This review may contain spoilers
The first episode was all over the place and the female lead was hard to like. The next few episodes were so funny, however, that I hoped that this would be a keeper drama with an imaginative and unexpected story line. I should have known better. The usual tropes took over, plus during the last few episodes the leads were so sickeningly sweet with each other that I’m surprised I didn’t go into diabetic shock. I’ve also learned that if you fall in love in Korea you should look for a serial killer lurking nearby. Was this review helpful to you?
I'm a sucker for a good romance and chemistry.
This was just so cute!Idc about the stalker, the past lives, the curse, the witchcraft/shamanism…this drama as a ROMANCE alone EATS.
Rowoon is like a proper romance leading man (which was a welcomed surprise as the last and only thing I’d seen him in -to completion- was Extraordinary You, years ago and he was just a babee).
The chemistry, the longing, the denying, the kisses, the looks are all a 10/10
The way this man speaks about his feelings is honestly what sold this drama for me.
I believe that he loves her with his everything and the prospect of her not loving him back or wanting him would absolutely break him.
I do think they should’ve landed on one solid antagonist or genre tho. We’ve got a stalker, crazy ex-girlfriend, and a past life/curse threatening to keep them apart. Is it a fantasy, romcom, or thriller?
Because there are so many things to keep up with, everything feels like it’s happening in the background.
You start the drama thinking the illness/curse is the biggest issue needing fixing and the intrigue of it draws you in, but you soon forget it as it fades into the back.
In comes the stalker and he does take over our mind for a bit but then he starts sharing screen-time with the weight of their past life and I honestly started to wonder if either of these things even really matters.
We should’ve just scrapped all of this and made it a romcom fully. The romance is what carries this drama
or at the very least, make the weight of the curse/past life setup something that mattered.
I mean it’s literally the synopsis, how could it have become a footnote in the story?
This is a great drama if you want a swoony romance to give you the fuzzies with a twinge of thriller. If you’re looking for a real fantasy drama, I might suggest you look elsewhere.
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Netflix's Top 10 TV Global Non-English seven weeks aired on JTBC Aug 23, 2023 - Oct 12, 2023
This review will not assess cinematography, mise-en-scene, lighting, diegetic etc.Destined With You (This is irresistible Love) 2023
Director: Nam Ki Hoon (Tunnel 1987) (Kiss Sixth Sense 2022)
Screenwriter: Noh Ji Sul (100 Days My Prince 2018)
Main Actors: Jo Bo Ah as Lee Hong Jo/Aeng Cho (Female lead Onju Civil Servant)
Rowoon as Jang Shin Yu/Jang Mu Jin (Lawyer)
Ha Joon Kwon as Kwon Jae Kyung Advisor to Mayor (Second Male lead)
Yura as Yoon Na Yeon (Mayor's daughter, decorator, ex-Girlfriend to Shin Yu
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
This is a love story encompassing three hundred years that requires you to suspend logic because Shamanism, Karma, Curses, past lives and reincarnation must be accepted.
This drama uses non linear storytelling, flashbacks that DON'T fill in all the blanks.
You will be left with questions because the screenwriter, director purposely allowed the audience to develop their own theories of what happened and what will unfold.
If you lack patience, need to interrupt the story at every turn, this isn't for you.
Surrender yourself to this drama; get lost in the beautiful love story between Hong Jo and Shin Yu, you won't be disappointed.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Grandpa to his Grandson stop interrupting me.
Destined With You reminds me of Secret Garden (2010)
Recommend the OST
Lighten up Francis
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This review may contain spoilers
A Light Yet Entertaining Rom-Com
First of all, watch this without any expectations.I find this drama super enjoyable and fun to watch. Although there are parts of it that I'm not fond of but overall the story is engaging and make me want to keep on watching.
I know there's a lot of negativity towards the drama or the actors, but for me, the casts were perfect fit for their roles and the story was interesting enough for me to keep watching it despite my busy schedule (I really watched super late some days).
