Eleison

The synopsis seems to rule out divorce.

It remains to be seen if she really will be like that, but if so, maybe the creators are flipping the script since they did decades of character imbalance with older Kdramas that have the bossy ML and the mousy FL. 🤷‍♀️ Either, way that's where the "drama" comes in, I suppose. 😏

KSH's part in this looks more comedic than past roles I've seen him play. It will be interesting to see him be a bit sillier? If the trailer is anything to go off of. He was incredible in IOTNBO.

KJW looked so different in the trailer I almost didn't recognize her, and her profile picture changed didn't it? She looks different in that, too. 😅 Not bad different, I just didn't almost recognize her, which is strange considering how unique her features are; I always thought she looked unique amongst Korean actresses. Or maybe I'm just going crazy. 🙃

Yup, I know that. My point was that dramas are not usually explicit (Korean network TV/mini-series), while American TV shows/mini-series are often explicit. But Netflix is making dramas more like Western shows (and I know that it's because of censorship, which I appreciate in this case).

Yep, we get these scenes in most Western TV and film unless it's clearly made for families (even that doesn't really stop them); one of the reasons I watch Kdramas is because they don't buy into these scenes being necessary for enjoyable or captivating storytelling (they get that we don't need a sex scene to know they had sex (and it's more dignifiying for the actors to keep things less intimate, especially if they have significant others, I think); and I get dramas are censored ans that's why there's less content, but I appreciate the generally more wholesome creativity that comes from the censorship). The premise already turned me off anyway, so I wasn't planning on watching it, but I do love Choi Woo Sik and Son Suk Ku. 😓

I just know that some dramas on Netflix will cater to audiences who enjoy edgier and/or morally ambiguous content, so I sift through it with a fine-toothed comb.

Yes, the premise of CLOY was so far-fetched, but it did have a lot of heart. My first Kdrama that got me hooked on Kdramas, so I have a special place in my heart for it.

The premise for this IS quite different from the other dramas she's written (she usually starts with a seemingly hokey premise then has really good character development and plot execution) so it will be interesting to see if this sticks the landing since screenwriters shifting genres/styles from their status quo doesn't always work out.

Another point towards optimism: Kim Soo Hyun seems to pick his dramas very carefully, so the fact that he chose this project seems to go for something, too? 🤷‍♀️ Time will tell. :)

And she has an excellent track record. :)

I think it's because the second season has a very different feel, mood, tone and pace from the first and people had expectations, specific expectations, for what they wanted season 2 to be. If you have any specific expectations other than a happy ending, you might be disappointed. The only thing I really wanted was a happy ending, so I was able to enjoy season 2 because I didn't expect anything in particular beyond that. :) Also, this season 2 flips their stories. In the first, UK is endearing, chattery, and cute and starts out helpless as he tries to learn his powers, while Naksu is serious, broody, intense, gutsy and aggressive. They switch roles in the second season. Also, they never revisit Naksu's fighting skills which annoyed people, but I think they still made her powerful and interesting in a different way (but I think it annoyed people because it felt more "feminine" than her personality in season 1). Again, people had expectations, and when they weren't met, they got upset. 🤷‍♀️ I understand why, but I personally still enjoyed it. Neither season was perfect.

Makes sense, since it gives major Revenge Drama vibes.

So in that case they probably won't go the romance route? Maybe more a mother and adopted son relationship route?

New poster looks better. :) Loved Sang Min in Under The King's Umbrella and Duty After School. I'm interested to see how he'll do as an actual ML having to carry the show since he shared the limelight with the other mains in the two dramas I mentioned.

There's something about Kim Do Wan that reminds me of Christian Bale... I think it's his lips? 😅

I love While You Were Sleeping (my #1 out of 140+ dramas) and I Can Hear Your Voice (in my top 5) by her. I CHYV is older so the production value is lower, but it's still very good (though it does have noona romance, as the FL is 5 or 6 years older than the ML, which isn't everyone's thing, just fyi). Both are very thematically driven like CD. The themes in ICHYV are particularly powerful, but WYWS is the superior drama overall, in my opinion. :) Definitely try them out!

This screenwriter is a master at creating well-written characters and threading powerful themes throughout all the episodes. She writes more thematically than most. :)

I think it's her voice/sound, but with some help from technology. Not necessarily autotune, but other types of editing. Very few people sound as good live (and without a backtrack) as in the studio. Live (even better: live and acapella) is a true test of a singer's ability, in my opinion.

Maybe they're discovering that not many 16 episode dramas stick their landing? If a 16 episode drama stands out, it will be because it makes it past the Episodes 12-14 danger zone where the writer runs out of ideas and we see the wheat separated from the chaff. 😂

If anyone is looking for an ML that feels similar to this one (they are indeed rare in Kdramaland), give When The Camellia Blooms (Kang Ha Neul, he won a Baeksang for Best Actor for this role) and Hogoo's Love (Choi Woo Sik, who is ADORABLE) a try. :)

People on this thread seemed to like his character in this even better than My Man Is Cupid, if that encourages you. :)

True, Kdramas usually have boundaries on their bedroom scenes, and also use them sparingly (or not at all). And they can manage this while still creating a compelling and interesting romance. I just noticed, too, that they use these elements to their advantage to draw out the romance and build chemistry and romantic tension as the story progresses. Most western films/TV shows don't even try to hold off anymore, except maybe when it's a movie/show about high schoolers. I just think it's interesting how it creates a very different kind of feel for the development of the romance when the characters are not plunged into intimacy right away.

But the 2ML was a first rate jerk (the ML was, too, but their progression is the opposite of each other: the ML starts as a jerk, the 2ML ends as one, until the last episode).

The FL eventually was unable to see the 2ML properly because his kindness from the first half of the drama made it almost impossible for her to see him as a manipulator later on. Shin could see it, even outside his jealousy, but FL felt too grateful to Yul to be able to see it. WE could see it, as viewers, so that made him lose all cred with me about halfway through.