Because the synopsis made the plot sound simple/predictable, I wasn't expecting too much from this. But I got hooked and ended up binge-watching this till the end! I agree with the reviews/comments about how the short length kept the angst to a minimum. (Can't make any comparison with the kdrama original since I didn't watch it.)
However, not gonna lie, I was really annoyed/turned off by FL's best friend by the middle of the show - I thought her last ditch attempt to win ML over was a real b**tch move. And I had a case of 2ML syndrome with this one! :'(
Overall, a sweet rom-com featuring a main lead couple that had good chemistry.
I'm not a fan of war/military themed shows and I went into this thinking this must be cdrama's retelling of the Mu Lan fable. I.e. I wasn't prepared to end up enjoying it. It did get a little slow somewhere in the middle, but picked up in the 2nd half or so. Also, among the recent wuxia/xianxia shows I've started (I'm looking at YOU, Journey of Love!), I finally found one I could finish. This was also one where I was happy with the atypical ending - I'm glad they went all the way with the strong, independent woman plot.
Started this because I'm a fan of Alice Ke - she performed as expected but then again I have high expectations for her given I first watched her in Someday, One Day. Zhai Zi Lu surprised me in a good way - I last watched him in a supporting and forgettable role in Oath of Love. Here he delivered a 真诚 (sincere/authentic) performance as the ML.
I wanted to rate this higher but that ending... having built up the story from the different angles (business competition, formula racing, relationships of the couples), they could have given us a more satisfactory ending.
I feel like I'm in the minority here when I say I kinda like the FL - she's one of the spunkier FLs I've seen in cdramaland. Too many cdrama FLs quickly give in to the MLs when they give the usual "I did this for you" line. For me the break-up felt real given she felt betrayed by those closest and dearest to her. (I really liked how they showed how she came around to mending fences with each of the key characters.)
Now for what I didn't like... the first half of drama made the FL out to be some kind of marketing genius who could turn around any kind of crisis with her marketing/PR gimmicks, which was a little too trope-y for me. And while I enjoyed the build-up of the SML's/SFL's story, I didn't really like how neatly (quickly) they wrapped it up. The ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped - it wouldn't have hurt if they gave us a bit more post-reunion lovey-dovey scenes between the ML and FL.
50 shades of love - that's how I'd sum up the show. Each couple's story showcases different shades of love - from first love, love after marriage, and to love after breaking up/divorce. The last episode reminded me of the Hollywood movie, Love Actually (2003); Bo Ra! Deborah feels like the extended and at the same time more compact (focusing on just 4 main couples) version of the movie.
I know not everyone liked the FL/the main couple's relationship. But I agree with others who feel this is a realistic portrayal of break-ups. I found the FL's inner turmoil over her evolving relationship with the ML quite relatable, even if it might appear slightly neurotic to anyone looking on from the outside.
This was a hidden gem for me! I almost dropped it after the first 2 or 3 episodes - it felt like a typical lower budget cdrama rom-com, and I didn't love the girl-chase-guy plot at the start. BUT the push-pull dynamic after episode 3 got me hooked, and made me binge watch this. Also, I LOVED Miles Wei in this one - I've watched him play 霸道总裁 (domineering CEO) in a number of shows, but this is one of my favourites so far. I can't decide if it's because he has softer edges here or if it's because I enjoyed his chemistry with the FL. Oh and Yang Shi Ze was really cute in this one (even if his love-line in this show started a little late) - he made more of an impression on me here than in Moonlight.
I'm not a fan of melodrama but this one got me hooked. It is melodramatic but definitely no more so than shows in this genre. And the romance was (of course) angsty and slow burn.
But what kept me going was really the visual storytelling - this director knew exactly how he wanted each scene to look, and it was beautiful to watch the scenes play out.
If you're looking for a formulaic Kdrama romance, then this is probably not for you...
This was a study of contrasts - a FL who doesn't trust others because her ability tells her everyone lies, and a ML who instinctively trusts others despite the fact people around him neither trust him or give him many reasons to trust them. The couple's relationship was less whirlwind-can't-get-my-hands-off-you, and more cute lovers-who-are-also-friends.
The one thing I really disliked about the story (as other comments have also pointed out) was the backstory behind the real killer's relationship with the ML, and how it led to Eom Ji's death. It felt cheaply tacked on and if you ask me, a distraction this story didn't need.
Don't like the synopsis fool you! If you've decided to skip this thinking this is another predictably tropey kdrama, you're gonna miss out!
I lol-ed throughout most of the first 2-3 episodes. And the 2nd half of the series had me alternating between "aww that's sooo sweet" to not being able to resist laughing out loud (had to remind myself to spare a thought for the neighbours given I'd stayed up to watch this)! And right up to the end, even through the predictable drama before the happily-ever-after, I was still found many lol moments. This to me is the true rom-com - tbh I loved this over last year's super-hyped and also similarly tropey "A Business Proposal".
Like the reviewer said, the ending was surprising and... I actually didn't hate it, even though I'm not a big fan of open endings. As much as Phu played the part of Prince Charming well (ignoring why/how he started the whole relationship with Cin, I'm still a Din fan!
Actually, I tried watching Go Ahead but I cannot passed through the first 3 episodes. I didn't like the story…
Yup, Meet Yourself grew on me too - I was able to take it slow through the first few episodes, and then found myself wanting to binge the last few when I started becoming really attached to the characters and relationships.
充满温心 (heartwarming) is the best description for this series.
I wasn't expecting myself to like it. It had a melodramatic start, and the first 10-plus episodes were slow. But having finished this, I have to say this is one of the best healing, slice-of-life c-dramas I've watched in a while.
