[Discussion] Romance Town / Maids

Yep, same dude!

I wanted to say more about this show now that I've watched the latest sub released. But all I can think to say is: after The Greatest Love, this is definitely my second favorite show in this current crop of airing dramas. City Hunter has a good shot at being third if it keeps up the tone and pace from the first episode.

I have to say, I think this drama *so far* is highly underrated. The acting is brilliant, the characters so well-developed and well rounded, and the plot uniquely interesting. This is the first drama in awhile where I can't clearly tell what the characters are thinking, they aren't transparent, and I find that more exciting cause even up to episode 8 now, I still don't have 100% of an idea where this drama is going. Perhaps I do in the romantic section of the drama, but definitely not the rest of the plot, especially with what's going on with the lotto ticket. I'm curious to see what they plan to do with that plot line. Also, the heroine surprised me by being so upfront about her feelings once she was sure of herself. And the fact that the hero of the story used to be nice and only turned mean once he lost all his weight is a first for me and I find it very interesting. I wish more people would get invested in this show. *sigh*

P.s. I don't want anyone to think that there aren't other interesting characters out there right now, cause I definitely find Dokko Jin a little predictable, but completely unique. Lol.

YAY! I thought I was the only still totally on board with this drama!

SPOILERS

I kind of wish they had never embarked down the double life plot point with Soon Geum---I was skeptical, and now I'm already bored with it. I liked that they seemed to be going for the slice-of-life feel, but that whole masquerade adds a level of silliness that I find detracts from the original tone that drew me in initially. However, the rest of the drama is strong enough for me to overlook this minor annoyance. Every scene in which all of the maids are gathered is just gold; I love their camaraderie, and then throwing in Young Hee just completes the recipe. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE Soon Geum's relationship with Hwang Yong, her reluctant fairy godfather.

I'm just starting episode 7 now, so I might come back after catching up with you. ^_^

OMG, SO GLAD WE'RE OVER THAT ANNOYING CHARADE. If I had to sit through several more episodes of Gun Woo being a blind dingbat, I would have gone bald from all of the hair-pulling. Unfortunately that had to be replaced with terminal illness, but hopefully we won't have to tackle that monster for some time. Haven't seen episode 8 yet (I got my flatmate into the show, and she's banned me from watching the next episode until she gets back from work later tonight *tears*), but from the preview it looks like things will start spicing up between her and Young Hee... Maybe yes please?

Shyra46 wrote: I have been watching this show from the get go and the one thing you seem to find interesting is the one thing I cannot stand. Where is this plot going? I feel like the whole thing is a hot mess! It's like someone took a whole bunch of ideas in a hat. They shook them around and then they pulled out several pieces and tried to glue them together.

The acting, on a whole, IMHO seems ... questionable. Not so much due to the actors' fault but due to the writing. It's so over exaggerated - the two ajhummas are way out of line. The girl who shows up every now and again - I have no idea why she is there or who she is related to. There are so many things that don't make sense or IRL would never even come close to happening.

The only reason I stay is because I am interested in love triangle. Aside from that I forward through it because NONE of it has any bearing on the main plot. If you just watched the lead characters, and nothing else, you would miss nothing.

Ah well, to each their own I suppose. ^_^ I really like the meandering story since that's the nature of the slice-of-life beast. Even though the show prominently features Soon Geum's story, the main character is really the First Street neighborhood itself and the relationships that keep it functioning. I like that we get to peek into the lives of the residents and see how they're all interconnected even if they can't, or refuse to, see those connections. We have the common K-drama characters here, but there's enough of a twist on them to make it interesting: our Cinderella is basically self-made, although reluctant to leave her meager position; the fairy godfather is even more reluctant to assume his role; the former chubby chaebol with grandma complex reduced to rags. I think the writing has a lot of heart---it's not the zippiest or the wittiest, but there's something about the way each character is written that makes me care for each of them, even trophy wife. Well, with the exception of Joo Won (the girl who shows up every now and then; she's Hwang Yong's daughter, the guy who gave Soon Geum the loan.)---I unapologetically dislike her.

I don't know. This is just one of those dramas that just hits me in the right spot. =)

Yay BaT! You and I are on the same page. I think you put it best when you said that this dramas main character has to be 1st street itself. All the characters get their little stories all while the main love triangle continues. Stories like the two childhood friends separated by status (and their bickering is hilarious), the unrequited love on part of Hwang Yong, when all the Ajhummas get together, the trophy wife's insecurities, the household where the mistress and wife live together and Da Kyum unrequited love towards Young Hee where as he sees her as nothing more than a sister. And then the main characters. Plus the fact that Hwang Yong is a loan shark and we get to see how the lotto ticket travels around the street.

