dramallamareviews

Revenge + Love Done Right

He is a wealthy tycoon.
She is a naive painter.
They appear fine, but they both carry deep wounds inflicted by family.

When she’s sent back in time after a tragic accident, will them teaming up help her exact her revenge? By helping her, will he find relief from his burdens as well?

So revenge dramas aren’t usually my genre but this was so good! I absolutely loved it & highly recommend it. The plot & pacing kept me engaged the whole time.

The Leads chemistry is chemistrying from the first moment she approaches him for help. Watching their story unfold & their bond deepen is so satisfying. And their love blooming made me smile so much!

The ML is a whole green forest. His every action is for the FL’s good. He’s always there to support, encourage, & protect her. He’s the swoon worthy lead us watchers adore. His love is so pure & the ways it helps heal her is perfect.

The FL’s growth is beautiful. Her transformation from timid & naive to bold & confident is girl-crush worthy. Her learning to trust the ML & falling in love with him is such a delight.

Seeing the villains, who are truly wretched, get what they deserve is such a sweet victory. It’s the perfect ending that this beautiful couple deserves after all they endured to get there.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.6 💋
- Together : ep.7 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Romance + Politics

This drama is a good look at the struggles an average person would face upon entering the world of politics. And how important it would be to have one person who’s always on your side who you can fully trust & depend on. Thankfully, our FL has that person, our ML.

They start off as enemies due to all the civil complaints she constantly files, which causes him to work overtime. But then she enters “into the ring” & their interactions increase causing their feelings to begin to change. Once she realizes he was her childhood best friend, she sets out to remove any distance between them. He’s drawn in by her honesty & obvious distaste for injustice. Their past as childhood besties laid the foundation for their adult relationship to flourish & bloom.

I really liked how mature & stable their love was. At no point was it threatened - nobody trying to break them up, no hidden secrets causing fractures in trust, etc. They were simply two adults in love, living their daily life. With lots of smooches & affection [like real life couples do!]

The political aspect did get a bit tedious for me towards towards the end. (That may be caused by cultural differences so don’t let me saying that stop you from watching!) However, I enjoyed how it all got wrapped up. And without giving any spoilers, I LOVED how they handled the ML & his father’s relationship in the end. So satisfying!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.10 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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I may be in the minority, but I really like this!

An unruly teenage girl meets a compassionate teacher who inspires her to change the path she’s on.

A jealous classmate acts out, causing a ripple effect of destruction. {side note: I’d never seen this actress in the sorta villainess role before, but she totally nailed it. I usually love her characters but she successfully made me dislike her character here (and then later liking.)Which just proves her talent and duality as an actress 👏🏻.}
So the Leads’ innocent friendship is painted to be something wrong and dirty. The FL is facing jail time. The ML leaves his teaching position. Outside forces cause havoc, the FL loses a dear family member, and the two wind up walking different paths.

They’re reunited by chance 13 years later. He’s returned to his post at the hospital and she’s become a street-savvy neurosurgeon in his department. Will they be able to put the past behind them and face the future together?

I love this drama. It’s by far one of my favorites in the medical genre. The storyline and pacing are done really well. The characters all make you feel all the feels - their anger and heartache, their jealousy and desperation; their happiness and friendship, their caring and strength.

And the Leads. Oh, the Leads. 🫠🫠 They have really good chemistry. I love their interactions, the big moments and the small, seemingly-inconsequential ones. They’ve never forgotten one another, never moved on from how they feel towards each other. And now that the ML has the FL back in front of him, he refuses to ever let her go again. His pursuit and wooing of her is so sweet. I love how he adjusts to her pacing and listens to her needs. She, in turn, slowly thaws under his attention, once again letting him (and only ever him!) close to her heart. Total swoon!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.7 💋
- Together : ep.8 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 🫶🏻

