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Masterpiece thriller and karma lesson - Wow mess created by amateurs - amazing plot
This drama is a total masterpiece, it is so unique, so twisty wicked, and such excellent acting, and totally totally crazy dark hilarious thriller plot!!!! Never seen anything like this. There is NO WORDS to describe this drama... ! I feel like I got on a rollercoaster and am going at the speed of 200mph to up/down of 1000 ft. I bet bunjee jumping, flying on kites, etc feels like watching this drama!!!!!!The overall message is deep, about karma and choices we make under pressure. ML is an honest hardworking guy who is pushed down and under, and he has to somehow survive - and by chance, he makes some money - and that .... makes him.... well watch and see.
This is an amazing amazing masterpiece drama. So carefully calculated.... with lots of comedic elements but in a very dark way.... with warped warmth... with cover ups and twists.....
It starts by tricking the audience to think that this is some kind of a comedy of absurdity bc the ML is a rather dumb ordinary family man... and his partner in crime is dumb too... and they keep making mistakes that will make you open your jaw and roll your eyes in complete WOW IS THIS LEVEL OF SLOPPY DUMB EVEN POSSIBLE... ??? ..
And it seems like wth a very simple and stupid drama..
So... the audience gets tricked into thinking it is two dumbos ... but .....
wow that was just a bait and a setup... !!!!!!
bc then... the drama pulls the plug under you and the entire background is exposed - and so nothing was as it seems!!!! - and the drama throws you into dust and a into a tornado, as the drama takes a sudden U turn into a high stakes thriller crazy chaos.
And you realize that you had NO idea, that the drama totally duped you, that everything you thought you saw, was incorrect, and that NOTHING was as it seemed... except the ML lol but even him - we do not know enough yet... !!!! Slowly but surely, all kinds of sides of that man show up... ... !!!! Wow... !!!!
And - the most absurd thing is - everything that happened, is actually possible in real life.
SO DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN,
DO NOT MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS,
nothing in this drama is as it seems !!!!!!
it is AMAZING tight script and great acting.
and a complete chaos done by amateurs
The psychological thriller is that characters show their true colors under pressure, and you realize **nobody** is as they seem. WOW brilliant!!!!
The thriller is a group of amateurs causing total mess and destruction and pulling more and more people in, amateurs and professionals
it is like watching a domino effect, or a hurricane gaining power
Maybe a good name for this drama is .. MAD DOMINO EFFECTS? no it does not convey this feeling of total enmeshed unexpected chaos that keeps spreading - as all relationships backfire in most unexpected ways!!!!
The real name of this drama is NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS SO DONT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS AT ALL! or... you will be humiliated later :) when all your prejudice and preconcieved notice and blindness will be exposed and you will see how wrong you were
Spoiler hint: the curtain falls and the U-turn into a high stakes thriller happens in Ep 4. By that time, you are too comfortable having a totally wrong opinion of what you are watching :) and the SLAM! hits you even harder :)
Also, the drama is a fantastic social commentary... about an ordinary low-level man's greed.... he wants more, and given a chance, turns into a monster to get it.
I think we are now watching that kind of people in real life as the start of WW3 by bombing Iran etc
Mad Concrete Dreams is the story about ANY hideous thing done by "good people" ...... who were given a chance to do bad and got totally obsessed with greed and kept going. There are so many such examples in real life and world history.......
MCD although it looks "fun" is a super deep insight into human psyche and what happens when you get tempted to abandon the universal principles of good karma aka "moral and ethical principles".
MCD ML is a "good ordinary person" who is a good householder, a good neighbor, a good citizen in general, trying hard by honest means..... and who, given a chance, does monstruous things.
He loves his wife and daughter and is good to his friends and neighbors. So how far does this "love" and "good friend and neighbor" stretch under the right conditions... ? Where is the line between driven to succeed and being overcome by greed and selfishness?
At the end, none of the characters grew much. They grew how much they were capable of.
ML paid for his choices by being left alone without family, friends and supporters.
PS - So if you are going to compare MCD with anything, it has to be something equally deep and meaningful. The only two pieces I could think of, that I watched so far, are Walking on Thin Ice and Dream Life of Mr Kim.
Mad Concrete Dreams is like Mr. Kim Walking on Thin ice... it is a criminal Mr. Kim, with criminal wife
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A masterpiece. Incredibly funny dynamic thriller and hillarious comedy
Miss Hong is a gold mine for comedy bc it is LOADED with excellent actors and practically every scene has tons of it, it is FILMED In a way that just creates scene after scene that is totally memorable and most are hilariously funny. The plot is not transformational but more action oriented but there are some transformations. There are love interests that weave through the interactions between characters and influence the drama and transform the characters, but the main focus is on business tasks. Team A of good guys and Teams B C D E F G etc of bad guys :) and all the independent players jumping to one or the other side....So... corporate politics, financial shanannigans, and stealing $$$ take priority while the romantic interests are raging in the background :)
These business interests lead to a forced situation that *is* transformational, 4 women and a kid who would have NEVER met otherwise come together by chance and form a strong bond, and they all transform.
Lots of excellent actresses in complex roles, which is rare, and a realistic porttrayal of friendship between women and their kid.
The female thief Bok Hee who becomes a helper is an amazing transformation and that actress is absolutely amazing in this role
The drama does not put artificial emphasis on the growth, and there is nothing sugary or unrealistic. The whole drama is matter-of-fact.... For example, ML and FL love each other, but he is a criminal, she hates that, so that is that, look-but-dont-touch, the ship has sunk before it sailed. The other guy is handsome and rich but too inexperienced... The third guy is ... and so on.
There is nothing sugary about the female friendship either, it is realistic too... There is nothing sugary about obligations and keeping integrity....
Some scenes are filmed as hillarious makjang in utmost exeggaration - and so that is a clue that what is happening is not really critical but provide a context... Some scenes are "as if in real life" acted seriously, and those are the deep important moments...
Side actors make the drama super spicey hilarious and fun and mysterious, for example one scene of Cha and Albert's dad at the computer is only 2 minutes but *extremely* memorable HILARIOUS
So the entire drama is like that. Scene after scene is all masterful and memorable.
It is one of the dramas that you have to rewatch to see all the gold offered to the audience. Every scene is packed with precious information.
Truly a piece of art that needs to be studied.
After doing my own amateur studying - since I have no formal training nor ANY technical knowledge about making dramas or films - I concluded that the script can provide so much, and then the director, the camera. the video production need to direct and CATCH good actors in just the right moments to convey tons of information with just one screen or one scene.
That makes the plot very dynamic, as it moves fluidly and flawlessly.
****You dont need extra dialogues to explain what is going on.**** I learned that the hard way, watching No Tail to Tell ep 10 - where characters SPEAK what is happening and the drama just drags.... then I watched Miss Hong and SAW how you can eliminate so much dialogue just by picking the right scenes to film...
The script of Miss Hong is wickedly tight :) There is no telling what is going on and new suspicions and new information and twists keep happening :) We the audience HAVE NO IDEA what could happen next, but we do know all the clues are there so we keep watching and guessing :) This is truely a treasure hunt that is very exciting :) Looking for Waldo LOL
Overall, I am very impressed :)
I want to send the camera/directing/video/script people of dramas Radiant Days and Love Phobia and No Tail to Tell to this drama to CAREFULLY study it and learn. Radiant Days and Love Phobia have such choppy camera and super fast random scenes it is like a whirlwind... Like Energizer Bunny on Steroids feeling.... it is supposed to impress you and surprise you but it is like someone threw a whole bunch of cofetti at ya face.... and NTTL drags... the actors are forced to SPEAK what is going on in the scene
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Starts so fun and promising... and then MAJORLY flops.. Watch only ML and Baby
The first few episodes.ML is a jerk, and FL is so lifeless parasitic... Then after ep 2 it gets pretty good, FL perks up, gets a job, protects the baby, and ML transforms totally into a very caring dad..Then FL turns into a slime and chases her first love SML and goes on dates with SML (while ML does free babusits)… FL-SML dating takes all the time, and we barely get to see ML and the baby, and the whole drama is a flop. FL leads on two guys at the same time, and forgets the kid.
