Honestly, @Dean, your hoped-for-synopsis for the latter half sounds highly probable. It's not a melodrama without…
Agreed - the last scene is most intriguing to me. Tae Oh has shown the lengths he's willing to go, esp for Jennie, so now I'm scared for Hye Ra. And if he follows through she'll of course assume it's the Uncle, the Chairman, or even In Joon himself. I don't think he actually will though because he wants Soo Hyun back, not chasing In Joon. Besides he still holds a better bargaining hand , esp now that the marriage is basically off. Even her parents have cut the cord.
What makes no sense to me is the Chairman's comedic rage. There always has to be a putter in melodramas somewhere! LOL. I mean...all the assets are still in the family, basically. And he's always seemed more chummy with his step brother anyway, so why the hell does he care?
@Dragonfly Barbie—I like long comments and admit that my response to your musings is even longer.I share your…
@tsutsulloo--Those are great points, which taken together explain why I'm still invested in this OTP (besides, they're 1000x better than Encounter imo LOL). #4 is especially important because it's such a strong theme and intimacy component: Hye Ra represents the personal in his entirely transactional world, just as Tae Oh does to Soo Hyun. I think your point also explains why my favorite otp moments involve shoe building/designing conversations and their associated experiences/memories, and why I'm secretly hoping In Joon ditches the corporate suit and starts his own company with Hye Ra. It certainly feels like that's where his heart is.
You aren't alone. I hate to say it, but In Joon is the achilles heel of this show. I mostly blame the director…
I literally came back about a dozen times since the last ep aired just to watch that scene too. "I won't cry. Dad told me I'm smart and brave...just like my mom" O_O I'm still holding out hope for the OTP, but when/if the 2nds reunite, it's gonna be lit. I'm the biggest sucker for 2nd chance roms, esp when there's a cute kid involved ;-)
I love the 2nd female lead. I get why she does what she does. The only problem I have with the show is the main…
You aren't alone. I hate to say it, but In Joon is the achilles heel of this show. I mostly blame the director and writer because tbh, he looks a little lost in this role. I'm fine with a lot of on-screen staring between the OTP as long as its communicating something: Hye Ra is doing really well with her seduction/revenge element, for example. And I can forgive the fact that proof she's falling for him has been subtle at best, given that she suspects he's a culprit. But with In Joon, it's really hit and miss. For a character who just made the BONEHEADED decision to gift his entire fortune to his arch-nemesis in the ridiculous hope of convincing his demonic father, the writer better give us good reasons WHY, especially considering her past and the investigative evidence.
The second leads OTOH are genuine to the core and are nearly stealing the show with their on-fire love/hate interaction, to say nothing of Soo Hyun's great lines: "Can't you see, I'm passing out wedding invitations." *looks at In Joon* "You're the groom, so you have to come" *looks at Hye Ra* "You're....not invited, but you can keep this as a souvenir" LMAO.] She's the best written and most interesting character in the whole show imo. She's a woman who's simultaneously ambitious in her quest for power/status and obeisant to the designs/wishes of her parents, but whose arrogant exterior hides a tender heart willing to defy everyone for the sake of her daughter and that still secretly loves Tae Oh. And the actress is NAILING IT. That scene with Jennie in the elevator and in her car. Best ones yet imo.
Damn... Soo Hyun continues to steal the show for me. Such a good actress. Never expected the 2nd's to be this good. While other shows become a snoozefest by this point, this one is still holding strong.
Thank you for this article! I feel like the importance of the music in kdramas is often overlooked, but it factors…
"I feel like the importance of the music in kdramas is often overlooked"
Agreed. Tbh, I'd rather have cheap visuals and a fully orchestrated score written by a classically trained composer, as opposed to a cinematic spectacle with weepy vocal kpop OSTs. Though I admit, every once in a while kdrama includes great music.
I really liked how Hye Ra turned the tables on her tormentors. The OTP are both treading in uncharted territory from their true natures, which makes it more interesting. But I don't see the point in seducing TIJ now that she's no longer under the thumb of JTO. If she's convinced TIJ is implicated in her sister's current state, revenge makes sense. But taking the evidence to TIJ's uncle was so dumb, I can only guess she did it on purpose as part of her seduction plot. That's a pretty reckless gamble with her life though and it certainly didn't seem planned, so......? And I don't see how jumping into the cauldron of a chaebol power struggle by thwarting a celebrity marriage and making herself a target for murder is going to make anyone more forthcoming with information. Quite the opposite.
