Cheese in the Trap (2016)

This drama was definitely entertaining. The plot was unique specifically the personality of the main character. A combination of romance and mystery with a little slice of life thrown in. My rating is an 8.5 but I would have given this a 9.5 if not for these “flaws”; first- I don’t have anything against open or implied endings but still the ending could have been made better feeling somehow rushed; second- the ML looked old for a college student role although his acting was great for the role; and third there were a few plot holes that were left unexplained in my opinion. I admit, I came here for SKJ and having a bad case of second lead syndrome after watching this drama but in summary, I recommend this drama as a must watch.

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I've had a night to think about this drama since finishing it. I'm still, at a loss of words on how I really feel about it.

The drama, as a whole was good. While some of the acting could be over the top and stiff sometimes, everyone was generally good. The plot moved quickly in the beginning so I was sucked in immediately. I felt like a woman possessed, consuming episode after episode. The story progressed well, the plots and characters enticing and the romance gave me butterflies. For the first time, in a long time, I was so excited to watch a show.

And then my feelings changed. I think it happened around episode 10 or 11. I just felt... tired. I think it had something to do with the characters and their developments. They did not develop in the way I had hoped - which both pleased me because it made things more interesting, but also, kind of pissed me off.

When I had finally reached the end, I felt like I was irritated with every single character. A lot of the issues I was having with each character was a reflection, I think, of my own personal morals and beliefs. I could not relate to any of them anymore, nor could I understand (or want to understand) their motives. You know, when you have a friend, who has these quirks that, in the beginning you were just able to except, but then as you mature and change, that person does not and you start losing patience with them? That's how I felt at the end. It was an unexpected feeling. I don't think I've ever had that kind of a reaction to a drama before.

I really enjoyed this drama and I would probably re-watch it down the road. But for now, I need a break from these "friends".

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I put this drama on hold for a long time and finally decided to watched this drama. From the beginning to the last episode it was really good. But I didn’t like the ending. I know, sometimes not every drama should have a happy ending. But Atleast some closures. I kept looking for a happy ending since he was suppose to find himself. Also whats the point of the after 3 years, it didn’t really say much or explain except they're working. Hayyy... I really like the story up to the very end but it left me hanging and looking for who sent those email. Hopefully, there is a season 2 or not.

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After reading a few reviews on MDL, although skeptical, I decided to give it a go, and I was in for a nice surprise. Two main leads did their job really well and you can really feel the chemistry. Second male lead, was absolutely wonderful in every aspect, he is the guy any girl would be lucky to have, yet, I was rooting for Jeong (the main lead), the whole time, because Park Hae Jin did such a marvelous job portraying seemingly cold and distant, but a seriously sensitive and misunderstood character. Vulnerability he showed in front of Seol, really made me understand him as a carachter.
What I really loved about this drama is great understanding of characters and what motivates them. There were no unnecessary dramatic ploys, because drama can be found in everyday situations.
That being said, the finale was more than a disappointment and that's the reason that overall score is this low.

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Review Justification:
Story: 9/10 - I loved this drama and its story so so much. For me, this take on college life and its struggles was the freshest idea out there. I am a person that, by default, does not enjoy dramas with a high school setting, and though I tolerate college a tiny bit more it still cringes me beyond belief. But surprisingly, this story was not all what I was expecting. The normal cliches we normally have to put up with were, THANK GOD, discarded from the story, and things like stalker behaviour, obsessive behaviours, gang bullying, senior entitlement were dealt with in an amazing matter.  
Acting/Cast: 9/10 - This cast was great. I think they could not have chosen better actors to portray the characters! Hong Seol was the perfect lead, confident but slightly awkward. This was my first Kim Go Eun drama, and more and more I appreciate her as an actress. The way she changes and adapts in every situation and character is very impressive. Park Hae Jin, the man himself, was probably the best antagonist in a "college" drama I have ever watched. He was delightfully bad, but still managed to make us questions ourselves everytime he captured our hearts! Seo Kang Joon was also incredible and got me feeling some type of way everytime he played that piano.
Music: 9.5/10 - This OST was just delightful!
Rewatch Value: 8/10 - This criteria is a bit hard to judge for me, seeing as I am a person that doesn't enjoy rewatching things that much, so I have decided to judge this based on how much I predict I would enjoy it in case I did rewatch this drama. I am back with my usual 8 mark because even though I did love this drama, I don't think rewatching it would benefit my high expectations and memories of it.
Overall: 9/10 - Overall this drama was amazing! It was very well thought out and very well executed. The cast was incredible and made the drama more relatable and compelling. I still do not understand people's problem with the ending, that in m opinion was perfect for this kind of drama. People need to realise that even though this is a drama and none of this is real, not every story needs to end with an happy ending (in peoples' standards).

