I'm a sucker for contract relationship dramas. There's just something about watching two characters finding themselves unexpectedly falling for each other despite their best plans not to. And We Married as a Job (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu) is no exception. Watching these two slowly fall for each other and open up to each other and come to rely on one another was sweet and charming and incredibly wholesome. These are two likable characters who develop a very likable relationship with one another. What makes this drama stand out from the pack, however, is how realistic and believable it all is. I can 100% see this happening in real life, something that can't typically be said for these sorts of stories. That's not to say that I have a problem with contract relationship dramas that are not realistic. If a story is well-written and the relationship is likable, then I don't mind having to suspend my disbelief. But there is something nice about watching a contract relationship drama play out in a way that would be very plausible in the real world, and I think this drama illustrates this well.

First and foremost, Mikuri and Hiramasa are very well suited for each other. Despite their difficulties around expressing their feelings for one another, they are surprisingly adept at communication otherwise, and that's ultimately why their relationship works so well. Whenever they hit a roadblock or setback, they sit down and work out a plan to overcome it, and most importantly, neither of them give up. They each have their moments where they think about quitting, but every time, they ultimately choose to stick with it and make it work.

Other things to note about this drama:

I initially was confused by Mikuri's daydreams as I did not realize that that was what they were, but once I figured it out, I found them quite enjoyable. They give you a really great insight into who she is as a character, not to mention they're really fun. (She frequently imagines herself taking part in different Japanese television programs that exist in real life, from documentaries to news shows, etc. They make for fun references even if you've never seen the real programs themselves.)

I related to Mikuri and Hiramasa's struggles with finding meaningful, romantic connection with others. In the case of Mikuri, her personality has apparently turned off all of the guys she's dated previously despite her best efforts not to do so, while Hiramasa has always been too fearful of putting himself out there to make an attempt at finding love. Turned out, their personalities were perfectly suited for one another, and once they found each other, they were able to put those fears and insecurities to rest.

I quite enjoyed the eventual loveline, and message behind it, between Mikuri's older sister and Ryota. They made a really charming secondary couple.

Final thoughts:

Overall, I really like this drama, and it's now in my favorite dramas list on MDL. With such likable and relatable characters, such a wholesome and heartwarming story, and conflict that's believable, it's hard to find something not to like. We Married as a Job was a breezy, enjoyable watch, and I highly recommend it.

Read More

This is the definition of a heartwarming, innocent romance. A slow and steady build, focused on genuine connection more than crackling chemistry, no real skinship on screen apart from some hugs and maybe hand holding, and both leads are thoughtful and kind and well suited for each other. It's just a charming little series that, while it probably will not beheart-pounding for most, is very compelling.

Personally, I'm reaching an age where I've begun to appreciate the idea of a simple romance over the high-intensity, butterflies, excitement, idealistic romance of youth. That's not to say that I don't still love those heart-pounding love stories that give you goosepimples all over. I do. But at a certain point, you realize that what you really want is not wild passion but just someone who is going to be there journeying through life with you, taking on your burdens with you, and building you up so you can be the best you can be. And that is this drama's love story.

The premise, a law to force NEETs into marriage, is obviously not realistic and would have no effectiveness towards getting NEETs to participate in the work force, but considering it's somewhat outlandishness (and I do say somewhat because I don't think it's the most ridiculous plotline by any means), it plays out in a very natural and realistic way. The main character's supervisor remarks multiple times that the NEET Protection Law is kind of messed up, and the male lead develops increasing concern with it as well. The female lead is never actually forced into the marriage. The overall tone of the drama is very much one of respect for people's boundaries and their autonomy, and it stays consistently so through the last episode.

I do want to explain here for those thinking about watching this drama the difference between a NEET and a Hikikomori, as it is relevant to the story. A NEET is someone Not in Education, Employment, or Training for a variety of reasons. A Hikikomori is a person who has chosen to withdraw from society, going to extreme degrees to do so. There is some overlap between these two categories, as many Hikikomori are unemployed and not in higher education, but they are still two seperate categories. The reason I'm explaining this difference is because there is some confusion over Himari as a character. She is described by the drama as a NEET, but she also has some Hikikomori tendencies, especially early on in the story. The drama does not address these tendencies, and while I don't know that it was necessary for it to do so, it does cause some confusion and a mild (in my opinion) plothole when Himari overcomes some of these tendencies a little too quickly in the first few episodes. But this did not ruin the viewing experience for me in any way, and I don't really think it has to for others. Himari overcoming some of her anxiety and discomfort so quickly is meant to signal to the viewer that she feels comfortable with Shin enough to open herself up, and I think this is done effectively.

