All_In

Well with two episodes left, I'd put this close to a 9 for me. I have an issue here and there which is kind of irksome because a bit more attention from the writer could have addressed them rather easily. Nonetheless, this has been a fun popcorn drama where I can enjoy some amazing actors chew up the scenery every week and where I can buy into LJG taking on 20 dudes and coming out on top. Oh and best car in a k-drama in forever and love that the gal got to drive it as well.

Yeah, the misunderstanding, along with the way the uncle came to a bad end are both kind of lazy writing. I will say since the romance between the two leads happened super quick, one could say a misunderstanding is more believable in this scenario.

No, it's not a love triangle. I liked the romance and thought the rest of the story was a bit all over the place. It's my understanding the comic was very complex and I think they struggled to adapt it to the screen and had to bring in a second writer mid-way through the shoot. Never a good sign but it still managed to work for me.

My guess is that due to lackluster ratings in Korea, the writers decided to go a different way - unfortunately - with the story. The situation/story with the brother and how abruptly/awkwardly it was dealt with and going more into melo in the last 2 to 3 episodes leads me to this conclusion. It's either that or the writer didn't have enough story for 16 episodes and we are dealing with 4 to 5 episodes (starting around 9) of ridiculous angst before the parties involved have ONE honest conversation and the story starts moving forward again.

I don't find that strange at all. CMS had a small part in Faith, which was my first drama, and I can still remember his performance. He's one of those people who have a natural charisma. I really respect how he's doing here because apparently he didn't originally have the part and was offered it after the first guy had to withdraw because of allegations regarding the "me too" movement in Korea. So he was kind of thrown into this. Just getting the accent down would be challenging.

I think the ex might have left over feelings or even guilt, but she doesn't really seem to be super interested in him thus far. She actually is hanging with the director and I would love if they worked out. As far as the "fiancee", I'm thinking in the world of arranged marriages, he's not a bad option but she shouldn't have played games and now she's paying the price.

I was going to overlook it but am having trouble starting episode 5. I think what bothers me is that he was such an upstanding guy that he was going to be a whistleblower because he saw injustice done. I can't reconcile that with someone who is a cold blooded killer.

If this is the only inconsistency, I'll check out more episodes but have put it on hold until it is done.

I get what you are saying, but because it really isn't a romance drama, I just don't think they have time for that though oddly, it did work for me because it is different from how relationships begin in k-dramaland. It really makes me want the two leads in a rom/com actually.

The tone gets darker and the surprises come as the drama goes on though it still might not work for you.

Through episode 11, the female lead is not side-lined and in a cast like this, with other strong female characters, it is especially nice to see. It still might be your cup of tea but the female lead shouldn't be an issue.

I thought it was a bit of a mess through last week but with no thought of dropping, but this week it's all over the place. The writer had a nugget of a good idea with the clocks but really isn't doing much with it. The only way a plot like this works is if they've figured out the whole story and how it ends from the get go, and I get an odd feeling they're winging it. The same tired tropes from 2nd female lead craziness to noble idiocy is frustrating. I'm a little less enthused about it now than just a few days ago, but I am still interested enough to keep on though I will probably start skipping.

I'm sticking with this drama though the tone is kinda all over the place. One of the aspects I like is the relationship between Mika and the older lady. We don't see friendships between generations portrayed like this in Asian dramas all that often. I have had those type friendships and really appreciate the perspective they've given me.

Yes, I agree re: episode 7 and 8. There are a lot of characters and I think there is a struggle to get all the pieces together but 8 worked well for me.

I also agree about if a drama doesn't work for someone, it doesn't work. I have not liked many a popular drama including Jealousy Incarnate, Romantic Dr, Pinnochio, Another OHY and "gasp" even Goblin but I totally get that people love them and it's cool. I've also loved dramas that get little attention. It is what it is.

I really like the drama quite a bit. I like the way the romance is being developed with a lot being left unsaid. It's just different and because this is a mixed genre, the production doesn't have a lot of time for romantic speeches as they move the revenge story along. I say this just because if people jump in expecting it to be a romance drama, they might end up disappointed because of expectations.

I agree with some who say it isn't anything new because it is a revenge drama at its heart, but I like that the characters are all well developed and there is not an actor lacking in any way imo. Someone on the LL page noted that the situation in the drama (corruption) is inspired by a case that actually happened in Korea so eventually I might see what that's all about. In the meantime, I'm just enjoying it. Oh, and I don't like legal dramas so, at least in the first half, there has been minimal courtroom stuff which works for me. I know this PD did Pride and Prejudice which I didn't get through the second episode. I have too much knowledge and I find most legal dramas ridiculous.

I'm someone who actually appreciated more of Rev Love than most people. The romance didn't work that well and the tone, in the beginning, was off with Siwon mugging at the camera and then getting beaten by his father. However, I liked the trio of them working together at the company so it worked as a bromance and then also as a three musketeers story. It wasn't the best thing ever, but I'm kind of surprised at the level of hate it gets when there are waaaay worse dramas out there.

I would give it through episode 4, and you'll know by then if it is your cup of tea.

I don't disagree with what you are saying. I just think at some point you realize as an adult human being that you can't make someone love you. She's trying to be cute (or passive aggressive) about romantic overtures like the cranes but it is obvious it isn't working and hasn't been working. As the saying goes "he's just not into you". So I guess with my own personality, all that stuff seems silly and she should give up saving face and say woman to man, I kinda like you and I know that this is official business but let's try to make a go of it.... At least then the guy would know she actually does have real feelings for him because right now, he seems clueless.

Maybe that's where it will go because I think the reason he doesn't think of the fiancee at all in terms of liking Mika is he still really thinks it's all business and his fiancee doesn't care. Because she basically said she didn't care he liked someone else, rather just the social class involved.

I'm a little disappointed because she seemed so cool in the beginning, and I hate that she's using $$ to try to buy people off now as well as throwing in some humiliation re: the $ at the restaurant. I love when dramas break the 2nd lead tropes like they did with Eric in My Husband OJD. I actually wanted Eric to get his own romance drama by the mid-way point of that show.

The pacing of this drama is really fast so I'm crossing fingers that they take us somewhere different than the standard romance drama.

I'm actually interested in where they are taking this because the drama leads us to believe that he has asked her to marry him multiple times and she keeps saying no even though they are basically considered together for business reasons. So what gives? Does she love him and want some emotional commitment ? If she does just say so instead of asking for 1000 origami cranes. Is she more interested now that some other woman is interested as in she never had to be worried or threatened because of how uptight the lead male seems?

I give the lead gal a break because for her it's life and death but - yeah - the guy should be considering his fiancees' feelings even if he seems somewhat assured that there is no emotion and it's all business. Yet, you have the fiancee saying, sure go mess around but is totally elitist about it at the same time (don't fool around with a poor girl.) I would have preferred her to be not a big witch in the drama personally so we'll see.

This is just my take on it, but I don't necessarily think they love each other yet. I think the romance will grow in the second half. I think what happened in episode 6 is more about two wounded people seeking comfort with each other. This is not something we generally see in k-drama which is heavily romantic specifically when it comes to intimacy. Now, he has been watching her for a huge chunk of time so maybe he likes her and respects her, but I still think the romantic element will be forthcoming but probably secondary to the story in general since this isn't a romance drama.

No, I don't think this one was stylized and by that I mean the way kiss scenes are generally filmed. I like the simplicity of the direction.

I totally agree with your assessment in that I took this to be two people seeking solace and that is very different than what is normally seen in k-drama. I wrote my thoughts down the thread a ways, but I wondered if having a male writer plays a part in this.