A Very Fun Light Watch
Yes, the production value is low, low budget, random actors/actresses, mediocre acting, etc. But this drama is very fun to watch, and honestly none of those matters compared to plot/story. The director and screenwriter is the original author, so if you like the novel you will definitely like this. The main character here is probably the best and coolest ML ever. Very strong but hides his power until its needed, knows what he wants, definitely not naïve, and is not a lovesick puppy. Simple story, simple writing, but still manages to be very entertaining and funny, I can't wait for next episode every time, very suitable for binge watching, The pace starts out very fast but it does slow down a little at 20+ ep but it is still faster than the average dramas.And the best part? No angst, none of those annoying bullshit trope in all those xianxias and what not, no misunderstanding, no "losing powers," no toxic love rival, none of those usual annoying tropes in most other dramas. Most of the villains are comedic reliefs which is fun to watch, we know they are going to lose like immediately because the main character is overpowered and it feels great watching main character who is not hopeless. Yes, I'm aware that this trope is quite common in novel and manhua, BUT none of those gets live adaptation ever, so hey, this is the best thing to that in live action format! We barely got any xuanhuan adapted if any, but instead all we drama viewers got are all these endless angsty xianxias.
I wish there will be season 2 but it's very unlikely but who knows. It is unfortunate that the donghua also looks low budget, the manhua looks pretty bad, and novel is... just text.
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The story is interesting, it catched my attetion as soon as I read it. The actors are great and the characters whom they play are really interesting. The background music is good and I'm sure I'll re-watch the whole drama within a few days because I liked it so much :)
I think that the plot is really original, it's way more than your usual good vs. bad battle you see in other supernatural drama's.
This drama asks the questions everybody copes with while warching the serie; "What is good? What is bad" "Is doing the social right thing, really the best thing to do?" "Who decides what's wrong?" "When doing the wrong thing will save many others, is it still not the right thing to do?"
The drama is about 2 guys who are exceptionally gifted with a special power yet are cursed at the same time.... They never asked to be born with those powers, they just happen to have them. It's not always nice to posses something others don't have. Because when you're special, you're different from others.
Being special, being able to do inhuman things causes the people around you to envy, hate or wanna use you. When you make one decision, it'll always have consequences for another. People judge them based on their personal ideas or situations and get mad when they don't act according to their ideas. But who gets to decides what the right decision is? Society? The people with power? The people with money? Or them...?
Both Nishikido Ryo and Takizawa Hideaki are great actors and portray their character perfectly if you ask me. They are able to keep their own personality through the story even though you'll see that they, just like the people around them, slowly start to change. Even though they change they won't lose their personality, something I really liked (which happens often in drama's).
Even though this drama has only 9 episodes (there were circumstances during the filming, I read that both actors got sick or something) I liked the ending. I know not everyone will agree with me but it's better than I expected and quite fitting with the rest of the story.
To make a long story short; if you like supernatural drama's with a lot deep psychological moments this is an absolute must watch :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Possibility in the impossible
This drama is such a rare gem. A very interesting story about second chances, hope, courage and compromises. It's been a while since I reviewed something, and this piece deserved my recognition as one of the best modern cdrama rom-com with a slight dose of realism. It's been a while since a show made me anxiously glue to the screen while waiting for its release; this show is one of them. I wish I could erase my memory and experience it all over again.
Story
It started pretty warm; as it stirred your emphatic feelings and drew your curiosity; How a poor 19 year old orphan desperate attempt to change his life; and how a pampered 'princess' copes with sudden changes in her almost perfect life; dealing with miscarriage, divorce and betrayal. The whole premise is filled with typical cliches; Age gap, abandonment, second chances, reconciliation; to name a few; however its craft and direction felt fresh and I can't help myself rooting for the main characters to beat all odds and eventually find their happiness. I'm seated; smiling, screaming and sometimes throwing fit witnessing their journey as it unfolds. Although the story was told in a few separate timelines, surprisingly it doesn't confuse me. The jump between the past and the present helps to amplify my curiosity and boost my understanding.
Cast
Daniel Zhou as Li Wu is just brilliant. He really captured that innocence as this pure soul who wants to change his life and achieve something for a better future. He made me root for him to succeed in everything that he does. LW's emotions are raw, natural and convincing. His childlike behaviour is addictive and the contrast as he grows into adulthood is done immaculately. His journey is fleshed out beautifully and I could not help but to adore and take his side even when he acts irrational (*yes, I would defend him every time). His growth is even better as we could see his struggle to balance his future goal while managing his inevitable feelings for Chen Jin and face it bravely. He is not perfect; foolishly naive yet his pureness and sincerity will move mountains and melt your stone-cold heart. He is fictional, yet somehow I could feel that there is 'possibility in the impossible' that he exists out there. He made me believe that true love does exist.
