All_In
This review may contain spoilers
I jumped into Jugglers after it had completed half its run and while it had some international fans, there wasn't a huge amount of buzz. This helped me to go in with limited expectations just wanting what was offered: a fun office romantic comedy. Happily, that's what I got but not all were pleased so I'll start there.
I don't always address in detail why others don't like a drama but in looking at the comment section on MDL, it becomes very apparent that many found the drama boring so I'll just say that this is somewhat of a "no drama k-drama" in that there is not a lot of super dramatic cliffhanger moments or makjang. If you re in the mood for that, strap yourself in and find Money Flower for a fun ride. This isn't that. I find that my mood reflects what drama interests me, and if I'm stressed with stuff going on Jugglers might just be what I need. So if you enjoy something along the line of 20th Century Boy and Girl, another no drama k-drama, this might be for you.
Any issues I have with this production are relatively minor. It took me a little while to kind of "get" Baek Jin Hee's character but as the story went on I realized that was okay in that she at least wasn't totally cookie cutter. I think the office antagonist was a little over the top silly and with something we find out at the very end, I realized it would have been nice to have his character be a little more nuanced with a little more background. But this is something the writers know they have to be careful with because we're there for the romance generally, not the office politics with this genre.
There is one story point that is hard to address without spoilers. I'll just say that because of something that happens early on to Baek Jin Hee's character, I found it a little much that she would put herself into a scenario at work which would put her in possible professional harms way. I thought there would have been more concern and drama should have addressed it.
Pros:
Actors: They are all wonderful and a shout out to Choi Daniel who I was not familiar with before this drama. This could have been the normal arrogant boss scenario but the writer and actor give us a lovely portrayal that never went to the point of caricature. Baek Jin Hee has the warmest way of looking at him and while they didn't have sizzling chemistry, they had warm, fun, silly chemistry. A shout out to Kang Hye Jung and the smiling eyes of Lee Won Geun as well.
Little Things Done Right: Finally, a drama that has a lead as a divorced character and the world doesn't come to an end, a lovely ex-father-in-law & son-in-law relationship. Yes, there is a tragedy that someone is dealing with from the past but it gets dealt with and doesn't bog down the whole drama. A bossy mom getting told off was super satisfying. The slippers. The cactus. The petty done right. The repetitive and imaginative use of the middle finger diss.
Bromance: Absolutely loved it and how it ended up working out for both of the men involved.
Office Co-Workers: Absolutely fantastic.
Tropes or lack thereof: So this is a friend to lovers and also a cohabitation drama. There is NO love triangle. Thank you drama.
Secondary Story: I love love love the Kang Hye Jung/Lee Won Geun part of the drama as these two people find each other at the right time in their respective lives. How they help each other through their trials and tribulations was lovely to watch.
I also appreciated that Baek Jin Hee is someone who is interested in a fully mature relationship (which we see in the first 20 minutes of the drama). I like that they don't turn her into shy, retiring woman after that introduction. (Great cameo.)
So, as you see, I found this the rare romantic comedy that was both romantic and funny all the way through. While angst can be super dramatic, I tend to get tired of rom/coms that turn into melos or super angsty dramas for the last 5 episodes. Therefore, I am especially appreciative that I found something to amuse me even in the ending episodes. Having said that, I get it, it might not be for you if you are into k-dramas for Drama with a capital D. But - maybe someday - you might want to chill with a simple rom/com and here it is.
** side note - found out that two hair whorls mean you have 2 loves in life and also giving someone taffy is a diss. Who knew?!
I don't always address in detail why others don't like a drama but in looking at the comment section on MDL, it becomes very apparent that many found the drama boring so I'll just say that this is somewhat of a "no drama k-drama" in that there is not a lot of super dramatic cliffhanger moments or makjang. If you re in the mood for that, strap yourself in and find Money Flower for a fun ride. This isn't that. I find that my mood reflects what drama interests me, and if I'm stressed with stuff going on Jugglers might just be what I need. So if you enjoy something along the line of 20th Century Boy and Girl, another no drama k-drama, this might be for you.
Any issues I have with this production are relatively minor. It took me a little while to kind of "get" Baek Jin Hee's character but as the story went on I realized that was okay in that she at least wasn't totally cookie cutter. I think the office antagonist was a little over the top silly and with something we find out at the very end, I realized it would have been nice to have his character be a little more nuanced with a little more background. But this is something the writers know they have to be careful with because we're there for the romance generally, not the office politics with this genre.
There is one story point that is hard to address without spoilers. I'll just say that because of something that happens early on to Baek Jin Hee's character, I found it a little much that she would put herself into a scenario at work which would put her in possible professional harms way. I thought there would have been more concern and drama should have addressed it.
Pros:
Actors: They are all wonderful and a shout out to Choi Daniel who I was not familiar with before this drama. This could have been the normal arrogant boss scenario but the writer and actor give us a lovely portrayal that never went to the point of caricature. Baek Jin Hee has the warmest way of looking at him and while they didn't have sizzling chemistry, they had warm, fun, silly chemistry. A shout out to Kang Hye Jung and the smiling eyes of Lee Won Geun as well.
Little Things Done Right: Finally, a drama that has a lead as a divorced character and the world doesn't come to an end, a lovely ex-father-in-law & son-in-law relationship. Yes, there is a tragedy that someone is dealing with from the past but it gets dealt with and doesn't bog down the whole drama. A bossy mom getting told off was super satisfying. The slippers. The cactus. The petty done right. The repetitive and imaginative use of the middle finger diss.
Bromance: Absolutely loved it and how it ended up working out for both of the men involved.
Office Co-Workers: Absolutely fantastic.
Tropes or lack thereof: So this is a friend to lovers and also a cohabitation drama. There is NO love triangle. Thank you drama.
Secondary Story: I love love love the Kang Hye Jung/Lee Won Geun part of the drama as these two people find each other at the right time in their respective lives. How they help each other through their trials and tribulations was lovely to watch.
I also appreciated that Baek Jin Hee is someone who is interested in a fully mature relationship (which we see in the first 20 minutes of the drama). I like that they don't turn her into shy, retiring woman after that introduction. (Great cameo.)
So, as you see, I found this the rare romantic comedy that was both romantic and funny all the way through. While angst can be super dramatic, I tend to get tired of rom/coms that turn into melos or super angsty dramas for the last 5 episodes. Therefore, I am especially appreciative that I found something to amuse me even in the ending episodes. Having said that, I get it, it might not be for you if you are into k-dramas for Drama with a capital D. But - maybe someday - you might want to chill with a simple rom/com and here it is.
** side note - found out that two hair whorls mean you have 2 loves in life and also giving someone taffy is a diss. Who knew?!
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