atleeing

Perfect RomCom

Summary: At a comfortable 25 episodes, this is by far thee BEST romcom I've seen and will definitely watch again to catch any details I previously missed. I wish there was more story to watch! Following the standard formula of romantic interest > misunderstanding > confession > plot twist > clarifying love, this series packs some heavy one-two punches (also in the show) of both butterfly-inducing and laugh out loud scenes! There's also some heartbreaking scenes as well. That's why I consider Hidden Love (2023) a perfect romcom. NOTE: make sure to stick around (rather than skipping ahead) after the photo collages to see the outtakes relaying more details about an episode; not sure why the filmmakers produced it that way but it works. The soundtrack is also great.

Details: The interactions and situations between the two leads are sooo kě'ài de! I enjoyed watching both grow and evolve into an equal partnership rather than a mentor/mentee relationship, as they struggle through awkward moments and finally reveal their secrets to each other. It was funny to see the confident and caring Duan Jia Xu tease Sang Zhi through her insecure moments and heart-melting to see how courageous and determined she was in caring for him through his hardships. Both actors are great at expressing the really heartbreaking moments of the show. I also like that there weren't strong triangle situations, which can be annoying (sorry if you're into that).

But what's even more entertaining are the interactions of the leads with the brother, Sang Yan, who's also my favorite character in the show. He is HILARIOUS. I'll never look at the word "gēgē" the same again (hint: it's used like "oppa" in Korean culture). XD XD XD For some reason, I kept wanting Sang Yan and Yu Xin to get together with both their feisty personalities.

One thing I was a bit concerned about is so much focus on the child version of Sang Zhi crushing over the adult Duan Jia Xu. I mean no lines were crossed but there didn't need to be so much backstory on that, only the teenager to adult years. The filmmakers also spent way too much attention on the professional details at Duan Jia Xu's work, not sure what valued that added to the storyline.

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Best 105 minutes!

Summary: Love, love, love it! I want more! Never a dull moment from the beginning. Lee Sun Bin and Kim Young Kwang are amazing in this movie. Yes, it’s a short and sweet “movie,” an action comedy packed with lots of both Chinese and Korean dialogue and misunderstandings, and a nod to Red Velvet. Lol. I was trying to find the soundtrack for this but it seems difficult. The sequel is also equally difficult to find. I liked that they threw some Cliffs Notes as well about Korean politics and laws on firearms, accidentally educational. Lol. High on the re-watch list for me. :)

Details: At first, I was cringing so much with how incompetent Woo Su Han seemed to be as a private detective but it was great to see him and Yoo Da Hee shine, as they were haphazardly and hilariously using their wits to chase down bad guys. I was impressed by the fast-paced and sometimes funny fight scenes.

I do wish there was more of a love story and feel they spent too much time on a supporting character scene at the end that could have been used for the romance portion. I also wish there was more development with the leads’ backstories. Aside from those thoughts, I can’t believe they packed that much action, informative dialogue, and plot development into the less than two hours of movie! Great use of my spare 105 minutes. ^_^

The ending was a little strange with some loose ends but perhaps it was meant to lead to a sequel, which has yet to be released by now (in 2025). Lee Sun Bin already move on to another great drama in The Potato Lab (which is unfortunately a long drawn out show). How do we get a sequel out of Mission Possible, people??

Side Notes:
- What exactly happened in Woo Su Han’s past that got him dishonorably discharged from his special unit?
- What is Yoo Da Hee’s background to make her so resilient and powerful against opponents?
- Why couldn’t anyone find the missing special agent that was supposed to support Yoo Da Hee?
- Who is the Russian informant and why are they significant to the story?

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I Hate You But Really Love You?

Summary (emotionally intense): This series was unexpectedly lovable and tear-jerking. The witty banter between the two leads and the heart-breaking difficulties traversed by various characters made this quirky romcom work so well. I laughed loudly and cried quietly. I cried so much that I could have measured those tears in a beaker. Lol. I loved the cinematic transitions between scenes. The soundtrack was somewhat different with a jazzy feel to it.

