Started off great but...

This started off great but ended very stupidly.

Story:
A woman trained as a doctor. Gave it up mid-way to raise her kids and become a housewife. Gets sick during her middle age. Once recovered, decides to resume her medical training and pursue her own dreams.

The FL was disrespected greatly and very much used by her husband and mother-in-law.
Her two children take her for granted at the start of the show.
There's a lot of pushback to her resuming her medical training. Her husband works as department chief and her son is also a first-year resident and none of them are happy to have her join their hospital. The daughter, a high school senior, is used to having all of mommy's attention and devotion and is unhappy at the prospect of having to heat her own dinner while mommy does something for herself for a change.

Despite the challenges in having been gone from the medical field for so long, having just recovered from a liver transplant, and having to deal with her family's disapproval, our FL sets forth to become a fully licensed doctor.

She has struggles, but she overcomes them. That's the medical side of things.

Then there's the family side.

We discover that the ML, the husband, is having an affair with a woman who used to be his girlfriend in medical school.
(Back then they'd broken up because the ML and FL had had a one-night-stand which resulted in the FL getting pregnant with their son so they had to marry. )
This "other woman" is also a doctor at the same hospital.
And the cherry on top? The ML and other woman have a daughter who's the same age as the daughter of the ML and FL (conceived when the ML and other woman meet during a medical conference in the USA several years after the ML and FL had gotten married).

To round off our cast we have a dashing, handsome, and rich professor doctor who performed the FL's liver surgery. He takes a liking to her, and helps her out in small ways while she's his patient. And when she returns to the hospital as a resident he does his best to be kind and encouraging- the only person around the FL who gives her that. It's obvious to see that he "likes her" likes her, but he's always respectful since he knows she's married.

The series focuses on:
1) The FL's growth as a doctor: slow but steady, with its share of challenges and setbacks, which she overcomes.
2) The FL's son and daughter growing up a bit, eventually coming to see their mom in a new light, and ending up being very supportive and loving.
3) The FL, the MIL, the son and the daughter finding out about the affair.

Spoiler & Ending: The kids take mom's side. The couple gets divorced. The FL ends up opening her own medical clinic and being a happy single doctor. The ML ends up pining after the FL, having broken up with the other woman.

While this may seem like a "happy ending", I'm angry that the romance we were teased with (between the FL and the dashing professor) never materialized. Why put it in there at all? If the goal was to showcase a strong woman living alone, fine. Focus on that without introducing the romantic aspect of the second ML. It's rude to the viewers. And also, not in keeping with the FL's character. She definitely responded to the SML on multiple occasions. She liked him and connected with him. I can accept her wanting to become settled as a doctor first, before pursuing a relationship. To come into her own and recover from her divorce. But to turn him down, and say she wants to be alone forever? Zero sense. She's a warm person. A good mom. She likes people. And her friends would have pushed her to meet someone new. She'd been living in a sexless marriage for 10-15 years, with no emotional support either. The entire situation, and its resolution, was so completely stupid and implausible. They ruined the ending for me.

Not worth a re-watch (except for some funny scenes in ep 1-2 that always make me laugh-basically the only comedy in the show).

PS: The daughter of the other woman and the ML also got a raw ending. She deserved better. And the other woman? A total idiot. Her character makes no sense to me. She basically gave up her family and their financial support just for the sake of having this baby and being a single mom. But instead of moving on and creating a stable home for her child, her obsession with a med school boyfriend (who cheated on her!!!!!) caused her daughter decades of pain and potentially cost her a stepdad and solid family life had her mom made better choices. Dumb and stupid of the other woman. I expected more from her. And the daughter deserved better.

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"Moonlight stars in your eyes, never knew the shine would light up my whole life"

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Trying hard to be coherent because I just finished watching THE MOST AMAZING SHOW EVERRRRRR!!!!

Okay, okay. (Deep breath) So.

Acting, music, cinematography, story, pacing = 10, 10, 10, 10 ,10 ,and more 10.
Honestly, I'm in love. This show is perfection.

Story:
The FL meets the ML when she's 14 years old. He is her older brother's college roommate.
Within moments of meeting him she conns ("cutes") him into pulling a caper with her, to get her out of trouble at school. Endeared, he goes along with her scheme.
They see each other periodically as time goes on. She falls in deep crush with him. He is endeared by her, and treats her very well, like a kind and protective older brother.
When she's a freshman in college they get the chance to spend more time together.
He falls in love. She's still in love. They live happily ever after.

That's the plot summary, without too much detail or spoilers.
(I'll add a more detailed summary with spoilers at the last part of this review.)

There is some deeply emotional content in this story, related to the difficult past of the ML. But it's sad, not toxic. In fact, this show has almost no toxicity (aside from a minor character with very little screen time).
It's hard to call this a "feel-good" romance, due to the emotional (gut wrenching) impact of what the ML has had to overcome. Some of those scenes flattened me. But! The romance itself is very sweet. The family and friends surrounding the ML and FL are sweet. And the ending is definitely sweet. So there's that.

The music is fantastic. Two of the songs are going into my playlist asap.


