This review may contain spoilers
It was my oxygen for a couple of weeks but...
This drama is one of your typical haters to lovers story, but kind of better.I absolutely enjoyed the first 12 episodes from the bottom of my heart and was willing to give it a 10 stars rating.
The love story of the main leads develops fascinatingly, and we've got some nice side characters, besides the second lead couple. It is overall fun, cute and moves with the right pace. The cast did a great job in portraying their roles.
I literally could not start watching anything else in between and waited until the next Friday to continue, because I was so invested. Of course, at some points, the acting was kinda off and cliché, but it did not bother me at all. Sometimes, I need a break from all the intense dramas which are currently coming out.
Now here comes the BUT.
I was okay with episode 13 and 14 to be kind of boring because this is where usually the turning points comes (it did here too) so it was allowable for me. The thing is they did not get back on track with the last two episodes.
First, Joon repeatedly asked for more time, while dealing with his issues. Shouldn't people in a relationship talk about what is going on in their lives and try to support each other? Probably, but he did not bother and went through it alone, and she was okay with it. At one point she even said something like "and here I am living my own life". Like girl, what did you do before???
Second, the second lead couple was insanely toxic. I really do not understand why the writers gave them a happy end, if they are literally better off without each other. I mean, one of them tried to take her life several times and the other ends up suffering damage from it. I already forgot her name, but she was overall a terrible character who played with the surrounding people, while the guy definitely had anger issues.
Therefore, it turned out that the last 4 episodes are just long and annoying. They do not even include the interesting reveals like how Geun-young managed to make Yoon popular again and how he reacted to the article, etc.
But they had the time to fill the last episodes with at least 7 flash backs about Yoons trainee time and how he and the toxic couple became friends. It wasn't even new stuff.
They also left some questions open. The one bothering me the most is why his mother didn't care for him at all. He tries reaching her 15 episodes long, and she immediately calls him after somebody else tells her about him knowing who his father is? For me, she has no reason to not pick up anyway.
Well, I guess I am done ranting here. :D.
I focused on the negative plot here, but keep in mind it is very watchable.
Thank you for the exiting weeks. I will definitely come back here.
See you.
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This review may contain spoilers
Guilty pleasure...
There are a lot of people, who hate this drama. They find it too cringey and cliché, they hate leads' acting or characters. But personally I think that it's very cute. I really liked the chemistry, I have to say. Also my favourite trope is Enemies to Lovers, so might be biased.But God, I just couldn't help but watch... Main couple was funny and cute and they made me smile!!
Second leads were toxic, that's a fact, but to be honest, I never cared about them. They frustrated me once or twice, but that's it. I just chose to ignore them and it wasn't that bad.
And now minor spoilers:
Last 2 episodes were kinda boring? I don't know, they just didn't fit, I don't know if it's only my impression - him going God-knows-where, public loving him again but why?, how long was he gone?. So many questions... I'm also kinda sad, that they forgot about that fangirl. I wondered what her reaction would be. All in all, this drama really
deserved better ending.
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Guilty Pleasure
"So I Married an Anti-Fan" is a mediocre drama at best but also highly addictive. I did not see the original, so I can't compare it, but the appeal of this drama has nothing to do with the story and everything to do with the chemistry between the two main leads. The concept is standard, two people who can't stand each other falling for each other. It may be cliché, but that's what this drama gets right. Unfortunately, the rest of the drama is filled with an annoying rivalry and a 2nd toxic couple that gets way too much screen time. Still, it was all more entertaining than not, until the last episodes at least, and the exact kind of romcom junk food I sometimes crave.This drama stars Choi Tae Joon as Hoo Joon, a worldwide pop star whose public image contradicts how and who he is in real life. Is he the most believable pop star? Not really, but his low-key arrogance did work well for the role. He is matched with Choi Soo Young as Lee Geun Young an ambitious reporter who is also super passive until an encounter with Hoo Joon pushes her over the edge. I guess it's pretty cute to have the pop star play the anti-fan, and I liked her in the role. Their story is filled with annoying misunderstandings, ridiculous coincidences, and cute banter, and the latter is what got me hooked. No matter how corny the story got I was completely invested and couldn't wait for the next episodes. The chemistry is just really good, and it's been a while since I've seen a couple this fun to watch... corniness and all. Neither of them gives truly amazing performances, but I still loved watching them flirt and fight on screen.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have Hwang Chan Sung as JJ matched with Han Ji An
as Oh In Hyung, two truly unlikeable characters. Both are Z list stars desperate for fame and jealous of their former colleague Hoo Joon's success. If you like characters that make you so mad you want to yell at the screen then they fit the bill. They both do a good job at being awful but their acting is also super overdramatic, which does fit the style of the drama. Their whole storyline from start to finish is a mess though and takes up way too much of this drama's time.
