Zoe
The second half of the show, is a little more angsty. The last few episodes really pack a punch of emotion and story telling. I loved how convincing it was that the characters were really older.
Xiaoxi – Female lead
Xiaoxi is the standard ditsy but there’s something about her that is likeable and funny compared to a lot of Chinese heroines that are whiny and immature.
I like that she is fearless when it comes to standing up for her friends.
Xiaoxi is obsessed with Jiang Chen and he mainly holds her at arm’s length but does throw her a few bones here and there that make her giddy with happiness.
But the relationship is kind of sarcastic too so it’s fun.
I liked seeing Xiaoxi grow up.
“I’m not a young girl anymore so I don’t want to show my excessive passion to such a cold person.”
JiaoXing
“You’re my buddy indeed. You never drop away at critical moments.”
I liked Jiaoxing for being beautiful, smart and fierce. We need at least one main female lead to be smart!
Jiaoxing: Make a phone call
Lu Yang: What?
Jiaoxing: Call.
Lu Yang: To whom?
Jiaoxing: Jiang Chen or Wu Bosong. Call them to see her.
Jiang Chen
To start with, Jiang Chen is not too stiff – which I appreciate. He can smile and act like a normal student. He also has a hilarious WTF facial expression when something weird happens which is often. He also happily cares for Xiaoxi and thinks she’s adorable. They are part of the same circle of friends which kind of makes her obsession of him a bit strange.
His relationship with his brother is super cute. His brother is tiny and Jiang Chen treats him just like a peer. His honest conversations about Xiaoxi in the form of dog analogies cracked me up. He is quite petty when it comes to sharing Xiaoxi’s affection with anyone else. Despite his indifference he’s possessive of her.
“Watch the car.” - [pulls on Xiaoxi away from Wu Bosong]
“Where is the car?”
I suppose he likes her attention but he doesn’t know how to handle her and he takes it for granted. The first time that Xiaoxi ignores him he’s so surprised he calls out after her.
He definitely does things just to annoy her but then there are also times that he is genuinely concerned about her and wants to make her feel better. Just when you think they are moments of slight consideration, there comes a situation where there is no reason that Jiang Chen should do something and he does it. I loved how the show demonstrated for us Jiang Chen’s instincts to bring about Xiaoxi’s happiness. It’s also fun to see how affected Jiang Chen is when it comes to Xiaoxi the way his eyes widen when he realises how he’s reacting.
“You won’t go? For Xiaoxi?”
“I want to be a doctor, and also be with her.”
Romance
“Will you write in my graduation album?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Only people apart from each other do that.”
I find it a really interesting dynamic the way Xiaoxi idolises Jiang Chen but is also so comfortable with hanging out with him.
I like that while there are plenty of times that Xiaoxi is sneakily spying on Jiang Chen there are plenty of times when he’s doing it too.
Xiaoxi isn’t afraid to show her ugly side to Jiang Chen as well.
As the story moves along you can see Jiang Chen gets a few surprises when Xiaoxi has moments of not really caring about him. Those moments are GREAT fun.
“Then does the smell of anti-mosquito water and essential balm turn you on?”
Jiang Chen very rarely smiles with his teeth but when he does he’s smiling at Xiaoxi. He also never raises his voice unless it’s shouting her name.
“Everyone thinks that Chen Xiaoxi loves me more.”
One of my favourite lines.
Swimmer Guy
“Xiaoxi, can you see me? I’m always here.”
Sorry, this actor was not handsome enough for me.
“But, as you know, I will be extremely insecure when I see him.”
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It moves quickly and the girls switch places almost immediately. It is lovely to see the battered twin enjoy the spoiled twin’s life. The boys jump to defend her, and the girls love on her. The romance of the show seems to be heading one way in the first half but when it comes to wrapping up the story it takes a strange nosedive and it’s weird. Not so much in first male lead vs. second male lead, but on a greater scale since there are two girls involved.
Eunbi
“I’m sorry. I guess we weren’t very close.” Eunbi is so sweet! It’s cute how she finds Gong Taekwang’s antics amusing. Eunbi successfully navigated Eunbyeol’s world and mistakes. I liked seeing her successful in her kindness.
Eunbi’s easy going relationship with the boys is fun and cute. They expect her razor sharpness but she’s so gentle and sweet. I wouldn’t say that our heroine’s character is a damsel in distress, but she does know how to make use of the boys’ loyalty to her. I liked seeing her be nice to them and be genuinely happy that they liked her.
“I was very happy here. You’re one of the reasons.”
