Lovestruck in the City (2020)

The ML is an adorable Teddy Bear.

When you put yourself in the ML shoes, all you can think of is that the guy is a saint and so damn mature. Even after all the things FL put him through, he still loved her and went out of his way to understand where she was coming from.

We get that FL was coming off a lot of hurt and the reasons she chose to escape her life, but at some point she should have told him the truth. She made selfish decision to protect herself from the hurt and allowed the poor guy to go crazy. He was so damn worried about her. While ML is 10/10, I do wish the FL would have put him first and at least told him the truth about her life. So what if they had went there separate ways, at least he wouldn't torture himself like that. Knowing the ML, they might have reconciled sooner.

Now, as a viewer, I completely enjoyed the style of the drama. I also had fun watching how frustrated the guy was and all the things he shared so freely. I honestly wish more people were this brave. I also liked how the FL gradually shared how she felt but she clearly was the more loved by the ML.

The supporting characters were also pretty good and fun to watch.

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Relatable and realistic (kind of)

The acting was pretty much accounted for, having a stellar cast. However, the plot and direction can be a hit or miss depending on the audience watching. Personally, I enjoyed both aspects. The way the entire series was shot was refreshing for a kdrama and it reminded me of more western productions. The interspersed past and present also kept me curious throughout the series. Although the storyline may be frustrating, i think that's a part of the point of the plot. Honestly, Ji Chang Wook and Kim Ji Won's whole plot was frustrating but i think it's supposed to be, especially the way everything was set up. I think it was realistic. I won't discuss it in detail as to not spoil anything. However, as realistic as it may for me, this is entirely subjective as I base from my personal experience. Other people in the audience may not get it or even like their storyline at all, depending on their own experience, personality and how they see relationships. However, I do think that the other couples in the series was as interesting as theirs as well, despite less story building allotted which is one of the things I could say I wished they had done in the series. I wish they could've dived deeper into the story of the others, especially Han Ji Eun and Ryu Kyung Soo's. I think that would balance out the series better rather than just making them seem like side stories to make everything connect in the end.

This was a pretty good watch for me though, overall. It felt more like a movie and I didn't even notice time passing at all especially each episode was only 30-40 min each. If asked if I would recommend this to others, I think I would definitely do so.

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Every adult finding themselves should watch this series

On the surface, this drama was a treat to the senses: beautifully composed shots, an OST that accentuates the emotion of the scenes and gorgeous leads.

It'll take some patience to get through to the first 2 episodes but I thought it was appropriate in helping the viewer piece the connectedness of the characters. It's a complex and mature script without the usual tropes which is both refreshing yet touching.

What is the story about? Love stories which are vessels for exploring self-love and self-worth and how these impact relationships.

Explosive chemistry between Kim Ji Won and Ji Chang Wook and on their own, very nuanced performances. Along with the beautiful script, I felt every gut-wrenching moment of despair of the male lead and the insecurities of the female lead. I also loved both the side stories of the other couples - the standout scenes for me from them were Rin-i & Kyeongjun's break up (mad respect for someone who knows her worth!) and Kang Geon and Sun-Young's closure.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who's been trying to find and love themselves. If you're not on that journey, you might find this bland but oh! what a gem you'd have missed.

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Very good but alas the ending is a different story

* SPOILERS ALERT *

Like I said this drama is pretty amazing… until the last ep. For starters, the cinematography is wonderful, especially the scenes at the beach in the flashbacks (I wish I could live in a environment like that lol). The documentary-like format didn’t bother me too much. It was original and added a little something to a story that would have been maybe a little too plain without it. The only downside was the confusion it made me feel at times. I didn’t really understand how they could communicate with each other : I guess the producer/spoke person each time relayed to the others what one of them said ? I think there was an app or something like that too but yeah it was definitively confusing especially in the first episodes. Also, there was a scene that perplexed me a little in which Jae Won spoke directly to the camera then the focus widens and we see Eun Oh with Jae Won still in the background but there’s no cameraman with him. It was like the crew etc were invisible the whole time lol. But despite these little oddities the format grows on you and you learn to appreciate it.