Other characters are great too, including Hoo Joon's Hottie manager, the reality show staff, Geun Young's friends, and the real scene stealers... Geun Young's parents. The whole cast honestly does a good job with this weak plot. You know a show is bad when they have to constantly rely on flashbacks... the same flashbacks... over and over again. I also will never understand what Korean's expect from celebrities so these scandal-trope storylines are hard to get into. The whole premise of creating this reality show also made no sense to me either. The show within a show concept just felt like an excuse to force them into cute situations, which worked for me, but that's what makes this drama more of a guilty pleasure than great.
Would I watch this again? Sure with, with my finger ready to fast forward when necessary (especially every "who's my daddy?" scene). I would even endure listening to the same 3 annoying songs over and over... I swear "Baby, youuuuuuuuuu" will haunt my nightmares... And I would definitely skip most of the final episode which was painfully slow and seemed thrown together without a plan. I get that covid delays may be somewhat to blame, but it was still really bad.
Overall, If you don't like the main couple this drama doesn't really have much else to offer. I liked them so much I would watch them team up again for a better storyline. I admit I had a lot of fun reading Viki commentary while watching which probably made me tolerate bad moments more. This is definitely a watch with friends and talk back at the screen kind of drama. If you're looking for a meaningful script with depth, you've come to the wrong drama. At most you get some basic character growth. If you're a romance fan with a high tolerance for tropes then you might end up being a fan like me. I felt a little like the leads, falling for what I initially expected to hate. "So I Married an Anti-Fan" may not be a great drama but Drama youuuuuuuuuuuu... I'm still with you!
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Are these toxic fans for real in this country?
This is not the first drama where toxic fans are highlighted. Even in Her Private Life and a couple of other dramas, the toxicity of fans is clearly shown.As a foreigner who just loves k dramas, it is very disturbing for me to digest and believe this.
Do these toxic fans not have a life of their own?
Why does the entertainment industry and the government allow them to destroy lives like this?
Can there be severe punishment for threatening and spreading falsity?
Why don't they make dramas or documentaries revealing this sickness because it truly is an obsessive disorder.
The k entertainers work and train so hard, give up their privacy, live a tough life albeit with wealth.
We have to let them live and breathe..
What right does a toxic fan have to mess around with their lives?
It's akin to murder - of their soul!
Please k drama producers and directors - create awareness that this is not acceptable.
Even when a negative review is posted on this website,the toxic fans respond with sharp claws.
Jeeeez......get a life of your own!!
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Great first K-drama
'So I Married an Anti-Fan' was my first Korean drama and it definitely met all and more of my expectations, even for avid K-drama viewers it was a great show. The story line was amazing, nothing was predictable which made the show that more enjoyable. The actors really portrayed their characters well, I would occasionally forget it was a k-drama rather than a reality show. There are a total of 16 episodes with the 16th being a recap, the ending personally wasn't what I wanted/expected but that out of all things was the biggest thing for me. Like every drama there were characters I disliked, to the point where it was annoying seeing them on screen but all I can say is that it gets better. Overall, the drama was everything I expected and more, I absolutely loved watching the show and couldn't get enough of it. I'm glad this was the first drama I watched to introduce me to the world of Korean dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
Worst of the Bunch of Adaptations
This is definitely my least fav version of this adaptation. It doesn't help that they had to have a 3 year delay of this drama. It was totally understandable, considering Choi Tae Joon's close relationship with quite a number of the guys involved in the Burn Sun Scandal that started early 2018 and picked up steam towards the end of the year when this should have been broadcast. It also didn't help that the posters they choose got a lot of hate comments from female viewers for the way it looks totally misogynistic. A very poor choice considering the #MeToo movement was starting to get more hype.The drama itself reflects the timeframe it was filmed in. The first 6 episodes, had this aired on time, would have had dozens of negative forum posts, I have no doubt in my mind. It was tone deaf on just how awful treating women, especially those who aren't considered "rich", "talented", or "pretty" by industry standards, and it doesn't sit any better knowing it's just for the drama either. After a while the poor treatment just grates on you.
