DramaAjumma

That certainly plays well with international audiences.

I love Far From the Madding Crowd. That's my favourite Thomas Hardy. I really enjoyed the most recent film adaptation. Watched it multiple times.

Have you read The Black Count? It's about Dumas' dad. I'm about to pick it up.

I have watched the Jim Caviezel version and did enjoy it but no version really gets to the weeds. It's a massive book.

Narratively I can see why the romance might be necessary. However, if that's indeed the case then I think -- perhaps a controversial thing to say -- that Lee Do-hyun who is a very likeable actor, was miscast in the role. First of all he was hard to buy as a consultant/specialist clinician. Secondly, his vibe with Song Hye-kyo feels like that between siblings especially with his banter. Everything about him feels "young" and "boyish" even though it's clear that he's a highly intelligent person.

I kept wondering the whole time what difference an actor like a Wi Ha-joon, or a Shin Jae-ha or even Jang Dong-yoon could add to the role that's not there for me.

As a huge fan of The Count of Monte Cristo, I think the series did a fantastic job following its story beats. It's very well-plotted. It's also a classy revenge melodrama because it recognizes what revenge does to the protagonist's soul as much as it might satisfy their need for justice. More importantly it isn't afraid to delve into the evil that human beings are capable of in their pursuit of desires. The religious overtones which were in TCoMC has a far more nihilistic twist here. Except for an instance or two of dubious casting, the performances are top-notch. The villains of the piece in particular were just fantastic. And I just adore Yeom Hye-ram in anything she's in.

It's almost become a rarity to see a good K drama ending. One that makes sense and is consistent with what came before. But this one was a sight for sore eyes. If anything the wrap up is a little too neat. Some of the last minute twists and turns weren't necessary. But it's a minor quibble considering how well the journey plays out for the protagonist, her allies and her antagonists.

Absolutely.

She's very good at picking scripts and male leads.

Two episodes in and I feel like I'm watching a modernised Chinese version of Persuasion.

It's not that surprising of course because it feels very much like an older adaptation of a classic 19th century British novel. It's all that incredible subtext between the leads that makes their dynamic rich with tension. Belying all the small talk and non-sequiturs, It's what's not said that's driving the romance.

From your lips to God's ears.

I've seen him in that. He's pretty good there too.

It's certainly gorgeous to look at. I like the minimalist storytelling approach. It's all in the showing.

Whoah. Jing Boran's character here is 180 degrees from the character he played in The Psychologist. He's great in whatever he does.

Yeah, I didn't get the criticisms about him in his last show either. I'm surprised you're watching this.

Can only speak for myself but I have a thing about guys with dulcet/sonorous voices. For other people it's love at first sight -- for me it's love at first sound.

It's all him. I could listen to him read a phone book.

Not a whole lot makes sense towards the end. Least of all the last episode.

With a better final act, this show could have been amazing.

Yeah. I could say a lot more about that but I won't.
Thanks for reading. I found your review a great read too. Appreciate the background information.

My thoughts about the show's finale.
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/crash-course-in-romance-2023-episodes-b98

This is my problem with K dramas and their need to redeem every single character including the egregiously one dimensional ones. It's fine to have one dimensional characters in the mix but if there's no groundwork for redemption, don't bother. Charles Dickens understood that which is why he got away with it. Don't make the mean mums so mean if you're going to forgive them in one episode.

But the worst part is that they had to pair off everybody like consolation prizes.

It's a rare combination in a show which is smart, well-acted and actually... fun. And that courtroom drama in the last couple of episodes was fantastic theatre.
Glad I found it.