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Not your typical Thai drama
When I first saw this dramas description I skipped over it. How could a person go from marrying the love of their life to sleeping with a total stranger all in the same day? I didn’t think I’d like their characters much. But thankfully the glowing reviews made me give it a try and I’m so glad I did. Once you start watching the drama it all makes sense. Let me explain.The female lead (May) and the male lead (Kade) are getting married to other people on the same day. Then their fiancé’s abandon them and run off together. May is terribly upset, not because of a deep passionate love, but because of the betrayal. She has PTSD from a past trauma and doesn’t trust men. And since her childhood friend is the only man she’s ever trusted and she doesn’t think she could ever trust another man, she agrees to marry him. So his betraying her and leaving without a word hurts her deeply. Kade on the other hand, wasn’t even dating the woman he was marrying. He had a crush on her when they were younger but now he sees her as a little sister. But when he finds out she’s pregnant (by her ex boyfriend) and not in a good place mentally, he offers to marry her in order to protect her. So both leads aren’t in love with their fiancé’s, but they are hurt by the way they were treated. And when they meet the sparks fly! Boy do they have chemistry!
Even though this drama does have a couple of the typical Thai drama slap and kiss scenes in the beginning, it’s quite different from most Thai dramas. The male lead is very sweet and totally devoted to the female lead. Even though he is rich, he is never rough or forceful with her and treats her with respect. He’s not a womanizer or an arrogant jerk either. And the female lead is not your typical weak female that cries all of the time and is dirt poor. She is wealthy, strong, independent and sassy. And their wardrobe is stunning! I loved seeing these two independent headstrong individuals clash. They have amazing character growth as they learn how to love and trust again.
The romance is done perfectly here. It’s not insta love but it’s definitely insta attraction and they sizzle together. He accepts the attraction and immediately pursues her. But she’s in denial and has trust issues to overcome. Be prepared for lots of hugs, kisses, hand holding, and flirting. I really liked how natural and realistic their relationship was.
The storyline was really good. There’s lots of twists and turns. Even though you can figure out who the bad guy is pretty quickly, the journey along the way is interesting. There’s kidnappings, car chases, sabotage, lots of fight scenes, and hidden identities to keep things fast paced. I was never bored. It has an original plot, great actors, and charming side characters. There are multiple couples that were pretty interesting with great stories of their own. There’s no second lead syndrome and no true love triangles.
Overall I would highly recommend this drama. It was one of the best Thai dramas that I’ve watched. I love male leads that are kind snd sweet instead of those typical arrogant CEO’s most dramas have. And I like a woman that is strong and confident. And all of the side characters are great. If there was any negative I would have to say it would be that the female lead teases the male lead for too long. She knows how she feels about him but refuses to admit it to him. She eventually admits that she just really enjoys teasing him because his reactions are so cute. But her eventual confession is dragged out for way too long. And it does get a little cheesy sometimes, but what romance drama doesn’t? It’s not a perfect drama but it comes pretty darn close.
Don’t miss this gem!
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Sassy FL + funny /clueless ML = touching romance
There’s a lot of things to like about this drama. I like that there’s no evil antagonists creating problems and misunderstandings. There’s no meddling parents getting in the way and creating issues. And even though the ML’s ex wants him back, she’s not evil or underhanded which is nice too. I’m so tired of the overused evil ex that’s obsessed with the main lead and that will do anything to get them back trope. So there was a lot to like about this drama.I also appreciated how light, funny and refreshing this drama was. It’s a very funny sweet and fluffy romance. The cooking scenes will make your mouth water and the chemistry between the leads as they cook together is a joy to watch. The side characters were well fleshed out and very likable. I really enjoyed seeing so many of them have such great character growth. From the best friend, to the coworkers to even the parents, there was lots of lessons learned and character growth. The underlying theme of not living in the past or letting past events dictate your future decisions was very clear. It also highlighted the importance of enjoying meals with those you love not because you’re hungry or it’s time to eat but because it gives you warm memories and creates a close bond with your loved ones.
The male lead seems very cold at first but then you realize he’s only that way at work. With his close friends he’s very silly, funny, and charming. I like that he wasn’t your stereotypical tsundere CEO that’s cold but has a soft spot for the female lead. So his character seemed unique and very likable. He has a lot to learn though. He has trouble communicating outside of work, even things like small talk around the dinner table is difficult for him. And he’s way too focused on work and doesn’t balance it well with his personal life. He doesn’t know how to get close to or connect with the female lead outside of their work environment. So their whole romance is tied into their work which causes problems for them later on. I did enjoy his character growth as he realized this and worked hard to do better.
The female lead is a super smart competent woman that wins everyone over at work with her amazing skills. She thinks outside of the box and saves them numerous times. She’s also a very skilled cook which melts the male leads heart despite his efforts to not fall in love and get hurt again. She isn’t weak and stands up for herself with some great comebacks to those disrespecting her. I really liked her strength and sassiness. But her weakness is her inability to balance her work life and home life. At first she’s all family oriented and neglects work. Then she becomes hyper focused on work and neglects her family. Then an unfortunate incident occurs and she reacts very badly. But over time she realizes her mistakes and corrects them. She learns how to be more balanced in both her personal life and at work. I really enjoyed her character growth.