A tiny setback for me is the female lead character. Although Michele Chen looks phenomenal and portrays Chen Jin beautifully, the growth in CJ felt a little short. It just scrapes the surface without delving deep further. We get a little glimpse of why she is built that way; A princess who suddenly has her glass castle shattered. How she copes with the struggles of her divorce and betrayal. After her first failure in love, her actions speak as this skeptical and overthinking person, to the point that she thinks she probably destined to be alone. It boggles me how CJ would suddenly turn around in both timelines and casually decides to be with LW; it felt a little jarring, but still it delivers a good outcome of reconciliation. I wish for a dramatic approach I guess. The big plus is that she has her cute besties who keep reminding her to just follow her heart.
The chemistry between the main couple is off the chart; fuel with the contradictory dynamic between them, makes the pull and push effects work. Yes, I am often frustrated at how CJ is clueless or when she pushes/ ignores LW and continue to lie to herself; and I will cheer every time LW would scheme his way in and shamelessly just cave in to her relentlessly. It's so good and addictive; and when they do get together, my teeth are drying from sweetness overload.
Secondary Couple / Third Couple
I love both of them. Although I wish that they have more screen times.
Other Supporting Casts
All are convincing and play their part really well; even the ex-husband, I just love to hate a character without depth. The parents is commendable. I love the father and daughter relationship.
Favourite Scenes
1) Reconciliation in episode 24. LW is amazing in this scene. It felt natural, his awkward reaction and profound realization that no matter what, he will run to her whenever she calls; like a beacon. It's a calm and mature approach, as the two finally break their barrier. I love how LW would pause, try to sink in his mind how surreal it is and how much he yearns for her.
2) First kiss in episode 20. The awkwardness scene after their first kiss felt natural and convincing. I love how CJ managed to tame the silly boy who is hype and overly excited.
3) The breakup scene in episode 23. It's gut-wrenching to watch two people who love each other but can't agree about their future. I could understand from both points of view; LW's fear of being abandoned and CJ fear of future resentment. Their separation at that time is inevitable.
4) The first moment they met in episode 1. It cemented the theme 'age gap' early on and I was hooked.
5) The ending scene; where it all begin. It came full circle and I like how they emphasize that love didn't require much grand gesture; just a simple and sincere act from the heart.
Music
I love all the soundtracks. I could hum it all day long. It really amplify the storytelling.
Do I like to watch it again?
To infinity and beyond. I lost count already.
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Of course, it's a cheesy and cliché romance, but it's perfect if you're in the mood to binge watch something cute and light hearted.
The story was simple but did it need something more? The actors played their characters well and I really like Jaemin's performance. The four friends were really cute.
I would totally recommend this to someone who wants to relax for two hours!
This was a really short review but I think I've said everything.
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The biggest problem with this drama was the story. It started out really promising. I loved the time travel concept and all the characters had interesting stories and motivations. Then somewhere in the middle it became a huge mess. Suddenly there were complicated time travel rules that contradicted themselves. The characters started to contradict themselves as well, and lose a lot of their motivations and, in some cases, likability. Everything became a big mess, but I held out hope for a nice, neat, happy ending, only to be extremely disappointed.
It's such a pity. I really loved most of the characters, mostly thanks to the actors and not the writing. Mi Rae was a very strong lead. She didn't fall into the usual annoying female lead cliches. Kim Shin ended up being really likable despite his first impressions. His smile killed me (in all the best ways). Yoo Kyung was a surprisingly likable female second lead, and I loved so many of the secondary characters, like Mi Rae's brother, Writer Bae, and the rest of the production team.
And then there were characters who couldn't be saved despite their charming actors. I'm looking at you, Se Joo! He started out so well. I was cheering for him like I usually do second leads. But then when the plot started getting messy, so did his character. The motivations became unclear and the charm disappeared. The other mess of a character was Future Mi Rae. After awhile I found her really annoying and lost all sympathy for her.
The music was okay, but if got pretty repetitive and wasn't always used at appropriate times. Overall, this show was a big disappointment. The only reason I finished it and gave it as high of a rating as I did was because I ended up caring about a lot of the characters. I really wanted to know what happened to them each week. If only they'd gotten a decent ending...