ML and Woo Ju are the stars here and the show is worth it for them. ML actor is so good at his very complex role and soooo good and energtic and COMICAL and sooo good with Woo Ju
FL is a really bad actress bc she is just so weak, so malnourished and tired, and has no connection with Woo Ju or ML.
Side actors are pretty good. SML is mediocre actor. Looks cute to some.
FL strings 2 guys and uses ML as a free babysiter while she goes on dates and often takes Woo Ju on her flirt escapades with SML
FL is treating Woo Ju the baby as a pet fish - she buys aquarium and pet food, but ML provides the home .. FL has no connection with Woo Ju... bc she is going on dates with SML ... and taking WJ with her... meanwhile ML is going bananas bc he fell in love with her... and WJ is anxious to see his "mom" flirt witih someone who is not his "dad"…. SML persists and Woo Ju gets used to it and ML leaves…
SO this is only 12 ep drama and UNTIL THE END OF ep 9, FL is still with SLM flirting, and at end of ep 10, she cheesily confeses to ML… so fake
===== MY REVIEW AFTER WATCHING 10 EPISODES ====
THE SYNOPSIS: FL initiated flirting with SML, he abused his office power to flirt back, and FL gladly continued flirting with him, until he went overboard with stalking her and she got tired of it AT THE VERY END OF EP 9, but she still did not stop him.
It was by sheer luck that her need for a good housekeeper made her stop SML - her housemaid / babysitter was suddenly leaving and she needed to take care of that business. She REALLY realized how nice it is to find a clean house and a fed, bathed and asleep baby when she gets home from dates with her first love. So she begged ML to stay and keep her life comfortable, and he consented.
THIS IS FL-CENTERED DRAMA, SO WE GET TO SEE FL-SML ON THE SCREEN A LOT BC FL IS DATING HIM. ML is a secondary character as a roommate who does free housework and babysitting while FL goes on dates.
*It was FL who started chasing Sunbae when she met him at work, ah so thrilled about her first love showing up, and CONSTANTLY MENTIONING THOSE OLD TIMES. * He did not say a thing to her, she kept chasing him.
At that point, SML had no idea she had kid and ML, and he was a boss, so he used his authority to select her to work with him, and SHE CONSENTED, AND KEPT UP FLIRTING WITH ML, and totally completely forgot about Woo Ju so many times and used ML as a free babysitter.
And FL intentionally dragged both guys on the leash.... having a great office romance where she got to be promoted based on her romance, and at home she had a free housemaid / babysitter for free. She was going on dates and coming home to a clean house, fed bathed and asleep kid. WONDERFUL.
She had no connection with Woo Ju, and acted as a very flimsy irresponsible guardian.
SML kept inserting himself and FL was happy to spend time with him…. until he really went overboard- showing up at the first Woo Ju show. SO VERY LAST SCENE OF EP 9 IS THE FIRST TIME FL WAS NOT HAPPY TO SEE SML. But still she did not send SML back.
AND SHE NEVER CALLED HIS UNCLE TO SEE HIS FIRST SHOW.
AS USUAL, FL DID ***NOT*** THINK ONE BIT ABOUT WOO JU
FL by script is a very weak parasite, a woman child, the drama is her love story regardless of how anyone else feels, she drags two guys and essentially tortures them to make her life comfortable, and she gives no thought to Woo Ju. SHE IS SUPER IMMATURE AND WEAK AND SLIMEY and the actress fits that
SML was a jerk, NOT TELLING he saw the ML there, then depriving Woo Ju of family time on weekend to go on a date .... SML was too entitled and too pushy and totally did not understand what it means to have a kid, and also, he ignored the thick feelings between ML and FL, and had the audacity to scold ML and tell him off. SML is really an ignoramus and a very entitled and manipulative person, LED ON BY THE SLIMEY PARASITIC FL, WHO INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO ATTACH TO HIM, AND LED HIM ON UNTIL THE VERY LAST SCENE OF EP 9.
So both of those are ignoramuses. FL and SML are a perfect pair. The best ending to this drama was that those two run off to the USA and leave Woo Ju to ML and some nice woman who loves them both.
ML had his share of ignorance, leaving Woo Ju just like his brother left him. But in some ways he had no choice bc Woo Ju came attached to FL as his guardian, he could not take Woo Ju alone. However, ML was definitely a man child and jumped out of this for wrong reasons, for his own insecurities instead of nailing down FL to talk with her and to realize she is just using him. ML grew up a lot since ep 1, but he still did not overcome this character fault by ep 10.
FL stayed a slimey parasite to the end - that peck on the face at end of ep 10 saying PLEASE HOUSEMAID DO NOT LEAVE, I LOVE TO COME HOME AFTER MY DATES AND SEE THE HOUSE ALL CLEAN AND A BATHED FED BABY SOUND ASLEEP... PLEASE!!! DO NOT LEAVE ME TO DEAL WITH THIS MESS!!!!
and then ML being forced to kiss her - out of what... ???? we never saw any moments between them that would lead to a kiss. It was soooo fake. FL has zero sex appeal and zero attractiveness and zero ability to connect. Kissing her at the airport after her PLEASE STAY I NEED A GOOD HOUSEMAID!!!! begging ..... has ZERO sex appeal and kiss is just not called for. The swhole scene is just ... clearly fake. ML actor really really tried acting it and did well but the overall scene is fake.
The drama was not supposed to be about ML FL living in domestic bliss for 12 eps!!!! The script had to show two adults ML and FL with heavy past overcome their issues and come together in rasing a kid and being functional adults and a romantic pair - overcoming their character flaws and pasts - overcoming parastitic life, lingering first love, abandonment issues, criminal family, etc etc etc - that was all supposed to be a part of the plot but sped up to fit into 12 episodes. ML-FL should have both confessed by ep 6 and then dealt together with their character flaws, becoming “parents” and becoming a love pair, SML, kid, office, traumas from the past, etc.
Heck, cut out SML somehow, SML is SML for a good reason - HE APPEARS LESS ON THE SCREEN THAN ML. HELLO!!!!!! otherwise, call him the ML and denote ML to the supporting role.
SML and FL love story had most of screen time, and ML was just a supporting character to babysit while they went on dates, and that is a total and complete DISASTER, for the story and also for acting, ML and Woo Ju are the best actors here and most of us came to watch THEM, not fl-sml flirting.
So overall, the script is super trashy and whoever ordered and/or APPROVED that script is at fault.
I learned to always skip anything with this director, writer and/or FL actress. Their work has the signature FLOP.
========MY REVIEW AFTER WATCHING 4 EPISODES ========
This drama is a revolutionary approach to adulting and parenting, showing real struggle and real success that comes with some effort.... and a smart kid as an equal member of the family.
This drama is a treat!!!!! I LOVE THIS DRAMA!!! so refreshing, so lively and cute, and deep and ... realistic... that healthy toddler is totally real :) and the challenges of raising a kid and becoming a functional adult are also real...
Some parts are realistically scary... LOL ML started as a selfish immature jerk, he would have just let that child go!!!! but in later episodes, he becomes a caring and engaged dad, better caretaker of Woo Ju than the FL.. .... I love that it is realistic, we see him starting as totally unwilling - as most men would LOL - and then transforming...
FL started as weak, but luckily already somewhat transformed, by ep 2 is already fighting! more energetic and lively and a lot better mom! Omg I so appreciate the script writer for not dragging her lifeless phase. It is such a relief to see her take good care of the kid and to see the kid flourish under her - and to see her flourish too. She got stronger and more vibrant and expressive and giving. More mature. But not enough - she too is selfish jerk, just in a more polite way, and keeps forgetting the kid. But ... she also makes progress...
it is hard bc FL actress is so ... malnourished that she does not seem energetic at all....
ML is energetic and strong and reaaally fun, I love that actor for his comedy skills, the ML character is making a great dad once he started turning around. It will be such a great pair with the baby.