So as I’ve said, there’s a lot to like about this drama. But unfortunately, there are several things I didn’t like about this drama. Firstly, there’s a breakup and if you’ve read any of my reviews you’ll know that I hate the overused breakup scenario dramas love to employ. It’s gotten to be a pet peeve of mine. It’s just too predictable and a clear attempt to add angst over some silly misunderstanding or miscommunication. So I deducted a star for that. Secondly, the leads are separated and have zero interactions with one another for over 2 years. So there’s several episodes that have nothing to do with their relationship and we just see them moping around all miserable. That’s no fun to me and makes the drama too sad for too long. So I deducted another star for that reason. They don’t get back together till literally the end of the last episode. Thirdly, after two years we are led to believe that they are suddenly madly in love again and ready to be together forever now. Originally they had only dated a few months after meeting each other. So now despite only having dated a few months, they are ready to skip the whole dating thing and go straight to the alter. Not only is it not fair to not get to see them together with all of their cute moments as they start dating again and reconnecting, but we are expected to believe those 2 years apart wasn’t a big deal and they can pick right back up where they left off as if nothing happened. So I had to deduct another star for this reason.
Now don’t get me wrong, despite the above issues, I liked this drama. And I’m glad I watched it. They have a lot of great characters that I loved and the character growth is really good. The warm family scenes, tasty meals, and camaraderie amongst family and friends was very heartwarming. That’s why it has such good ratings. And the acting is way above average. I also like that it had underlying messages and taught life lessons too. But if you’re a seasoned drama watcher like me, those overused tropes might get to you like they did me. If I’m watching a comedy I want to see lots of funny stuff. If I’m watching a horror show I want to be scared a lot. So if this is a romance, I should expect to see lots of romance, right? So why were they together such a short time before breaking up? And why did they stay apart for several episodes and not get back together till the very end? This is a romance so I want to see lots of romance, not angst. Yes there were lots of kisses and cute scenes in the few episodes they were together. And they kissed and hugged in the final episode too. But I just felt like the whole breakup thing messed up a really good drama. It could have been a 10 easily with such a great cast and such good acting.
In conclusion, it’s worth watching. There’s some great acting, lots of touching moments, and the main leads have great chemistry. But expect a breakup and expect angst and sadness those last few episodes. If you don’t mind those things you’ll love it. It’s a pretty good drama, it’s not amazing but it’s very endearing and worth the watch.
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One of the better youth sports dramas out there
After watching dozens of youth sports dramas I’ve become a bit jaded but I have to admit that this is one of the better ones out there. It’s not without its flaws, which I’ll talk about later, but overall it’s a pretty good drama. It reminds me a lot of Skate Into Love and Falling Into Your Smile, two of the best out there in my opinion. The romance is done well, it has some great comedy, the characters are well fleshed out, it’s interesting, and there’s lots of character growth.The female lead is confident, talented, outgoing, and very determined to reach her goals of becoming a world class speed skater. I liked that she was a strong confident person and not one of those weak females that always needs saving. And she has the sweetest cutest father that’s always got her back. Their interactions were pure gold. Her mom isn’t too great at first but her character growth was a joy to watch.
The male lead is a really good guy that’s nice to everyone and very charming. Even when he’s badly injured by someone else’s negligence he never gets angry or blames them. He’s just an overall really sweet person. I liked that even though he’s really laidback and easygoing he always drew the line with any females that got interested in him romantically. And once he’s in a relationship with the female lead, he communicates well and is a really good loyal boyfriend that lets everyone know he’s only interested in her. He becomes such a little puppy around her and it’s so cute. His relationship with his mom is a big focal point of the drama that I really liked. There’s lots of character growth in their relationship and I really enjoyed it.
The romance was very well balanced and didn’t overwhelm the drama nor was it just a side note either. I liked that once the leads got together there wasn’t a bunch of silly misunderstandings, there were no evil second leads scheming against them, there were no breakups, no noble idiocy and no long separations. They had a very healthy relationship, it had its ups and downs but it was more realistic and endearing than most. It’s not a spicy drama with bedroom scenes or anything like that. It’s more of a youthful romance with lots of hugs, handholding, and sweet kisses. You get more of a light sweet fluffy feel from their romance.
So why did I give it an 8 instead of a 10? For two reasons, the storyline and the side romance of the main leads best friends. The storyline had every typical cliche you would expect to see in a youth sports drama. And it was so predictable that I correctly guessed the outcome of every major event or dramatic storyline twist before it happened. So I took off one full point for this reason. The other reason is the secondary romance. First off they put a very average looking girl in the role of the female leads supposedly very pretty bff. Then they took one of the hottest guys in the drama and put him in the role of the not so attractive guy friend that she initially overlooks for someone better looking. But the guy she overlooks him for isn’t anywhere near as hot as he is. And she’s no raving beauty (no insult intended, just being honest.) So just based on that, their storyline isn’t too believable. Then she treats him really badly throughout most of the drama. And when they finally get together she hides it like she’s ashamed of him. The poor guy just can’t catch a break. I really disliked the whole secondary romance and they spent a lot of time on it, especially in the first half of the drama. So I took another point off for this reason. They cast the wrong people to play the characters and then spent way too much time on a couple with no chemistry and an awful storyline.
That being said, I still really liked the drama. Even though the storyline was very predictable, the acting was phenomenal. The characters were very relatable and just about everyone had a lot of character growth. It has the underlying messages that you’d expect of a youth sports drama like “never give up your dreams” and “if you believe in yourself enough you can do anything.” But it also taught some valuable lessons that were not cliche or expected. It teaches us to not judge others too harshly. Sometimes we are quick to blame others because we can’t accept our own shortcomings. So when the truth finally comes out we have to face the harsh reality of our own failings. So it’s best to not be too judgmental or quick to blame.