It feels good to see her accept their help instead of a heroine who pushes away people who care for her. She’s very mature in the way she is around them. She doesn’t take them and their friendship for granted. Eun Bi is so sincere with how she deals with Ian you can’t help but forgive her.
Eunbyeol
I liked how Eunbyeol’s reputation lived on and benefited Eunbi. Everyone knows what she’s like.
“Do you know what a fierce temper Eunbyeol has? No one in school can touch her.”
Eunbyeol is absolutely above Soyeong’s games and I love it.
Eunbi might try to scare people off with words but Eunbyeol plays a lot rougher than her little sis.
“Eunbi is lucky. She has a reliable older sister like you.”
It seemed a bit sad that nobody could really be close to Eunbyeol.
Taekwang
Taekwang is such a fun weirdo. He is very quick on the uptake to see that something is wrong with Eunbi and is a great defender of her when she’s still trying to work things out. It was nice to see him have a purpose even if it was being about a white knight.
“I don’t care whether you’re Eunbyeol or Eun Bi. So when you’re with me, be whoever you want.”
He is also so hilarious and awkward when it comes to romance.
Ian
Love to see a kid working hard, learning from his mistakes and minding his own business.
“We didn’t fight. It was all my fault.”
“What could Ian have done wrong to Eunbyeol? It’s always the other way round.”
Lee Pil Mo is always such a delight on the screen.
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Parents
The younger actors for the parents are just a beautiful pair with such great warmth and chemistry in their short moments. Even though the younger actor especially for the father has some very serious and harsh scenes, the actor portrays his innocence and kindness. Actually, the sincerity of the younger actor, made the older actor shine more because often the older actor didn’t show that vulnerability and heart that the younger actor did.
Hyeyeong
Favourite character! She’s so pretty and I loved her facial expressions and her responses. I even liked her voice. It’s rare to have a sophisticated heroine in Kdramaland who can hold her own and be calm and smart and sensible. LOVE HER. Her serious face when she’s being cute is so charming.
I probably relate to her the most because I’m the second born of a family of four with an older sibling who is not earning and still studying. The father dotes on Hyeyeong despite her reserved nature and it’s the same in our family.
Rayeong
I’ve often had a hard time connecting with this actress. I did appreciate her approach in romance and she and her boy are pretty darn cute and funny.
Yuji
Yuji was a pretty bad egg but she really learned how to become a sister.
Premise
I do find it hilarious how the family keeps adding to their numbers one shock after another. I loved their bonding moments as they learned to live together and accept each other.
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The secondary characters are suitably quirky and warm as well. They served their role to entertain and not bore the hell out of me.
There are so many layers to this show and so many layers to the characters – I appreciated the slow reveal of the storyline and what happened between the people involved.
The music also gets a tick from me. It used some very unusual soundtracks. A lot of English! My favourite is Satellite.
Go Pyung Kyo
This actor is wonderful in his character portrayal. He completely stole the show.
He is so cute! My sister described him as a “smol bean” - a character that despite being big and tall, always evokes feelings of pity or adorableness.
Jeon Seol
Heroine starts off stereotypically bubbly and dense. Her past character is quite marvelous, but again, takes a while to warm to. She is really nothing special in terms of protagonists. The way she cleans up the end is impressive. That’s definitely the stand out point for me.
Han Se Ju
Yoo Ah In’s portrayal of the arrogant male, is perfectly eccentric. It has a different spin to it that is charismatic and appealing. He is consistently calm in the face of enemies and super zen about people attacking him. He is also quick to figure out the bad guys’ schemes. You can’t fool him!
His development as his past self, Hui Young – is quite tasteful as well. He seems very cool, on top of the game and strategic, in the past.
Romance
Present day romance is really built on the romance from the past. That’s what sold it for me.
Also, despite being too little too late, this show has one of the best “I love you” scenes. Really beautiful and heart breaking.
If I think about the ending too much, I’ll probably lose it.
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A common theme is that despite the stiffness and coldness of the characters when they find someone that they are comfortable with they act quite silly and I found it very cute.
Plot-wise, the start of the drama is heavy with conflict and twists and turns. I thought we would be in for more of that as the story went on, but the big guns of trouble that were brewing on the horizon ended up to be nothing. I’m glad that it wasn’t all heavy going all the way.
Towards the end anything that happens results in Wei Young being accused and dragged before the court – it seriously got so repetitive that I just had to laugh.
I’m not one to notice fancy scenery and filming but this show is really such a nice thing to look at. It makes mundane moments tantalising. I usually struggle to connect with Chinese over the top filming, but this show really captured some amazing shots and feelings with their thoughtful production and directing.
Servants
I was impressed with the servant’s immediate loyalty and sense of duty.