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Poignant & Inspiring

Okay, this is another short review simply because I don’t want to give many spoilers! This is a must watch drama, imho, and I think you should see it for the first time without any preconceived notions or expectations. I could gush about the characters and my favorite scenes and the storyline, etc. But I think it’s best to push play with your brain as a blank slate and just let this precious drama write itself for you… {now, if after watching it you want to come back and chat with me about it, feel free ‘cause I’m always ready for some drama-talk! 😉}

This is such a poignant story that shows that the ways we treat people impacts and affects their lives. Through many ups and downs, the main trio form beautiful bonds of friendship with one another. They begin to look past their misjudgments and labels of each other and learn to truly see the person beneath the masks worn for the world. They come to fully trust and depend on one another, which is just so beautiful to witness. Seeing their struggles and triumphs is inspiring, the way they refuse to stay down when life throws its punches but rather get back up every time. This one made me cry at their pain and smile at their happiness.

Interwoven throughout is the sweet love story of the Leads, which is something I encourage you not to miss. Watch this. I don’t know how you’d regret doing so!

“You’re already perfect. You’re the only one who doesn’t know that.”

“When you have a nightmare, all you have to do is wake up. It’s not real. And I’m right here next to you.”

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.7 💋
- Together : ep.6 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 🫶🏻

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Enjoyed More than Expected!

An arrogant ace lawyer suffering from a centuries-old curse + a lonely low-ranking civil servant who comes into possession of the cure he needs. Can they work together well enough to break the curse?

I held off on watching this because of the OW drama with the ML’s g/f (who is hecka annoying, delulu, & toxic), but now I’m kicking myself for not watching it sooner because holy wowza - the Leads totes make all the drama worth it! 😍

Some of the tropes between them:
- professional lives (he’s a top dog while she’s bottom of the totem pole)
- incompatible “social status” (he’s from a prominent & rich family while she’s orphaned & poor)
- opposite personalities (he’s apathetic; she’s friendly)
- He’s dating her HS bully (who lied so he treats FL coldly for it)
- She’s crushing on SML (who rejects her then pursues her)
Throw in a curse they’re not sure they believe in, past lives neither remembers, workplace shenanigans, + a psychotic k!ller & they’ve got a LOT to deal with. 😱

The Leads have amazing chemistry & I loved their chaotic journey! The ML is hilarious with his love-spell actions, he made me laugh so much. The FL is precious with her attempts to make friends & just do her job well, despite all the opposition. And them together? Woo buddy - the heat! 🔥🫠

Every longing glance. Every brush of their hands. Every “accidental” touch. Every hug. And every.single.kiss! The Leads sucked me in with every scene & I adore them for it. 🫶🏻

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.7💋
- Together : ep.11 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: ep.13 (sorta) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.14 ❤️‍🩹

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Cute & Cheesy, but Still Sweet

The FL has a secret - if she kisses a man, she’ll turn into a dog! To break the curse she’ll have to share another kiss with him while she’s in canine form. Things get messy when a drunken mistake has her kissing her coworker who seems to dislike her instead of her crush.

But this ML also has a secret - due to a traumatic incident, he’s deathly afraid of dogs. So not only does she need to win him over, she also has to help him overcome his fear or she’ll be stuck as a dog forever!

This is a fun & easy watch. The past life snippets add some angst until it’s all revealed, then there’s tension over whether the Leads can save both her family & their love. It adds some drama to a humorous & sweet love story.

The Leads are adorable together. He liked her at first sight which is such a sweet scene when it’s shown. And while her feelings don’t come until later, they’re no less genuine than his. I loved seeing their friendship develop & their bond deepen. His obvious affection for her makes me swoon. His care for & protection of her, even when he learns her secret, is perfection. He’s such a green flag! 💚

Their chemistry is aces. I absolutely loved watching the curse get broken. And all the many kisses that came after…🔥🫠 They’re total couple goals with the way they choose each other, appreciate one another, & each cherish their love. 🫶🏻

The secondary characters brought a lot of heart & humor to the scenes as well. Big fan of the ML’s nephew - his bond with Leads is so cute. 🙃

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8 💋
- Together : ep.8 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.11 (memory erased) 💔
- BackTogether : ep.13 ❤️‍🩹

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Sweet yet Angsty

When a pharmacist & single father has a chance meeting with a librarian, they start seeing love & relationships in a brand new light.

