Enemies to lovers finally done right
Rarely comment on dramas but after some serious ongoing withdrawal symptoms, I had to express how much I enjoyed this drama.Definitely not a 'light rom com watch'. This was an intense, emotional roller-coaster with enemies to lovers done right. The political intrigue fits well into the plot without being overdone and needing to be fast forwarded (like most cdramas). The chemistry and the intensity between the leads and the fun banter between the second leads stole the show. The side characters all had some roles to play with their own quirks and personalities.
I am a sucker for happy endings so for the ML to gradually fall in love with the FL was a delight to watch. He has been through horrible trauma and lost loved ones due to broken promises by the FL's clan.
However, after they are married, he never mistreats her due to her family. He's closed off, cold and very suspicious of the FL which is of course, natural but he also appreciates and admires her (secretly and then openly later).
The FL is also no pushover, she fights and stands up for herself diplomatically. Her strength is in the steadfastness of her character, akin to flowing water eroding rocks over time. She has trust issues in the beginning too and tries to protect her clan from a waging war by the ML. This is a very reasonable reaction given how the ML first treated her and makes a promise to destroy her people. She later regrets her decision and reforms her thinking but I think this just humanises her character.
What made this drama different from other enemies to lovers is that you see the trauma, the hatred, the vengeance for revenge and gradually breaking down of walls, trust developing, the endless yearning for something forbidden and the care and attention they both show to each other in little gestures that they do later transforming to love. Drama aside, you want a partner in life, who just gets you without you having to spell everything out. You can share your deepest and darkest past and trauma and they will listen and never use that against you (confidant for life). They will help you heal and move past it. In the end, this is what happened to the ML. He was so helpless in front of the FL's care and love for everyone including him that he had no space for hatred and revenge in his heart. This doesn't mean he easily accepts her and let's her in, but rather he is too helpless to resist her. I loved, in particular, that despite what her grandfather did, he also accepted her family, visited her clan and people and wanted to understand why she was the way she was. To me, that was true selfless love.
If you've read this far, kudos to you. I just needed to get this off my chest so I can move past this drama without comparing all other dramas to this (as that would be unfair). This drama will take some time to leave my system and I can't say I hate that.
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A rivetting love story that you should try watching!
If there ever was an unreliable MDL rating, it's for this drama. I have been stuck in a rut with being unable to enjoy dramas so had low expectations going into this and this drama just blew me away. 40 episodes were finished in no time.What I enjoyed:
- Both characters had growth and developed with the passage of time. Unlike 80% of cdramas, the FL's actions were sensible and rational. She is very naive when it comes to business but is willing to learn and rely on herself to grow. I liked that the FL solved her own issues most of the time rather than being the damsel in distress. The ML also starts out cold and unfeeling but towards the end, he realises the value of love and sacrifice and learns how to communicate better to avoid misunderstandings.
- The wholesome and complete happy ending gave me butterflies. To find a love like that, is enviable. I thoroughly enjoyed the extra episode
- The leads had great chemistry and the plot was easy to follow and interesting that I was willing to watch 15 episodes of very little romance. I think even the SML at one point states the ML is filming a commercial drama rather than romance and that cracked me up
- The second leads were not ALL boring. Unlike most cdramas, where I skip the second and third lead stories, I enjoyed LL's storyline and how she fell for someone who was not right for her and not willing to make room for her in his life. She also learns and grows and accepts someone who has been patiently loving her all along. That was a nice cherry on top of the main leads' storyline.
[Slight spoiler below]
-Their breakup was believable and realistic. Their values, and perspectives differed quite a bit and the relationship was not ready to be tested like that. The FL did not forgive him right away and the ML had to grovel and ask for forgiveness multiple times before she returned to him. He learned to value her more and realised he couldn't be without her and she understood his actions better and reflected on how much he had done for her. Dramas that have no closure and unnecessary breakups annoy me but here it seemed like it was part of their growth and story. Without it, the drama would have lacked something and their love would have been less believable.
Did not enjoy as much:
- I skipped past the third leads story (the influencer friend and the bar owner as well as the grand aunt). It didn't add much to the story and I found it quite boring
- The ML rubbed me off the wrong way in the beginning with the way he sometimes looked down on the FL because he thinks she's clueless and will fail in her business. Ultimately I moved past it because he learned to behave better over time and it was part of his cold and business-like demeanor with everyone.
- The second male lead inserted after the breakup (in Germany) was unnecessary. They could have resolved issues without the jealousy aspect.
Overall, this drama took me along on a journey and I'm more of a fan of the main leads than before. This drama had continuity, chemistry, character development and a very satisfying ending.
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