Heroine
Our heroine is indeed quick witted. The reviews did not overestimate her. She knows how to get her way very nicely amidst the bad guys wielding their power.
I appreciated her familiar way of treating those who favoured her. She teased them and fooled around with them all the time.
Tuoba Jun
“Destiny? I only believe in a man’s will.”
Sometimes Tuoba Jun says the right thing with the right smirk.
“How can there be disappointment when there was no hope to begin with?”
This actor is probably one of the few that looks better in historical Chinese hairstyle than a modern one.
Prince of Nan-An
This guy does not make good first impressions. But as the story goes on, I quite liked his subtle machinations and the way he played the others. The actor has a good way of playing his character to stand out yet be very secretive too. He has a number of lines that are really meaningful and his delivery is very nuanced. As it goes along, he becomes a standard villain type, but he had some really great moments earleir on.
Secondary Romances
Li Min De and Tuoba Di are very skippable initially – but as they go on, I appreciate their mature take on love. They are both emotionally impressive and sacrificing for the sake of their respective unrequited loves.
“We are both so silly.”
Jun Tao and Cheng De were mostly slapstick.
“You’re womanly. Very womanly.”
Korean vs. Chinese Drama
The make up on the Chinese actors as well as their hair is so caked on it seems fake and it really annoys me.
Romance. I have found that Chinese dramas like to have an extended rocky/cold relationship and then when it’s solid it’s so picture perfect solid it seems unrealistic.
I appreciated how they kept coming back to the zither as a focal point of their romance. As a musician I found it very touching indeed.
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The show makes fun of Mijo’s immortality, her age and the fact that she doesn’t really feel pain.
Mijo
Our heroine enjoys old lady hobbies.
She works as a love consultant and she’s good at what she does. She understands men and she likes to pull historical anecdotes from the centuries she’s lived through.
I wouldn’t say she’s mature, but she does have a noona feel to her. She has a way of being confrontational and comfortable with it that I liked.
She keeps lots of ancient treasures with her that all have a story.
Her unpredictable nature is a highlight of the show.
Jun Nu
Jun Nu is a standard kind of guy but the way he responds to Mijo is really lovely.
Jason
This is the second time I’ve seen this dude play opposite Kang Seung Yoon. I enjoyed the twist in Jason’s character.
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It’s a show where all the characters go out of their way to be unfriendly. So when they are even mildly civil, it’s such a great improvement that the rest of the cast are shocked.
“You didn’t hang up. I thought you would.”
Kwang Ho
Choi Jin Hyuk as our hero is a good character to portray the rough and read 80s cop who has straight values.
Sun Jae
Sun Jae is the most hostile out of the lot of them but he gravitates towards Professor Shin because she is just as isolating as he is.
Professor Shin
Professor Shin is a quiet and dark individual who doesn’t have much to say unless it’s important. Then she spits it out and shuts up again.
“I thought I’d handle it well no matter what happens.”
The show demonstrates how despite her experience and dark nature, she is human and the actress portrays her quiet vulnerability with underlying strength.
Sung Shik
I found it very cute that the chief used to be Kwang Ho’s maknae and they resume that same relationship 30 years into the future despite Sung Shik obviously being older than Kwang Ho now in the present.
Yeon Sook
Kwang Ho’s wife is a dignified and composed cop’s wife. She is beautiful and gentle. The actress does a wonderful job of smiling at Choi Jin Hyuk like she is so freakin’ proud of him and thinks he’s the greatest thing alive.
The last couple of episodes really lose the plot with originally smart characters fumbling around just to fill the episodes. But the ending of the ending is filled with all the feelings. I loved it.
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“Wow. You must be a great pianist.”
“Not all mechanics are good at driving.”
Slow moving and sweet.
The drama has gentle story telling and gentle characters.
It has a nice and different feel for a Korean show. If you skip past the credits at the end you’ll see another touching scene.
I've only seen Han Jimin in Rooftop Prince and her personality in this show reminded me of her character in the historical setting in that one. I was impressed with how she moved her eyes.
I haven't seen Park Hyung Shik in anything but he was rather cute in this.
My favourite parts are probably when they're trying to find each other.
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This review may contain spoilers
“You came out of your mother’s tummy shouting, ‘I’m a feminist, didn’t you?’”The premise has needless drama but the characters manage to get through it with most of their dignity and autonomy intact.
I was especially worried for our heroine, but she is a survivor and she thrives in whatever environment she is in. It’s been a while since I’ve visited melodrama land and it’s been a while since I’ve been this upset over a show. Why won’t they do what I want them to do?
