Eleison

Are you saying MDL itself blocked them or people on MDL chased them away?

Correct! But he's pretty smitten, no matter what timeline they're in. 😂

Anyone else think this synopsis is bad? I still don't know what this drama is about. 😂

Wait, @Coolforsummer is no longer on MDL?!

Episode 8 is pretty common for the initial dating round in a Kdrama; it's usually the first kiss or "start dating" episode in the formula for a 16 Episode drama from what I've seen. :) But in this drama, because the FL keeps jumping timelines, it changes how much the ML remembers and the footing they start back up on. So, they get together in 8, but then because of something that happens she goes back to the past again to the younger ML and of course she wasn't dating him then. So, it's not smooth sailing from 8 onwards, but rest assured the ending is one of the sweetest I've seen in a romcom. It's hard to find fault with it unless you're extremely picky or have super specific expectations for how you want it to end. Like many dramas, it gets a bit slow/hard to watch Episodes 12-14 (not bad, just not quite as stellar as the previous episodes), and then 15 transitions into beautiful, sweet and lovely Episode 16.

Thanks!

The only things I really liked from the Forbidden Marriage was the main couple's scenes and the background music (it was beautiful). It was distractingly anachronistic (even more than usual for a sageuk), and just didn't build a convincing world for me. While the ML's role was similar to his role in Shooting Stars, I still thought he was really cute.

True! Thanks again for responding. :)

Thanks, I might give it a shot since I like the differences you outlined. I liked Bu Yi, but I also had some issues with him. The ML in the Double sounds more likeable. Thanks for the tips! :)

So this is similar to Love Like The Galaxy? I liked that one. It (and Hidden Love) helped me see why everyone makes a fuss about Zhao Lusi, despite her baby voice.

Yes, because they were civilians (not detectives) investigating their own families and those close to them, it made them less objective (and as a result, the audience as well), which allowed the true culprit to remain hidden longer. I agree it wasn't perfect, but for me, I can suspend some of my critiques for the plot (I have yet to see a Kdrama without plot holes or weak writing in some capacity) if a story develops rich characters arcs and relationships that I can root for and care about.

I feel like I remember seeing all the thumbnails on Viki for future episodes, but I guess I'm confusing it with Netflix. Whoops.

The first half was solid (especially the first few episodes), but the end became so utterly ridiculous that it was just mortifying to see how much the writing dropped off.

I was prepared for the train wreck of an ending due to the many comments about it, but it still disappointed me even more than I expected. It was so bad, which was frustrating since the first few episodes were so amazing. 😂

Yes, I see what you mean! I find the framework and predictable formula of Kdrama romances cozy, too, and agree that it's nice to know what to expect; the familiarity is comforting! I hope you enjoyed the other elements of the drama, though. It's a good one in so many other ways! I loved the family emphasis which is unique to this drama amongst other dramas of this genre. It gave things a fresh spin in my opinion.

But then why does Viki only show 9 thumbnails in the Episodes section?

Just found an interview with Uhm Tae Goo since I was curious if his raspy voice was his actual voice or an affectation for his role, and not only is his voice indeed raspy (he would make a good Korean Batman), I was shocked to see his interview self. He was shy, soft-spoken and honestly kind of adorable. So different from the tough guy aspect of his role in this. 😂

And oh my, I just got to the playground scene in Episode 3, and Tae Goo is a riot. His drunk cuteness paired with his raspy voice makes it so he's legit channeling adorable toddler energy. 😂

I think you understand her behavior and choices better as you watch farther, but she's still pretty flawed. I don't think by Episode 3 you have the full picture of what's made her who she is, if I remember correctly. As you keep watching it's easier to at least see where she's coming from, even if you don't sympathize with her. It's titled the good/bad mom for a reason.

She's a mother who deeply loves her child, but acts on that love poorly, and has allowed her love to become twisted due to her fears and struggles that caused her to have a skewed view of reality and to make irrational decisions. She's very broken, but I think that's what makes her relatable. I'm not condoning abuse (NOT what I'm saying), but it's easy to judge flawed parents until you inevitably become one. Most parents try really hard to raise their kids correctly in the best way they know how. But all thoughtful parents hit a point where they look back and see the big mistakes they made and the consequences those mistakes had on their kids, because every parent will make mistakes. I think that's why this drama resonated with so many people.

It also clearly shows how much pain and hurt she caused her son. There was fallout from her choice of parenting, so they weren't saying he turned out fine and well-adjusted. He only starts doing better after forgiveness and healing starts to take place between them.

Yes, these are good points. I guess I figure romance doesn't always have to look the same or be manifested the same in order for it to be present in some fashion (kind of how bromance can feel romantic, like in Devil Judge, withiut anything ever being said or communicated between the leads), and in this it worked for me though it definitely won't satisfy anyone expecting--or watching mostly for--romance. I wonder, does MDL have slight romance or light romance tags? I'm trying to think if I've seen them before. If it does, "slight romance" would be a much more appropriate tag, I think.

I don't think I have anything concrete to cite regarding your request, and it's been so long since I saw this so I'd have to rewatch before I could even remember specific scenes, but here's what I wrote in a comment from months and months ago that is my impression of the romance piece or lack thereof:

"It has romance but it doesn't distract from the main plot. I can see why people said the leads had no chemistry, but I think it's because the romance shows more as a deep admiration and companionship that grows between the leads as they work tirelessly to save people and improve everyone's future. That's why we see no lovey-dovey behavior in this; it would have immediately given the drama a different feel and tone, and shifted the emphasis from its main focus. There is another romance in this story that actually sometimes becomes more of a focus than the one between the main leads."

I just remember thinking, where would they have inserted a well-developed romance line into the beats and rhythm of the plot?

Wow, not ringing any bells, haha. I really don't remember him at all. 😂 I guess his role was not memorable for me!