This review may contain spoilers
When dysfunction meets chemistry...
Late to the game. But we watch what we watch when it happens. Now was my time.It's just a drama but it's also a slice of life condensed into ten episodes.
Bottom-line, both ML and FL are immature and dysfunctional. All that internal monolog each one has, needs to be articulated instead of rolling around in their respective brains. But then if that happened, this drama would be about two eps long.
TL;DR....Darn chemistry!
1. The FL and ML are both emotionally stunted....based on various reasons.
2. Both are poor at communicating due to #1.
3. Like most guy/gal communications, it's the age-old-not-soon-to-change he's literal, she wants him to read her mind and make the first moves. Articulate those emotions, baby!
4. FL wants the ML to be close while stiff-arming him to keep him away at the same time. This one is on her.
5. She wanted the relationship to be "friends with benefits", but be exclusive. That's not how it works.
6. He's the embodiment of pheromones barely contained by his skin aka oodles of charm and charisma. So Trouble walking on two-legs. But that's other peoples issue to deal with. He's in trouble only if he acts on it. Can't expect a guy to walk around with a paperbag over his head right?!?! ML is no more toxic than the FL...contrary to other comments, but we're all entitled. So viewers who assign this label to one or the other -- this is a judgment based on the viewer's own bias in my opinion.
8. If anyone is toxic, it's the ML's stalker former girlfriend. ML is her addiction. She has to be the one to stop cold-turkey.
9. Sad, not sad that noodle-guy didn't win the girl, but life is about timing. I could cliche him ad infinitum about missing the boat but I won't.
Nevertheless, while the ship did return, it wasn't for him.
See what I did there. ;-)
Was this review helpful to you?
Kang Song and Han so-Hee's best.
I initially went into this with no expectations or idea about the plot, I clicked on it simply because I had just finished watching "My name" which starred Han so Hee and I really liked her.The realisation of what I had just watched hit me right after I finished the final episode, the first 6 episodes were engaging and I didn't feel bored, but I did start getting a little bored of the endless meaningless dialogue and the misunderstanding trope after but then the last episode made up for it.
I think the reason why I'm willing to overlook the flaws in this show is because of the cinematography. It was beautiful, the colours especially blend in with the soundtrack and give you this almost dream-like experience while watching it.
When I think of this show, I think of the two protagonists, colours and soundtrack. I've never watched a k-drama which utilizes colours to its fullest extent to make the viewer feel the emotions of the show allowing them to completely immerse themselves in this dream-like sensation.
That's all I have to say. I'm not very good at writing reviews but I felt I had to get this off my chest.
Was this review helpful to you?
What made me fall for Song Kang
This was the first kdrama I ever watched and what made me fall in love with them, so I think it'll always hold a special place in my heart. It's also where I fell for Song Kang. I loved the chemistry between the two actors most in this series!! The spice factor was pretty good too! I've seen a few others say this was their first kdrama too and I think it's a good one to start with!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Nevertheless I Sill Watched This Show
Very average feeling about it. The whole show felt like pulling teeth to watch, took me a whole month to finish this one. Had a lot of problems that I just couldn't ignore. I'm glad the couples I like got together but they got together at the end but they weren't given much screen time after that. the main couple is toxic and irritating. The acting is phenomenal everyone did well portraying their facial emotions. The music sometimes tends to get loud almost to the point it was overbearing. One good thing was the main actress will become of my favorites and ill follow her in the recent movie My Name.Was this review helpful to you?
Pretty but frustrating
Nevertheless started off SO strong — the vibes, the chemistry, the cinematography — everything pulled me in right away. I really thought it was gonna be a deep, messy, emotional ride. But honestly? The characters just... didn’t grow at all. It felt like they were stuck in the same toxic cycle over and over, and no one really learned anything. I kept waiting for something to change, for someone to wake up and choose better for themselves... but it never happened.It was beautiful to watch (visually stunning for sure) and the actors did great with what they were given. The chemistry between Nabi and Jae-eon was insane, no denying that. But without real character development, it ended up feeling kind of empty to me. Like, all the ingredients were there, but the story never really cooked, you know?