THE BABY IS SOOOOO ADORABLE. He is a star :) I am so glad they are using AI for scenes with him so that the baby doesnt suffer from filming scenes with yelling adults etc.
The drama milked every opportunity for comedy and for cuteness... ML is an amazing comedian, the baby too, and FL is helping as well...
The filming makes it even more hilarious - translating baby's words, various angles of the camera, it is sooo creative!!!! I loved that front scene of ML that was head in the right corner of screen and his shoulder in the left corner. It was asymmetrical and really looked good, and very "up and coming new style". The filming is very dynamic. THe camera and video production are very creative and skilled and the comical effect of their work is hilarious.
Such a lovely sparkley alive refreshing drama. I LOVE IT!!!!
Please rate individual episodes so that the rating goes up! Spread the word!
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I was thinking a lot about Woo Ju. The way the kid is portrayed is so .. revolutionary. I really love how they show him observing, talking and expressing his opinions... He is a smart cutie :) and it goes a lot deeper than just that. This idea that the parents are TALKING with the kid as an active participant and someone who has a say. Notice that Woo Ju never ever is allowed to dictate anything nor does he try.... . He is just asked for opinion. And he offers his opinion when something is really bothering him LOL and it is always for a good reason...
Woo Ju is shown as an entity of his own, with his own mind and emotions, and actively participating - he observes and reads the room and knows what is going on....
So: this drama portrays ****children as active participants in family, who have their say and who can be reasoned with.**** It is very remarkable. This is totally revolutionary according to the traditional upbringing where kids are more like furniture that the parent OWNS and arranges as they wish - including marriage, etc.
The drama is very deep. It is about what it means to be a good parent. That's deep….. sic
So overall, this is an AMAZING drama in so many ways.
I really like it a lot.
Minus some details LOL I want FL to eat, have some muscles on her and be energetic, lively and strong.
I love acting of ML actor, he is just amazing
and I totally adore Woo Ju :)
This is one of the best dramas ever, it is very funny yet profound and meaningful.
Calling it "Baby propaganda" is actually totally skewed bc children are a part of life, just like seniors are. The world does not revolve around young adults - although young adults like to think that way LOL The world does not consist only of working-age adults....Presence of children and elderly SHOULD BE totally normal.
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Very Hollywood. Watch 1 episode to see Huyn Bin acting and you saw it all
Very Hollywood - all about the bad guys, no real plot, just wild action without meaningful content.Promoting the message of desperation and power of evil. Very typical Hollywood. The ONLY one good guy is super naive and gets betrayed by everyone.
I watched this to the end so that I write this well informed scathing review. Overall, this drama is trashy and you saw it all if you watch 1 episode.
I started watching bc I was curious to see Hyun Bin. Sure, he is a great actor but this role gets boring as he is ALWAYS THE SAME - smoking cigarettes witih a grumpy violent face selling drugs. THE DRAMA IS ABOUT HIM, WE GET TO SEE THAT EVIL DRUG DEALER ON THE SCREEN THE MOST, he dominates the drama as the most important character.
Couldnt HB find a better script, or is he doing this for money??
Also, there are no women in this drama. There are 3 listed as FL but their screen time is super minimal and insignificant.
Mr. Plankton is there acting stellar his role but he is on the screen litrally less than 5 minutes in 6 episodes. Total waste.
There is no meaningful dialogue anywhere. And it is quite violent and gory.
it does mention some key issues - like, government selling drugs to keep itself in power, Korean CIA in fact selling them, etc. and it rteaches history, like the dark times Korea had with the president staying in power by selling drugs and torturing the opposition, but that is all covered in ep 1 or so. No need to watch the entire drama
The audience of this drama seems to be military and conservative males.
Overall, this drama is a waste of time. You can see one episode to confirm that HB can act well, and by that time, you have seen it all, there is no need to waste time to watch the rest, it is all the same, always.
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Very hopeless cheasy soap that is NOT S Korean....
The drama is really about Esptein cartel similars... and .... gives a VERY clear message that it is hopeless to go against rich and powerful... JUST LIKE the western media always portrays ...Wow so Hollywood... soooo hopeless... the bad guy always win and there is nothing anyone can do... And these 3 women are just helping a few victims after the fact - they are POWERLESS.... and this idea that you win just by being alive... Omg... soooo soapy delulu Hollywood... WOW WHAT A SH.T DRAMA AND MESSAGE
Soooo not S Korean... S Koreans turn over bad governments :) and this is probably why they are being targeted now. Wow how evil.
S Korea, hang on!!!! hang on to your values.
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FL is cement cold addict and ML is an enabler, and the story drags on about that
I was kinda ok with ep 1, but the drama was so bad and I watched 1-4 in total agony, ONLY BC OF PSJ. By ep 5, it was very clear to me why this kdrama is so HEAVY - it is "slice of life" in a rehab program of a chronic addict who fought tooth and claw against her rehab and ML kept cajoling her into it.Yeah she "loves him" but not really, she loves her addiction more.
To make the drama a success, the drama should have shown her rehab start a LOT earlier, and on FL's own initiative,
should have shown a LOT of her initiative and effort to rehab,
and the era after the clean up should have taken at least a quarter of the show.
Bc the drama did not show that, and just focused on how abusive she was and how much he allowed it, the drama is a toxic kollywood FLOP.
The drama drags on in toxic circles bc ***** FL IS AN ADDICT **** who has no intentions to stop**** AND ML IS HER ENABLER. ******
This is actually the old sexist kdrama trope, a weak cowardly woman who keeps running away at the first whiff of discomfort, and a "loyal" man "in love" who "takes care of her" by behaving like a fatherly figure who cleans up her messes and chases her around like a paid babysitter / psychiatric help.
To the usual sexist anio!!!! plot and stupid mistakes, this drama added addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills, so this is one of the most toxic if not THE Most toxic FL ever.
Luckily, eventually, ML had enough of her messes and stopped helping her, he would not budge until she cleaned up. THAT IS THE ONLY GOOD PART OF THIS SCRIPT.
FL is so cemented frozen that nothing is working on her, until him leaving for over 1 yr and permanently!!!! and that death. *** FL is extremely extremely weak.
The drama is just a modern version of old kdrama sexism, a VERY SUPER WEAK COWARDLY WOMAN.
FL is a super extra weak person. At the slightest problem, she runs away to take some pills and / or get drunk. And she has NO INTENTIONS TO STOP THAT, and ML keeps chasing her to stop that, and she keeps biting him bc she has no intentions to stop. Like in Dynamite Kiss.
LUCKILY, unlike Dynamite Kiss and many other toxic sexist dramas, this ML was smart enough to say ENOUGH!!!!! unless you clean up and show effort and dedication to me, I am not yours. The mistake as usual is that he stays in love with her anyways and just waits. Never moves on...
I started watching when the drama already aired ep 10. I watched ep 1-4 for PSJ only and I saw that the comments here showed that nothing changed. And it was not worth watching even for him. So I decided I did not need to watch ep 5-11. I just watched ep 12 to see how they end it.
Imo the drama got killed by dragging the start of the rehab "get clean and sober" phase.
Seems like most episodes do NOT show how FL cleaned up. She eventually cleaned up, seems like in the last 2 episodes? but still, FL stayed a proud arrogant oblivious COWARD.
At the very very end, literally in the last few minutes of the last episode, FL finally makes a step forward ML. But it is too late - the drama is already ruined.
The drama should have shown FL doing her work a lot earlier .... and then show how they started again. Bc that phase has problems too. We need to see that FL is gonna fall apart again at the slightest problem.
The drama ends with a confession but honestly I am not convinced that it would work - to be successful, the drama needs to show some conflicts after they get together, to "test" if FL cleanup was genuine.
I just finished ep 4 and then watched ep 12. I concluded that watching ep 5-11 would be a waste of time bc I already know what will be happening. I read the comments and it is clear that FL kept doing her addict thing and ML kept being the enabler until the very end.
I do NOT need to watch a rehab program in great detail.
