20 episodes later, I can confirm that I really really like this drama. Everything is so aesthetically compatible,…
It's so good to know that the quality stays high even up to episode 20! I only started yesterday on a whim and I'm already on episode 11. This is my first C-drama that I've binged so quickly, and I feel like I could keep going if it stays at this pace. It definitely feels like a historical slice-of-life — though in this case, the 'life' is very political, given the historical context.
In the past, I’ve found it hard to get into C-dramas — I’m still very new to the genre. With the few I've tried, the acting sometimes felt too theatrical or stagey, especially with web novel adaptations. I get that it might be a stylistic choice, but it’s just not my thing when watching — it’s fine in written form, but feels different on screen, you know?
This cdrama strikes a really nice balance — the comedic moments, the drama, some decent action here and there (with the fight scenes), and an overall fun, dynamic main cast with lots of characters to root for. It’s keeping things interesting! And there haven’t been any (that i can think) annoying clichés/tropes so far.
Now that I'm getting close to the halfway point, I’m thinking of slowing down and watching just two episodes at a time. It feels like the kind of C-drama that’s really nice to come back to each week — to check in and see what’s going on with the characters. You know that feeling, where it’s comforting and engaging enough that you actually want to savor it instead of binging straight through?
Can anyone recommend some other good C-dramas like this one? Doesn’t have to be historical — I’m open to all genres!!
Based on the comments, I decided to watch this and I LOVE IT!!!! all the issues are stated up front. There is…
Thank you! I 100% agree. I'm really enjoying it too—it strikes a strong balance between the more serious moments, like those dealing with alcohol abuse influenced by social norms, and the light-hearted scenes that provide the kind of comedic relief we expect in rom-coms. Sure, it includes some common tropes, but I prefer stories with more depth, and this one seems to have that so far—without treading too much into drama or melodrama territory.
I don’t quite understand the criticism it’s getting—it feels a little over the top. No, it’s not the most original concept, but it’s touching on important themes, and I think the execution has been really solid so far. It seems like a lot of people in the comments aren’t taking the time to appreciate the story as a whole or really try to understand and empathize with the characters. The flaws we’re seeing in them are actually much more grounded in reality than the typical overdone tropes, and I think the show is doing a great job of exploring that while staying true to the light-hearted nature of rom-coms.
I think episode 8 was the best episode in my opinion even though I've thoroughly enjoyed every episode so far.…
Yes, completely agree. This epsiode was by faarr the best episode yet for all the reasons you listed and more. I'm also loving the character development that not only the main characters, but also some of the supporting characters are getting too
What an emotional rollercoaster! Just when I thought it'll be smooth sailing from then on, the last bit sucker…
Well said, I completely agree. Just finished the episode myself, and I cried my heart out during that ending scene. 😭
What an emotional rollercoaster! How did they manage to pack so many highs at the start, only to end with such a heartbreaking blow? 💔 I mean we all saw it coming eventually... but damn it, not this soon. 😢
I could be wrong, but I think they’re just presenting it as a kind of superpower as a visual tool for entertainment…
Yeah I agree. I felt those scenes hit even harder during episode 2, especially during the scene where she ran outside without her shoes to desperately pleaded with him.
I could be wrong, but I think they’re just presenting it as a kind of superpower as a visual tool for entertainment…
Welcome to the world of K-dramas 😂😂. They’ll never miss a chance to add a dash of magic whenever they can—especially in the romance genre, with everything from lighting and special effects to OSTs and rewinds.
First episode finished: what can I say?I'm still pretty mixed, it's still early days even if I don't necessarily…
As for Shin Do Hyun, I’ve seen her in two dramas:
Into the Ring – She played a supporting character in this one. I can’t say much for her acting, although I felt it was decent with no complaints. I liked her character, and she added some humor and fun friendship dynamics with the female lead and other supporting characters. I may be a bit biased since I really enjoyed the unique style of the drama (and would highly recommend it!!), from its camera work to its premise of a rom-com in a political setting. It didn’t get too political or complex, which made it accessible even for viewers who aren’t familiar with politics (especially the election aspect). Watching from the FL’s perspective, who is also clueless about politics, we learn things as she learns them.
