Love All Play (2022)

a rollercoaster of feelings

I didn't hate this show but I wouldn't watch this show again unless I was super bored. I wanted to love this show a lot more than I did. First off this show had one of my least favorite tropes in media and that is when the main couple end up breaking up a few episodes before the ending. But at the same time, I can't hate too much this show because it actually makes a lot of sense why they broke up and couldn't be together but that still didn't make it any easier to watch. Another thing I didn't like is how towards the end the writers of the story started to make the viewers feel more simply with Park Tae Joon's parents. Let's just be honest they were a bunch of assholes that played favoritism with their kid and even later on Park Tae Joon's mom had the audacity to tell Park Tae Joon that he couldn't date Park Tae Yang saying that he was a horrible brother because he didn't think about his sister. Even when Park Jun Young said that she made up with Park Tae Yang and that they were good the mom still tried to tell tae joon what he couldn't do like she never cared about him she only cared that it involved his sister. And so for the writers to just brush it off and try to give them a character development was a poor choice especially because it happened so quickly with no build-up to them getting better. The last thing I didn't like was the second couple. I wanted to like them but it killed me every time Lee Yoo Min would just chase after Yook Jung Hwan and he would just push her away and then when she started to let go he would just pull her back in. It was a game of push and pull with these two. And another thing that bugged me is that he would always bring up Park Jun Young when he was with her and I get it that was his first love and he loved her but if he wasn't ready to let go of her completely he shouldn't have got in a relationship with Yoo min. Yoo Min is a better woman than me because if Jung Hwan treated me the way he treated her I would have broken up with him so quickly you would have got dizzy.

But after talking about all the things I hate I have to say that I enjoyed the sports except for this show. That is the whole reason I started this even though I wish there was a little bit more sport and that we got to see who won the match at the end of the show. Also even though their relationship wasn't that long I love how they interacted with each other and that you could feel the love that they have for each other. So even though I didn't love this show as much as I wished I still enjoyed it and am glad that I watched it.

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It was nice!

I didn't have many expectations as I started watching, and I was pleasantly surprised. The drama doesn't have a fascinating and different plot, but it had enough to keep me hooked. This is a great drama for those who enjoy lighthearted kdramas. The romance builds up (and it doesn't take long, which I'm really thankful for), the couple is adorable, Taejun (the male lead) has golden retriever energy which made it so cute to watch and there're friendships developing, cute secondary couples and amazing supporting characters that have my heart. There were a few moments where I felt like the main thing keeping them apart was being too extended, it could've been resolved quickly. That being said, it definitely didn't bother me too much, there were plenty of great moments and I never felt like quitting it. Comparing to other kdramas I've watched, this had quite a peaceful ending — and I love it even more because they didn't deprive us of the characters being happy until the last minute of the last episode — it was really pleasing and well spread out.

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Love All Play-- a second chance at life.

If youre planning to watch this drama, I'd say do it when you need to pass time. I was under the pretense that this drama was similar to Weighlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. And honestly, its setup of childhood friends, overcoming traumas, motivating each other-- it could've become a kdrama classic.

But what stops this drama from achieving what WFKBJ is the following:

CONS-
1) the entire "incident"- honestly, they could've come up with an entirely different idea. Because rather than focusing on the leads, this plot point made it impossible for anyone to breathe. Everyone was miserable. No one understood the word "accident". This wasn't even a plot hole, this was just...not the right way to add tension.


2) the fl CANNOT catch a break--
--> firstly, i cannot fathom why she has such low confidence. Guilt does not equal unconfidence. The way she was treated by everyone except for the ML....was so heartbreaking and frustrating.

-->secondly, she was too pitiful for me to even remotely hate. Yes, i hated how she accepted a lot of shit and how she never spoke back. I just wanted to hug her and say its okay.

3) the parents-- the fl's father had a slightly better redemption arc.

But the ML's family...oh my oh my. I cannot control my rage. Boys need as much as attention as girls. The concept of equality with the ml's parents ceased to exist. Its funny how this drama portrayed the family on the other extreme spectrum: generally the son is coddled and daughter would be ignored....here its the opposite. To the point where i wondered how the ML is still SO AFFECTIONATE with them.

4) a lot of reasoning did not take place which....put the story out. The pacing wasn't appropriate, which made the pre-post-after the incident coming to light, very messy. We get no explanation, we get only a series of setbacks for our fl and then a 2 minute conversation.

