by HappySqueak, November 3, 2016
27

5 Reasons to Watch Sweet Stranger and Me

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1) A Shaken Female Lead Who Is Actually Quite Strong

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Soo Ae is Hong Na Ri, a sassy flight attendant, whose world seems to be crumbling around her. Talk about a twist of fate: Sweet Stranger and Me wastes no time in shaking up the drama pot with an immediate onset of trials and tribulation for Na Ri. She first loses her mom due to a tragic car accident and then shortly afterwards discovers that her boyfriend of 9 years has been cheating on her with a co-worker of hers’. Her imagination comes up with some creative concepts for calling it quits, but in reality she is jaded and coolly says her peace over the phone cutting him out of her life!

Arriving at her home after a long stretch away due to her job as a Flight Attendant, a surprise is waiting for her. 


2) The Stranger

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While Na Ri is stubbornly strong, she does have a moment of weakness after trying to drink away her problems. On her way home, she discovers a strange man in her yard. He’s cute-to-boot! But who is he?

Well it’s Kim Young Kwan as Go Nan Gil! Through a string of awkward situations, it is revealed that this guy, who is possibly younger than she is, is her Step-Father!!! He professes that he loved her mom very much, that they were married and that he accepts Na Ri as his daughter now.

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But it is mind boggling to take all this in along with the female lead. Was it an extreme noona romance between a young man and a senior citizen?  Of course it’s perfectly natural that she’s caught off guard by this. He is a complete stranger.

In some moments during the drama, Nan Gil tries to take on a ‘fatherly’ role which comes off as aloof and weird, to say the least. His actions and words fray her nerves, especially when he starts poking into her personal business. She’s undecided whether to trust him or to file a lawsuit against him.

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However, in most situations it’s hard to take him seriously. As a result, his gestures and actions are extremely smiley worthy. 


3) Different Kind of Leading Pair Relationship?

So almost right away, we are trying to determine what relationship will evolve from the two main leads. With him legally being her step father and in possession of her home, which is also her mother’s dumpling business, we can almost sense that any romance between them would be awkward and taboo.

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Can we expect a strong friendship to blossom as they come to understand each other? Or will hidden secrets clear things up,  giving the leading pair a green light? While waiting for more episodes to be released and for more back story to surface, we can only speculate in a fun way. 


4 The Other Guys

Of course it wouldn’t be a drama without ‘the other guys.’

First up is...Yuck! The unfaithful boyfriend, Jo Dong Jin, played by Kim Ji Hoon. He is still pining after her, trying to resolve the situation and marry her, regardless of how his cheating/texting another woman is now widely known.  He’s determined to not let her go in the first couple of episodes but Stepdad Nan Gil tries to lay down the law for him to stay away from his ‘daughter’. Time will tell if he gets the message and actually steers clear of her. Currently, the female rival is played by Jo Bo Ah. She's attached to Nan Gil and poses to be a frustrating potential rival.

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*In this scene, Na Ri's now ex is busted in the car with her rival who has been secretly dating him. They freak out after getting her call on speaker phone.*

Also enter wealthy, handsome, and self proclaimed scumbag, Kwon Deok Bong (played by Lee Soo Hyuk). He’s all about business and does not hide his motives. He’s intrigued at being rebuffed by Na Ri when he’s used to having a different ‘effect’ on women. His character seems witty and interesting! He also seems like a troublemaker full of mischief.

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*At least he's honest about it :)

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There is also an uncle who is shrouded in mystery. Why did he borrow a large sum of money and why is he in hiding following the car accident involving Na Ri’s mother?


5  A drama worth watching: Cast | Soundtrack | Writing |  Production

The cast can certainly speak for itself. The star studded cast step into their roles, and thanks to their talents, take us on an enjoyable ride full of twists and turns. 

Thanks to the writing, it's guaranteed to pave the way for some more endearing, comedic, and dramatic moments as the story progresses.

The soundtrack is light with a hint of upbeat melodies that are well suited to the quirky scenes and interactions between the cast. The production quality seems to have a great budget as locations, settings, and wardrobe are all well selected to set the right mood and feel of the characters. I’m expecting some great moments from this drama and hope other viewers are enjoying it as well.

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What do you think so far? Is Sweet Stranger and Me on your list?