ManaSura

a k-drama that listed all the major K-dramas tropes and tried to apply them all to a T, contract marriage;check, birth secrets;check, chaebol and commoner love; check, fake relationship and cohabitation shenanigans;check, OTP with constantly crossing paths;check, last minute needless separation; check. It practically covered all the main romcom and angst cards out there but it still somehow managed to do it in a very refreshing and fun and endearing way. maybe because this show boasts some of the most easy to cheer on strong gutsy characters, and maybe cause most characters were honest to each other and honest toward themselves when it came to how they felt. we don't get much frustration of an OTP both in denial or oblivious of their feelings, no much useless bickering and missed signals, instead we have a couple of adults that are mature and to the point when they express themselves. another thing I appreciate about Kdramas, is that they somehow sell you chemistry even in the most unexpected of couples, the main leads have quite an age gap, and initially I was worried that they didn't both exude much chemistry and that the romance might be forced, but thank God later the story progresses and the interactions, dialogues and romantic moments were so good they definitely pulled the trick. this drama could've gotten a better rating especially the story, but alas the finale pulled a card that I totally hate "noble idiocy seperation". last episode separations and reunifications are sometimes done well where the story calls for it, it happens because there was a necessity, but other times it is done in such a forced and out of the blue and it just doesn't serve any purpose other than creating a grand reunion scene etc, and it only dampens the story imo especially when in order to pull it off the writers have to abandon the character arc. in this drama the same thing happened but thank God it was kept brief so no much harm was done thank God.