I also loved the creative product advertisements, not blatant like some other dramas. “If only there was a catalyst like this (Chilsung Cider Zero) for you and Seok-ryu… Things would feel refreshing, crisp, and clean.” And how Choi Seung-hyo was loving his bowl of Yangban BIBIMedBAP made me want to try it too! I mean it even comes with its own spoon. XD “[This Eggdrop sandwich] is so good. How do they make this?”

Even though I loved this drama, I probably won’t rewatch it because it was emotionally exhausting for me, particularly the back and forth of whether there was a romance or not between the leads. Or any of the other characters, for that matter.

Details: The interactions between Choi Seung-hyo and Bae Seok-ryu were quite unexpected and the way the storyline unfolded was VERY unexpected. I came in with a certain set of opinions/emotions and that totally changed by the end of the show.

For example, I kind of hated Bae Seok-ryu’s umma in the beginning. Even AFTER all the revelations about herself she learned through her family and friends, she still pressured her daughter to do things that Seok-ryu didn’t want to do. Why do Asian parents think it’s more helpful to berate their young in order to inspire them? Lol. And EVEN AFTER her parents found out her dark secret, they still wouldn’t let her follow her dreams. Are you kidding me? (hair-pulling time) It runs deep in the blood… But all the characters grew on me over the course of the series. The drunken photo lesson was hilarious!

Though I liked that the filmmakers spent time to develop character backstories (or front stories), they could have easily ended the series at Episode 11, honestly. But it was nice that there was full development for most of the characters, particularly for Bae Seok-ryu’s family in a coming-of-age fashion. In the end, I was just straight up annoyed at some characters for always going back and forth on their love that I just wanted the show to be over already.

Side Notes:
- Why even start a side story for some characters if you’re not going to finish it? The budding romance between Bae Dong-jin and Lee Na-yun seemed pointless, as it didn’t go anywhere in the end.
- It was refreshing to see a male lead not always sporting the currently insatiable curtain hair style. 🤢 The other show I’ve seen a ML without the curtain was Touch Your Heart and stuff from the 2010s period. It’s one thing when a few people have it but it’s annoying when it’s like almost every show nowadays. Don’t get me started on the hair craze from Boys Over Flowers. Lol

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Surprisingly Sweet

Summary: Although I was a bit hesitant to watch a Korean drama with another domineering and self-important male lead, I gave this a try anyway and was pleasantly surprised. The interaction between the two leads were so sweet and it was nice that there was very little misunderstanding nor mistrust between the two (unlike usual romcoms). I do wish there was more development of characters’ backstories, relationships, and the general storyline rather than lonnnggg, dragged out staring, kissing, travel scenery, and tourism scenes that ate up precious screen time (had to fast forward a lot), particularly dialogue between the leads that could have explained what actually led them to their love for each other. There was also a heavy focus on social disparities (including bullying, bribery, lack of boundaries, etc.) among senior and junior colleagues, addressing Korea’s excessive work culture, which I found interesting and sad at the same time. Also, the amount of blatant advertising in Korean dramas lately is sickening; I mean, how many times do I need to watch someone open up a bottle of Montbest water or work a Nespresso machine or put on Paiget jewelry or spray Sauvage cologne? But I guess they need the sponsorship money to make the film. The soundtrack was solid though.

Details: Let’s start with the leads’ relationship development. While one can piece together (or imagine) what led to Gu Won and Cheon Sa-rang confessing their love at such an early point in the show, I felt it came too soon and without much dialogue (like conversations about their backgrounds or what made them who they were) to build that level of trust; there were many long scenes of them in or around water…and that was about it. I did love the bonds created between Cheon Sa-rang’s best friends and Gu Won’s crew. Cheon Sa-rang’s halmeoni and Prince Samir were probably my favorite eccentric characters, who helped push Gu Won into realizing his deep love for Cheon Sa-rang. The actress that played Gu Hwa-ran did a great job as a villain and it’s easy to hate her in the show, and I wish her character was developed a little more towards the end.