In conclusion, it’s very cliche but the superb acting, likable characters, sweet romance, and great comedy elevate this drama above the rest. My advice would be to use the fast forward button liberally when watching the secondary romance and you’ll like it even better. But even with its flaws it’s still a very sweet touching drama that you’ll enjoy watching. I definitely recommend it.
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A healing romance with some epic comedy
With such glowing reviews and high ratings I was worried that I would be disappointed. But fortunately this drama lived up to its hype for me. It’s not one of those deep, heavy, meaningful dramas. It’s more of a light funny sweet romcom that is so well executed that you don’t mind the clichés. After watching hundreds of Asian dramas I’ve come to the conclusion that cliches are inevitable. And it’s not the cliché storylines that make a drama bad but how they are carried out. Great acting and likable characters can make a cliché story feel fun and interesting. On the other hand, poor acting and bland characters can make a cliché story feel dull and monotonous. This drama was chock full of likable, relatable characters that made you feel like they were a part of your family. Pair that with some top notch acting and you have a great drama like this one.The acting in this drama is above average. I was invested in every single characters storyline. The second male lead was a bit stiff in the beginning but got much better as the drama progressed. I was surprised by that because I’ve seen him in lots of other dramas and he’s a great actor. But overall the actors did a great job of getting me invested in the drama. And it didn’t hurt that the whole cast was gorgeous and very easy on the eyes.
The romance was done just right. It wasn’t insta love for the main leads but it wasn’t a slow burn either. I liked the pacing and chemistry of their romance too. The second leads had a cute romance that was a fun watch and added to the likability of the drama. Be prepared for lots of kisses, piggyback rides, hugs, and some sexy scenes. Both the main male lead and the second male lead go shirtless which is always a plus for me. And just let me say, the second male lead must live in a gym because he is one of the most muscular actors I’ve ever seen in an Asian drama. But as far as romance goes it was really very romantic with lots of sweet moments. And I liked that this was a healing romance. Both leads help heal each other’s emotional wounds. Watching their journey as they help heal one another and become better versions of themselves was a joy.
The female lead is a very likable character that’s talented, respected at work, confident, outgoing, and charming. She has a great family you’ll love, a touching sismance with her best friend and is a pretty balanced person. There’s only one area she’s lacking in and that’s in the romance department. Even though she’s very pretty, she’s had an unrequited crush on the same guy for 7 years. And it’s taken a toll on her confidence and self esteem.
The male lead is a practical no nonsense guy that is hyper focused on his job. He’s not mean or a bully at work he’s just a workaholic. Due to a trauma in his past he shuns intimate relationships with people other than his grandfather and his best friend (the second male lead). His interactions with the second male lead are so cute and endearing. I really enjoyed their bromance.
It was also quite refreshing to see the main leads have a healthy relationship where they communicate well and trust one another. I’m liking this trend lately where the main leads don’t have lots of silly misunderstandings but instead respect and have faith in one another. The lack of breakups, misunderstandings and noble idiocy made this drama so much better. And there weren’t any evil meddling second leads obsessed with the main leads either. I’m so done with that trend. So even though there are several clichés in this drama the lack of annoying second leads and unnecessary breakups more than makes up for it.
Now let’s talk about what I didn’t like. There’s not a lot to dislike about this drama. But there were a couple of things that kept it from getting a perfect rating from me. There was a lengthy separation at the end which was quite unnecessary (they didn’t breakup but were separated because one of them had to go overseas). I hate the old cliché ‘I have to go overseas for an extended period of time but I still love you’ trope. I never liked it and never will understand the overuse of this scenario in dramas. So I took off a full point for this. The other thing I didn’t like was the last episode of this drama. It wasn’t as bad as many have claimed in the comment section. The main characters are all addressed and have satisfying endings. I was happy with how everything turned out for everyone. But my main complaint (and everyone else’s) is that a lot of time is spent on some unnecessary angst that’s thrown in at the last minute for no apparent reason. It’s the last episode so you want some sweet moments, to see how everything turns out for everyone, even the minor characters. You want all of the loose ends tied up in a pretty little bow. You want to have some meaningful touching moments, not unnecessary angst just to hype things up. The angst would have been okay if there had been another episode or two. The fact that it happened in the last episode taking time away from those last sweet touching moments between your favorite characters is what I have a problem with. It wasn’t super bad just annoying , so I took a half point off for this.
In conclusion I’d say this is a very good drama that I’d highly recommend. It’s not for those who are looking for a deep drama that sends a message or teaches a lesson. But if you like super romantic romcoms that are full of gorgeous actors that make you laugh your butt off then this dramas for you. It’s short, sweet, sexy and funny. Seriously just go watch it!
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It’s never too late to start over
How many times have we watched dramas where the second male lead wishes he had met the female lead first? Or had confessed first? They always lament “if I had met her first or had made my move on her first then she would be with me now. I know I would have made her happy.” Well this drama starts out with that unique idea. The second male lead meets the female lead first then confesses and becomes her boyfriend right before the male lead is about to confess. But does meeting someone first or confessing first really make a difference? Is it all up to chance based on who meets who first or is there more involved? And if you meet the wrong person first and miss out on being with your ideal mate, can you go back and change things? Can it be fixed? I love the journey this drama takes us on as it explores the answers to these questions.One thing that is important to take note of before you watch this drama is that you will be very confused as to what timeline the female lead is in during her coma if you don’t pay close attention. It switches between present events and past memories frequently. And since it’s all happening in the same college setting, her clothing and appearance is almost identical. The best way to tell the difference is in her appearance. During current events she has much shorter hair and her ponytail barely goes past her shirt collar. But in her memories of her past she has much longer hair and her ponytail trails down the middle of her back. So watch for her hair length. Shorter hair is current events and longer hair is memories of her past.