Still worth a watch if you’re into slow-burn toxic romances and ✨aesthetic✨ scenes, but if you’re looking for growth and a satisfying payoff... lower your expectations.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Horrible leads, not so great plot
Plot-This plot is about the main girl and how she is skeptical of love because her ex-boyfriend cheated on her. She went to the bar I think and she accidentally met the male lead. The male lead's character revolves around him being a player, who doesn't "believe" in a real relationship and he just wants to fool around and play with the main girl. Eventually, they ended up being friends with benefits. The main girl catches feelings, but she still wants to hit it. Even though she obviously knew the rumor about the male lead being a playboy, but she wants it---So across the episodes; the male lead and main girl basically go back and forth trying to see who will cave into each other. The male lead is awful, predictable, and is not honest about his feelings. Sure, you can be a playboy; but be upfront about it. The main girl is a mess too, she is drawn to the male lead and his fake likes and kisses; and eventually, throughout the messiness, they ended up together (roll eyes).Acting-good, everyone acted their characters well. I really do not like male lead; his character is trash!!!!
GL plot- It was cute to see two best friends confront their feelings and ended up together :). Their plot was the only good thing that save this show.
Rant over!! :)
Was this review helpful to you?
When it was released, I thought this show was low on plot and was more on steamy romance and bed scenes so I was discouraged to watch it, but i was proved wrong. This drama showed real life depictions of a relationship, the good, the vague, the bad. In dating you see all these signs but “nonetheless..” you have to take the risk to see where it goes.
No wonder Han So Hee became famous, she really portrayed her role very well! The side characters were great too! They brighten up the show a little bit.
Overall, i didn't really get into the drama at first, i watched it for the side characters, but the show and plot picked up itself in the middle and the later part, where we see small character developments with the ML. 😊
The ending was nicely wrapped up too! Which I like!! 🩷
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Realistic drama, different than typical fairytale Korean dramas
It stands apart from traditional K-dramas, which often rely on "fairytale" tropes (e.g., the cold, wealthy CEO who changes for the kind, poor girl). Instead, Nevertheless operates as a psychological case study on why we consciously choose people we know will hurt us.Here is why it is regarded as a masterpiece from this specific perspective:
1. It Validates the "Knowledge vs. Action" Gap
Most dramas portray characters as oblivious to their partner's toxic traits. Nevertheless does the opposite: the protagonist, Na-bi, knows exactly what Jae-eon is. She hears the rumors, she sees the evidence, and she recognizes the pattern. The drama forces the viewer to watch her walk into the fire anyway. This is a masterclass in portraying the painful human reality that intellectually knowing something is "bad" for you does not stop you from feeling a desperate emotional need for it.
2. The "Physical Magnetism" as a Catalyst
The drama leans heavily into the power of raw, physical, and emotional chemistry—what you might call the "halo effect." Because Jae-eon (the "bad boy") is portrayed as exceptionally charming, attentive, and physically magnetic, the show forces viewers to empathize with Na-bi’s dilemma. It isn't just "she’s naive"; it’s "he is providing an intoxicating dopamine hit that she is currently addicted to." By keeping the chemistry intense, the show highlights how physical attraction can override rational warning signs.
3. Deconstructing the "Fixer" and the "Familiar"
The show explores the "why" behind the attraction without being overly clinical.
The Thrill of the Chase: It captures the anxiety and excitement that comes from unpredictability. When a partner is emotionally unavailable, every small scrap of attention they do give feels like a massive victory, reinforcing the addiction.
The Illusion of Specialness: The show perfectly illustrates how people like Jae-eon use intermittent reinforcement (giving and withholding affection) to make the partner feel like they are the "exception" to the bad boy's rule, even when they aren't.
4. It Defies Traditional "Redemption"
Most dramas demand a "happy ending" where the bad boy transforms into a perfect partner. Nevertheless is polarizing because it chooses a more nuanced, often frustrating, and realistic path. It doesn't promise that the "red flag" will suddenly become a "green flag" just because of love. It argues that the real journey isn't about changing the other person, but about the lead character finally facing her own agency, choices, and the consequences of her desires.
5. It Shifts the "Female Gaze"
The show is often noted for being told through the "female gaze"—it focuses on the internal world, the obsession, the overthinking, and the quiet, agonizing moments of waiting for a text or a sign of affection. By centering these feelings rather than just plot twists, it makes the viewer feel the weight of the "red flag" dynamic, making it feel less like a story and more like a shared experience
Was this review helpful to you?
Watch it for the lesbians and cinnamon topography
Pro: The camerawork and framing in this show is so so good in this show. It's stunning. It's breathtaking. It almost distracts you from the fact that the plot isn't actually going anywhere. Han SoHee and Song Kang look wonderful in this one, as they always do. Soljiwan supremacy.Cons: The ending will definitely leave you wondering what kinda message this show was trying to send. Watching this feels like you're traveling down a river, and the scenery is generally nice and all, but nothing is really happening. Some of the twists and turns you're taking are a little concerning, and the destination is nothing like you expected it to be.