Thoughts I had while watching this:
- Clingy, obsessive exes are incredibly annoying. Trying to control/sabotage someone isn’t love, it’s just stupid pride.
- Yes, we should be grateful to our parents for raising us, but that doesn’t mean we owe them our lives. They’re our parents, not our masters.
- Single parents are no less deserving of happiness & love than anyone else. Their children aren’t a “flaw”, nor are the parents “damaged goods”.
- Yes, break ups can be unilateral decisions. It doesn’t matter if the other person wants it or not, justified reasoning or not.
- Love is worth fighting for. It’s worth taking the risk. Not the fake stuff so often portrayed, but real, true, abiding love <— that love is worth it all.

This drama had sweet moments, painful moments, frustrating moments, & victorious moments. Some characters needed punches to the face, while others deserved all the hugs. 💗

Look up the lyrics for the OST - they really fit the drama —> “We Could Still be Happy” by Rachael Yamagata <— loved this song!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.9💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Didn’t Love, Didn’t Hate

A centuries old Gumiho & an urban myth tv show producer. He’s policing unruly supernatural beings while looking for the reincarnation of his first love. She’s searching for the truth of her parents’ disappearance years ago & suspects he might be connected to the mystery. As their lives collide & truths are slowly revealed, will they finally get their HEA?

I watched this years ago & wasn’t really a fan due to the ending of one of the main characters (which I won’t spoil here, iykyk!), but I gave it another watch recently & while I still dislike that part, I enjoyed the show overall the second time through.

It’s a well done story with good pacing + a cast who plays their roles well. The complicated bromance draws you in & the star crossed lovers aspect holds you. The mysteries, both past & present, keep you guessing a bit & add some angst/tension.

And the Leads. Ooh. The Leads have very good chemistry, yummm… 🔥🫠 I enjoyed their transition from suspicious “enemies”, to cautious partners, to tentative friends, to BOOM - “I’d let the world burn for you” lovers. 🫶🏻 I’m glad that, once the mystery of the past was unraveled & both Leads were aware of their history, that any drama between them was done. They were 100% solid & devoted to one another, despite the obstacles between them. They had some big stuff to overcome, but they never hesitated or faltered in their choice to be together.

So while it’s not my favorite drama, it’s still a very good drama that’s worth watching.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.4(past),5(present) 💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💖

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Slow Means Slooooooooow

A bookshop owner reunites with his former classmate (& crush) when she returns to their hometown after growing tired of the city & numb in her career as a cellist. Will his calm personality help soothe her past hurts or will she refuse to allow her heart to heal?

Okay, look - I wanted to like this so bad! I love the lead actors & I truly enjoy so many of the supporting cast as well. They’re all extremely talented individuals who deserve applause for their hard work. My rating of this drama isn’t at all meant as a bash against any of them! I simply could not get into the story.

I think it all just moved too slow for me. I’m not opposed to a slow burn romance, so that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the way the whole plot unraveled, their walking that was more meandering, & how even the way they spoke felt more drawn out than usual. And I know it was all intentional, the story unfolded this was at this specific pace for a reason. But I kept getting confused because of the timeline jumps - like we’d be in the “present” one moment, but then seeing a scene from earlier in the day that lead to that “present” moment. It was all just very jumbled to me so that lessened my ability to enjoy it too. And I take responsibility for that because I’m sure the problem lies with me, not the drama, haha.