The storyline for this drama is very unique and interesting. In college the female lead is so focused on competing academically with the male lead that she never thinks of him as anything but a rival. Unfortunately this leads her to being in a long term relationship with the second male lead who is all wrong for her. He’s a nice guy but they don’t have the same goals or dreams in life. She ends up getting sidetracked by him and puts him and his needs above her own. Her grades, academic achievements, and career choices suffer because of it. So the drama starts out in the present time which is 10 years after the female lead met the male lead and the second male lead. She’s still in a relationship with the second male lead but is miserable and her life is a wreck. She’s regretting a lot of her life’s choices and wishes fervently that she could go back and do it all over again. It’s at this time that she is injured and goes into a coma. And during the coma she finds herself back in college. Her wish comes true and she gets to go back and correct all of the mistakes she made in the past.
I like the female leads personality. She’s not a pushover nor is she one of those cheerful happy little airheads either. She’s a very hardworking goal oriented person with very high moral standards. She has a very strong sense of justice and fights intensely for those in need. I like how it’s her life’s goal to make a difference in this world for the poor and the needy. Her biggest problem though is that she got sidetracked by love and made some very poor choices that had a huge negative impact on her life. To make matters worse, she doesn’t correct those mistakes so her life continues to go nowhere. But she finally realizes that it’s never too late to start over. She makes some tough choices but it’s for the best. Seeing her character grow and mature was a joy to watch.
The male lead was unique. He wasn’t some cold domineering CEO like you usually see in office romances which was refreshing. He’s been in love with the female lead for 10 years protecting her and taking care of her the best he can. But his pride and fear of losing her keeps him from ever confessing to her. On the outside he’s proud and confident. Yet on the inside he’s in constant turmoil as he worries over her and deals with his unrequited love. He’s a tortured soul that you can’t help but root for. So when he finally finds the courage to open his heart to her, I was very touched.
I like the the underlying theme this drama had. We often wish we could go back and correct all of our past mistakes. But that’s just a pipe dream, an impossibility. Dwelling on past mistakes that can’t be changed will only bring us down. Wiping the slate clean so to speak and starting over is a really tough choice, especially after investing 10 years into a relationship like in the female leads situation. But starting over romance and career wise was the best choice for her. Many others in the drama had to make similar choices and do what’s right which meant letting everything go and starting over. But in the end it was the best choice they had ever made. We often think it’s too late to start over but its never too late. So don’t dwell on the past but work on making a better future for yourself, even if it means having to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.
The romance in this drama was pretty good. There were lots of very realistic kisses, hugs, and cuddles. You could also feel the emotional connection the leads had together. The analogy of how the right person is like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly into the right spot in your heart was so true. With the wrong person your life can go downhill really fast. But with the right person things flow so smoothly and you’re so much happier. Choosing the perfect mate for yourself makes a big difference in your overall happiness in life. This wasn’t a spicy drama romance wise but it was very sweet, cute, and endearing.
My only complaints would be that this is advertised as an office romance but two thirds of the drama is spent in a college setting. I felt like I was watching a college romcom, not an office romance, so the title and description are a bit misleading. So for that reason I took off a point. The other issue I had with this drama was the confusing jump from present time to the past. In both situations the female lead is wearing similar clothes and hairstyles and it’s in the same college setting. So I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out where she was, past or present, and what was going on. A drama shouldn’t confuse it’s audience like that. So for this reason I deducted another point.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this drama. It has a very unique setting, it teaches a lesson, the romance is sweet, and the acting is superb. Just be aware that it’s a college romance the majority of the time and keep an eye on the female leads hair so you don’t get confused when she has flashbacks of her memories and you’ll be fine.
Spoilers ahead
(Was it all really just a dream?)
How do we know it was a dream and not a parallel universe or time traveling as some suggest? When the female lead comes out of her coma in episode 23 the title of the episode is “You And I Were In A Dream.” And from then on they consistently refer to it as her dreams. They never say she time traveled or was in a parallel universe. The doctor said it was normal to have very realistic dreams while in a coma. And when the female lead wakes up from her coma, she even says it was nothing but a sweet dream. Then episode 24 is entitled “The Gap Between Dreams and Reality.” She asked the doctor why she had dreams of stuff she had no knowledge of. The doctor said the nerve damage from her fall injured her brain. So while she was in the coma he told her family and friends to remind her of the past. This would help to trigger and activate the damaged neurons in her brain. They most likely told her of things that she didn’t know about or wasn’t aware had happened since they were speaking from their own personal experiences. Then these new tidbits of information were incorporated into her dreams. Which in turn drastically changed the choices she had previously made. Realizing that the male lead had been her protector, not her rival, made her choose him instead. Knowing that the second male lead would choose his career over love made her reject him. All of this helps her to realize that she needs to make some big changes in her life moving forward. Even though she can’t change the bad choices she made in the past she can make better choices for her future. So her comatose dreams were very helpful and helped her to grow as a person.
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This is one you’ll go back and rewatch
At first I avoided this drama. I wasn’t crazy about the idea of a female lead that was chubby, unattractive, and going nowhere in her life. It didn’t seem like it would be a fun watch, especially when the female lead is caught in lots of embarrassing situations. And from the previews it looked like the male lead was super fit, attractive, and full of himself. I just didn’t like the dynamics of the situation. But it got so many glowing reviews that I finally broke down and watched it. And boy am I glad I did! It’s nothing like I expected.Okay yes I felt a lot of second hand embarrassment for the female lead in the beginning. But a lot of it was quite comical and I found myself laughing along. And we needed to see just how low she had gotten to understand how much she truly accomplished. Because her character explodes with growth and you can’t help but root for her. The female lead starts out clumsy and lazy then transforms into this sassy little warrior that gives you all of the feels.
