Noona Romances

This one is dark. Angst and politics and death. When you think it can't get worse, it does. But if you skip the long sections of old men scheming, the romance is solid and the main characters are good together.

I did not expect to enjoy this one as much as I did, but between the LGBTQ+ themes, the bickering and banter, the pining and the eventual resolution of the tension, I ended up pleasantly surprised.

This one definitely has it's issues, you definitely have to suspend your disbelief, it is not realistic at all. And the fact that everyone is just okay with and encouraging a romance between a 27yo woman and a 17yo high school student is just weird. But once you get past his initial mean spirited superiority complex the story gives a lot of emotional growth for everyone. Still, not one for those who seek realistic (be it angsty age gap or a realistic portrayal of romance with a noona) storytelling.

The beauty of math. And the ugliness of greed. It's in the name, a cerebral kind of love, blossoming from their shared love for math and cut back by the evil machinations of others, to eventually bloom again. But more than that it is about family, and overcoming the evil witch in her greenhouse of doom.

Came for the LGBTQ+ content, ended up thoroughly enjoying the age gap story line as well. Bonus!

I did not expect to enjoy this one as much as I did, having been a fan of the original for so long, but it convinced me and it has become my preferred version for comfort.

Ah the nostalgia. My first ever noona romance. Watching it now, it shows it's age, but it is still a classic, if you can find it.

Baby Lee Jong Suk, a great storyline and flawed characters, one of my go to comfort shows.

Any noona romance lover should watch this one at least once. Not only is the romance beautifully told, all the characters are great. Every single one of the extended cast is a well thought out character, even the sidekicks of the side characters.

Who would have thought that weather could be this interesting? The whole ensemble cast was made up of realistic characters facing their own struggles and relationship issues. And the main romance was beautifully paced and they linked it in with actual weather forecasting in a way that enhanced the mood of the storytelling.

Warm. It's a slow, warm romance, and even the backstabbing chaebol machinations are done in a quiet, understated way that allows the drama to remain in a dream like mood. A very mature way to handle conflict and romance, Cinematography is on point, and the use of shots of hands to convey emotions gave an extra level of depth.

The romance in this one is warm and soft, and definitely put a smile on my face multiple times. Unfortunately there are large patches of dry conversation with a lot of silences, stretching out to forever, involving a cram school rivalry that is unrealistically serious. You'll need a lot of patience, or a twitchy skip finger, but the romance is worth it.

The romance will put a smile on your face, and the sport will keep you on the edge of your seat, even if sport is not your usual cup of tea. The range of supporting cast and their very divergent paths make for a varied diet of dynamics and proof that friendships can be found in the unlikeliest places and the most diverse of people can come together to support each other, regardless of where life ends up taking each individual person.