So my assessment is that the drama got ruined by rehashing the pride and power struggle between an arrogant willful addict and a soft meek enabler. Yeah in real life that goes on forever too... BUT then there is the phase of the addict cleaning up and putting effort and struggling... and then a phase of "new life" after the addict cleans up, and it is as difficult. This drama just glosses over it. Which made the drama a flop.
I gave it a generous 6 out of 10 bc I am a fan of PSJ past dramas and bc FL actress is great and there is some other good acting.
But the plot is 1 star out of 10. The music is nauseating.
The drama ends with a confession but honestly I am not convinced that it would work - to be successful, the drama needs to show some conflicts after they get together, to "test" if FL cleanup was genuine.
We never got to see HOW FL got clean and sober. She was addicted to alcohol and sleeping pills and then magically we see her running a company in the last 2 episodes or so. For all we know, she could still be addicted, just functioning better.
ANd we certaintly got to see that she stayed the same proud oblivious person until literally 5 minutes before the end of the last episode, i.e. I DOUBT that she did the inner work to become a strong person.
So would getting together with ML be successfull???
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I started watching this drama for PSJ and endured 4 episodes out of loyalty for him, but even he and excellent acting of FL actress could not save this TRASHY SCRIPT.
FL actress is excellent, PSJ could have acted deep love a lot better, and the plot is trash as it focuses solely on the phase "time to rehab and fighting it tooth and claw"
Overall, I am disappointed. This is such a western drama, all strife and no movement forward, Koreans just slapped a happy ending and Western audience is so deprived of anything positive that they will consider those last 5 minutes as a happy ending.
Heck no it is not a happy ending. It could be the start of yet another breakup. I am totally NOT convinced.
A real kdrama shows the redemption arc. There is no "miraculous happy ending" at the last minute like in western stuff.
The real kdrama happy end happens because of a genuine transformation PROCESS by self effort, team work, communication, self awareness and self reflection, etc.
In a real kdrama, a LOT of very deep stuff is shown in a rather comical, light, fun, warm, compassionate way. So VERY DEEP STUFF IS ADDRESSED. There are very stark honest conversations and self dialogues.
This drama is lazy. It focuses on so many episodes of the same trashy plot and then miraculously shows some inclination of a great change and happy ending. HECK NO I DO NOT TRUST THIS DRAMA ONE BIT.
FL is addicted to alcohol and sleeping pills and using and abusing ML as her babysitter psychiatric nurse and yelling at him and dumping him, lying to him, and then SUDDENLY!!!! MAGICALLY!!!! she is up and running on her feet. Pfsk trash soap. !!!! so unreal.
Watch Dream Life of Mr. Kim for an excellent drama about self transformation.
i dont know why PSJ accepted this role, but this drama is a waste. Good actors cannot make up for a TRASH SCRIPT.
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Has potential but misses the mark
Our Golden Days had potential but imo totally went off.... It was supposed to be a great commentary on unemployment, seniors having to work, women's rights, women at work force, women in relationships, jerky blind males coming to their senses, about family conflict and sacrifices, what do parents owe to their kids, what do kids owe to their parents, about reconciling parents and children, stern idiotic proud fathers, bad mothers, criminals, what do adopted childrren owe to their real and surrogate parents, friendship, etc etc etc, etc. IT HAD GREAT POTENTIAL as it raised sooo many relevant issues..... and them imo flopped. The script did not present the issues well, FL could not act, ML/FL were practically the only ones on the screen - and the moron cemented Dad - and the filming made it too draggy...I stopped watching Our Golden Days. I bailed out when FL just had to donate her liver. Pfsk. The third KBS weekender with young ppl donating their livers to some doozies. Now ML has to get a donated heart...
The best parts were Soo Bin - Soon Jae and Ye Ra - Youngest Brother pairs.... but they recently got removed... The family is telling their grown daughter she cannot date this guy bc he was divorced and his family is not nice and they dont want her to suffer - but all her life they kept her in poverty to pay hospital bills for the drunken grandpa... !!!!! It is like .. brain dead hypocritical family. I just had to quit watching that.
FL-ML pair never worked out bc FL actress cannot act and the script was not in their favor.
Also the trope of a toxic disfunctional family that messed up their kids - they put all money and attention into saving the grandpa who willingly engaged in reckless activities and kept causing more and more hospital bills!!! and the family heads, their kids, paid it all and disadvantaged their kids, aka the grandchildren, for life - but then the same adults want to dictate who kids marry bc it is so important for kids' happiness... !!! Bologney. It killed SB-SJ pair that was so fun to watch. And Webtoon-Bodyguard couple also got killed...
FL is acted as a snide cynical cold person and I think it misses the point.. I really dislike the FL actress lack of acting skills...
Our Golden Days has a lot of potential but just never took off bc some conservative film makers always push it back into soapy dumb trash.
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Sorry for length I was just rambling on, I have no time to polish this
It was very ... rough. It was so ... harsh, macho, lots of melodrama, all miscommunications, ... Bad script... FL on the screen a lot and cannot act... .The Father on the screen a lot as a totally clueless poker faced cemented old geezer closed mind character... ML a lot on the screen as a jerk....
Our Golden Days made some mistakes.. it had just a few actors and focused mostly on ML and FL on the screen but then it gave awful script to ML and made him a jerk for too long, and FL actress was just TERRIBLE in acting... Also, since ML and FL were on the screen a LOT and the drama used the other characters as just fluff and rarely showed them... they were kinda really on the side - the drama got really bogged down. FL was on the screen so much and had nothing to offer... she was sooo boring... her acting is terrible... and ML had a terrible script so his time on the screen was mostly wasted - first he was a harsh rude jerk, then he was this grown man who behaved like a teenager when he first discovers hormones, which was rather .. weird... waste of talent for that actor... then we had ... liver donation.. then heart donation... then forbidding a grown daughter to date someone bc she was supposed to live well and free - but her family bogged her down for like 30 yrs while they paid hospital bills of some drunken grandpa who could care less and kept smoking drinking etc and smooching for his medical bills...
then we as the audience complained and then side stories took over and that was a breath of fresh air. The 2 side couples and the villain mom saved the drama!!!!! but then were removed to make way for the plot of donating the heart...
And this is not the first time that secondary pairs took over to save the drama! In 3 Bold Siblings, Mi Young and the youngest sister took over the drama since FL was 100% terrible in acting omg. ML tried so hard but she was a piece of CEMENT. etc.
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A play on stereotypes; a hypocrisy - FL is a two timer pretending to be a good girl
This drama's concept is a play on stereotypes. The older slow and nerdy successful reliable solid CEO vs a young frilly charmer "live day by day" guy on a motorcycle.But the execution of this concept totally flopped.
FL is written totally dumb and slimey and the guys are written naive and unrealistic.
FL two-times both guys and both guys know it and keep chasing her. **** ML kisses and holds hands of FL bc she invited him to do so. Then FL goes to hang out with SML...
THE FL IS WRITTEN AS A WOMAN-CHILD.
***** Any real guy would have QUIT her after ep 3 the latest.
This is one of slimiest and most mysogenic kdramas out there, and I dropped it at ep 8. I visited the episodes later to check on the drama, and it stayed with the FL as a woman-child and ML as a daddy to her.
The acting is poor too, esp FL actress is totally pathetic, ML actor is bored with his overly simple dumb role.
Only Ji Su and his mom are worth watching. Ji Su is actually a great role to watch.
The main problem is the cheap script.
This is a delulu drama for some loser women fantasizing about being wanted, although they are slimey flawed.
The younger guy was so immature, irresponsible and frilly and needed to focus on his career and growing up first - simple stuff like not leaving his job without notice or calling in to work to inform he is not coming to work!!!! -
and the older guy was a relationship material, but he was portrayed as so bland that he was utterly boring, and his hot pursuit of FL and his successes in kissing her, holding her hand, making her sweat and flutter, etc were just brushed under the rug.
The most astonishing thing was that so many in the audience could not discern between the two guys and immediately thought that "the guy with a prettier face" and the toxic immature "sexual poking" that teenagers do was automatically a better choice..... .
