Kelekat

Kudos to the ML's acting in his kiss scenes. I'm at the kitchen scene in episode 23 and WOW! That's was HOT!

His character was one of the best written of the drama and he pulled it off well.

What I liked the most was that he portrayed a level of masculinity and maturity I don't tend to see from many kpop stars. Like, the man clearly has dating experience in real life and doesn't pretend to be one of those pure, innocent types of idols. I have a huge amount of respect for that.

But WOW! I'm impressed by how steamy those kisses were (full credit to the ML), especially that scene in the kitchen in episode 23! WOW!!!! Nice!

It's still a cute and sweet drama. I have 3 key complaints but everything else is all good, especially the comedy:

1) I had a lot of issues with the logic in the writing throughout. The ML's father's return was a big one. That could have been written a lot better (they should have just made it so he'd been working overseas all along and the family needed to readjust to his return; the story would have been more acceptable for viewers to accept). The SFL's breakup with her boyfriend was another big one. There were also several times throughout where the writing just didn't jive with me. I didn't like how scenarios were handled.

2) The romance was very immaturely written.

3) The pacing of the drama was all over the place in terms of telling a story. There'd suddenly be a month skipped here and there then a year then we're back to daily scenarios then suddenly we're into the next year. There was no flow.

EDIT: Nope it's 4 complaints. I can't keep trying to ignore how irritating I find the SFL (the FL's best friend) to be. I've tried VERY hard throughout to like her and just go with it but she really gets on my nerves. All the time they're spending on her and her relationship in the final episodes is bothersome.

The romance in this drama definitely isn't written for more mature viewers. The scenarios and ways things are handled as sooo extremely immature and childish. It's still a cute and sweet drama but the romance (in general, not just referring to the leads) can become a bit annoying to watch. It doesn't feel like it was written by an adult...or maybe not by someone with any actual romantic experience?? I can't quite put my finger on it...

Oh and I haven't had a single issue with the ML's acting so far in this entire drama (I'm on ep. 21). Just throwing that out there.

I really wish they'd cut out that entire aspect of the show - I'm referring again to the situation with the ML's father. They should have just made it so the dad had left to work overseas and had only just relocated back home and so the family had to go through a period of readjustment and learning how to reconnect and get used to him being around again. That would have stayed within the light and mellow vibe of the drama and given the effect they were hoping for.

UGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! The writing for this whole ML's father situation is UGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Every time the ML's mother had been sick or needed care while the dad had been MIA he's the one who'd had to care for her on his own (with the help of his godparents, of course). We know he wasn't a negligent child because early on he'd been concerned about his mom coming home late and had even gone to meet up with her to accompany her home out of concern (when he saw her get into the car in an earlier episode). I get that they want the ML to feel badly because his avoiding his father made him also neglect his mother but WTF?! They're making the dad seem like he's so great being concerned for her now but where tf was he during the 10 years when they needed him before! OMG! I feel like I'm the only person on here who's angry about this but I cannot help it. They keep making it seem like the ML is being unreasonable but that's just ridiculous.

I really wish they'd cut that entire aspect of the show out. They should have just made it so the dad had left to work overseas and had only just relocated back home and so they had to go through a period of readjustment and learning how to reconnect and get used to him being around again. That would have stayed within the light and mellow vibe of the drama and given the effect they were hoping for.

Every time the bring up the situation with the ML's father I get angry all over again. Everyone's acting like the man should be forgiven and understood like it was nothing. Thank goodness the FL had some decency and sense.

They need to go ahead and just get it over and done with so I can move past this shit stain scenario in the otherwise great story. I want to forget about it.

I really, really like that FL teacher. Well both her and the FL's teacher but the ML's teacher was a really great educator. You don't get to see many like her in these dramas. It's ones like that negative worthless other female one that we tend to see a lot (especially in Kdramas).

This isn't a spoiler since I'm only on ep 4 and haven't actually seen how they fully play this out yet but that situation with the ML's dad makes me sick. Literally nauseous. I'm ANGRY. Up until now the drama, for me, has been perfection. Then THIS!!!