And then the father whose subtle yet important role plays a huge part in the maid complex Geum Soon has. And I agree that the only character who sparks zero interest in me is Hwang Yong's daughter. I have no idea what her purpose is.

After finishing episode 9, there were a couple of things I found cute *spoiler warning*:
-Gun Woo's trip to the father's house. Something about the dad judging his character from Go-Stop had me smiling.
-When the eldest Ajumma (can't remember her name) gets drunk when she out with Hwang Yong and the other Ajhumma on the way back from the hotel. I think that was the most realistic drunk acting I've seen in awhile. Literally rambling a few phrases jumbled up with nonsense.
-Lastly, the scene where the trophy wife and her childhood friend/neighborhood maid are fighting nonsensically over Hwang Yong's car.

Can't wait for episode 10!

luiloedxy wrote: ALL of episode 9 was just too darn cute. My teeth rotted away from all of the Sweet going on between Gun Woo and Geum Soon. Although I am looking forward to the bickering that seems to be coming in episode 10. And that Da Kyum tries to convince Young Hee that they slept together---*gasp*! I wish I hadn't watched the preview for episode 10, and I usually don't, but I couldn't resist with this show.

Also, I'm pretty sure only dogs and bats heard my squeal when Gun Woo called Geum Soon "my baby" in his text to her...

And I love that Gun Woo and Geum Soon have switched positions regarding their insecurities, where before Geum Soon was worried before that Gun Woo would only like her Si Ah persona because Si Ah was wealthy, and now we have Gun Woo worried that Geum Soon won't like him because he's been cut off. One question though: so, was all of her money stolen by the thief, or just one box of it? Because it seemed like she had an entire storage space filled with boxes of cash, and that one box seemed too small to contain within it 10 billion won. Ah well...

Ack, I'm just really enjoying this show!

P.S.: One more thing---do you see a love triangle springing up among Hwang Yong, Trophy Madam, and the Maid? Because that would be awesome. Dear Writer: Bring it on. Bring. It.

Ah yes! The reversal of their positions is so well developed that it doesn't come out of thin air. Also, I think it was only one box. It was like her mini on-hand supply for everyday use. Cause I think if she lost ALL her money she'd be much more depressed.

Also, I think I agree with you about the love triangle coming our way. Can't wait.

Ah, you have no idea how glad I am there is someone else sharing the same passion for this drama as me. Yay for us! :D

Phenboypono wrote: YAY! I thought I was the only still totally on board with this drama!

SPOILERS

I kind of wish they had never embarked down the double life plot point with Soon Geum---I was skeptical, and now I'm already bored with it. I liked that they seemed to be going for the slice-of-life feel, but that whole masquerade adds a level of silliness that I find detracts from the original tone that drew me in initially. However, the rest of the drama is strong enough for me to overlook this minor annoyance. Every scene in which all of the maids are gathered is just gold; I love their camaraderie, and then throwing in Young Hee just completes the recipe. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE Soon Geum's relationship with Hwang Yong, her reluctant fairy godfather.

I'm just starting episode 7 now, so I might come back after catching up with you. ^_^

I'm only starting episode 6 now, that plotline has just been introduced and it kind of annoys me they went down this road. Does this serve any purpose than to "up" her self confidence while she's pretending to be someone else?

7rCicelyDreyfuss wrote: I have to say, I think this drama *so far* is highly underrated. The acting is brilliant, the characters so well-developed and well rounded, and the plot uniquely interesting. This is the first drama in awhile where I can't clearly tell what the characters are thinking, they aren't transparent, and I find that more exciting cause even up to episode 8 now, I still don't have 100% of an idea where this drama is going. Perhaps I do in the romantic section of the drama, but definitely not the rest of the plot, especially with what's going on with the lotto ticket. I'm curious to see what they plan to do with that plot line. Also, the heroine surprised me by being so upfront about her feelings once she was sure of herself. And the fact that the hero of the story used to be nice and only turned mean once he lost all his weight is a first for me and I find it very interesting. I wish more people would get invested in this show. *sigh*

I agree with you on this. It is highly underrated.

I believe he's transformartion from nice to mean happened when he returned home and found that his beloved grandma had been fired from her position. He's been thinking all this time that she was still working and living at the house, only to find that none of it it's true.

I'm gonna try to stay away from the thread until I catch up to you guys. :)