This is definitely going in my favorite dramas/favorite romance dramas lists. It just makes you feel good inside, and I highly recommend it.

Read More

I'm gonna say right off the bat that this is not a strongly written, tightly plotted drama. It has some obvious flaws that are apparent from the first episode. But it's heartwarming and thoughtful and sprinkled with humor (and some tears for good measure), so I don't think it is without any merit.

Of course, because this drama has time-travel in it, we get to see both the modern day and the past, and there are good and bad things to this. Mainly that the present day portions and the past day portions felt like two very different dramas which created a very striking/jarring feeling while watching that took me awhile to get comfortable with. The modern day portion was like a silly, stereotypical, nothing new here, kind of drama, but with genuine heart and thoughtfulness. I was somewhat disappointed and let-down with aspects of this part of the story and would have liked some things to have been done differently, but it's not unenjoyable. The past day portion had a very human, slice of life, Reply series feel to it, and, for my part, I think it was the better portion. Young Ha Ni is a dynamic character, and her relationship with her father is incredibly endearing. We only received glimpses of the past here and there throughout the drama though, and there were next to none in the latter half, which was really disappointing.

The theme of the drama, the affects of trauma, was probably my favorite thing about the story. I really cared about Ha Ni, both young and adult. But while I think young Ha Ni had a mostly good story arc with a very satisfying conclusion, adult Ha Ni got somewhat jipped in the last few eps. There's a lot of focus early on on the difficulty of adult Ha Ni's life and how much she's given up on herself out of shame and regret, and I think the drama does a really good job of exploring this. There's also the start of her growing and changing and giving herself permission to forgive herself for her past. I was very eager to see more of this in the later half of the series as it's really heartfelt and emotional, but adult Ha Ni's story ends up becoming more about corporate business things/saving the company, and I didn't understand the point. None of it serves the main crux of the drama, and it's honestly quite boring and uninteresting.

As far as the time-travel aspect of the drama goes, it ended up being better than I initially thought while also being somewhat non-existent to the plot most of the time. The only time time-travel is ever mentioned in the story is when the writers need to move a certain part of the story along or when it had been awhile since we'd last thought about the fact that young Ha Ni would need to go back to her timeline eventually so the writers threw in a reminder. It's not a super big or important part of the plot, so if you're looking for some cool timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly stuff, you won't get it. And if I were to sit down and really hammer out the problems with the time-travel/shamanism aspect of the story, I could 100% present you with a list of holes that keep it from being accurate or affective. But while this is a drama featuring time-travel, this isn't a time-travel drama. The writers aren't all that concerned with the mechanics of time-travel or even that much with time-travel itself as long as the device serves the story, so you probably shouldn't let yourself get too hung up on it either.

The last thing I'll say for this drama is that while the character archetype of the male lead has been done far better in other dramas, and this male lead would not be my favorite I've ever seen (I think I actually like the second male lead in this drama better because of the really fascinating trajectory his story and character progression takes), there's still something about the male lead that makes you really like him. He starts out a little annoying, but his thoughtfulness and charm and positivity grow on you. By the end, I was really happy the female lead had someone so kind and thoughtful on her side.

So what would I say to those thinking about watching this? Hello, Me! is a feel good, don't think too hard about it, just have a good time, sort of drama, and if you go into it with that mindset, you'll enjoy yourself. It's not ground-breaking or the most tightly plotted, but it's uplifting, and sometimes that's enough.

Read More

This is one of those dramas that is pleasant enough but somewhat unnecessary at the same time and doesn't really leave much of a lasting impression when it's done.