The pacing of the story was great. I didn't feel bored. The story did not drag. Everything was seamless.

(Kudos to Zhao Lu Si. I saw her in "Dating the Kitchen" where she pulled off a sneaky, sweet, and hilarious character, as well as in "Feel at ease Mr. Ling" where she's a bold, take no prisoners, strong FL. What she gives us here in "Hidden Love" is something completely different from what I'd seen before and she pulls it off to perfection. )


What I loved about the story (beware of spoilers!!!!):

* The brother/sister relationship of the FL with her older brother.
There's nothing new about the antagonism (friendly...mostly lol) between older brother/younger sister. He "bullies" and she takes full advantage, etc.
But this show pulled it off to perfection. They had me on the floor in the first 20 minutes of episode 1 with how they went at each other. Adorable and extremely funny.
The parts where the older brother sticks up for her (90% of those times are on the sly) are heartwarming.
He is very protective of her and cares for her deeply.
I just loved them.

* The non-toxicity of the side characters.
This includes the parents. They handle their concerns regarding the FL/ML romantic relationship in the best possible way. They are such supportive parents. And genuinely good people.
Also, the friends. Both the FL and the ML have a terrific groups of friends.
In particular, the FL has this one college roommate who falls in deep crush with a fellow classmate. Said classmate initially pursues our FL (she rejects him). In other dramas this would have called for the roommate to turn vicious, catty, etc. etc.
She did not. Despite knowing that her crush was crushing on her friend, she continued to be a kind, true friend to our FL and I love that for them both.

There is one toxic side character, from the ML's past. I don't excuse her at all. But an explanation for her behavior is given. The matter is resolved. And her screen time is limited. (Her impact on the ML is significant and their relationship is a very long one, but it's 98% in his past and not shown on-screen.)

*No second male lead or second female lead. The story doesn't call for it so I'm happy we didn't get any interlopers just for added drama.

* How kind the ML and FL are.
They are both genuinely nice, good people.
Their instinct is to help others.
It's just so nice to see good people on screen :))

*How unspoiled the ML and FL are.
His past is beyond heartbreaking. Given what's he's been through , and is still shouldering, it would make sense for him to be cold or uncaring. But he's not. His heart in open and unspoiled.
The FL is the baby of the family, spoiled and cherished by her parents and and older brother. Her upbringing has been comfortable, with no hardships. One might expect her to be self-centred, demanding, or weak. She is none of those things. Her heart is open and true. She is strong in her convictions, and not afraid of working hard to follow them. She is ready to give to others, and make sacrifices. She is a very kind and selfless person. Utterly unspoiled.

*The caring and devotion of the ML and FL to one another.
No matter which part of their story we see, back when she's a young teen up to when they're both adults and dating, these two will go out of their way to care for each other and make the other happy. It could cost them a little, a lot, or nothing. But their first instinct is always to care for the other. It's beautiful to see.

*How the ML treats the FL.
This here is the ultimate. The core of why I adored this show so much. Why it touched me so deeply.
So, when we meet the ML and FL she is 14 years old (a very young 14) and he is 19.
He's an only child, mature beyond his years, who is carrying a very heavy burden- both financial and emotional.
Yet he takes on the "older brother" role as if he were born to it.
He meets this young girl. With one sentence she manages to endear him. So he decides to help her get out of trouble at school, despite the time/effort it costs him or the potential blowback that might fall on him.
Every subsequent time he meets her, he goes out of his way to be nice to her. Giving her little gifts, making sure she is taken care of and comfortable, solving problems that are beyond her, sparing her embarrassment, and encouraging her. He spends thought, heart, time, and money (which he has very little of) on her. Completely selflessly. Waaaay before they ever start dating and he falls in love.
What struck me was how intuitive he was. There were time when he understood her, and took care of her, better than her actual brother did. It was incredible to see, how kind and caring he was, and how innately he understood her.

Then they started dating.
Now, at this point in time, he's out of college, is 24/25 years old, been working for 2 years. In other words, a fully grown adult.
While she is a college freshman, just getting her toes wet.
And he knows this!!!
Consistently, he behaves in ways to make sure that she gets the full experience of youthful "first love". Though he can't actually be her campus sweetheart he promises her (and follows through!) on giving her as many "first young love" moments and milestones as possible.

He is infinitely patient, never demanding, and never patronizing.

He lets her set the pace of their relationship from day one, and he respects her and her choices!

1) He confesses to her, but tells her "let me pursue you", not "let me date you". This gives her the right to say when (and if) they actually become a couple.

2) Initially she is a bit overwhelmed with physical intimacy. As soon as she pulls back he makes sure to stop. She explains that she's nervous. Thereafter he tells her in advance whenever he wants to initiate any contact (even hand-holding) and gets her explicit consent before proceeding. (This stage doesn't last long; she overcomes her nerves pretty quickly, but it just goes to show (again!) how well he understands her, cares for her, and respects her.)