Gu Won’s smoldering stare (uhhhh @_@), which one can get lost in and I think some characters did, was mesmerizing. I was impressed by the total night and day difference between his brooding stares and cheery smiles when his character changed. He also looked a bit like a male version of one of my friends so that was a bit awkward in the beginning. Lol. One of the things I loved about Gu Won’s character is that he had some weaknesses in front of Cheon Sa-rang, like being a scaredy cat, which I thought was refreshing for a male lead.

The level of workplace social disparities shown in Asian dramas is shocking and I had not previously seen it to the extent it was conveyed in this show, which made me look up whether that was true or not. Appears it’s not far from the truth that company management and senior colleagues can often exploit their employees, forcing them to work harder, work overtime, and spend personal time outside of working hours to go drinking/dining with coworkers. The one thing I didn’t expect was Gu Won’s more compassionate perspective toward employees.

Of course, as with many Asian dramas, there’s a twist in the last episode which I thought could have come a bit sooner so that there could be more development into the ending. For example, the big decision that Cheon Sa-rang made was awesome (deviated from the usual female lead) and I would have loved to see more to that part of the story to lift up folks from a similar background. I also love how patient Gu Won was in hearing her explanation and really showed his devotion to her after that twist, which was super sweet. Would have loved to see more of their life together after a certain event. One character I do feel bad for was No Sing-sik, who could have also had a happy ending as well.

Side Notes - I had minor issues about:
- who exactly was the guy in the beginning that called him and told him he was at the wrong building; that was never transitioned or explained
- during the interview on Jeju Island, it seemed strange why Cheon Sa-rang blindly accepted but didn’t run the new set of questions by Gu Won before that embarrassing moment
- if Cheon Sa-rang was on special assignment (or request) to watch Yoon Ji-hu, why did she return so quickly to her regular job (especially if Gu Won could have bonded with his nephew a bit more)
- how none of the employees noticed Gu Won in the elevator before they gave Cheon Sa-rang the third degree about her big, embarrassing news

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Disrespect of the novel

Summary: After watching dramas between 16 and 70 episodes long, this is a very sore disappointment at a mere 6 episodes. I get that it was supposed to be a miniseries but I think it's a complete disrespect to the novel itself. I've read The Ghost Bride novel (2013) so I know the storyline and was so looking forward to watching the show. I finally even got a Netflix subscription just to watch this drama. That said, I think it's a well-made show with beautiful cinematography, wonderful costumes, fun interactions between characters, good plot twist transitions, and catchy music accompaniment. It just needs to be a few episodes longer for everything to make better sense. My lower rating reflects not the quality of the show but the authenticity to the novel.

Details: Even though it's a miniseries, I didn't like that the filmmakers mishmashed 40 chapters of the original novel into an incomplete 6 episodes. The filmmakers took situations out of sequence, changed/removed characters, and squished everything into a quick resolution of matters. I also didn't like that they spent very little time on the romance between the two leads, gave more screen time to the second male lead, and painted Er Long as a mischievous and lowly creature. There were so many important things in the novel that weren't conveyed in the show, like the what Er Lang's true identity was (read the book to find out), how much time Pan Li Lan REALLY spent in the underworld (supposed to have been possessed by an evil ghost), and all that she had to go through to grow as a person. The one refreshing thing was that Lim Tian Ching was more handsome than I imagined in the book, and it was hard to take him seriously as a scary ghost. ^_^

Had I never read the book before, I would think the show was pretty good; although, they did leave a loose end about Er Lang untied in the last episode, which I personally think could have been nixed altogether. They should have took a page from K-dramas and made this series at least 16 episodes long. Hoping the REAL SHOW/MOVIE (respecting the novel) comes out someday...

Side Note: I couldn't seem to find the English translation for "ba ko si ka li" which was subtitled as "couldn't be better" in Episode 6. Is this Malay slang? Does anyone know?

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Kicking Some Serious...