PROS

1) The acting- I'm so sad the story was not it. Because the acting was IT. Even minor characters played their role well. I'm a sucker for pretty smiles and both leads were SO PRETTY WHEN THEY SMILED.

2) the love stories&friendship-- im a sucker for stories where romance is a part of the characters life. Rather than romance being the axis, we had characterisation of the YUNIS members that stood as the backbone, out of which romance was a small, cozy part of it. Every member of YUNIS had their good and bad and so many heart touching moments.

3) the love for sport: i'm no professional player, but i liked that we were able to see a couple of impressive rallies and PARK TAEYANG'S SMASH IS SO GOOD?! I play badminton casually now im all PUMPED to play better. The love for sport unified different people with different mindsets. And thats what is the main focal point of this drama, which never failed to shine till the end.

4) OSTS- i usually skip the intro of dramas, but i didnt. Diamond by Yonghoon(onewe), When the Door opens( intro by JT&MARCUS), There There by Baek A Yeon were insanely pleasing to listen too.

Tldr: had potential, but the story screwed up. Props to everything else. As a drama watcher it was frustrating to see wasted potential. But, do give it a chance when you're doing something monotonous or don't feel anything makes sense in life.

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Wasted potential

Plot:
At first I was liking it a lot, it seems like it would be a nice story about friendship, romance and self-improvement... But when it was known what happened years ago between Tae Yang and Jun Young it felt so dramatic, everyone started acting like they had 15 years??? When they were supposed to be 25 years old, that was annoying.
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Couples / Chemistry:
I'm not going to lie, the two couples had excellent chemistry.

The second couple deserved more time screen, was the best thing that could happen in this drama, from their chemistry, how their story unfolded, their cute moments, and how they overcame everything and managed to be happy.

The main couple had chemistry and it was nice to see how ML always supported and was there for FL but there came a point where it was stressful, her crying, him consoling her and that vicious circle LIKE STOP
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Acting:
Okay, I'm not really complaining about the acting, Ju hyun and Jong Hyeop really made me cry in their emotional scenes and as dramatic as the central problem of the plot was, you could feel their pain and want everything to be fixed at once.
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Ost:
It seems like meh dramas have the best ost, I'm a fan of the intro song >>>

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recommend watching !!!!!!

I absolutely love how different the drama is, not actually predictable and it has the right amount of everything, its funny, inspirational, dramatic, romantic and sweet.

Not going to deny that for a few episodes all the guilt tripping they love so much in korean dramas got to my nerves, but I have gotten used to it by now.

This is One of the few dramas where you can see the love and the relationship of the main couple grow and develop. They have an incredible electrifying chemistry and it feels so real. The way they tease each other and their conversations, it all looks so real.

The side stories are also great with a lot of interesting characters and unique personalities, there's nothing cliché about this show!! Be ready for a lot of funny and silly moments, the relationship of the dads and coaches and all that bickering between them had me laughing so much!

The male lead is one of the most balanced and least toxic characters out there, he is mature and always respectful of whatever the female lead wants to do.

I'm really looking forward to keep seeing dramas like this.

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Came for the sports, stayed for the leads

This drama is going to be an underrated gem just like Be Melodramatic which had similar low ratings when it aired and then developed its own following later. This drama has also had really low ratings and Disney’s international distribution strategy is baffling.

If you come expecting 2521 , you will be disappointed. If you come expecting a Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo , you will be pleasantly surprised like I was. The director, writer and leads only have few dramas under their belt and the rawness is evident as you watch the drama. But the sincerity of the story, the innocent charm of the leads, the pacing in the writing is what keeps you hooked.

Story: The story isn’t ground breaking. A corporate badminton team with coaches and athletes where these athletes are trying to achieve their dreams, get over their respective traumas and find their place in the sun. A tragic incident binds the 3 leads and they must detangle themselves from this unfortunate past. How they do this is the crux of the plot. The only time the pacing or the writing felt a bit dragged is when they stretched the melodrama in the episodes 10-14, which was in contrast to the funny banter , budding romance and camaraderie we got to see in the first 8 episodes. But I’m willing to overlook this for the fact that the writer has penned down the best boyfriend in Kdrama history ( hands down!) and lovable characters.

