I'm sorry, but I really don't understand the hype. This is one of the most overrated dramas of 2024 along with QoT in my humble opinion and had as many plot holes as a swiss cheese. Negatives: - Plot holes, so many plot holes - So many abductions, so many redundancy, so much stupidity - Characters nowhere near as smart as they think they are - Characters behaving in an illogical way (especially in the last 2-3 episodes), not in accordance to their prior characterization - Predictable plot "twists" - Lame villains - Weak (or non-existent) relationship development
Positives: ... - Great chemistry between the leads ... - At least the sister's story arc did not take the expected obnoxious route (which is a very minor element within the story)
Is this truly justified in the ratings, or is it simply overrated like QOT? Could someone please let me know?
It's personal taste. If you found QOT overrated, which I frankly did as well, then you're probably going to find this one overrated, as I do. While I do find it overrated and don't find myself eagerly waiting for the next episode, I don't have the urge to drop it, yet. This is coming from someone who has no problem dropping dramas left and right when they bore me. I just find it mediocrely good (shrugs). What saves both dramas is the chemistry in my opinion.
As someone who watched the og version One Spring Night, I understand why some who watched OSN don't like this…
I don't mind watching adaptations made by different countries and I don't mind actors taking different approaches to the character. For example, I equally loved both Kimura Takuya's performance in Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi as well as Seo In Guk's different approach and interpretation in the adaptation The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (I had watched the original right before watching the adaptation as well). I thought both of their performances were independently great (different approaches that both worked for me). Another adaptation that I loved, and in fact thought was much better than the original, was the kdrama 18 Again (adapted from a US movie). Again, both actors had compltely different approaches and interpretation and I did not mind it. So, my problem is not in the fact that they made changes to the script or that the actors reinterpreted the characters in a different way. And while I did like the original, I wouldn't necessarily say that it was one of my favorites or that I'm particularly attached to it.
I'm not sure if the problem I have with the ML is due to his lack of acting skills which I can't fully comment on since I have only watched him in Lost You Forever (I actually liked him/his performance there), or his interpretation of/choices in how he portrayed the character. Of course this is a matter of taste and preference. While I didn't find his performance appealing or engaging, many might disagree with me. So, it's better for people to check it for themselves and make their own judgement.
After watching a couple of episodes, I get why many people had a problem with the ML. At first I could not pinpoint why the ML came off as a creep even though I never thought of the kdrama ML as such. It finally dawned on me. It's not that Zhang Wan Yi was emotionless or expressionless, it's that his emotions and expressions, whether happiness, sadness, yearning, or any other emotion, never reached his eyes. So, even when he smiled, his eyes were wide open and blank which gave off an eerie and uncomfortable vibe. If they'd change the music, the genre would easily flip from romance to a thriller about a stalker. I've only ever seen him in Lost You Forever, which thinking of it now, he had pretty much the same issue but it seemed to be better suited for his character in that drama. So, I'm not sure if it's a problem with his acting or if he's simply not a good fit for this character.
While watching this, I kept thinking what if Chae Jong Hyeop was casted. I feel like the male lead role would…
I had the exact same thought. I recently rewatched Love All Play and he gave the exact same vibes as the ML in the original Someday or One Day (seesawing between playful and melancholic). To be honest, I have yet to see a Hyo Seop drama where his acting left an impression on me. In my personal opinion, at best, he's passably okay.
I love the leads and they had good chemistry. However, the entire drama felt like an amalgamation of every other romcom out there without much new. Most of the scenes felt like a fan service that can be taken out without affecting the narrative. It might have been better if it was a special drama (2-4 episode drama). This might appeal to viewers who are new(ish) to kdramas, those who don't mind watching recycled stories, or those who would like to pass time while doing chores.
Negatives:
- Plot holes, so many plot holes
- So many abductions, so many redundancy, so much stupidity
- Characters nowhere near as smart as they think they are
- Characters behaving in an illogical way (especially in the last 2-3 episodes), not in accordance to their prior characterization
- Predictable plot "twists"
- Lame villains
- Weak (or non-existent) relationship development
Positives:
...
- Great chemistry between the leads
...
- At least the sister's story arc did not take the expected obnoxious route (which is a very minor element within the story)
I'm not sure if the problem I have with the ML is due to his lack of acting skills which I can't fully comment on since I have only watched him in Lost You Forever (I actually liked him/his performance there), or his interpretation of/choices in how he portrayed the character. Of course this is a matter of taste and preference. While I didn't find his performance appealing or engaging, many might disagree with me. So, it's better for people to check it for themselves and make their own judgement.