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As far as romantic K-dramas are concerned, this one is pretty typical and predictable. Frankly, I prefer romantic K-dramas that think more outside of the box. Such series like "Lovestruck in the City," "Because This Is My First Life," to infinitely far superior series like "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" or "Crash Landing on You" are far more preferable.
Still, the series works, for the most part, despite the significant drop-off in the last three or four episodes that had me waiting for the series to just finally end with the repetitive cliched formulas. I mean, how many times can a girl run away and have the guy chase after her? Once, okay. Twice, and you're pushing it. More than that, and it because tedious and completely overused. Such plot devices show a lack of creativity on the writers' part.
We also have the typical, "only a rich man can save a woman." It's sad that this is such a misused and overused plot device that must seriously mirror the cultural norms of Asian countries. How sad that nothing can be further from the truth.
So, we have the spoiled, rich son of corporate tycoon who is conceited and only interested in his own pleasures. However, Jin-Wook might be said to have grown and matured the most by the end of the series. He is also not afraid to step out of his father's shadow and go against the norm. He will also speak his own mind.
Then, we have the relatively shy, immature, and very insecure Yumi who sees herself as a victim of what everything thinks about her and her mother (who happens to be a former adult film actress). Yumi has no idea how to take life by the reins and not care about what everyone thinks. She blames everyone else for her problems, which also tends to make her quite the coward. She fabricates stories and excuses to hide her insecurity as well as the shame she feels regarding her mother. And when things blow up (as you know they will in K-dramas like this one!), she again blames everyone else for the messes that she, herself, creates. In short, she is incapable of taking any kind of responsibility for herself and her actions. And somehow, she no longer needs glasses after the second or third episode!
Of course, we also have the friends (one man and one woman) who each also have feelings for our two protaganists. After all, it wouldn't be a standard K-drama without at least one. One is a spoiled newscaster who thinks the world revolves around her. The other is a quiet, shy young man, who is much like Yumi herself. He failed to help her as a classmate, and now he sits in the shadows with anger and jealousy for his own ineptitude.
Despite all of these things, the show still works. Perhaps it's because of the obvious chemistry between the two leads. For the first nine or ten episodes, I was also hopeful that this wouldn't end up being a typical K-drama, as I found himself quite vested in the story, which started to crumble in the last few episodes and became very typical.
Frankly, I'll keep seeking out series like the ones I mentioned above; those writers who are capable of writing something new, different, and something that pushes the envelope. I find those types of show far more enjoyable!
score 7/10
spasek 16 April 2021
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6821091/ |
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19-4-2021 22:58:07