The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (2023)

Decent drama but too many variables!

The drama was really good in the beginning but it started becoming confusing with all the different variables in the characters . I started fast forward it toward the end because I really wanted her to get back to Josean to save her past husband life . However , though she did save him she couldn’t love him due to her love with future ML. I thought that was dumb . the past reincarnation of the ML loved her so much and died knowing she loved someone else and the someone else is his future self which really made me mad . Then because of the longing of future ML , she somehow appears in front of him at the end ,no reincarnation !!! ???. I was surprised to see who the true villain was in the drama. But, I felt it couldn’t been a GREAT drama if they had left some of the content simple . I woulda liked if they kept the same format like the drama “ To all the guys that loved me “ and had both the future ML and FL remember all thier past lives in current time .

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I wish there was more to this time-travelling love story

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract is a light love story involving time travelling. I was drawn to this series because I love marriage of convenience trope. I'd say I wasn't satisfied with the series.

What I liked:
1) Feminist theme - It's great that writers could weave feminist theme in this series. Park Yeon-Woo is talented at embroidery work but in her original timeline, she couldn't operate a business openly due to her status. However this changed when she's transported to 21st century modern time. Same with Sa-Wol, her lady in waiting. In modern times, she was able to earn money through hairstyling services.
2) Fashion - Beautiful embroidery work by Park Yeon-Woo. I love when she applied it to modern dresses.
3) Comedic relief by Sa-wol & Seong pyo. Joo Hyun-Young & Jo Bok-Rae have great chemistry!
4) Kang Tae min - His scenes are fascinating to watch despite not having much screentime. I like how his character grew from a spoilt brat to a driven employer.
5) The first scene between Yeon-Woo and Mi-Dam was touching. She missed her mother so much!

What I disliked:
1) Kang Tae-ha characterisation - Somehow I feel like his character is least interesting.
2) The ending especially the rejection of 19th century Kang Tae Ha by Yeon-Woo. Wow, never thought she could be so cold. By the way, where is Kang grandpa in the last episode?
3) Villain arc is predictable
4) I feel it's odd that Yeon-Woo adapted to modern times very quickly. During her wedding to Tae-ha, she could wear off should wedding dress and high heels. Wedding was just a few days after she transported from 19th century.
5) Main leads' romance - I don't feel much chemistry between Bae In-Hyuk and Lee Se-young. As a result, I didn't root much for them. I do, however, like that Yeon-Woo was able to distinguish modern Tae-Ha from Tae-Ha from 19th century.

Favourite scene
Sa-wol providing hairstyling service to girls to earn money. Just shows that she is quick-thinker.

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fabulous Drama

This is a wonderful Drama. Great story, Fabulous Actors. Lovely leads and Support Cast.
To be honest I much prefer short Dramas. 12 Episodes is perfect. Perfect Marriage Revenge was also 12 Episdes and it was very satisfying. Long Dramas can be very tiring.
The Female lead in this is excelent. She makes the character fun to watch. Her assistant is also a treat to behold. The male lead is lovely too. There seems little point in going over the story ine as it is spelled out really well. The joy is in seeing it become alive. Shifting time is a wonderful idea Most K and C Dramas that I have watched excell in expanded thinking. Always full of surpries. The script writers are wonderfully creative. This is a gem. I have only watched 6 episodes so far and cannot wait until the next episodes.

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I WANT IT TO BE 16 EPISODE TT_TT

First of all, i think i would be dissapointed if the drama end 12 episode poorly like the other famous 12 episode drama :( but i hope not.

4 episode, they build base of the story not strong enough, base story in joseon was explained too fast, so there are many missing part and flashback story, but i expect it would be explained between the storyline, because time travel always have story like this, explained back and forth.

Strange enough, the chemistry between mainleads like oil and water, it's separated but you can't detached each other easily.
Lee se young build her own character very well, rebellious woman in joseon era who missing her husband. Her unique character sometimes doesn't look well with Bae in hyuk but you want it more and more. I think i just need more their lovey dovey scene in joseon era T_T

Bae in hyuk definitely looks so handsome in hanbok (no one allowed to debate this), being an old bachelor, it doesn't matter at all, i would be in love being your bride hahahahaha >w< sorry.
But in modern times, bae in hyuk looks had lacking CEO aura, i can't distinguish his character with his step brother. His expression when have to act as CEO to fight his enemy that want to steal his position, i think it still minus, i expected tense scene between him and his enemy but i don't feel at many his "fight" scene. Sometimes it destroy my imagination when he had to act as CEO, but i love when lee se young lead the love story (chef's kiss), bae in hyuk can delivers his confused emotion very well.

