Polo749

I do understand you but because it's the result of bad writing I find it hard to hold it completely against the character. It's one of those things that because I can see it's the writer's doing I just don't believe in it enough to feel strongly against the character.

Everything that you're saying could be argued that way but I think it's just a case of the writer showing her hand. Take your second point, it's not so much that NDS is calculating not to tell DM because she hasn't fallen for him yet, it's more that the writer is calculating for DM not to find out because she hasn't fallen for NDS yet. In this instance, the writer is using NDS to do something that will benefit him but for that very reason it makes him seem manipulative. I really don't think that's what the writer was going for though. I think a similar argument could be made for most of your points.

He really is but I actually think NJH is also perfect for his role. His role started out a lot stronger because he was flawed but in a humorous and sympathetic way. I feel like the writing has let the actor down. In those first episodes NDS was so likeable and entertaining, I was fully ready to ship him with the female lead but for me it just went downhill. The writing for his character got weaker and the writing for HJP got stronger. I think the reason KSH shines in this role is partly because it's such a good role, definitely the best one he's had. NJH shined too in the beginning.

I've heard that they are also obsessed with HJP but I don't know for sure.

That might have something to do with it but think of all the male leads who fit the stereotype and didn't take off to the same extent that HJP did.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Kdrama writers have no idea what makes their dramas work or not work. Sometimes they accidentally get it right but the more they over confidently try and play on what they think the audience is expecting, the more it backfires on them. That's my theory anyway.

I think they probably keep track of Korean feedback but I don't know about international.

I hope it's giving them a headache. Since they're going to crush our hearts that's the least they deserve.

I think KSH helps but I don't think it's just that. I think it really comes down to the writing. I see what the writer was trying to do (at least I think I do) but I don't think it was executed well. Setting up a second male lead to fit the male lead stereotype is all well and good in theory but she pulled it off too well. He's now more popular than most male leads in successful kdramas.

Couple of Nit-Picky Things

Why pick a real person out of the newspaper to use for the letters? Just make up a name. I mean I know why, it's because otherwise there's no love story but it's a bit forced.

Why did they contain his real birthday? Why not just make up a birthday date? Adding his real birthday is inconsistent. I see it as a continuity error.

Yes, this is exactly how I feel about it too. This drama had so much potential.

I know, I don't think it's that common. Usually love triangles are kind of underplayed in kdramas. It surprises me to realise that because I have always strongly associated kdramas with love triangles but when I think about it many of them actually don't linger too long on them. Either there is a second lead couple or the second lead is not really spent a lot of time on so it doesn't build up that much.

You should but wait until you can binge watch. That's what I wish I'd done.

Posted this comment already but deleted it because it was too lengthy, rewrote it and it ended up longer. I don’t blame you if you skip.

This drama has things so backwards it should come as no surprise that people feel so strongly about HJP not being the ML. If the writer just wanted him to be the catalyst for the two leads to get together (which I believe she did) that’s fine but then that storyline should’ve been wrapped up once it had served its purpose.

I hate how the writers are slowly but surely draining NDS of all the humour and charm he had in the first few episodes. Please get rid of petty, melodramatic, questionable choices NDS and bring back the old one.

I think the love story the writer had planned could have been good but it’s been messed up too much by NDS misleading DM and no, a time jump is not going to fix that. I mean it will, “in universe” but what kind of love story is that?

DM should have found out before falling for NDS. If DM had found out earlier, the love story could still have played out the same way only without a giant mood killing elephant in the room. They might start over if there’s a time jump but that means we’ve watched a love story for 8 episodes that doesn’t even count and even if they start over, the way they originally started can’t be undone now and that’s not a romantic backstory for them. So actually it does count but in a negative way.

Maybe it is possible to fix this but I don’t have my hopes up. This is not a good love story but what’s frustrating is that it could have been, either by making HJP the male lead or by giving NDS a better character arc. His arc should have been focused on making him stronger and more capable which both HJP and DM could have been key for.

I can see two dramas from this mess that would have been much better in my not very humble opinion (as demonstrated by how much I comment).

1. Main couple- NDS and DM. HJP brings them together the way he did. DM finds out early. She’s upset with HJP for faking the letters but now she has a friend in NDS who helped her fake her life to her mother and sister. Of course HJP helped too so she doesn’t stay mad at him for long, just until the disappointment about the letters wears off. She still decides to quit her job and join Sandbox and everything basically plays out the way it did except HJP and NDS have a bromance instead of being rivals and no one is broken hearted for long. HJP helps both NDS and DM build their startup and continues to be a mentor, maybe he gets his own love line (I like those dramas with second lead couples like Goblin and DOTS). Most importantly, no dreaded love triangle.