The best thing about this show is that no matter what is happening the show demonstrates the strength of the characters. It’ll pull up ridiculous scenarios just so we can feel happy about our protagonists.
Mothers
The mothers are pretty standard but about halfway I started getting interested in their relationships with the people in their lives.
What is really great is that the annoying mother-in-law is more of an object of pity because everyone loves the daughter in law so much.
Cheon Ho Jin can’t be matched when it comes to playing a nice elder. His gentle warmth for Seoyoung’s husband was so touching. “That rich family son is affectionate and has a good heart.” He plays Park Hae Jin’s father and the pair have such a nice chemistry.
Seoyoung – female lead
Lee Bo Young’s no-nonsense delivery does the trick. She plays a heroine that is calm and confident. There’s no needless bashing of her identity and person. She is well liked and competent.
Ujae – male lead
In terms of life, Ujae is pretty useless. He’s entitled and spoiled. He becomes wonderfully mature as the drama goes on – being a true older brother to his siblings and sharing his mistakes of the past as life lessons. “Don’t turn this into the same mess I did in the past.”
He doesn’t seem to have any hobbies or work, he doesn’t really get along with anyone in his family or in the drama. But he’s very good at realising his mistakes when he meets Seoyoung.
Romance
Ujae describes Seoyoung as, “Nice and tough.”
The pair get much better as the drama goes on. It is distinctly uncomfortable for the first 10 episodes or so.
Siblings
Park Hae Jin and Lee Bo Young as siblings is cute. They are both academically smart and work hard. I love how they get along.
Sang Woo
Park Hae Jin is so freakin’ good looking in this drama. He at first seems standoffish with potential love interests but he’s actually really kind to them. Throughout the drama he is self-righteous and a key catalyst for causing people around him distress because he needs to protect people in his own way.
“If you can love me like this, I don’t think I’ll find anyone else that’ll love me as much as you do.”
Sang Woo really is who he says he is. If he’s made up his mind to be happy with his decision he will be. He’s simple when it comes to his values and his values will keep his well being secure.
“I consider marriage like meeting a new friend you’ll have forever.”
I respect him because he shows that love is a choice.
Hojeong
Hojeong is such a pain. But I saw some spoilers about her though so I had to like her. And you can see that she makes efforts to improve herself and her personality. The way she wards off her blind dates by dressing up is funny.
She and her step brother are cute. Hojeong is a good example of how this show has these upright, stiff males that have a totally different side to them when it comes to the women in their life.
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Let me get this out of the way first. Nobody growing up in Korea would think that a marriage of convenience would ever be the simple answer to life’s problems. With all these family obligations, societal expectations and unspoken rules, it’s ridiculous to imagine so. There are so many great things about this drama that are so different. No one pays attention to the CEO. The feminine representations are the best. The chirpy office girl is so sardonic. The women treat each other with respect.
Ji Ho – female lead
Ji Ho is a wonderful Kdrama heroine. She has this beautiful inner strength and the ability to laugh at herself and own up to her crazy actions. She actually runs very hot and cold like a Korean male hero. Towards the end of the drama she really has gender role reversals and is totally tough.
Se Hee
“Do you know how much stress people like you give me?”
Se Hee’s honesty is beautiful. I also love the way his preserves Ji Ho’s autonomy.
The cat is a major focus in Se Hee’s life. It’s so adorable. Yes, Se Hee is introverted, but he still is highly aware of other people’s perspectives and feelings.
Romance
“Something that’s not simple just started.”
It’s such a great start to a relationship that Se Hee likes everything about Ji Ho. He’s not looking down on her for those usual reasons of messiness, clumsiness, chattiness, etc. He’s not annoyed by her at all.
“If you have some time, would you marry me?”
“I noticed you washed the instant noodle bowl.”
“Yes, it’s a habit.”
“You have a really good habit.”
These two are an amazing couple. They are so normal. I love the way the pair meet through a series of texts and notes. I was concerned about what would happen when the truth came out, but they both dealt with it maturely without the ridiculous high drama that I predicted would ensue.
I appreciated the approach that they first found themselves to be so compatible and the relationship developed from there instead of this opposites attract sort of premise that is so rampant.
They have a great positivity in their relationship. Se Hee is so polite to Ji Ho.
Se Hee’s way of falling in love is too cute. He is such a reserved character, but the drama shows all the little ways that he is falling in love. Actually, when he talks to other people about Ji Ho, you can really see how much he cares about her and how much he notices about her.
I love the way they start really looking at each other. For me, that was the sweetest moment when they’d bump into each other somewhere, do an awkward bow and just look at each other as if they’re savouring the happiness and looking at their love’s face.