I was also agreeably surprised when I realized there was a good amount of humor mixed with the more “realistic” vision of life and romance because I thought it would be kinda depressing considering the synopsis but not at all fortunately. I absolutely loved the bond between the 3 childhood friends and their interaction with everyone else. In fact I liked every character in this drama. All 3 “couples” were great together but they weren’t defined entirely by their romantic relationships (but bear in mind that romance is at the center of the drama). All the actors did an fantastic job and their chemistry was off the charts! I don’t want to spoil too much because the journey is what makes it really special. But if you want to watch this, just keep in mind that all of these characters have flaws. Their decisions sometimes doesn’t make sense at all but hey I don’t think that us viewers always choose the most logical decision in our lives. So that’s why I could relate to their problems even if it was a little frustrating to watch. There’s also a little redundancy that sometimes alter the pacing of the story but the cinematography makes up for it. I was just so amazed by the beautiful shots and beautiful actors/actresses that I didn’t really care in the end. The OST is also a big factor in making all of this work, I simply loved all of the songs and they were perfectly chosen.

* BIG BIG SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING *

Now for the final ep… I just didn’t understand. Why was there a sudden focus on the cop and his (childhood ?) best friend turned actress ?? Even tho I liked his character, there was no reason to add a love interest for him in the last ep. Like yeah they were kinda cute but I felt absolutely nothing watching them together. In fact I just wished the focus would shift again to Kyung Joon and Rin I. So many questions are left unanswered between them ! What was the letter written by KJ’s grandpa (or uncle I don’t remember exactly) ?? Why was it important ?? And who was the man who answered when KJ called Rin I ?? Are they really done when it seemed like they were so madly in love with each other ? Why did the writers decide to keep these things a secret when we were even shown how Eun Oh and Jae Won met each other in the past ? I thought for a moment about a possible season 2 but it doesn’t seem likely… That’s why I’m a little frustrated with the ending, it just felt different than the rest. Although I’m of course very happy our main couple is endgame and reassured about the fact that there’s still hope for Gun and Sun Young in the future.

To conclude it was still very good and I will give this drama a 9/10 for ep1-ep16 and a 7/10 for ep17. So for the entire drama maybe an 8,5/10 ? It seems fair because I still enjoyed the ride and the quality (production, music, actors) was overall exceptional. So watch this if you like flawed and realistic characters, amazing chemistry, tales of friendships and overcoming hardships and a very good amount of cute and swoon worthy moments.

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Awesome

Awesome
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The story in this drama was strange to me but they played it off. The stories of couples and their relationship was intriguing to me. I am happy that Ji Chang Wook (Park Jae Won) was the lead in this drama. I love his acting and what he brings to the screen. He brought his character to life and of course, he made Park Jae Won come alive. Kim Ji Won (Lee Eun Oh) did very well in this drama. I didn't think the chemistry was not there with Lee Eun Oh. Their ending was also strange but it also came okay. The other actors/actress who plays in main roles did their jobs. I did have a problem believing one actress but I will not say a name. Why mention it you ask? Well, I want to see if your reviews will see that as well. Thank you to all the supporting actors/actresses the story wouldn't be told without them. I also didn't like the storyline where the actors/actress was pretending to talk to someone who was filming their lives. Don't go by what I said, you need to watch it and give your own review.

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dropped for 2 months

Started this drama cause I was charmed by JCW, but past 5 episodes it was really difficult to move forward. The story seemed all over the place with 3 couples from the city, who are doing a reality show interview.
Well, the drama concept and cinematography in the interview manner were quite good but it was extremely slow-paced.
Then watched ep 8 and was so annoyed that I dropped it for 2 months. I was so angry over Lee Eun Oh, she was a messed up character and didn’t know what she was doing. And ultimately the joke she played in the past is the core of the whole story that annoyed me even more. all the characters are into some misunderstanding which leads them to break up, but they DON'T TALK. a relationship is healthy when you clear misunderstanding if any of the partners are uncomfortable or have any issues. they have a silent breakup and the other person keeps on wondering where is the problem. WHY can't they have a healthy breakup, they are not kids, they are working adults but their behavior is so mehh
I picked it up again to finish this off my CW, because of JCW and Choi Min Ho. Yeah CMH was a surprise and helped in getting this through. and I liked that he also got his share of the story in the last episode.

Overall it is an OK watch, but I won't recommend it, cause all the characters don’t have an answer to why they are doing it. They were all messed up.