Was this review helpful to you?
Out Of The Chrysalis ➰️ Into Self Awareness ➰️ An Art School Fable About Taking Wing VG 7.6
Right from the start I'm thinking:"Yo! Oh NO! Women and girls don't need to be watching this!"
This story follows the lives of art students, particularly Nabi's group of friends. Though the focus is on their love lives, the stresses of classes, projects, competitions, and future plans factor heavily in the story. The protagonist is Yu Nabi, a beautiful and talented but resigned, student.
The show starts with her painful break-up. She is then quickly seduced by the powerfully sexual Park Jae-eon (Song Kang from Sweet Home-8.5 & Navillera), who is a notorious womanizer. They couldn't be more different, except for the "road closure" signs on the way to their hearts. She starts a physical relationship with him but continually doubts him. He never asked for more anyway. This type of dude is not good in real life. Users like this tend to be on the sociopathic scale. Naive girls will think the can change him, that they'll succeed where other women have failed. It won't work, girls. You will get your heart shredded.
"It's making me so uncomfortable," was my thought, from EP 2 through midway when there was a plot shift. At the same time, I was also thinking that the director & actors handled the seduction scenes well. They are as steamy as the kitchen in a noodle restaurant. Nabi moves on to other guys. She has no shortage of admirers herself. These relationships may make her more at ease, but there are clearly no sparks, such as the ones Jae-eon ejects when he's performing his craft.
My method is: No reviews without watching the entire show, intolerable pain being the exception. If I had broken it off with Nevertheless in the early episodes, which I was not enjoying, I would've had a much different opinion than I now do after watching every frame. A solid 25% (it seems) of the early episodes consists of Nabi staring with an emptiness that showcases how a hammer shattered her fragile shell. Her emotional core is pulverized. She's struggling with school. Nothing is going right. She's shut down.
Nabi brightens up in the very last scene, when she settles on the next step in the direction of her future. She smiles radiantly, her voice lifts an octave or so, her words suddenly flow with ease: She's confident. There was so much transformation in that last smiling sentence that it was breathtaking.
The director, Kim Ga Ram (Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency -7.4), created her own piece of art in this series. This is Kim Ga-ram's third effort. All three are rated solidly with an increase in the IMDB rating for each one. We should be looking forward to more excellent offerings from Ms Kim. Screenwriter, Jung Won, is just getting started.
Not only was Nabi's transformation handled aptly, but there are many scenes that are excellent, with imagery and metaphors noticeable in the first watch. (Another go-through would only reveal more.) In Ep9, for example, Do-hyeuk gives Nabi an umbrella. He told her it will rain. He has an extra umbrella. Cut to Jae-eon who looks out at the deluge, umbrellaless. Do-hyeuk was prepared for heartache. He had braced himself. He was ready for rain. Heartache snuck up on Jae-eon. He never saw it coming. Several others in the extended group, who had been longstanding friends, also pair up. Their romances were all done well.
Adorned with a butterfly tattoo on the back of his neck, Jae-eon claims it means: The ugliness & pain of happiness & a lack of freedom. While Jae-eon has looks, money, talent, and popularity, which are all things that people believe will make them happy, he's not happy. He's lived free with many women, which left him not free to pursue a meaningful relationship. It's obvious that Jae-eon's dingy apartment -it's almost grayscale- is emblematic of his closed off heart. "Nabi" means butterfly. Nabi emerges from her chrysalis at the end of the show. That emergence had nothing to do with a man. The criticism of Nevertheless promoting toxic relationships is not fair. Nabi's confidence, in the end, was from, by, and through HER, not anyone else. This show is a cocoon that yields it's beauty right on time.
The sculpture on which Nabi labours for the entire semester appears lackluster, just as Nabi does. She takes a step toward joining society by finally taking on assistants. The reveal for finished works will be the end of semester art show. What's on display is Nabi herself. Nabi's piece has taken up wings to fly. The process and the show are the stages of a butterfly. The matured Nabi powers through her entrapments in full stained glass splendor. She might as well fuse with her sun-catcher and bracelet.
This is a well-crafted show. I would give it a rating of around 7.6, but it doesn't rise to the level of a solid 8. The director will likely be there with her next effort. Nevertheless, this series is well worth watching. It's not like the 3' deep cutesy romances. The director has crafted something more complex. In fact, I would classify this as a drama about self-awareness and self-liberation first, and a romance second.
