This review may contain spoilers
For those who like slow-burning, healing story
Call It Love is a slow-burning tale of hurt and healing. Shim Woo Joo sets out to destroy the man whose mother ruined her family—only to find herself drawn to his quiet loneliness and the fragile heart of Han Dongjin.
I've always been a fan of K-dramas and somehow I missed this drama back in 2023. Recently, I get to know Kim Young Kwang and decided to test some of his dramas before watching the recent ones which leans towards action and noir. So, I chose this drama to start with and I can't believe it got me emotionally invested.
It’s a slow-paced drama, but the tempo suits the genre perfectly, allowing the story to take its time building emotions so the audience can truly connect with the characters. Shim Woo Joo’s journey—driven by revenge yet swayed at times by her feelings for Han Dongjin beautifully reveals her complexity. The series captures the layers of human emotion and empathy, while Han Dongjin’s quiet composure in the face of constant hurt shows that some people choose resilience over retaliation.
At times, their actions can be frustrating—Shim Woo Joo’s blunt, razor-sharp words and Han Dongjin’s calm silence even when others trample over him instead of fighting back. But in the end, I realized that’s simply how they protect themselves, and in a way, those very traits become their strengths.
I also love how the two leads find comfort in each other, even in silence. When they do talk, it’s often about opening their hearts—sharing their stories etc. It’s comforting to see that you can fall in love quietly, without grand gestures or doing much at all.
Han Dongjin is probably the character I connected with the most throughout the drama. The way he walks and talks, his gaze, even the line of his back—all of it screams loneliness. Like Shim Woo Joo, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to hug him. His eyes always seem to brim with tears when he’s sad, angry, or hurt—yet they never fall, as if he’s holding himself back. The only time he ever raised his voice was when he yelled at CEO Shin for hurting Shim Woo Joo, and honestly, that wasn’t enough for me. After everything that man did to him, a part of me always wished he would finally go berserk.
As for the side characters—the siblings, Yoon Jun, Kang Min Young and Han Dongjin’s mother—they each add emotional depth to the drama through their own stories and journeys. Yoon Jun might seem like a love rival for Han Dongjin at first, but as the story unfolds, you realize he’s more of a friend who genuinely cares for her. His only wish is her happiness, even if, at times, he might secretly harbor feelings for her.
Overall, this drama is an emotional yet satisfying ride. My only complaint would be the ending—if it had shown more of their moments after getting back together, it would have been perfect. Other than that, I truly loved it!
I've always been a fan of K-dramas and somehow I missed this drama back in 2023. Recently, I get to know Kim Young Kwang and decided to test some of his dramas before watching the recent ones which leans towards action and noir. So, I chose this drama to start with and I can't believe it got me emotionally invested.
It’s a slow-paced drama, but the tempo suits the genre perfectly, allowing the story to take its time building emotions so the audience can truly connect with the characters. Shim Woo Joo’s journey—driven by revenge yet swayed at times by her feelings for Han Dongjin beautifully reveals her complexity. The series captures the layers of human emotion and empathy, while Han Dongjin’s quiet composure in the face of constant hurt shows that some people choose resilience over retaliation.
At times, their actions can be frustrating—Shim Woo Joo’s blunt, razor-sharp words and Han Dongjin’s calm silence even when others trample over him instead of fighting back. But in the end, I realized that’s simply how they protect themselves, and in a way, those very traits become their strengths.
I also love how the two leads find comfort in each other, even in silence. When they do talk, it’s often about opening their hearts—sharing their stories etc. It’s comforting to see that you can fall in love quietly, without grand gestures or doing much at all.
Han Dongjin is probably the character I connected with the most throughout the drama. The way he walks and talks, his gaze, even the line of his back—all of it screams loneliness. Like Shim Woo Joo, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to hug him. His eyes always seem to brim with tears when he’s sad, angry, or hurt—yet they never fall, as if he’s holding himself back. The only time he ever raised his voice was when he yelled at CEO Shin for hurting Shim Woo Joo, and honestly, that wasn’t enough for me. After everything that man did to him, a part of me always wished he would finally go berserk.
As for the side characters—the siblings, Yoon Jun, Kang Min Young and Han Dongjin’s mother—they each add emotional depth to the drama through their own stories and journeys. Yoon Jun might seem like a love rival for Han Dongjin at first, but as the story unfolds, you realize he’s more of a friend who genuinely cares for her. His only wish is her happiness, even if, at times, he might secretly harbor feelings for her.
Overall, this drama is an emotional yet satisfying ride. My only complaint would be the ending—if it had shown more of their moments after getting back together, it would have been perfect. Other than that, I truly loved it!
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