It's not the whole leaving and returning that even bothers me really. It's the way the show is already trying to pass off his behavior as acceptable and justifiable (based on the fact that the mother has clearly already accepted him back) because he supposedly did it for the good of the family. My *&&^%^$%$^ ass! In all that time he couldn't reach out to his son once?!

I get that they want to keep the drama light and cute and sweet but the fact that the mother has already accepted his return and now is trying to get the son to do the same...I had to stop watching and walk away. I'm so upset by the way this is written so far. I'm even more upset because I know they'll make it so the ML accepts him back too (not easily - I get that - but he will). I just cannot accept that.

That man should have been turned away. It should have taken YEARS of him trying to gain their forgiveness and regain their trust before they even considered letting him eat dinner with them! If they make it so he's fully accepted and back in their lives within the next couple of episodes I'm going to be so damn upset because this really great drama would now have this ENORMOUS flaw.

Op! EP4. They had to go and ruin all the awesomeness and throw in this BS. The father abandoning them for the good of the family?! What in ever-loving F@CK! The mother even considering taking him back sickens me but the fact that she's trying to get the ML to accept him too??? Are they being serious with this shit right now? Who the hell writes this?!

A man/parent can leave to make something of himself but if he's doing it FOR his family he doesn't completely DESERT them in the process! He was gone while they were left behind to fend for themselves! I'm so gd angry right now! Lots of asian parents leave their kids behind to go build their careers (I've learned) but they stay in touch! They don't just completely disappear from the family's lives!

Either the mother did a shit job of explaining to her child what was going on for all that time - which I don't believe for a second with the way things have been conveyed thus far - or the asshole finally grew a conscience and remembered his family. Nothing will make me believe he had his family in the forefront of his mind the entire time he was gone, especially not when he waits until he's wealthy enough to have his own fucking driver to do it!!! That shit doesn't happen overnight! In all that time he couldn't contact his child, not even once?! Birthday's? Holidays? Nothing? Yet he's supposed to just accept him back???

Up until right this second this drama has been absolute perfection for me, but then they throw in this lunacy!!! The fact that this drama wants to pass this off as acceptable in complete and utter horseshit. As a parent and mother myself (a single one at that) this scenario makes me sick.

It's not the fact that the father did what he did that bothers me really. People can be assholes and do dumb shit. It's the way the show is trying to portray it as understandable and forgivable that's got me absolutely LIVID! !

"Dun dun duhhh dun, dun dun duhhh dun"
"What's that?"
"The exclusive music for intense moments. The copyright it too expensive, so I hummed it for you."

LMAOOOOO! I'm dead!

OMG I just started this and I did NOT expect it to be this funny! Seriously! Now I've got a perma-grin on my face. I like this so far.

I'm only 15 mins into the 1st episode and I just snort-laughed! LMAO!!! This totally caught me off-guard!

OMG! Please let me know how you like it when you do. It's so good. If I remember correctly, the actress playing the mother in that one was the same but her character was completely opposite to this one.

"That's on the record". That was funny. You put the stamp on it. LOL!

I hate to say this but I have to agree with you about Netflix when it comes to Asian dramas in general. I don't usually agree with such broad statements but this time...I've made similar comments to my friends in the past so, yeah. After 6+ years of heavy drama watching I learned pretty quickly to look for spoilers before getting started with any Netflix dramas because when they let you down they do it thoroughly. I have no confidence going in otherwise. I definitely won't start one unless it's completely finished airing.

I don't have that kind of apprehension with viki so that says something. With Viki it's more about figuring out what I'm in the mood to watch, not being skeptical that something that sounds good will turn out to be pure trash. Netflix dramas has let me down too many times to count.

I don't know who they've got making their drama selections but I think they should pay better attention to what people actually like watching, instead choosing dramas just to get reactions out of people. It's like they don't understand asian drama audiences at all.

I can't follow the synopsis on her properly at all.

Other than the spoilers everyone already keeps talking about from around ep. 7, could someone share spoilers about the lead couple's actual relationship development before then?

When do they start having feelings for one another?
Are there any love triangles?

I can tell from the previews at the end of the 1st episode that my suspicion was right about the ML already having someone in his heart and, unfortunately, I see a SML about to make an appearance. How heavy is the influence of the second leads during the development of the relationship between the leads? I'm trying to gauge if this is something I'm really prepared to watch now or if it'll be too heavy on melo- and angst for me.

