Eleison

To questions #1 and #2: Yes.

A little suggestion: you'll probably enjoy Season 2 more if you go into it without plot expectations beyond a happy ending.

My sister and I just started rewatching it! 🥰 It's becoming a Kdrama classic, for sure.

I made it through several episodes and haven't been able to finish it. I love the main leads as actors, too, but I think it was too makjang-esque for me. There were things I liked and it was incredible production value, but it did feel like a bit of a miss for the screenwriter as far as her previous works go in comparison to this.

I found out after this aired that Park Ji Eun has faced allegations for plagiarism several times with different dramas. I haven't done a ton of research on the rumors but that was kind of concerning news to me... she does seem to have some consistent features to her writing (fleshed out characters, sweet themes, focuses a lot on side characters, open endings and/or dubiously happy endings, etc.), but at the same time, this felt so different from previous stuff by her... I don't know, I grew a bit skeptical. 🤷‍♀️

For instance?

Also, which Korean actors/actresses aren't beautiful? They're all gorgeous.

Looks definitely matter more with Korean content than is the case now with Hollywood (in the music scene, too), but no one can really get far in entertainment anywhere if they're not decently good looking anyway. People can't stand watching someone with crooked teeth or distracting facial features, etc. I agree that some Korean actors have a fan following (but in my opinion this is largely due to their acting and not necessarily or even primarily their looks), but I don't think the looks are as big a factor as many think because, as I said, all Korean actors (who play MLs and FLs) are all very good-looking.

Yes, Moo Jin as President!!

Oh yes, I very much agree. I have dramas like that, too, that I just can't finish. I've learned what I have a tolerance for! ☺️

That's fair, haha. I was just hoping to offer a different perspective. When it comes to dramas, people have their own preferences. Thanks for respectfully dialoguing. :)

They remained amicable, yes, but it's very clear to both of them that the FL is crazy about Ji Hwan. It also implies they rarely see each other anymore.

There was one super strong review that praised the drama highly and it was the top rated review and the first listed but then the user left MDL (not sure why, there was some drama on another page or something), and then it was just all the nit-picky ones left... 😔

😂😂😂 I'm just laughing about the "true love" in high school portion of your post. 😂

Interesting, since I don't think I've seen many other dramas quite like Fight For My Way in the pairings of tropes and cliches. It's kind of unique because the ML was obsessed with some other girl until about halfway (very unusual for a Kdrama) and the MC have such an odd dynamic (and the 2nd couple were cohabiting for quite a few years (in a 2017 drama, too, which still felt kind of taboo at that time)). I don't know, it felt unique amongst Kdramas to me, haha. Obviously much of the basic rom-com formula is there, but it had some unique elements to me. 🤷‍♀️

So true!! Sometimes "original" is overrated, especially if it's not as enjoyable as "the good old familiar stuff." 😌

I'm thinking #2, as it's the most likely option?

What are the other shows you're thinking of?

I see, but you really never have to worry about them having a shot. It's a Kdrama, so of course, they never will. 😂

Ooh, like Benedick and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing? 😏

"You should know the drill" 😅

This is an excellent post. Well-explained!

Interesting, cause in my opinion, neither is a weasel. They are persistent and an obvious rival to the ML, but are also good men (though flawed) and are a part of the main leads' arcs and positively affect their growth. In this drama, the 2ML inadvertently inspires/pushes the ML to get up the courage to pursue the FL and in this process of getting up the courage the ML realizes it's okay to love her and he doesn't have to deny himself good things simply because he made mistakes in the past.

Did you ever finish I Can Hear Your Voice? The 2ML plays a really cool role in the last 3rd of the drama. In addition to helping the FL become less jaded, he realizes he was too gullible about people's intentions (since he was a defense attorney) and always too willing to believe them with the hopes they were goodhearted deep down. The ML also asks him for help at the end in a way that ends up being really neat, and he also has some really beautiful reflections about the ML and how he turned out different than the villain of the story due to the FL's presence in his life. It was sweet!

Anyway, it seems you know what you're willing to put up with as far as love triangles go. As far as my preferences, my tolerance for the 2ML's involvement in the FL's life is maybe just a bit higher than yours, as long as I can see that they play an actual role in the story and the characters's arcs and aren't just there to create angst, haha. But where you're coming from is understandable! Love triangles are largely frustrating and annoying. ☺️

When did you drop it (what episode?)

I can understand why he bothered you, but to me, he felt purposeful, which made me dislike him less. He was actually a big part of the ML's arc and growth. Yeah, I wasn't a huge fan of him, but he made sense in the story so at least he didn't feel superfluous. I actually like that by the end he came to respect and admire the ML so much that he bowed out willingly and cheerfully. (He reminded me a bit of the SML from I Can Hear Your Voice.) He also wasn't a bad guy, so I didn't have any reason to dislike him other than the fact that he was a bit overprotective of the FL at times.