When the Weather Is Fine (2020)

Just falling deep into a story

The lovely portatraial of countryside. The story filled with emotion and depth. Some scenerioes are realistic some are imaginary but it all conveys it's message properly. It's a slow slice of life, some psychological real life stuff too, I am drawn to the story and characters even though it's a slow drama, beware. Genuine love story and genuine story of healing and growth. Well it might not suite the taste of teenagers or some others but for me personally as I have lived through that shy, introvert experience, I can say like it. Music is so soothing and the vibe and cinematography is on point. Some things can be done other way but it's just personal what fits one person might not suite other so no drama can be all perfect. But it was my first slow drama and I have to say it was awesome for me.

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I honestly was not sure what to expect but I went ahead and decided to watch it. My initial reaction was that the series was very slow pace but you can honestly tell that the directors put a lot of thought into the composition of it as well as the storyline. I felt that the beginning of the series was somewhat confusing because they were showing clips of their past, then they were showing events that happened earlier or events that were going to happen before they happen. So for me that was a bit confusing. It mostly happened in the beginning of the series but by the middle to end of the series you’ll notice that the confusion somewhere kind of dies down a little bit. I think overall the series was very very heartfelt. It showed the effects of different things that happened in these individuals lives as they were growing up and how these things that happen in their past affected their present whether that’s relationships with their family or relationships in general. I think that for some people this is a mega tear jerker.

I somewhat prefer the ending of the series versus the beginning. In truth I was going to start watching it but I’m glad I kept going because it really showed how everything is not as it seemed but it also show true honest and raw emotions. There was no make-believe band is that made everything OK and we’re friends again things that took place in this. The people we have real feelings and they were genuine about it which is more closely related to how normal people will deal with rejection or betrayal. So I really enjoyed that about this I feel that it closely reflected human nature and feelings. No magic ones took place here. So if you’re into a slow pace, bit of a tearjerker and heartfelt drama with a little romance you may like this. Again this is really not an overly romantic series although you will get a little romance in here but this is more about past pain and healing.

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I'm aware many people won't like this drama because it's slow, but it you don't mind slow paced dramas then you should definitely watch this one.

How do I express this feeling I have right now? I just finished the last episode and I know for sure I'm going to miss this drama a lot. The sceneries are so beautiful, the filming, everything! But if there's something even more beautiful that stands out, it's the story and how it's told.

For me, even though Hae Won and Eun Seob are tagged as the ''main leads'', every character in this drama are leads. You get to know their story, they grow in you in a way I'd never experienced before; even the old women that are always gossiping. It's just amazing.

There are scenes that made me cry of happiness. They just warm you up on the inside.
This drama... I just don't have words to explain what it has made me feel. It's deep, really deep, and I loved that; however, there are characters like Eun Soeb's sister (Im Hui) or Jang Wu that really lighten the mood a little bit and they're so funny and loveable!

If you're hesitating to watch this drama, just go and watch at least 2 episodes and then decide whether to watch it or not. I'd recommend 100%, but as I said in the beginning, if you don't usually like slow paced dramas this may not be for you. It being slow paced doesn't make it a bad drama, though, and I'd say it definitely deserves a try.

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This is the only drama I repeated watching immediately after finishing the whole series.
I first chose this drama because of Park Min Young & Seo Kang Joon. PMY first attracted me in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Since, I have watched most of her dramas. SKJ was so adorable in the Cunning Single Lady. After feeling disappointed by the drama ‘The Third Charm’, I was really excited to find him as the male lead actor in When Weather is Fine.
In fact, the first episode was too slow for me. If it were not PMY & SKJ, I would have given up (I had even hanged on to The Third Charm for 4 episodes before letting go). Interestingly, as the story unfolded, I found myself deeply attracted to the screenplay, production and acting. In addition, the OSTs are so beautiful. I later delightedly learned that all singers/artists are my favourites.
Initially, I had stopped when each episode ended and missed the Bookstore Diary (may be called something else as I watched this drama in another language) that followed. This note further expressed the thoughts in the mind of Im Eun Sub and helped to understand why he acted in certain ways.
Both have played the characters so well; PMY displayed her anger and frustration quickly while SKJ was reserved with intense eye expression.
The whole production team is commendable. The Director, Screenwriter, music composers and, of course, the cast should be given awards in 2020.
It is ashamed that the viewer ratings were low in Korea.

