This review may contain spoilers
Where did the plot GO?
What is it with Netflix and these dumb-down dramas?Whatever happened to the story? For the first half, it may have been silly but like good silly since it had a PLOT to follow. The spells and the curse were interesting. But then suddenly the plot disappeared and we were left with nothing to support this story other than the romance.
So by the end of it, I am left with nothing but confusion, disappointment, and a lot of questions left unanswered. For example:
Didn’t he like have a degenerative disease? What about the love spell, was that ever a thing? There was supposed to be a curse…what happened to it? The crazy stalker was present in both timelines did that mean something? How did he know how to make spells? Am I just missing something? did I miss a whole ass episode where all of this got explained??
Yeah, they were cute and had a ton of chemistry but by the end, there were 0 explanations. It’s like it was an entirely different drama in the second half.
Also, it felt like they had good actors who were terribly underused. Why have Lee Pilmo and Lee Taeri in your cast when they barely appear? They didn't even get proper storylines they were just there to fill space with some sublevel plotlines. Wasted talent in my opinion.
Other than that the other actors did fine. Jo Boah has a talent for obnoxious characters, she plays them too well really. Rowon we can agree, had that good scene at the beginning of ep 16, the rest he did what any other handsome idol/actor does well: play the perfect, cold, stone-faced character. He did have a lot of smiles and puppy eyes for Jo Boah in the end though. The rest of the cast was nothing but fillers since they did not add much to the story. Well maybe a little bit the second ML, I kinda want to see him do an ML gig soon, I saw him in Bad Prosecutor too and I liked him and his acting.
The OST was fine, the production great, the CGI was passable, and the budget was budgeting.
In conclusion, the drama was a letdown since I quite enjoyed the beginning. I don't know what is going around lately with these rom-coms that show on Netflix. Good-looking, popular leads with a high budget and good production will only get you so far. They need to step up their script game because, CHILD how can you spend so much money on something that's this lacking, underfinished, AND JUST SO BAD?
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You will either love it or hate it no in between. Here's a list of Pros & Cons.
I happen to fall on the side where I loved the series. I understand some of the criticism & where people are coming from but also I don't get some of the hate. For examples some people were hating on the Female Lead for being 'silly' & then praise the Male Lead. Yet if you think about it both are similar.. Male Lead was also 'silly'. Also some people didn't understand the plot so they dropped it.. maybe bc you're supposed to stick around & find out more about the plot? lol how are you supposed to find out more about the story if you just drop it bc you're not getting answers. WHETHER YOU WILL WATCH THIS DRAMA OR NOT I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU WATCH EPISODE 14. The backstory, the acting, the music etc were amazing.. my favorite episode of the whole series by far very well done.Pros:
• Cute Romcom
• Thrilling/Suspenseful
• ML/FL Great Chemistry
• Interesting backstory
• Good character development
• Great OST
Cons:
• Plot all over the place
• Support Leads sucked/Coworkers super annoying pretty much unbearable
• Dragged out
• The spells could've been done better it kind of lost importance as it went
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This review may contain spoilers
We're not going back
I wasn't going to write a review but there's just too much that bothers me about this drama. It was bad.I had hoped this drama was good since both leads are some of my favourite actors but it was very disappointing. Rowoon had, so far, chosen the most green flag characters to play and that's something I liked about his dramas. Bo Ah has some of the strongest, smartest and best characters I've seen in kdramas. This choice was very disappointing coming from them.
It's impressive how they managed to milk a non-story into 16 episodes. You only get a sense of the story by episode 13. This could be a 6 episode drama. You can't set up a backstory and basically ignore it for most of the episodes, even forget it exists and then suddenly remember it again. It's boring and nonsensical.
The mean CEO doesn't fit the main character. It's probably one of my most hated tropes, but even if it wasn't, it doesn't make sense. They say he was in love with her after the spell and then go back and say he was in love with her from the start. HE WASN'T! He wasn't even interested in her. He was his bully cheerleader.
The love triangle also makes no sense. The other guy is only interested in her once she has another guy? That's just not wanting someone else to play with your toys, it's not interest or love.
Everything seems so outdated and awful. We're not going back to these types of relationships. There's a lot of misogyny and men mediocrity and this is why we'll continue choosing the bear. I'm hoping movement 4B reaches kdrama land. We don't need to teach young girls and women these types of standards. They're not acceptable anymore.