Summary: This incomplete but entertainingly fast-paced 6-episode series packs a wallop of punches (literally!) and certainly had enough material for double the episode count. I didn’t even know there were triads in Taiwan. From the spunky and strong female lead (who kicks some serious behind) to well-timed plot twists in the storyline to the cutesy chemistry between the leads to the eccentric characters, it could have been a perfect romcom had it not left audiences hanging in the last episode. I had more questions than answers at the end and speculations about the filming (thoughts below). Despite its loose ends and no Season 2 in sight, I think it's still worth the watch and even a rewatch to pick up more details.

Details: From the start of the series until the (supposed) end, there's never a dull moment. I'll never go near a river bridge again! Lol. It's almost cringe-inducing how the leads first meet and how they separate. But there were many cute moments in between that brought the two together, like sharing the same interest in things. At one point, I kind of just wanted Ni An-qi to go with the second male lead because she was betrayed so badly and it helped that Jin Yan-bin (Eddie) was so handsome and kind to her. It was surprising that An-qi was able to forgive Xu Yi-hang so easily after he betrayed her; she was too good for him and he should have cherished her when he had his chance, regardless of his reasons. But I suppose there needed to be some sort of plot twist involving heartbreak (as with many classic romcom formulas). I’ll never know what happened because the last scene of the leads is them staring into each other’s eyes.

Because the series had an abrupt ending, one can only wonder:
- was Xu Yi-hang finally willing to go public about their relationship?
- what became of the secret script?
- will Ling Yun ever get the justice she's been looking for?
- what's really going on with Eddie Kim (in sixth episode)?

Speculations about filming: Did the filmmakers simply run out of money? Did the real triad tell them to stop filming or else? Did something happen to one of the main actors? Was it because the pandemic just started in Asia at that time? It just doesn't make sense why the series couldn't continue when many others still published during that time.

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Possibly wrong title for this show...

Summary: This is one of the strangest romances I’ve watched. The movie poster and Netflix description don’t quite capture the essence of this thriller/mystery romance(?), which I thought would be like a cheesy ghost story comedy based on Episode 1’s preview of Lee Hong-jo’s encounter with Jang Shin-yu in the elevator. I almost think a different movie title like "Curse You, Curse Me" would have been more appropriate. lol. Warning that there’s dark elements of death, murder, and supernatural circumstances that can throw you off if you’re not prepared (and only sought to watch an actual romcom).

Though the show was still good with moments of sweetness and comedy and an ending with closure for the main characters, there were still some loose ends that remained untied as far as storyline and character backstories, and left me a bit disappointed. Also, the last episode dragged on a bit and ended with a location that had nothing to do with the rest of show. The not-so-subtle advertising for sponsors was also a bit awkward for me, like frequently visiting Goobne (which is not even near my area) and saying, “Mmmmm, this chicken is so good every time I come here…” Ugh.

Details: At the beginning of the movie, I felt annoyed by the male lead’s stoic manner and conceited attitude towards the female lead, saying some pretty mean things to her. The female lead’s aggressive and impolite attitude towards the male lead was also unattractive. They also didn’t look like they went together (was hoping for the second male lead) but made more sense when the storyline unraveled in the past (hint: involves period references), in which they look better together as a couple. However, the sudden change of behavior in one of the main characters was off-putting and didn’t draw me into the supposed love story between the two. I’m not a big fan of heavy color-processed hair on Asian folks (preferred the female lead with her darker, more natural looking hair) but I get if it was meant as a visual divider between different time periods.

Eventually, a lot of the characters evolved and became more thoughtful people. All the actors were great and the leads portrayed the characters’ pain so well. Towards the end, I was annoyed by the female lead’s ignorance by going into scary places alone and not telling the key people in her life about it, after they kept telling her to communicate with them. But it’s also classic dumb hero/heroine behavior in many movies/shows.

