This review may contain spoilers
How to make your main character dislikeable: tutorial
Should be a title of this drama. Though on a second thought "Something's not right" is also pretty spot on. Because unless the creators intentionally wanted to deliver one of the most dislikeable main characters in the history of love stories, something most definitely went not entirely right.
It's not that the drama focuses around misunderstandings and lack of communication. While it's a popular trope, it can still be done in a way that creates enjoyment for the viewers. It's that Do Ba Woo is unbelievably self centred, with no regard to his (supposedly best) friend's feelings throughout the entire story. And he never improves. Until the very ending of the drama, he remains the same self centred jerk.
Having an unrequited crush on a friend is tough, for sure. But it does not excuse Do Ba Woo's behaviour. Having a broken heart is not a free ticket to being an a**hole towards people around you. Especially people who evidently care and try hard to right whatever it is you're not telling them they did wrong. The entire plot of the drama is Do Ba Woo treating Ji Hoon like trash because he has a crush on him. And it's not done in this endearing tsundere-type-of-way. It's literal mistreatment. First he confesses in a vague way, then he tells Ji Hoon he wants to cut ties with him after they've been inseparable besties for years (with no proper explanation), then he asks Ji Hoon to date, but only for laughs, then he wants to cut ties again... In the meantime he constantly ignores Ji Hoon's phone callas and messages. And then when Ji Hoon finally realises what the hell is happening (not thanks to Do Ba Woo's clarification) and confesses his own feelings, Do Ba Woo is like "no, you don't really like me, you pity me, I don't want to see you ever again". Not even once for a brief second did Do Ba Woo stop to consider how terrible he made his friend/love interest feel.
Then when we finally get the "happy ending" it is still NOT Do Ba Woo who has to make the effort and make up for his wrong behaviour. It's Ji Hoon who has to think hard how to confess properly. And I am asking "why?". What was wrong with his previous confession? He wasn't the one who kept treating Do Ba Woo poorly for the entire 8 episodes. If anything, he was an image of patience and perseverance.
And sure, one might say that Ji Hoon is not without blame, considering he hid his own crush in the past and was super slow in realizing Do Ba Woo's feelings (but I mean, I don't know if ignoring someone and telling them you don't want to ever see them again is the most obvious way to confess your love... but that's just me). However his actions never entailed treating Ba Woo like crap. Moreover, he had a reason to misunderstand Do Ba Woo's confession (considering he was basically still a kid when he heard Ba Woo telling their mutual friend he doesn't wanna date anyone and the friend in question even added to his worries when she said she regretted confessing because it messed up her and Do Ba Woo's friendship). Everything Ji Hoon did was to ensure he and Do Ba Woo can always be together (while at the same time still trying to fulfil Do Ba Woo's wishes). Do Ba Woo on the other hand, did everything for himself. And even that was not entirely correct, because he kept being miserable with his own decision.
Instead of cheering for the main leads to get together, I kept feeling bad for Ji Hoon, simultaneously scolding Ba Woo in my mind. I genuinely didn't want Do Ba Woo to end up with Ji Hoon. I also didn't want him to end up with the other guy either. I just wanted him to mature up by himself. I don't think that was the response the creators of this drama were aiming for, considering they still gave us Do Ba Woo/Ji Hoon ending.
Were there any pluses to this drama? The acting was ok (the boy playing Ji Hoon definitely outshined others though), soundtrack was decent, the comic relief group of silly friends was somewhat funny... the other guy's sister was pretty... I am trying real hard here ;)
I think the show wasn't that terrible if not for the fact that Do Ba Woo was really, really dislikeable. If that was intentional, if Something's Not Right was a comedy about some grumpy dude who hates people then sure, it could work then. But I'm pretty sure we were supposed to like Do Ba Woo, maybe even relate to him or at least hope for his happy ending.
That was impossible for me. For what is worth, I did like Ji Hoon's character and spent a lot of time sympathising with him ;)
It's not that the drama focuses around misunderstandings and lack of communication. While it's a popular trope, it can still be done in a way that creates enjoyment for the viewers. It's that Do Ba Woo is unbelievably self centred, with no regard to his (supposedly best) friend's feelings throughout the entire story. And he never improves. Until the very ending of the drama, he remains the same self centred jerk.
Having an unrequited crush on a friend is tough, for sure. But it does not excuse Do Ba Woo's behaviour. Having a broken heart is not a free ticket to being an a**hole towards people around you. Especially people who evidently care and try hard to right whatever it is you're not telling them they did wrong. The entire plot of the drama is Do Ba Woo treating Ji Hoon like trash because he has a crush on him. And it's not done in this endearing tsundere-type-of-way. It's literal mistreatment. First he confesses in a vague way, then he tells Ji Hoon he wants to cut ties with him after they've been inseparable besties for years (with no proper explanation), then he asks Ji Hoon to date, but only for laughs, then he wants to cut ties again... In the meantime he constantly ignores Ji Hoon's phone callas and messages. And then when Ji Hoon finally realises what the hell is happening (not thanks to Do Ba Woo's clarification) and confesses his own feelings, Do Ba Woo is like "no, you don't really like me, you pity me, I don't want to see you ever again". Not even once for a brief second did Do Ba Woo stop to consider how terrible he made his friend/love interest feel.
Then when we finally get the "happy ending" it is still NOT Do Ba Woo who has to make the effort and make up for his wrong behaviour. It's Ji Hoon who has to think hard how to confess properly. And I am asking "why?". What was wrong with his previous confession? He wasn't the one who kept treating Do Ba Woo poorly for the entire 8 episodes. If anything, he was an image of patience and perseverance.
And sure, one might say that Ji Hoon is not without blame, considering he hid his own crush in the past and was super slow in realizing Do Ba Woo's feelings (but I mean, I don't know if ignoring someone and telling them you don't want to ever see them again is the most obvious way to confess your love... but that's just me). However his actions never entailed treating Ba Woo like crap. Moreover, he had a reason to misunderstand Do Ba Woo's confession (considering he was basically still a kid when he heard Ba Woo telling their mutual friend he doesn't wanna date anyone and the friend in question even added to his worries when she said she regretted confessing because it messed up her and Do Ba Woo's friendship). Everything Ji Hoon did was to ensure he and Do Ba Woo can always be together (while at the same time still trying to fulfil Do Ba Woo's wishes). Do Ba Woo on the other hand, did everything for himself. And even that was not entirely correct, because he kept being miserable with his own decision.
Instead of cheering for the main leads to get together, I kept feeling bad for Ji Hoon, simultaneously scolding Ba Woo in my mind. I genuinely didn't want Do Ba Woo to end up with Ji Hoon. I also didn't want him to end up with the other guy either. I just wanted him to mature up by himself. I don't think that was the response the creators of this drama were aiming for, considering they still gave us Do Ba Woo/Ji Hoon ending.
Were there any pluses to this drama? The acting was ok (the boy playing Ji Hoon definitely outshined others though), soundtrack was decent, the comic relief group of silly friends was somewhat funny... the other guy's sister was pretty... I am trying real hard here ;)
I think the show wasn't that terrible if not for the fact that Do Ba Woo was really, really dislikeable. If that was intentional, if Something's Not Right was a comedy about some grumpy dude who hates people then sure, it could work then. But I'm pretty sure we were supposed to like Do Ba Woo, maybe even relate to him or at least hope for his happy ending.
That was impossible for me. For what is worth, I did like Ji Hoon's character and spent a lot of time sympathising with him ;)
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