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i gave this show a solid 10 just for the way it make my heart feel at ease every piece was but in its right place perfectly
when the weather is fine, is different from any kdrama I've ever watched, usually the drama that have the geners melodrama in it almost have the same aspect and the same characters development in it this one isn't , it shows that how much it is good to have someone you can lean on, and it shows how can time solve your problem eventually.
its a slow paced show, but that's what makes this show perfect.
Note: no intense moment in it, it was just a show that connect pieces together in the smoothest way possible

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Should you watch it? — yes

I just love Park Min Young acting skills. So I wanted to watch this drama just for that reason. She played a very different character as compared to “what is wrong with secretary kim”. I just think she is an amazing actor.

I gave this drama lowrating because watching this drama seem like “watching the grass grow”. The storyline itself was OK and really didn’t have an emotional component to it.That may seemLike a contradictory statement since this drama dealt with physical abuse mental abuse and self torture as reflected by the aunt and the mother.

What I didn’t get about the storytelling was why would the main female lead fall for a guy who seemed to be totally disconnected and didn’t seem to show any interest in her. I am surprised that mok hae won(MKH) continued to talk to ML after confessing.

A good and powerful story is when the FL and ML transform with the support and love for each other. In this story, I did not see much of transform in IM Eun Sub. It seemed to me that if mkh never came back, he would have been just fine.

So in retrospect, I think the whole story is not about love, but something else. Is it about finding happiness by living simply and enjoying book clubs, and no television? It didn’t seem like the script writers dealt with physical abuse. It was in the background and our main characters simply learnt to live with it. In fact I was very much surprised that MKH, even chastised her aunt when she discovered the truth.

It is funny.. the more I write this review, the angrier I get. The more I think about it, I would hate to be in a relationship with MKH... she can’t forgive easily, isolates those who love her. Only thing she has going for her is her beauty. It was telling when she made a statement “I always have been pretty”.

I am glad I watched this drama. There were lessons for me as to how NOT to be in life to find happiness.

Conclusion:
Watching this drama was like watching the grass grow.
Infuriating due to lack of main characters depth.
Positives: community spirit

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Bad Ending and Bad Message of the Show?

I've only seen a few reviews critique this, so I would really like to make my own review and point this out myself....while I personally loved the things most people disliked, including slow-pace and the 'small town' vibes, I did not like how this show ended. I feel like this whole contrived "main romance couple must split up" cliche is way overdone in dramas; it's very frustrating. Even so, I can tolerate it if it makes any sense. Hae Won was miserable in the city, couldn't find a good job, and was happy with Eun Sub, and chose to break up with him and forget him?? He did not deserve that at all, it was honestly super effed up. She had just yelled at her aunt about families sharing pain, and as soon as she had an issue she completely ditched Eun Sub. She opened his heart and made him love her even more and then just ditched him. Felt like she just used him to get forward emotionally throughout the whole drama. And now what? Is she only staying a short time, and just going to ditch him again? The ending did not make it clear how long she planned to stay. I want to rate this drama good since it still made me happy but the ending just made the main female seem like the whole drama and romance was a lie or just something for her to pass the time. Meanwhile Eun Sub literally has had trauma and fears his entire life of being abandoned and ditched, and she did just that because she know he would continue loving her regardless. I'm sorry but I just cannot get behind this ending, because it really ruined the entire show for me. I'm so angry and disappointed right now.

As another quick note, I saw very little chemistry between the leads. I understand that Eun Sub cannot express his love as openly as other people can, and I really appreciated Seo Kang Joon's amazing acting for the overlooked but important things like that and his versatility as always. However, I simply sensed very little chemistry from them at all. It's weird because I always thought chemistry came with great actors, but really after seeing this drama I understand the concept of chemistry now. They're both amazing actors and yet I felt as if their chemistry was garbage. Maybe both actors or one or the other failed to convince me that they loved the other. Not sure what it was, but it honestly felt a little souless.