3) She knows how difficult his life has been and how heavy a burden he still carries. More than anything she wants to take care of him and protect him. In an effort to do so, she doesn't share with him two ongoing hardships that she is experiencing. Instead, she tells him everything is fine, in order to spare him. (And in order to prove that she is an adult, capable of handling her own problems.) When he finds out about everything he doesn't rush in to save her, despite desperately wanting to (though he does handle one of the issues that directly relate to his own past). Also, he doesn't blame her for not sharing, or coerce her (emotionally, guilt-tripping, or in any other way) into sharing more in the future. He just requests of her to lean on him more and to give him more of her trust. Very, very respectfully done.

4) He is never condescending. There are many times, in many ways, where we see that he is indeed five years older than her. There is a gap of life experience. Each and every time, he always waits on her, or takes a step back for her- coming down to her level. All the while never for a moment being condescending or superior. (I just love him!)

* The confession at the end of ep 23, and the beginning of ep 24.
They were both crying and I was crying along with them.
As soon as I finished the last episode I went back to rewatch those scenes... twice!
I'm an avid drama watcher (chinese, korean and english) but I seriously cannot recall any other show giving us a confession like this one. The emotional wallop!! I'm still in my feels hours later.

Rewatch value = 1000/10. (Seriously, I just finished 25 episodes of this and I'm ready to start again from 1 right away. I have NEVER had this happen before.)

So, yeah....I love this show.
And I hope you will too <3

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The perfect 10

I usually find at least one aspect of a show that detracts from the perfect 10 overall, but not with this show.
From the story, to the acting, to the setting, to the music, this show was the perfect 10, and I couldn't have been happier with it.

Our story is about a girl who's adopted into a rich family from an orphanage at a young age. Unfortunately, she grows up being hated by her evil stepmom and evil stepsister. They abuse her while her father is indifferent to her and her suffering.

Desperate to leave her home, she believes she's found love when she meets and marries her husband.
To her continuing misfortune, after marrying him she learns that he's never loved her at all and only married her in order to be closer to the evil stepsister- the woman he really loves.
On the heels of this devastating realization, three things happen in tandem: her evil stepmom frames her for art theft and embezzlement, her husband asks for a divorce, and she gets into a car crash- which ultimately kills her. As she lays in the hospital succumbing to her injuries she realizes that there is not a single moment in her life that she will miss. Overcome with grief, she makes one dying wish, "let me live so I can do it all over again. I want to really live life."
Her wish is granted and she wakes up safe and sound in her bed- one year in the past.

Determined to live, she seeks revenge on those who abused her.
Step one is to dump her awful husband- who's still her fiancee at this point.
Step two is to marry the man whom her evil stepsister wants to marry - he happens to be the rich, powerful and handsome second son of a chaebol family.
She approaches him with an offer of a convenient marriage, and he agrees to her terms.
Little does she know that her lovely new husband has agreed to marry her for reasons of his own- which have nothing to do with financial gain or revenge.

The story then develops as we see her relationship with her new husband blossom- and she blossoms along with it.
She gains strength from him, and takes some on her own, overcoming her long-lived abuse, finding a warm welcome amongst her friends and her husband's family. Eventually, as secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and the evil ones are unmasked, we get to see her perfect marriage, and her revenge- AKA her happily ever after.

I love how everything comes together so well.
Everyone got what they deserved (with maybe the exception of the FL's dad, but I'll forgive that since the FL chose that for herself and I'll respect that choice for her).
I love how the FL went from 0 to 90 when she went back in time. It must have been hard as hell to overcome a lifetime of abuse and conditioning but she did it well and bravely.
I love how the male lead was always, always, there for her, in ways big and small. We love a devoted ML.

The music was wonderful. The setting was wonderful. The acting was terrific.
Overall 10/10.
Highly recommend it. <3

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Love story

Warning: This review will contain spoilers!!!

Plot: A woman falls in love with her boss at first sight.
For three years she works at his company, cherishing each moment they casually meet and interact, snapping and collecting pictures of him on the sly. (Not stalkery--just very cute). He, of course, is completely clueless to all of this to the point that...
....three and a half years later, he asks her help to "pursue" her best friend.
FL knows that her bff is in a relationship with someone else. Nonetheless, she seized the opportunity to get closer to the ML, so she agrees to "help" him pursue the bff. Using this excuse, the ML and FL begin spending time together, meeting and talking purportedly about the bff but eventually it reaches a point where they're almost like friends (despite him being her boss). Even after the bff gets married they still meet and interact.
The FL falls deeper and deeper until she decides to confess, whereupon the ML rejects her outright.
In his defence, her confession seems sudden, since he has no idea she'd had feelings for him for years. He just sees someone he knows as an employee and causal friend suddenly confess out of nowhere. When he asks her to explain why she likes him, our FL panics and lies, giving a very shallow response: "You're handsome and rich, of course I like you". The ML, who is the opposite of a playboy, naturally finds her response off-putting and tells her that they are not suitable.

The FL takes the rejection hard. But she accepts his decision and immediately begins taking steps to distance herself from the ML. As soon as she does, we can see the ML begin having doubts. From the start, her response ("handsome, money") strikes him as off, and out of character for the woman he's gotten to know over the past six months. But each time he tries approaching her again, she shuts him down hard. The FL is heartbroken and won't give an inch.

