You’ve genuinely taken the words right out of my mouth — that’s exactly it, and you articulated it perfectly…
Right? I loved the One Dollar Lawyer and was bummed when it got shortened. So I really like feeling some of those vibes in this show. JKY leans into his role, exaggerating the longing and hamming up the comedy. AEJ with the doe -eyed looks cracks me up, knowing her talent level and knowing there's no way she signed up for one dimensional and with this director to boot.
The moment in Episode 1 when I realized this director also directed "One Dollar Lawyer" was the moment I threw logic out the window and went with the unserious flow. Tropes have been intentionally stuffed into this show like a Thanksgiving turkey. It's certainly not perfect, but I find it hilarious and romantic, i.e, a ROMCOM. The set-up is one of the oldest tropes around—Ji Hyeok the perfect chaebol businessman with a sad family background that falls hard for Da Rim, the hardworking, heart-of-gold girl from the poor side of town. Add in two good-looking people who can act and have chemistry? Sign me up!
Tiny Da Rim carrying the giant Ji Hyeok on her back out of the fire and them making out in the grass with nary a scratch or soot on either of them was totally unrealistic. A tropey, cornball romantic moment that I just went with. Interestingly, it is also probably a clever reference to the Jang Hyeon - Gil Chae love confession in “My Dearest” (AEJ was Gil Chae, Nam Goong Min (One Dollar Lawyer star) was Jang Hyeon). The barley field substituted with tall grass, the gazing and framing of the leads’ faces mirrored, and the sitting clutch and kiss the same.
Personally, with all the things going on in this world, I'm just happy this show makes me laugh so much and gives me butterflies.
So much of Go Da Rim's character development and background was front-loaded that it's easy to forget how much she suffers from low self-esteem from failure to land a job or pass the civil service exam by 30. She also willingly stuffs down her pain from her sister sending her away to Jeju during the sister's wedding and is working herself sick to pay off her family debts. She's not about herself and thinks mainly about others.
Gong Ji Hyeok's tortured pining is palpable and prolonged, but I'm giving Da Rim a break. She's so busy worrying about her mother and their debts, working hard to have be a success at work after being a chronic failure and probably doesn't feel good enough for Ji Hyeok. She's poor, marginally educated and sees Ha Yeong as a much better match for him as a chaebol.
Up to this point, keeping the job to improve her life has been more important than considering a relationship with Ji Hyeok because she's desperate and can't see it happening. I'm looking forward to the tables turning and seeing Da Rim blossom.
Is he married? Admittedly, I don't pay close attention but I thought he was single because he asked Ga Yeong her dating status and he's awfully interested in Ko Won and Im Sun. Gives off love loser vibes and I forget how he was introduced.
Medical students have to fulfill four years of medical education on top of either a two-year premedical course…
There were references to her being "almost 50" but even then, the math is suspect because she completed her internship before quitting to have a family. Maybe both Dr. Cha and Jung Min skipped grades!
if i understood well, the affair has started like 8 or 9 years ago when CSH came back from USA (?) to korea. It…
Thank you. I remembered a line about the US and couldn't remember if they got together over there (I thought for some reason he had gone there for some training or work) or when she came back from there.
I might have missed this, but who is the father of Choi Sung Hee's daughter? I think Cha Jung Sook's bff said the rumor was that CSH was divorced? I'm trying to figure out how long the affair has been going on.
Also, as awful as things are going for Jong Hyun (super duper loser town) I'm not as annoyed by his behavior as I am by Soo Young asking Sang Soo if she should break up with Jong Hyun at the end of the episode. That decision should not depend on Sang Soo's opinion or willingness to be with her. If you're not in love and settling, move on for your own sake.
I still think this would be better as a movie or a short drama (it was originally listed as four episodes) because their behavior is ridiculously drawn out and over dramatic. Also, I need to put this on 1.5x speed to get people speaking at a normal pace.
Right? They developed 2ML character as so weak, and unsure of himself. That’s a security guard soon to be a…
Your comment reminds me that I don't find the drama to be slice of life (or like My Liberation Notes) as I've read in some comments. These characters are developed and act in ways that are baffling. Slice of life means true to life or naturalistic to me. SOL is not a tag, so maybe it's not the intent here. Overly tortuous and making me want to tear my hair out might be!
This story would be better as a movie. Way too long and tortuous for 16 episodes.
As for some of the negative comments I see about JGR (the SML)---he literally reminds the FL of her younger brother. He is supposed to be humble, kind and earnest and to lack chemistry with the FL. If he had better hair and clothing or more manly lines (creating some chemistry), wouldn't that be out of character for him as a poor security guard and give somewhat incestuous vibes? JGR is doing well in the role. I predict the SML's life will start circling the drain, so no worries, he'll serve his angst function.
I watched a KBS special with Kim So Eun from a couple of years ago where her makeup was natural and fresh. She looked so pretty. She has so much BB cream on or the wrong shade of foundation on in this show, making her face too white and distracting.
Tiny Da Rim carrying the giant Ji Hyeok on her back out of the fire and them making out in the grass with nary a scratch or soot on either of them was totally unrealistic. A tropey, cornball romantic moment that I just went with. Interestingly, it is also probably a clever reference to the Jang Hyeon - Gil Chae love confession in “My Dearest” (AEJ was Gil Chae, Nam Goong Min (One Dollar Lawyer star) was Jang Hyeon). The barley field substituted with tall grass, the gazing and framing of the leads’ faces mirrored, and the sitting clutch and kiss the same.
Personally, with all the things going on in this world, I'm just happy this show makes me laugh so much and gives me butterflies.
Gong Ji Hyeok's tortured pining is palpable and prolonged, but I'm giving Da Rim a break. She's so busy worrying about her mother and their debts, working hard to have be a success at work after being a chronic failure and probably doesn't feel good enough for Ji Hyeok. She's poor, marginally educated and sees Ha Yeong as a much better match for him as a chaebol.
Up to this point, keeping the job to improve her life has been more important than considering a relationship with Ji Hyeok because she's desperate and can't see it happening. I'm looking forward to the tables turning and seeing Da Rim blossom.
As for some of the negative comments I see about JGR (the SML)---he literally reminds the FL of her younger brother. He is supposed to be humble, kind and earnest and to lack chemistry with the FL. If he had better hair and clothing or more manly lines (creating some chemistry), wouldn't that be out of character for him as a poor security guard and give somewhat incestuous vibes? JGR is doing well in the role. I predict the SML's life will start circling the drain, so no worries, he'll serve his angst function.