2. Main couple- HJP and DM. I actually commented on this version before so I’ll just copy and paste. Instead of NDS being the love interest, his relationship with DM should have remained platonic. There is no rule in storytelling that states the two main leads have to be in a relationship. I know it’s common for a reason but sometimes it works better when it’s not the case, usually when the romance is not the main focus of the story...Imagine a drama that has a friendship at the centre of it (DM and DS), that is mainly about Sandbox and the competition between two estranged sisters but that has some romance on the side (between HJP and DM).

DM could have continued to believe that NDS wrote the letters for the same reason that she believed it up until the last episode- everyone wants to protect her from finding out they were faked. HJP and DM begin to build something real and sooner or later she finds out he wrote the letters. She’s not as disappointed about the letters being fake because now they both have feelings.

In both my imaginary versions there would be no love triangle and the plot would have been more focused on the startup (as it is, it’s touch and go, some episodes are great for that and some aren’t). A story that is not primarily a love story doesn’t need to see the leads in a relationship so either one of the male characters would have fit the bill.

Edit: I can’t believe I’m adding to this dissertation but I want to clarify something. While it is wrong that NDS is still pretending he wrote the letters, that’s not what really kills the romance for me. It partly is because it’s not good for his character but the other part of the problem is that their relationship still hinges too much on the misunderstanding. I don’t think they have a good love story in their own right is what I’m getting at. I would say that 75% of their romance still hinges on the letters. I’m not trying to belittle what the main couple have. It just doesn’t feel like the real stuff between them has overtaken yet but that wouldn’t matter if DM knew the truth, hence why I say the letters storyline should have been wrapped up as soon as it had done its job.

If that is what people end up doing then that's probably a reflection on the drama's poor quality. So far the drama is inviting us to watch it for the love triangle. I wish it weren't that way but it is.

I'm now extremely worried about HJP's future. I wonder if he'll die. The only way I can understand this writer is if the fan theory that NDS was used by the writer to prevent HJP and DM reconciling too early in the story turns out to be correct. While I don't support that use of his character it would all make sense then. However, I really don't have my hopes up. At the moment this plot is shaping up as though it's some kind of revenge against the male lead stereotype. The problem is HJP has transcended the stereotype. I've said it before but although he definitely ticks all the boxes for the stereotypical male lead, he has an edge that most male leads don't have. I mean seriously, how many male leads are as popular as him, even in well loved kdramas?

I’ve just realised that a big part of the appeal of HJP and DM is that they are being kept apart. If HJP were the first lead then the whole thing would’ve been written differently (assuming there isn’t going to be a twist) and I honestly think it would’ve had a negative effect on how attached people are to HJP and DM. I think people still would’ve shipped them but not as strongly. The silver lining, if you can think of it that way, is that this ship wouldn’t be as strong if it were the endgame. We largely feel so invested because of the tension created by the fact that they are not being paired together romantically. Obviously that’s not the only thing because otherwise we’d be passionately shipping a whole lot of other characters as well but I do think it’s a big factor.

Yes that's the impression I get as well. Hopefully other writers will learn from this experiment if that's the case.

Why oh why did the writers put so much time and effort into the SML? There must be a behind the scenes explanation for why they would do that. Something that has nothing to do with the plot that made it necessary to give HJP more screen time than most second leads.

Then again, it's not just screen time. He also has more development, back story and arguably stronger feelings for the FL than most second leads (or at least we see more of his feelings than usual). I’ve seen a comment on reddit pointing out that usually with second lead syndrome the SML doesn’t have as strong feelings for the FL as the ML and that helps cushion the blow.

All I can think is that it was accidental. They planned the general outline of the story and then as they wrote it the second lead naturally got more because there was just more depth to the idea of him. Does that make sense? I guess you can't really know in advance how your ideas will play out but if that's what happened then they should've ran with it and upgraded him to 1st lead. Maybe they can't do that though.

Edit: I lost track of my point at the end. I meant to compare him to other second leads not to NDS. I do think HJP should be first lead but I wasn't trying to belittle NDS.

Yes I don't have any hard feelings towards the Grandma. When I complain about her motives being nonsensical that's more directed towards the writers.