I thought I liked Go Ahead (by the same director and writers) but after watching this, that was a tad too melodramatic, Meet Yourself feels more true-to-life. Loved the dialogue (some real nuggets of life lessons in there), and how all the relationships between friends, family, and lovers played out.
So, if you've decided to start this show, settle in for a comfy watch!
Tbh I thought I was gonna hate the open ending. But after reading one of the comments below about viewing this series as being more about friendships than love, I think I can live with this ending.
But like what many others have commented, I want to believe she ended up with Shi Eon. I think her convo with her bff would have been pivotal. Her bff described Shi Won's relationship with Pa Rang as that between an older sister and a kid brother. And her bff urged Shi Won to reflect on how she felt in comparison when she thought about Shi Eon.
This was heartfelt and heart-warming! While it did leave me wanting more, I figure this is better than feeling like you'd had too much of a good thing. :)
Was it tropey and predictable? Yes, it was. BUT, I still found myself literally rooting for the couples, especially the ML-FL, right up until the last episode.
If you're hesitating over watching yet another campus romance drama series, well, don't! Snuggle down into your blankets or better yet snuggle closer to your special someone, and get ready to binge-watch this!
Just finished watching and I had to stop here to say this has to be one of the most satisfying endings I've seen in a while. I've watched many good (maybe even better) shows only to be let down by the endings. This one was well-paced, tying up many if not all of the loose ends, without resorting to overly clichéd tropes. It did justice to the drama's characters, making them feel well-fleshed out.
A simple story but a well-told one - I'd encourage folks who're still hesitating, to give this a try. :)
Started this when I got bored with The Oath of Love. I saw a comment from someone who felt the same and the person suggested Legally Romance as an alternative.
I wasn't expecting to like this show so much! Especially since I'm not familiar with any of the actors/actresses. I liked the other couples, not just the main couple. I ended up binge-watching and I'm about halfway thru.
TLDR - this drama might not have the biggest names nor is it the most talked about. But it's surprisingly sweet and funny, in a down-to-earth kinda way.
However, not gonna lie, I was really annoyed/turned off by FL's best friend by the middle of the show - I thought her last ditch attempt to win ML over was a real b**tch move. And I had a case of 2ML syndrome with this one! :'(
Overall, a sweet rom-com featuring a main lead couple that had good chemistry.
I wanted to rate this higher but that ending... having built up the story from the different angles (business competition, formula racing, relationships of the couples), they could have given us a more satisfactory ending.
Now for what I didn't like... the first half of drama made the FL out to be some kind of marketing genius who could turn around any kind of crisis with her marketing/PR gimmicks, which was a little too trope-y for me. And while I enjoyed the build-up of the SML's/SFL's story, I didn't really like how neatly (quickly) they wrapped it up. The ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped - it wouldn't have hurt if they gave us a bit more post-reunion lovey-dovey scenes between the ML and FL.
I know not everyone liked the FL/the main couple's relationship. But I agree with others who feel this is a realistic portrayal of break-ups. I found the FL's inner turmoil over her evolving relationship with the ML quite relatable, even if it might appear slightly neurotic to anyone looking on from the outside.
But what kept me going was really the visual storytelling - this director knew exactly how he wanted each scene to look, and it was beautiful to watch the scenes play out.
This was a study of contrasts - a FL who doesn't trust others because her ability tells her everyone lies, and a ML who instinctively trusts others despite the fact people around him neither trust him or give him many reasons to trust them. The couple's relationship was less whirlwind-can't-get-my-hands-off-you, and more cute lovers-who-are-also-friends.
The one thing I really disliked about the story (as other comments have also pointed out) was the backstory behind the real killer's relationship with the ML, and how it led to Eom Ji's death. It felt cheaply tacked on and if you ask me, a distraction this story didn't need.
I lol-ed throughout most of the first 2-3 episodes. And the 2nd half of the series had me alternating between "aww that's sooo sweet" to not being able to resist laughing out loud (had to remind myself to spare a thought for the neighbours given I'd stayed up to watch this)! And right up to the end, even through the predictable drama before the happily-ever-after, I was still found many lol moments. This to me is the true rom-com - tbh I loved this over last year's super-hyped and also similarly tropey "A Business Proposal".
Give this a shot - you won't regret it! :)
I wasn't expecting myself to like it. It had a melodramatic start, and the first 10-plus episodes were slow. But having finished this, I have to say this is one of the best healing, slice-of-life c-dramas I've watched in a while.
I thought I liked Go Ahead (by the same director and writers) but after watching this, that was a tad too melodramatic, Meet Yourself feels more true-to-life. Loved the dialogue (some real nuggets of life lessons in there), and how all the relationships between friends, family, and lovers played out.
So, if you've decided to start this show, settle in for a comfy watch!
But like what many others have commented, I want to believe she ended up with Shi Eon. I think her convo with her bff would have been pivotal. Her bff described Shi Won's relationship with Pa Rang as that between an older sister and a kid brother. And her bff urged Shi Won to reflect on how she felt in comparison when she thought about Shi Eon.
If you're hesitating over watching yet another campus romance drama series, well, don't! Snuggle down into your blankets or better yet snuggle closer to your special someone, and get ready to binge-watch this!
A simple story but a well-told one - I'd encourage folks who're still hesitating, to give this a try. :)
I wasn't expecting to like this show so much! Especially since I'm not familiar with any of the actors/actresses. I liked the other couples, not just the main couple. I ended up binge-watching and I'm about halfway thru.
TLDR - this drama might not have the biggest names nor is it the most talked about. But it's surprisingly sweet and funny, in a down-to-earth kinda way.