Completed
Irene
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 29, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
THIS IS THE SHOW TO WATCH IF YOU ARE INTO FIRST LOVES AND GIDDY ROMANCE

Lee Sung Kyung was not a convincing weightlifter to me, although I did appreciate that she put on weight for this drama. Other than that, I loved the whole drama from beginning to end.

Rather than annoying conflicts that don't get resolved, what you will get from the show instead is a lot of satisfying giddy moments from all of the cuteness. Cuteness in the leads' relationship, which has me smiling ear to ear, cuteness in the friendships and the family relationships to the relationship between athlete and coach.

Can't say enough good things about this drama. Don't watch if you are looking for an intricate plot line and heart thumping action. Instead, get a cup of hot chocolate and curl up to this show and enjoy it for all it has to offer.

Highlights / uniqueness of the show:
- the sound effects had me cracking up all the way through (you will have to watch to see what I am talking about)
- natural chemistry and skinship between leads as the relationship progresses
- one of the best portrayals for female college friendships I've seen in recent dramas. cute bromances also

No critiques for this show other than casting an unbelievable weightlifter. But I fell in love with the actress LSK after watching this (who knew pouty lips can be so adorable) and she is simply beautiful. Both leads were beautiful to look at and fulfilled my eye's need for candy :)

I was fully satisfied after the show and only wished there was more cuteness to watch!

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Completed
whit3butt3rfly
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 19, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.5

Sweet and light

If your looking for light and sweet romance this one wins! Needed something sweet like this.

The mains have amazing chemistry!

The storyline wasn't over dramatic but I teared up a few times because of how lovely the relationships and connections were. Some of the secondary storylines were so lovely.

There's some boring bits but overall I couldn't help but laugh out loud at this.

Also loved that she wasn't just fitting the skinny beautiful mould. Also that the actress actually lifted weights for the role!

And the swimmer actor.. be still my heart.

Worth checking out if you want something nice and sweet and fluffy!

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Completed
baddie
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 27, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

this drama ruined dramas for me because it’s so good

I watched this a while ago it was like my fifth kdrama ever and I still can’t get it out of my mind. Every drama I watch now I compare to this in terms of how much I like it.
Honestly just wanted to write a review because this show deserves atleast nine stars

The acting was amazing the storyline flowed really nicely. They used common romance tropes but did it WELL!! they also subverted/reversed some tropes it was so fun.
The cinematography is so beautiful. The colour Pallete is blues and pinks. Just soo pretty. Everything is so magical and it’s crazy that this is technically a sports drama because the romance was so amazing. The sports parts were also really well done. I really love the actress it was so fun to see a tall couple in a k drama idk the girls are normally small lol.

Rewatch value is not as high because I do not rewatch anything lol but this is the one thing that I have considered rewatching and I made it halfway through episode one lol before i just wanted to skip to the end because it’s so good I mean the build up is also good but arghhhrheheujsjehsv lol


Anyways if you’re thinking of watching it just please do. It’ll make you laugh and cry and feel anxious and then swoon. So much swooning. If you need more convincing the main leads literally started dating after this like the chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS!

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Completed
Jaysim
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 19, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

WHOLESOME

I watched this few years ago but I haven't wrote a review so here I am.
This kdrama is definitely worth watching. I literally love everything here. The casts and their acting was really great. So much wholesome and cute moments ><
The story was really amazing and This really hooked me when I firs watched it. I never knew I would like it. It's also great to
rewatch it......

I can't spoil anything since I don't like spoilers. but sometimes I spoil myself : D
anyways... of course there's love triangle and somehow cliche?? but it's still cute LOL...

????