Now we enter our cat-and-mouse phase.
He does everything he can to pursue her, using work (offering to produce the movie for the book which the FL authored), proximity (he moves next-door to her), and support (financial and otherwise-putting his reputation and business on the line to ensure the development of her movie).

However, the issue is that he still has no idea that the FL has liked him for so long or how very deep her hurt is.
And she is not able to tell him. She can't open up and trust him.
So we go around in never-ending circles.
Many obstacles are thrown their way during this point, from online dating rumours, to a parent-pushed secondary love interest.

After a long (long, long, long!!) wait, the FL finally accepts that he truly does like her and they get together.
Once they get together it's a smooth walk down the aisle. Both of their families are happy and supportive. They live happily ever after.

My issue: The first half of the show built on chemistry, sexual tension, and heavy emotions. At one point I became annoyed with FL for putting off the ML for too long. But eventually we see her on-screen breakdown when he finds out that she's liked him for so long, and I forgive her. However, once they got together, the entire mood of them changed. She became less mature, more playful, and the sexual tension/chemistry seemed to vanish. We went from a heavy drama to a sweet romance--the transition was too abrupt and the mood shift was so extreme that I couldn't really connect the couple from part one of the show to the couple in part two of the show. This mood lasted up to the final episode. The final episode redeemed it. It was still playful and light, but the chemistry came back at least. Overall, I was satisfied with how it was wrapped up.

The secondary couple is the Director of the FL's movie and the ML's younger sister.
I'll say this: both characters are truly wonderful people.
The younger sister is cute, kind, and hard working.
The Director is dedicated, sweet, and also very kind.
In a sense, the younger sister who, by virtue of her age, always acted much younger and girlish than the FL, actually acted much more mature in her romance with the Director than the FL did in her own romance with the ML.
The chemistry between the younger sister and the director was wonderful.
I truly liked them together.
I loved seeing her gradually grow up and take control of her life. She made zero mistakes in her relationship with the director and I admire her so much for that. Since we'd seen her as a very young and cossetted girl, she'd have had ample opportunity to screw it all up, but she didn't. Truly, truly amazing of her.
As for the director, he admired her from the start, took his time, guided her as she entered his industry, supported her patiently, and confessed at the right time. Kudos to him for a job well done.
This couple was truly amazing to watch.

The music was fantastic!!!! The ost was one of the best I've heard.
The shooting was great.
The cast was wonderful.
I will definitely rewatch this show :)

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What a waste of a good show!

Started off great but went to hell in a handbasket.
I'm so annoyed right now!!

I love the idea of soulmates. This is the first show I've seen that showcased the concept. It started off brilliantly but boy did it let me down!

In this world, people who have soulmates lose their hearing whenever it rains. But when they turn twenty years old, they gain the ability to hear again during the rain--but only their soulmate's voice, provided that both soulmates are in a rainy area at the same time.

One main character has soulmates for parents. But his parents divorce when he's a teenager. This leads him to "not believe" in soulmates and ignore his own soulmate, refusing to answer him, for two years.

The other main character is just a nice, cheerful man, despite having had his own difficult childhood. He doesn't stop being nice and optimistic, nor does he give up on his soulmate, despite the years of silence and neglect.

My issue with this show is that they take the concept of soulmates as it is accepted in this world and then decide to break the rules on us for the hell of it. (I'd have to spoil the story in order to explain this further, but I don't want to do that.)

Needless to say, I was and am pissed off beyond reason at the curve ball they threw at us and how they "resolved it".
I don't consider the resolution to be satisfactory and I'm not happy with the ending of the show (though the main couple does have their "happily ever after").

I'm not happy with how the side characters were handled either. Their motivations are all over the place and the secondary romance is one hot mess. Hated their ending too.

The acting was good.
The chemistry between the two main leads was great.
The music was good.
Rewatch value...5...6? I guess. (Knowing the ending will probably ruin the start of the show for me in the future)

Overall, an amazing concept that the writers absolutely tanked.

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Ridiculouls with some cute sprinked in

I am here after Cutie Pie, where I loved Dio and Hia as side characters. Their chemistry and personality made me like them more than the main leads of Cutie Pie, actually. But naughty babe let me down.
The chemistry itself was the same in places but since the vibe of this show is completely different from Cutie Pie, as is the personality of these characters, that leaves the chemistry almost unrecognizable from its original form back in Cutie Pie.

While cutie pie was an emotional watch, with some over-the-top shenanigans thrown in for comedic effect, Naughty Babe is an over-the-top wannabe lakron that tries too hard to be an action-adventure coupled with "emotional intensity". The result is an over-the-top ridiculous show that isn't a lakron, is far from dramatic, makes the "emotional intensity" aspects feel off and unreal, and completely misses the boat on comedy. Nothing meshes together well; it's all disjointed. It's one stupid mess. I had to force myself to finish it out, but I did, for the sake of the main actors, both of whom I like.
I wish they'd have stayed true to the cutie pie format, and the feel of those characters, but alas...if wishes were wings...