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1we met
I really wanted Lee Jung-jae to kill it in something outside of Squid Game, and while this wasn't a disaster, it definitely felt like a bit of a slog. The setup isn't even bad on paper. You have an aging actor tired of being typecast as a detective who just wants to do a rom-com, paired with a reporter who gets stuck covering him. It should have been a sharp look at the industry, but it just felt a little exhausted from the start.I actually liked that it felt adult for once. It didn't rely on forced skinship or some rushed, fake romance to keep things moving, which was refreshing. But that just makes the male lead's behavior even weirder. He spends half the time throwing literal toddler tantrums, and it’s so jarring. It is hard to fully buy into a "mature" dynamic when one half of the couple is acting like a child.
The writing is a bit of a waste for a cast this good. I adore Lim Ji-yeon because she usually brings so much intensity to her roles, but she is just kind of stranded here. It’s like she is acting in a prestige drama while everyone else is in a sitcom. The only person who actually got the assignment was Jeon Sung-woo. As Director Byeong Gi, he was a total standout and honestly the only person who felt like a human being in this mess.
And I'm not here for the "oppa is too old" or "not hot" complaints. That is just shallow noise that ignores the real failure of the show. The problem isn't his face or his age; it's the fact that the script is a total mess. One minute it's trying to be a serious political thriller and then it jump-cuts to some slapstick about a fake detective show. It tries to talk about fame versus reality but stays so surface-level that it ends up feeling a bit mid.
The final episode was actually one of the better ones, which I appreciated. It finally felt like things were coming together, even if it took too long to get there. Ultimately, there is nothing here that I really hate. It isn't offensive or unwatchable. The real issue is that there is just nothing here to really love. It’s a fine watch, but it feels like a waste of some of the best actors in the business because it never gives you a reason to be obsessed with it.
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WHAT THE F*CK!
What the Duck should have been titled What the F*ck!This whole series is filled with a lot of 'what the freaking f*ck' moments.
I had high expectation for this series, after all its only one of the few that's not set in high school or university. In paper, that should have been a refreshing change, but instead what we get are bunch of cliches and annoying characters all rolled into one annoying series. Let me break it down by the shows couples (or triple).
First is Pop and Mo and Oat. Pop is a vain and an obviously gay guy but with a mustache of a martyr gf in Mo, who followed him in his dreamjob which he failed to get so he went for a catering job instead. This is where he met this despicable guy Oat, and because this is a BL series, of course he would fall for Oat even if nothing about this guy is worth adoring - not even a dose of redeeming quality. The fact that he dropped Mo's ass like its nothing and chose Oat is just a lazy storytelling.
Second is Pree and Rambo and Pent. These 2 (err 3) are so sexy and their sex scenes are just so hot that i wished they just made this series a soft porn movie with these 3 and remove all the other things, then id rate it a 10. Alas, they just have to give these guys speaking parts but all i can remember Pree and Rambo did was cry, cry and cry. I should mention that this couple ended their relationship because Rambo was supposed to marry this girl and Pree was so self-righteous that he cant see beyond his reasons. But then later, it was revealed that he was still inlove with another guy and is willing to pusue/steal it from his sister! And then he got the audacity to be more pissed off when he found out that Rambo had sex with other people while they were broken up. See i told you another 'what the f*ck'!
Third is the 3 stoogees. Like honestly, do they need these 3 stupid guys just to drive the plot? Their attempt (and the show's) to be funny always ends flat and these guys are really just annoying and nuissance. After watching the first two episodes, it took me months to move on to the next episode because i am just so annoyed by these 3 (and those bitchy flight stewards) that the thought of continuing watching this series just made me cringe everytime.
Did i mention that Pop is ready to give up on his dreams just because of a guy?
It is also worth mentioning that sitting through 20 friggin long episodes is just so hard to do because nothing really happens throughout. They could have condensed it to 6 or 8 episodes without losing its essence. Oh, and they left Season 1 without really finishing any storyline, meaning they are forcing you to sit through another 8 episodes which to be honest, is just so hard to do (Im trying and i really cant even finish season2's first episode after 6 tries)!
Ok, i already said way too much and i can probably say a whole lot more bad things about this series, and i guess no one would read this anyway, but if you are, and you are thingking of watching this, do yourself a favor and stay away. Just watch a rerun of Love of Siam.
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This review may contain spoilers
NOT ADDICTING (AT ALL)
Usually when i write reviews i tend to be scared of saying i hated the series - the current world is full of rabid fansready to bite your head off in defense of their beloved show- but this one is quite the opposite because - im scared to say (that even if i didnt love it) that i didnt hate it as much as other people.When they announced that there is going to be a Thai adaptation of the beloved chinese novel i was a little bit excited - first, both chinese adaptations didnt have the opportunity to finish the story and so i thought finally we' are going to see the ending, and second, I really liked the casting choice - granted i thought August was little too old to play the role conisdering the other 3 actors are quite young. Also after the disastrous HitBIteLove, I was really hoping to see Newyear and Jur (who is the only bright spot of that series) in a new and better series and although they casted them as support i was quite ok with it.
