Frankly Speaking (2024)

A ride that starts with fun and chaos but ends up being a mess by the end.

I still remember watching Jim Carrey's "Liar Liar" and how a laughter riot it was filled with chaotic moments. When I read the synopsis of this drama, I knew it is gonna be a ball of chaos and that is exactly what it has been to most extent.

Go Kyung Pyo is a great casting for the role and damn he is humorous with his expressions and acting. Looking at his past dramas with him pulling off different types of characters, he has improved a lot.
I always wanted to see Kang Hanna in lead roles, so was quite happy to see her in this drama.

There are some cliche tropes used like the love triangle between ML,FL and SML but even with the triangle, things are kept humorous and simple instead of going for overly dramatic confrontations and stuff.

The first half of the drama is full of many funny, chaotic and dramatic moments but the second half is a mess with unnecessary storylines being added and finished rapidly. The story turned into a total healing melodrama with nothing to do with the main highlight of the title. It did become somewhat boring by the end and I am glad they only kept it till 12 eps cuz looks like even the writers knew they had no idea on what to do with story or how to end it.

Overall It is a decent watch.

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Great concept, messy execution (where'd the comedy go?!)

They had such a great set up—a news anchor who is forced to be honest. If you look on Youtube for news anchor goof ups and bloopers, you know they had so much potential material here. Yet, they immediately drove that concept into the ditch and set it on fire.

To do what? To turn it into subpar dating show with watered-down melodrama.

Reason for rating: I know it's a romcom, but is it too much to ask for a well-crafted romcom? The show dropped the humor and failed to develop reasons to emotionally invest in the characters. Production quality, tropes, and good actors are not enough to justify a decent rating. I'm so sick of predictable romcoms that lack romantic tension, excitement, risk, and forget to be a comedy, too. (Do main leads and second leads always need to be paired up? What about a romcom where they realize they're better off friends and end up with a second lead or supporting character?)

There was a real lack of romantic chemistry between them... and the lingering stare while the other wasn't looking did *not* building romantic tension. I just didn't really "get" why they were into each other.

I can say, it's not for lack of a good cast, characters, or premise. I absolutely love the actors, and the characters have so much potential... I just wish they were doing a bit more with them!

All in all, this show just doesn't deliver.

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