So though it took me a really long time to finish it because I just couldn’t connect with any of it, I don’t want to discourage you from giving it a shot because it could be one of your new favs! Like I said, the cast are all talented & I think they did their roles justice in this drama as well. And the Leads have really good chemistry. Again, I’m sure the problem is with me, so don’t skip this drama just because I couldn’t get into it! 🤪 Not every drama is for each of us. Some are a hit & others are a miss. That’s why I’ll forever be grateful to all the writers, directors, actors, & everyone else who works so hard to continue making new dramas for us fans to devour & enjoy!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8 💋
- Together : ep.9 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.15 💔
- BackTogether : ep.16 ❤️‍🩹

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A Fateful Encounter

Brought together by fate, a woman who seemingly has everything & a younger man who seems to have nothing decide to give up an ordinary life to be together. Will the world allow their love to blossom?

The Leads have a chance encounter while in Cuba (such a meet-cute!) They share a magical time together, where moments become memories neither will ever forget. He’s immediately smitten & wants more time with her, but real life calls them both back home. Unbeknownst to either of them, their lives are about to collide once again in Korea when the ML gets hired on in a company under the FL’s leadership.

Honestly, there’s a lot of potential for drama-trauma in this show. There are so.many.people who believe their opinions should dictate how the Leads live their lives, constantly trying to manipulate & control the main protagonists. And OhEmGee, such toxic mother’s (except the ML’s)!! 😡 I legit wanted to scream at them. They made me so irritated that I actually started skimming through their scenes just to preserve my sanity….

But oh, the Leads…🫠 Their interactions are so precious & wholesome that they made up for all the icky stuff surrounding them (& Manager Nam - loved him!)

The ML is so pure & devoted in his total adoration & pursuit of the FL. Their age difference concerns her, as well as her status as a divorcee - she fights their connection due to feeling unworthy of him. But he steadily & sweetly breaks through all her barriers & shows her a love that heals & soothes. And she in turn protects & encourages him at every turn. Their romance is so beautiful & their chemistry can melt your screen! 🔥

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8💋
- Together : ep.6 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.15 💔
- BackTogether : ep.16 ❤️‍🩹

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“I Create Opportunities Even in Hellish Situations”

A struggling student is determined to improve his grades despite his track record & inability to successfully study. To overcome this “flaw”, he forms a study group at his new school. But the school hierarchy isn’t okay with this new change, so the ML finds himself constantly having to defend & protect his new friends from the countless bullies. Thankfully, what he lacks in an ability to study he makes up for with his dynamite fighting skills. Look out, suckas, there’s a new her in class!

This is a really well-made drama. From the story, to the special effects, to the cast - it was all very well done. The pacing is good as it’s constantly moving the plot forward without much time to “slack”. Only having 10 episodes keeps it from dragging in the middle or relying on lots of filler scenes. Something’s always happening or about to happen so it keeps the viewers’ focus. And the fight scenes are just… whoa. I won’t even attempt to do them justice with my messy review, you just need to witness the awesomeness of the scenes for yourself.

Be warned this is bloody & gory. They don’t pull their punches (pun intended 😉). This drama is filled with fight scene after incredible fight scene. It’s dark & disturbing because it’s realistic in the horrors of HS (though I sincerely hope no HS is as bad as this fictional one!) It delves into the horrific world of bullying & how much damage it can cause. It tells the heartbreaking stories of so many youth who don’t necessarily want to be bad, they’re simply trying to survive & made the wrong choices. I loved seeing so many of the bully figures redeem themselves in the end - proving that sometimes people just need a chance to change & someone to show them the way while believing in them to succeed (like the ML & the wonderful teacher do here).

