I really thoroughly enjoyed this drama. While there were predictable plot lines, what I enjoyed the most were all of the character's personalities, particularly both of the main leads'. I give major credit to all the actors on the show for portraying their characters so well. The chemistry was also really great and there were so many cute and adorable scenes! (Not just with the main two leads but with their other two friends)
Like with all dramas, there were a few flaws, but I loved how this drama wasn't trying to be anything more than what it was. It had a pretty obvious message and it did justice to that message. I was really inspired throughout it.
I definitely recommend it if you feel like watching something that's fun, yet really inspiring.
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While I hate the cruel way makeup and fat suits are usually used. I felt like it made sense in this drama. Shin Min Ah's character was not depressed or ashamed because of her weight gain, however a recent breakup with her longtime boyfriend inspired her to make a change. There is nothing wrong with someone deciding it is the right time for them to become healthier, and if makeup and padding were necessary to tell this story, than I'm okay with it.
I really liked that Yeong Ho found Joo Eun just as attractive before she got in shape as he did after. What he liked most though was her ability to work hard without giving up. And more than anything, he supported and encouraged her journey to become healthier. Sure most of the romantic stuff happened after she lost weight, but that was because they knew each other better not because he wasn't attracted to her.
I also love that Joo Eun had her fair share of lustful moments when it came to Yeong Ho. He was a very handsome man and she openly appreciated that. As much as I like the demur and shy heroines in K-dramas it's always nice to see one who isn't ashamed to be attracted to her man. Overall, they were one of the cutest couples I've ever seen. They supported and complimented each other well, and this was a great drama about their sweet relationship.
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What brought my marks down for this drama is that the romance itself didn't seem that noteworthy. For all the time and script dedicated to it, you would think that the romance would be superb, but it felt sort of dull. Perhaps this is due to the lack of build up that it takes for the two main characters to get together, and the fact their romance happens so quickly. The romance (while funny because of the humor) just didn't provide the audience with substance to make it significant or special. It felt kind of dry, so much so, that the side romances were actually almost handled better (with more depth) than the lead romance itself.
So for the main romance, I rate this drama low, 5.0.
For the side romances, I rate this drama 7.5.
For humor I rate it 9.0.
It had potential for me, just didn't quite achieve it.
Overall, 7.0
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Gives me the feels
This is one of my favourite Korean dramas, and one of the first few I watched. To date I have watched it at least three times and some days I watch clips or specific episodes to lift my mood.The show is funny, sad, motivating, inspiring and romantic all at the same time. And of course, every girl needs a man like So Ji-sub. If he paid so much attention to me, I would also work hard at changing my life.
The chemistry between all the characters is great. The supporting cast was very well chosen.
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Romantic, "erotic", emotional, and funny!
So this is my first "transformation" drama and I have to say that I liked it for the following reasons:
1) Amazing chemistry between the main couple delivered by talented So Ji Sub and Shin Min Ah
2) I'm a sucker for cute scenes and this drama delivered.
3) Promoting a healthy lifestyle.
4) There was no unnecessary intervention from the leading man's family. So basically nothing dragged on.
5) This is one of the few dramas I've watched that didn't go overboard with the soundtracks. The soundtracks where played at the perfect moments.
However, Kang Joo Eun is such a likable character that the fact Oh Soo Jin had issues with her, in the beginning, made me pay more attention to Oh Soo Jin. But by the end of the drama, I wish the writers had spent a little more time developing Oh Soo Jin's character and backstory. The drama hinted that her weight gain was due to feeling empty, so she tried to comfort herself with food. This is something I feel a a lot of people go through. So instead of putting effort into making her a bitch, we could have seen her overcome it through scenes and flashbacks of her "enough is enough" moments, her exercising, etc. Basically there was potential to make her character inspiring rather than bitchy. But of course lets not risk outshining the leading lady. Nonetheless, I think it's awesome that the "I'm going to be happy when I loose weight" myth is tackled through her character. Also, we get to see the side effects of loosing weight to be skinny rather than to be healthy.
Despite that, I really liked this drama and I hope you will too.
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This review may contain spoilers
Poor exceustion
I don't think I've ever seen a drama focus on weight issues that women go through on both sides of the spectrum; fat or thin; I think could've been a decent story but it was just done in a way that halfway through, you're just finishing to finish, which is what I felt. I didn't see any chemistry with the leads, I actually skipped a few interactions because I found them to be stiff and unnatural around each other.I don't like the secondary couple, I wasn't rooting for them. They offered no reprieve from the boring main couple. I probably would've much rather see the hero's friend and that weird stalker girl relationship blossomed more than the secondary couple because at the end where they were together threw me for a loop.
Also with him being a cheobol and her being a lawyer thing was boring seeing as it really ended up being a non issue.
Them being childhood friends is such a kdrama thing to put in but again made no sense and was unnecessary
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute but expected more
Maybe I went into this drama expecting too much. The leads were super cute, the bromance and friendships were sweet and awesome, OST was catchy, chemistry between the pair believable, plenty of cute and fluffy scenes, keeps reinforcing the message that being healthy internally is the best way to define beauty.BUT.