When i saw who is directing it my heart crashed- I am both at awe and fascinated how this director keeps getting a directing job because his previous works and ratings will speak for itself - but then they showed us a very strong first few episodes that I thought, wow, finally, the director is delivering something good. I loved the pacing, i loved the cinematography and i thought the location was absolutely beautiful.
And then the mess of the middle episodes happen. The silly silly annoying female characters (its almost a trademark of the director to portray girls as annoying characters in every series he makes). There was also quite a lot of glitchy editing that you'd wonder if you ever miss an episode or slept through something only to realize that you havent- its just the way the editing goes.
One of my biggest gripes is that they have not used NewyearJur to the extent that i was hoping for. Not only was Tiger almost non-exxistent in the last episode but did we really need that Only-Pop twist in the the finale? Really? Its like they forgot that Only and Tiger kissed at the penultimate episode.
Granted all theses points and comments, i also wouldnt discount the possibility that these issues may be a problem of adapting the source material. The novel and the original series is just filled with over the top red-flags from bullying to kidnapping to molestation and combine that with all the despicable characters. What this adaptation failed to do however, is make the series addicting - something both the chinese adaptation were able to do. It failed to make its adaptation unique enough and at the same time it was so afraid to fully immerse into the source material. What we get here is a very bland adaptation that is scared to make its mark. Im also sad to say that none of the actors here will be able to reach Johnny Huang's success after appearing in Addicted, in fact, for me it even diminished the shine of rising stars Newyear and jur.
Also one thing i need to mention - none of the earlier promos pointed to this being a Season 1 of 2. This is a very sh*tty trick by the makers. After all the fans clamour to finally execute a full Addicted Heroin series, they gave us this - its like a curse that none of them will ever get to finish the story. I think its finally time to give it a rest.
I also need to mention this very annoying trend that a lot of Thai series is making - the uncut and cut version. Does this actually work for them because its not only really useless in most of these series because sometimes there are almost no diffeerence to both versions or at the opposite side the editing of the cut version is so extreme the story just doesnt work anymore. If you cant decide what is the right version then there is a problem with your editor and director. Please enough of this. I have seen no one in the Thai industry who is doing this trick that is close enough to the caliber of a Snyder to warrant 2 versions of the same show per week so please just stop wasting our time and just do your jobs.
Will i recommend? No not at all - most specially if you have seen b oth chinese versions because theres nothing new here and you wont miss a thing. Will i rewatch? Seriously, not even if you pay me.
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1
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1This review may contain spoilers
'I can stand him, not loving me; I can't stand him, loving her.' ~Lang Leav
This series is so good , our power couple is back , after " Moonlight Chicken " I was waiting for their comeback and finally they came with a great series .Disclaimer - This is my own review according to my own feelings , this review may contain spoilers , Go On .
Story - This is an adaptation from a very popular show " Ossans Love " ( Japanese) . After the succession of the Japanese one , I had a high hope for this Thai One ( no 1 reason was EarthMixx ) and I am impressed a lot . The love triangle is not toxic but actually funny and cute , the way Mo ( Mix ) and Boss fought over Heng ( Earth ) is really so funny and cute . Earth is doing a completely different character from his previous shows ( Moonlight Chicken and A tale of Thousand Stars ) and he impressed me 100 % . Talking about Mixx , hands down , he is a great actor . He has some magic in his eyes , the way he expresses his emotions through his eyes, is really so natural and realistic . Mr Krit ( Boss ) is a professional actor , he nailed his role completely , the way he did everything so perfectly , is so good .
Cinematography and Visuals - I liked Mixx's fluffy hair so much , he was looking like a visual king , his coolness fits perfectly with his style . Cinematography was excellent .
My Opinion - I liked this drama a lot , after watching so many bad shows in 2024 , this is my healing pill in 2025 . So happy that my new year started with a great show , for me this shows is 9.5 /10 .
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1
1Don't believe hate reviews. This is a delightful rom-com
I see haters are already at work trying to smear this drama. Not just here, I'm seeing hate videos on Youtube too. Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more rampant in the world of Chinese dramas where producers are blackmailed into paying up, otherwise their dramas would be defamed on social media. Apparently, the producer of this drama did not give in to blackmail, thus flaws were invented or flaws that are common in cdramas and are largely ignored were exaggerated with this drama. The attacks got propagated to other sites by so-called water armies and picked up and further spread by anti-fans of the stars or their pairing, Innocent viewers got swept up in the frenzy and got swayed by the smear campaign.But please don't let haters keep you from enjoying this delightful rom-com.