Ok first of all, Rowoon's acting really improved a lot, I probably love his acting here in this drama and will be my favourite. As he act as "Jang Sin Yu", I sometimes almost mistake it as his own character in real life (that's how impressive his acting to me is). He sure is not only just handsome and tall but his acting is on point. Hope he will keep improving as his acting career soars.
Well.. there's a lot of hate towards Jo Bo Ah acting. However, I don't really agree to it. For me, her acting is always good and on point. I've watched several of her dramas and movies and she did deliver and portrayed her characters very well. I will always root for her in dramas. Her acting as "Lee Hong Jo" was a great one (compare to her last drama where she played a tough character).
Of course, the one acting as villains were as good as the main one to the point I started to hate them every time they showed up on screen (LOL).
All the side characters were great as well. They were cute, funny, sometimes annoying but always fun to see them on screen.
Therefore, I think the producer and writer did really well casting all the actors & actresses befitting all the characters they portrayed. Good Job!!!
Story line, well how to I put it, its easy to follow not as complicated as it sounds. For me the story was very engaging and kept me on edge towards new eps.
In the end, it's back to your own preferences. As for me, I always try to watch several episodes before deciding whether to continue or not without being biased towards the comments. (There were some dramas that disappoint me that I either dropped it or hate it after finish watching it).
Oh one more thing, that all the of CGI they used here are very cool (especially the bloody hand that sometimes appears, it did gave me the creeps).
I do hope you will enjoy this drama as much as I do. Try watching a couple of eps and decide then.
Hope this review will help you . ^^
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Ooof I wish I never touched this drama
Alright, this isn't the WORST drama ever but, I try to pick my dramas carefully so I don't waste my time but unfortunately , this just wasn't a good choice. There isn't really many things to like about this drama honestly. I didn't like the female lead, and besides his outstanding good looks, I didn't like the male lead very much either. And I know the drama is called "destined with you" but come onnnn, I thought they would at least fall in love for reasons other than destiny. I just didn't find their love line believable and I found it so annoying that the male lead would just not break up with his girlfriend, out of "loyalty". But cheating was okay? So confusing and irritating. Also this female lead...my goodness, it really was like watching a damsel in distress of 16 EPISODES. Even when she let herself become bait, like that was the best you could do? Anyways moving on from those two, the office people were INSUFFERABLE. I hated those two girls, and they literally added nothing but negativity and horribleness to the story. I could have definitely done without them. OOH! And of course I couldn't forget about Sin Yu's Dad!! He was absolutely horrible too and clearly a terrible judge in character. I don't know why they just insisted on making him a blockage for all things good for our male lead along with a verbally abusive husband. But yeah, he just added onto the list of things making this drama a chore to watch. The only character I liked in this story was Jae Kyung, and even then its not like the bar was too hard for him to clear.Whelp I'm glad I'm finally done with this drama, so I hope I can move onto a much better drama. Bye for now!
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This review may contain spoilers
The chemistry is UNDENIABLE
It's all worth it because of Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah. They were amazing, a joy to the eyes both charming and beautiful made the story work even if the story itself was weaker in comparison.Acting/Cast:
It's all about the amazing Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah. The end.
Music:
Great music >>>>>>> Park Won (박원) - It's You <<<<<<<<<<3
Story:
Could have been better. I dont like stalker concepts but the back story taking as through the protagonists' past life together was amazing. Never seen beaten up people look more beautiful on screen (joke) <3 No one liked the female lead's coworkers lets be honest. And why did she have to live in that neighborhood? And what is up with the psychic grandmotheer is she for them of against them. Also no reason to base have a love story on a love spell actually ended up making the audiance confused about the male lead's true feelings. Bad script indeed.
Rewatch Value: Yes. For the chemistry between Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah!
Over and out <3
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DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY ITS JUST MY OPINION!!!