Alongside the gritty, though, is the geeky & cheesy to shed some light & bring some balance. It’s heartwarming & freakin’ hilarious because the ML is so totally clueless about everything that you can’t help but adore him. Kudos to Hwang Min Hyun for bringing this role to life so spectacularly! And, honestly, a round of applause for the rest of the cast too because they all did phenomenal in their respective roles. Villains, heroes, & grey characters alike! 👏🏻

The study group’s motto (taken from the ML) is:
“I create opportunities even in hellish situations”

They live up to this standard. Their perseverance & determination in the face of such huge adversity is admirable. The teamwork & bonds of friendship that develop are a joy to behold, not just between the initial five, but those outside the study group as well. The teacher is included in this, too, as she fights to protect her students & seek justice for her late mentor. {And can I just say that the scenes of the students protecting her are freakin’ awesome?!}

All it takes is one single person to make a change. One small spark to start a flame. One small ripple to create a wave.

Evil can’t be left to rule the masses - these students are brave enough to stand in its way. And I heard there’s a confirmed 2nd season so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them next….

*****As a complete side note: this cast is overflowing with gorgeousness so if the spectacular fight scenes & wonderful storyline don’t do it for you, then the amazing eye candy will 🫠*****

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Sort of “Meh” for Me

When an online novelist makes a wish in a Fairy pool for “an unforgettable love” she’s shocked when her story’s villain appears! Despite her attempts to avoid him, he easily finds her & threatens her into taking care of him. But unfortunately for him, her wish came with a special bonus - anytime she needs help, he’s teleported to her side to protect her. Which gives us both humorous & heartwarming scenes…

I was super excited for this drama when it aired, but I’m sorry to say it didn’t meet my expectations (don’t hate me!) I don’t want my dislikes to at all dissuade others from watching it, though, so I’ll keep this extremely brief. Plus, I never want to bash or downplay the hard work & efforts of everyone involved in the drama making process (cast, directors, writers, set designers, hair & costume, producers, etc.) Just because I didn’t particularly enjoy it does NOT mean it’s a bad drama. It simply means it’s not the drama for me. But all the glowing reviews prove that others have a far different opinion than mine, which is perfectly alright. We’re all allowed to enjoy (or not enjoy as the case may be) whichever dramas we want.

Honestly, the premise of the story was good & the cast all did their characters justice. I think my problem may have been that I’d just fallen in love with the ML’s character from another one of his dramas, “Our Secret”, which is such a beautiful coming-of-age story. He gave that character such life & had fantastic chemistry with his FL co-star that it’s still one of my favorite high school age cdramas (you can check out my review of it if you’d like!) And I just didn’t feel that same kind of chemistry or connection between the Leads of this drama. BUT I know tonnnnnnns of other drama fans disagree & think this duo did awesome together so you’ll have to decide for yourself. 😉

This definitely has its funny moments. And it’s sweet moments. It also has some sad & heartbreaking moments. Which all leads to a beautiful & satisfying happy ending for the Leads - one they very much deserve.

So again - don’t let my low rating stop you from watching it because Mr. Bad could end up being one of your go-to favorites!

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Not For Me…

I hate to say it but this drama goes in the dislike pile for me. I wanted to like it so bad & I really tried, but I just could not get into it. BUT I do not at all want to dissuade you from watching it because you may absolutely love it like many other viewers do. I’ve read other reviews of those who share how great they think it is. My review is simply my opinion - you’re free to watch it & form an opinion of your own! 😉

For me, if I don’t find at least something about one or both of the Leads to be attractive then the drama’s gonna be a flop for me. (*And I’m not talking about just physical appearance because this cast is full of beautiful people!*) Sadly, that was the case with this show. I found both Leads to be rather immature/childish, more so the FL in this case.

The FL is kinda supposed to be this like… crusader against injustices against women, using her fists of fury on the icky men of the world. She’s a lawyer though so shouldn’t she know the law regarding physical violence? I think this was supposed to be a more feminist rom-com, but it missed the mark at times. Like how, in the big upheaval & drama, things got “smoothed out” when a man defended her against the bullying/attacks. Sweet gesture? Of course! But it kinda ruins the whole feminist thing by having a man save the day… right? And she didn’t really show much character growth in learning her lesson after all the times her fists got her in trouble. Use your words - that’s what lawyers do! So she kinda seemed like a split personality at times or something. Because surely someone who went to law school & passed the exams & is now an active lawyer actually KNOWS the law…right??