The story was handled carelessly not only in the ending romance but its depiction of abuse victims. Someone reviewed this more thoroughly than me, but the way this show portrays victims of a monster and the way it creates sympathy for an abuser just because he was nice to other people is seriously damaging. It's quite awful to see such archaic viewpoints coming out of a first world and developed country like South Korea. This way of thinking is why abuses of all nature are not reported, but especially so coming from women and wives in households. I don't wish to elaborate further because this honestly would make me rage and cuss. This depiction of the aunt and mom being in the wrong for literally defending themselves is sickening and wrong. This is patriarchy at its finest, and S. Korea needs to do better as a society. It's effing shameful.

I want to make it very clear that just because someone is kind half, or even most of the time, but still abuses another creature, they are still trash and an abuser. They are not "complex" or "hard to understand" or "not like other people", they are a monster plain out and simple. And if you are an abuse victim or knows anybody that is, you have the right to defend yourself. You have the right to defend yourself and you do not deserve to be treated like this, ever. Just because you care for someone or they're sometimes nice, or even if you have a child/family together, it does not make their actions okay. They are a monster who needs to be stopped and doesn't deserve sympathy. Even if you do not want legal action to happen, even in jail there are ways for people like that to get psychological help to become better. Do not spend your life away and time you'll never get back by staying around an abuser. Get help and send secret messages if you must. Seriously, screw this show for promoting this sort of thinking.

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LIfe Is Choice

This is a wonderful character-study series that demonstrates one of Life’s great truths: Life is choice and you determine how you react to what goes on around your and the experiences that you have. We are given two characters with very polarizing ways of living. One embraces what happens, no matter what it is, and learns how to let go. The other plays the role of the victim and is constantly running away from life and the problems that inevitably come. By the end of the series, the viewer should be left with one question to answer: which path do you prefer?

Mok Hae Won is a very lonely woman who flees her job and life in Seoul for the small town in the countryside. Her upbringing is filled with unhappiness, from a father who abused her mother, a mother who is so cold and distant that she rarely sees her. And when she does, her mom barely says anything at all. There are no loving words or even the hint of a smile. The same is true of Hae Won’s aunt, who is just as cold as Hae Won and her mother. In short, we find very quickly that this is not a pleasant family to be a part of. They keep their distance from others, mostly because they are so content in their own bitterness and unhappiness, that they don’t even want to take a chance on something better. These are three very miserable women who hardly have anything appealing about them at all.

Im Eun Seob is a young man who is quiet but steadfast in how he lives his life. He’s loving and never hesitates to help someone who is in trouble. He gives no thought to his own safety, nor does he ever ask for anything in return. His own family abandoned him, and he was left with a family who took him in and raised him as their own. This family is warm and good-hearted, and they aren’t afraid of trials and tribulations. In fact, they face things head-on.

This is especially true of Eun Seob’s little sister, Im Hwi, who is a young high school girl full of life and zest! She may be a bit conceited, but she also never fears expressing herself, no matter how it may offend others around her. Despite not being popular, Im Hwi never allows that to affect her. She’s a very strong, young woman who’s already mastered one of Life’s great lessons: it doesn’t matter what other people think of you. One might wonder how Hae Won might have grown if she’d had a friend like Im Hwi when she was in high school.

It's easy to blame our parents for our shortcomings and even problems and failings. But the truth is that we never need to look further than ourselves when things don’t work out. Hae Won is a weak woman who enjoys playing the role of the victim. And people who play the role of the victim are always cowards because they are intent on blaming everyone else for their problems. What is even worse about Hae Won is that she has no forgiveness or tolerance for the imperfections of others. She fails to realize that nobody is perfect, not even our parents, but we must learn to forgive and look past the flaws and imperfections that everyone has.
Hae Won holds a grudge against her high school friend, Kim Bo Young because of a mistake that Bo Young made. Yes, it was a mistake, and even Bo Young acknowledges it, but toward the end of the series Bo Young points out to Hae Won that most people have cracks and problems that make them imperfect. Still, Hae Won cannot see past her own pain.

Of course, a romance brews between Eun Seob and Hae Won—who Eun Seob has loved since high school, unbeknownst to her. He runs a small bookstore in the small town, and it’s clear that he loves his life, despite living a life that seems boring and ordinary. Eun Seob loves Hae Won completely, despite her flaws and imperfections, and he also realizes that as soon as winter is over, she will leave. Some people are fair-weathered people. They only stay until real problems arise, and then they flee. Hae Won is such a person, which is why the viewer already knows the inevitable.