Some unanswered questions I had were:
- whether the ‘ceremonies’ conducted by the main characters really worked or not (there’s no further explanation later in the series), which makes me question their supposed ‘destiny’; the answer to that situation is KEY to what caused the sudden behavioral changes in the main characters that led to “love”
- what the significance of the supporting characters in the past was (otherwise, what’s the point of showing them other than more screen time?)
- how child Lee Hong-jo (past period) got sick and what brought her to the temple in the first place, as well as where the heck her parents were in all of that
- why the shaman lady (past period) got punished by the noble in charge (no further explanation later in the series), as it seemed like a pointless part of the storyline
- WHO really put the curse on the noble (past period); I think it was the villain but it was never explained later in the show
- why the villain had similar powers to one of the main characters, which was also never explained later in the show

For the gaping holes in this storyline, I probably would not recommend this drama to others. The acting is good but the show is better as a rainy-day, bored-out-of-mind watch, in my opinion.

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Funny but lacking some depth

Summary: (some graphic scenes) This is one of the most hilarious romcoms I’ve seen! Along with the heartwarming element (tragic family past), there were eccentric characters, excessive use of English (just because they can), and parody of Korean dramas by featuring a TV show that was nearly similar to the leads’ reality. I wish there were more than 12 episodes and felt the last one was a bit weak (especially romance wise), considering all the hype that led up to it, and felt they could have cut out some graphic portions to focus more on character development and depth of the two leads.

Details: It’s funny seeing poor Shin Ha-ri try to match wits with Kang Tae-moo as she gets entangled in ever spiraling bad situations and lies, like pretty much every heroine in these kinds of dramas. I will never look at the word “archaeopteryx” the same again. Lololol. I felt bad for but also frustrated at the female lead’s overreactions to things, like in trying to prevent certain people from recognizing her. This made for great situational comedy but got tiring after multiple scenes. Sometimes there seemed to be inconsistency in the character personalities (anxious/greedy vs. sacrificial). I think my favorite scenes were when Kang Tae-moo came to Shin Ha-ri’s rescue by helping her save face in a very awkward situation and when Shin Ha-ri comforted Kang Tae-moo through his heartbreak in a sweet, tear-jerking moment between the two.

Critiques: The filmmakers could have fleshed out more of the storyline or plot development instead of spending several minutes on kissing (or other more graphic) scenes. For example:
- the details of both leads’ pasts were explained in such a choppy way
- the one-on-one conversations between the Shin Ha-ri and Kang Tae-moo’s key relative seemed pointless since it never led to a plot twist (like misunderstanding/separation between the newly in-love leads) or even revelation in the storyline
- there was a strange body/hair gesture thing of the male lead that was never explained but just disappeared suddenly
- there were also unrealistic situations like how a character could be heavily injured in one moment and totally fine in the next, or suddenly cured from a psychological condition they’ve suffered for several years.

Those missing types of details irk me a bit. Also, I’m not sure if this is a cultural thing but I was surprised at Shin Ha-ri’s parents’ dramatic reaction to her love life, considering that she was a grown adult with her own career. My Korean spouse did confirm that that kind of reaction seems unusual or excessive.

Because there was less focus on the leads’ depth, growth, or evolution — just more lies on top of lies, the last episode seemed rushed by trying to throw in a dry plot twist leading to an uneventful conclusion that makes it difficult to attach to the characters in the end. I would have loved to see their love story brought back to the location of their workplace (and with that important relative), which was where a lot of scenes (and shaming and shenanigans) took place. Overall, I enjoyed most of this series. They definitely could have fleshed out the story into the standard 16 episodes. XD

Side Note: Kim Se Jeong bares a beautiful, striking resemblance to Kate Hudson :-0 (especially when dressed up as the character’s alter ego)

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Black Dragon doesn't mess around

Summary (tear-jerker warning): Surprisingly gwiyeoounnn! I love that the characters are slightly quirkier than in the usual Asian romcom. The female lead is strong and doesn’t take crap from anyone. The male lead is still full of himself (as most chaebols are portrayed) but in a more comical way than I’ve seen in other romcoms. There’s such upfront romance that I blushed at the end of the first episode. Lol. Most of the misunderstandings were quickly and easily resolved, and they didn’t give up on each other when it counted the most, especially Black Dragon. One of the scenes made me cry because it was so heartwarming. It was also nice that they featured a different genre of music than in the usual dramas. And for some reason, I felt like having a coffee candy after each episode (Kopiko, “’it really wakes you up”). XD I just realized at the end that they were also advertising Chokipong as well. Wow… The ending was a bit weird and disappointing but, sure, I would re-watch it.