I rate this 10 cuz it deserve it T T

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Completed
AlphaGirlReviews
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 28, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
Romance is my favourite genre and I have been binging on romance fiction forever. But for the first time ever I felt terribly sad for being single. I felt bad for not having a boyfriend in my adulthood. It is very easy to fall in love when in your teens and today when I look back on those days I wonder what the hell was I doing when everybody around me was busy nurturing their relationships. I tell you I never craved for companionship even then but after seeing this drama I wanted to smack my head hard for leading a boring teenage life. I am not too old to love (no one ever is), but I am definitely not young enough for puppy love.
bawling in a corner
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is the sweetest, cutest and loveliest young love story I have seen till date. Bok Joo and Joo Hyung’s love made me want to go back in time and re-live my college years. (OK! I just remembered the boys in my class and now I do not blame myself for being single. Sheesh! Even time travelling would be of no help in finding a decent option in that desert of a class I was in.) This drama faced some serious competition from two popular shows but of the three shows, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo wins my vote for being the best. Hands down.

Let’s weigh the cutest romantic drama of 2016 on our show beam balance and see what makes the drama click with the audiences.

Good Weights
Bok Joo and Joon Hyung Romance: Though the main romance on the show starts in the latter half of the series the build-up to it is reasonable and entertaining. The circumstances under which Bok Joo and Joon Hyung fall in love may not be totally believable but it all makes sense in the drama world. Once the two start dating their journey becomes so saccharine that I wanted could put them both in my cup of coffee and sip it for a long long time. The nervousness in confession, fear in admittance of feelings, the rush of love, the excitement of initial days of dating, jealousy, possessiveness, bickering, fighting and then kissing and making up, all of these phases in love was shown in the most adorable and convincing ways. Lead actors, Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk may be four years apart but the chemistry they brought on screen was adorable to the point that I envied them for being so much in love.

Sportsperson’s Challenges: Sports is the backdrop of this drama and the show writers have shown as many hardships faced by athletes as possible. The drama is mainly about Bok Joo who is a female weightlifter. Weightlifting itself is an underrated sport and in such a case having a drama based not just on weightlifting but a female weightlifter is a commendable attempt. However, the drama focuses not just on the struggles of Bok Joo but also Joon Hyung who is a swimmer and Shi Ho who is a rhythmic gymnast. The drama shows how weightlifting is an unpopular sport compared to glamorous sports like swimming and gymnast. But popular or unpopular, every sportsperson has his own set of trials that we rarely get to see. Though the writers did a good job depicting Joong Hyung’s set of struggles, they took a rather obvious option of an eating disorder for a rhythmic gymnast. I am sure gymnasts have more problems than what’s on their platter. Nevertheless, that was the least of my concerns when it came to the overall content.


Bad Weights
Slow Start: The first few episodes go into showing the daily life of athletes. Though it was necessary to give a background of the characters, it was too bland. After episode 2, I was contemplating if I wanted to continue watching this show or not. The story picks pace after episode 3 and though it slumps a few times, it does manage to pick instantly and move forward with fervour.
 
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo hits all the right notes of first love and makes itself stand out in a crowd of teen romances (though the characters in the show are not teenagers). I have followed this show religiously and waited impatiently each week for its telecast. I have fallen in love with all the characters on the show and have wished to be one of them.

This utterly sweet and delightful romance between two most unlikely athletes will make you want to fall in love for the first time, every time. Loved this drama. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 

Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in

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Completed
deep_ng
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

Comfort

I really like this drama. It is one very few drama's that i rewatch. I really really like this drama. A very comfort drama which doesn't need your mind worry too much . soothing I revisit this drama whenever I feel like watching. Really motivated me. and ML I watched this and fell for him and her.
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Completed
Abby
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 30, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
This drama is on the top of my list and I enjoyed it so much! Please watch it !
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Completed
nfabjoy
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 3, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

A very warm drama that touches on elemental themes in an encouraging way.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is first and foremost a youth drama . Its intended age group is definitely 16 - 25 years old but that should not deter anyone from watching this warm drama. Because of its context and set up , Weightlifting should be thoroughly excused for being juvenile in set pieces and the like.

One of things that make a drama great is when a drama takes a chance and authentically lives out its set pieces without added soapy angsty drama that has no place being there. This drama is all that and more. Its the only drama I have watched so far where I thoroughly enjoyed the couple BEFORE they got together. Usually, I am in a huff and puff for them to get together or annoyed at the detractors of the Main Leads love but that was not the case here . Everything progressed in a warm and realistic manner that was quite encouraging .