SO IMO THIS DRAMA REQUIRES A SUBSCRIPTION TO YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF STEPHAN SPEAKS, an excellent relationship coach for women.
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DETAILS
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The nerdy guy is stereotyped BORING and UGLY with glasses (stooped, stiff, moves slowly, speaks slowly, works a lot, responsible business owner, responsible for employees and his good friends, too shy to speak his mind - he behaves based on what FL shows, so he lets her do what she wants and she ... pretends they didnt kiss, held hands, etc.
The younger guy is stereotpyped EXCITING bc his face is more handsome and he wears more fashionable clothes and keeps sexually teasing FL. He is a frilly charmer guy on a motorcycle, vibrant, energetic, speaks his mind freely, keeps on physically barging into personal space of FL and she too barges into his emotional space and patronizes him - so they UNOFFICIALLY KEEP GOING ON DATES WHERE HE CHASES HER AND SHE PRETENDS SHE HAS NO CLUE - but she keeps barging into his private and emptional spaces and leading him on.
The audience automatically stereotypes these two guys, regardless of what they ACTUALLY show on the screen. SML walks out of his jobs or doesnt show up,
FL TWO-TIMES both guys and acts very confused, flippant and silly - too prude towards ML and too open and without boundaries to SML. FL is unaware of her own feelings and what she wants, and she is irresponsible, flakey.....
The main issue is that FL is unaware of how she is driven by her hormones and unwilling to accept it - she denies that part of herself... So... the end result is that she strings two guys. SML for just attention and ML as a genuine like.
FL uses SML as a frill pill and hangs out with him without any intention to officially date, and likes ML, kisses him, and promises to go on dates with ML but stays out of getting too close - and keeps the company of SML without any obligation.
And, if a man did that to two women, we would be protesting. This drama (as well as Climax, etc) is on one hand showing gender equality under evil, that both men and women are equally nasty; and on the other hand, a sly invitation to have female epsteiners, therefore, there is no need to release epstein files bc everyone is free to do what they want.
The drama is inviting women to be as bad as men have been for thousands of years, to make it official that ANYTHING GOES, instead of moving all of us into a new better age. Very Hollywood foundation, keeping us all stuck in muck.
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ML has never done anything unless FL was open to it - which often caused a stallmate when she pulls back - and he does not dare to call her to the carpet - and she pretends that her hormones and thoughts of marriage do not exist -
and SML barges into her space and pokes her, totally oblivious to her liking the ML and totally confident based on his long standing success as a charmer for women.
It is already ep 7 and the character flaws of all 3 are still glaring and playing out. FL is playing the SML because she still has not figured out what she wants.
There is nothing wrong with using SML for a hot and steamy SHORT relationship *** if *** the FL wanted that. But the problem is, she is supposedly not really interested in that, and already deeply likes ML So, instead of going on hot steamy dates within a LONG relationship within a stable marriage, she choses to stay confused and use the SML for attention.
The FL two times and plays both guys. The guys are emotionally incapacitated, cannot talk things through, and do not call her to the carpet. So she keeps stringing both of them.
THE PLOT IS UNREALISTIC. In real life, both men would be gone by ep 4.
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The problem is not about weighing options. The problem is the LIE. *** FL is DELUSIONALLY PRETENDING she is a good girl. ****
We had 7 episodes of a 36yr old woman-child who does not even know what he feels and what she wants and has not put ANY effort to find out - except ONCE asking her mommy to tell her.
THAT is not interesting to watch
I think I documented well why I dropped this drama
========
And I dont want ML to end up with FL. She is not good enough for him, she is too sleazy . He is too zipped up and closed up, and he has to change, but he is an honest guy and at least he deserves an HONEST woman. So I want ML to find some good woman asap.
FL IS A HYPOCRITE LIAR. SML is very immature. So - THEY ARE A PERFECT PAIR.
At this point, I vote for FL and SML to have a hot romance bc both want that, and we all know how that will end, they will both get majorly hurt and quit in about 3-6 months. If they last more than that, I will give you $1.
FL-SML relationship is based on SML constantly chasing her and kissing her as#. I wonder how long that COULD last. Sure, go ahead and BURN. Learn your lesson the hard way then.
I dropped at ep 8 bc it was like the rest. As a dedicated kdrama fan, I did my best to try to watch this charade of lies, but nuff is nuff, I ain't watching trash.
FL behaves like a dog in heat and keeps TWO-TIMING, seeking SML for fun dates and going on official dates with ML, both with physical contact. Yet the drama and FL uphold this hypocrisy that FL is supposedly NOT trying all the options bc she is a prude good little girl. The fact is: FL is a two-timing player. Let that be clear. Like in Our Universe.
The drama is not honest about its intent. If it is about a woman whose hormones are active and seeking action, then make it clear - it is ok to have a character like that! such women exist!!!!! - instead of WASTING 7+ EPISODES ON FL PRETENDING TO BE WHO SHE IS NOT.
FL should have decided already so that we can move on. THE DRAMA IS STUCK.
And that is what bothers me about this drama. It is hypocritical and wastes time.
ML has a personality/hobbies/interests and GOOD FRIENDS too He is also responsible and handsome and hot. BUT HE IS TOO SHY TO SPEAK UP and he is too gentle
and too clumzy - he should have called a cab for his mom, he should have scheduled the next date
Also, ML actor is super thin and he lacks any s.x appeal and energy. That is sad.
INDEED this drama is about a woman player who is two-timing. AND I HATE IT. I think the drama is super sleazy. And yes, if a man did that, we would all be very upset. I am upset at FL too. I dropped.... . I am sorry to miss Ji Su actor acting, but I saw him enough in 7 episodes.
I vote for ML, **after** he learns he should send his mom away on a cab, and to schedule the next date at the end of the current one
ML script is not written properly, he still too zipped up uncommunicative and I would not receommend him
ALSO, I DO NOT WANT ML STUCK WITH FL, SHE IS UNWORTHY OF HIM, SHE IS TOO SLEAZY IMMATURE.
The drama ends with ML taking care of FL, who is completely incopetent to handle her own life. It is the same old kdrama sexism where the man dominates the relationship as the stable, smart, reliable, problem-solver, caretaker, protector, .... in short - a DADDY - and the woman is just DUMB WEAK IMMATURE. woman-child.
Overall rating is YUCK!!!
I have written a much longer review but it exceeds 10000 characters so I put it into my Feeds.
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Great portrayal of real issues but very slow and boring filming
Great portrayal of real issuesA little slow, I did not like how it was filmed
it was filmed like a western movie, with full face all over the screen and lots of slow suffering moments
That's why not 10 stars
The filming made it a lot more boring than it needed to be, and took away from the hectic crazy vibe of entertainment industry in real life
Dramas like Climax go to the other extreme and focus only on the most dirty Epstein moments
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Very realistic portrayal of real life and "patriarchy" in personal and corporate world
After watching all 12 episodes, imo this is a masterpiece drama written by someone who lived this. See the info on that below.It is a drama from real life - a patriarchal family: dad - a rotten spoiled insecure, total dick, a rat in the corporate rat race; a doormat mom who knowingly spoils the dad; and a college-age son who has to cow down too and then carries that into his own love and business life where ppl are abusive to him and he clings to them ....
and the dad is the same abusive dude at home and work .... and eventually messed up so much that he lost his job and did even more - a lot more!!!!! - doodoo woodoo .... and .... everyone has to grow or else.
Dig your own grave then sink or swim drama.... . This sentence is well explained in review by Oppa_ https://kisskh.at/profile/oppa_/review/504894
This drama is a very old, cheesy, and seemingly simple story, BUT with excellent acting and a tight script, and great filming, it is really a riveting story, imo.
The issues:
- will the wife ACT on her full knowing that she created a spoiled brat out of her husband and gave up her dreams...
- will the son ACT on his own heart and opportunities or cave in to his dad...
- how will the dad take failing at work, being fired, being betrayed, living his whole life for that darn company and giving up his own dreams for it, to feed his family and "look good"
This is a story that will send any teenager, housewife, a sole breadwinner, a middle age worker, or laid off worker, into frenzy, it really pushes buttons...