QUOTE📢
Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne~
〰🖍 IMHO
🎬8 🤔6 🎭8 💓6 🦋8 ⚡1
Age 15+
In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:
Modern Day:
A Witch's Love 7.8;
Love to Hate You 8.9;
Oh My Ghost 10;
Our Blues 8.7 - ensemble piece;
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9;
Love Struck in the City 7.3;
Hospital Playlist 9;
My Mister 9.5;
I'll See You When the Weather is Fine 9;
Action/Sci-fi/fantasy:
Signal 8.6;
The Cursed 8.3;
Flower of Evil 8.9;
The Man from Nowhere 8.9;
Black 9;
Squid Game 8.4;
Romance junkies only:
My Secret Romance 7 (if you ff thru overdone flashbacks);
Boys Over Flowers 8 ~ melodrama to the max;
The Bride of Habaek 7;
Heirs 7.3;
That Winter, The Wind Blows7
Something in the Rain 9
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An artist's romance. Nevertheless aptly describes Nabi.
In short, it was a steamy artist's romance. In my opinion based on artists I know, and my own life, we draw inspirations from our surroundings and how deeply they affect us. The more we feel, the better our artistic instincts awaken.As this drama wasn't a sweet romance but realistic one, my take in judging it is different.
Slight spoilers here guys (if any)-
The endless rebounds, attraction, struggle to understand, openness to explore and get to know themselves and their romantic partners. Na Bi left her relationship with her ex-teacher who was an artist and got into a steamy open relationship with the ML- a guy who liked to flirt with anyone attracted to him. He could use it to his advantage and string them just enough he got what he wanted at his own pace, with a distance he liked to maintain. This story showed how such kind open relationship was hard to maintain as the relationship progresses over time. Very realistic behaviour when your body can't get on the same page with your logic and ignores red flags as Nabi faces an ambiguous relationship that had no boundaries with a person full of unspoken lines that she wasn't able to cross. Trying to juggle her studies, ambitions, and her unconscious nod to romance, she experiences how each important position in her life was interlinked- grew as a person, an artist, drew her boundaries and straight up finally gave ML a choice. Ofcourse during the course, she slipped, made mistakes and in the end, came to her own conclusion (be it right or wrong. Such is life). While I may not agree with her choices, but I appreciate her assurity, own interpretations, self worth and confidence while making them.
For the ML on the other hand, the progress was so sloooooow. I never got his deal, could never get fully invested in him. He used all the right words, right actions, his calculated thoughtfulness that mentally and emotionally linked, touches that simulated sexual awareness... He was fully in control of himself most of the time. Always aware. He lived like a butterfly. Yes he changed a bit, though it was minuscule enough that I felt his life and progression may have happened offscreen and thats why I couldn't understand his perspective, growth, pain. His whole character was built on vagueness in terms of decisions, until he released the butterflies and lightly asked for her back
They both finally entered into a relationship, with their eyes open. As people they wanted to give it a go. As artists, they both will gain from each other- through love, pain, attraction, heightened emotions, and when they split (they know they will), they'll gain further still. They just want to enjoy the now.
In a way Im glad the SL didnt get Nabi. I feel like the person she is nowouldn't have gelled well with him for long if they had. She would have been emotionally exhausted to be with him because she never gave me that vibe that showed interest and he would have put in a LOT of effort ( he already was) and he would have felt a bit insecure in the relationship. It's best it ended as a first love. She was always invested in the ML. He deserves someone else. In the webtoon though, I prefer that ending.
I agree with Bhoomi though, it was realistic enough to be queasy, and later on there was a lot of eye rolling on part. Became too repetitive with no development.
That saying, I loved watching the supporting characters more, especially in the 2nd half of the drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
My first review for a show I do not appreciate.
The kdramas I watch I actually like most of them. This one is my first that I loathe. I think it's nonsensical, the writing is abysmal where our main woman lead is walking around miserable for the last like 4 episodes of a 10 episode series, and she decides to get with the man who made her miserable and says she knows he'll cause her pain but she'll do it anyways. I guess that's supposed to be deep, but... it isn't. Not even slightly.I love Han Sohee and Song Kang but this wasn't it.
What I will give it props for is basically EVERY other character in this show besides our two leads are pretty enjoyable. I mean all of them, they are all just fun or cooky or interesting.
Was this review helpful to you?