The male lead is super fit and we get to see his shirtless workout routine right away setting the stage for what appears to be a narcissistic hardworking overachiever type of character. But things are not as they appear. He has had a very tough life and was shown no love and little mercy. He has a lot of growth and healing to do too. Seeing him conquer his problems and fight for the life he wants was an absolute pleasure to watch. One thing I liked about him was his concern for the female leads health and safety. He was very much a gentleman. And when he said his ideal woman was a Jiu Jitsu expert because “a woman that can defend herself is sexy,” I had mad respect for him.
The romance was one of the best kdrama romances I’ve seen. Their chemistry just leaped off of the screen. I especially appreciate that the male lead starts falling for the female lead while she’s still chubby. When she lost some weight in her face I loved how obsessed he became with her dimples. When he poked her dimples and asked “what is this?” hovering inches from her face with utter fascination in his voice, you know he’s fallen for her. Then a few days later, her muscles are sore so she decides to go for a massage and he freaks out thinking about some muscular dude massaging her. So he insists she use his massage chair. And of course their first kiss and his bold pursuit of her is while she’s still chubby. The fact that he liked her long before she lost all of her weight made the romance feel less superficial and more genuine to me. Especially when he often emphasized that her health was most important to him, not her weight. I love how they interacted as a couple. His obsession with her dimples is so bad that he calls them his dimples and he melts every time she smiles.
The side characters are all great actors and added so much to the story. I appreciate that they weren’t just used as filler but had interesting stories of their own to tell. They were super funny and tons of fun to watch. I especially loved the relationship the male lead had with his two buddies. This is rare drama that I did not fast forward through any of the side characters storylines.
As with every drama, there were a few things I didn’t like. I really dislike that there was a long period of time where the leads were apart and it’s hard to watch. The reason was understandable and warranted under the circumstances. And the speech the female lead gave giving her undying support to her man was epic. She was trying to fortify him for the difficult road ahead that he chose to traverse alone to spare her and it was so inspiring. Fortunately the separation only lasted one episode and the reunion was most definitely worth waiting for. But I still detest separations and had to deduct half a point for that. I also wasn’t crazy about the final scene in the airport. But it was only one brief little scene so it was okay I guess.
Overall I give this high marks. It has a unique storyline, amazing acting, great chemistry, lots of character growth, it’s fast paced, very funny, and quite touching. This is a true gem I would highly recommend to anyone.
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Light hearted feel good romcom
When I first started this drama it was silly and way too unrealistic. And the story had no depth either. Then both the male lead and the second male lead fall head over heels in love with the female lead very quickly for no reason when they hardly even know her. I thought I wasn’t going to like this drama very much. Boy was I wrong. It wasn’t perfect, but it ended up being awfully cute and funny.Storyline:
If you stick with it past the first few episodes the story gains some strength and gets deeper and more interesting. It ends up that there’s a reason both men like the female lead so intensely and so quickly. There are hidden pasts, amnesia, political intrigue, hidden identities, and lots of great comedy. It does get a bit confusing on the four clans and their past and present issues with one another. But overall I enjoyed the uniqueness of the storyline.
Set design, costumes & CGI:
The sets were very elaborate and realistic. And the costumes were quite elegant and attractive. It looked like they had a generous budget for this drama. There were beautiful gardens, impressive homes, lovely rivers, and quaint old villages to enjoy throughout the drama. The CGI was okay but nothing amazing. They chose an obese, unattractive, stubby legged animated cat instead of a real one and it was a bad choice. Many compare it to Garfield but I don’t agree because even though Garfield is chubby he’s super cute. This cat just wasn’t attractive at all. The way he stood up to walk or run was just weird and not catlike at all. And since the cat was a big part of the drama it did detract from the overall experience.
The romance:
The romance is what really shines in this drama. The lead couple have great chemistry. There’s lots of kisses, cuddles, hand holding, and skinship. And even though there are some misunderstandings, nothing drags out for too long. The romance is a bit cheesy sometimes but I still found it touching.
My verdict:
This isn’t for everyone. It’s a lighthearted feel good romcom that doesn’t take itself too seriously. So if you’re looking for something with some depth or something realistic then this isn’t the drama for you. Yes it does get deeper as it goes on with some angst and sadness. But it still has a very silly funny lighthearted feel to it. And the romance is a bit cheesy. But I still found myself enjoying it and looking forward to the next episode. If they had chosen a better cat, if the romance wasn’t quite so cheesy, and if there wasn’t a disappointing 10 year time jump, then it would have been perfect. But it’s still a cute drama worth watching.
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Mediocre storyline but great romance and comedy
If the storyline and plot were not so cliche and predictable this could have rated much higher. The romance was well done and very sweet with multiple couples. And the comedy was just perfect. But with the name “Holmes” the audience is going to expect a thrilling Sherlock Holmes style murder mystery drama that’s deep and unpredictable. Instead we get a predictable drama that reveals the bad guy right away. All of the mystery and suspense then disappears. Some of the cases they solve are interesting but not enough to save the plot. And then very cliche typical political power struggles we see in every drama nowadays were added. It’s too bad because this drama had so much potential. It’s not bad, I liked it and I’m glad I watched it. But with such great chemistry between the leads and super funny comedy, it could have been so much better if the crime solving part was done right.What really works for this drama is the lead couples chemistry. Their romance and the romance of the secondary couple are what really makes this drama worth watching. That and the comedy which is sprinkled throughout at just the right moment when there’s too much angst or sorrow. I also like that even though there are some sad or upsetting parts to the story, they never go on for too long making you feel like you’re watching a melodrama.
