It’s on another level for sure.
Samsoon was the first ever drama I ever watched however I was young at the time so I never quite fully appreciated this gem but at the time - I knew it was good .10 years later , I revisit it with fresh eyes , a more mature outlook and as a seasoned K Drama viewer to boot and I must say - this drama is legitimately top tier.
Its top tier because it followed through with everything they set themselves up for . Further more- it shot its shot and ran with their game in total sophistication, character and charisma . I can see how some will say it’s not exciting just like some say Friends is dry or How I Met your Mother is overrated . These shows do not have the in your face total full house of shots like the mainstream but instead are leagues of their own in the sense that they created their own tropes, motifs and symbols whilst still finding inspiration from the classic set pieces like in Samsoon’s case :the usual tropes of wrist grabbing , annoying ex’s and hate turns to love what not but it’s so greatly done . It has a luxuriant pace which is absolutely delightful.
Acting was great . Instant classic roles of Kim Sun Ah and Hyun Bin. I give it a 9.5 because Daniel Henney showed no dimension at all and it was particularly jarring in contrast with his talented cast. However overall , everyone else including the most minor character like Ki Bang were very good.
Music also does a lot to seal the deal with how iconic this show is. It’s use of French pop to accentuate the protagonists food endeavors was well done . Music should also tell the story of the drama an I felt this was particularly well done in my Lovely Samsoon. Moreover- American pop culture phenomenon songs like Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love to Mario’s Let Me Love You were refreshing . Aaaaaand of course Clazziquai’s She Is is just perfecto .
Overall, this is definitely in my top 5 of fave dramas, fave OTPs and fave female leads and male leads.
“One cup of coffee, five kilocalories. Equivalent to five minutes of kissing. What is the total calorie of all the kisses we sharede leads over three years? And the calories of love?”Rewatch is guaranteed .
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This show is really amazing, it has the whole message of empowerment and owning yourself, but at the same time, gives you this really sweet, romantic and comedic story about a woman, who at times acts like a whiny child--like we all do, that really learns to love herself, which then allows her to show that love for others.
The side stories in this drama were a bit melodramatic, but in essence held the same message. As much as I love Daniel Henney and all of his deliciousness, I wasn't a fan of him in this drama, partially because I couldn't really relate to his character. Some of the choices that were made for the character were a bit off for me.
Anywhoos...those things aside, I love this show and I think if you have the opportunity to, just go for it! It will not disappoint!
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In Short: Funny and full of heart, and only the styling makes it feel slightly dated. Could have done with a male lead that I would actually want our heroine to end up with, though.
Pros: Fun leading lady with sass. Pastry Porn.
Cons: Male lead is sort of a douche, and does not seem likely to change. The second female lead was horrible and annoying. You can’t be a good person BECAUSE you got cancer.
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Boring and unbearable
I couldn't finish it, but I watched 13 of 16 chapters.The story is very empty, it is practically only about them falling in love with each other, nothing else, and even that is a awful because when he is already in love with her, he treats her badly and that is supposed to make us laugh. That happens not only in this Drama but in many Korean ones, where it is supposed to be fun to treat people badly and even more if he/she is a person you like.
When it was not he who mistreated her, it was she who mistreated him, either physically or verbally, for no other reason than "I like she/he and I don't want to admit it." This type of reasoning is absurd for me and makes any series, no matter how good it is, start to annoy me, and adding to the fact that this one does not even have a plot (only that the protagonist is chubby) it makes it unbearable to watch it.
Even the funny moments are not worth it.
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Like eating a whole carton of ice cream by yourself
Watching this classic kdrama (which I’ve now done 3 times) is like eating a whole carton of ice cream by yourself in one sitting. In the moment, it’s so delicious and addictive, but when you’re done and the tummy ache sets in, you really start to question your life choices.The Bad
1. Like in a lot of old kdramas, the male lead isn’t just cold but actually treats the female lead like garbage. He is either cruel to her, messes with her because he thinks it’s funny, or manhandles her. In one scene, he punches the wall next to her head. He also confesses to Sam Soon before he has broken up with his girlfriend (aka cheating), and he never takes no for an answer. This behavior creates an addictive plot with a lot of sexual tension (see The Good below), but let’s not pretend that it’s a healthy example of a romantic relationship.