To me, her dating attitude/motto seems to be along the lines of, “they do it (cheating, lying, betraying, etc.), so I’ll do it to them first.” She comes onto the scene while having a one-night stand & cheating on her ex. Um… so NOT attractive to me, I don’t care if it’s a form of revenge or not. Just dump the loser & move on, don’t jeopardize your health or mental well-being!! Nobody is worth that kind of reaction. The next unattractive thing she does, imho, is when she sets out to destroy the ML after she witnesses him with a young female & completely misjudges the situation. And yet, I’m supposed to believe after seeing all these ridiculous choices & snap-judgements of hers that she’s a super smart, competent lawyer?! Hard pass ‘cause that didn’t jive for me at all. So she made a horrible first impression on me that she was never truly able to redeem herself from in my eyes.

I didn’t really dislike the ML, but I didn’t really care for him either. I found him more likable than the FL, but nothing about him really grabbed me, ya know? He has quirks from past trauma that cause people to misunderstand him which brings some humor to the scenes. And he’s all Mr. Cool & Popular superstar, so watching him get humbled & experience some character growth was mildly entertaining. He also has a really funny bromance with his bestie - they had more chemistry for me than the Leads, haha.

It wasn’t all horrible. The Leads did share some really cute & sweet moments. And they had some pretty decent chemistry. There’s also some really humorous moments. These things just weren’t quite enough to make up for the things I disliked, though.

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions I’ve shared are based solely on the show’s characters NOT the actors themselves. My comments are not meant to bash any of the hard work of anyone involved in creating the show. I respect, admire, & applaud the various talents of all who helped bring this story to life - the cast, writers, stylists, directors, producers, translators, etc.!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.5💋
- Together : ep.8👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : ep.10💔
- BackTogether : ep.10❤️‍🩹

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Warm, Fluffy, Sweet, & Funny

When a drunken mishap causes a scandal between two university students, will their scheme to save their reputations succeed or will it just cause more misunderstandings?

The ML is considered a genius student both academically & athletically (this actor as a swimmer is f-i-n-e, fine!). He’s the guy all the girls want, but he’s not interested in dating. Girls aren’t even on his radar - he’s too focused on achieving his goals to waste time on such trivial things. He comes across as distant & emotionally closed off, as geniuses often do. Of course, he’s actually a very kind & caring person, which is slowly proven as the show plays on.

The FL is a bright & bubbly girl who can be a bit timid at times. She’s working towards a medical degree while also chasing another dream - the dream of finally being a CC with her childhood bestie. Believing he feels the same, she’s shocked & heartbroken when it’s not her he wants to date, but rather her other best friend - the third member of their high school trio. Feeling betrayed by their relationship, she gets drunk to dull the pain, which ends in the aforementioned scandal with the ML.

The duo decides to fake date (a trope I admittedly love!) in hopes of stopping all the gossip that’s flying around campus about them. As they try to convince their classmates that their feelings are real, these opposites discover that they may not dislike each other quite as much as they first assumed. In fact, the more time they spend “dating”, the deeper their mutual feelings of affection grow. Can they clear up the misunderstandings between them, eliminate the annoying love rivals, & finally confess their feelings, turning their fake relationship into a real one? It’s drama land so of course the answer is yes!

I found myself both amused & frustrated while watching their story unfold. I laughed at several scenes due to their silly antics but I also wanted to smack them both at times for not just being honest with one another when the opportunity arose. I don’t like when people make love so complicated - I just want them to confess & be together for the majority of the show {{a GREAT example of this is the couple from “Love Me, Love My Voice”. I absolutely adore that duo & their immediate connection & confessions. PSA, Writers - more please!!!}}.