I especially loved the sports element and the commentary on doing what you love because you can and why not ?The juxtaposition of the insanely talented Bok Joo and Joon- Hyung and their averagely talented friends was quite special on the commentary of 'you shall surely succeed if the work is not heavy on the heart."

There were also beautiful specks of mental health commentary and I particularly loved how Weightlifting aimed to be corrective on usually stigmatized issues . The portrayal on visiting doctors and psychiatrists was positive and the overall message that its fundamentally okay to not be okay was also gratifying . The insertion of bulimia , pressure from parents and peers and corruption was also good food thought which removed all shallow marks from this youth drama.

The acting was great especially by the main cast . The main leads are amazing OTPs and I will struggle to see them with other pairings in other dramas.The messaging of friendship being supportive and inspiring was particularly heart warming and I appreciated all the friendships in the drama.

The reason why this does not get a 10 is because I found certain elements of this drama a tad bit too draggy . I fastforwarded some scenes I found repetitive . This drama could have been helped by a better editing team but other than that - I have no qualms and its pros seriously overwhelm its cons.

OVERALL- Go into this appreciating that this is a youth drama .No need for Cannes critique and you will enjoy. I really think its worth the hype. Aaaaad I say that as someone who has a list on MDL of dramas not worth the hype . Sooooo ;-)

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Completed
hardpliers
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 16, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
After watching this series I'm scared of not being able to find a better drama. It the perfect rom-com that I love. This drama is the perfect example of unconditional love and even though the storyline and the characters seem very unrealistic at times, it's still so relatable at times.

Not gonna lie, I started watching this because of the two main characters and I was not disappointed. They really got into their roles and the romance through the whole series made my heart melt...
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Completed
burnout millenial
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 4, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

Cute and complex. A must watch!

Ok ok this was a really cute series, it really explored a strong women and them learning to love themselves, to not have to fit the thin, frail image that many people use for the ideal.
The female lead and male lead grow together throughout the series, learning about each other and learning that love comes from learning to trust and expose your flaws to the other person.
I really loved that it showed that not only was the female lead a strong woman but that she was also very in tune with her emotions since many archetypes will only have one or the other since showing emotions are normally associated with being weak. Also on that note showing the male lead crying and dealing with the twisted history with his mother gave a lot of dimensions to his character and showing him maturing.

All in all I loved this series and really recommend it to anyone wanting a more complex romcom

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Completed
Violethale
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 3, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

Lighthearted and natural

There is not a lot of things to say about this drama other than.

There are a lot of dramas where the main leads have good chemistry. Theirs however, was on a whole new level.

Their interactions were so beautiful and natural.

It was real and lighthearted and so sweet my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. It was kind of like a work of art.
………………………………….

……………"…………………………………………,.,,…,,……..,……………………….l…………………….





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Completed
Andy
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 18, 2017
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
I knew this drama has good reviews but I was not attracted to the poster (laugh) so I did not click it ;p
I almost drop it after watching 3/4 of the first episode, maybe bec I was not familiar with the casts. So I read some reviews again before continuing to watch it.
Then I was not able to notice I have been wating 8 episodes already :) that's how much I enjoyed it.
The Nam Joo Hyuk is the my new Oppa! So much appeal, a campus hearthrob indeed! And how come he has that perfect body at a young age. The plot is common but because of the characters it looked totally fresh,it was not exagerrated just suuuwaaagggg! Lee Sung kyuk's acting is commendable it's nice to see such talent in her generation, she was like Yoon Eun Hye in coffee prince, Nam Joo hyuk is as charming as Gong yoo as well.

It's frustrating sometimes of how we can not turn back time, especially the onces we miss so much, thanks to dramas like this that can bring us back to those times for awhile (16 hour to be exact) ughhhh those campus days :)

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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016) poster

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  • Score: 8.8 (scored by 109,574 users)
  • Ranked: #194
  • Popularity: #3
  • Watchers: 194,868

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