I thought the ending would go the standard route of miscommunication and missed opportunities. But the drama does well to surprise us with what each character actually knows.
While normally I wouldn’t encourage emotional whiplash from either gender, I feel a bit satisfied seeing the heroine get to play the strategic hero when it comes to romance while the hero flops around helplessly. It’s a bit of a different angle too, that throughout the show the hero is flawlessly considerate and he needs to pull out some selfish sentences so the heroine understands he actually has feelings.
Work
“We are not family. Let’s get paid properly.” I love this slogan haha.
The drama portrays different work environments from Ho Rang’s restaurant to Soo Ji’s corporate world.
Family
Ji Ho’s mother is really a great dynamic to the show. I enjoyed her unpredictable interactions with people and she has a most meaningful conversation with Se Hee. Considering her relationship with her husband, it was wonderful to hear Se Hee’s point of view of how he won’t be lording over his wife.
Ji Ho’s sister in law is quite nice. I was glad she was also normal, wanting to be on good terms with Ji Ho.
Friends
Ji Ho’s friends are great. They are both actresses that I’m familiar with from shows that made a big impact on me. They are multi-dimensional women. I always feel so happy to see a cheery slightly ditzy character in a managerial position.
Ho Rang
She’s a pretty average girl. Who knew a sofa could be the cause of so much drama and miscommunication.
Soo Ji
I first saw Esom in White Christmas where obviously she seemed so small next to all the male models that starred in that show. She is an amazing character in this show with so many hidden layers. She’s snarky, but also motherly. She has an active sex life but doesn’t flaunt it and yet continually gets discriminated and harassed at work for her gender. The drama demonstrates this so strongly but not in an in your face harsh manner. I liked seeing Soo Ji still living life despite being so submissive at work. I wasn’t sure if I would like her love line but really Mr. Ma is so cute with her. I agree with his assessment of her.
“You look like a baby when you smile. But you look scary in general.”
Mr. Ma
“I’m a bit scared to be scolded by you twice in one day. Gosh, Soo Ji is the scariest in the world!”
Mr. Ma has a unique way of using his voice in different scenarios that makes his character really come alive.
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Jin Myung
I love that she’s this same, unflappable calm older sister. She’s so sensible. And she doesn’t smile unless necessary.
Ye Eun
The best moment for me was when Jang Hoon talked to her so kindly not knowing she was the one with the past. And it was so good for her to see that there are some guys who are decent human beings and want to do the right thing. Her mother is really hard on her and I found it intriguing that someone so cheery and open would have such an oppressive mother.
Eun Jae
This character continues to be super boring and annoying. She’s petty and shallow.
Ji Won
I love Ji Won even though her character in this seems even more painful than before. She says whatever comes into her brain without any filter. She totally stole the show towards the end of the drama. I really enjoyed her time on the screen. She seems to have got more pretty and more showy. And the actress portrays her vulnerability so well.
No matter how she plagues her friend, Sung Min, their friendship is beyond resilient. And we see the cracks in Sung Min’s feelings towards her. You can see when he opens his expression to her, looking hopeful that she might be about to say something romantic to him. So incredibly sad.
“If anything happens to you...[wait for it]... I’ll have to go home by bus.”
Jo Eun
It was subtle how the drama showed us that Jo Eun was warming up to her house mates. At first she really looked like she had no interest in them whatsoever beyond her mission, but then the drama shows her talking about them so much to her friend. And she starts to smile as she talks about them/to them, which is the first time we see her smiling at all.
“It’s better to be alone than laughed at.”
“Troublesome midget.”
“Still better than excessively tall.”
Jo Eun’s height is almost an awkward thing. But it’s so cute to see how small everyone is compared to her, especially Yoon Sunbae who is such a boss but still has to physically look up to Jo Eun.
Jung Hoon
I loved how much on screen time Jung Hoon got. He’s a great, mature character and a perfect fit for a house full of girls. He reminded me of a friendly ahjussi always fixing something out on the lawn as the girls would walk by.
Heimdall
Jin Kwang was pretty boring but he did say this great line. “We’ll wash the dishes. That’s for us men to do.”
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Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
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Despite all the nature vs. nurture psychobabble, this drama doesn’t really address it that much. I think they used the theme to knit it together but it didn’t quite gel for me.
I’ve been meaning to watch this one for ages.
To start with, there’s a long list of suspects that appear to have the potential to be a crazy killer. We’ve got a bullying sociopath, giggly rockstar, victimised nerd, a silent mathematician, etc. I enjoyed the characterization of each personality.
The history of how each character relates to another is all slowly revealed. Why does this one hate that one? There are some really complicated relationships.