First and foremost, the romance is meh for me. It progressed unnaturally quick in the first half and then became kind of boring in the second. It's not that I dislike the pairing. They're both generally likable characters and fairly cute when they're together. I just never really understood what it was that made them like each other which in turn made the romance feel bland. Their romance has a really promising start, but in the end, it just didn't have much substance.

I really enjoyed everything to do with the magazine office. Chief Editor makes some hairbrained decisions early on that would Not be successful in real life yet inexplicably are in the drama, but that withstanding, seeing the inner workings of a magazine was fun and a little bit fascinating. I was consistently invested in seeing Miyavi, and the people who worked on it, be successful. The magazine team felt like a real team that really cared about doing a good job, and I appreciated (most) every member. I greatly enjoyed seeing the female lead come into her own as the Chief Editor's assistant, learning to find joy in a job well done and even desiring to improve herself. And the Chief Editor herself is a really compelling, and impressive, character.

The drama's messaging on whether you should follow your dreams or not (or if you should even be so worried about having one) is somewhat incoherent, however. It makes an attempt at conveying to the audience that it's okay to have a simple, average life, and you don't have to be chasing some sort of 'dream' in order to be happy and fulfilled, but then it...kind of betrays that message?

Considering how hyper-obsessed we all are in the first world with 'following our dreams,' I would honestly really love to see more stories that let people know that it's okay if you don't have a dream and maybe that's really what's best for some of us. The truth is, most of us can't and really Shouldn't be 'following our dreams.' Just because you're decent at drawing doesn't mean drawing should be your career. It's okay for it to just be your hobby. Just because you really love volleyball and play it well doesn't mean you need to play it at the Olympics. It's okay for volleyball to just be a fun means of exercise. Contentment and purpose aren't found solely in having a 'dream career' or 'doing what you love.' Sometimes it's found in a job well done, regardless of what that job is.

In the end, this drama tried to be something it wasn't, and I think it suffered for it. It tried to be a story about purpose, but ended up being more of a fluff piece. And that's okay, I just think it would have been better if it had chosen one and committed to it.

Read More

Probably everyone and their grandmothers has described this show and it's female lead as quirky at this point, so I won't do that, but I'm honestly not sure that quirky is the right descriptor anyway. Somewhere between peculiar and bizarre is more accurate, in my opinion. You see, Sayoko's love of bathing occasionally borders on the side of concerning. She never does anything particularly out there or disturbing, but her love for the bathtub can be...intense and a little too all-consuming. Of course, that's the entire premise of the show, and it's definitely played up for both laughs and heart, I just think if we were friends in real life, I might be a little bit concerned for her and would probably make an effort to get her out of the house more.

This is why, I think, that while I got the humor and the message and appreciated both, I didn't always enjoy the drama. I don't think I experienced a true guffaw until the last episode when she threw a rock into her tub, and the waxing poetic over bathing and how important it is for life had no affect on me. I wasn't touched by her emotional connection to bathing like the drama clearly wanted me to be. But that might just be me. I personally prefer showers to baths, so I don't have that same relaxed feeling when I think about taking a bath, and while I didn't connect with the story in an emotional way, I can at least agree with the drama's sentiments about the physical, mental, and emotional benefits bathing can have for some people.

I do like Sayoko, of course. She can be every bit as self-absorbed as what appears to be her only friend in the story, but if we really were friends in real life, I would probably come to find her obsession with the bathtub endearing rather than weird, and I would probably appreciate her unique view on life and the bathtub, even if it's not a view I share myself.

Read More

I could have sworn I had a review up for this, but it's nowhere to be found, so I guess I'll write it again, lol. Just a heads up, I watched this before ever reading the webtoon it's based on, but as of writing this review, I am currently almost finished with season 1, so I probably will end up referencing it here.

