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Love to Hate You korean drama review
Completed
Love to Hate You
1 people found this review helpful
by SliceofOrange9
Sep 18, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10.0
This review may contain spoilers

Yoo Teo is a Swoon-fest and I'm Here For It

Is this drama a feminist fantasy? Yes.

Does it go overboard into try-hard girlboss territory? Heck no, and that's why I love it.

I loved the FL's spunk while still being earnest, capable and humble. She's not really a gangster, so much as she is unapologetically herself in her convinctions and choices, who also happens to kick literal ass for justice. Kim Ok Bin made her likeable, bold, but still down to earth which made her buckets of fun to watch. A line from her goes, "I'm tough to the bullies but soft to the weak."

And boy does our ML go weak for her. At first he come across as haughty but just beneath the surface is a sweet, vulnerable, affectionate, cinnamon roll. Make no mistake, ML is absolutely a boyish hunk which is usually not my style because of how immature they are usually played, but Yoo Teo has changed my mind. Especially when he goes ,"I RESPECT YOU" (greatest declaration of love right here folks).

Also the skinship in this drama is goddamn swoonworthy. Yes the chemistry is off the charts but also the expressions play such as huge role. Yoo Teo shows so much vulnerability that you can literally read the ML's expression like an open book in every scene and know that he is 1000% truly and deeply in love with the FL. He wants her to know by affirmation, praise, touch, hug and kisses that she means the world to him. Yoo Teo's puppy like face worked sooo well in this because the director and screenwriter did not make him overdo it, and it paid off beautifully.

The dynamic between the main leads may show FL as the more dominant one but you soon realise it's a relationship of give and take. ML may seem submissive but he shows his maturity when he communicates openly and clearly to the FL. And what girl wouldn't go soft for this? As our FL falls in love, she softens, showing a playful, girlish side that interestingly does not make her any less likeable. The relationship is healthy, as both leads who initially resented the opposite sex based on stereotypes, learn to cherish and respect each other exactly as they are. Literal fanfic levels of swoon I tell you.

In terms of story, 10 episodes is the perfect length, though I do wish the conflict came in 1 or 2 episodes earlier to flesh it out. But in true rom-com fashion, the conflict came and went in a gust of wind so if you don't want prolonged ansgst, you're in for a treat. I especially appreciate that the ex boyfriend is sorta redeemed in a deserved way which is a refreshing take on the quintessential cheater stereotype. And the final scene of the last episode captures the spirit of how this drama sees modern relationships in a post Me Too world.

Overall, I highly recommend this for a short, modern, swoon-fest.
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