“Why didn’t I ever confess? The Eun Sung that I like the best is the Eun Sung that’s with you.”
Yoon Su – the muso
“It’s OK. It’s my fault for being born into a rich family.”
Moo Yul – the obedient one
Moo Yul is the guy you need in a crisis.
“Besides, Park Moo Yul is there. He’ll take care of it.”
Yep, for some reason Moo Yul has this magic about him that makes the toughest bullies and the most stand-offish characters listen to him. They respect him – they know he’s fair. He has to break up so many fights the poor guy.
He’s a really average kind of dude. Smaller than the others, 2nd place in the academic ranking and motherless. He has his own grievances against his classmates that seem slight, but it turns out there’s something more. Of course there is.
Jae Kyu – the follower
I found it funny that this guy is just like Moo Yul 2nd. I was just glad to have him around so Moo Yul wasn’t alone. In a world of loners having an ally really helped double the power of rationality. I found Jae Kyu’s presence comforting.
Chi Hoon – the genius
We don’t see much of this guy, but he comes in and out at key points to make a good point or ask the important questions. He actually becomes really important and his quiet reliability was on point. I loved how he always supported Moo Yul and those intense stares when they needed to communicate without words was great.
Despite them all keeping their distance from each other like typical study-holic students they still have some sense of camaraderie.
There’s an unusually limited use of music. We get heaps of silence at critical moments.
Musical complaint: or maybe a translation complaint? Kang Mo said he was playing the cow bells in school but the flashback clearly shows him playing hand bells.
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Both the main characters are new to living life like ordinary people.
I enjoyed aspects of this drama that I usually wouldn’t highlight (sad times, separations, secondary characters). In comparison, I didn’t enjoy the usual factors such as bromance, romance and family in this drama. Louis’ shopping talent entertained me and Bok Shil’s simple personality also made me smile. I wasn’t interested in the main couple all that much, but was more keen on the overarching story. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns of the story. I found the secondary characters (Ms. Heo, Mr. Kim, the office workers and even the mothers!) worthwhile and was interested in the bad guy schemes and machinations. The good thing about this show is that it wraps up each character and each concept neatly so it feels the drama comes full circle. A lot of this show is really natural. Things actually make sense.
Seo In Guk
Louis is a spoiled but a trapped character. And more so that the usual obligations of a male heir. He obviously compensates for his lack of living with shopping. He’s sad, he’s like an object that he buys. I liked the parallel. He doesn’t have a rebellious personality.
“I can’t make grandma sad.”
He just had no opportunity to mature with everyone spoon feeding him.
“Why does my grandma keep me locked in?”
“It’s because you’re precious.”
Louis lives in France so I’m glad he keeps talking in a spattering of English, French and Korean.
He reminded me of a puppy. His scared whimpers is particularly hilarious.
Bok Shil
This character gets a gold star for never being fazed. She is probably one of the few heroines that doesn’t make a fuss about skinship.
She’s also a wonderfully tragic actress. Her brother was a brat but her love and sorrow for him had me in tears.
Romance
“Why are you so timid?”
“I’m afraid of being alone.”
Oh my gosh. These two are hilarious and cute and dynamic. They’re funny because they are both so over the top at simple pleasures such as the sauna and the market. The best thing about this couple is they’re not shy about skinship. They’re snuggly and cuddly as friends. The couple really excels in doing romantic things without drama. They’re so comfortable with each other whether it be dancing, or holding hands, piggyback rides, or any close proximity. They’re not awkward at all and just smile at each other brightly like the whole world is awesome. Their first kiss was the best.
“I love it here.”
“Me too.”
It’s refreshing to have an innocent hero.
The pair have a simple trusting friendship that is straightforward and honest. It gives the show a lovely vibe without any contrived fights.
“It feels awesome to have someone on my side.”
BONUS: Their kisses were very mutual.
Cha Joong Won – second male lead
Despite his peacock tendencies, Joong Won is a decent person.
As the drama goes on, you can see how he doesn’t put people into a box and how if someone has the audacity to ask him for a favour, he’ll do it. It was amazing to see as much as he hated Louis’ sense of entitlement he also understood it so perfectly.
“Louis lived apart from his family for a long time, so he needs love and care more than average people. Treat him well.”
My favourite thing was how all the other characters made fun of him by imitating his throat clearing habit.
Ma Ri
“You’re the Mother Theresa of Goldline.”
Ma Ri's suffering at the hands of In Sung was funny for me too the way she was so freaked out by him but kept hanging around him.