Sry but I watched it for rowoon only , the chemistry between the main leads wasn’t as expected . The support characters was more interesting , funny and sometimes annoying . I honestly deeply hated the 2coworkers of the fl i took it personally are they even friends omg i thought i will see any growth as the show goes on but nuhhh even until the last ep when the fl asked them to get closer and improve their friendship and invited them over they refused saying the hot guy in the first floor moved out and agreed when she agreed to bring her bf over OMG i don’t think the writers have any real friends at all . It was okey at first in the first few ep they treated her trushly I thought its okey its for the plot and to show us the growth in their friendship with the fl (that’s what I expected) but even in the last ep they’re still the Same .
The fl personality pissed my off the first 5 eps . She does improve but not that much there was massive plot holes and wired story lines sometimes the lines between the main leads was sooooooooo cringe it literally gives me the ick . The story about the past life wasn’t bad but the ml was the crown prince or smth like that whyyyyyy he was sooo weak he couldn’t do anything for his love . He killed her so they can’t or smth , what’s the pointtt of killing her whyyy she really suffered alot for him while he was watching. She almost died infront of him and he just watched with no tears .
The curse was nonsense (the past life fl ) once said who kill her his all generation will die in a young age until the hole generations of this family comes to an end . The ml’s father isn’t cursed why??? Why only the ml suffered from the curse or illness
As I said b4 the drama was a 16 ep long advertisement for both Samsung and Tiffany&co . Like in the scene the fl fell into the hole she passed out but the samsung phone survived it 😂 and many other scenes where the phone is the only one survives , the tiffany bracelet and the samsung phones had more screen time than the support characters
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Too drawn out
November 2023I know this has been really popular and just about everyone loves Rowoon (including me), with Jo Bo-ah having lots of fans too, but... I really struggled with it. Sorry for the negtive review, to those who loved it and perhaps read this.
Unusually for me, a big bugbear was the irritating incidental/background music. Once it irked me, I couldn't zone it out.
The main characters around Hong-jo and Shin-yu, were mostly horrible....
From just awful work colleagues (apart from HJ's team Manager, Eun-young), to Shin-yu's father (so unkind about his mother's intelligence), and a delusional girlfriend; all very unlikeable.
I was also not keen on either lead character. One never took control, strung people along and was frankly, weak. The other was mouthy with one character and yet almost weak around all others.
A few tropes I really don't like, such as the father disliking their off-spring's chosen partner, just because they have no parents and are a 'nobody'; and the usual delusional girlfriend. Done. To. Death.
Apart from that, so many scenes were waaaaay too drawn out and slow, full of long stares and bizarre silent phone calls (where one calls other and then says NOTHING... what is all that about!)
HJ's female co-workers are completely bat poop and also delusional... I didn't find them funny at all ~ really not good writing. One in particular was thoroughly unlikeable.
I often found scenes childish and ridiculous; I mean, a Parks worker with no vehicle, no appropriate equipment/clothing, yet often expected to deal with situations for which they are totally unprepared. Like having to wipe up blood, but not having anything to do so with! Or someone with a suspected stalker, going to remote places alone. Eye rolling.
The story also didn't flow. Scenes felt jerky and disjointed, almost like segments stuck together, at times. The MC can regularly be found randomly standing on a beach, for no apparent reason, just gazing into one another's eyes.
Utterly ridiculous plot lines. Especially around the worst example of promiscuity ever, which just because someone is dating, is apparently openly talking with a man, even though there's a space between them (ie, not cuddled up).
There's also an appalling scene with an octopus, too, that really upset me. Totally unacceptable to me, I'm afraid (and 'culture' doesn't cut it, in a developed country that should know better by now). It wasn't even necessary. Hope to God it wasn't real ~ I'm honestly not sure.
There were scenes filmed in the same location as See You In My 19th Life (Mujinjeong Pavilion, with 'falling petal' fireworks), that actually felt like they almost mirrored that part of the other drama. It felt too similar and really distracted me.
So disappointing and I'd looked forward to this drama, too.