This is, like so many web dramas of it's genre, kind of surface level and cliche and truthfully too big of a story for it's run time, but it's also very cute and fluffy and generally feel good and the acting is decent, so I enjoyed it well enough. (I would honestly love to see another season (especially now that I'm reading the webtoon).) My biggest complaint with the story would have to be how everything plays out with Nari's 'boyfriend.' That entire part of the plot is terribly handled, in my opinion, and doesn't make any sense without reading the webtoon for context. To spoil it (cause that's what I do in my reviews, lol) Nari starts going out with a boy at her school, and he's incredibly kind and supportive and thoughtful the entire time and appears to genuinely like her...until it's suddenly revealed that he's only been dating Nari to get to her classmate/friend Yuna, because he's been stalking Yuna for ages and can't take no for an answer. It comes completely out of left field and is so unbelievable that it's laughable. The plot point does come directly from the webtoon, but it also makes Sense in the webtoon. There's proper pacing and foreshadowing, and he isn't this completely perfect in every way boyfriend, so even though the reveal is shocking, you still believe it. The drama writers didn't get this part of the plot right, and I think it's probably the biggest flaw of the story.

My only other complaint with this web drama is the treatment of Yuna. There are a lot of complicated layers to Yuna and Nari's relationship. There's hurt and betrayal, some unhealthy attachment, and ultimately just too many layers for a short webdrama to properly explore. Unfortunately, this affects how Yuna is portrayed in the story. She is very manipulative and selfish and demanding in the webtoon And the webdrama, but the webtoon adds context to her behavior, and her part of the story is ultimately one of her working towards reconciling with Yuna and growing as a person so that their friendship can be healthier for both of them. Because of the time constraint inherent in webdramas, there was no way the drama writers were ever going to be able to do the same thing, and Yuna ends up suffering as a character for it, which is disappointing.

I admit it's probably a good thing I watched this Before starting the webtoon, because aside from the two complaints above, there were some other changes to the story that could have made this a frustrating watch, but I went in with fresh eyes and I'm glad I did. I'm able to view the webdrama and the webtoon as two separate entities and enjoy them both as such without the differences ruining my experience. If you're reading the webtoon and wondering about watching the webdrama, I recommend approaching the webdrama in the same way. It will definitely help you enjoy it more.

Read More

I don't know that I like this drama. I like the main characters and relate to their struggles with finding love and purpose and meaning in their lives. I like their friendship with each other and how loyal they are to one another and always there to lend a shoulder or an ear. And I inherently love stories that explore what it means to love and be in a relationship and all that juicy romantic stuff. It's just the story built around these characters and their friendship and their pursuit of love that could have been fleshed out better.

Rinko's story has the most substance to it and the most development. She's a rather immature character who spends most of the drama seeking the most shallow idea of love possible. Throughout the story, you find yourself feeling more and more frustrated with her childish, immature way of thinking and how many times she makes a decision only to change her mind at the last minute, because the truth is, she really doesn't know what she wants or what she's doing. But she does have a genuine story arch and experiences some real character growth, and by the end of the drama, you can tell that she's finally, genuinely trying to get it right. She really wants it this time, and she's doing everything the right way...and yet she still gets it wrong. Ooof, did I feel for her in that moment.

The other female leads stories were not nearly as engaging.

We have Kaori whose story arch starts off strong. She runs into her ex after having not seen him for years and swiftly finds herself engaging in an affair with him despite her better judgement. I will never approve of affairs as a matter of principle, but the storyline Makes Sense. There's history there, unresolved feelings, the question of what-if, and you can understand how Kaori would find herself in such a situation, even if you don't agree with her choices. But the storyline starts to fizzle out toward the end, and by the time the situation is resolved (and it's resolved in a mostly satisfactory way), you've kind of lost interest.

Then's there Koyuki. I feel like the writers got to Koyuki and were like 'Uhhh, we don't know what to do with this character, sooooooooo let's make her have an affair too!' Not only is her relationship with 'random guy' probably the most BORing relationship ever, but it feels so incredibly out of character for Koyuki to engage in an affair in the first place. She's the most headstrong, conscientious one of the three leads, and I was hoping for something more meaty and interesting for her character. Like maybe she meets a man who is disabled, and the people around her are all telling her not to be with him because of how difficult the relationship would be, but she defies them all and loves him anyway. Or maybe she decides to eschew love and marriage altogether and live out the rest of her life a single lady, because she's happy with things just the way they are. Either way, both of these options would have been better than what we ended up with. I honestly feel bad for her character, because she really does get the short end of the stick in terms of storyline.