2. The basic premise is that an “overweight” baker attracts an incredibly handsome younger man. Kim Sun Ah did gain weight for this role, so Sam Soon may be “overweight” compared to the actress’s norm, but there’s no way anyone could claim that she’s overweight. In fact, she looks like she’s a pretty healthy normal weight. Watching a show where the characters say over and over again that a normal weight woman is fat is so harmful to girl’s self image, so a show that has a supposedly empowering premise ends up being really damaging.
The Good
1. The enemies to lovers sexual tension here is sooooo good. And it’s not just the flirty, innocent, romantic tension of a lot of kdramas. It’s actual sizzling sexual tension. If you want to skip this drama, I would still suggest looking up some of the iconic scenes on YouTube because they are really worth watching.
2. I typically don’t find kdrama humor funny at all, but I laugh all the way through this. Sam Soon’s loud brashness can be grating, but she also says the funniest things. The banter between the two main leads is also funny if you overlook how problematic it is (see The Bad above). Yes, some of the humor is potty humor, which usually doesn’t work for me in kdramas, but it’s done here in a way that makes it fresh and entertaining.
This kdrama is best viewed more than once so you can binge eat the delicious parts and fast forward through every stupid scene with Hee Jin, who is just simply the worst.
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It's a romantic comedy with wonderful characters. You won't find the typical cliche antagonists here, all characters are sane human beings, there is no crazy plot, nor endless suffering before the happy ending. Yes, there is angst, but life isn't always happy anyway.
Kim Sam Soon is a strong female protagonist. She's sensitive but doesn't let anyone trample her. She doesn't hide her feelings, she's true to herself, she's funny... I wish she could be my friend.
Sam Shik (Hyun Bin's character's nickname) is the arrogant chaebol we are used to seeing in kdramas, but as we keep watching he grows and changes thanks to Sam Soon.
All the supporting characters are nice and we care about them too. Even the "evil" chaebol's mother and her secretary aren't evil at all, but so funny.
It's still a refreshing series even after 12 years have passed since its release, definitely worth watching if you haven't.
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Bridget Jones like Noona romcom
Likes: The fun and fiery chemistry between Kim Sun Ah and Hyun Bin hands down! Even with the outdated hairstyle and clothes, Hyun Bin is still so darn cute.Dislikes: This is an older drama so the quality is on the lower end, but the chemistry between the OTP is fast and immediate so I think it's worth overlooking
This is my very favorite kdrama of all time and one that I always return to when I'm in a kdrama rut. It checks all the boxes in a romcom that I'm looking for. The story is similar to Bridget Jones so it's very light and easy to watch. Kim Sun Ah is so funny and relatable as the single older noona who is just trying to get through life when she meets Hyun Bin, the rich hotelier who does nothing but tease and antagonize her. The chemistry and banter is so fun and fiery and right off the bat that it just sucks you in! It's a great enemies to lover romcom.
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One of the BEST K-drama Ron-Com with laugh and tears
I recently started to watch K-drama, especially modern Ron-Com. There are so many great actors/actresses and stories. I noticed there are many older woman and younger man CP story. No exception, this drama is also one of the story of older woman and younger man love interest.This drama is the most classic and best one I’ve watched. Additionally it’s so funny. You have no idea how many times I repeat watching this drama. Once I fish watching the heavy serious drama, I always come back to this drama to shake off the heavness in my heart.
If you want some laugh and cute romance, I recommend this drama. ML is Hyunbin. He looks so young and so handsome.
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The beginning of contract-relationships in dramas
I have watched “My Lovely Sam Soon“ three times now and each time I’m surprised by how much I love this drama! At first glance the drama is your typical “poor-woman-rich-arrogant-guy-contract-relationship” show, but don’t let this mislead you! This drama is genuinely funny, absurd, relatable, and unexpectedly moving. Yes, it is quite old and visually not as pleasing as modern dramas, but that only adds to its brilliance; being able to use the minimum to create such a great work is truly admirable and I always love to come back to the roots of K-Dramas where the plot and not the cinematography is in focus (I do love great cinematography though).“My Lovely Sam Soon” is definitely one of my all-time-favourites and I’m going to come back at it next time when I need a good laugh.
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You have to watch this. Definitely heartfelt funny!
Though the ending could be better but overall a great show.
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