Only For Love stars Bai Lu as Zheng Shuyi, a beautiful, cute, smart, bubbly but rather quirky reporter of a finance magazine. Dylan Wang co-stars as Shi Yan, a hotshot mysterious young CEO who requests to be interviewed by Shuyi to publicize the vision of his venture capital company to help startups get off the ground. Shuyi has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her with a girl she mistook for Shi Yan's niece. Her boyfriend breaks up with her for the girl who promised to help him with his career. With her pride shaken, Shuyi decides to flirt with Shi Yan, seemingly to get back at her ex-boyfriend and to allow her to conduct a series of interviews with the much sought after bachelor CEO. Their constant meetings lead to romance. But what would Shi Yan feel when he knows the truth about Shuyi's reasons for pursuing him?
Shuyi is not the usual type of female lead in Chinese dramas. She is brilliant when it comes to work. But outside of it, she is somewhat clueless. Self-centered and shameless too. Her clumsy pursuit of Shi Yan is hilarious, showing how out of character she is at playing a seductress. But is it all play-acting? Might this seductress have fallen in love with her prey?
Shi Yan is being hailed on social media as the Chinese Mr. Darcy with his reserved and stoic demeanor as well as the dashing figure he cuts especially in a riding outfit. But he's also got a charm all his own. When he smirks at Shu Yi's clumsy attempts at seduction or when he looks at her with all the affection and sexual tension he oftentimes has a hard time keeping under wraps, your heart wouldn't be able to help dancing with excitement.
There might be some cultural challenges that could impact a non-Chinese viewer's understanding of the drama. For example, the joke about the cake in Shi Yan's uncle's dinner feast started with Shuyi mischievously texting "making love' to her ex-boyfriend's query about what she was doing. But when she noticed Shi Yan watching her composing the text, she changed her text to "making cake". The misunderstanding arose due to some texts not being subtitled. In addition, it seems "eat cake" has some sexual connotation in Chinese culture. So if you don't understand something in the story, try to join social media discussions and ask away.
All in all, this drama is pleasing to the eye and is quite entertaining. It starts off lighthearted but the characters turn out to be more than typical rom-com characters. These are multi-dimensional characters who are not all good but also not all bad. In short, they are human. Dissecting the characters and what makes them tick is fundamental to enjoying this delightful drama.
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Gold medal for underdeveloping… everything.
What happened? Someone explain, because I am confused. What started as a loveable cliche mess, ended as just a mess. Around half way through I could sense it - no development, no quality of writing, no details to the storytelling, no real stakes…Personally, I just think there were too many characters and plots for that many episodes. We did not need the stupid siblings duo - truly brought nothing to the table. The side romance was cute, but also unnecessary. The writers should have picked either a tragic mysterious past or the power struggle in the company and focus on developing it more. Random ex to show up 3 times to cause a little bit of trouble that led to nowhere? Why?
I was watching the second half with constant thought - so much is happening, but why does it feel like nothing is happening? Maybe because the plot seemed more like a brainstorm on a whiteboard rather than a full narration with detailed setup and development… The way almost nothing got a proper closure…
What carried the show for me were the characters of Ah Jung, Ji Han and one and only unproblematic powerful queen Chae Won. These three were fun, entertaining, dynamic. Their scenes always left a smile on my face. These three also had an amazing chemistry.
On the other hand, every character other than these three was boring or frustrating, with little to no redeeming qualities.
What’s more, the quality of acting was on average mediocre - either because the characters were too poorly written for the actors to make it work, or because the actors just could not connect to the emotions they were supposed to present.
Overall, what a waste of time. Another case of a great first half and disappointing finish.
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Should You Become An “ Anti-Fan” Of This Drama?
Have you ever watched a drama which starts off with cataclysmic screenwriting and then surprisingly grows on you in the second-half ? Well, most watchers can probably agree that this ideology epitomises ‘So, I Married An Anti-Fan’ with its surprising turn from certain cliches to an endearing relationship between our leads.However those expecting ‘So I Married An Anti-Fan’ to be a “masterpiece” should probably be told outright that this drama isn’t without its flaws either.