But what really frustrates me with this drama is that none of the leads, with the exception of the main lead towards the end, take any real responsibility for their part in the situations they find themselves in. It takes two to tango (or to have an affair in the case of this drama), but neither of the girls involved in the affairs really take much accountability for their actions, and that's just about the most annoying thing ever.

You're probably wondering at this point in the review why I kept watching this drama if I found the female leads separate storylines so frustrating. Well, first and foremost, their friendship with each other is one of the best parts of the drama, and one of the things that kept me coming back. As annoying as it is to watch them make such silly decisions on repeat, it's equally delightful watching them together, chatting over food and drinks about the daily goings on of their lives. They're such a tight-knit group, so loyal to each other, and they just look like a lot of fun to be around.

I also really liked Rinko's two biggest potential romantic interests, KEY and Tetsuro. I was sad for Tetsuro at the end, because he came so close to getting the girl (and honestly is every bit deserving of her as any other guy, and might even be more suited to her, if we're being honest), but he ultimately found himself in second male lead land through no fault of his own, and I hope he's able to find his own happiness in the sequel drama coming out later this year.

As for KEY, a lot of people think he's mean or abusive or what-have you, but I have to disagree. Yeah, he could be kind of a jerk at times, poking his nose into the leads business and offering his unwanted opinions and being rather judgmental of them (although I can't totally fault him for that one considering how consistent these girls are in making stupid choices and then whining about it later), but he's certainly not this awful, abusive monster that a lot of people have made him out to be. His bark is definitely worse than his bite, and I personally was not opposed to him ending up with our female lead at the end.

My only complaint with KEY is that his tragic backstory...is that he married his high school teacher because she was dying to fulfill her last wish????? I'm not surprised to see this in a Japanese drama, because it's the sort of thing I would expect at this point in my drama viewing history, but I will never stop finding these sorts of plot lines ridiculous. I don't know much about marriage laws in Japan, and it may very well be legal for a teacher to marry their student, but I certainly don't find that particularly...copasetic. I also just find it pretty stupid, because how does marrying your student whom you are not in love with fulfill your dying wish of falling in love and getting married? Um, it doesn't. But it's a fortunately small part of the drama and was no more than an innocent friendship rather than romantic relationship, so I can overlook it.

Now, if you've read all of that above ^ and are thinking 'this girl didn't like this drama and probably won't watch the sequel'........I will most DEFinitely be watching the sequel, because as frustrating as this drama was, I also strangely enjoyed it. I know. I started this review saying I don't think I like this drama and then I ended the review saying I enjoyed it. I guess I'm as illogical and all over the place as the Tokyo Tarareba Girls, lol. But it's true. I've given this drama an 8 overall, because in spite of it's flaws and the frustration with characters decisions and there not being enough character and story development for two of the leads, I'm invested in these girls and want to see where they end up.

That and I had planned a trip to Japan this year during the Olympics myself that all fell apart (before the Covid stuff ever happened), and I guess I want to live vicariously through these characters a little bit.

So sue me, lol.

Read More

This drama wasn't quite what I expected. I expected a story about a small little government agency that went around helping different women each episode or couple of episodes on their quest for love and marriage. Something like Five Star Tourist (https://mydramalist.com/13029-five-star-tourist) but about a government agency helping people find love rather than a travel agency helping people plan the perfect vacation.

What you get is still a small little government agency, but one that mostly spies on a particular group of women for what they call 'research' but then never explain what the research is for. So something more like Tokyo Tarareba Musume/the I Need Romance trilogy/most dramas with a similar 'Group of Female Friends Seeking Love' type of story but using the Peanut Butter Sandwich organization as story framing.

While I still think the first synopsis would make for an interesting story, I will say that This drama makes for a very breezy, enjoyable watch. The characters are all generally quite likable (even if some of the choices they make are not so likable), their journey's are all fairly relatable, and I like (or can at least accept in the case of one of the characters) how each of their stories ends. My only major complaint would be that I would have preferred the issue of cheating (presented in two of the women's journey's) had been addressed a little differently. (Japanese dramas always seem to be just a tad too ambiguous for me with their messaging around this topic, and I find that very frustrating.)