Have you ever watched One Spring Night? I watched it again recently and liked it even more the second time around. For me it's what this should have been. If you haven't, I highly recommend giving it a try.

LOL! I started the long post situation first so I don't mind taking the time to read yours. Everything is well said and well explained. I was totally nodding along and agreeing with you the entire time reading.

I'm way past trying to convince you to watch the rest as I couldn't even do it the second time around myself. Is it worth watching at least once? Honestly? I think it's perfect for those who - like myself at the time - are new to asian dramas. It serves as a great introduction into the culture. Once immersed and more experienced, however, I'm starting to think it should be avoided.

The mother in this only continues to get worse by the way. She never ever fully has a redemption arc and remains one of my all-time least liked parents of any kdrama.

The office politics comes into play later on in a major way, but the purpose can only be that it was a tool to show character growth in the FL. Basically, it's incorporated to she her finding her voice both with her mom and in the workplace. While the character development itself is a success, the tropes themselves are both complete failures for me in terms of how horribly they were 'resolved'. With her career was no justice. With her mother...the woman never really became any better. These were GIGANTIC flaws in the drama.

It's like this:

With the mother - if you'd continued on you'd see how extreme she became. She was literally "Mother Dearest" (classic Hollywood movie) psychotic level bad about keeping them apart and controlling her daughter's life. He obsession with status and standing was sickening. Even when she finally settled down though she flat out says she never regretted the things she did and still felt justified in her actions. The way the drama plays it out is that we're forced to accept that, that's how some parents are and we need to accept it. Big NO for me.

With the career - that turns into a huge workplace sexual harassment situation yet the drama only shows the ugly side of the realities of being a whistle blower. Like anyone watching who might be in a similar situation and having trouble speaking up would have even more doubts about doing so after watching this. That's sooooooo not good.

I remember getting upset with the FL a lot my first time watching this but trying to get through it a second time proved fatal. Before I was so deeply moved by how that ML truly loved that woman that my heart ached for him. I was completely engrossed by the character and I'll be honest, it's his love for her that made me love the drama itself. This time though all I could see was how much she DIDN'T love him enough. She acted like she did but her actions constantly showed differently. This time all I see is someone who loved being loved so deeply. Not her actually being in love with him. Even in the end when they reconciled (I went back and read the spoilers to remind myself what happened) it was only after she'd gotten sick of how terrible her new relationship turned out to be that she finally missed him. That's regret for letting someone who treated you well go, not love. They never show her actually missing anything about HIM. Everything with their relationship was always about her. He was always catering to her. She didn't do anything to understand him better or get to know him. The way she handled the situation with his father was the best example of that. She never once tried to understand how the ML felt about his father, or about being abandoned or any of it and had the gall to be mad at him for her completely disregarding his feelings and going behind his back. In the end he gave into her with that whole situation too. That made me so damn angry you can't even imagine.

I don't think the FL ever actually loved anyone to be honest. Shoot she showed more love to the ML's sister than she did anyone else, including the ML. Maybe this drama needed a lesbian trope thrown in! LOL! Shoot there was even a time when the FL had been drunk she tried to kiss her! They played it off of course but shortly after (this is before leads got together) even the ML made a comment about their extreme closeness.

Now that I think about it I feel like it's a good depiction of an unrequited love or of what can happen when people accept someone for the wrong reasons. Like, accepting someone because they love you, not because you love them in return. Yes, the FL had feelings for him but I honestly don't see her love for him. That's not the story the drama was trying to convey though.

I also realized as I was trying to watch it again that the tools used to add drama and angst to the story were very lazy. Like you pointed out with the ex and him being upset that the FL had been cheating too. That could have easily been addressed in one simple statement not drawn out and blown out of proportion like it was. Same for the FL still living at home, there was no logic to it other than to add drama to the show. That realization (of how weak the actual writing was) has been very disappointing to me this time around. The directing was superb though. As was the acting, especially from the ML.

I totally get what you mean about the crying. We're similar in that way. Like The Notebook. It's still one of my all time favorite movies to this day but it makes me cry buckets at the end every time. But my tears aren't because it's sad per se' but because of how soul-wrenchingly beautiful the story is.