The cast weren't a problem, but actually the drama's saving grace. However, apart from some of the historical scenes, the story was just not for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
A TYPICAL K- ROM-COM BUT ROWOON STEEL THE SHOW
i first i started watching this show was only for the cast because as i am big fan of rowoon (ML) and his acting as it is improving in every drama and jo bo ah (FM) as i have have watched her in TALE OF THE NINE TAILED and her chemistry is really good with ML .the story is really basic one as every korean rom-com have and it was very much predictable but there were some scenes that keep me engaging very much. the past life was much basis but they did the good job in telling it . they make it suspense till the end of the drama .
the 2ML will become memorable as well for me. because he did very good job in his part . i don't like it when they show him in his past life but he did not became like that in the present that was pleasing. his chemistry with the FL was good and those 3 have many COMEDIC moments that made the show enjoyable.
ROWOON have still my heart again in this drama , he have nailed it in the show. he portrayed the cold and cool lawyer and a cute and clingy boyfriend very well. in the first few episode when he was chasing the FL that made me fall for him again , he did it well ( FIGHT WITH ME IF I AM WRONG ) .
it could be 12 or 14 episode drama with not too dragging in the last episode,
as i wanted their wedding scene not other supporting leads and not become brother but father ( YOU'II KNOW IT )
IF YOU LIKE ROWOON'S DRAMA LIKE I DO THEN YOU SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY AS I DID .. HE WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, GIVE BUTTERFLIES. AND MAKE YOU CRY ALSO.
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Keep watching, don't listen to the haters. ( I finished this series and loved it)!!!!
All I can say right now is Rowoon has won me over again!Only at episode 4 while I am writing this quick review and it was so hilarious.
If your the type of watcher that likes to laugh and just enjoy a fun
filled drama, then start watching. The negative reviews are just
from so called watchers who think they could create a better story and
they can't. Bringing down a Drama at first 4 episodes when it's
so fun, only tells that these people are simple targeting greatly
made dramas to keep down the ratings on MDL. In fact it's already
greatly received.
Update after finishing this series-
This was beautifully made and loved how they did not reveal everything in
one go and also loved that the M & F leads had a lot of time for their relationship scenes.
The paste was steady flow, not rushed and the last 5 episodes were wrapped up nicely,
It's quite refreshing to how this story telling was done, most dramas always overload
the last episode but this one paste it and kept what they needed to until the last 2 episodes.
Very good all round cast and the scenes in the office with the co workers made me laughed
alot especially Mr Gong, he somewhat filled the show with his witty unserious character.
My score at the start was 10/10 and it remains the same.
The OSTs were so good especially "I'll Always Be With You" by lyn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKpQUlDgG8I
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netflix power!
i began this drama when it started airing, but didn't even get midway to ep1 before i gave up. i guess i just wasn't curious, both with the story and the pairing (because i didn't expect much) but after 14 eps had already aired i saw it was still top1 currently airing dramas on mdl and decided to give it a chance. binged by pulling an allnighter because i was hooked into the 'forbidden love' aspect.not the best drama ever or anything, but still a decent one. storywise there are a lot of plotholes, but their chemistry made me stay. it was a fun watch. personally think it's a better binge than watching as it airs. nothing spectacular happening that will get you thinking and waiting the whole week for the next eps to drop. yes, they're too sweet it might get cringey, but somehow i enjoyed the cringe lol. this is the kinda drama you don't need to watch 16hrs of to get the plot, a well made fmv will do. the reason it's performing well on this platform is probably because it's aired on netflix which makes it easily accessible.
you can't watch this with a rational and moral mind because of how "destiny" is used as an excuse. so watch it if you're up for some fluff without focusing too much on the plot. not a drama i would strongly recommend or anything, just an average drama you can enjoy if you wanna idle away time.
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Destined with Love
I love this drama from the start till the end, though the last two episodes took a long time to complete. The main actor a singer, a dance and actor Rowon was superb in his acting and ofcourse the main actress was great too and plus all other casts. I noticed Korean drama many of these recalling back the past historical stories and it sometimes made me confused. But somehow luckily it was a good ending cos I never like sad endings like in the past years when Korean drama started most of the dramas had sad endings and un natural act in romance , Looking forward to this actor and actress in other dramas. Great drama overallWas this review helpful to you?
