurLove  #NoLossInLove   #KimYoungDae   #ShinMinA

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If you like simple, sweet, heart warming coming of age drama this is a must watch

is my rating. This is a 2023 Chinese romantic drama with 24, 30-40 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Su Zaizai (Zhang Miaoyi) and Zhang Lurang (Zhou Yiran) are complete opposites in personality. Where Zhang Lurang is cold and aloof, Su Zaizai is social and friendly. That doesn’t stop Zaizai from developing an instant crush on Zhang Lurang when they have a chance encounter at a corner store on a rainy day. Zaizai begins to persistently put herself in Zhang Lurang’s sphere to get his attention and win his friendship. Zaizai turns out to be just what Zhang Lurang needed to help him break out of his cold, lonely shell. Tolerance becomes friendship then evolves to something more.

Review

This is one of the most heart warming romantic comedies I have ever seen. The main romance is credible, well paced, believable and incredibly sweet. The bonus, second couple romance, is also very touching. So many interesting relationships between the friends and family. If you like heart warming romances, coming of age, or friends to lovers then you should definitely add this to your watch list.

Spoilers

Zhang Lurang’s mother was a tiger mom to the extreme. Her expectations were so unreasonably high she was not satisfied her son was a top student. His lack of self confidence and shy/withdrawn nature was the consequence of his mother’s extreme behavior. It is harmful to compare one person to another in a negative way. Does it happen in real life. Absolutely. My spouse was subjected to that same lens and had many emotional problems as a result.

To watch Zaizai’s sunny persistence draw Zhang Lurang out of his protective cocoon was a delight to watch. In one part someone said your girlfriend is clingy and he corrected them saying he was the one who was clingy. Later they commented all the women were after him romantically yet he never wavered. It made perfect sense because she literally saved him from himself and he said as much.

There were occasions where the group of five were together just enjoying their friendship and being young and I loved it. It is a gift to have people like that in your life.

I loved how all the kids loved the one friend’s grandmother. They hung out at her restaurant and she fed them good food


#ZhangMiaoyl
#ZhouYiran

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I like Legal Dramas - just did not find this one interesting

7.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020 South Korean drama with 16, 70 minute episodes.

Jung Geum-ja (Kim Geun-ja) is a lawyer who, like a Hyena, has no issue with scavenging off other‘s weakness to win a case. She crosses paths with Yoon Hee-jae (Ju Ji-hoon) who works for a distinguished law firm that caters to the wealthiest of the wealthy. Yoon Hee-jae is confident in his ability and has risen through the ranks of his law firm at an accelerated rate due to his exceptional legal skill that is until he goes against Geum-ja. Their first encounter is on a divorce case and Geum-ja seduces Hee-Jae in order to get close enough to him to steal information that is critical to winning the case.

In general I did not find the cases they worked on very compelling. It was mostly corporate level cases or rich chaebol and that type of law was not very interesting to me. I did not feel a lot of chemistry between the leads. I also did not like Geum-ja's underhanded way of doing law. It was okay a lot of times for the criminals she was pursuing but tricking someone by pretending to love them then stealing information to win a case was cruel and it made it so I did not like her very much. She is supposed to be very attractive but her short hair did not make her look very attractive to me. I have been watching this for many weeks and I usually watch things quickly but I find it very slow.

It took me a long time to finish this drama. I did not hate it but I certainly did not love it. Spoiler Alert* I found the way Geum-ja treated Hee-Jae in the beginning reprehensible. She seduced him to steal information to win a case. Hee-jae was a nice guy so I could not excuse the way she treated him as just being competitive or breaking some rules for a good outcome. If he had been a jerk then maybe I could have gotten past that but he was nice and what she damaged his career. I also did not find the cases they were working on very interesting. Corporate intrigue is just not much my thing. Since I was not pulling for the romance between the leads, I was not super invested in them getting together. It was also very slow in some parts. If you are someone who really likes legal drama, particularly corporate law, or likes one of these actors a lot - you might find it worth the watch. In general I would say there are far better legal dramas to watch and I would pass this one over.

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Love knows no borders

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2019/2020 South Korean television drama with 16, 70-110 minute episodes.

Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) has lived the life of a Princess as a chaebol heiress to one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea. She is the only daughter and has always been somewhat of a black sheep leading her to form her own successful fashion sporting goods line. She has two older brothers who would be the logical successors to her father, however, he does not feel like his sons have what it takes to run the business. He announces his plan to have his daughter, Se-ri, run the company when he retires and plans to announce it at the next shareholder meeting. Se-ri is excited to have proven herself and vows to wrap up her own business and put it under management with just one final campaign. To test a flight suit she goes paragliding in Seoul and a freak weather event, with tornadic winds, blows her off course into North Korea's portion of the demilitarized zone. Having lived a pampered life she does not, at first, realize how dangerous the situation she has found herself in is. As luck would have it, she is discovered on patrol by Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) who is from a powerful North Korean family and is serving as a Captain in the Korean People's Army. Unlike Se-ri he knows all too well what might happen if she was turned in to the North Korean military police. After some reluctance he decides to protect her and help her get back to South Korea. Meanwhile, Se-ri's family, particularly her brothers, assume her dead, and began competing for the role of their father's successor. When they find out Se-ri is alive by chance, they conspire to keep her from returning to South Korea. Meanwhile Jeong-hyeok has been trying to solve the mystery surrounding his brother's death and winds up with an enemy in common with Se-ri who is determined to expose them both. Although Jeong-hyeok is engaged to a North Korean heiress, there is no love in the arrangement, and he finds himself drawn to Se-ri and she to him.
spoilers*. I like the glimpse into North Korean life that this show gives. It illustrates how people all over the world are very much the same in that we want good things for our kids, to have loving friends, and see the people around us happy and healthy. In the beginning, when the female lead first landed in North Korea I liked how they did not immediately befriend her but had a debate about what to do with this person who was possibly an enemy. It felt like they went through the same type of discovery and found that they had fewer differences and more similarities. I liked all the young military men and how loyal they were to each other and to their captain. I thought it was interesting how she found a way to fit in with the local women and came to be friends with them. The male leads fiancé and him were in an arranged marriage and it was interesting to see the conflict as he started to fall in love with someone. It also delved into love versus obsession and there was a lot of character growth on all of their parts. The female lead started as a spoiled and “Picky Princess“ but she learned through being around people that had so much less than she did yet still found ways to enjoy life and each other that she did not need all those things she had back in South Korea. I thought the way her family had very little love between them as they were too busy fighting for control of the company showed the way when the focuses is on the material a lot of the joyous things in life are lost. I would’ve scored this even higher but I was, unlike a lot of people, disappointed in the ending as I thought they might find a way to be together either her going to North Korea or him defecting to South Korea. I thought perhaps there was an angle with her being rich and them wanting her money as the father had mentioned. It turned out in the end that they were only able to be together in SwitzerlandJust a couple weeks out of the year. I was also disappointed that the side couple never got to be together because he wound up dying around the time he finally came around and redeemed himself. I still feel like it is Netflix influence that makes it so the females in these act as if they don’t need a man in their life. That is a very modern Western concept. I know some people would say there are families that live that way and that is considered a normal type of ending or at least one possible ending. To me I watch stuff not to see the harsher parts of life play out, I like the happily ever after stories as I think life is hard enough as it is. Still it was very good and very well written with excellent actors. The chemistry between the couples was very believable and the friendships were heartwarming. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants a glimpse into North Korean lifestyle as I understand there were many North Koreans who provided information and insight for the script so while it is still a movie and not entirely based on facts a lot of the major elements such as power outages, house searches, and a lack of technology for most people I understand accurately portrays life for many North Koreans.

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I wanted to Like it More

7.5 out of 10 is my rating. This is a 2012 South Korean TV show with 16, 30-60 min, episodes. Shi-Won (Jung Eun-ji) is a fangirl in the 1990s of a boy band called H.O.T. Flash forward to her at 33 years old and nearing a reunion, her and her 5 friends in high school recall what was like for them all back then. Yoon Yoon-je (Seo In-juk) is the younger of two brothers who grew up with Shi-won when his parents died. Shi-won’s parents were best friends of Yoon-je‘s parents and became like mother and father to the two boys when their parents died. Yoon Tae-Woong was in love with and fiancée to Shi-won’s older sister who died tragically. Tae-Woon later shows romantic interest in Shi-won. Yoon-je also loves Shi-won but feels his brother, who sacrificed so much for him, should not bear heartbreak again so he puts his feelings aside. Friendship, love triangles and flashes back to the 90's lots of interesting elements.