Doom at Your Service – I thought she was decent here, and I was glad to see her in a main role. She was part of a love triangle separate from the main couple, but I wasn’t rooting for her to end up with either of the male characters, who both felt toxic. I wanted her to focus on healing from her old relationship and understanding herself better before jumping back into the old one or starting a new one. While some viewers are finding Brewing Love a bit confusing or disjointed just from the first episode, I found Doom at Your Service was even more confusing in this regard. For what seemed like an interesting premise at the start, the drama had a lot of inconsistencies in its fantasy elements, with very little explanation of the fantasy rules, which made it hard to enjoy. Although some might have watched it for the lead actors, for me, the plot did a huge disservice to the quality of the cast, and unfortunately, the actors alone weren’t enough to keep me watching until the end.
First episode finished: what can I say?I'm still pretty mixed, it's still early days even if I don't necessarily…
Yes, I completely agree with your point and share the annoyance over the exaggerated portrayal of a 'strong woman' who can overcome anything in her way, especially with the over-the-top action sequences in what’s supposed to be a light-hearted romantic comedy—which, I guess, adds to the humor when not taken too seriously. Though, it can feel out of place and gives things a more cartoonish, less realistic vibe.
(That’s generally why I avoid rom-coms unless they’re executed really well or have some underlying heartfelt premise to complement the comedic elements, even with all the overused tropes.)
The problem is, since this is tagged as a rom-com, we’ll likely see more of those 'invincible woman' scenes. I think this was emphasized in the first episode to quickly introduce the characters and give us a sense of who they are. Hopefully, as the story progresses, it might feel more relatable—especially with Chae Yung Ju's home life and her relationship with her grandmother, which brings in a more mature element. This also ties into the way she 'protects and serves' her colleagues, even though it’s currently shown through these over-the-top action scenes.
The softer side of her we see when she’s back home after a night out further demonstrates her caring nature, but here it’s shown in a more laid-back, homely way, which feels more realistic to viewers. In fact, this scene, along with the ending of episode one, is where I feel the show has real potential as it hints at how the FL and the ML could get along. Before seeing this more vulnerable side of her, I struggled to see how her loud, chaotic energy (though uplifting) could mesh with his mellow and quiet vibe. Now, I can see how their personalities might complement each other and bring out new sides of one another
in the 1st episode I don't understand one thing..! ML was a psychic or what ? like he has some sort of super power…
I could be wrong, but I think they’re just presenting it as a kind of superpower as a visual tool for entertainment (like in the final scene of episode one), to help the audience understand what’s happening in his head when he senses people's emotions as an empath. In reality, he’s just a normal person with hypersensitivity, which means he is really good at reading people's emotions. Since there’s no fantasy tag for this genre right now, I’m assuming there aren’t any actual fantasy elements.
I sense Met-As-Kids trope coming. 1st ep was kinda silly and unsubstantial. Don't know whether I'll keep watching.…
Well, isn't cute fluff what most rom-com K-dramas are all about? 😅 But anyway, I do agree this one doesn't seem to have much substance. It also has the same issue as many recent K-dramas, where the production feels a bit overpolished. That takes away from any realism or relatability, giving it more of a webtoon vibe.
The chemistry between the leads seems promising, though, and I think episode 2 will be better than the first as we’ll dive more into the actual story. Episode one felt more like a prologue to me—which isn’t entirely a bad thing. Personally, I feel K-dramas are best watched two episodes at a time, especially at the start when they’re setting up the story.
Very inspiring! Sport shows are the best because they motivate viewers to get off their couches and get into an…
I completely agree! It's so inspiring to watch, and it's also very educational on how to navigate and avoid beginner pitfalls, especially for those who don't have a dedicated coach.
I'm so amazed at how these ladies meet their endurance targets when they aren't professional athletes, and inspite…
Wow this is incredible! Congrats on your achievement!! 👏🏼 🙌🏼 I've been working on my endurance too. I'm hoping to be able to run a half marathon. I ran my 1st 5km not too long ago (about a month ago). Hwaiting for your running goal 💪🏽!!