Taking nearly three years to air ( after finishing production in 2018) and sparking an eruption of mixed criticism by viewers afterwards , “ So, I Married An Anti-Fan” is a drama which has greatly divided the audience demographic . Some viewers take the stance that it is " too reminiscent of the tacky 2000s abusive relationships" and " poorly-written", whilst others on this platform defend this as " sweet" and a " comfort drama". However, this raises the bigger question for those wanting to watch the show for the first time; is it actually worth watching?
Well, there are some undeniable strengths which may have an alluring charm for certain watchers. The main cast (consisting of Choi Soo Young, Choi Tae Joon, Hwang Chan Sung and Han Ji An) were an absolute delight, the plot was " romantic and fluffy with a twist of melodrama", and it was straightforward enough to follow ( in an " unplug your brain" sort of way ). Refreshingly, the second-half took a slightly more serious stance to our main leads’ relationship by delving into the main leads’ interactions, whilst also addressing more profound insights into the idol industry’s sociocultural issues in South-Korea. However, this is also where we must address the opposite side of the coin; the problems.
One of the biggest dilemmas of ‘ So, I Married An Anti-Fan’ came through character development. Let’s start off this example with our female lead Lee Geun Young. Geun Young was a female lead who you desperately tried to like as a viewer as Choi Soo Young is a good actress. Undeniably as a character, she isn’t "naive" or the " sweet girl next door" and will happily stand her ground at times when the male lead kicks off. However, ultimately this is where our biggest problem occurs with Geun Young; she exists( for a major proportion of the series) as a component of an enforced pairing for the “ sake of plot” .
There is nothing wrong per say with a female lead being in a relationship in a drama. ( In fact it can allow god-tier character development . ) However whilst we did get to see Geun Young come round to accepting her feelings in the second-half, this first part felt more like a carte blanche for Geun Young’s character development by screenwriters Kim Eun Jung and Nam Ji Yeon in order to forcefully pair-off Geun Young with our male lead Hoo Joon. Consequently Geun Young was rarely given time to understand exactly why she was attracted to the " jerk who ruined her life" ( the motiveless goal aside from her obsessive desire to " ruin his life"). Sadly further interactions with her mother and friends provided little insight into her actual personality (beside the romantic pairing).
Then there’s the male lead Hoo Joon. Similar to Soo Young, Tae Joon is a dynamic actor and there were certainly intriguing issues tackled with his character; a popular star who is getting fed up of being used by his company and his tiresome lifestyle. However typical of cliches, he was often glorified by his role throughout the drama as the " stoic, jerk male lead” ; getting away with assault, bribery and blackmail (including towards the female lead). The show attempted to play an uno reverse card by introducing the " tragic backstory" which may evidently cause mixed-feelings for viewers.
Of course the issue of our main leads also remains a source of mixed-criticism for the drama. On one side, there is the undeniable problem that the male lead Hoo Joon constantly found ways to emotionally gaslight the female lead ; grabbing Geun Young’s wrist , then giving her the cold shoulder over the most trivial of matters and refusing at times to hear her side of the story (or just talk to her like a decent human being). However, there is an alternate stance that ‘ So I Married An Anti-Fan’ isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s a romantic-comedy which attempts to reflect the real-life reality that actual relationships are messy and problematic. The focalised writing decision to focus more on our main leads’ relationship in the second-half did seem to prove that this was the intention of the drama.
Although this review would not be complete without talking about one of the biggest elephants in the room; our supporting characters JJ ( Hwang Chan Sung) and Oh In Hyung ( Han Ji An)’s overly problematic relationship.
Hwang Chan Sung is a really good actor, however, you could imagine if there was an “ Encyclopaedia Of The Most Obsessive Second Male Leads Of All Time”, his character JJ would have been on the first page. It was evident that the drama desperately tried for us (as viewers) to root for JJ as the “ pining lover”. However , this appeared difficult when his behaviour reflected an otherwise dysfunctional and oppressive figure in In Hyung’s life by rifling around In Hyung’s room ( without her permission), screaming at her manager down the phone in public ( and thus purposefully embarrassing In Hyung in front of people) and then even attempting to manipulate Geun Young ( without considering In Hyung or Geun Young’s feelings) early on in the series in order to get back at Hoo Joon.
Yet whilst it would be easy to pin all the blame on JJ, Oh In Hyung had her own fair share of problems also . Similar to her costars Han Ji An is a good actress. In terms of her character In Hyung, the drama works incredibly hard to make us feel pity for her being a a victim of the malicious industry of idols and JJ’s obsessive infatuations. ( For the most part as viewers we certainly do.) However as we delve more into the show ( without spoilers), it soon becomes apparent that In Hyung is manipulated by the screenwriting into becoming a tiresome plot mechanism in order to trigger catalytic events in the later storyline.