What really hurts this drama is that it tries to be a witty crime and mystery drama but most of the cases were predictable and too easy to solve. Then it tries to capture your interest with political intrigue and with the main leads having lost loved ones due to betrayal. But it’s hard to get invested in these plot lines because we see this same basic storyline over and over again in almost every historical dramas involving politics. Because of these things it starts to feel a little draggy towards the middle.
But if you hang in there the action picks up and it gets better towards the end. It may not be the best ever drama but it’s truly worth watching just for the cuteness of the romances and the well paced comedy.
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Light, cute, easy watch
If you’re looking for a lakorn that is different and is a little lighter and fluffier than most lakorns then this drama is for you. There are no slap kisses, no evil mother in laws, no domineering male lead, no over the top crazy drama that makes you want to throw your tv across the room, and no long term couple separations. It’s an unusual lakorn that is lighthearted and funny. That’s not to say there’s no angst, sadness, or melodrama. It’s just that the sad or dramatic parts of the drama don’t last too long and there’s lots of really good comedy interspersed throughout. So let’s talk about what I liked and didn’t like.What I liked:
The chemistry of the main leads was what made this drama work. Seeing the male lead try so hard to seduce his wife throughout a good deal of the drama was adorable (even though she’s sassy she’s shy about sex because she’s a virgin). He really nailed his pouting scenes (adorable) and his seductive scenes too. And I just want to thank the producers for all of the multiple gratuitous shirtless scenes. Those abs were a work of art (sigh). And the way he would flex his pecs and make his chest jump when she stared at it was so cute! I loved the sassiness of the female lead. She always stood up for herself and was able to kick some butt if needed. I also liked that she wasn’t some poor needy girl off the streets. She was well educated from a good family and she was confident in herself. It was easy to like her personality. And it was pleasant to watch a drama that didn’t take itself too seriously. The comedy was top notch. I liked that even though there were evil characters doing bad things most issues got resolved rather quickly. There was angst and sorrow and bad guys pulling all types of stuff but it was never drawn out for too long.
What I didn’t like:
Even though I liked the female leads character and her sassiness, she was a bit too rough. She was always hitting the male lead for one reason or another and it was a little too much (though he usually deserved it because he didn’t understand women and didn’t respect her feelings.) I also didn’t like the crazy girl that was obsessed with the male lead. Why is there always a crazy female that’s been obsessed with the male lead her whole life in every drama? And almost every time the male lead has never liked her or even given her the time of day yet she still obsesses over him. It’s so unrealistic and unoriginal. One other thing that I often complain about in romantic dramas is the kissing scenes. And yes, these kissing scenes were the typical lock your lips and stare at each other type of kisses. Not realistic at all.
Even though I loved the ending and how sweet it was, I wasn’t a fan of it turning into a musical for the last ten or so minutes. I’m sure most people loved it but it wasn’t my cup of tea. It was a little too cheesy for me.
Overall this was a very good drama. Lots of romance, great comedy, good plot, and just enough angst and drama to make it interesting without going over the top and stressing me out. It’s not perfect but it’s definitely worth watching.
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Very funny
If you’re looking for a lot of laughs with not much depth then this is for you. It’s definitely very funny and very low on angst and sadness. It’s perfect to watch after a really heavy melodrama that’s torn you up. That being said, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It wasn’t bad it just wasn’t that great either. I’ll start out with what I liked.What I liked:
The comedy was excellent. The acting was pretty good too. There wasn’t a lot of angst or sadness. I also really liked the behind the scenes clips at the end of each episode, it was a nice touch. Most of the characters were pretty lovable and there weren’t a lot of evil people doing awful things to get you all upset. The main couple are pretty cute together too. And I appreciated the character growth of the assassin and the second male lead.
What I didn’t like:
It was just a little too light and sweet. The story lacked depth and dimension. It did get a little more interesting story wise later in the drama but it was very predictable. I knew who the villain was very early on and how the final scene would play out. But what really bothered me was the romance aspect of the drama. I’m so tired of the kisses where the actors press their lips together and just stare at each other for several minutes while the camera circles around them. It’s hard to get into a romance with such fake kisses. And there’s just way too much push and pull between the main couple. But when a drama has to use the old standby cliche amnesia plot just to pull the main leads apart because they’ve exhausted all other means to keep them apart, they lose major points with me. Overall the lack of depth, the predictable storyline, and the unfulfilling romance of this drama had me taking a number of stars off. But I have to say, if you’re looking for something strictly for laughs and cuteness then this is definitely for you.
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It lived up to the hype
I swore that I would never find a psychological thriller/romance/mental health drama that could come even close to being as good as “Kill Me Heal Me” but this drama proved me wrong. I still say KMHM was a little better, but the acting in this drama really impressed me. Every single actor was did a really good job. Kim Soo Hyun really knows how to choose good dramas. He starred in “You Who Came From The Stars” that was a big hit then went into the military. As soon as he came back he chose this drama and I’m certain it will be a huge success.The storyline: The male lead is the sole caretaker for his autistic older brother that suffers from PTSD because he witnessed his mother’s murder. They move every year due to his brother’s meltdowns over his fear of the murderer finding him and killing him too. So they never really have time to make friends or date or get close to anyone. The male lead is a very kind and patient person that works at mental health hospitals. The female lead is a rude obnoxious writer that seems to have no feelings. Her father is at the hospital where the male lead works and after a series of run ins their lives become entangled.