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Cheese in the Trap (2016) - I watched it because a friend of mine keep suggesting it to me which she is currently reading it as a webtoon but nevertheless it was great. I came to understand the webtoon because I watched it first before starting to read the webtoon. I really like the actors and actresses who acted the roles and I think that they suit it so much. I really like the fact that they kept the original story line and didn’t do as much changes as the story in the webtoon. If I didn’t read the webtoon I would have basically sorted this as a normal drama/typical drama but that is the charm of it. Although it tackles some parts of being a “chaebol” which is common in korean dramas, what I liked is that it focuses more of the struggles of being a college student and love of a normal student which cannot be seen in other dramas. I feel like I can remember my college days and I liked it that it speaks of the normal society and that a lot may feel that they belong, or they have a place in the story. Others may be disappointed with the ending, which I felt too after a few minutes after I watched the ending but after it, I realized that it was a good ending. I think it is done to respect the author of the webtoon (which have the basic rights to put an end to it), to let the viewers expect from it and also, I am positively waiting for season 2 which I hope would come soon.

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At first I was rather bored by this show and irritated by Kim Go Eun's character, however as it progressed I really came to enjoy it and watch it every day. The story at the start and especially how Park Hae Jin's feelings for Kim Go Eun changed for me was quite bizarre and how the change happened not fully understood. Perhaps he had feelinggs all along? but initially twisted, unable to relate to or trust people normally? The conclusion as is often the case in these dramas annoyingly used the fairy wand time-shift device and was nice and neat but not very credible in some respects. However for me a very watchable drama. I liked Seo Kang Joon the best. Lee Sung Kyung provided some comic moments but with some not-so-comic flaws in her character [well-acted I think]. Park Hae Jin's. character was interesting and I liked the development from the aloof, calculating persona [whichPark Hae Jin plays very well] to his character at the end. Kim Go Eun was sweet, but one of those characters I feel like shaking into life, to react instead of letting things happen to her. It seems everything happened around her with her passively at the centre. She played that character well if that is what it was supposed to be. I also liked the supports. Really good drama once it took off from the slow start. May rewatch again but not soon.

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This is my first review so sorry if it´s not that good
This drama I had been postponing it because I had already seen the movie and I did not have a great experience with it, so I was not sure that I would like it.

But I decided to start seeing it without any expectations and surprisingly I liked it, the story is good, not incredible but good.
Although I had some problems with the drama because of how it is built and the characters.

As for Yoo Jung everything related to him seemed boring, sincerely for me he was not the male lead of the drama. As for Hong Seol, seemed to me as a weak and foolish character since although she already knew and had seen some bad traits of Yoo Jung even so she decided to be with him. I think that their relationship is toxic, but what can we do?

In Ho is the best character that was in this drama and nobody can deny it. During history we could only see how he improved himself. At first I wanted In Ho and Hong Seol to be together because she deserved someone better than Yoo Jung but after a few episodes I didn't want them to be together because now I believed that In Ho deserves someone even better than Heong Seol. I loved too much In Ho from his cute moments till when he made me suffer with him for his past.

As to In Ha I had an love-hate relationship with her because sometimes it seemed something immature and irritating but at the same time I understood her way of acting because of everything she had lived and suffered. I also found her very funny in some moments.

Overall I think is a good drama and should try it ir you like problems of a rich family with a sociopath son. lol

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Well, this is the second k-drama that i have watched after MLFTS, based on my friend's recommendation.

I like the story and it's quite real about what can happen in life and who we might meet along the way, and it's based on the comic, so it exactly will follow the manhwa. So i don't have any comments about the drama because it follows the manhwa.

Now, I will talk about the story (based on the author), I am just sad for Yoo Jung, he gets that kind of treatment and he tried to defend himself but everyone is like getting on his nerve. He doesn't deserve to be called psycho, i feel that the rest of his friends / teachers are too much and very annoying. He doesn't need to be blamed for bad things that happen. I feel that hong seol should be more supportive of yoo jung, well it does not mean that if u love someone, u allowed those things that he does, but u need to be supportive. Not blaming him obviously.

