good romance killed by dragging
If you like contract marriage, forced living together, office romance, morally good female leads, and intense slow-burn tension that starts off addictive, then you will absolutely be hooked at first by this drama. I was OBSESSED in the beginning. Like, glued-to-my-screen obsessed. This had everything I love on paper… and that’s why it hurt so much when it lost its way.
LIKES
-Strong couple focus early on with very little unnecessary side cast
-A kind, morally grounded FL who knows right from wrong and isn’t greedy or dishonest
-ML who isn’t physically violent, but clearly broken and psychologically complex
-Excellent early pacing that keeps you coming back without feeling annoying
-She regains her agency early (around ep 4), which made me root for her even more
-One of the best push-and-pull dynamics I’ve seen when it worked
-Perfect mix of office romance, contract marriage, and forced cohabitation
-Refreshing take where the FL isn’t lying her way through the marriage
-I loved that the ML chooses not to see certain truths rather than being outright deceived
-This drama had me saying “I don’t want this to end” around episodes 7–12
DISLIKES
-FL was way too naïve with her kidnapper and believed things too easily
-ML was painfully gullible for someone portrayed as powerful and intelligent
-By episode 9, they still weren’t seriously together, which is where fatigue hit
-Episodes 14–16 dragged badly with unnecessary plot detours
-Romance payoff came way too late, after the emotional momentum was already gone
-Almost no genuine intimacy until the very end (in a 20-episode drama!)
-Certain plot devices (👀 cameras 👀) were introduced, then quietly abandoned
-The drama knew how to build tension, but didn’t know how to release it properly
FINAL THOUGHTS
This drama started as a 10/10 for me. I was obsessed. Truly. It felt like everything I love wrapped into one beautifully paced, addictive story. But somewhere in the middle, it forgot why I was watching: the romance.
By the time the couple finally came together for real, I was already emotionally checked out. The happy ending helped, and I did appreciate that justice was served and evil characters were punished, but it couldn’t fully undo the frustration.
Objectively, this is a well-written, well-acted melodrama with a fantastic setup. Subjectively, it didn’t give me enough together-time to satisfy what it promised.
Final Rating: 8/10
I don’t regret watching it — but I do mourn the version of this drama that could have been incredible all the way through.
LIKES
-Strong couple focus early on with very little unnecessary side cast
-A kind, morally grounded FL who knows right from wrong and isn’t greedy or dishonest
-ML who isn’t physically violent, but clearly broken and psychologically complex
-Excellent early pacing that keeps you coming back without feeling annoying
-She regains her agency early (around ep 4), which made me root for her even more
-One of the best push-and-pull dynamics I’ve seen when it worked
-Perfect mix of office romance, contract marriage, and forced cohabitation
-Refreshing take where the FL isn’t lying her way through the marriage
-I loved that the ML chooses not to see certain truths rather than being outright deceived
-This drama had me saying “I don’t want this to end” around episodes 7–12
DISLIKES
-FL was way too naïve with her kidnapper and believed things too easily
-ML was painfully gullible for someone portrayed as powerful and intelligent
-By episode 9, they still weren’t seriously together, which is where fatigue hit
-Episodes 14–16 dragged badly with unnecessary plot detours
-Romance payoff came way too late, after the emotional momentum was already gone
-Almost no genuine intimacy until the very end (in a 20-episode drama!)
-Certain plot devices (👀 cameras 👀) were introduced, then quietly abandoned
-The drama knew how to build tension, but didn’t know how to release it properly
FINAL THOUGHTS
This drama started as a 10/10 for me. I was obsessed. Truly. It felt like everything I love wrapped into one beautifully paced, addictive story. But somewhere in the middle, it forgot why I was watching: the romance.
By the time the couple finally came together for real, I was already emotionally checked out. The happy ending helped, and I did appreciate that justice was served and evil characters were punished, but it couldn’t fully undo the frustration.
Objectively, this is a well-written, well-acted melodrama with a fantastic setup. Subjectively, it didn’t give me enough together-time to satisfy what it promised.
Final Rating: 8/10
I don’t regret watching it — but I do mourn the version of this drama that could have been incredible all the way through.
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