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Jae-won only deserves Na-Bi once he's no longer a PoS. If the writers don't write his redemption-arc, I don't think I can root for this couple to be the endgame. Na-Bi deserves someone much better <3 But then, that would also make this is a 'sweet girl changes the playboy' trope, and I don't think Netflix woulda invested in this then :P

Yes. THIS.

You are right on j-doramas being more mature. Hirugao has a k-drama remake too, called 'Love Affairs in the Afternoon'. They kept the monologues there too, hence I wasn't too mad at it, however they considerably watered-down the storytelling pace, and changed the original ending which made it so visceral. Hence, the rec for the j-dorama.
I too love pensive characters, and had preferred books for a while, for this reason alone, because I could connect to the protagonist better.

I also think, the acting quality has dropped quite considerably in asian-ent over the last two decades, hence conflicts, dilemmas, angst, etc, is conveyed better via monologues, than physical-acting alone :)

Aha, RoI, I see.... since we don't yet know if the drama will be 100% faithful to the webtoon or not... maybe you could wait out till the finale/ pre-finale airs, and make your decision based on it. K-drama scriptwriters sometimes surprise us for the better <3

Monologues. Yes. They make Na-Bi a very different, and a much more interesting character than the standard, wallflower, cookie-cutter type introverted and shy girl. It's LOVELY to get an insight into her thought process. I wish more dramas did this. The monologues end up evoking viewer-sympathy -- and empathy-- especially when the protagonist is about to make *very* questionable decisions. That, afterall, IS the power of a monologue (which we get ample of, in the reading-format, aka novels and mangas, but it is criminally overlooked in drama formats)

If you have come to appreciate the power of the monologue, I'd highly.... HIGHLY recommend a j-dorama to you. It's called 'Hirugao'. The protagonist is kinda like Na-Bi here, except she's stuck in a crappy marriage. Her dilemma is she falls for a school-teacher, who himself is also in a similar situation, and her constant deliberation of whether she should give in to the temptation or not.... is quite interesting. She starts as an unhappy woman critical of anybody looking for happiness outside the confines of their marriage, to ultimately being faced with the same choice which could give her liberation. The monologues really capture the transformation of her thoughts brilliantly. Honestly, in works of art and media, her narration is one of the most touching and insightful ones, and I can't remember a book that has done monologues SO well.

She ends up with the boy who deserves her. The one who's right for her. Somebody who makes her feel happy, content and secure. :D
'Main leads ending up together' is no longer my definition/ pre-requisite of a 'happy' ending.

You know what I want of the second lead? To show young women, via this story, that there is always going to be that one guy who'll come along, who'll love her for who she is, respect her needs and boundaries, who is miles better than the d-bag who's been treating her like every other girl on his 'f-buddy' list..... that there is no need to settle for less.

After the failed 'study abroad scholarship program' of the FL in Youth of May, I really want this one to work out for Na-Bi. Maybe go date some cute French guys while she's at it <3

You Drive Me Crazy was my J-A-M.!!! I have been in the FL's shoes as well, and oh god, that situation hurts SO bad. Wait, am I exposing myself here? xD
I agree, we need more realistic romance k-dramas like the ones you mentioned. The 'Chaebol falls for the poor damsel in distress' is honestly so stale and overdone.

Very interesting, I like the perspective you have on this!!!! Ultimately, it IS about her growth and journey as person. She has to live a little, even if it means she gets heartbroken... she'll emerge a stronger woman from all this.

However, I DO think she has underlying issues. She has already been cheated on once before and *that* seemed to be her deal-breaker (and not the shitty way her ex had been treating her all along). She is the second choice for the study-abroad scholarship program. She is shown to be a low-key competitive (the cigarette-scene in the alleyway, and also her academics). The kind you'd think would be chill, but isn't, deep down. I think we already have some insight that she might not be cut out for Jae-Won and his lifestyle, being a girl on his list of many women. Am I projecting too much when saying she'll feel like she's once again being cheated on by Jae-Won, once he resumes sleeping around, in addition to sleeping with her? Even when they're not exclusive? Maybe yes....
I also think she has some dependency/ attachment problems as well. And like her friend says, she always 'goes for the douchebag'. The men who are constantly invading her private space, manipulating her and leading her by her nose to get what *they* want out of the 'relationship'.