You can tell a lot of money was invested in this. It’s definitely a big budget drama. The special effects and cinematography were top notch. The music was perfect for each scene and was quite moving.
For those looking for an action packed psychological thriller, you may be disappointed by the romance or the focus on mental health which slows things down a bit in some parts. This is a third mental health, a third murder mystery psychological thriller, and a third romantic comedy. It’s a package deal so go into it expecting all three genres to be rolled into one nice cohesive package. I personally loved how balanced it was. There was never too much of one thing, so it never got boring or predictable. You have a little murder mystery which gets you all nervous and worked up then would things would calm down with the push and pull of the romance. Then there would be the sadness from different characters lives or mental health issues and then the comedy would pop up and get you laughing. I really enjoyed the diversity of the drama.
One thing I disliked was how I felt about the female lead in the beginning. She was very selfish, arrogant, and rude. It took a good while before I liked her. But that’s how we are supposed to feel about her. Once you find out about her backstory and what she’s been through, you can sympathize with her and understand her better. And her character growth was phenomenal. In fact, every character in this drama has amazing character growth which gave it so much depth and made it more interesting.
And can I just say thank you to those in charge who decided to have real kisses in this drama and not the fake ones. It’s hard to believe in a romance with fake kisses or people that go to bed together or wake up together completely dressed like they’re about to walk out the door. Well there’s none of that here. It was very true to life which I believe enhanced the drama and made it more relatable.
Overall I loved this drama and can’t really find much to dislike about it. I wish the female lead was a little more likable, and the pace could have picked up a bit more in some areas. But no drama is perfect and those are just tiny things. Just take my advice and watch it. It’s really really good!
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A romantic supernatural thriller done right
After watching hundreds of dramas I finally went back to one of my first dramas to see if it really was as good as I remembered it. It was! It’s now 2020 and this drama from 2013 is still quite fresh and surprisingly modern. The clothes are quite nice and the cinematography is really good. I can’t believe it’s an older drama.The female lead can see ghosts which terrifies her. And the male lead is the only person who has ever been able to get rid of them for her by her just touching him. I know the storyline seems a bit unbelievable and very cliche. But the acting is extremely good. And the underlying message of accepting yourself and being the best you can be under your circumstances comes through brilliantly.
I like that the second male lead is nice and never creates trouble. And the cute clumsy second female lead isn’t too bad either. The drama is driven by the different stories involving helping various ghosts, figuring out the culprit behind the male leads childhood kidnapping, and the female lead dealing with her ability to see ghosts. There’s just a tad bit of office politics and family issues but it doesn’t take center stage. There's angst but not too much, there’s sadness but not for long, there’s several cute couples, and there’s lots of cute romantic moments.
Its not a super deep melodrama, nor is it a romcom. It’s a romance driven drama with lots of supernatural stuff, a kidnapping/murder mystery and it has lots of character growth. Overall it’s an enjoyable watch with a good romance and an interesting plot. I’d definitely recommend it.
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Great plot with a steamy romance
This is one of the rare dramas that I actually rewatched several times. And I’ve watched hundreds of dramas so that’s saying a lot for me. If you like dramas where the male chases the female first, there’s a contract marriage, there’s lots of real kisses, lots of skinship, the leads spend a lot of time together as a couple, and romance is the central focus then you’ll love this one.As for the storyline, it was pretty interesting. There are car chases, kidnappings, hidden identities, and lots of twists and turns that keep things interesting. And there are a couple of cute side couples too. The female childhood friend that was obsessed with the male lead was very annoying and cliche but at least the male lead never waivers over her or falls for her games. I was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t keep her as the main villain of the drama but switched to a much better more convincing one halfway through. It definitely made things more interesting. The second male lead is the cutest little puppy that stole my heart and almost gave me second lead syndrome. I like that they gave him a happy ending and didn’t leave him all alone and pathetic. I loved his loyalty to his best friend and their great bromance. There’s lots of character growth here too, especially for the male lead.
There aren’t too many things I didn’t like about this drama. But it did have a few cliche drama tropes like amnesia, the stereotypical obsessed female friend that won’t take no for an answer, and a wealthy CEO paired with a poor girl that’s down on her luck. But you see these things in just about all of the dramas nowadays so they really can’t be avoided. And this drama handles them very well and even puts a fresh new twist on them.
The one thing that bothers many people is that in the beginning the male lead tells a big whopper of a lie to the female lead. And he continues with that lie for quite some time until he’s found out. I’m not usually okay with that type of behavior but in this instance it’s understandable given his upbringing. His mother abandoned him and left him to deal with his overbearing, cold, domineering father when he was only 8. And that man made sure that work was the central focus of his life. So when the main leads meet he has no life outside of his work (as a CEO) because of how he was raised. No hobbies, no social life, no friends, nothing. All he knows is work which usually entails hostile takeovers, buyouts, acquisitions etc. He treats his personal life just like work because that’s all he knows. So it made sense that his character would approach his love life in a cold calculating manner just like a businessman would. Seeing his character grow and change was a joy to watch.
Overall this drama is a romantic comedy with a little melodrama and angst thrown in on the side. But the angst and sad parts aren’t drawn out for too long. I like that things get resolved fairly quickly. It’s mostly just a really steamy, sweet, cute drama that focuses heavily on romance. So if you like really deep, heavy, sad, or tragic dramas this will not be the drama for you. But if you like really romantic dramas that are funny and cute with a pretty good plot then you will love this drama. As for me I would highly recommend it.