The FL only stands up to protect "her man" that she loves more than life itself. She doesn't mind harming herself for him to be ok and nothing she does protects him anyway. She keeps putting herself in trouble instead of thinking with her own head. This isn't love, it's some sort of sordid obsession caused by some love bombing.
Among other things that bother me in this drama, there are some that take the cake:
- the talk about purity. It's weird, inaccurate and cringe.
- he offers her a literal handcuff as a symbol of their love.
- everyone is evil for no reason. her colleagues are evil and annoying. They don't even stop being evil or using her once they start talking to her and having meals with her.
- their parents relationship of abuse is awful. What's more awful is that she goes back to him because his company is in trouble. That won't stop the abuse, he won't love her now that she's gone back, things won't get better. He treats his wife so badly and wants his son to have a relationship just like his, someone he can manipulate and abuse. The mother is constantly repeating the abuse she's inflicted and she says that her son chose someone just like her, equally dumb. That's a high level of self-hatred and misogyny.
- the songs don't match the vibe. This drama should be set in another decade according to the misogyny and music.
- the florist storyline makes no sense. There is no indication that he was a chaman in his previous life. He was a guard. His obsession with FL doesn't make sense once we establish that the love potion doesn't work. Her meeting him alone after he tried to murder ML also isn't smart at all. Meeting him alone without any plan and attacking him with a stick? She didn't even have a rock? Things don't add up.
- not even the police on call and a bunch of bodyguards can deal with a woman's stupidity. To be a bait there needs to be a plan, Getting caught and calling the police is not a plan.
- two grown-ass women fighting over a man whose only positive traits seem to be being a handyman and knowing some martial art is cringe, to say the least. It's like they're trying to bring back the idea that women constantly fight each other because "good men are scarce". I believe more in "p€nis is abundant and of low value". This drama confirms my thoughts.
- what made me write this review was how they treated child bullying. In no instant in that interaction did they simply tell the children that bullying is bad. Saying it is illegal and it won't allow them to be famous or earn a lot of money isn't the same as talking about the moral values behind not harming other people. We know it's not true. Not even in South Korea bullying has ruined many careers. Not even the r@pists have seen their careers completely ruined. Even if that were true, and people's lives got bleak (as they said in the drama) because of being prosecuted for this behaviour, it doesn't address the issue, it doesn't stop it. It just tells them they shouldn't get caught doing it.
- the idea that poor people are uncivil and uneducated. There's nothing more rude than arguing with someone in a hospital bed and treating everyone, except your son, like they're beneath you. The women constantly putting themselves down to cater to this man is obnoxious and sad. His outburst and nonsense aren't funny at all.
- the thing about being pregnant and the whole first time is absolute cringe. I'm not even going to talk about that old-fashioned lights off and white dressing shirt in a closet full of clothes kind of nonsense.
- cooking is not a talent, it's a skill.
- women, especially the ones who have been married, are not rushing to marry again. They pressured her to get married. Read the room!
- the unreasonable jealousy is also so last decade.
In conclusion, the ML is a walking red flag and somehow changes personality in the middle of the drama. The FL is one of the weakest I've seen in a while. We're assuming having your heart stop will get you rid of a curse that we don't even know if it's true or not and having it beat again counts as a new life. I don't think it even works like that with cats. It's a half-arsed story with a great cast and a good production. I hate it.
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Cinderella meets Dark Magic and some other stuff...
This started off kind off meeh, with an abundance of over the top annoying characters and the some kind of familier vibe that took me back to 100 days my prince (same writer) that had me waiting for Rowoon to start saying Hoho in this kind of awkward I am above you kind of tone... Just that I never got the Hoho...In this modern and anciant Cinderella meets black magic and stalking drama. Equipped with the evil (highly annoying) step sisters in the form of colleagues, an evil step mother (the second female lead) and yes a prince (our lead). Some may find this drama messy with a lot of subplots and stuff that don't really add anything to the plot. which is kind of true but if you can just ignore that stuff and instead think of it as diversions that are there to make it harder to guess the main plot and have you guessing (done kind of poorly) you may find them ok...
What ups the score is the character development of our leads, the mom, the grandma and the fact that I love my messy clichefests. And I do feel that I have to warn you that even though Rowoon did a good job and looks like he was created to look to perfect, there is a high probability for SLS as Ha Joon plays his character to perfection and makes a damn good second male lead.