Furthermore, the story line getting interesting in each episode, i don't feel boring too long, i genuinely waiting each episode with my sparkling eyes, time travel joseon to modern never fails, the clumsiness of joseon people to modern things never failed made me laugh. (A little spoiler, tbh i confused why lee se young character adapt so well with smartphone hahahaha)

Addition, if you had watched old drama "Rooftop Prince" starred Park Yoo Chun and Han Ji Min, i think The Story of Park's Marriage Contract is similar with that old drama. You allowed to have a good expectation romcom with this drama.

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......

At first I thought that this would be another reincarnation drama but it's actually rather refreshingly a time travel story with Supernatural elements. There's an overarching mystery and plenty of Comedy to balance the tragic moments. I liked how some of the characters had dual natures that the audience couldn't really understand until more information was revealed. I loved the pretend marriage trope, it's just not done enough these days.

On the flip side.... I was hard to care or focus towards the end.... Its got another jealous 2nd female lead of course, and there are still reincarnation tidbits.

Lee Seyoung can do no wrong.... and this drama was a cute watch...

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I thought it would be a boring romcom drama but turned out the plot and storyline is beyond my expectation! This is so good, refreshing, and fun to watch! Lee Seyoung's acting ability is beyond doubt. She mastered every aspect from intonation while talking to her facial expressions, all of that point is GOOD! Although Bae Inhyuk is still a rookie, he is able to keep up with Lee Seyoung. Their energy and chemistry are unmatched. The chemistry between Seyoung and other characters, including Yoo Seonho and Joo Hyunyoung, is also very interesting to watch. Looking forward for episode 5 this friday!

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Main leads are chemistry majors!!

I’m writing this after my first *rewatch* as I did watch this when it was airing but felt like I needed more time with it. I’m a huge fan of both main leads so this was a must watch!!

I’ve always said that good chemistry can make even badly executed stories bearable, and this is the case. I did enjoy the plot/story but it was nothing remarkable (especially when Lovely Runner is currently airing and they have been crowned in my book as time travelling geniuses). THE CHEMISTRY is however, a completely different matter.

I knew Seyoung wouldn’t disappoint, she’s just a star through and through, and Inhyuk left me wanting more after Under the Queen’s Umbrella and Cheer Up (knew him since Gumiho but Jungwoo??? I believe in Cheer Up supremacy ok). And well, BOTH OF THEM DELIVERED. Inhyuk’s ability to play both Taehas was marvellous, he truly made me believe they were 2 completely people. And Seyoung is just so lovely and talented that it makes me so!!

This is a JEM and I’m kinda upset it’s only 12 episodes long, should be at least 16!! I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who doesn’t know the main leads or is looking for something more unique? However, I really enjoyed it and would watch it again (for a second time hahah) anytime!!

inhyuk bb hand in marriage!!!

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A beautiful story, with humor, love and a whirlwind of emotions.

Romantic and fantastic series (TT), intriguing and beautifully performed.
The format is short (12 episodes) as the Koreans now like to do.

PLOT: FL, a noble seeking freedom in Joseon, ends up getting married, but her husband dies on the wedding night. She is parachuted into the 21st century facing a man who is her husband's double. She will conclude a marriage contract with him, and together they will try to unravel the intrigues of the present and the past.

PROS:
+ The CL is magical. I liked Lee Se Young, the FL, but I discovered Bae In Hyuk, the ML. The chemistry is palpable and the sweet/intimate scenes are numerous.
+ The story is well written and the production, without any length, keeps us in suspense until the end. Nothing is predictable.
+ The images are beautiful, the costumes magnificent (especially those of the FL) and the framing is very aesthetic.
+ The 2ary characters are well developed, and the 2ary romance (assistant/servant) is really cute.
+ The OSTs are well suited.

CONS:
- the Happy End is a little abrupt, I would have appreciated a few extensions.
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Série romantique et fantastique (TT), intrigante et magnifiquement interprétée.
Le format est court (12 épisodes) comme aiment désormais le faire les coréens.

PLOT: La FL, noble en quête de liberté à Joseon, finit par se marier, mais son époux meurt le soir des noces. Elle est parachutée au XXIe siècle face à un homme qui est le sosie de son mari. Elle va conclure un contrat de mariage avec lui, et ils vont ensemble tenter de dénouer les intrigues du présent et du passé.