I'm not in the mood to write a plot summary. I'll say that the main MDL summary is pretty accurate, as is the trailer for the show.
For anyone not invested in these characters from Cutie Pie, I wouldn't recommend getting into this show. There are better viewing options available. <3

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....meh...

The story was good. I liked the plot.

Two college classmates. Boy 1 has a crush on Boy 2. Boy 2 has a crush on Boy 1's ex-girlfriend. Boy 2 is a shy, awkward mess. His friends convince him to approach Boy 1 for help in winning over his crush, to whom he can't speak two words without stuttering. Sensing an opening to win his own crush, boy 1 agrees to help boy 2 and does his best to win his affections. In the end he does, and they live happily ever after.

The music was forgettable.

My maine gripe is the acting, which completely ruined this show for me.
Joong was great. Dunk was awful. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but it's the pure truth. His facial expressions were gawd-awful and actively broke scenes and moods for me. The personality of the character was ruined. The entire story was ruined. I'm majorly angry at whoever directed/coached this cast and allowed the show to be released as is. GGMTV has some great works, and I expected better from them. (Tho I will note that the chemistry between Joong and Dunk was good, and they pulled off both emotional and physical intimacy well. But that's limited to touch/chemistry. Not the other part of acting--dialogue, expressions, etc.)

It's a good story if you can get past the acting.
Along with a sweet romance, the show tackles issues of family expectations, the pressure to succeed, and "in the closet" relationships--all very well done.

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"But our love's not worth playing chicken with"...

Warning, spoiler ahead!!!




The show is split into two timelines, several years apart.
We see our duo in college and then several years later as working adults.

PLOT:
Female lead is the only child of a respected middle-class family. Her parents love her and she's been raised well. The only drawback is how controlling her mom is. Mom is an education official who is very controlling and exacting in directing her daughter, all "for the sake of her daughter's future". But nothing that mom has commanded thus far has been truly against the daughter's wishes. When the show opens we are introduced to a young, sheltered girl entering her first year of college, under her mother's strict control, but not unhappy because nothing in her life has been difficult or against her own wishes so far.

Our male lead has a sad past. Coming from a poor fatherless family, he's used his wits and vast intelligence to earn money however he can in order to pay for his mom's medical expenses. He is extremely smart and knows a lot (a lot!!) about computer programming/hacking.
His mom hits a critical stage in her health, leading him to need a large influx of fast money; at the same time a classmate approaches him with a scheme--take a test in my name and I'll pay you... Of course the plot is discovered. As a result, the male lead is expelled from school and must repeat his senior year of high school.
His mom dies. His only remaining family, an older sister, moves to a different town to earn money. He is left alone. Shattered by loss and injustice, we meet him as he enters his first year of college (a year behind schedule), a man alone, determined to learn as fast as possible in order to earn money (ie power and security) for himself, vowing to stay alone and depend on no one.

The fl and ml, classmates, clash from the start.
She wants him to come to obligatory morning review classes since his absence costs the entire class demerits.
He has no intention of attending said review classes since it's a waste of his time and our boy is determined not to let anything or anyone distract him from his main goal of learning and earning money asap.

So begins a game of cat and mouse and one-upmanship. Who can outsmart whom? Who is smarter? Who is stronger? Who is more stubborn?

Eventually, she falls in love with his wit and sheer genius.
Eventually, he falls in love with her tenacity, charm, and doggone stubbornness.

They start dating...

And, predictably, when things are going good, the sh1t hits the fan.

And now the players take their assigned roles for the rest of the show.
Our boy: devil may care attitude, couldn't care less about anyone's opinion of him, determined to succeed and walk his own path.
Our girl: An obedient daughter, but only up to her line in the sand-aka the boy. Completely devoted to him.
The mom: determined to "save" (control) her child and lead (bully/ force) her into a bright future.
Two antagonists : 1) a fellow student, used to being number one in a pond (his hometown) who is suddenly forever reduced to number two after leaping into the ocean (stacked against our genius male lead). 2) an interloper from a different college who's just plain an asshole, with no morals or principles.

Things happen...people are hurt...and we leave our main duo in a very, very bad way...


Leap forward a few years.
Our boy is changed. Our girl is changed.
We meet them again as pale imitations of who they were.
But one thing stays the same: Our boy is determined to succeed, all on his own. And our girl is determined to help him, despite what he wants, regardless of the cost to herself.


My title for this review is a line from Sia's song 'Broken Glass': "But our love's not worth playing chicken with".
To me, this entire show is a high-intensity emotional game of chicken between several players.
* How far can mom push our girl?
* How far can our girl challenge (defy) her parents?
* How much can our girl sacrifice and endure for our boy?
* How much and how long can our boy hurt our girl?
* How much can our girl, and our boy, endure?
* How much are friendship and pride worth to our jealous friend? And which of the two will win in the end?

The chemistry between the leads is one fire. Combustible, with the heat felt through the screen.
Incredible acting by them both.