So this is not for those who need the plot to actually make sense or have some kind of consistency.I would be lying if I said this did have any of that. This is more of a watch for those who can appreciate turning off their brain for a while. Just watch some pretty scenery, one of dramalands most beautifully filmed bloody death scenes as well as a bunch very good looking leads. In a place where those who are evil are really evil and you can never be fully sure about those who are supposed to be good.
And as you can see this works perfectly for me in my current mood, but is defiantly not for everyone.
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A drama with potential, let down by lack of finesse.
The writer, Noh Ji Sul, penned the full-on, tear-stained melo, Scent of a Woman and also 100 Days My Prince (which I haven’t seen). Here we have out and out romcom for the first half and melo-drama for the last part. It’s worth noting that the genre tags are romance and drama, not romcom. It seems she likes extremes and she mixes them here in line with the current trend of fudging genres.Being used to fixed genres it can sit uncomfortably when they are blended. A great deal of viewer enjoyment comes from having expectations fulfilled. When they are not the viewer is pulled out of the world of the story to deal with their own reactions. You can see it reflected in the comments section for this show. However, in the constant search for something new and different I can see this trend continuing and no doubt we will all adjust our expectations accordingly.
This story is set in two different time periods but the movement between them is somewhat random. Sometimes there are links via dreams, other times were are just catapulted back, which felt disjointed. Some visual/cinematic clues would have gone a long way to smooth the jumps and wouldn’t have been hard to implement. Just part of the overall lack of finesse I mentioned in the subject line.
Even in the present, the timeline was repeatedly twisted up. Once or twice will have the desired effect of increasing tension, but when used too much, you know you are being manipulated and it becomes annoying.
The plot in the past could have occupied a whole drama in itself but was rushed through. I felt the balance in the overall story was off, particularly as I spent the first five episodes twiddling my thumbs in the present time waiting for something to happen. If the writer, and later, the director/editor had decided on a more even weight and distribution throughout between past and present it would have woven a better and more compelling story.
I was puzzled in the first two thirds of the show why they should like each other at all. There were very few interactions that could build attraction and yet all of a sudden there was undying love. Later on the chemistry really worked and drew me in, becoming much more believable. But the viewer needed more ground to stand on early in the piece to give it credibility and a more clever weaving in of the backstory would have solved the problem.
The opening episodes are really at a romcom level, and the action is highly exaggerated to suit that type of presentation. But it does tend to undermine the credibility of the emotions to the point that I felt character integrity was being sacrificed for the sake of a joke. Whereas at the end credibility was sacrificed for a somewhat ridiculous stalker plot.
Rowoon has been very busy in some top-rated dramas in the last few years and he’s not stopping. Is he more than a pretty face? Well he does a decent job here, although his perfect good looks need to be ruffled a little more to really convince. I liked Jo Bo Ah’s performance better, and she is also an actor on the rise with some noteworthy performances on her CV.
In supporting roles, Park Kyung Hye gave a brilliant comedic performance as the desperate Son Sae Byeol, deliciously contorting her face like a slapped arse for most of the time. And Hyun Bong Sik oozed as the slightly sleazy manager Gong Seo Gu.
The cinematography in the historical section is beautifully done, with great use of colour and contrast. There’s some traditional fireworks and those scenes were very beautiful. I’d really love to see those myself - one for the bucket list…
What’s the line between accepted notation and cliché? Is it a matter of viewer perception? For me the accepted notations, such as flickering lights meaning spooky etc, were just too frequent not to fall into tired cliché. There was a distinct lack of imagination and freshness in dealing with the supernatural aspects which really should be laid at the door of the director. As far as the script goes, there’s not a lot of subtlety. It gets the job done rather than looking for novelty. You won’t have to read between any lines here.
Finally, it really isn’t hard to decide what season a drama takes place in. And here it was all over the place. People wearing shorts at Christmas, everything full green and verdant in the depths of winter. Talking about being cold and then hanging out outside. Just unnecessary, sloppy production.
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This review may contain spoilers
Better read the reviews first and then decide for yourself
In my opinion this was a nice story that actually had a lot of potential but was kind of done wrong by the writer/director.I really enjoyed the acting, the cast was nice, especially the leads Jo Bo AH, Rowoon and Ha Joon.