Cast / Acting : Park Ju Hyun as the female lead grows on you, she has portrayed the inner turmoil of Taeyang to perfection. Her being in love and yet never losing a chance to banter with Taejun is a delight to watch. Kim Moo Joon as Yuk JungHwan surprised me, I heart his portrayal a lot. From being an arrogant ass to being the highest supporter of Park twins, from being unsure to being totally committed to Yumin, from being a pest to his coach and then pushing his coach to aim higher, JungHwan’s character arc was great to watch. Special mention to all Yunis team members, their little side stories were lovely, their bonding superb. The coaching trio led by Jo Han Chul was a riot, but so awesome being protective of their athletes’ well being. Seo Ji Hye was adorable as Yumin and she and JungHwan were such a wonderful pair to watch. Park Ji Hyun was all right as JunYoung, Parents of both leads were the most passive aggressive parents I have seen, especially TaeJun’s mom and you will know why when you watch.

The real star of this show though was Chae Jong Hyeop in the lead role of Park TaeJun. Even if you get disappointed with the drama, there is no way you will be disappointed with his character and performance. He is that good. Taejun like I said above is the best written boyfriend in KDramaland. He was perfect in every way - as a son, brother, player, teammate, friend and boyfriend, even as an ex-boyfriend. He was loyal, supportive, emotionally mature, honest, and not afraid to call out bullshit and stood up for what was right. His admiration and support for Taeyang was unwavering despite the tragic past. I loved how his face lit up everytime Taeyang was in front of him. Chae Jong Hyeop’s eyes talk and it’s the one thing that I love in an actor. Also his bright, wide smile - just warms my heart!

Music : I loved the opening track , it gets your adrenaline pumping, and rest of the songs are also nice.

Overall: I went with minimal expectations. I wanted to watch for CHJ after seeing him in The Witch’s Diner and because I enjoy sports based shows. But I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this drama. It’s not perfect, but it’s a drama that has good mix of lighthearted comedy and warm hearted moments. The banter and rivalry between Taejun and JungHwan is my favourite. My only complaint is that the badminton element went into the background in the second half; I definitely would have liked to see their growth on-court more. I have already rewatched this drama twice - so I would definitely recommend it to you all.

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Couples just had me stick to watching it

It honestly had a strong start, the leads had great chemistry and had me smiling foolishly every episode. It went downhill when they kept dragging the story of Junyoung and the main couple had been on and off. Tae Yang also kept trying to quit badminton which I get but it has been hard to watch them suffer for so long. Tae Joon just kept keeping his feelings to himself and cared for others, which breaks my heart cause no one is checking up on him. The mother of Tae Joon as well was so hard to watch and took her a while to redeem herself, they had a redemption arc for her on the last ep, which at that point didn't really leave an impression on me. The ending also felt kind of rushed and I wished to see them actually play one last time. The second couple Yu min and Jung hwan were also a cute couple, didn't expect to like them as much! Jung hwan and Tae Joon also being close friends is also something I wanted to see more, they're so funny XD
Wish there were also more scenes from the other couples especially Seung woo and Young sim, the way Seung woo was there for her all these years is so heartwarming

I would love to rewatch this for the fun and cute scenes only, but for the drama I wouldn't cause it got really frustrating. The main couple is a pretty underrated couple imo, would love to see them in another project, hopefully a pure romcom one XD

The acting though is great, especially the leads, you can just see how they are hurting and loving through their eyes. Their personalities also blend well together, they are both pretty hyper. Tae Joon is such a golden retriever boy and his smile gets me every time!

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How did i miss it untill now...

Not sure how to start as i had such a nice time watching this. Loved it completely and will definitely re-watch it.
Chae Jong Hyeop is a new discovery for me, he has such a handsome charisma, impossible to resist.
The drama is about love, sports and perseverance for the things you love, in this case is badminton.
I really loved how straight forward is the ML, if he has to say something he will say it without taking corners. I believed in him from start till the end.
What i didn't understand through all the series why only mail female lead was blamed for the accident. The other girl/woman who was 22 at the time had fun, drink and went for skateboard itself, maybe the main female lead proposed it, but she is an adult she could refuse no problems, so why the other part was to be blamed. Only the male mail lead mentioned a couple of times as it was an accident. I think Park Tae Yang only fault was that she came with the idea to have fun and didn't tell the truth afterwards, but not the gravity to be blamed to such extent.
Another thing that made it worth it as all characters are interesting in here. Chemistry is absolutely gorgeous between Park twins.
There is a lot of sad moments in this drama, but not sure why it felt so warm to me.

