Learning, Slowly, to Call It Love
Disclaimer: I somehow missed this drama when it aired in 2023. I remember starting it, but the pink-toned filter, with saturation that changed from scene to scene, felt distracting at the time. Besides, 2023 was such a crowded year for releases that quieter, slower works easily slipped through the cracks. Watching it now, I’m truly grateful I came back to it. It’s a drama that unfolds gently, quietly — and stays with you.
Character Writing & Development
Call It Love succeeds because its characters are drawn with emotional precision rather than dramatic exaggeration. It begins as a revenge narrative, but the longer it lingers with Woo Joo and Dong Jin, the more it unfolds into a portrait of two people who have run out of expectations — yet haven’t lost their capacity for compassion.
Shim Woo Joo is one of the most refreshing female leads in recent melodrama. She is reactive, passionate, and refuses to swallow her feelings for the comfort of others. She displays anger without shame, tenderness without apology, and love without self-erasure. Her arc is not about softening, it’s about reclaiming space for herself. Han Dong Jin, meanwhile, is a study in silence. His withdrawn nature, subtle emotional beats, and suppressed melancholy make him a fascinating complement to Woo Joo’s volatility. His development relies on gestures more than declarations — small choices that quietly rewrite the course of his life. Even Dong Jin’s mother, initially positioned as the antagonist, becomes a tragic figure by the end — lonely, fearful, and shaped by years of emotional deprivation rather than simple malice.
Score: 10/10
Acting
The performances elevate the material into something intimate and lived-in. Lee Sung Kyung delivers perhaps her most mature performance to date. Every flicker of irritation, grief, and fragile hope is grounded and unforced. She plays Woo Joo as someone holding both anger and vulnerability in equal measure. Kim Young Kwang is exceptional. His interpretation of Dong Jin — a man defined by loneliness and restraint — feels almost sculpted. His silence speaks volumes. Coming from his chilling turn in Somebody, this subdued role proves his range and depth. The supporting cast, especially Woo Joo’s family and Dong Jin’s mother, maintain a cohesive emotional tone, with no character feeling unnecessary or hollow.
Score: 10/10
Pacing & Structure
The pacing is deliberately slow, but not stagnant. It breathes. The early episodes unfold with a sense of quiet observation, allowing viewers to inhabit the characters’ loneliness rather than escape it through overstimulating plot turns. Some might find the middle episodes leisurely, but for me, this is where the drama shines: in the stillness, the pauses, the ache of unspoken understanding. The opening scene is an especially strong structural choice — it gently distills the entire theme of the show before we even meet the characters.
Score: 9/10
Writing
The writing stands out for its emotional intelligence. Dialogue feels natural, yet purposeful, simple, yet layered. The drama avoids unnecessary dramatization, instead relying on subtle contradictions, quiet confessions, and mundane interactions that accumulate meaning over time. The shift from revenge story to emotional healing is handled gracefully. It never betrays its tone. It never uses contrived conflict to propel the story forward. Instead, it trusts the characters — and the audience. The central theme is clear: Love is not a grand gesture, it is the willingness to understand another person without demanding they change.
Score: 10/10
Direction & Cinematography
The direction is gentle, slow, observant. Nothing is overplayed. Nothing screams for attention. The pink filter, which initially bothered me, actually fits the emotional landscape once you settle into it. The cinematography prioritizes quiet spaces, small rooms, empty corners — places where emotions sit in silence rather than explode. The everyday scenes — eating, walking, cleaning, working — are shot with a calm minimalism that feels soothing rather than dull. It’s a drama that trusts the viewer to sit and stay in a feeling.
The opening scene deserves special mention — it introduces the drama’s theme with elegance and simplicity, almost like a thesis statement for the story’s emotional journey.
Score: 9/10
Entertainment Value
This is not a drama driven by plot twists or dramatic events. Its power lies in atmosphere, emotional detail, and character study. For viewers who prefer fast pacing or constant conflict, it may feel slow. For me, the slowness was a source of comfort. Every minimalistic scene put me at ease, to the point where I now consider Call It Love a comfort drama — something I’ll absolutely rewatch. The emotional authenticity makes the experience rewarding. This is a mature, reflective work that doesn’t rush to resolve anything. It lets pain linger, it lets healing take its time.
Score: 9/10
Call It Love is a quiet, sincere melodrama that understands how loneliness, guilt, and emotional exhaustion shape people. It’s beautifully acted, carefully written, and visually soothing. The rawness of the emotions and the subtle critique of societal expectations make it feel grown-up in a way many romances don’t. It’s a drama that doesn’t tell you what love is. It simply shows two people learning — slowly, cautiously — to call it love.