As characters, I admire the girl very much. She knows what she wants, is realistic about paying the price for it, and is steadfast in pursuing it.
I really wish she'd loved herself more though. Despite that, what some might see as weakness, allowing herself to suffer again and again in her support of him, I see as her making that choice again and again to take on the pain because she loves him and wants him to succeed-no matter the cost. That's strength to me. She knows herself and is willing to pay that high price.

As for him.... I can understand his reasoning. But I wish he'd have been kinder. Or maybe cut her off completely, and not allowed her to help him at all.

But they are both stubborn as hell, lol, neither of them yielding.
Towards the end when they are both able to be honest with each without any barriers, that makes for a beautiful relationship. In the future that strong bond will be unwavering no matter what comes their way. They are two very strong people who don't back down and will do anything for each other.

The mom....
As an educator, I expected more from her.
A greater understanding, and respect, towards her daughter.
And a greater open-mindedness, receptiveness, towards our boy.
Ultimately she very much disappointed me. A self-important hypocritical tyrant. Zero redeeming qualities.
As for the dad, he came through in the end. He always was the gentler parent. I'm okay with him. Decent guy.

The jealous friend/ antagonist #1....
Not being number one is a reality in life. Very very few people can claim that title. As children, we can strive for it. As adults, we must simply strive to be the best possible version of ourselves. That's a lesson he never learned. And he was willing to hurt innocent people deeply because of a childish vendetta instead of accepting reality and growing the hell up.
I don't like his ending, but it is what it is.

MUSIC:
Wonderful. My favorite song of the ost is "Falling You".

REWATCH VALUE:
10/10

HEA:
yes :)

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Just....wow,,,,!!!!!!!!!!

At the time of writing, I've watched this series start-to-end three times, with some extra repeats of my favorite scenes.
This was such a phenomal show that I'm truly struggling for words to describe everything I'm thinking and feeling.

To deal with the easier items first:

1) Music: Fantastic. Mix of English and Korean songs. Poignant when needed, and hyped up when required. The cherry on top of an amazing show.

2) Acting: Top notch. Each and every actor brought their character to life. I believed them all. Kudos, congrats, and THANK YOU!!

3) Cinematography: In a word? Beautiful. Watch it and see for yourself ;)

4) Story.....

So!
This is where I hit the -.50 in my rating.
The first few episodes leave you interpreting a lot of what you see.
You need to guess, infer, and make intuitive leaps. Normally that's fine, we don't need to be spoon-fed everything, but in this case the show took it a bit too far. Making the audience think is one thing, but leaving them confused is another. And while the confusion did not turn me off the story, (I pushed through it), I'd have much rather preferred some clarity over making my own conclusions - which I was forced to do in order to continue watching, otherwise nothing would've made sense. (Meaning, you can't leave those moments hanging in the air; you need to come to some conclusion in your mind regarding what they mean and how they happened because otherwise the story literally can't be continued.)
That's my one and only complaint on the entire show, and my reason for the 9.5 rating.

As for everything else?

OH MY GAWWWWWWDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you hear my screaming? Because I am!!!! That's how amazing, terrific, insightful, and engaging this story is.

The connection between the two ml's is on another level, physically and emotionally.
The subtlety of the acting- a glance, a fleeting touch...wow...
The nuances of the characters, what they think, how they behave, what they chose to do and why...I've never seen anything like it and I'm addicted!!! Storytelling at its finest.
What's your cup of tea? Emotional connection? Physical intimacy? Well, you get them both in spades.

I don't think I'll ever get over this story, or ever get bored of watching it again.

Okay, so...let me see if I can summarize the story itself.
(**Spoilers ahead!!**)

1) A rich, popular senior dealing with depression and long-buried trauma.
Family pressure issues.
Cheating ex-girlfriend.
A jealous 'frenemy' whom I wanted to strangle through my screen on multiple occasions.
Meets a shy freshman and takes him under his wing.
Feelings develop.
Tragedy occurs, leading to trauma being triggered.
Major free-fall.
Avoidance + relationship breakdown.
Healing.
Reconciliation.

2) Painfully shy and introverted freshman.
From a small town, dropped into the vast ocean of Seoul, struggling to find his way.
Approached by a kind senior and falls at first sight? Fascinated at first sight? IDK, watch and draw your own conclusion lol.
Starts feeling comfortable, happy, safe, around Senior.
Catches feelings.
Tragedy occurs, leading to an unwanted relationship breakdown.
Steadfast with silent support and active encouragement throughout time apart. Respectful of boundaries, and patient. Consistent with support.
Reconciliation. Communication. 'Happy for now' / HEA ending.

3) I love the friends. Shout out to Ae Ri and Joon Pyo.
I hate Park Tae Hyung. It's one thing to appreciate honesty after dealing with two-facers but this guy is an entirely different matter. You should expect basic respect and support from your friends. See Yoon Won. This guy ain't it. (Watch to understand my rant lol).

4) The evil ex-girlfriend...a bit over-the-top sometimes. But not too much/often? Idk...I lived through those moments without rolling my eyes too much so I'll rate it "ok".