Overall, I did enjoy this drama. I admit, though, that I skipped a few scenes due to the cringey cheesiness. I get serious second hand embarrassment that I can’t stand to watch scenes where the characters are making absolute fools of themselves. 😜

The Leads are super cute together & their journey from enemies, to frenemies, to friends, to lovers is a sweet story to witness. They have a great bond of a beautiful love that doesn’t bend or break. They bravely face all the obstacles together (long-distance & extended separation), growing as individuals & as a couple. They have a very healthy relationship full of mutual encouragement, support, & trust. They’re both 100% devoted & loyal to the other.

And they have great chemistry, too, which ALWAYS raises my enjoyment of a show. They’re openly affectionate & flirtatious, with lots of safe skinship & yummy kiss scenes. 🫠

For me, there’s nothing really noteworthy about the secondary characters. Which is no shade or reflection on the cast! They each played their role well, I simply wasn’t invested in them like I was the Leads (which is usually the case for me so it didn’t affect my rating.)

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.19 💋
- Together : ep.18 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 💍

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Beautiful Found Family

Let me start by saying I love both the original Chinese story (Go Ahead) & the Korean adaptation. Both casts did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. Each version has strong points & flaws. Some people struggled with just how much the two dramas are alike, but that wasn’t an issue for me. They’re the same story so I was expecting that, it didn’t bother me at all. If you think it’d be a problem for you, this is my advice - don’t watch them back to back. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The story is both heartbreaking & heartwarming at the same time. It shows how deeply members of your family can hurt you, but also how family can be the ones to heal you. It also beautifully portrays that some families are connected by blood, while others are made by choice. At the heart of the story we have our beloved sibling trio: the two boys who’ve been abandoned by their mothers & the girl being raised by her widowed father.

One boy is goofy, athletic, & out-going. He hides the pain from his mother’s abandonment with a smile. He’s constantly reminded by outsiders that he’d better behave ‘cause the father could get rid of him at any time (whyyy do people say such cruel things?!) His aunt keeps track of what they “owe” the girl’s father for raising him & promises the boy will pay him back when he’s grown (something the father neither expects nor wants). This all makes a deep impression on the SML’s psyche, affecting his life choices as an adult. The betrayal of his mother & being the only non-bio child of the trio causes him to doubt that he’s equal to the other two in the father’s hearts.

The other boy (my bias in both versions!) is more mature, studious, & a loner. His younger sister died when he was a little kid which resulted in the fracturing of his mother’s mental state. She blames him for the tragedy since he was the only one home at the time of the accident (um, hello, lady - where the heck were you?!?) She files for divorce & abandons him to his father (who never blamed him, fyi). This all causes the ML to draw into himself. He slowly bonds with his “siblings”, but he keeps a wall between him & everyone else. He hides how much he’s still affected by his mother’s cruelty. He works hard to achieve his goals while trying to keep the other two in line (which is quite the task!)

The little girl is sassy & adorable. It’s always been just her & her dad until the arrival of the two boys. One she is not at all impressed with while the other she instantly claims. Eventually she accepts the SML & finally wins over the ML so she feels her world is complete. She grows up sheltered & adored. She’s optimistic with a bubbly personality which helps soothe her brothers’ wounds. She adores them both but their popularity is a thorn in her side. Her attempts to make their admirers leave her alone provide us with some of the best scenes! She’s confident that she’ll always have these two by her side.