Although the first few episodes were so feel good, funny and uplifting, slowly the drama started to veer towards sadness, ad placements, cliches and drama just for the sake of drama. The second lead couple were mostly annoying despite their back stories. Family dynamics on the ML side was absolutely messed up and never get to understand why the father was aloof, why the second wife and brother were treated so badly, why the chairman let the greedy uncle get away with so much, why the ML's mom was never shown. It doesn't explain why he needed to endure his childhood treatment alone and without love, although his grandmom was dearly fond of him.
Episode 13 was the most illogical development, with ML getting into an accident and deciding on completely stopping all communication with the FL because he decided to not let her in on his pain or to watch her suffer. This could have been digested as an immature decision if the ML was in his 20s, but a character in his 30s and holding a Director position of a conglomerate, a coach who has endured a lot of pain and helped others out of pain, deciding to behave this way felt unrealistic and immature.
They could have wrapped up the series by episode 12 or 14. The last 4 episodes had a lot of cliched moments and flashbacks which felt unnecessary.
Couple of things I felt super annoying and overly done were the FL's excessive use of flashing her dimples, the ML repeating that the FL's body was his, and repeated mentions of the FL being Daegu Venus. The final reveal of the FL again becoming fat at the end in a very short time, totally undoing every health message over the series didn't work as comedy for me. Also why would the ML who recently reunited with the FL go on volunteering work abroad leaving fiance, business, ailing father behind was a mystery. All in all, in trying to be too cute this series became a bit tiresome for me. It is an enjoyable one time watch but gets tiresome in binge mode.
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A nice drama to binge <3
Mostly good things about this dramaThe only thing:
There were a few times where I questioned the leads motives/emotions and wished it would be more obvious to figure out. All characters had great chemistry with each other and watching them gave a feeling of camaraderie. Leads were especially enjoyable to watch with their open relationship. Supporting characters were easy to feel for~ Yet there was something lacking just a bit in the leads. I've finished the drama a day a go and had initially named the male lead as one of my favorites but thinking back, I wish I was able to feel for him more as well as loving the female lead a bit more. These characters would've been better if they felt "just okay" a little less and felt angry, heartbroken and scared a little more. So Ji Sub's eyes have more depth than his character oof. The rationality in the characters makes this drama an easy watch but not necessarily a memorable one. This is a GREAT watch for binging in between shows or waiting for new episodes.
I don't remember anything of the osts even though its only been a day. Only the annoying theme song i can remember.. it takes a while to get used to btw.
Worth the watch, go for it~
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FUN!
SJS - love him in anything! That serious demeanor with the mushy center - gets me every time! I LOVED this series! Lots of comedy, lots of drama. I loved the guy speaking in Korean and switching to English, that cracked me up. These two characters had to go through so much to be together and I was loving being on the journey with them.There were some very romantic scenes in this show, which I always appreciate. I loved the main characters, but I also loved the rest of the cast, the friendships they built. I have watched this show numerous times, especially after I've suffered through a few "not so good" shows, and it's like seeing old friends again.
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Conflicted About Story's Message
I feel a bit conflicted about Oh My Venus. While the two leads had great chemistry, I'm not sure the overall story worked for me.❤ While I love a good story where a woman takes control of her life and destiny, I'm a little concerned about the portrayal that a "sexy" and "healthy" woman's ideal body type is thin. Hmmm. I do appreciate the male lead talking several times about "health" rather than "thinness" as the best indicator for wellbeing, but it still feels a little too on the nose that the female lead loses tons of weight and turns "pretty" (so to speak).
❤ The two leads have amazing chemistry together. Their romance was built slowly as they dealt with their developing personal feelings. However, I was not a fan of their ending. It may be an HEA, but the actions leading to it felt problematic.
❤ The makeup was spot on for this show. The fat suits used for the main female lead and the second lead were outstanding.
❤ I loved Kim Young-ho's boys, Jan Joon-Sung and Kim Ji-Woong. Who doesn't love a found family trope? Not me!
❤ I disliked the second leads so much. Part of it had to do with their set-up - it truly felt like they had started a relationship prior to his breakup with Kang Joo-Un. Partly it had to do with how mean and vindictive Oh Soon-Jin was written. Seriously, she was the worst and I had a hard time having sympathy for her with how terrible she was to most of the others.
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When chemistry makes the show
Amazing chemistry between the two leads, the story has its flaws, but I think this is the best drama with Shin Min-a. Better than Hometown Cha Cha Cha.The pacing of the the story was very good also, since they didn't gives us the things we obviously wanted from the start: seeing Ju Eun slimming down and their romance blooming. And that was another thing that caught my attention: the pace of the romance. So many dramas leave it until the last three episodes or they end up together right away and then there's a bunch of bull just to fill up the story. Here it was perfect.
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