PROS:
+ Le CL est magique. J'appréciais Lee Se Young, la FL, mais j'ai découvert Bae In Hyuk, le ML (que j'aimerai revoir en ML dans d'autres séries). L'alchimie est palpable et les scènes sweet/intimes sont nombreuses.
+ La story est bien écrite et la réalisation, sans aucune longueur, nous tient en haleine jusqu'au bout. Rien n'est prédictible.
+ Les images sont belles, les costumes magnifiques (particulièrement ceux de la FL) et le cadrage est très soigné.
+ Les personnages 2aires sont bien développés, et la romance 2aire (assistant/servante) très cute.
+ Les OST sont bien adaptés.

CONS:
- la Happy End est un peu abrupte, j'aurai apprécié quelques prolongations.

=> Une belle histoire, avec de l'humour, de l'amour et un tourbillon d'émotions.

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agree badly done ending, not BAD ending, just badly filmed

I'll post when the spoiler is about to happen. It's barely anything, unless you're wondering if they get together in the end, and if you've read the other reviews you probably already know. If not, don't read after that part.

It was like being on a smooth cross country flight and then a bad landing. Or, no, wait! Eating a lovely dinner (not the most expensive kind, just a lovely tasting dinner), then being handed a bad piece of fruit at the end. You don't hate the whole meal, but you're left thinking, "what? Could they not have at least checked that last strawberry?" I'm talking about the last 3 minutes. I think I get it was meant to be artistic. Instead it just....ended. Like the author wrote a beautiful story (not the best ever but still heartfelt emotional entertainment), then forgot to save the update, and instead just sent the draft that says "put ending here."

SPOILER HERE - . What others have said -- give the ending at least three minutes of them coming back together. We've waited for this moment for 15 episodes, and they're like, "Oh, hey." As in, look like you're ENJOYING coming back together. The last three minutes loses an entire point for me. In fact until I read another review here, I didn't realize that I'd stopped the show early (it looked like it was rolling credits to me), and there was a 2 minute ending scene that I missed entirely. After watching it, meh. It didn't add anything to take the taste away from the bad strawberry.

SPOILER OVER: Also, dang people! When you are reviewing the show and checking the box that says "this review may contain spoilers", you are still allowed to write a little before you spill what the spoiler is. As in, not have the first words of your review be "I can't believe the villain turned out to be X!!!!" And yet, even though I knew that "X" was the villain, ARGH!, I don't think that deterred from my enjoyment. And really, there's more than a few villains to go around in this one.

I had no issue with her ease of entry into new Josean. It's been done before and I didn't need to see more than was shown.. She was a trailblazer in old Josean. She didn't shock easily. It showed her adaptivity.

SPOILER: The old Josean husband storyline. Yes, that was sad. But, just as they weren't meant to be the first time around, they weren't mean to be the second. Or rather, neither made the choice to make it happen. He'd always had a heart condition. He always followed her around and loved her from afar. All those years living in the same town, watching her and painting her, he could have approached her again but he didn't. The fact that she refuses to show romantic love for him in his last days the second time they meet, is consistent with faithfulness of her character in other situations. Even if she never sees him again, she's going to be faithful to the husband she chose with her heart. She did, however, make his last days easier by being his faithful friend. (On their first wedding night, she did like him and she did want him, but he died, she mourned him, and that relationship ended. Once she fell in love with his future self, she sees that they are not interchangeable.)

The plot hole that did bug me (SPOILER) - was the new husband had heart damage, it got way worse after he met her and fell in love, and was completely gone the minute she left. Uh...did I miss something? And when she came back why was it still fine?

Overall I enjoyed it. Just don't eat that last strawberry, ie. stop it 15 seconds ahead of the ending and make up your own reunion. it will be better than theirs. . then fast forward to the very very very end.

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Simply Beautiful Drama!

Words are not enough to write here on the admiration that I have for this engaging drama which seems to traverse from its starting date of November 24, 2023 – and ends on January 6, 2024

- Male and female leads in perfect chemistry and in perfect harmony
- Supporting casts and crews doing their excellent roles
- Beautiful storyline

Lee Se-young and Bae In-hyuk are now one of my favorite Korean actress and actor respectively.

** This is My First Korean Drama in its Fantasy Genre!
Very impressive . . . I highly recommend this drama . .

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