Spoiler 🚨 I was very lukewarm about this one. I found myself waiting for it to get over. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it either. It was a little bit like the United States television show "How I Met your Mother" in that it started in the future and had you wondering who Shi-won's husband was. They kept teasing you with it and you couldn’t figure out which one of the guys she was married to. Then in a series of extended flashbacks you get the story slowly throughout the episodes. Of course there are love triangles and side romances and also bromances and all of that was good. It ended the way I like them to end where I knew what was going on with all the characters. I did not particularly like the type of relationship the two that wind up together had. It was the sort of bickering and fighting that makes you wonder if they even like each other sort of relationship. The chemistry was there but the way they portrayed the relationship was hard to envision them lasting long term. One of the side couples would have been cute but they were constantly breaking up or saying they were going to break up which made them not seem that into each other either. It made me wonder what the writers idea of a good relationship is. It focused a little bit on the fan girl angle but I didn’t feel like I knew a whole lot more about that after having watched this. There were also some weird things like when the sister died I had to read some other reviews to even figure out that that was Shi-won's sister. They never showed the sister as a really being part of the family they always showed her doing things other than with the family. Then when she died suddenly and unexpectedly there was really only one passing comment about it made by the dad. And the fiancé, Tae-woon, it did not really show him going through much grief either. It made me wonder why they even bothered to include that storyline except for later when he falls for Shi-won she wonders and you wonder as well if it’s just because she reminds him of the sister. Shi-won even asked Tae-woon if he liked her because she reminds her of her sister and he said that’s not the reason. Which, if that is the case, there was no reason to even have the sister be part of the story. To me there were just a lot of elements like that that didn’t hold together or add interest. I would definitely not recommend this highly or even to get a feel for the genre or time. If you like movies told In flashback then perhaps you would like this better than I did. One thing it does well is keep you hanging on who she ends up with.

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Great time travel crime drama

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2017 South Korean crime drama based on true murders (Hwaseong serial murders). It consists of 16, ~60 minute, episodes.

While on the trail of a killer (they avoided calling them serial killers) in 1986, detective Park Gwang-ho (Choi Jin-hyuk) is attacked and when he comes to and emerges from a tunnel he is in 2016. Those he left behind are left wondering what happened to him. He does not, at first, realize he has time traveled and goes to his station where he encounters Kim Seon-jae 9Yoon Hyun-min) an elite lieutant detective who has more rank than respect from his fellow ditectives (the old made an officer versus worked your way up through the ranks controversy). Shin Jae-yi (Lee Yoo-young) is a consult on the cases as a "visiting"/cooperating criminal profiler. When Gwang-ho realizes he is in a different time he is able to blend in a there was a detective, due to report, who had the same name. No-one, including, Gwang-ho knows what happened to that detective (but it seems he thinks it may be tied to the whole time travel event - they never directly say that but that is what it seems like).

I really like this. It was suspenseful the whole way through. The clues were intriguing and there were lots of plot suprises. The filmography was great as you really got a sense of the different times from the way the way the footage was shot. A great crime drama!

#Tunnel
#ChoJinHyuk
#LeeYooYoung

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Lighthearted but with surprising depth on the topics of emotions and marriage

Review

8.5/10 is my rating

Scroll down for a unique synopsis if you want to know what this is about. There aren't a lot out there and it gets confused with others of similar title.

Marry You is what I feel constitutes a hidden gem. I have watched over 400 Asian dramas, mostly Korean, and mostly rated on average 9.0 and above. So, I am very selective, but I am also running out of things to watch that fit all my criteria. I dug deep in my search to find some hidden gems, and this came up as one of them. This Korean romance isn't one of those high-profile hits everyone’s talking about. And I think it is somewhat a factor of it not being widely available or maybe the opposite is true. But the fact that it is not all the buzz is part of its charm—it's a hidden gem that fellow movie and drama lovers who enjoy sweet, feel-good tales might want to seek out. I rated it an 8.5/10, which for me means it's solidly enjoyable and worth recommending, even if it doesn't quite reach perfection. I'd still suggest it to anyone who likes romances that tug at the heartstrings without getting too heavy.