Oh boy, then there’s the additional problem of the producers. Admittedly they do not have such a prominent role in the second-half, however, most viewers will probably agree that they were incredibly irksome characters. Yes they were supposed to add a touch of comedy during more angst-ridden moments of the show, however, secretly filming the leads without their permission, screaming at the camera crew, forcing, guilt-tripping and then humiliating Geun Young on multiple occasions just grew fairly irksome for viewers .
Nevertheless the ending was a left on a sweet note for viewers. Although admittedly there could have been some plot points wrapped up, it was entertaining to have some closure with our finale.
So, is“ So I Married An Anti-Fan" actually worth watching? Whilst the show has a fairly good cast and is easygoing for viewers looking for an escape from darker romance storylines, this depends entirely on personal taste. For fans of "cutesy" romance with a " slice of 2000s K-drama relationship abuse angst" or just looking for a show to unplug your brain with,then this drama is right up your street. However, drama watchers looking for a more profound storyline then look elsewhere as " So, I Married An Anti-Fan" isn’t it.
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Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
78 people found this review helpful
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This review may contain spoilers
So so good
I know I’m in the minority here but my god I loved every second of this drama . I loved Kim Seon-Ho in this drama as much as everyone else, but in my heart Dal-Mi was always going to end up with Do-San as she showed absolutely no interest in Ji-Pyeong from the beginning. I wish Ji-Pyeong had more closure and didn’t have to work with them for the rest of his life but in my mind he’s found a nice partner and living a great life while also staying close to halmeoni. All in all, I loved this drama and will definitely be rewatching <3Was this review helpful to you?
I'm very picky with my ratings and I rarely give a drama ten points. But because I'm unconditionally in love with this story (even though there might be one or two flaws. I know that many people didn't like the ending which I myself was satisfied with, even though it might just have had a too vaguely drawn explanation), it would be a shame to not give Black the highest score. It's entertaining and addictive as that and it will take some time until I can let go.
It often happens that when you start a drama, it begins with a strong introduction, makes you curious enough to continue watching and then loses all its strengths halfway through while leaving you with the most frustrating feeling ever. Well, Black is no exception when it comes to thrilling starts (and by all means pay attention and don't forget about this one), but it parts from the heaps of unsatisfying story proceedings as it constantly holds its high level of suspense.
To give a summary other than the one above would be risky as it might contain possible unintended spoilers or hints to the plot. And no one wants that, I don't want that - and I don't want you guys to throw me into the fiery pit. Seriously, I'm not that kind of party pooper.
So, what exactly is the magic potion of Black that drives everyone crazy?
The story progress
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Let me praise the bigger picture that is definitely existent, even though you can't see it right away. It's hidden quite well, and pieces of the puzzle only appear one at a time which is helping the plot to constantly grow stronger. Receiving clues, getting confused over them, creating the wildest theories until your head is spinning, was so much fun that I can hardly contain my excitement whenever I talk about it. The neat and flawless weaving of secrets and the repeated drop of shocking bombs after almost every episode were some of the main forces why the drama worked so well. Whenever you think you've figured it out, BAM!, twists and turns shatter your carefully formed construct of thoughts. Those new revelations are not just added at the writer's whim but well thought-out right since the beginning. There are hints that are quite obvious from the start while other ones stay hidden until the story wants them to be revealed. Be sure to keep your eyes open while watching this show, or you might miss one or two important things and won't be able to follow the story anymore.
The genres
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Mixing genres is quite popular these days and Black doesn't stay out of it either. The difference between Black and other dramas though: This one does a stunning job at smoothly merging them. Black is a pretty dark drama, although it might not seem that way at first. It might even look chaotic and/or messy. I don't know about others, but I enjoyed every single scene bar none. The shift from dark to funny was always sleek, making me forget the length of the episode and leaving me startled when it was suddenly over again. The further the story proceeds, the darker the plot grows while thickening the mystery. At this point I do have to warn you though. If you have a sensitive stomach and can't cope well with harsh violence, be careful. Even though certain scenes were not always shown in full scope, sounds and imagination were enough to make me feel the cruelty of the scene. Other ones were clearly visible and thus added to the brutal reality. I do think that the given age limit might be a little light on this one.
The leading stars
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First and foremost, Black himself. Grim reaper number 444, the most cold-hearted one among them all. It doesn't matter whether you already know Song Seung Heon from previous dramas or movies, because you can be sure that when you watch him here, it will feel like you're meeting him for the first time all over again. The whole concept of his role is simply dashing. Although I don't want to exaggerate, it's hard to keep it to myself, and I do want to brag about it, about all his captivating treats. The color "black" never suited someone better, his looks are literally breathtaking, his whole demeanor is seductive in every possible way.