The romance is sweet and touching, and the chemistry between Hae Won (Park Min Young) and Eun Seob (Seo Kang Joon) is real. But the romance runs together with the mystery of who killed Hae Won’s father, and how she will deal with the truth of the past. We already know that Eun Seob is a man who can deal with pretty much anything. He has a mountain cabin where he can go to collect himself and be with his feelings. He’s also quick to forgive as well as express himself to others without fear or reservation. He knows that Hae Won is not built like that. While both characters endure much suffering, especially in their childhood, we see how each character has chosen to deal with their adversity. One deals with it, and the other finds a way to run away from it. Eun Seob already realizes one of life’s truths: the quickest way out is always through.

Eun Seob also knows that true love is not about holding on, but about letting go, which is why –despite how painful it is—he lets Hae Won go because he also knows that she has to learn to deal with the past as well as find herself.

The world is full of Eun Seobs and Hae Wons, and it’s up to us to decide which one we want to be. We can embrace and endure what comes, or we can play the role of the victim and wallow in pain and misery like Hae Won, her mother, and her aunt.

I loved the simplicity and beauty of the piano music that went with this series. I felt it really added to the atmosphere and enhanced the story.

Performances were first-rate all around. I have to say that one of the standout performances for me was Kim Hwan Hee (Im Hwi) as Eun Seob’s sister. She had such a command of the role as the tenacious and loving Im Hwi. The best scene of the series for me is when Im Hwi tearfully begs Eun Seob not to leave when she believes he’s going to leave with his uncle, and never return. It was such a touching scene, especially as Eun Seob—being the loving man that he is—buys and replaces Im Hwi’s bike seat with the one she’s been wanting. She also pretty much stole every scene she was in. I hope to see more of this talented young lady!

Some people hate winter (analogous to difficult times) and can’t wait until spring arrives. Others embrace the cold and find a way to navigate it. Such is the path of human lives in dealing with life. This series was one of the best character studies that I have seen when it comes to how to deal with life. Remember, life is choice. So, which do you choose?

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Soak up the atmosphere and breath

It is a lovely, well made drama but it has issues. The mood is generally mellow, slow and contemplative. The acting all round is good and some stands out more than others. While the OTP is lovely together and Park Min Young can just stand still and be beautiful anytime and I won't complain, it is a slow burn. There was almost more chemistry with the 2nd OTP and they certainly had more fun with them. ML's sister is a scene stealer. I do wish they let her develop a bit more. Now on to the elephant in the room . . . Like so many k-dramas, they have to add a dark twist or two. Unfortunately, it was telegraphed very early in the show but the writer insisted on recounting the events again and again but with a slight change of angle or a bit more voice over or an added scene. I suppose the idea is to reveal the "true" event over time as you get deeper into the story but there are no surprises so the recounts just feels draggy. I'm glad that they did wrap up the story nicely so you do feel satisfied. It is well worth the watch but you have to be in the right mood.

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This drama is underrated. Yes, the drama has a slow pace but it just fits perfectly with what it intends to show to the viewers. I felt very warm while watching this drama. I love how they used the weather to express their feelings. I also love how the different love stories developed. Hoping that more people would appreciate this. I especially liked Park Min Young's acting in this drama. I really loved PMY and SKJ's chemistry. Ugh they're so cute!! Their book club also has the best people (lee jae wook saranghae) <3

The story was not exaggerated. The plot twists were also placed amazingly in the series. Give it a try!

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one word: HEALING

At first, the story might be slow and I admit I felt frustrated when I started it. That was one and only downside of this drama. But it started to gets interesting around episode 3 and since then I am hooked. This drama covers almost every issues out there. Mental health, suicide, violence, abuse, betrayal, disease, bully, isolation, family, friendship, love, relationship, etc. Everytime they had a book club meeting, I really enjoy it and it gives ton of life lessons. I like all the characters here but my personal favorite will be the Sim sisters. Their bond and story is really impactful and it made me cried the most in the drama. Honorable mention to Lim Hwi and Lee Jang Woo for making the drama bright and made me laugh a lot. Overall, this drama gives me warm feeling and it is my all-time favorite healing kdrama.

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