MiHnn

I agree that this is realistic. There are people who are as selfish as Eun Oh and there are people who are as obsessive as Jae Won, and most of the time, they end up together in a break-up-make-up cycle because the Jae Won's crave the love of the Eun Oh's and will put up with anything that the Eun Oh's do as they put themselves first in everything.

What is unrealistic is the romantic lens they've used to tell this story.

People like Jae Won are those who have low self-respect and hardly any self-love. When something goes wrong in their relationship, they blame themselves first. Even if it is someone else's fault, they find a way to blame themselves for that too. They apologise a lot. - Can you tell that I know someone just like him?

People like Eun Oh are those who focus on themselves more than others. They don't care about how their actions effect others, but it upsets them when they get called out. They get angry, they get sad, and somehow, they make it all about them.

The thing is, people like Jae Won crave the approval and love of someone like Eun Oh. It's the kind of relationship people have with Regina George in Mean Girls. She's so selfish, that they fall over themselves to make her happy, because her approval gives them self-worth that they don't have. Similarly, Jae Won craves for Eun Oh's love. As long as she gives him love, he has self-worth. - Those who are in the relationship never recognise these behaviours, it's those outside these relationships who do.

There are various kinds of love. And while trying to depict romantic love, the writers have shown obsessive/selfish love, which wouldn't have been a problem, if they didn't try to convince the viewers that this is romantic love. It's not. Romantic love is healthy love. In the past, during the era of Gone With the Wind and Twilight, romantic love was considered obsessive love by most readers and viewers, while even transform-your-entire-life-to-suit your partner was also considered romantic love. Jealousy was another so called indication of romantic love.

But, we as a society have moved forward and we realise that what we thought was romantic, wasn't romantic at all. Today, romantic love means self-love, self-respect, and open communication with your partner, which Jae Won and Eun Oh's relationship so obviously lack due to their dysfunctional nature.

Because people who are in problematic relationships think they've got the most romantic relationship of all...? Nah, I know what you mean. The concept (with the interview format) is not consistent, and the writer doesn't have a comprehensive understanding of the issues she has portrayed in this drama. I've seen this in real life and it is so problematic.

I agree that they marketed this wrong. It's a typical rom-com where the issues are forgotten about because of (*breathy voice*) love!!! I'm having similar feelings towards this as I did with 'Was It Love?'.

It's a mess of a show. Anything I can do to tolerate watching it (because I have this OCD thing to finish every show and book etc), I'll do.

I decided to change my view towards this show so as not to get too annoyed with each episode. This is a 'realistic take' on a relationship, alright. A realistic take on a problematic relationship that will not last. Eun Oh doesn't know her own personality and Jae Won's obsession just got justified. They are super unhealthy together, but there are relationships like them. Jae Won is expected to heal Eun Oh, give her self-confidence and help her find herself. Yep yep, there's nothing better than a man who's obsessed with a woman helping to change her for the better. lol.

That ending though... Run On stuck the landing. That's very rare for kdramas these days. Such a feel good drama.

I get that. There is one female actress I hate watching. I've dropped every single one of her dramas because to me, she has one expression throughout.

I feel like the last few episodes will be a complete rush job.

Same here. It's too much.

My thoughts exactly. They tried to go with imperfect characters (which I'm a sucker for), but their execution is horrible. I feel like the show actually started during the past two episodes and the episodes before contributed nothing.

Agree. It's a double standard.

Yes!!! I've mentioned this before too. It's only because the sexes are reversed that people find this refreshing.

In this modern year of 2021, Lovestruck in the City is telling the viewers one important thing: 'no' means 'yes'. No wonder people say women don't mean it when they say 'no'.

Imagine how creepy all of Jae Won's actions would be if he wasn't Ji Chang Wook level attractive.

Great article. So informative, well articulated with great recs too. I've only watched Love is Sweet from this list and I binge watched it in three days, so looking forward to checking out the other dramas you mentioned.

I see you like slice of life/feel good shows. I recommend Reply 1988 (or the whole Reply series, really), Age of Youth, Be Melodramatic, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Familiar Wife, Crash Landing On You, Fated to Love You, Shopping King Louie, My ID is Gangnam Beauty, Romance is a Bonus Book, The Secret Life of My Secretary and Jugglers.

Exactly. Writing is a mess. They should have just stuck to 10 episodes and wrapped up the show. It could have been consistent then.

I think that's why Eun Oh's character is so frustrating to me. She had plenty of opportunities to do the healthy thing, and she just doesn't. I understand though. Some people fear the truth more than anything, but just don't sugar coat it and try to play it off as romantic, ya know?

This drama would have been way better if we followed Eun Oh's journey to accepting herself. Right now, we know that she has two distinct personalities... And apparently friends who don't care enough to get to the bottom of it.

I mean, when you think about it, we don't know who the real Eun Oh is.

I hope this show is not going towards, "If you don't love yourself, that's okay, just love someone else and all your problems will be gone," kind of mentality. That's not how you start a healthy relationship.

Like I said, we both agree on a lot of things, and you're right, you have been consistent.

You've mostly replied to people who said that Jae Won and Eun Oh should not be together by saying, 'How would you like it if someone told you who you can or cannot date? We should be compassionate towards them.'

Eg:- "We can only be so lucky to have ppl be compassionate, emphasize and understanding. Instead of criticism/ judgment.

I can't image someone telling me how i should feel...cope....do this and that....give me tools i can use....sit next to me ....listen....don't judge me....i already feel like shit...don't stomp on me when I'm down....with your judgments (Generally speaking...)"

This is why I said you and I are not talking on the same topic.

While I say two characters who have shown toxic behaviour should not be together, you reply that we should have compassion towards them because they can grow and get better. One has nothing to do with the other, because as I mentioned before, having compassion doesn't mean we have to approve of every action done by the character.

I'm speaking about how one person treats another (which even though we can understand, we can't condone bad behaviour just because we understand where it comes from), while you're speaking about character growth (which, to be honest, not everyone succeeds in doing). As someone in that field, you would know that to change their behaviours, people need to work at it, most of the time, for the rest of their lives, which a lot of people don't do (because they are stubborn) or can't do (because they can't afford the treatment).

We, the viewers, have diagnosed Eun Oh with mental health issues and Jae Won of obsessiveness, but the writers never intended to write these two characters that way. They just want to create content enough for 17 episodes. So they are just holding onto the drama.

"I have always said i want the writters ro show progress and healing."

I want the same, but I have a feeling they will do a time jump to show 'oh, she's good now', so that they will meet randomly and start getting to know each other properly. Because at the end of the day, even though the writers didn't intend to write about someone with mental health issues.

Haha. Same.

I don't think this drama is meant to be binge-watched. Personally, I watched an episode a day and I found it to be the best way to watch such long episodes.

I just finished episode 18... And I just... I'm just a puddle of emotions right now.

Edit: I just completed the drama. Utter perfection.