I had to endure through this drama through many weeks, dropped it several times but I finally powered through it and finished it. What a mess, I understand the high ratings because of the superstar power of the main characters, especially KSH, but honestly this is a below average drama and just lacks in almost every facet of what makes a great drama.
Someone at TvN must have wanted to make another CLOY, they hired the same writer, got the star power and high production value, a similar European backdrop, the 4 country ajummas, the mother's redemption arc, and even a ML who takes a bullet to protect his love. However, it lacked the chemistry of CLOY leads, it lacked the awesome CLOY OST, it lacked the humor of CLOY, and most of all, it lacked the CLOY special charm factor.
This drama has its moments, definitely some funnier moments than the writer's previous dramas, but I found myself bored often and some of actions especially handling the chairman's affairs and movements from hospital to hospital to be just over the top silly.
Definitely not on par with CLOY or LOBS/MLFTS as far as the romance and chemistry. Kim So-hyun is carrying the entire show.
Fantastic drama, well written and directed and both Suzy and Kim Joon-han (from One Spring Night) knocked it out of the park with their acting. Thoroughly enjoyed it, very very well done!
I can't believe I almost dumped this drama after few episodes. I initially hated Doona's character, thought she was mean, toxic, and messed up. She was messed up alright, but once I understood why and her state of mind (she mentions it in the last episode), how she was abandoned and cast away in a shared house, lost and lonely, I started to appreciate the nuances of that character. Suzy really did a fantastic job, I watched it again and it instantly shot up on my favorites list. This is an exceptional drama, fantastic OST, and such a raw and beautiful love story!
Honestly, I was expecting a good show when I saw it was CLOY director but this is just all over the place and feels disjointed. My only explanation is that they made 16 episodes worth of material and Netflix execs saw the writing on the wall and they decided to chop it down to 9 episodes.
Bae Suzy looks like a completely different person from past dramas, I think she went too far with the plastic surgery and now looks like a doll.
I bet in the cut scenes, there was a scene where he introduces his brother to Doona.
I refuse to believe 9 episodes of 40 some minutes is what they filmed, I blame Netflix for killing what would otherwise have been a good series.
This drama had so much potential, but sloppy writing and directing wasted on a terrific cast. Lee Bo-young's character is just unlikable, she's supposed to be portrayed as this tough and no nonsense type of an executive but she came off as cold, calculating, and snobbish. The mother story came out of nowhere and brushed off so quickly. Never resolved the drug addiction issue. Became very repetitive and predictable, and very unrealistic unlike other "Office/Work" type of dramas.
I started this for Han Ji-min but I don't think she's a good fit for comedic performance, we shall see how the drama unfolds.
Same director from My Liberation Notes. Composer from MLN as well, and Nevertheless. Paying homage to 2521, including OST, is just over the top humorous. Lee Min-ki is fantastic as usual. Joo Min-Kyung from One Spring Night is a rue star and a pleasure to watch. It looks like a hit in the making, wouldn't be surprised to see it in double-digit ratings in next few episodes.
This drama is a head scratcher, how in the world is it getting such high marks. I tried and powered through 5 episodes and I had to drop it. So disjointed, no rhyme or reason for anything happening on he screen, lots of pretty faces and some humorous moments but god this is not up to Studio Dragon standards.
I see a lot of comments about not seeing a reunion of Gu and Chang-hee, but remember the scene when Gu was laying down with Mi-jeong in the floor in his apartment, the only person that he asked her about was Chang-hee (How’s Chang-hee doing?). He didn’t talk about her mom passing, he didn’t say anything about her dad (his partner and his current condition), he only asked about Chang-hee, he always had a soft spot for Chang-hee in his heart.
I don’t know why everyone is so confused. Go watch the beginning of Episode 15 as they walk from the bridge. Mr. Gu tells Mi-jeong “WE suit the fields better” because they don’t like being around a lot of people, and then at the restaurant he says “Let’s go together, step by step, trudging on” and then he repeats that same sentence again in the final scene.
I am still processing the time skip, I am sure we will find out in the end but I am hoping that Mr. Gu didn’t spend 2-3 years to come to his senses and go back to Mi-jeong.
If Mr. Gu left in late 2019, it’s possible that based on the “reverse time skip” shown in the Subway, that they skipped only 1 year which puts the scene between papa Yeom and Mr. Gu in 2020.
Some answers to questions I saw below, based on my limited understanding so far:
- The drama takes place in 2018/2019 time frame. The scenes in the snow with Gu walking outside the club on NYE 2022 and short-haired MJ are in the present.
- The I want to carry you comment is a metaphor, probably a religious metaphor, but it’s MJ saying I will always be there for you. The show is full of metaphors.
- Mr. Gu managed an upscale host club and Baek must have done something to take over and that’s why the Chairman wanted Gu back.
- Gu cutting ties and returning to his old life so not to bring his old life (and enemies) to Sanpo and put MJ and her family in danger.
I still think there’s a bit of missing scenes (likely to be shown in the next few episodes) from the time he decided to stay at Sanpo and work with the dad.
He must have said something to Mi-jeong about how she must have saved him and he may have used some religious metaphors. That would explain the worship comment and the “I will carry you at one year old” and her not being angry but sad.
This is becoming one of my all-time favorites and we still have 4 episodes to go…
Someone at TvN must have wanted to make another CLOY, they hired the same writer, got the star power and high production value, a similar European backdrop, the 4 country ajummas, the mother's redemption arc, and even a ML who takes a bullet to protect his love. However, it lacked the chemistry of CLOY leads, it lacked the awesome CLOY OST, it lacked the humor of CLOY, and most of all, it lacked the CLOY special charm factor.
Definitely not on par with CLOY or LOBS/MLFTS as far as the romance and chemistry. Kim So-hyun is carrying the entire show.
Bae Suzy looks like a completely different person from past dramas, I think she went too far with the plastic surgery and now looks like a doll.
I bet in the cut scenes, there was a scene where he introduces his brother to Doona.
I refuse to believe 9 episodes of 40 some minutes is what they filmed, I blame Netflix for killing what would otherwise have been a good series.
Those who read the webtoons, what's missing???
Same director from My Liberation Notes. Composer from MLN as well, and Nevertheless. Paying homage to 2521, including OST, is just over the top humorous. Lee Min-ki is fantastic as usual. Joo Min-Kyung from One Spring Night is a rue star and a pleasure to watch. It looks like a hit in the making, wouldn't be surprised to see it in double-digit ratings in next few episodes.
They are together!
P.S. I love this cast and they’re all doing a fantastic job.
If Mr. Gu left in late 2019, it’s possible that based on the “reverse time skip” shown in the Subway, that they skipped only 1 year which puts the scene between papa Yeom and Mr. Gu in 2020.
- The drama takes place in 2018/2019 time frame. The scenes in the snow with Gu walking outside the club on NYE 2022 and short-haired MJ are in the present.
- The I want to carry you comment is a metaphor, probably a religious metaphor, but it’s MJ saying I will always be there for you. The show is full of metaphors.
- Mr. Gu managed an upscale host club and Baek must have done something to take over and that’s why the Chairman wanted Gu back.
- Gu cutting ties and returning to his old life so not to bring his old life (and enemies) to Sanpo and put MJ and her family in danger.
He must have said something to Mi-jeong about how she must have saved him and he may have used some religious metaphors. That would explain the worship comment and the “I will carry you at one year old” and her not being angry but sad.
This is becoming one of my all-time favorites and we still have 4 episodes to go…