Which leads me to the combined acting + storyline.
Nothing was overdone or overdramatized.
You know how you can watch a show where everything is a caricature ? Either the acting is overdone (no one has those expressions or reactions in real life) or the story is overly dramatic (ie completely unrealistic)?
Well, aside from the ex-gf on a few (minor) occasions, this show was perfect in its execution of reality. Acting was real. Story was realistic. This could happen IRL. Everything was so natural. The flow was amazing.

Overall, a masterpiece.

If you've read this far, congrats and thank you !! LOL.
Now go watch the show (pleaseeeee!!!)!!!!! It's fantastic and you won't regret it <3

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Emotions, emotions, emotions

Before I start, let me just say that I am a sucker for emotion and Star Struck has it in spades.
Talk about pining!! But it's much deeper than that.
Both ML's genuinely love each other, protect each other, have a NEED for each other. It's a beautiful thing, and both actors did a phenomenal job of portraying this. From childhood on they clicked, they are connected, and they will remain so forever.

The writing was done well, especially since the episodes were so short and looooots of content, and subtext, needed to be jammed into what were essentially mini episodes.

While both ML's have their flaws, we can see their growth as they mature, entering into adulthood, as well as settling into their new relationship. Throughout it all, their love for each other shines through.

Music is decent, for those wondering. Nothing majorly great but it goes good with the mood and doesn't detract from the show in any way.

My two complaints:

1) I wish the episodes were longer so we can explore more. While I don't think more time would have changed anything in the story, I'd have loved to fall deeper into what the story already tells us.

2) Lack of kissing.
I know I know!! Kissing isn't everything. And as this show has a heavy focus on the emotional (which I love!!) one might argue that kissing is secondary BUT!!
At the start we are teased with physical attraction. Then there is one kiss that we're shown, except it's zoomed out, and we get to see less than a second of it. So....teasing but not revealing? Not nice writers! Not nice at all.
Beyond the kissing, I'd have settled for cuddles. Sleeping in the same bed? I don't know. Something, anything, that pays tribute to the physical side of their relationship but nope!! We get none of that. So...yeah. I'm disappointed.
This couple is definitely physically attracted to each other (earlier episodes show this) but we're only let in on their emotional relationship after they become a couple. (I don't know if this is because one of the ML's is an idol. )

{{I will say that 8'th Sense spoiled the hell out of me. We get beautiful emotions + wonderful physical connection. It's my candy, my addiction, my all-time standard of Korean BL's. So learn from 8'th sense Korean BL actors/writers! Learn and repeat (please and thank you) !!}}

Re-watch value is like a 7 I guess? I will come back to this one day. And it's definitely worth a first watch. <3

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One of the best BL's I've seen

The chemistry of the two ML's grabbed me by the throat right from episode one, and it didn't let go right up to the end.
The acting was fantastic!!
The NC scenes were on fire!!
The music was the perfect complement to the show.

Story:
An unsuccessful manga artist accepts a deal from his old college senior who is now a successful TV meteorologist: he'll move in with the meteorologist and be supported by him while trying to build up a manga writing career, and in exchange, he'll do whatever the meteorologist wants. His "duties" include housework, laundry, and cooking. They also "sleep" together.
The meteorologist is very brusque and somewhat autocratic, sending the manga artist text messages instructing him which meals to cook for dinner, and talking very little.
The manga artist goes along with it all. In the beginning, the sexual component of their relationship shocked him. With time, he grew to not only like it but to anticipate it. Eventually, he realizes two things: 1- the meteorologist is finicky and annoying. And 2- he's fallen for him-bad. All of which means that the poor manga artist is royally screwed.
And that's how the show opens.

Make no mistake, this is not dubious consent nor r*pe. I strongly disagree with commenters who've called it so. Or those who've called the meteorologist toxic. The manga artist is able to say "no" and any time and doesn't. Although surprised and taken aback at first, he does choose to go along with what's happening and comes to the realization that he likes it, and has from the start. He liked the meteorologist in college but didn't understand his feelings. The meteorologist liked the manga artist in college but never shared his feelings.

The crux of this show is the manga artist suffering through "unrequited love" and being very closed-off emotionally towards the meteorologist, despite always following his wishes and orders.
And the meteorologist being completely gaga over the manga artist but never clearly saying it; only showing it in ways that completely go above the poor manga artist's head. AKA two clueless idiots in love LOL.


They have a ton (and I mean A TON) of misunderstandings.
But they are both so cute and loveable. And the comedy is top tier. So you're left laughing, crying, and rooting for them all at the same time, without the frustrated feeling usually invoked when heavier dramas follow similar plotlines.
This show is very lighthearted. The comedic moments are plentiful and pulled off very, very well.

My one complaint is the ending. The actual final moments of the show. We get to see the happily ever after. But (spoiler!!!) they don't actually say it clearly. The words they say heavily imply how they feel and they say it to each other. And their actions show that they are both finally open and honest with each other. But still! I like my endings wrapped up and tied neatly with a bow. This show didn't give me that. But this show was one giant tease right from episode one, so who am I to complain that they stayed true to character right up to the end? LOL

Anyway, I loved loved loved this show. And highly recommend it. <3

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Good show, somewhat unsatisfactory ending

So, the set-up of the story was solid.
The beginning and middle were great.
But the "great conflict" and the ending were unsatisfactory. (More details below.)