I think it is a masterfully done piece from start to end. The plot, the acting, the filming is all great. The issues were masterfully presented and the drama ends with a realistic healing.
Seems like in real life too :) I knew from the start that the drama was written by someone who lived this, and wanted to know who wrote it - Mr. Kim, Ms. Kim, the kiddo, or even Old or Young Nasty Boss when they got fired next LOL - and I found out!
The drama is based on a daily blog of a real-life office manager who then published a book, webtoon and then this drama. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-11-17/entertainment/television/Author-draws-on-former-corporate-life-for-hit-Netflix-drama-The-Dream-Life-of-Mr-Kim/2456038
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Written after ep 3:
I dislike Mr. Kim, obviously, he is a real jerk, someone who is 100% unaccountable, selfish and insecure - a SELFISH SNOWFLAKE, a rat in the corporate maze, a person totally oblivious to others. He does try to win in that rat race, but he cannot - bc he is just a rat without any brains. He is a weak person without vision, goals, or life in general. And - who is there in it with him, egging him on deeper into that doodoo - is HIS WIFE.
I also dislike Mr. Kim's wife. She is a doormat, pushower and an ENABLER. She is the abused party and yet does nothing about it... and willingly continues.
At the start of ep 3, she clearly explains she *knows* she created this monster dad/husband/ Mr Kim bc she spoiled her husband
- and yet she is unwilling to do anything about it and STILL WILLINGLY CATERS TO HIM, and fully aware that she is spineless enabler, she keeps destroying herself to cater to him, she even quit her dream and her real estate exam.
MR. KIM's WIFE IS NOT NICE. SHE IS A MONSTER TOO. She is dumb and weak and allows Mr. Kim and everyone to just trample over her. AND THUS THE BAD SITUATION KEEPS HAPPENING.
Bc she is unwilling to stand up to her husband in an honest and gentle way, providing REAL support, not just mockery of his insecurities, bc she is unwilling and unable to keep an honest communication with her husband, bc she is unwilling to disciss any issues, bc she "feels pity for him" and thus lets him do whatver he wants, BC SHE IS A WEAK AND MURKY TOXIC PERSON, she has created a monster, a weak and murky toxic ENTITLED MR KIM IN CHARGE OF NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE, who is impacting so many peoiple in most negative ways.
Mr. Kim is a jerk obviously bc he is riding the patriarchy and using all his privileges, using his status as breadwinner and "man" and manager to dole it over his wife and kid and subordinates, he is an abusive patriarchal jerk. He kisses up and kicks down....
And the wife is responsible for never ever questioning him and thus promoting and encouraging him to continue to be abusive more and more.
So THE WIFE IS BEHIND ALL THIS. SHE ALLOWED MR KIM TO GET OUT OF LINE. SHE keeps throwing herself, their son AND Mr Kim under the bus, and indirectly, throwing under the bus everything and anything that Mr. Kim gets in touch with, e.g. all ACT employees and customers and public and youtube readers etc the entire country
MR KIM'S WIFE IS THE KEY TO SOLVING THIS SITUATION - AS LONG AS WIVES LIKE THAT EXIST, MR. KIMS WILL EXIST
****THE ROOT CAUSE IS PATRIARCHY. **** MR. KIM, HIS WIFE AND SON ARE STUCK IN IT.
AND THE WIFE AND THE SON ARE THE KEY SINCE THEY ARE THE ABUSED PARTIES AND SHOULD START THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM THAT ENSLAVES THEM.
MR KIM IS ALSO A SLAVE IN THIS BUT HE IS A SLAVE WITH PRIVILEGES SO HE DOESNT SEE IT AND HAS NO REASON TO BREAK IT DOWN... UNTIL THE SYSTEM BREAKS HIM DOWN TOO :) but then it is too late
THE WIFE IS A FULL 10000% SUPPORTER OF PATRIARCHY. She adores her husband as if he were some kind of God or a very small child who needs being catered to. That is not love, that is sheer toxicity.
The patriarchy trained Ms. Kim to think that way and the patriarchy trained Mr. Kim to feel so entitled.
AND IT IS THE FAULT OF MR AND MS KIM TO NEVER EVER QUESTION IT AND TO NEVER EVER ASK WHY THEIR MARRIAGE AND THEIR LIFE IS SO TRASHY UNHAPPY MEANINGLESS WHY IS MR KIM SO ABUSIVE AND SO CRUDE UNKIND, always putting his wife and kid down, always putting his employees down, always making other ppl feel miserable - bc he does not care how other ppl feel. BC HIS WIFE LETS HIM DO THIS.
and it is interesting how that will ruin her son too - that girl is clearly a bait and that Jealousy company is clearly somehow going to abuse Mr Kim's son, who is gullible and keeps failing for that girl and doing whatever she says. Those kids will somehow use Mr Kim's son as a scapegoat for something illegal they do, or as a guinea pig for something, but in any case, at the end he will be thrown to the curb and VERY HURT
And is funny how we find MR. Kim annoying but realy who makes Mr. Kim is HIS WIFE and ppl think she is "nice"
No, she is a monster bigger than him. He has no idea what he is doing. He is just misusing his privileged status. She KNOWS what she is doing and is unwilling to stop. She KNOWS she CREATES ENABLES AND SUPPORTS THE SPOILED CARELESS CRUEL SELFISH INSECURE MONSTER MR KIM
Writen after ep 4:
In this episode, the abusive situation starts to crack. The wife starts to bite back, Mr. Kim is forced to face his dream privileged world crumble down, and Mr. Kim's son starts to stand up to abuse at his Jealousy company too.
Well - keep on going :)
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Since this is Netflix and is run by the West, most likely these crucial social issues will be exposed and then ... left at a standstill :) and even left with a hopeless message. .... From what I understand, Mr. Kim will be a little car repairman and happy with it.
In other words, the drama could leave at a dead end, making the "good people" be small and insignificant, and the existing patriarchy and corporate version of it going at full speed as before. Kinda hopeless :)
Let us see if this drama can provide a little bit more insight :)
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Written after ep 12:
the last scenes of Mr and Ms Kim walking and finally having a lovey dovey relationship and talking honestly, lovingly, with consideration, discussing what they want and can do, ... that is the WIN of Kim family.
Their kiddo turned all right too. He was saved by HaNa's dad, who pulled HaNa away, finally. The kiddo has bad taste in women and kept clinging to a snake. I hope he grows up and lets go of her for real :)
and last but not least: Jae Pil from A Hundred Memories showed up, to confirm - the actor looks good when he smiles, and cannot act....
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Imo track #1 is a masterpiece, #2 is iffy, #6 is weak, and the rest are great
Oh I wrote the original review not realizing there was ep 8-10.... and somehow I didnt realize 7 existed... someone on internet marked ep 6 as 7, so I thought 6 and 7 was one story in two pieces... Oh welll... HERE IS THE CORRECTED REVIEW after watching all 10 tracks :)I loved most Love Track episodes.
Episode 6 is poorly written and I gave up.
#2 is badly acted.
The rest are GEMS!!!
*** #1 is a masterpiece. ***
Oh I have to write 300 characters...
I want to see what happened AFTER the end of Track #1.
#2 is a classic tropey cheesy immature rom com
THe one with the funeral too... but it has a lot deeper notes and is acted well, it has the twists, .... so I am also curious ... which guy stayed?
The one with the wolf and zookeepers was hillariosly real. I love ML as a good guy. FL as a snide is not so fun LOL I love that actress, she is such a good actress, but dont put her only in snide roles.
#7 is amazing, I love ML actor, he is excellent. The story is so improv comedy
#8 Minji Minji Minji is sooo cute :) and such excellent sincere and straight forward communication. I am IMPRESSED. I am impressed by acting of everyone, but especially ML is great
#9 is amazing, I love ML actor, he is such a great actor! Every role I see him in, he is totally a diferent character and always convincingly so... I think that is a genius actor...
This story is great and filmed great, and the ending is sad... but .. realistic... But ... they really should ... well how can I impose? but somehow I feel they should try again.