I'm still not sure what the purpose of the Peanut Butter Sandwich organization is. They don't actually Do much other than give random little factoids about what Japanese women are feeling and wanting based on their answers in various polls (no idea if this is based on real data or not, but that would be interesting to find out about) and spend the rest of their time spying on a group of four women as part of their 'research.' They make for an affective story framing device, but you also finish the drama not really knowing what their purpose is in the stories universe.

But that's fine. This isn't a drama that's meant to be read into too deeply, and for the most part, I was able to not do that and just enjoy the ride. If you're like me and you enjoy the 'Group of Female Friends Seeking Love' drama trope, then you'll probably enjoy this drama too.

Read More

I've struggled when it comes to Japanese dramas. I have frequently found myself starting a Jdrama and quickly noping out because it's not anything like what I wanted/expected. First and foremost, I don't trust any Jdrama genre tags. Just because it says romance or rom-com (totally unrelated example; not the bane of my Jdrama existence or anything) doesn't mean there will be the kind of romance or romantic comedy you're looking for. Second, there appears to be a much wider variety of subject matter when it comes to Jdramas compared to Kdramas (my personal drama country go to), which makes it that much harder to find that specific type of drama you're looking for. Third, it kind of feels like Jdrama production teams are just experimenting by throwing things at the wall and seeing what works and then sometimes not even really caring if it doesn't work. And fourth, everything about Jdrama production is just Different. Different acting styles, different camerawork, different forms of story-telling, etc. etc. etc. I've had to come to the conclusion in recent months that in order to find, watch, and enjoy Jdramas, I have to leave All my expectations at the door, because they most likely won't be met except in the exact moments when I'm not looking.

I tell you all of this to say that when I find a Jdrama that works for me, it's kind of a big deal. And this Jdrama worked for me. Very, very, deeply worked for me.

There's honestly not a single thing about this drama I could complain about. We're presented with an unusual, but still very real and relatable and easy to connect with family who may fuss and fight but will always love each other at the end of the day; multiple life situations grounded in reality and tackled by our characters in satisfying ways; and a female lead who may be spoiled, but who is easily one of the kindest, most determined, easiest to root for female leads in all of Asian drama history. Kahoko is just likable, and you want to see her succeed.

I highly recommend this drama to anyone who watches Asian dramas.

Read More

I'm giving this web drama a 7.5 purely based on my own personal enjoyment of it, not because of quality. In terms of quality, it's very well-done and definitely deserves an overall rating of 10. It just didn't quite hit me where I like stories to hit me.

As far as what the story is like, it's slice of life told in a series of vignettes with food playing an important role. The story isn't About food. It's about the female lead's life and where it takes her. But food is a prevalent theme as the female lead enjoys cooking, and every episode involves an important meal which you are later given a full recipe on how to make. It's not a unique setup at this point in dramaland, but this is definitely an example of the setup done right.

If you enjoy food dramas, and you enjoy web dramas, you will enjoy this drama.

Read More

Honestly, I don't know what I could say about this movie that would be bad, because who doesn't love a well-done story about growing up and learning to stop counting yourself out in life? The message is a solid one of not looking at your past and using it as an excuse to quit on your future. You can literally come from anywhere and have done anything, and you Still have it in you to make something of yourself. What you look like, who your family is, who your friends are, your grades in school, it doesn't matter. That doesn't define you and what you are capable of.

I came for the Gyaru, but I stayed for the heart.

(Just a little caveat for anyone thinking of watching this because it has a character who wears Alternative Japanese Fashion. Her fashion is a very minor part of the story and eventually disappears, so don't expect any really cute outfits or anything. That's not what this movie is about.)

Read More

Short, fun, with a simple message, I literally can't think of a reason why you shouldn't watch this accept that maybe you're the type of person who hates smiling and pretty flowers and cute puppies and Joy.

The love triangle is pretty one-sided, ie. only one of the guys ever really has any sort of chance, and the other guy just up and disappears in the final episode, so you don't even get Closure for him, but BOIIIIIIIIIII IT WAS SO HARD PICKING WHO I WANTED HER TO END UP WITH OHMYGAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

And yes. I will say the same thing I said in my review for My ID is Gangnam Beauty. Cha Eun Woo's acting. Not the greatest. (Although I do think he performs decently in ID.) But he's so dang cute and squishy and I just WaNt HIm TO Be haPpy In lIfE IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!?!?!?!?!