Overall, the story follows Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung), a kind-hearted bachelor from a quiet island village, and Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min), a civil servant who had a bad experience which made her firmly against the idea of marriage for herself. What unfolds is a predictable romance in the best way— the kind where you know from the start that these two, one who is ready for marriage and one who has sworn off marriage, warm to each other, build a connection, and hopefully find their happy ending. It's heartwarming and cute, with plenty of moments that made me smile and root for the characters. Bong Cheol-hee, in particular, is the standout; he's such a sweet, genuine guy—helpful to everyone around him, including the adorable niece and nephew he's raising—that it's impossible not to cheer for him. Jung Ha-na is sweet too, but her past created some emotional flaws more guarded in her emotional interactions. She portrays this happy go lucky persona but her deep self is uncertain and unwilling to gamble her emotional well-being for love. The supporting cast, including the quirky team at the marriage agency bring some fun energy and light humor without overdoing it.

If you're looking for a cozy watch that celebrates kindness and second chances in love, this one delivers. It's not groundbreaking, but in a sea of more intense dramas, its simple charm is refreshing. Just know it's the type where you settle in for the predictable beats of a good romance—you're always hoping they'll get that good ending. If you know me I am not one to recommend anything that has a tragic ending.

Spoilers

There are several plot holes and frustrating aspects that keep it from scoring perfect on my scale.

First off, the whole setup with the marriage agency felt inconsistent. The mayor pushes this as a special project to boost his re-election, pulling in the entire team like it's a temporary gig, but then it suddenly seems like a well-established operation with long-term plans. At one point, they're handling over 90 clients—that's no small number, and it makes the agency feel way more permanent than the initial "quick fix" vibe suggested. It just didn't add up smoothly. They also aren't really experts in relationships but that is the role they are playing in the way they interview each client. And then they are held responsible if there is not a good outcome as if they are somehow matchmaking experts. No-one has that formula of love that dialed in. Sometimes opposites attract and sometimes they absolutely detest each other. There is just way too much complexity in human emotional interactions for anyone to predict the perfect match. So, it was an odd unit in that regard.

Then there's Jung Ha-na's (Jo Soo-min) past relationship with her college ex (the one who faked an affair to break things off). It's weird that she forgives him so easily once the truth comes out about his father's gambling debts. And he should've been upfront and let her decide, instead of staging something so hurtful—it left her feeling rejected and pitied, which is a real stigma for a woman. So when he comes back, tells her the truth of what happened when their relationship ended and claims he wants her back it never reached second guy vibes because, obviously, she wouldn't fall for that. Or she certainly shouldn't. But what really made it so I never got strong second contender vibes, is she friend zones him, he tells others he hopes to win her back but then does absolutely nothing to show romantic interest; he just seemingly accepts the friend zone and acts disappointed later without making any real moves. It was frustrating to watch, like if you want someone you have to tell them. Just watching and having some kind of weird jealousy from afar does not make you a strong second man character. He expected her to come back to him without her ever even knowing he still hoped for that.

The dynamic with Oh In-ah (Ji Yi-soo) was another head-scratcher. The show build them as a possible second romance. That the two rejected exes will wind up together. They were friends enough to conspire to make Ha-na think they are having an affair. Then they meet regularly to talk about how much they long for the leads. Even stalk after them a bit together spying on their growing attachment. And, there is this pizza scene that shows how much they think alike. Almost completing each other's sentences. Serious couple vibes. Any minute they should be confessing, and it would make sense given the entire series seemed to build to that. But, last few episodes she not only gives up on lead guy but then she jumps into an arranged marriage while Choi Ki-jun (Koo Jun-hoe) stays a bachelor? It didn't make narrative sense. Why the build up to a second romance if that was going to be the conclusion?

Bong Cheol-hee’s (Lee Yi-kyung) backstory as a former firefighter had this bizarre side plot where he saves a rich guy, who later picks him up in a fancy car. I thought it was building to something meaningful, like the guy becoming a benefactor or mentor, but nope—it just fizzles out. It seemed like it was only there so Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) could mistakenly think he was involved with shady types like the mob, but it came across as a forced, pointless detour. And he just gave up being a firefighter and is now what? A sous chef? An island bum? I mean I really liked him but he has two kids and now a girlfriend and needed to have something serious going on. I thought that was a little weird. It ends with him coming on as a special member of the team - but that didn't seem permanent.

