Completed
purtysunshine
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 6, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
Cute! Nam Joo Hyuk was flawless and there is enough sweetness here to give you cavities. It’s a lighthearted youth drama and it serves its purpose as such...nothing too substantial although we do get a bit of character growth and development. To be honest, the character of Bok Joo annoyed me a bit...she was quite immature, even for a sheltered, somewhat naive college student (I constantly felt like she was maybe 16) which is the only reason this drama didn’t quite own my heart and soul. Definitely go watch it though, if you haven’t already.
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Completed
hoolwy
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 3, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 4.0

Overrated but a good one

Well, when someone is talking about 2016 dramas this drama is definitely one of the dramas that comes to mind first. You know, cheese, romance, well-balanced comedy etc.

But you know what is missing? The reason to overhype.

Yes, i know the drama is good, i highly appreciated how they added the insecurity of being a weightlifter which is seen as a "manly" sport as a girl, they made a reputation and gave the message that gender roles are wrong. Story was good. When it comes to romance, it's a typical childhood swearthearts trope and honestly who didn't enjoy it while watching it? Romance was okay. The comedy was there, the second leads were amazing but their potential was just wasted.

Acting was stable, two professionals, Nam Joo Hyuk and Lee Sung Kyung as main leads had an amazing chemistry together but the FL, Kim Bok joo's facial expressions kinda made me.. You know when you're in the middle of a show and the main character does something embarrasing which makes you stop it and go around for a walk, then come back? That was it.

Althouhgt the drama wanted to give us a message about being confident in our body, no matter what size we are, the way FL tried to change her body size just for the Doctor in the series.. Yeah let's not, let's really not.

OST's are good, may add all of them to my playlist.

As a person who never rewatches dramas, i would never rewatch it even if i was forced or paid for it, if my life depended on it i would just watch it in 5x because of all the boring and cringe scenes.

Overall, it was good but why was there too much hype for a basic cheesy romcom?

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Completed
kiwi16
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 3, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10

watch this drama right now

STOP IT WAS SO GOOD. Everything was good about this drama. The story was funny and romantic, while still covering serious topics and situations. All of the actors suited the roles they were given, and although it is an exaggeration of real-life, there aren't any heavy hints of acting (everything felt natural and comfortable when watching). The characters grow on you and make you want to go help them or be there for them. One small thing that I wished they included more of was the sports. I understand that if they did that the drama could end up being boring for some, but they went to a university for sports. To be more exact I felt like the swimming part of the story had a lot less than the weightlifting and the gymnastics. Regardless, this drama is still amazing and a for sure must watch.

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Completed
Alaskan
0 people found this review helpful
Dec 25, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This is a sweet and heartwarming story about young love. Watching the drama does require a large amount of suspension of belief because none of the characters look like athletes, particularly the so-called weightlifters. The swimmers also don't have the proper physique or form. (Why couldn't they have used a body double for the swimming scenes?) But the friends to lovers story is charming and well done, not least because Nam Joohyuk's acting is natural, relaxed, and believable. I could have done without the birth mother story line but luckily it didn't take up too much time.

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Completed
ElloryQueen
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 5, 2024
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Perfect for Romantics!

I'll be honest, it's not as perfect as people hype it up to be, but what it does have are probably the best vibes off a main couple I have ever seen. These two are so adorable and supportive of each other, my heart actually fluttered during certain scenes. It's got some of the best build up for a slow burn (if you like slow burns) and the afterward doesn't feel rushed or awkward. They were dating while filming the show and it really shows. So, if you are a romantic like me, this series will give you all the feels you could ever ask for, without a lot of heavy drama. It's very light-hearted and fun for most of the run.

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Completed
Ma Ri
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 31, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 7
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 9.5

Swaaaaaaaaag!

I thought the story very different and refreshing, and I love the chemistry of the main couple. Somethings made me a little suspicious, as the feelings of Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) for Jung Jae-yi (Lee Jae-yoon), but with the following episodes, I could understand the way how the drama wanted to show the feelings of Kim Bok-joo and the progress of her feelings with Jung Joon-hyun (Nam Joo-hyuk). Indeed I could see that the whole situation was necessary to construct the personality of the main characters.

About the plot of eating disturbs, I really thought they could be deeper. I appreciated how they put this topic in the show and the way how they closed this showing a solution for Song Shi-ho (Kyung Soo-jin), but I think that maybe this could be more explored. But I understand that the drama is a rom-com and didn't want to show themes that could be too heavy. Still was a good insert on the plot.

I really love the chemistry between the main couple. I didn't know Nam Joo-hyuk, but I loved his character. His strength fighting with himself, his personality, and his devotion to Kim Bok-joo were amazing. I still think that the beginning of their relationship was annoying with all the disturbance that he did with her (I know it wasn't for real), but after all, I started to love the progress. Lee Sung-kyung was a jewel in the middle of this show! I never saw a protagonist of a rom-com drama so detached of the stereotype "cute lady". Even in "Strong woman, Do Bong-soo" (that I loved!), I could see in some moments the inclination to make a very cute female lead. This isn't bad, but for me was amazing to see a misfit female lead, who walks however she wants, that talks loud, cry with all her feelings, and don't try to fit in a padron. She didn't feel sorry for who she is or want to do... I really love Kim Bok-joo!

This show was very remarkable for me and inspiring too. I laughed a lot and reflected a lot about how many times I hid myself to showing a distorted image of me to others. This was a great experience!

Kim Bok-joo! Swaaaaaaaag!