Details: It was great seeing that Baek Su Jong didn’t let herself be bullied or looked down by anyone, as well as stand toe-to-toe with the “perfect (no mistakes)” but also clueless Ban Ju Yong. I thought it was gwiyeoun (cute) that Ban Ju Yong’s dirty little secret was so innocent (video games, books, glam rock band, etc.) when the other bachelor chaebols were using women and gambling off their parents’ money.

Throughout the movie, I just wanted to give Ban Ju Yong a big hug. Having lost my parents young, I could totally relate. But his haelmoni withheld the only thing he ever wanted or needed: to be loved and accepted by the only family member he had left in this world. I was so livid when she kept blaming Ban Ju Yong FROM CHILDHOOD for his parents’ death (he was only a kid, you freak!). It’s a wonder he didn’t develop any disorders other than a collectors’ obsession and being emotionally stunted/blind. It only took like multiple people, particularly Chief Kwon, talking sense into her for her to finally realize her mistakes. I cried when they finally reconciled.

The love story of the supporting characters Seo Ha Jin and Kim Shin Won was also cute, especially when Ban Ju Yong had to finally give his hyeong advice on love and how proud Kim Shin Won was of Ban Ju Yong growing up so much.

One of my favorite scenes is when Ban Ju Yong drops his most loved and carefully procured possessions to save Baek Su Jong. ^_^ The other one is the mall lights and water fountain special effects when they kiss. Epic. Lol. In a way, she became his #1 obsession, the only person who ever showed him tenderness (like with the chocolate milk) and treated him like a human being. Black Dragon didn’t mess around after he realized what his most prized thing in life really was. Lol.

I also love the manifestation of the video game world in a realish setting and game animation (danger levels) layered onto reality. Wish that could have been expounded on more. His need to keep recording notes on his watch was hilarious, especially at the end. Not sure why the story kept focusing on Baek Su Jong needing to find a hobby and I wonder why she didn’t just go back to gaming. That would have nicely rounded the ending (the leads as their game characters).

One of my least favorite scenes was Strawberry’s (age 19) heartless response to Black Dragon’s (age 15) confession. But I suppose she was also a kid herself and that shocking (age) revelation was the tipping point for everything she had endured in her life. Later, Baek Su Jong kind of didn’t grow up either (super cruel reaction) when Ban Ju Yong was trying to make it work out with her after they discovered their true identities.

The ending was a little strange and disappointing. They dragged on the last episode with at least two video montages of the leads’ love story, one photo montage of the show, and a strange necklace that had nothing to do with anything… And what I thought would be a proposal was a closing voice over. Kind of wish they just did a proposal (with maybe key/lock design rings) instead. Other than that, it was a great watch.

Side Notes: This is the umpteenth show I’ve seen where there’s emphasis on mobile contact profiles (how do you save my name); is that important in Korean culture? None of the Korean family or friends I know ever talk about that…but they’re also Americanized. Lol.

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Where Romance Goes to Die…and Gets (Cautiously) Resurrected (Tomorrow at Work)

Summary (synopsis was actually right this time!): Though there’s not much that stands out, this is probably one of the few dramas I have felt a sense of real vindication from, with the protagonistic characters actually speaking up against their abusive adversaries. Despite a short 12-episode run, it felt as if the filmmakers ran out of relevant material as the last episode was filled with unnecessary scenes that added little to no value to the overall story. Note that the rom was a bit lacking in progression and the com just faded with each episode to oblivion; I wish the com was just as robust as in the early episodes. Also, this show is not for swoon mongers, there’s a lot of relational analysis going on. 죄송해요 (sorry). I shared my amateuristic ideas for improvement below. 😂

Ads noticed: Kold beer, Trevi sparkling water, Binggrae/Blue Diamond/Bacchus-F/Cheongjungone snacks, x brand bananas?, Munhwa Bakery, Returnity beauty mask, Aurelia Vita supplements?, Icis water, unnamed fried food and soup restaurant? (I asked my Korean relative to translate and it didn’t seem like an actual restaurant), more supplements?…

Soundtrack: Standard poppy ballads with a few throwbacks highlighted in the show. The only songs that uniquely stood out to me were from Fifty Fifty or Hana.