Which means the writers inevitably split them up…

The SML’s biological father appears to claim him & take him abroad. The ML’s toxic mother returns with her young daughter, expecting him to leave with them. The trio’s lives are thrown into chaos. The fathers try to guide the boys the best they can even while their own hearts hurt. The FL is desperate for them to stay with her. And despite their desire to remain by her side, the boys are forced to go with those who came & destroyed their peaceful lives. Cue the tears as our beloved trio is ripped apart…

10yrs passes quickly for the viewers & the three once again fill our screen together. Their reunion isn’t happy,though, as the FL treats them coldly for staying away so long. But her love for them doesn’t allow her to stay distant for long. The strength of their bond is proven as they quickly fall back into their friendship & sibling camaraderie. The trio is as they always were, best friends & beloved siblings. But the ML isn’t content for things stay this way & now we gotta cue all the happy girl squeals ‘cause OhEmGee - the chemistry!!! 🔥🫠

Look, I love the alpha male/CEO trope as much as the next girl, but there’s just something about watching a stoic & quiet guy like this one be utterly focused on his female that really gets to me. I love when there’s that connection between the Leads that could never be replicated with someone else - it has to be her for him & vice versa. And not in a toxically possessive/controlling style, but rather because they understand each other in a way that no one else ever could, deepening their bond to unmatchable depths. They need one another just as much as they want each other, if that makes sense? The way this plays out in this drama is like catnip to me!

IMHO, the ML slayed in this role. His facial expressions, gaze, & pitch of his voice - it all worked perfectly to bring life to this precious character. (The fact that the actor is gorgeous doesn’t hurt!) He’s my favorite of the three (though I love the others too!) because he’s so soothing & pleasant to watch. I love the life & color the others bring to the screen, but it’s the ML’s steadiness & calm demeanor that most attracts me.

I adore the way he eases the FL into a different dynamic between them. He’s so careful with her, knowing she’ll need time to adjust going from a sibling type relationship to lovers. And there’s nothing creepy about them developing feelings for one another so I won’t focus on that because it’s a total non-issue. This duo is absolute perfection from their first interaction as kids. I’m not really sure who falls for the other first since they’ve always been special to one another. It’s simply that the ML becomes aware of his feelings first while the FL is too naive to realize what she feels for this boy she grew up with.

Their interactions are so precious. I love all the scenes we get with them being a couple & the way their lifelong bond shines through. Their protection & genuine care of one another is so sweet. How they both handle the initial shock & opposition from their family is admirable. And when the FL defends & claims the ML in front of his mother at the hospital - that scene is perfection & you can see the adoration in their eyes. Absolutely beautiful! 💜

I like the way the shift in their relationship ultimately settles into place with the SML, too. So good! It allows a more mature side to be seen in him. Speaking of which, the scene where he confronts the ML over the sleeping pills is so emotionally impactful. Such depth of emotions in that scene!! The actors deserve recognition for their portrayal of these characters! 🩵

Since I’m talking about the SML, I must also mention the adorable SFL. He’s completely clueless that she’s always had a crush on him, not the ML, which leads to some comedic moments throughout the show. But when she accidentally blurts out her confession he’s forced to face her feelings for him, but also his feelings for her. When he realizes he likes her too & claims her after the basketball game? Swoon! They’re so cute together!! This is one thing I love more in this version - he gets a love of his own instead of thinking he likes the FL. And the SFL doesn’t spend any time crushing on the ML (meaning no fight over him with the FL, yay!)

Another thing I like better in this story is the ML’s little sister. In the CDrama she’s a total brat. She does grow & mature but the majority of the time she’s unlikable. But in the KDrama she’s sweet from the start. This was a refreshing change from the original.

One of the best things that remains true in both versions is the pure awesomeness of the father duo. They’re such a non-gay married couple, haha!! They’re total opposites who’ve formed a bond while raising their kids together. Their friendship is precious & the love they share for all three kids is fierce. They don’t treat their biological child any differently than the others - to them, all three are their kids & that’s that. All the hearts, thumbs-up, & kudos for these two. They’re a beloved father pair in the drama world for a reason!

So despite some flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed this drama & highly recommend it if you want to experience the beauty of a family who genuinely loves one another through all the good & bad times of life. 💖

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.11 💋
- Together : ep.12 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 🫶🏻

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