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Enjoyable story with great acting and an interesting look into relationships

Good story with range. Loved the emotional exploration of love, trust, identity, and relationships. Even more so just the character development that the two main characters had throughout the show. The two main characters grew tremendously throughout the show, although it becomes more apparent in the second half of the show once the introduction of the backstory is complete. The comedic timing and look into friendship just made it even more fun to watch.

My only qualm is that most of the story was focused on the center couple and the short 30-40 minute episodes. This left the other 4 main characters as mainly plot devices (for at least the first half of the show) with hints of depth we saw from time to time. The last few episodes seemed to foreshadow that there would be more episodes/seasons, and I hope so, because if not those characters were really just not explored enough. Overall great acting from the two leads (who really contributed to the high score) and an interesting insight into relationships with all the expectations, joy, growth, and loss that they bring.

I would say if you are doubting it, just watch the first few episodes and try it. The episodes are short and easy to watch a couple to see how it feels for you.

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Half-done love stories that leaves you yearning for more

Lovestruck in the City is a promising concept with uneven execution. The docu-style format feels fresh, following six interconnected unique souls, navigating the complexities of love and life. While the show strives to be different, it leaves you wanting more. The narrative stumbles when it comes to giving equal weight to the characters. The main couple, Jaewon and Eunoh, get a satisfying arc while the others get sidelined.

Rin-i and Kyungjun had so much potential! A seemingly solid and dynamic couple, then the series throws a fight scene at us and expects us to believe this is the end of a years-long relationship? It felt rushed, uncovering none of the complexities of a long-term relationship. We never get to see them grow, navigate real conflicts or even understand their motivations. It's a wasted opportunity. Instead, the series throws their story as well as the characters away, serving a rushed breakup on our platter.

Rin-i especially comes across as selfish. Did Rini ever truly care? They could’ve delved into Rini's motivations, the driving force behind her uncaring, immature, free-spirit nature. Kyungjun remains hopelessly in love, just like in the beginning. Was kyeongjun’s devotion genuine love or a desperate need for stability? We deserved to see them evolve, not just stay stagnant characters.

I love that Sunyoung bravely confronted her commitment issues. Geon, the ever-patient lover, finally acknowledges his doormat tendencies which was satisfying. Jaewon and Eunoh also get their well-deserved happily ever after.

While the series ends up being an imperfect exploration of modern love, it truly shines in its intimate moments. Their portrayal of physical affection is natural, free from unnecessary theatrics and awkward movements. Intimate scenes which are well shot can truly elevate a drama. Thankfully, the director didn’t shy away from utilising Ji Changwook and Kim Jiwon’s passionate chemistry. The slow burn is perfectly paced because of the short length of the series. It never drags and is surprisingly engaging.

All in all, it's a fun series with a dynamic approach you can watch on your free time.

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Sixteen-Seventeenths of this show is brilliant

I am really not sure why this show has such low ratings, as it was really enjoyable to watch. The plot was simple, but still unique and very fun to watch. There are two timelines, as part of this show is a flashback of events, and those are some of the cutest scenes I have ever witnessed. A lot of this show makes you feel good and warm inside, so a big plus. The thing that makes this show stand out is it's format. It is a mockumentary, and some people do not seem to like it, but it was done well in my opinion. Characters were in a pretend documentary of their life, and it was good because it was a clever way to show each person's perspective on the events that happened. In reality, most of Lovestruck in the City was shot like any other show, and the interview parts were really only there when they needed to be there when it helped the show.
This may sound weird but DO NOT WATCH EPISODE 17. Without any spoilers, that episode is not necessary one bit, and it was just infuriating to watch. Episode 16 is the real finale of this show, nothing else happens in episode 17. So if you do choose to watch episode 17, then just consider it a bonus episode after the finale, which was episode 16. This show was honestly perfect, and destined for a 10/10 (I have never given a show a 10 so I do not take this lightly), however the ending was just so frustrating, so a 9.5 is necessary.
This show was overall so great to watch, and I was addicted. The episodes are shorter (only half an hour), so it is perfect to binge. Some people say they got bored, but I was fully invested every minute so to each its own. I would say to give this show a shot, watch the first episode or two, they are short, and if you like it then stick with it. Also the music was great, both English and Korean songs were featured, so an overall great show with a fittingly great OST.

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