There was a recurring pattern of immoral or near-criminal behavior getting brushed off too easily, which really pulled me out of the story. For instance, Oh In-ah (Ji Yi-soo) essentially pays to have Bong Cheol-hee’s (Lee Yi-kyung) niece and nephew kidnapped and shipped off to boarding school without his permission. When it's revealed, she just shrugs it off like, "Oh, I thought you'd like it," and everyone forgives her. You arrange to have the dead beat father come kidnap the kids and ship them off - that is not a forgivable action. But it was like oh well she is sorry and thought she was doing the right thing. I mean there is a whole scene where he essentially says that and that was so out of character for him. He adored those children. Why would he forgive some girlfriend for trying to ship them off? And his brother? He is like bad on you man. And that is essentially it.

Even creepier was the mayor's son storyline. There are all these reports of women being assaulted and how it is not safe for women to be out and all indicators point to this masked mystery man. It builds like he's this predatory figure, almost leading to something as serious as date rape, with all the tension around women not being safe alone implying he's the culprit. And he acts so creepy to In-ah and tries to do something we don't fully know to her when she pretends to be drunk. Yeah, she head butts him and he ultimately apologizes but what he did was criminal. They figure out it is the mayor's illegitimate son who has mommy issues because of it, and the mayor is feeling guilty and going above and beyond for the son, and they all feel sorry. So, the mayor asks nicely, and they just drop it—no charges, no fallout. The whole thread vanishes, which felt like a massive cop-out after the buildup.

What was really frustrating in terms of the romance itself was we waited so long for Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung) and Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) to finally get together. They are finally admitting their feelings and showing affection and she suddenly gets cold feet about long-term commitment and marriage? It contradicted her earlier damage from the breakup, where she was heartbroken because she truly wanted to marry. Why flip that now? Hadn't she forgiven the ex, admitted she probably would not have followed through herself had she known the real reason, and had all these insights on relationships through observing other couples. Wasn't she emotionally grown and healed now?

Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung) absolutely carried the show—he's so sweet and decent to everyone, from the women in his life to all the people around him, that you can't help but root for him. The niece and nephew are just precious, adding that adorable family element. In the end, they do end up as a couple, which ties things up nicely. There is no permanence, like it shows a proposal but I wasn't clear if she accepted or not. Just an "I love you" I guess that was a yes? But they are a couple plus two. And she just seemed like good buddies with the kids. I wish Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) had stepped up more as a true mother figure for the kids. They needed that stability after losing their parents, but she comes across more like a friendly aunt or distant relative—playing guitar while they're in the background, not really engaging like a committed partner would. A happier resolution for me would've shown her fully embracing that role, making the family feel complete. Still, despite these quirks, it's a recommend from me for its overall sweetness.

Synopsis

This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 10, 60-minute episodes.

Bong Cheol-Hee (Lee Yi-Kyung) is a warm-hearted single guy from the quiet island village of Cheongdo who is juggling odd jobs while raising his mischievous twin niece and nephew, Bong San-Yi (Seo Woo-Jin) and Bong Ba-Da (Ahn Tae-Rin). He was featured in a documentary just about being a young bachelor and the island and that results in him getting roped into a quirky government matchmaking scheme. The mayor formed a special team to help solve the decline in marriage problem and appoints the only civil service expert they know of, Jung Ha-Na (Jo Soo-Min), to act as the "government expert" on matchmaking based on a former job she had at a dating agency. At first reluctant, because one of her previous matches resulted in tragedy, she is promised a promotion and decides to accept the special assignment short term until she meets the criteria for promotion. Ironically, Ha-na actually hates the idea of marriage largely because of her ex, Choi Ki-Joon (Koo Jun-Hoe). And, as luck would have it, Ki-Joon, who is also a civil servant, is assigned as the supervisor of the government matchmaking team. Ha-Na, as the perceived expert, is assigned Cheol-Hee who is seen as a difficult case due to his carefree lifestyle and the fact that he comes with two children. But determined to get that promotion, Ha-Na pushed Cheol-Hee toward eligible ladies like the fancy chaebol heiress Oh In-Ah (Ji E-Suu). But proximity breeds unintended feelings and even though they are like country mouse and city mouse and there are a lot of hilarious mix-ups there are also a lot of heartfelt moments centered on love and family. Cheol-Hee may be the only one that can convince Ha-Na love is worth the emotional risk.

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