But I agree, she needs to get Jae-Won out of her system, once and for all. I'm rooting for her to sleep with him and dump his sorry ass, and move on :3 I like how the show has these vibes that force you to analyze why characters do what they do. <3

So are Zanilia Zhao X Feng Shao Feng xD

I was appalled at the NUMBER of women Jae-Won is implied to have on his hotline for hookups. :O

Ugh, I hate when guys like Jae-Won do THIS. Why put in so much effort just for a hookup, right? He's definitely chasing her, and having fun while at it. The longer Na-Bi holds out for, the harder he's going to chase her... and the bigger will be her heartbreak once she gives in and he gets over her, and moves on. Which brings me to the point: I don't know about toxic, but yes, he's a class A jerk who's playing games and loving it.
I would have felt sorrier for Na-Bi if she was getting hood-winked by him but she can see him, and his intentions very clearly. I like how she has a decent amount of perspective and clarity of what she might be getting into. However, she's delusional if she thinks her heart can again cope with being the 'second choice.'

Objectively 7.9 is not bad, but comparatively I guess it is. As a reflection of the 7.9, I'm surprised people don't like the story. I guess it hits too close to home. Like an uncomfortable truth. Very 'in your face', the plot as well as the cinematography. It's jarring to a certain extent, and some shots just make your skin crawl in a bad way. I like the artsy vibe of it and hope they continue.
The irony still stands that 90% of the people would relate to a story like this, but would rather watch something that doesn't even resemble 10% of their own life. That's okay... I mean whatever floats their boat xD

Absolutely. The first reason I had for calling it 'too real for a k-drama' was the top 10 MDL list. With viewer counts >> 50k+ and some even crossing 100k+, you'd expect a random casual k-drama watcher to be familiar with, er... the more 'fairytale' kind of a k-drama instead of this. (yep, the top 10 lol). k-dramas advertised as those 'reflective of the modern dating culture' don't do so well on the charts. The rating drop for this and LSITC is a proof (although Lovestruck had other narrative and plot problems too).

And secondly. it's weird watching this for me personally, because I have been in Na Bi's shoes. Knowing better, yet making questionable decisions instead of staying away. Chasing them over rooftops, casually planning to run-in into them, pickup questionable habits like smoking, just to find some common ground with them..... Been there, done that. The embarrassment I feel for the girl is not even second-hand anymore. Hence, it's TOO 'real' xD

Is this a part of the series: 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo' and 'Strong Woman Do Bong Soon'? xD

Plot points we might have glossed over:
1. Jae-Won has been established as a f-boy. Even Na-Bi is shown to know it deep down. Since, the night didn't pan out the way he wanted (aka with Na-Bi in his bed), he ideally should have moved on to the next girl. Boys like him don't waste time on girls like Na-Bi (she is shy, has rejected his advances multiple times over the evening, JUST dumped her boyfriend, is the 'relationship' kind, etc.) Unless.... UNLESS, she has made him curious/ intrigued somehow. The show wants to convince us, it's the whole 'butterfly' connection. After the unfruitful evening, he has likely looked her up on soc-med (since she told him her name), found out she attends the same major at his uni, he enquires about her from seniors and wants to meet up over drinks with a bunch of friends (instead of directly approaching her for a hook-up). He has put in efforts (even if it is off-camera) and wanted to meet her once again in a neutral setting. He also has multiple side-flings, and we see him interact with a bunch of women he doesn't plan to hook-up with it (the waitress, the classmates, the girls wanting to watch his 'pet butterflies') and clearly, he treats Na-Bi differently from all these other women. His actions give me major mixed-signals, and this is only ep.1. Chill boys looking for casual hook-ups wouldn't put in half of Jae-Won's efforts. I really don't get him.