I must say their scenes together were so funny and I'm actually glad I got to "meet" FL and 2ML for the first time in this drama (I will make sure to check their other projects as well). As per Rowoon, I wasn't expecting him to pull off such funny scenes. He was something else. And let's not mention his visuals... <3 I heard he lost some pounds in purpose to fit the character's description and that's to be appreciated actually.
Jo Bo Ah on the other hand seems like a more experienced actress to me and I think she can be greater than this, given a proper script. She can do wonders with her eyes only and oh ma gawd Bo Ah in dark long hair is so so pretty and attractive.
Ha Joon...Ha Joon.. Ha Joon! I'm invested in this guy now. :p So handsome and I think his character turned out great because of him. So funny, yet so manly and responsible/helpful towards the leads although he wanted Hong Jo to like him instead. And that stirr he caused in the City Hall for exposing the Major... just what I expected from such a man :p
But back to the drama :p
I would've preferred they got into more depth with the characters' back stories. Given all the dramas I've watched, the ones with detailed back stories are the ones I like the most. There was this scene Hong Jo holds her father's death anniversary where Shin Yu accompanies her and they get to share some vulnerable moments that I really liked. She had no family, lived alone, ate alone, had no friends whatsoever. They could've at least had Shin Yu move in with her. But no... instead they made us wait 5 decades for a kiss or so. And those romantic moments weren't always a hit for me. Even Mr. Kong and Ms. Ma shared a kiss or got intimate with each other faster than the leads :p
I liked how all three leads got to somehow improve themselves. how their story together changed all three of them (do not ask me to consider Yoon Na Yeon a lead. Just don't!)
So yeah, all in all I say it needed a better script/directing with the repetitive lines, the depth of the characters, the development of the backstories, the conjunction of the horror/romantic elements. Can't say I plan on rewatching it. Not soon at least.
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the acting is crazy
first i’d like to say i just started this because of rowoon. i wasn’t expecting anything from it but it’s actually so good. i watch it really fast like in 2 days or something. the storyline is good but not great. the thing i love the most about it is the acting. both rowoon and bo ah shows the emotions really well. i feel like it’s happening right in front of me when im watching it. especially the scenes in the past, like when aeng cho died i literally cried for 2 hours and it wasnt even that emotional, but the acting was top notch so i cried a lot. it was funny too. i laughed so hard sometimes.the mist memorable scene was the octopus scene i think. it was so funny and cute, i watched it like 19 times.
the chemistry between them is also amazing they look like an actual couple.
overall it’s really good and you should definitely give it a shot!
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A Captivating Blend of Romance, Fantasy, and Law. Give it a try.
"Destined with You" is a mesmerizing Korean drama that effortlessly weaves together elements of romance, fantasy, drama, and law to create a truly unique and engaging viewing experience. While some may dismiss it as boring, this series offers a refreshing departure from conventional K-drama narratives, making it a must-watch for those looking for something different.
One of the most striking aspects of "Destined with You" is its ability to merge seemingly unrelated themes - the mundane life of a civil servant and a centuries-old curse - into a captivating storyline. Lee Hong Jo, portrayed brilliantly by Jo Bo Ah, is a character who embodies the strength and resilience of an ordinary person faced with extraordinary circumstances. Her journey from a lonely, low-grade civil servant to the possessor of a mysterious wooden chest key is both heartwarming and relatable. Jo Bo Ah's performance brings a genuine and endearing quality to her character, making viewers empathize with her struggles and root for her success.
On the other hand, Rowoon's portrayal of Jang Shin Yu, a charismatic and talented lawyer plagued by an unexplained family curse, is equally captivating. Rowoon effortlessly brings out the layers of complexity in Shin Yu's character, from his outwardly successful persona to his inner turmoil. His chemistry with Jo Bo Ah is undeniable and adds a layer of authenticity to their budding romance.
The fantasy element in "Destined with You" is a breath of fresh air, adding a unique twist to the story. The curse that binds Shin Yu's family for generations adds a layer of intrigue and mystery, making each episode a revelation. As the characters work together to uncover the secrets of the curse, the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
Moreover, the legal backdrop of the drama adds depth and complexity to the storyline. It provides a glimpse into the challenges and dilemmas faced by lawyers while offering a realistic portrayal of the legal world. The legal cases in the series are not just a backdrop but are intricately woven into the narrative, creating a seamless blend of law and romance.