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Completed
Sao
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 4, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

not my favorite for nothing!

how to describe this drama? It is so endearing, the storyboard is one of the most well written the story is so well constructed and interesting despite the fact that Jung Joon Hyeong's trauma is a little left out.
And the characters I don't even need to talk about it, their acting is really not a joke. it's going to be the 5th time I watched it and I never get tired of it. on top of that, my two favorite actresses are there and as always they were perfect as the other actors! The two main actors had such a great chemistry that I didn't think once that it was acting. Swag!

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Completed
Anastasialovesdrama
0 people found this review helpful
May 8, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

simple and fun... what else could you ask for?

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo tells the story of athletes on a college campus trying to achieve their dreams and follows the weightlifting journey and first love experience of a young woman named Kim Bok Joo. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is very much a slice of life story on a college campus.  The drama has some nice humor with lots of heartwarming moments as it portrays the students working hard to succeed in their individual sports. It also really highlights both the good and bad that comes with being a top athlete.
Lee Sung Kyung was great as our Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. Bok Joo is a bit frumpy and awkward. Her personality comes off a bit tough, but really she is super sweet and innocent. Lee Sung Kyung makes some truly wonderful and hilarious faces that really make this character enjoyable.
Nam Joo Hyuk was a lot of fun as Joon Hyung. He’s outgoing and confident with a sort of childishness to him. He was easily my favorite character in the drama. He’s such a genuinely nice guy that you can’t help but root for him in everything he does.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Joon Hyung and Bok Joo in the first couple episodes. But then it felt like it took a backseat to some of the other happenings in the drama especially as we go on Bok Joo’s one-sided journey of first love with Jae Yi. Finally, around the halfway point, things really improved in the relationship department. Joon Hyung becomes a real friend to Bok Joo which soon turns into romantic feelings. He becomes very protective of her and only wants to see her happy. He also loves her for who she is. I definitely perked up seeing his passion and caring for her. I would call the romance between Joon Hyung and Bok Joo cute. There is a lot of playfulness and fun that provides a lot of humor. I didn’t find it swoon-worthy in any way though.
It also didn’t really have that push and pull dynamic that I like. It takes a long while for them to move through the stages of annoyance, to friends, and to lovers.
And then things are pretty simple aside from some small misunderstandings. I just didn’t feel any high stakes between the two and their relationship. But they are still unbelievably adorable, and their strength comes from how natural they are together. They are about as cute as can be!


I do feel that the drama moved along pretty leisurely for my tastes. For me, this was mostly due to there not being a grander plot running in the background. It really does just focus on Bok Joo and her first experiences with love. And that’s not a bad thing, it just feels a bit too normal in many ways.
Most of the characters also feel pretty one dimensional. Although characters reacted emotionally to difficult situations, the conflicts felts very surface level. Even the characters that had serious issues to deal with, such as Shi Ho, felt like that was all there was to them. For the most part, everyone just had their role to play.

I did enjoy the sports theme of the drama. I’m not big into sports, but I really enjoy the Olympic sports like swimming and gymnastics. So this fit that perfectly. I think the drama captured the atmosphere of being at a sports university well, but I would have loved to have seen more actual competitions for the students. Since the drama focuses more on their personal lives, I didn’t feel to invested in their actual competitions. But overall I was happy to see sports incorporated into a drama.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a fun and inspirational drama on many levels. While I did find it a bit slow overall and would have liked to have seen a bit more story, it still had plenty going for it. Joon Hyung and Bok Joo are super adorable together and are the best thing about the drama. If you like cute couples, slice of life stories, and dramas without a lot of angst, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a perfect fit.

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Completed
tanyalou
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 14, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a true gem in the realm of Korean drama

From a personal perspective, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a true gem in the realm of Korean drama. Its ability to seamlessly blend elements of sports, romance, and coming-of-age themes creates a captivating narrative that keeps viewers invested in the characters’ journeys. The series effortlessly elicits laughter, tears, and a range of emotions, making it a truly memorable viewing experience. The chemistry between the cast members is palpable, and their performances breathe life into the characters, making them feel like genuine friends we root for and empathize with. [kdramabinge.com]

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Completed
Katie Q
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 23, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10

Surprisingly beautiful

I like how Kdrama can take a seemingly boring topic like weightlifting and weave a beautiful love story. It was a very cute story with a lot of SWAG. congratulations to the team. I'm happy I watched this. Sometimes it's good to not read other reviews before watching
I loved the characters both main and side characters. The girls had alot of personalities. The only weakish point was trying to hook up ALL the characters. Some of those subplots were sooooo WEAK. But it's forgiven since overall the story was lovely
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Completed
Synergy
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 8, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5
This series is one of the best things I have ever watched in my life... and I hate it for that. Now that I have completed the series I feel so empty, yet so fulfilled. I wish they come out with the second season.

As a person, I never used to prefer the RomCom genre, but this series changed that... I was so much in love with my single life and now I have this urge to get in a relationship, I blame this series for it. I have never been so obsessed to review some content before but now I am compelled to let it out.

I would strongly recommend this series, I am sure you won't regret it.

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Completed
pro_dr_gen
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 3, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Mood lifter

I have been watching dramas for almost 5 yrs now.
Discover this platform recently, and like to share my review.
This drama and the actors made those days when I watched.
I liked the lead how he give support to his partner.
The smooth comedy, romantic gestures, and innocence were very much soothing.
I recommended this drama to those who recently started watching Korean drama.
I forgot to mention the female lead friendship and the trio.
That was also one of the awesome parts of the whole drama.
And their favorite pick-up line is "Do you like Messi ?".


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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016) poster

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  • Score: 8.8 (scored by 118,095 users)
  • Ranked: #195
  • Popularity: #5
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