Ti02

This month, almost all romcoms have failed me, but this finally!! This is so good. Even with all the cliches its just feels so right! Also the chemistry, my god!!

Honestly, I really like dramas showcasing healthy male-female friendships. Its so nice seeing them genuinely care for each other, with taunts and teasing and no one sided obsessed love. JKY in My roommate is a Gumiho, also had such a healthy friendship with his female friend. Hoping that even in this drama, friends stay friends.

Novel had a Happy Ending.

Its like they are always dating, but they are not dating. They are doing everything what people who are dating do, but not dating. I mean seriously. At least we got the kiss.

What's with the preview? Why would you kiss him happily keep his photo in the diary and then tell him to keep things work related only? What is this duality Miseon? Don't break my cutie's heart!!

Right. That part was really nice! It would have been better of ML and SFL would be just friends, SFL did not even try hard to separate the leads, she accepted it, she did nothing evil. Like if she was just a friend, we could have gotten a dating era of these two, but alas, we missed something so nice!

I love the second leads, I love the second leads, I love the second leads!! SFL completely redeemed herself by threatening SML with the video and protecting the leads, though I was not even that upset with her character. She is one of the best SFLs in love with MLs in kdrama history, we have literally very few. Also I love how SML got threatened by her, but they shared a drink and had such a nice conversation later. I really hope they have a sweet ending, I mean for sure we wouldn't get their dating phase, but at least I hope they end it in a way that hints towards their dating.

Right.

Speaking from the novel's perspective, I don't remember the name in the novel though, but if I am not confusing the characters, then these two would fall in love and even get married. In the novel, there was some misunderstanding, then the character would redeem himself as well.

It depends. In Double, the ML did such exceptional/mature acting, also many people didn't know him before, so not everybody knew they had a 12 year age gap. The actress there was a good actor as well, and despite the age gap, had a sizzling chemistry, but mainly the plot direction editing were done well.
Here, I read the novel, I like the plot. I like the concept of a forbidden love plot. The story is about an older woman falling for her younger brother in law, so Victoria's age is not a problem. She is supposed to be elder to ML, she is and looks like that. She is gorgeous and looks fit for the part. The problem however lies in the acting capability. Except for the fight scenes, during normal dialogue delivery, especially during romantic scenes, the actress has a blank freeze out look, which makes her face unreadable. Its expressionless in other words. That for me takes away the very essence of those scenes. Secondly, the direction, editing is disastrous. There are scenes very poorly edited. Also there is no chemistry between the leads.
But I am not someone to drop a show after watching half of it. I really want to see the end of it. Also there are many secondary characters who are actually important, so I really want to see how all the things shape up, especially because I read the novel.
I loved Double, but I also loved Legend of Female General, so our taste is similar and differ at the same time (though for sure The Double is one of the best). So my suggestion would be watching 4-5 episodes more, and then deciding for yourself.

They did. In the novel, FL was just 1 year elder than ML. But their personalities differed a lot. Here, she is 3 years elder. I think if they showed her to be 7-8 years elder, the society and elders would have even more problems, also that is something very unheard of especially in costume dramas, so I guess they avoid taking risks.
Its not about the age gap, but about the editing, direction, acting, chemistry all of which lacks here.

Victoria is beautiful and looks her age. But she is not someone who is great at emotional scenes, or simply acting. Criticisms must only be directed at acting or styling, criticizing someone for looks or age, is simply baffling to me especially when all these younger actors would turn older too.

But the contrast is supposed to happen. It was supposed to be the story of a very mature widowed woman with a childish impulsive younger guy. Even if I consider her acting okayish during normal scenes, during emotional scenes, its very weird. Her face has nothing and is very distracting. When I read the novel, it was entertaining, the direction and editing also lacks in the drama.
And it has nothing to do with Victoria's age. She is beautiful, looks her age. I have loved dramas with actresses elder to the actors by a decade and more. Its about the quality in the drama as well as acting capability.

Also , in Double, despite the age gap, they had brilliant chemistry. The FL looked her age, and acted really well. But Double was really done well in terms of direction and editing, It had such aesthetic vibe. In this drama, they have done such bad editing in various parts. I never had problems with age gap honestly, they are doing acting, its not real. FL's expression is the problem in this drama, and also lack of chemistry.

Her character is supposed to be way more mature. They have made her a lot less mature than the novel. I have no problem with her character. Its normal she rejects ML, it breaks my heart for him, but I get that from her perspective. I don't know about Shilan, but I really like the three siblings. Hoping for a happy ending for the three of them. Victoria Song's fighting scenes are good, but rest of the time, during peak emotional scenes, her expressions is not readable, there is a constant blank expression.

About the teasers

Honestly I am really sad about their love being revealed to the society this soon. I mean I think she just accepts him in ep 23 (according to the teaser), and everybody knows about that in the next episode? The best part of the novel was them hiding their affair, sneaking into each other's room to romance, the entire part was so sweet. I really wanted the makers to show those, before their affair getting leaked.
Also I think the novel's Wei Yun's mother's character got into his elder sister in law in the drama. I don't blame her though, this was pretty obvious.
Also why tf her ex got divorced? What was the entire point then of him being married? So he married a girl who loved him got the minister's position and then left her, and then proposed the ex. Excellent! Yes I know her father threatened him, but the girl did not know, she truly loved him. The character gets annoying more and more just like the novel.
Also Victoria Song's expressions still are blank, it has no improvement. Huhh, it just takes away the essence of romantic/emotional scenes.
End of my rant! ;)

Teasers-

Ep 24: https://wetv.vip/en/play/6ano3cpkzvs541m/t4101bpqsgc-Teaser_EP24%3A_Fight_for_Love
Ep 25: https://wetv.vip/en/play/6ano3cpkzvs541m/y4101n0mzhv-Teaser_EP25%3A_Fight_for_Love

See, its entertainment, anything that works for you is great. Different people different opinions, at the end of the day, if it gives you happiness, then it doesn't even matter if other people criticize it. For me this year's favourite drama was Legend of the Female General, though it was immensely popular, it got criticisms later saying other female general dramas were better, but for me everything in it was happy nice, fight sequences good, I loved it, also the insane chemistry.
Because its a free public platform, people would have diverse opinions, but honestly whatever suits you the best.

Honestly the fight scenes, and ML are the only things that are forcing me to watch till the end.

Exactly, there was no requirement of that fake sunset scene, it was very badly edited. Honestly it felt as if 5-6 power rangers were coming back, they couldn't make it cool, it became funny. There are other scenes too, I think the editing is not done well in many parts of the drama.