May it be the stone-cold grim reaper who doesn't like humans or the inexperienced "newbie" without common sense and blunt responses, finding himself slowly getting attached to the world he doesn't want to be part of, and unwillingly trying to solve the big mystery he gets thrown into.
There is this thing he's doing with his eyes... I don't even know if he is doing something with them, but they are as dark as the deep blue sea and… one fillip and you’ve lost. His whole acting is spellbinding. If there's a list with actors who own their roles, he would be somewhere at the top. Song Seung Heon breathed life into Black, simply put he WAS Black. He and no one else. Pure perfection, as one might say. Compared to the rest of the cast, his role might not be the only one with a big character development ahead, but he was definitely the one that delivered spot on, week by week by week.
I’m rattling on about him, I know… mian!
Go Ah Ra, who is playing the girl that is afraid of people because she can foresee near death, is a rather difficult part to approach (maybe even the only thing I can't brag about). I don’t fancy her but I don't hate her either. And I have to admit that it must be quite challenging and difficult to go on stage alongside Song Seung Heon, especially if he's doing such a phenomenal job. Her impersonation of Kang Ha Ram was... how shall I put it... average and sometimes monotone. Go Ah Ra's facial expressions are quite limited which makes it hard to forget all the prejudice she is receiving. She is just not as good as others, no matter how you look at it. Her acting didn't reach me the same way the rest of the cast did, and it is poles apart from Song Seung Heon’s. However, she was not a complete failure either. She was okay, her scenes were okay. Her acting was good enough to not get frustrated or disappointed over it. She did have chemistry with her co-star. Even though it was not overwhelming, it conveyed the necessary atmosphere to keep the tension on.
The supporting cast
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There are so many people that have to be mentioned that it's hard to keep it short. First of all the second male lead and love interest of our heroine. Although Oh Man Soo was never my favorite person in the drama because he was naive and just too good-natured, Kim Dong Jun did a pretty fine job portraying the rich kid that wants to get a chance and be recognized for his work. I did not always like his actions, nor did I like his innocent look at the world. The inevitable twist though that is forcing him to mature and almost impossible for him to comprehend, is something I wouldn't wish for anybody, no matter how much I dislike them. So, he did get my sympathies when the time came.
Song Seung Heon's love interest Yoon Soo Wan (portrayed by Lee El - who we all know from Goblin) is a pretty foggy character and the drama is only slowly revealing her secrets. I found her character extremely interesting and reasonable. Her love for the male lead was real, and whilst her secrets were unknown, her intentions were always transparent for me.
Black's fellow grim reapers, 007 and 416 look like they only exist for pure entertainment or informative purposes. But the more they got introduced to me, the clearer it became that there was more to them than the unaided eye could see. But oh well, what am I talking about... One of them is played by Jo Jae Yun, so of course I can't do anything else but fancy over him. No matter what he's doing, he is one of the most versatile actors I've seen and it's no surprise that he is owning the role of an ancient grim reaper as well - even though he's relatively reserved in this.
So many crime dramas, so many police squads, so many failures. And again, Black is shining with a unique team that seems to be the loser squad at first but learns to use opportunities and circumstances to rise from the shadows. The team dynamics are just right and a pleasure to watch. After Black himself, they are the comedy perpetrators per se and they are great at it. Each member has a unique and sweet nature what makes them grow on you in no time. Special credits to Kim Won Hae as well. I've already seen him in other dramas but his role in Black is by far my most favorite one.
Kim Jae Young plays the Hallyu star Leo who is after Black the second eye candy of the show (at least for me - I know there will be some people who disagree with me :P). His character doesn't seem to get more depth as the story progresses and you might think he's only there for the looks. Well, as far as I can tell without revealing too much, he does have another purpose as well. I always liked his character, despite the image he had to portray in this. The fact that they didn't disclose so much about him, made me even more curious about his story.
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If you look closely, you can see that every single character has a reason to be in this drama. Everyone is connected in some mysterious way. To follow the leads and to try and find out about those threads is one thing that makes the concept of the plot so promising. Another one is the character development that everyone in this drama will go through. Closely followed by visually stunning cinematography and well used supportive background music.
The story is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. Black comes along with so many convincing treats that it will be hard to keep away from it. It's entertaining and funny and mysterious and dark and dramatic and definitely catching you off-guard. You won't be able to leave your couch once you hit the play button. And please, be careful of your nails and your hair.
On that note: Happy watching!
(I wrote too much, mian~)
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