The time allotted to characters was so out of line as well. The 2nd leads had FAR too much screen time and story than the OTP that I found myself fast forwarding through a majority of it because it was simply repeat after repeat of the same issues and arguments. Halfway through, I was like... I get it... there's jealousy and betrayal... now move on with the story.
The romance went from 0-100 in a nanosecond. Wasn't sure how all that emotion came about... Once there, it was cool. I liked the mid-half the best of this drama. But then the last 3 episodes ruined the whole vibe with this 2 episode forced 'distance' between them. Beyond cliche even if it mirrors the adaptive material. And now I feel like I wrote far more about this drama than the value I placed on watching it. It was fine for a quick one time watch just to know what this version was going to be after such a long wait...and to see Park Shin Hye's husband finally be in a "popular" drama where people know and remember who he is.... lol.
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If you're craving a simple rom-com. This is for you.
I just finished watching this drama and it was good.The main leads are cute. I love their chemistry, the way he started falling for her and their kissing scenes are so cute. Hahaha.
The title really explains the story, and I'm up for it. I'm totally into this kind of drama when the guy either hates the female or has some sort of issue with her.
I don't know why, but Choi Tae Joon is so Handsome here. Like omg. I cannot resist his facial expression and just everything he does.
I would totally watch this again, but probably on just some scenes. Especially romance scenes... With their kissing scenes. I'm shocked that they had a lot of kissing scenes and I'm happy for that. Lmao. Idk what else to say..
Oh, also... I hate JJ! But that's shies his good of an actor he is haha. Love you ChanSung🫶
1/25/23 / 3:43pm
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I felt awkward with the "villain" female lead but the three main leads are great, I really like their acting.
What I didn't like in the drama is the storyline. It got dragging in the last episodes. It's also quite childlish in my eyes, maybe because I watched too many dramas already that it felt that it is not for me anymore. It's good for those who are still beginning to watch korean dramas or to a younger audience maybe.
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The cast were good, especially Choi Soo Young who played here mischievous yet understanding character pretty well. While the character development of the lead pairing was palpable, it did not reach a point where you feel like the supporting cast was not part of the picture at all.
With a breath-taking mix of comedy, romance, friendship, bromance, jealousy, and a lot more, the journey of Geun-young and Hoo Joon in this drama was satisfactory
My Rating : 7.5/10
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This review may contain spoilers
Half Good, Half Annoying
I will admit that while I liked this drama overall, I almost quit very early on because the female lead's character was really getting on my nerves. You threw up on guest of honor at this event you're supposed to be reporting on, and your boss, who was already awful to you finally snapped and fired you and you think the celebrity orchestrated it?Like, she kind of took no accountability like maybe her own attitude and behavior may have been her demise. Also, what is the protest meant to do? Only in a romcom could that turn into a TV show. lol
Once both main characters started to chill tf out, it actually got kind of cute at times.
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I watched for Choi Tae Joon
Soundtrack was mostly amazing! :) Loved Joon and Geun Young. However, the secondary leads were painful to watch... :s I see now what people meant in the reviews I read before watching. I watched this for Choi Tae Joon after seeing him in Suspicious Partner. It was great to see him as ML even if the character started out as such a butt. Who Joon really was trying hard for everyone. I loved PD Han, Writer Noh and Ji Hyang. FL was more down to earth, which I prefer. :) Not the best drama ever, but I enjoyed. Had one of the cutest finale scenes I've ever seen!!Was this review helpful to you?
A Chip Off the Old Kdrama Romance Block
This drama fits the mold, which must be successful because there sure are a lot of them. "Scarred in youth" boy meets "going through hell" girl and it's hate at first sight. But then they are thrown into an adventure together, which magically causes them to fall in love, psychologically heals the boy's scars of the past, and gives the girl a new lease on life. While the typical-ness of this drama made it mediocre, several of the actors kept me moving through the storyline. I come for the storyline plus the acting, but minus a really good storyline, its usually the actors that keep me watching, and this one did not disappoint. I thought some of the music in it was really good as well. It's a good drama to just turn off your brain and be entertained for awhile. But keep the expectations low.Was this review helpful to you?