Overall the show is a 7.
The acting was great for what was asked of the actors.
Shooting was solid.
Music was negligible; not bad but not memorable either.
The story development though...oooof. Back to what is said at the start, details below, rant incoming.


"The Details"


So we have a rich older boss and a young newbie employee falling in love.
Add in a domineering father, etc. etc.
The plot is nothing new.
What made the show good was the acting, particularly Jeng, and the details within the story, how everything unfolded.
This show took the concept of "slow burn" and "pining" and created a gorgeous masterpiece.

What pissed me off?
1- Pat's character and his reactions, especially the "great conflict" and its resolution.
2- The ending leaving too much up in the air.

Let's deal with Pat first.
My complaints:
1) A crybaby
2) Can't accept reasonable work critique (constructive criticisms)
3) Bad communicator in his relationship with Jeng (especially the "big conflict")
4) Expecting Jeng to move on and forgive him, without him having done anything to make up for the hurt he caused, and having waited so freaking long to speak up and apologize (offering a minimal 'apology' to boot)

Any reasonable person in their twenties could, and should, expect to receive critique at work. There's no possible way that that doesn't happen. No person enters a field, enter the job market, capable of doing their work without direction and correction. Jeng was a micro manager. That's true. But never hurtful or rude, nor did he ever belittle Pat. No need to take everything so personally and have a crying jag every time you're corrected. Grow the heck up!!

The crying jags.
I understand stress. I get feeling hurt. But Every-Single-Freaking!-Time!! The guy is forever crying. He's in his twenties for heaven's sake!!! Again, I say, grow the heck up!!! Stoop acting like an overwrought teenager.
Too much crying. Just...too much.

The "big conflict" and it's resolution.
Both come back to him being a bad communicator with Jeng.
I can, and do, understand why he was mad at Jeng and hurt. (Though I also understand why Jeng did what he did. He should've been honest for sure. Maybe he should've let Pat turn him down, even if it meant watching Pat fail. But in truth, all Jeng did was make up for a situation caused by Jeng's own father which Pat shouldn't have been facing in the first place. )
Pat taking a step back to overcome that blow, I could understand that.
But the amount of time he took? How brutal he was about it?
No. Just...no.
Especially since afterwards, when they make up, he swears up and down that he never hated Jeng and was only angry. Sorry, anger doesn't last that long if you care about the other person. Your good feelings for the other person, and your sympathy for the hurt the other person must be going through too, overweighs anger in time. Pat acted awfully to Jeng.
Which brings me to their make up. I truly feel bad for Jeng. He deserved sooooo much better than an unreasonable, temperamental, and selfish child- which is precisely how I view Pat. Pat = Expecting everything, giving almost nothing, running away when things are tough, and only concerned with his own feelings.


As for the ending of the show itself:
Two major plot points were left hanging, which I don't appreciate at all.
I've seen other comments from viewers requesting a special episode to tie things up. That would be better than nothing, but even if we do get that special, I'll still be mad. The series itself should have concluded with a proper, full ending. A special is just that: a special bonus visit where we can see the happily-ever-after in progress; it should not be a continuation of the ending.

So ultimately, is this show worth watching? Yes.
Will I rewatch it? Yes.
Can it stand to be better? Yes.
Would I call this a good show? Yes.

Thanks for reading :))
Enjoy!! <3

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Favorite K-drama

This drama is an absolute must-watch.
The acting is phenomenal.
The story is unique and engaging. Nothing is dragged out. Nothing feels like filler.
The characters are real, and portrayed so very well.
The chemistry of the main characters with each other, the lovely little girl, and the supporting cast too, all comes together beautifully.
The music is great. I downloaded two of the main scores to my playlist.

This show hooked me from start to finish. I'm just lucky that I started watching after it was finished because I could not have survived the wait between episodes lol.

I rewatched my favorite scenes too many times to count and I'm planning to do a full rewatch from episode 1 some time in the future.
Absolutely incredible in every way. <3

FYI: This show has a happy ending (for those who want to know before starting to watch :)

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Sweet

This was a very sweet show.
The story revolves around a woman who can hear lies and a man who's running from a painful secret in his past.
She's cute and quirky.
He's the greenest of green flags; a real sweetheart.

I loved watching her slowly open up to the people around her and making friends.
I adored seeing him fall for her, instinctively protecting her and taking care of her.

Their relationship is so wonderful. Sweet and cuddly.

The mystery hurt me bad though. I feel so bad for our male lead. Thank goodness he has the female lead there for him.
He came through it all stronger than ever.
The ending is lovely and perfect. They both deserve their happily ever after, and we get to see it!!

The actors did a fine job. The music was okay. The shooting was great.

Although this show is not short, it is the type of show I'd watch in one sitting with a blanket and hot drink, smiling all the way. The overall impression is sweet and cozy.

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