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Get ready to feel warm and fuzzy with this one!
Just a little FYI: This dramas description is incorrect. When it says “it’s her turn to be smitten at first sight” upon seeing the male lead in college, that’s not true. Both leads were “smitten” with each other since they first met in high school. They just never confessed because of some misunderstandings.It starts out pretty funny and cute. Since both main leads have never been in a relationship or confessed to anyone, they are very awkward around each other. Their fumbling bumbling attempts to get close to each other are both comical and endearing. But this drama is about much more than a college romance. It delves into some much deeper subjects.
The male lead is as loyal as they come. He never waivers in his convictions in regards to the girl he likes or his goals in life. I like that even though he’s very smart, handsome and popular, he’s not full of himself. In fact, he comes across as being a little innocent and unsure of himself. And the way he always had the female leads back and never doubted her even when some of her close friends did was so touching.
The female lead is optimistic, courageous, and very protective of those who are weak. Being an athlete she’s stronger than most and she uses her strength and courage to shield her friends from bullies. She becomes known as the “boss” by many friends who admire these endearing qualities. These admirable traits also draws a lot of people to her, including the two most popular best looking guys in her college.
Unfortunately, this makes a lot of girls very jealous so the female lead becomes the target of a different kind of bullying she’s not used to. The bullying isn’t physical but emotional. I liked how they portrayed and handled the subject of bullying. It isn’t just about beating up someone for their lunch money. Bullying can come in many forms like making up really awful rumors about someone or making fun of someone’s appearance or their preferences in life. Bullying can make a person so miserable that they want to give up on life. After a lot of suffering the female lead finally stands up to the bullies and gives an outstanding speech that touched my heart. And the way her friends had her back was so sweet.
This drama also explores the topic of which path to take in life and what happens when the path you’ve always known you’d follow suddenly disappears. I like the female leads thoughts on the matter. She said she occasionally thinks about that original path she was going to take and what scenery she might have missed, but those things are no longer important. That’s because love and dreams will always point you towards the correct path.
There’s not much I didn’t like about this drama. But if I were to complain it would be about the editing. For example, episode 12 ends with the group of friends standing in the street staring up at a meteor shower while on a trip to the beach. The next episode starts abruptly with the main leads on the rooftop of the school looking anxious. Then it does a flashback to a week earlier (also at the school). There’s no conclusion as to how the beach trip ended. I felt lost and confused. I even went back to see if I accidentally skipped an episode. Then it happens again in episode 18. That episode ends with the main leads talking to each other at the bus stop. So when episode 19 starts with the male lead blow drying the female leads hair at his apartment and her acting like she had no choice but to stay at his place (he sleeps on the couch of course) I’m confused again. Did I miss something? What lead to this happening? But no reason is given as to why her hair was wet (a shower maybe?) or why she was suddenly back at his house. Again I checked to make sure I hadn’t accidentally missed an episode. The choppy editing wasn’t bad and didn’t detract from the drama. It was just a little disconcerting.
Despite these flaws it was a great drama. This is a touching coming of age romcom that explores some deeper subjects yet still manages to remain light, refreshing and sweet. There are misunderstandings and some angst but nothing is taken too far and things are resolved fairly quickly. And the romance is full of chemistry. There’s lots of kisses, cuddles, tons of flirting, and skinship, especially in the last few episodes. For those who like the lighter sweeter dramas full of romance with lots of character growth, this ones for you.
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Cute sci-fi romcom geared towards youths
I love sci-fi’s and romcoms so the synopsis of this drama really appealed to me. It’s a cute light feel good drama aimed towards a younger audience. I think if I were younger I would have liked it better. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. But the characters were so innocent and naive that they reminded me of high school students in the way they interacted with one another.I both loved and disliked the storyline. I loved its depth and twists and turns. Nothing pleases me more than a drama that’s unique and unpredictable. But I disliked how far fetched the stories premise was. We are expected to believe that you can just put in some contact lenses and suddenly see and interact with a handsome man wherever you go during the day. No one else can see him but you. And he’s the perfect boyfriend to hang out with. There’s also AI robots and people trapped in a virtual world. So if you can turn off your brain and not overthink things you’ll love it. But if you’re a thinker like me it may bother you.
The romance was very light and innocent in keeping with characters that have never been socialized with the outside world. There are numerous kisses but a good deal of them are kisses on the cheek. There’s not any skinship beyond handholding or hugs. So the romance was very light sweet and fluffy. It felt like the romance was a side dish but definitely not the main course. The drama is more focused on the lives of the four young men being held captive and their fight for freedom.
What really stood out in this drama was the acting. The whole cast did a great job. I loved every character and was invested in each of their stories. I also loved how much character growth there was too.
If you’re looking for a really touching romantic drama with lots of skinship then look elsewhere. If you don’t mind a romcom that has a lighter romance as long as the story has depth and is interesting then you might like this drama as long as you don’t expect it to be very believable. I’m torn on this drama. There’s a lot I liked like the acting, the characters, and the interesting twists and turns the story took. But I was disappointed in how very unrealistic the storyline was and the lack of chemistry and skinship in the romance. And since these four men being held captive hadn’t ever been outside of their home, they were very immature, naive, and innocent. So their interactions came across a a bit juvenile. I felt like I was watching a high school romcom with a touch of sci-fi. Im glad I watched it. It was cute and a fun way to pass time. But I wouldn’t watch it again.
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