2. Speaking of mixed signals, there is our QUEEN- Na-Bi, a complete bunch of conflicted contradictions. I do think apart from the whole 'butterfly' connection, there are genuine things about her that fascinate Jae-Won as a person (& not as a f-boy). With his looks and him being so self-aware of the effect he has on women, she might have been the only one who has rejected him & that too multiple times. But she unintentionally also does this 'push and pull', where she seeks him out (with the earphones excuse, and on the rooftop), she shoo-s away female competition (the alley cigarette scene), can't bring herself to wash away the tattoo drawn by him, YET she rejects his physical-touches. While Jae-Won might have made the first (confusing) effort on his side to look her up in college, it is clearly her subsequent actions (of not being able to stay away), that also keep Jae-Won intrigued enough to continue pursuing her in hopes of a pay-out. (aside from being the type of women-- I'm assuming-- he doesn't normally go for). Again, why are you seeking him out, woman? Even though your heart (and brain tell you to stay away from him, that he's bad news)......?

For the mess that these two are apparently about to land in, in about 8/9 episodes from now, ep1 has convinced me it is their actions, and ACTIONS alone, that have set both of them up for some serious shit. Hookup is cool, if your heart can handle it. But it's always wise to stick to your own lane, if you don't wish to crash and burn. Jae-Won will flutter away like the butterfly he is, but Na-Bi will get burned so bad, if she can't dump his philandering *bottom* right away.

Thank you for attending my Ted-Talk. xD

Boys like Jae-Won are the type you'd like to meet over the summer break, have fun with, say goodbye to, and move on. Sadly, he's pretty much going to be a fixture of Na-Bi's college-life, and that makes it even harder for her to give in to the temptation because she knows the repercussions, hence the constant push-and-pull. I don't completely blame her.
Secondly, I feel she understands Jae-Won better than she understands herself. She *knows* he's a total player, but she also constantly seeks him out. For what? Friendship? You don't make 'friends' with such boys. She is written to be somebody not completely jaded about love/ relationship/ shared-fate, hence deep-down, she hopes to snag Jae-Won, and pursue a relationship with him. Or else, there is no good reason to reject Jae-Won for a rebound. She knows she is in for a heartbreak because she will get too involved. And she should stay away from him, but can't.

As for Jae-Won, I don't really blame him (or an entire population of men and women living the 'hookup culture' as a lifestyle choice) for the heartbreak coming to Na-Bi. Just because the two are misfits for each other, doesn't make either of them toxic [her need for a committed relationship, and his need to avoid one]. And it's perfectly okay, only if the two of them can acknowledge it. But I think the conflict-point of the show IS that either or both of them cannot accept it. -_-

As viewers, we have such a clear perspective of the quagmire they both are in, and yet the MC's know no better. Ugh, this feels too awfully REAL for a k-drama. Also, mildly amused they decided to make Jae-Won the 'creepy' kind of a player instead of a 'smooth-talking, swoony' kind. :3

Yay, somebody else said it... !!!!The close-up shots of just her eyes is a ditto match. I also feel both these girls resemble Song Hye Kyo, but the younger girls have a far pointier chin which is similar to each other than the older actress :)

Zhao Liying, aka Zanilia Zhao is literally the QUEEN of 'legend' dramas xD
-Legend of Lu Zhen
-Legend of Hua Qian Gu (aka Journey of Flower)
-Legend of Zu
-Legend of Chu Xiao (aka Princess Agents)
-Legend of Chusen (Noble of Aspirations)
-Legend of Fei

Lmao xD
'Legend of...' dramas usually are 'big female lead' dramas, and most of the days, the female protagonist is such a Mary Sue. Even the 'anti' Mary-Sue's end up becoming Mary-Sues. Ugh.
I loved these dramas once upon a time, now it's just stale. The grand visuals and sets are a treat though. :)
Ps. Ruyi's Royal Love in Palace is also named 'Ruyi Zhuan' aka 'Legend of Ruyi'
*eyeroll*

Glad you see it that way, because I'm pretty sure that was the point of the show. I agree with you on one thing though--- they could have gone about the ending in a more organic way, instead of trying to shoe-horn it in. It felt contrived, and silly to the point of disbelief, almost as if the protagonist plot-armor timed out.
Other than that, it was quite meaningful, and I still stand my ground, that no other character's death would have been as impactful.