In the past, I’ve found it hard to get into C-dramas — I’m still very new to the genre. With the few I've tried, the acting sometimes felt too theatrical or stagey, especially with web novel adaptations. I get that it might be a stylistic choice, but it’s just not my thing when watching — it’s fine in written form, but feels different on screen, you know?
This cdrama strikes a really nice balance — the comedic moments, the drama, some decent action here and there (with the fight scenes), and an overall fun, dynamic main cast with lots of characters to root for. It’s keeping things interesting! And there haven’t been any (that i can think) annoying clichés/tropes so far.
Now that I'm getting close to the halfway point, I’m thinking of slowing down and watching just two episodes at a time. It feels like the kind of C-drama that’s really nice to come back to each week — to check in and see what’s going on with the characters. You know that feeling, where it’s comforting and engaging enough that you actually want to savor it instead of binging straight through?
Can anyone recommend some other good C-dramas like this one? Doesn’t have to be historical — I’m open to all genres!!
I don’t quite understand the criticism it’s getting—it feels a little over the top. No, it’s not the most original concept, but it’s touching on important themes, and I think the execution has been really solid so far. It seems like a lot of people in the comments aren’t taking the time to appreciate the story as a whole or really try to understand and empathize with the characters. The flaws we’re seeing in them are actually much more grounded in reality than the typical overdone tropes, and I think the show is doing a great job of exploring that while staying true to the light-hearted nature of rom-coms.
What an emotional rollercoaster! How did they manage to pack so many highs at the start, only to end with such a heartbreaking blow? 💔 I mean we all saw it coming eventually... but damn it, not this soon. 😢
Into the Ring – She played a supporting character in this one. I can’t say much for her acting, although I felt it was decent with no complaints. I liked her character, and she added some humor and fun friendship dynamics with the female lead and other supporting characters. I may be a bit biased since I really enjoyed the unique style of the drama (and would highly recommend it!!), from its camera work to its premise of a rom-com in a political setting. It didn’t get too political or complex, which made it accessible even for viewers who aren’t familiar with politics (especially the election aspect). Watching from the FL’s perspective, who is also clueless about politics, we learn things as she learns them.
Doom at Your Service – I thought she was decent here, and I was glad to see her in a main role. She was part of a love triangle separate from the main couple, but I wasn’t rooting for her to end up with either of the male characters, who both felt toxic. I wanted her to focus on healing from her old relationship and understanding herself better before jumping back into the old one or starting a new one. While some viewers are finding Brewing Love a bit confusing or disjointed just from the first episode, I found Doom at Your Service was even more confusing in this regard. For what seemed like an interesting premise at the start, the drama had a lot of inconsistencies in its fantasy elements, with very little explanation of the fantasy rules, which made it hard to enjoy. Although some might have watched it for the lead actors, for me, the plot did a huge disservice to the quality of the cast, and unfortunately, the actors alone weren’t enough to keep me watching until the end.
(That’s generally why I avoid rom-coms unless they’re executed really well or have some underlying heartfelt premise to complement the comedic elements, even with all the overused tropes.)
The problem is, since this is tagged as a rom-com, we’ll likely see more of those 'invincible woman' scenes. I think this was emphasized in the first episode to quickly introduce the characters and give us a sense of who they are. Hopefully, as the story progresses, it might feel more relatable—especially with Chae Yung Ju's home life and her relationship with her grandmother, which brings in a more mature element. This also ties into the way she 'protects and serves' her colleagues, even though it’s currently shown through these over-the-top action scenes.
The softer side of her we see when she’s back home after a night out further demonstrates her caring nature, but here it’s shown in a more laid-back, homely way, which feels more realistic to viewers. In fact, this scene, along with the ending of episode one, is where I feel the show has real potential as it hints at how the FL and the ML could get along. Before seeing this more vulnerable side of her, I struggled to see how her loud, chaotic energy (though uplifting) could mesh with his mellow and quiet vibe. Now, I can see how their personalities might complement each other and bring out new sides of one another
The chemistry between the leads seems promising, though, and I think episode 2 will be better than the first as we’ll dive more into the actual story. Episode one felt more like a prologue to me—which isn’t entirely a bad thing. Personally, I feel K-dramas are best watched two episodes at a time, especially at the start when they’re setting up the story.