Overall score: 10/10
Character Writing & Development
Call It Love succeeds because its characters are drawn with emotional precision rather than dramatic exaggeration. It begins as a revenge narrative, but the longer it lingers with Woo Joo and Dong Jin, the more it unfolds into a portrait of two people who have run out of expectations — yet haven’t lost their capacity for compassion.
Shim Woo Joo is one of the most refreshing female leads in recent melodrama. She is reactive, passionate, and refuses to swallow her feelings for the comfort of others. She displays anger without shame, tenderness without apology, and love without self-erasure. Her arc is not about softening, it’s about reclaiming space for herself. Han Dong Jin, meanwhile, is a study in silence. His withdrawn nature, subtle emotional beats, and suppressed melancholy make him a fascinating complement to Woo Joo’s volatility. His development relies on gestures more than declarations — small choices that quietly rewrite the course of his life. Even Dong Jin’s mother, initially positioned as the antagonist, becomes a tragic figure by the end — lonely, fearful, and shaped by years of emotional deprivation rather than simple malice.
Score: 10/10
Acting
The performances elevate the material into something intimate and lived-in. Lee Sung Kyung delivers perhaps her most mature performance to date. Every flicker of irritation, grief, and fragile hope is grounded and unforced. She plays Woo Joo as someone holding both anger and vulnerability in equal measure. Kim Young Kwang is exceptional. His interpretation of Dong Jin — a man defined by loneliness and restraint — feels almost sculpted. His silence speaks volumes. Coming from his chilling turn in Somebody, this subdued role proves his range and depth. The supporting cast, especially Woo Joo’s family and Dong Jin’s mother, maintain a cohesive emotional tone, with no character feeling unnecessary or hollow.
Score: 10/10
Pacing & Structure
The pacing is deliberately slow, but not stagnant. It breathes. The early episodes unfold with a sense of quiet observation, allowing viewers to inhabit the characters’ loneliness rather than escape it through overstimulating plot turns. Some might find the middle episodes leisurely, but for me, this is where the drama shines: in the stillness, the pauses, the ache of unspoken understanding. The opening scene is an especially strong structural choice — it gently distills the entire theme of the show before we even meet the characters.
Score: 9/10
Writing
The writing stands out for its emotional intelligence. Dialogue feels natural, yet purposeful, simple, yet layered. The drama avoids unnecessary dramatization, instead relying on subtle contradictions, quiet confessions, and mundane interactions that accumulate meaning over time. The shift from revenge story to emotional healing is handled gracefully. It never betrays its tone. It never uses contrived conflict to propel the story forward. Instead, it trusts the characters — and the audience. The central theme is clear: Love is not a grand gesture, it is the willingness to understand another person without demanding they change.
Score: 10/10
Direction & Cinematography
The direction is gentle, slow, observant. Nothing is overplayed. Nothing screams for attention. The pink filter, which initially bothered me, actually fits the emotional landscape once you settle into it. The cinematography prioritizes quiet spaces, small rooms, empty corners — places where emotions sit in silence rather than explode. The everyday scenes — eating, walking, cleaning, working — are shot with a calm minimalism that feels soothing rather than dull. It’s a drama that trusts the viewer to sit and stay in a feeling.
The opening scene deserves special mention — it introduces the drama’s theme with elegance and simplicity, almost like a thesis statement for the story’s emotional journey.
Score: 9/10
Entertainment Value
This is not a drama driven by plot twists or dramatic events. Its power lies in atmosphere, emotional detail, and character study. For viewers who prefer fast pacing or constant conflict, it may feel slow. For me, the slowness was a source of comfort. Every minimalistic scene put me at ease, to the point where I now consider Call It Love a comfort drama — something I’ll absolutely rewatch. The emotional authenticity makes the experience rewarding. This is a mature, reflective work that doesn’t rush to resolve anything. It lets pain linger, it lets healing take its time.
Score: 9/10
Call It Love is a quiet, sincere melodrama that understands how loneliness, guilt, and emotional exhaustion shape people. It’s beautifully acted, carefully written, and visually soothing. The rawness of the emotions and the subtle critique of societal expectations make it feel grown-up in a way many romances don’t. It’s a drama that doesn’t tell you what love is. It simply shows two people learning — slowly, cautiously — to call it love.
Overall score: 10/10
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