#10 is amazing too. I love FL in a romantic nice role, she usually played villans and this romantic loving role really shows more of her acting. The ML is great too. His character is so nice, I wish I had a son like that. And I loved FL's friend from work, she was so lively.
I loved the epilogue couples talking. I hope the apartment couple overcomes their slump.
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Cheesy cartoon "makjang" but with some deep meaningful messages
The drama is JunHo-centric, showing him as a "nobody" good bland small guy who turns into a superhero, something like Superman. Also he narrates the video, and that is where a lot of comedy is, to see the discrepancy between his thinking and his actions LOL and the content of his thoughts LOLAlso, this is a supernatural makjang, so do NOT expect perfectly executed fights and crispy technicalities. Frankly, it is absolutely irrelevant. The messages are about very deep issues of life, this is really a psychological melodrama /thriller / comedy.
Until ep 6, I was just wondering wth I was watching, what the messages are, and where the catch is. The ML is a rather bland guy, a good, dumb guy, complacent, lazy, selfish, not a bad guy but not a great guy with integrity... He is under the slipper of his girlfriend, who is very smart and materialistic and forces him into that mold. This is 100% opposite from the typical kdrama plot.... our "superhero" is a very real life guy..... He and she do not communicate, she just gives him orders... They are consumers trying to move up the social ladder. They are driven by cash but have little of it :)
Ep 6 and on, there is growth and change, and some profound messages about life in general. I really enjoyed the subtle and obvious messages. I am not going to spill the beans. The jist of it: the small people win by individually conquering their own demons and by working together. It is not sugar coated - for example, if you have only heart, but no cash, you cannot fight and you die LOL
But since this is a cartoon, you can come back to life by magic tricks :)
The plot is cheesy but this is a cartoon..... so the plot does NOT have to be super tight and is, imo, ok to have a loose plot in a supernatural fantasy cartoon ..... so be it. For example. the scene of hanging out in church fire for like 10 minutes drove some audience insane bc of it's unrealness, BUT this is not a drama about reality. It is really a cartoon, where our heroes can do all kinds of stuff and get out unscratched :)
Also, loan shark, etc were not really explained but ... who cares, right?
Now imo a serious complaint:
I disliked that the villains go to a Buddhist shrine and the good guys are working under a Christian agenda. Someone is pushing christian churches into kdramas. That is quite rotten.
The music was ... sooooo... bad. I really disliked it. The singer cannot sing well... adn the words... fell by the side....
The acting is ok for most part. JunHo seems to "act" the same in all his dramas, hopefully his idol life will wear out and he will be able to relate to many more expressions from "real life"..... right now, he is ok as a "sweet guy" ... He is quite physical so he acts "action scenes" quite well.
and the young villain dude is the same in every drama - the same face, th same acting... and the same type of role... and he is not even good at it. I suggest trying more varied roles and really trying to ACT.
Overall summary: I enjoyed the experience of getting to know the characters and their stories and I learned somethng from it, and I thank the drama crew for it.
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Interesting twists on rom com - lots of promises but pathetically disappointing messages
==== WRITTEN AT THE ENDWow what a waste of time. It had potential, trying to make young people's world visible, shatter some preconceived notions and stereotypes, and promote inclusiveness and the environment.
And ended up as a bunch of smart educated kids NOT taking the embezzlement files to the police, suing the university, calling the media, or whatever, etc, to end the crime there.
So the final message is that these people are just helpless kids kinda exploring some adult things but really clueless.
So that is why this was sponsored by Ministry of Culture or whatever it said at the start of the drama? That is how you brainwash the kids into complacency?
Disappointingly pathetic.
==== WRITTEN AFTER EP 8
This drama is generally cute college drama, but ... with some twists... i wonder what this drama is really trying to accomplish... It is using some unexpected twists to shock the audience...
For the first time ever, the typical asian drama plot is reversed - now the man is all heart no brains, and the woman is smart and frozen cold rather cruel. The exact opposite of a typical kdrama, which creates 100% of th plot by having FL do stupid stuff and ML save her.
I am also glad we get to see real women. Not some skinny chicks in mini skirts, like Jenny. Korean actors and actresses seems like are forced to be super thin and that is horrifying. That was fashionable in the West in 1960s... Now, what is fashionable is MUSCLES. And that is a lot healthier too.
I like that this kdrama addresses the topic of "good looking men" and how the looks are passing and not everything, and how many good looking become addicted to attention, fall and become entitled ppl, players, etc... That is a cool attempt to introduce certain equality between genders and to educate youngsters about years ahead and what really matters.
Also, FL is a comp sci major - how great. I am so glad someone is promoting engineering and comp sci, smart women, female engineers, etc. That is so cool.
This show also promotes LGBT.... which is promoted a lot lately, generally, there are so many gay romance kdramas now.... so ok, young people probably need to figure things out these days as the global overpopulation and no need for kids makes LGBT acceptable and actually ... desirable... :) but also clashes with the S Korea being the lowest with birth rate and Korean government and kdramas promoting having babies...
Then we have statements about no environmentally friendly golf courses and hotels... not using plastic straws and bottles... recycling.... Nature... Sure, I am on that...
but.... while ML is figuring that out, ML is wearing a necklace with a catholic cross... and a tank top with the Jesus crown of thorns.. Heck what was THAT??? So many gays in catholic church killing two birds with one stone...?
Then we have party crowd going in cars to some hotel in Nature... ????
Surprisingly LGBT community, at last in the USA, is actually rather wealthy and SUPER CONSERVATIVE and would NOT support green, organic, natural, saving environment, no golf courses and hotels.... They mostly vote Republican... and have taken over the entertainment, fashion, and many other areas of business and wealth and influence...
Then, what is the purpose of that sex toy at the end. It was rather ... cheap humor. I was wondering why that was introduced? Why does th audience need to see that? To shock or tickle the audience? Really? To make this drama so americanized, to have it based on shocking the audience with cheap trashy sexualization? Heck no. I dont watch anything western because of such lack of content and covering up the brainless trashiness by cheap tricks.
If this moment was going to be used to discuss the prevalent use of pornography in the last generations in the West - and perhaps that is a good thing against overpopulation? LOL but it is a bad thing for egotism..... - well those scenes did not have to last like ... 20 mins total? Why make such a big fuss about it?
because that wasted time and cheap meaningless content, I gave a low rating and got totally put off.
Some dramas like Bon Apettit Your Majesty created lots of plot just by showing food... Saves the script writer from having to think about CONTENT...
and I totaly dislike it when th content is thrown out th window
Also, I am very suspicious at this point... it seems as yet another attempt to americanize the Koreans and to cater to american audience and make them watch this and pay $$$$$ for th drama. Exactly the holywood/disney trick - put as much sex and violence and wild car chases as you can, the most lewd and explicit kind, and it will definitely make the movie/series very popular... HECK NO... I am quitting if kdramas become westernized. There is absolutely nothing worth watching in the west, and if Kdramas lose their creative CONTENT then bye bye kdramas too.
So I am not sure where this is going - is it saying - we are hip? is it saying - hey this is fun look at me? is it saying - we are sooo totally westernized, watch us, we are the same?
I dont know. But what I do know is that there is no reason to ruin a perfectly fun great drama with TRASH. No you are not cool when you show sex toys and sex in a drama. It is not cool. It is just trashy westernization.
The ONLY advantage that a kdrama has over a western piece is that a kdrama is creative, based on unique story and characters, has CONTENT, has CHARACTER GROWTH, solves problems in meaningful and warm ways, and promotes sane healthy living lifestyle.
So if a kdrama throws that out, ... there is no reason to watch it :) it becomes the same old western trash.
Kdramas now show ppl drinking whiskey, sleeping in beds, eating bread and pasta, drinking coffee, taking LOTS o sleeping pills, there are Catholic churches and crosses everywhere, like in every single drama... I dont get to see Buddhist scenes in the dramas anymore!!!!
So what is going on here, really.... ???
I will probably finish watching this on some rainy cold day like today but will fast forward through scenes that have zero content.
