Did I expect more from this plot? Yes. Was it necessary to have an embezzelment scheme in the story? I don't think so. Why did the story spend so much time on the whining and pouting of the ex-boyfriend? He's allowed to return and cause problems but, the writers were bending over backwards to spotlight him. He's not that important.
Why was every pair of glasses hideous?
Why did the director not use the comedic talents of Woo Sik and So Min? Both actors are gifted in physical comedy. But someone was reigning them in. Masquarading as a married couple screams physical hi-jinks and slapstick. I don't think we were given as much as we could have been.
And their love was adorable. That's not exactly a compliment. If they were hoping to be the next legendary, hot couple... I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Don't get me wrong! I prefer PG-13 love over R-rated. But their love was all hugs and head-pats. If I'm to believe this is a tense 'will-they-won't-they,' do something that appears risky.
I didn't hate the show. But I felt that some episodes were a waste of time. I finished them and thought, "Did anything necessary occur in this episode?" If an audience ever thinks that, its a sign that the project did not reach its full potential.
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Spoilers in 7th & 9th *paragraph
I don't understand why this show is praised so much.I recently read 2 articles that promote 2016 as the best year for KDramas; this show is usually in the Top 2. It is often credited for helping start Hallyu streaming influence. This show was expected to impress since all of the internet glows at the mention of the title. So I have to ask, "who is threatening you and forcing you to praise it? Blink twice if you're in danger."
Acting and story are the main culprits for this trash heap going up in flames.
The acting was flat. I can't name one actress who gave a worthwhile performance. A few of the boys had impressionable moments... just a few. It was as if they plucked this cast from the waiting line at a soap opera audition and said, "while you're waiting...?" The acting felt so performative; they never acted past the camera, to the fictional world, but right at the camera. Chemistry was nonexistant in both lead couples (and you don't have to tell me about the Song couple, I know). Chemistry among the 2 teams (medical and military) was lacking. The doctors, while at the UN medical camp, never gave me anything to root for. Why did I feel I'd rather see a poverty stricken village doctor then the likes of this foreign medical team.
Quick sidenote: costumes. Whose idea was it to have our female lead where only skirts and blouses while on a volunteer medical mission trip? Everyday, she was dressed ready for a picnic, not treating Asia and its ailments. She wore a skirt and heals to a disaster site. Just dwell on that for a second.
Back to cast. If you're a fan of seeing a favorite KPop star try their hand at acting, don't watch this. I don't listen to much KPop but I will avoid Shinee as much as possible, thanks to this show. Do you desire to watch a female emote nothing when she speaks romantically but, when she's doing her job as a medical officer, suddenly have a personality. Yeah, me neither. I prefer personality in both scenarios. Do you love being confused about the demographics of a fictional country within the story? If we want unexplainable diversity, just check-in with this country Urk. And our female lead. I think a kind estimation would be 35% effort. That's all she gave.
*My pitch for this show is "it weaved unimaginative junk together hoping we'd ignore the constant unrealistic and ludicrous situations." I mean, where to begin? One of the main antagonists is a gem smuggler and his trade is a handful of 1 caret diamonds? (rubs temples) Korean antagonists, aim higher! There's a Korean owned and opperated power plant in this small Arab country. Isn't that convenient! A young doctor, who has previous experience in a hospital, shrivels up at the reality of a human dying. Also, when he can't rescue a man buried in rubble - cause that's not his job - he loses all purpose in life and suffocates himself with guilt - again, for something that was never his responsibility. His wife is expecting! He is not gonna last one day parenting a child!*
Our main couple's story can be framed 'how does a soldier and a doctor court when their lives are so chaotic'? Well first, you can give the female doctor a realistic approach to healthcare. She wasn't just a doctor; the writers wanted her to be a Mother Theresa. A child stubbs their toe and she summons the whole Urk government to fix uneven pavement in the country. She spots a man with a slight bald spot, who makes no gesture of wanting to be bothered, straps him to a hospital bed, and surgically plants a wig. She notices that Urk children have a more agrarian diet and buys cows for each one to encourage growth and wellness. None of these happen in the show... but they could. Her savior complex was astronomical.
*Our soldier was no different. It's explained that he's an elite soldier within an elite team. But you're telling me that a night ops, rescue team to Afghanistan is the same team you pull for a North Korean escort? He and his team shouldn't do both. He's either elite stealth or he's bodyguard. Isn't it convenient that he's the one to wield the sniper at you-know-who. He's the only one who could do it! Of course, he gets dibs to return to the medical camp and become earthquake search and rescue. Korea's best stealth team isn't needed anywhere else? In the meantime, he'll try to solve disputes between a foreign couple cause his lady-love thinks 'the girlfriend deserves better.' He spots a childen being pursued for stolen candy. To him, that's his cue to become morality officer and enforce mercy on the kid.*
Addressing his heroics, though, is an interesting task. Half of his rescue missions are necessary because they involve... rescuing her. Yep, the doctor. She says in ep 12, "I'm considering if you're a man I can handle." THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE! He needs to consider if he can handle her! Half of his life-threatening moments arose because she did something stupid or selfish. She guilted him for having dangerous missions and making light of the duties he performs. She never wore that guilt, despite the dangers he faced, were her doing. If he admitted 'she's a pretty face but not worth the trouble,' I would shake his hand and congragulate him as he left the room. Whether I was the doctor or the soldier, I would break up with the other because life gets uncharacteristically and annoyingly ridiculous when they are together.