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The most sincere love you will ever received after hurting someone

The story was ordinary, however, the solid performances of the actors made this drama likeable. I was bored in the first few episodes but as the story progressed, my enthusiasm to go on watching revived. The lead couple's interactions made me smile especially in scenes when Park Ju Hyun acted awkwardly cute though in most of the scenes, you will just end up in tears. Notable scenes for me were the love teasing of the team members when finally the lead couple's dating was discovered by all and the two fathers betting whose daughter to come first and bragging of their future son in-laws. I liked the character of the male lead who I happened not to be familiar with. He has his own wounds and yet, he has a great sense of responsibility and matureness in dealling with his love relationship with Park Ju Hyun, the genuine and purest kind of love a girl could wish for.

The opening song was cool. The plot of this drama was simple but the script was written remakably that it will remain in your thoughts after watching it.

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Easy to digest with some very little angst

July 3, 2022

Waw another Kdrama that I finished. As an avid badminton enthusiast and a player, this drama really hits close to home. Sure, I may not have pursued badminton as a career, but it really made me wonder if I followed this route instead of going to college. I really miss badminton and sure maybe I was on the high school team but those years spent were really memorable for me.

Back to the review, the main characters were not perfect and I love how they showed their flaws. It makes them more human if you know what I mean, as for the second lead couple. HOLY FAWK. I love and live for their scenes. There are points in the series where they were the ones I was looking forward to. The dynamic of both couples was just adequate. As for Taejun's mom, literally was the biggest eye sore. I still can't believe her actions or the way she thinks. It literally boils my blood.

Anyway, I think this drama is perfect for those who want the easy to digest with some very almost none existent angst to spice it up. If you are an avid fan of potato boy (if u get the reference then ur my bestie now), make sure to watch this ?

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sport romance, with some family drama

Love All Play (2022) -9/10 kdrama

very nice sport themed romance drama with nice comedy vibe. Vibe is little alike to 2521.
Story goes around friendship, sport, some past trouble drama, overcoming mental and phys problem etc. Overall this drama didnt really have any slow of literally boring part at least for me.
There was always something happening, when main leads stagnated, side characters story picked up and their story was quite interesting too.

plot - FL was golden medalist and well known badminton genius, but she left this sport in hurry under unclear reasons leaving behind just bunch of gossips. Now 3 years later she couldnt take it anymore and decided to return to her loved sport knowing she will have to face the past.

genre - sport, comedy, romance

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Please don't watch it if you are feeling DEPRESSED!

Hmm so I kinda dragged on the drama in the middle and finally finished it today watching at X1.5 speed... Not trying to discourage anyone from watching but I think I know why this drama ended up recording a low viewership in Korea.

First of all, the overall story and the ending is definitely great if you are looking into a comfort/healing drama. All things eventually got wrapped up nicely although there were some parts that I couldn't really agree on. There are many lighthearted and sweet moments during the start of this story, FL and ML clicked really well together as they delved deeper into their relationship and their past! 2nd couple is super cute as well!

Another point that is good is that it's a relieve the characters made up and resolved their past regrets and the hurt caused. This part will sit very well for anyone who had watched 2521 and felt immensely disappointed with the ending. For me, I felt both dramas' ending are well made and logical given that both of them had quite a different story setting. 2521 was more focused on the process of growing up to adulthood and facing common issues outside of their career/lifestyle, which is why after the all the characters made it as adults they still miss their old days together. Love all play on the other hand, mostly focused on untangling what happened from the accident 3 years ago that tormented everyone who were involved. Eventually, Junyoung moved on from her pain and regrets, reconcile with Taeyang.

So for the parts that I felt really draggy and kept me in low spirits was the fact that because of the unspoken accident, Taeyang always seem drowned by her guilt... Though she tried to walk out of it but as usual there are always things or people that hinders her way back to normal life. It's understandable that her team mates could not accept her at the start since there were rumors flying around about her but I'm speechless how a pro-athlete team can behave so childishly for so long... I know such things do occur in real sports organisations but honestly I don't think such behaviors is suitable to keep emphasizing for a drama. Junyoung and her parents as well kept delving themselves in victims' mentality, this part really made me skip it every time they show it... It is true that she was a victim but what's done is already done and they have made their own decisions for it too.

I hate TaeJun's parents the most! I'm sorry to say this but if I were the ML I would have left the family already. The parents are literal hypocrites...

Thus, I guess if you are experiencing some depressing times yourself, I would not recommend it to watch as the negative parts does go on for quite a few episodes. If really want to watch, maybe you can skip the middle episodes when the JunYoung returned to Korea. Skipping to almost last few episodes won't make you feel lost as the story plot is kinda predictable.

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