====
One more comment: I liked those Pilates machines and ML seems to have strong legs, so how come his shoulders and arms are so skinny?
I suspect that ML actor is some kind of fun loving party dude in real life, he is so enthusiastic and natural in those scenes, and very contrived fake in scenes where he is dumb and bland..... I wonder why he took this role.
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Old time sexism on steroids aka PRINCESS FANTASY FOR LITTLE GIRLS AKA A GREAT BUSINESS SWINDLE
I was wondering - has Netflix really made something along the lines of a real kdrama... ??? Where was the catch... ? And sure enough LOL this is a smelly pile of script..So the first part is mostly about virtual dating, where the princess girl gets a big house, lots of dresses, shoes, jewelry, and any guy she wants - and she wants pretty guys :) with nice bodies :) That's THE ONLY criteria :)
The FL actress is acting so well, she is confident enthusiastic hot girl going on dates with several virtual guys and having fun... FL is rather selfish and immature... but at least NATURAL... and ML actor is on screen just a tiny bit as her colleague in her real life.
THEN THE SECOND PART IS DATING IN REAL LIFE - and this lovely young lady goes into the 1950s mode of trash kdrama sexism - she is prudish, child-like clutz woman-child. OMG!!!! in year 2026!!!!! we see a grown, professional woman behave like a little school girl with boys.... Not even kids behave like that today... !!!!! And... she sticks with her virtual boyfriend too :)
AND THE DRAMA TAKES A NOSE DIVE AND BECOMES SUPER BORING **** C R I N G E **** Basically you get the Practical Guide to Love, FL and ML....
THIS SCRIPT IS TRASH!!!! and consequently, the acting of FL goes down the drain and for the second half of the drama, she is a mentally disabled dumbo and a very weak immature loser.. chick... A WOMAN-CHILD ... using men
INCREDIBLE!!! this is a real ... jester job... ENTIRE DRAMA IS ABOUT SHOPPING FOR PRETTY BOY TOYS AND GETTING A GREAT SERVICE
it is like ... going on dates with a bunch of escorts... who are all dying to take care of FL...
THIS IS TRULY ... A CON JOB.... and a very successful one, women are paying to see many men without a shirt on, and seducing, and kissing as# and doing whatever the woman says, and the woman can be as awful as she wants... or, to be more precise, as she IS.
WOW THIS IS CONSUMERISM TAKEN TO A NEW LEVEL... SHOPPING FOR A PRETTY BOY TOY!!!! and it is all planned!!!!! bc sooo many dramas have one chick trying zillion guys, or dating 2 at a time.... wooow...
So this is like female Epstein files, allowing women to do what men have always done and women complained about. Instead of becoming better people who are equal, this drama is along the lines of becoming equal in being murky selfish people and using each other.
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The first part is the satire of all the tropes that kdramas use to grab female audience. It is such a great ridicule, a great jester comedy!!!! The most fun and most sad part is that so many women will not realize that they are being made fun of, and they will be too busy admiring all the good looking guys... And the whole point is to show how immature women fall for those tropes.
I am sorry to male actors, their roles were so ridiculously simple and actually - demeaning - they had to act out some delulu immature chicks fantasy. Well - just like they do in real dramas :) too often.... I realized - the male roles are to be an ESCORT ....
I am glad I saw Undercover High School ML, he was so fun in that drama... This role was waaaay too simple for him in this drama.... he was like a robot escort... ... ML actor is also wasted, he is such a great actor and this role is super simple and dumb...
Then the 2nd part starts and ... gosh this is the classic old time sexist kdrama... AGAIN!!! where FL is this clutz immature weak woman-child... WHO WANTS HER AS@ KISSED AND GUYS WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR HER... like robots .... And... her behavior with ML is just... CRINGE childish... she is portrayed as a total moron for personal life , sooo immature and weak... and such a consumer, eating up guys who dote on her... AND YET ANOTHER IDOL WORSHIPER OF PRETTY FACES ... gosh... such a dumb chick ...
So again, the drama makes fun of such women-children and again lures them in with a "pretty face guy"
AND ML CHARACTER PLAYS INTO THIS TROPE OF LOYAL DOTING GUY, he liked her for so long and didnt pick anyone else - although she never deserved his liking her. So that is the old sexist kdrama trope - this fully dedicated man although the woman is super flawed, stupid, childish, and very crude to him and in general... in general, just a dumb immature snowflake... .
So right now I am starting ep 6 and I SO BADLY WANT TO SEE REVIEW BY OPPA_ if that person wrote a review on this...
Bc I am suspecting there is a catch with this drama...
I like that FL actress is a great actress. IN THE FIRST PART ONLY. After ep 5 or 6, when the real guy steps in, the FL actress is clearly acting fake bc the script is trash cringe. She is having difficulty acting the immature cringe..... BC IT IS NOT A NATURAL BEHAVIOR to behave like an elementary school girl. YET THAT IS WHAT KIDRAMAS EXPECT. this is the classic classic kdrama sexism... !!!!! What FL did here, is EXACTLY how all those FLs behave ... Practical Guide to Love is an example of that ..... woooow....
That FL chick is totally undeserving of ML's attention, she always treated him badly, then he confessed and she avoids him and rejects him, non stop and he keeps coming back.. .... AND SHE IS AFRAID TO LOVE BC IT WILL END, SO SHE KEEPS REJECTING HIM AND DUMPING HIM.... ... omg what a loser coward ... and he keeps coming back ...... omg what a loser coward.
WOW this is the recipe for every trashy rom com.... YUCK!!!! how did a great actor like the ML end up doing this? Does Netflix pay very well... ???? I do hope he has better scripts to choose from..
THIS SCRIPT IS TRASH!!!! and consequently, the acting of FL goes down the drain and for one half of the drama, she is a mentally disabled dumbo and a very weak immature loser.. chick... A WOMAN-CHILD
WOOOOOOWWWWW THIS IS A SCAM!!!!! THIS DRAMA IS A SCAM!!!! THIS KIND OF SCTRPT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN YEAR 2026!
or ... it should be... ? bc there are so many lonely women with money who will pay to watch this smelly piece of script...
I really like that actors are not super skinny skeletons :) FL got nice legs :) ML also looks like a normal athletic guy. So at least the drama has a healthy look. I really like that ML has naror and slanted eyes, not plastic surgery big eyes.
I dislike that such a great actor like the ML actor is put into this overly simple role. But then... I realize... all typical male roles ARE this... omg... this is like seeing the whole mechanics of dramas... This is like seeing the swindling behind the scenes...
Wow who was it who thought of selling this idea of reverse polygamy and/or decadent lewd behaviors by women - basically everything rotten that men used to do? Great busines mind. So many - most? - new kdramas are based on such women.
Our Universe, Practical Guide to Love, Climax, A Graceful Liar, etc etc etc etc etc ...
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Starts as a silly rom com and ends in equality of genders and clear communication
I disliked the start of this drama, it was a very silly frilly rom com for youngsters.I like that the FL was a functional strong adult and I like the ML bc of Twinkling Watermellon, so I kept watching and I am glad.
The drama made a U-turn into amazing social commentary.
Eventually, it became a testimony of CLEAR COMMUNICATION, TEAM WORK, AND EQUALITY OF GENDERS, and there were many episodes in that mode
In fact, this drama is a pioneer and a peek into the future where genders are equal
How ML and FL resolved issues, separately and as a team, was great .
Two functional productive adults in great love.
The drama also addressed social stigmas, bullying and how to resolve that.
SO IF YOU THINK THIS DRAMA WAS BORING and something like Dynamite Kiss or Cam this Love Be Translated are "interesting", then we have nothing else to talk about. Do not even bother writing to me :)
=== Disclaimer ====
I wrote this review on Jan 17, 2026 bc so many ppl quoted my review earlier. They are clearly some kind of paid troll if they are making up stuff like that.
Perhaps I should have not written this review now bc someone quoting a non-exhisting review is a sure sign of a (paid) troll.
I still decided to now write this review bc I think it is important.
On April 14, 2026, I moved the disclaimer to the bottom of the review.
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