This writer really dug deep in the pockests of creative license to write this show. If she had grounded these characters with either more realistic events or just less nonsense, I might've understood the complications of our main couple's pairing. But she threw them under the bus, repeatedly. You can't root for something when all it does is struggle and wimper? I lost patience with her laziness.
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If I could just get my hands on the screenplay
I will join with everyone and give compliments to story and characters.First off, I was so close to dropping this show because there's a lot of yelling in the first 3 episodes. Yelling is not for me. But I was strong and continued and was grateful that I did.
I usually don't want mental and physical disorders as the foundation to my shows. I fear they'll be used as a crutch; normal people are just as chaotic and helpless with interesting stories to tell. But this show incorporated sickness well enough. The actors were so good playing the characters and playing to each other.
And like the rest of the reviews, there are criticisms.
Did we waste time by following the moms to the fortune teller? I say, 'yes.'
What was the point exactly of the drag artist and the part-time clerk? I don't have an answer to that question.
Why did Min, numerous times, turn away from Hwio in the last few episodes?
Why was Hwio in the wrong place, wrong time towards the end? And when he was in the right place, right time, why did he react chaotically?
From episode 3 to 11, I understood what each character was struggling with and how they found solace or understanding in their next door neighbor. I didn't question why they kept running into each other, why they relied on each other, or why they were drawn to each other.
But in episodes 12 & 13, I wasn't sure why or how they needed each other. When he was the protector she needed, she was repulsed. When she was the mystery mind he needed, he ignored her. When he usually finds his inner calm with her nearby, he had many aggressive and brutal reactions. When she was growing her capacity to trust again, she gave up on all trust towards him, regardless if he deserved it.
I can make tiny excuses for those 2 episodes but, as a show is nearing its end, it should be ironing out the wrinkles, finalizing the stories, and making things make sense. The time for incoherency should be at the beginning of the show, not the end.
Is it a rewatch? Yes, because the episodes are small enough that its easily digestible.
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Sometimes KDrama Rom-Coms can be funny...
I don't need Oscar-worthy acting or groundbreaking plots for my rom-coms. Give me something I can melt into, giggle with, and dwell on as I fall asleep."Her Private Life" delivered that most of the time. It was so optimistic at the very beginning. Female gets to live the best life possible by being in a financially stable and posh occupation and has the spare time to exercise a hobby... that hobby being the obsessive but acceptable stocking of a Kpop idol. Should we, the audience, question this hobby?! No! And that's what I want in a rom-com. Blissful ignorance!
Of course, an attractive new boss comes her way, and they don't see eye to eye, until they have to see eye to eye, then they intimately see eye to eye, and love blooms.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning to middle of the show. There were plenty of 'will-they, won't-theys.' Some characters had strong comedic moments. Everything felt comfy, cozy, and warm. Some tender scenes between mom and son were refreshing (I think KDramas overdo it on the tender moments in rom-coms, so this was huge).
There was an energy that was strong and consistent from episodes 1-10. At the end of ep. 10, the show made its first mistake. I won't state that mistake here but, if you have seen the show, you might agree. The big revelation at the end of 10 could've been delayed. A lead character could've waited longer to play the ace up his sleeve; and if written right, it would've been funny.
The real problem comes at episode 13. The mood shifts. It feels gloomy, slow, and cumbersome. Its not the same show anymore. I wish I could advise everyone to pretend that the last 4 episodes do not exist but I'm a firm believer in watching from beginning to end.
If the writers had not felt obligated to manipulate the story for a dramatic plot twist (and why do they? why does every Korean rom-com have to have some trauma?), this show would be... maybe... my 2nd favorite show. But the writers did a real nosedive into sappy, depressing, and boring. It really is a shame.
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Was it the actors... or the script?
The synopsis is jam packed with potential. International conflict, romeo and juliet romance, the visible shift of societal roles right before the turn of the century... and yet... there were times when the show was lacking.Lacking what?
Well, depended on the scene. Many times it was a lack of chemistry. Other times it was a lack of logic. Sometimes it was a lack of humor. At times there was a lack of sympathy.
I really enjoyed learning about this time in Korea's history. America apparently played a part, but we don't cover our 19th century relationship with Korea in public highschool. So this was all new information. And it was captivating. I had questions. I looked for answers. This show was 1/2 entertainment, 1/2 history lesson.
The part that was meant to be all entertainment was the sludge. The script expected us to celebrate and praise the characters who actually did the least. I, and the audience, had to watch our male and female lead in slow motion glamour shots, each monologuing about their struggle to balance emotion and... (shrugs) something else, then dramatically part ways to accomplish nothing beneficial to plot in the interim. Why did the writers waste my time with them?
Side characters were the value of this show. Let me be clear, this cast was huge. There's a lot of side characters. I'm not praising all of them. There's a handful. Their presence made the story interesting. Watch it for them.
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