I'm just trying to say that this mini drama is cute and fun, and you have no valid reason not to watch it, so Don't Argue With The Cuteness Of Cha Eun Woo.

Oh, and Kim Hwan Hee is the next Kim Seul Gi. I'm calling it now.

Read More

(Updated Review 2022)

I finished my first rewatch of Shopping King Louis this past weekend, and I'm so happy I decided to watch it again. First of all, I loved it my first watch through. The story and the characters were effortlessly charming, and the story was great fun to watch. It was a feel-good drama from beginning to end. Upon rewatching, however, I've realized that this drama is so much better than I remembered it being, and now I love it even more. Truthfully, I'm surprised at how incredibly well-crafted this drama is and how well it still holds up. Kdramas from its time tended to have problems with plot consistency, particularly towards the end, but this drama kept itself in check the entire time. There's not a single dropped or unsatisfactorily wrapped up plot point to be found here. And the story itself isn't just fluffy entertainment (although it is certainly entertaining in a delightfully fluffy way). Shopping King Louis has some real meat on its bones, something I don't think I particularly appreciated the first time I watched it.

For example, the writers never rely (not even once) on drawn out conflict or misunderstandings (like most dramas of its time) to keep the plot moving and the audience interested/watching. When issues are introduced, they are summarily addressed in an appropriate manner at an appropriate time. There are no nonsensical misunderstandings or randomly added conflicts that serve to do nothing more than frustrate the viewer. Everything is there for a purpose, and everything ties together in realistic and valuable ways. What's better, the drama has a consistent habit of bringing back small moments from early in the drama to give them greater meaning in the overall story. Nothing is superfluous or wasted.

And the one part of the story that would have been the easiest to mishandle, the leads separation after learning what happened to the Bok Shil's brother and how that connects Bok Shil and Louis to each other, is done to superb affect. I initially went into the break-up and separation kicking and screaming, because like most drama lovers who've been watching dramas for a long time, we've been down this road many times before and have the trauma to prove it. But they utilized the cliche/trope So. Well. in Shopping King that I had to change my mind. I do wish Bok Shil and Louis could have come to the conclusion on their own that they wanted to stay together, because they ultimately love each other and there's clearly no anger or hurt towards each other over what happened so what are they separating for anyway, but I have to give the drama the credit it is so obviously due and admit that the break-up/separation was used really well and furthered the story in a meaningful way.

In closing, this is a total comfort drama, perfect for when you when you want a story that will make you feel good. I absolutely stand by everything I said in my original MDL review and then some, so I'll just add it here:

The romance is bubblegum sweet, the story is gentle and heartwarming, the twists smart and unexpected. The characters make you smile and laugh and cry and smile some more. It's basically like one big, exhilarating, endorphin releasing shopping trip, but without any regret. Everything you bought is exactly what you wanted for exactly the right price. This is going in my list of favorite drama's, Pronto!

Read More

CAVEAT: This review is only for episode 4, because it is the only episode I watched, and I don't plan on watching the others as they don't interest me at all.

EPISODE 4 WAS EVERYTHING!!!! I now want this to be a full length drama with the same cast and crazy costumes and adorableness and lightheartedness and the unexpected emotional moments that separated it from being purely a 'fat girl' story to a 'beautiful inside and out but mistreated and misunderstood because of her looks girl' story.

This is in my top ten of favorite dramas, and it's only one episode.

Read More

This web drama is like cotton candy. There is conflict and misunderstandings and a real uncertainty about who she's going to end up with at the end, but it's all so easy and pleasant to watch. The makeup tutorials are also a really nice touch. Obviously, they are the whole purpose of the drama, but they don't feel weird or out of place or even all that much like product placement. They're nice and simple and suitable for a wide variety of people. You don't even really need to use Innisfree makeup to do them, even though that's the only brand used. You can very easily recreate these looks with any other makeup brand out there.

Read More