I feel disgusted with the teacher who stole his credit card but feels like he is entitled to steal, i feel sick of baek in ha who is so spoiled and keep asking for the money and feel sick of all his friends (loser assholes) who likes to suck on smart people like hong seol and yoo jung. Baek in ho is better but because of misunderstanding, they separated sigh.. but he needs to stop pitying himself and stop putting the blame on yoo jung, he is a young adult for God's sake, sigh, such a weak guy.

Anyway, none of those things i mentioned are the fault of the drama's writer, the original story is already like that. But of course it's still a good drama, the acting is also good. It's worth watching just that the ending is not clear, but i believe that the ending is happy one coz they need to solve problems within themselves, even though i still don't agree that yoo jung needs to suppress himself to feel better, i think it will get worse, he just needs to accept him for he is and stop the dad to always judge him that he is a psycho.

I believe if he did not need to be nice to all people (his dad always asked him to be nice since he was a kid, gosh), i think he will be normal. He can be angry and confront people directly, don't need to pretend to be kind but very manipulative behind. If he can accept himself, his emotion, his anger, just like inside out movie, he can be normal, he just has that communication issue, he cannot communicate his feelings well to others so he suppressed his feelings inside and it's eating him.

He express it through action instead, action that is done by others because he can manipulate other people well, he is a smart boy. He doesn't want to let his father down, so he manipulate other to do the deed while he still pretend that he is a nice guy. He has his own way of doing things, i don't blame him, if i were him, i will become like him too since all the people around him are disgusting.

Hahahaha anyway, oh well, just watch it yourself and see whether what i said is true. Thanks.

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1. This is one of those that feels packaged in a pretty thoroughly misleading way. To me, it’s sold as being lighthearted, campy and fun. And while it is certainly fun and entertaining, it has a complicated, multi-layered cast of characters that shocked and delighted me. I’m not going to say it’s profound but it’s not nearly as lighthearted and fluffy as it seems to be on the surface. I get the name tho, it’s totally a cat-and-mouse game from the start.
2. The acting was soooo much more than I expected in this. From the machiavellian ML Yoo Jung, who skirted the edge of darkness brilliantly, to the thoughtful FL HongSul, the batshit crazy InHa (I watched weightlifting fairy not long ago and it was the antithesis of her character in this one), to the SML InHo, who was a mood in and of himself.
3. It had a lot of funny and entertaining moments which had me rofl. I love how the ML got into the FL’s head in the beginning. I honestly don’t know if a ML has entertained me more from the very start. He is not angelic. He is not the stereotypical bad boy. He is so not boring.
4. The characters are varied and real. None are perfect, they all have flaws. Towards the end it went on a sort of psychological bender with a deep dive into that dark and twisty. Again, not what you’d expect.
5. The ending is not as satisfying as I would have wanted though you have to pay attention- it isn’t a bad or depressing ending. It just leaves you wanting more. I really enjoyed this one, and I’m seriously considering watching it again much sooner than I anticipated. Like, maybe right now.

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the writing is uneven, like seems doesn't know which is the priority, but the some outstanding actor performances and chemistry of the cast make up for it. Bless the casting director for choosing Kim Go Eun as Hong Seol and Seo Kang Joon as Baek In Ho, even if they interpreted it differently compare to webtoon, but I think it's intentional from the writers and team production. They are rocking their roles and their chemistry are some of the best I've seen from young actor. . There is an effort behind the camera to make the scene come alive.. Certain scene make me relate so much. It's unsatisfying narrative. The writers waste so much with unnecesary scene. The pace is uneven, at times, is too fast, and at times, there is alot of filler in one episode and doesn't touch the real issue.. It's not even the amount of time In Ho got screen time is the problem.

But All in all, there is passion in team production, that make up for all the flaws. heck the writing.

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I put off watching this drama for over a year because of the negative reviews I’ve been seeing. I honestly wish I didn’t do that because I can now say that this drama is one of the best from Korea. I felt it was honest and realistic in comparison to others. The acting was great. Each character exhibited strengths and weaknesses, making them interesting to watch it on screen. In real life everyone is multi dimensional and this drama portrayed that effectively.

The drama was consistently good despite some cliches. I definitely thought some could be avoided but in the end I did find most characters either relatable to me or someone I know.

I can understand many viewers got second lead syndrome after watching it an a due to that. But this is my take on it. The whole story is basically about how two the main lead has a mysterious side and the female lead grows to accept and love him despite the conflicts. If female lead and second male lead got together, there would be literally no essence to the story. I’m going to refrain from spoilers because I want this review to encourage people to watch it. I hope you aren’t put off by the negative reviews like I was. This drama delves into many deep issues and it not your typical fluffy romance. It will make you think, laugh, cry...

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