Ms. Heo
This lady that I only knew from the gentle character in Reply 1988 is actually a really great personality in this show. So much fun! I probably only liked her because she was the sweet Sun Young and I find it hilarious to see her being called Ms. Double Axe in this drama. The flashback to when she was young is perfect and really shows how Grandmother Choi is such a great person that can see past people’s outer layers.
Mothers
I appreciated the silly spin on the mother’s perspectives of how they viewed people.
“You should also get a nickname so we can hang out.”
The mothers’ schemes in this one were more innocent and funny rather than evil mean-spirited. They are not set in their ways. The drama also showed their relationship with their respective husbands and it felt more real and meaningful that most other dramas I’ve seen.
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All the families are in and out of each other’s homes all the time. They borrow each others stuff and shared each others food. Surprisingly, they are a close knit community with few dramas between them. The drama demonstrates how everyone loves in their own unique way – in true Asian style of more actions than words. I really appreciated all the family love in this drama. This story is so relateable from the family fights to the stereotypical treatment of certain personalities. There’s Jung Hwan’s older brother Jung Bong who fails exams after exams. Yet he knows lots of things and is useless, harmless and pathetic. Also, after seeing this, I think my parents are still stuck in the 80s.
I really disliked the flash forwards to present Duk Seon and her husband. He was mean and they weren’t sweet with each other. They were just annoying and antagonistic and it made me sad.
Of the five friends, Sun Woo is the nice one, Jung Hwan is the scary one, Duk Seon is the girl, Taek is the quiet one and Ryon Dong is the troublemaker. The five of them together are really so precious when the meaningful moments of life come along to test them. There’s a satisfaction that even though it looks like they hardly get along they are the five because they are the five. And they have a sense of identity and belonging with being together as friends. Also, I find it hilarious how they spend so much time reading together. It’s the equivalent of everyone being on their phones all the time. They are also really free to discuss the things that the adults try to avoid. They’re so direct when it comes to facing each individuals’ life circumstances. It was strange to me though how they could all get along in a group and have fun but when it came to one on one interactions it was very different.
As the show goes on you get to appreciate the dynamics and the relationships. I really came to love the mothers talk time and how they complained and compared their lives haha. Their personalities are so strong and honest.
“I’m fine with someone with no money, but I’m not fine with someone who’s no fun.”
“What about my husband then?”
“No thanks. You can keep him.”
The fathers are so different from each other. Taek’s father is the most normal. The other fathers are more caricatures. The show demonstrates how dysfunctional can be functional. While the women might complain about their men and vice versa, they feel that they can’t live without the others’ quirks.
“No matter how much better others’ things may seem, they all have their faults.”
Sun Woo
This guy is sooo nice. Nice to his mother, sister, friends, and everybody. My favourite thing about him is that he tells his friends that he is playing with his sister as a legit reason that he can’t accompany them somewhere or do something with them.
Duk Seon
This girl is pretty typical.
Bo Ra
Bo Ra is the sister from hell. It was funny how even the adults were scared of her. And she has no manners for anyone. As the show goes on she is really quite a funny character. She gives advice to the neighbourhood kids that is wise beyond her years.
Jung Hwan
Jung Hwan’s story had a big focus on his parents. He started off being a typical teen and being all self-focused. But he had to realise that he needed to give back emotionally to both his father and his mother in a different way. It was such a mature and family-oriented take, I loved it. He also is nice to his brother and never judges him and his lifestyle choices. He supports his brother’s varying interests.
One of my favourite things about Jung Hwan’s character is that he braves through the awkwardness to show his loved ones his affection for them. He’s definitely an action man over words but he’s not a Daddy Long Legs. He owns up to his love.
Taek
“You can mess with anyone else but not with our Taek. Taek is our block’s greatest treasure. We have to protect him.”
Come on guys, it’s Park Bo Gum. I still can’t get over how unreal his face is. He is so freakin’ pretty. Taek is a cute little fella who is only good at being a genius and nothing much else. He doesn’t talk much, do much, or think much. He struggles in everyday life so people are quick to take over and do things for him.
“If someone doesn’t take care of him, he’s a like a corpse in his room.”
He’s a big baby but he’s also got a bigger income than anyone so it’s a fun setup.
Because he is played by the ever enticing Park Bo Gum – he gets away with some behaviour that I would’ve found unacceptable and dull on another actor. Taek is often half asleep.
Jin Joo
I love this little actress! Her character is portrayed so well as the docile personality of a child who has grown up with too many adults in her life. She is dutifully friendly, easily entertained by herself through media, and passed from adult to adult but still has her favourites. I didn’t like her at all when she grows up.
Romance
The main thing about this show’s romance is that it is tinged with sadness. Either because there is unrequited love somewhere or because everyone is so hush hush about it.