Ironically, I'm more intrigued by the 2nd pair right now, especially Cha Soo Hyun, who's arguably the most central character in the show imo. Both are pretty despicable in their own way, but it makes for an interesting dynamic that pops off screen. And it doesn't hurt that the actress is nailing her role.
While this drama isn't what I was expecting or hoping for, I must admit - that cover poster is one of the best I've seen in a long time lol. Just...wow.
I hate to say it but this has been a disappointment. My expectations were way too high.
Daughter of powerful political family and now chaebol is swept up by free spirited, penniless, youthful Mr. Perfect. Characterization is one thing, but the ubiquitous smile and teenaged exuberance smack of blatant fan-service. The kdrama community's worship of "cute" is something I'll never understand lol. No woman I know irl would be romantically, much less sexually attracted to this guy, esp a C-level business woman. And don't even get me started on the awkward comedic relief, in-laws, morality clause, and hackneyed captive adult trope. This has nothing to do with the acting either - both leads are nailing their roles.
The mythology element, cinematography and symbolism are a nice touch, but seem to be a crutch for a familiar setup and a little-brother/sparkless romance. And imho, over-emphasis of visual glitz too often detracts from subtlety, rendering important scenes artificial and phony. Compelling drama isn't born from big budgets. Early Jdramas proved it. This is being compared to SITR and Secret Love Affair because of the noona factor, but this has none of the organic naturalness those had imo.
I'll keep watching because it's still early, but I'm not optimistic and certainly don't get the hype.
What makes no sense to me is the Chairman's comedic rage. There always has to be a putter in melodramas somewhere! LOL. I mean...all the assets are still in the family, basically. And he's always seemed more chummy with his step brother anyway, so why the hell does he care?
The second leads OTOH are genuine to the core and are nearly stealing the show with their on-fire love/hate interaction, to say nothing of Soo Hyun's great lines: "Can't you see, I'm passing out wedding invitations." *looks at In Joon* "You're the groom, so you have to come" *looks at Hye Ra* "You're....not invited, but you can keep this as a souvenir" LMAO.] She's the best written and most interesting character in the whole show imo. She's a woman who's simultaneously ambitious in her quest for power/status and obeisant to the designs/wishes of her parents, but whose arrogant exterior hides a tender heart willing to defy everyone for the sake of her daughter and that still secretly loves Tae Oh. And the actress is NAILING IT. That scene with Jennie in the elevator and in her car. Best ones yet imo.
Agreed. Tbh, I'd rather have cheap visuals and a fully orchestrated score written by a classically trained composer, as opposed to a cinematic spectacle with weepy vocal kpop OSTs. Though I admit, every once in a while kdrama includes great music.
Ironically, I'm more intrigued by the 2nd pair right now, especially Cha Soo Hyun, who's arguably the most central character in the show imo. Both are pretty despicable in their own way, but it makes for an interesting dynamic that pops off screen. And it doesn't hurt that the actress is nailing her role.
Daughter of powerful political family and now chaebol is swept up by free spirited, penniless, youthful Mr. Perfect. Characterization is one thing, but the ubiquitous smile and teenaged exuberance smack of blatant fan-service. The kdrama community's worship of "cute" is something I'll never understand lol. No woman I know irl would be romantically, much less sexually attracted to this guy, esp a C-level business woman. And don't even get me started on the awkward comedic relief, in-laws, morality clause, and hackneyed captive adult trope. This has nothing to do with the acting either - both leads are nailing their roles.
The mythology element, cinematography and symbolism are a nice touch, but seem to be a crutch for a familiar setup and a little-brother/sparkless romance. And imho, over-emphasis of visual glitz too often detracts from subtlety, rendering important scenes artificial and phony. Compelling drama isn't born from big budgets. Early Jdramas proved it. This is being compared to SITR and Secret Love Affair because of the noona factor, but this has none of the organic naturalness those had imo.
I'll keep watching because it's still early, but I'm not optimistic and certainly don't get the hype.