In summary, "Destined with You" is far from boring; it's a hidden gem in the world of Korean dramas. It boasts strong performances from its lead actors, a unique and captivating storyline, and a perfect balance of romance, fantasy, drama, and law. So, ignore the haters and give this series a chance. It's a fantastic and definitely worth watching drama that will leave you eagerly awaiting each new episode.
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I waited for this and it is worth the wait indeed.
Rowoon's eye and facial acting (if it is right to describe it this way) really delivers the characters of both Jang Mujin and Jang Shin Yu. For me i find His acting really amazing and impressive. Hoping he can be recognized by any award giving body for this drama. Jo BoAh did also an amazing acting and the rest if the support actors. The plot twist for me can really make you glued watching and waiting for the next episode. The OST they chose is just wow. Overall I loved how this drama, gave Rowoon his change to showcase his acting prowess and there is still more that he can give. Fighting Rowoon.Was this review helpful to you?
This is such a snoozefest
We all have this thing we anticipate a lot right? For me it’s usually books and dramas. I keep waiting and waiting for them investing so much time and money.With books I go ahead and buy special edition versions and then imagine my surprise and disappointment when the book turns out to be a total dud.
This drama felt the same way. It was so dull. The same thing kept repeating onto infinity. Rowoon imbibed some love potion early on in the drama and keeps saying to the FL “I like you”. That’s it, that’s all their conversations. It was so dull. The mystery also took so much time resolving, by which point I could not care less. This show is so boring and dull, that even my rating reflects that. I could not even hate it enough to give it a 1 or 3 stars, I just chose the most boring number on the scale which is 5. If you suffer from insomnia, then this is the drama for you. Look no further.
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If You Like a Good Reincarnation Story
Reincarnation must be trending in Kdramas because this is the 3rd one I've seen this year, and they've all be good. The first three episodes are as cute as can be. Rowoo did an excellent acting job in presenting the conflicting aspects of his character's relationship to Jo Bo Ah's character. Does he need her....does he disdain her....is he just using her....does he like her....or is he just frustrated at wanting her to cure him? The push/pull element of the storyline really grabs you and brings you in. Kudos to Rowoo for simultaneously being cute, aggravating, alluring, distant, funny, sad, and just an all-around emo person in the beginning. He really did a superb acting job!!Then the storyline changes. The middle is a tad slower than the beginning or the end. But this is necessary to develop the sub-plots in the story, and establish the back story of unrequited love between Aeng Cho and Jang Mu Jin. I love, love, loved the historical romance in this story. It filled in the blanks for why these two odd ball characters were attracted to each other.. The secondary characters added much to the overall storyline, and I absolutely cheered when the characters played by Lee Bong Ryun (one of my all time favorite actresses) and Hyun Bong Sik fell in love.
As the story developed, so did the plot lines. I was surprised at the point when I said to myself, "Wow, this went from cute to dark." The story led by its excellent cast had a wide array of plots bringing out all sorts of emotions in the viewer. I laughed, I cringed, I feared, I was intrigued, I smiled, I tried to figure out "who dun it?", I cheered, I applauded,, and all of this kept me tuned in. I could only watch 2 episodes each week, and I couldn't wait until the next 2 dropped. The ending was mysterious. Perhaps a foreshadowing of what will be in Season 2. This was well written and had an excellent cast. If I were to add anything more, it would be to add a dynamite soundtrack. Go watch it! It is well worth the time!!!
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It's good.
I think fans who have been watching kdramas for a while will be able to find familiar elements in what makes Destined with You: Candy female lead, Chaebol male lead, aloof but cool second lead, unhinged girlfriend, past lives and spells. It honestly feels like describing a kdrama from the 2010s, like My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.My issue is the script. The way the story is structured makes the situations feel repetitive, with no proper development in some of the gaps within the logic of the kdrama.
The kdrama mostly works because of the undeniable chemistry between Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon. They both give really good performances, full of charm and heartfelt moments. I have been following both actors since the star of their respective careers and I am delighted to see them grow in their craft.
The secondary characters were entertaining enough but, honestly, forgetful. Yura and Ha Joon being the standouts, along side some veteran actors that overstayed their welcome in my opinion.
The production quality of Destined with You is solid, and it really shows when it "flashbacks" to the Joseon period, the transitions between dream, reality and memory it's amazing and so pretty to look at.
Overall, I think this is an entertaining watch with some issues that can be ignored if you are looking to have a good time with a fantasy rom-com.
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