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“And I have taken the bait.”
“So frank?”
“It’s a fact.”
I loved this show. But by the time the end of the drama came, I was a bit disappointed with the characters. Still, watch it for the amazing make out scenes. *swooooon
You know that it’s ridiculous when you’re more interested in the parents than the main romance. Both the lead actors are very charismatic and easy to watch on screen. They make everything interesting. It’s been a while since I really rooted for the main couple instead of just blindly accepting that they are meant to be.
They are both similar in character with the way they get what they want and manipulate people. It’s hard to tell whether their interactions with each other are sincere or not. Even they are confused.
I actually enjoyed all the ridiculous scheming and how the major schemers were getting lost with how many schemes are going on.
I’m surprised at how entertained I was by Hao Meng’s scenes with his clients.
Huan Zhen
This character plays her devious role to perfection. She’s the perfect bad guy and she knows how to get revenge. There are little things about her character that are satisfying. Like how she doesn’t mind sending Hao Meng pictures of her sleep hair. I like that even though she is a crazy bitch, it’s not because she doesn’t have good parents or she had a bad life.
I like the way she is so cool. She doesn’t freak out at blood and she can happily offer her services to the police as bait to catch a criminal.
Huan Zhe is a complex character. She can easily change the direction of a conversation and you can see how she will stop in her tracks and decide to go with a different reaction.
She is never clueless. I was surprised at how many times she reveals what she knows.
Sheng Nan – second female lead
I like that Sheng Nan is not just a cardboard character. I enjoyed her relationship with her brother and her parents’ silent war. It made her story much more meaningful. I felt sorry for her getting caught in the middle. She’s very dutiful in her role though.
It’s probably really mean of me, but she really is no match for Huan Zhen. Sheng Nan just rolls with the fact that she is in Huan Zhen’s shadow. To top it off, when Huan Zhen is in danger, Sheng Nan steps up to the plate readily.
I like the proximity of the enemies with Sheng Nan’s brother being caught in the middle.
Hao Meng – male lead
This actor has a beautifully expressive face. And I loved seeing his expression when he was moved by something. The funny thing about him is that he has such a chiseled look but when he smiles it’s so freakin’ cute. Sometimes, the cuteness doesn’t even seem to fit the situation especially when he’s trying to be masculine. He’s too freakin’ cute.
I liked seeing how conflicted Hao Meng was about Huan Zhen especially after being warned so thoroughly by his sister. His loyalty to his sister is great and so is his fascination with Huan Zhen. He is hilariously clandestine about his new budding romance with her and hides it from everyone like he is committing a crime. The show did well with showing his interest in her had affected his life so completely.
“When she cries I am even more upset than her.”
Romance
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a couple with this much sizzling sexual tension.
It’s funny seeing Hao Meng dislike himself for loving the morally ambiguous Huan Zhen.
Friend - “This girl has serious problems.”
Hao Meng- “How come it feels like I have a problem?”
This pair were more sinister than undercover agents the way they danced around each other. They say all the right things to each other when they are completing bullshitting. It’s funny because they are so busy keeping in mind what’s going on in the other’s mind, they appear to be so selfless.
The show really ramps up the flirting. And the two main characters do flirting so well.
I was impressed that as far as Hao Meng will push her Huan Zhen will push right back even when it come to her modesty. It’s really bizarre having him be so fake nice to her when it really is an enemies-to-lovers vibe.
I really liked that despite them being dishonest with each other, they way they try and trip each other up, is actually very revealing of their personalities and I feel like they really got to know each other despite all the deception.
Despite the cheesiness of it, I love that she could overcome his insomnia.
Friendship
I really like that the girls are so awesome when they patch it up.
Siblings
Sheng Nan and Justin are pretty funny together. They have good chemistry as siblings. I liked the way they interacted and the way they looked at each other, with such meaning and intent like they could read each other’s minds.
I love that he draws the boundaries with her and his relationship with Huan Zhen. But even while they are arguing, he makes her a sandwich. So cute!
Parents
Huan Zhe’s parents are cool. Her relationship with them is good and she’s particularly cute with her mother. I like that her dad can talk to her about meaningful things too.
Hao Meng’s dad is cool. But too cool for the family.
The show makes a point to contrast Huan Zhen’s simple and happy parents and Hao Meng’s argumentative, stressed parents. Huan Zhen’s mother is girlishly still in love with her husband.
I liked Hao Meng’s relationship with his mother and how the drama really fleshed it out. It felt more real than the usual mother idolising her precious only son. The show allowed Hao Meng to understand her viewpoint. He’s already really considerate of her, but this show took it to another level.
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