Details: Prime’s synopsis on this series was spot-on: “Cha Ji-yoon is a 7th-year corporate worker who's tired of both work and dating. She crosses paths with Kang Si-woo, the cynical boss with a terrifying reputation. Unexpectedly, she regains spark in her life as she gets to know the kindness behind his stern words. Amid repeated commutes, accidents at work, and failed relationships, the two become each other's irreplaceable anchor.” There’s no surprising story elements thrown at the audience - it is most definitely a genuine romcom (not hidden murder mystery), which is helpful if you’re only in the mood for a romcom.

I normally skip the intro but the opening credits animation paired with song from Fifty Fifty on this drama was super gwiyeowo!! 🥰 You can tell there was more attention added to this production and not just folks rushing to finish another project. I also don’t recall normally seeing disclaimers in opening credits about child actors and animals being filmed safely with supervision… Is that not standard? 😅 It was interesting that they used Kawaii like elements, like with random close-up of office dolls in some episodes (which I kinda want to get now ^^).

I do feel that the female lead’s lack of willingness to fight for their relationship became her own self-fulfilling prophecy from “…marriage is where romance goes to die” when she was affected by both her parents and own previous relationship. Yes, she was messed over by her ex but they really dragged that point out with her having entitled expectations toward a man (who’s ALSO HER BOSS btw) that she just met. I would have preferred she kindly kept him at professional arms’ distance until she found some healing on her own. Also, why was she looking melancholy through almost the whole series?? They also could have thrown in a lot more comedic “coincidental” meetings to strengthen the leads’ romantic connection as well. That awkward and cringily sappy yet graceful fall-catch is probably one of the best I’ve seen! I mean, may I have this dance or what? 😍

Despite the usual tropes like the fall-catch between leads (romance teaser) or highly publicized scandal (climactic plot twist), along with a fizzling storyline, I felt pretty satisfied with this drama’s overall storyline and less than fairytale ending. They could have redistributed the screen time from the last episode toward moments of romantic misunderstanding in earlier episodes. Like maybe reveal his true (nice) personality later and have them start dating later. The ending wasn’t your typical happily ever after but it seemed appropriate given Cha Ji-Yoon’s fears. I wonder if the filmmakers were attempting to address Korean anti-family work culture and how it affects office workers’ personal life choices. Since there wasn’t much drama to this drama, which included a quickly axed love triangle, I have little to review other than it should be a hit for office romance lovers.

One thing I do have to express is that the few dramas I’ve seen Seo In-Guk in (Doom at Your Service, Café Minamdang, Boyfriend on Demand) feels like he’s playing the same calm character over and over. Like with very little expressions or emotions. I’m not sure if that’s on purpose but it’s getting a little old, in my opinion. Again, my watches of his stuff are limited (don’t kill me, people!).


Side Notes: Ep1: In her apartment: Baseball pitcher loses a game as she’s getting ghosted. Sheesh! That’s clever. 😂 And wow, that fire activated message revealing cake??? IS THAT FOR REAL??? 🤯 I want one!!!

In her daydream: The turtle swimming by as she treks through a thigh high flooded street, only to be whisked away by a mysterious gentleman… to work (of all places) and the look of despair on her face. Lol. I feel ya, sister! Love this show already! 😍

Him flying in to Seoul: That girl at the airport with a red drink, turning around suddenly, was a dumb scene. Who carries around drinks that carelessly, unless they were already inebriated. Ok, fine. You won that argument. Also, I wonder how many shirts did they sacrifice for that scene? 😂

At the office: Huh? Sticker over the phone camera? I’ve never seen that before…won’t that mess up the camera lens? What was the point of that detail? Company helicopter? Whaaaa? I doubt their deadlines are so intense that they’d allow a regular employee access to a helicopter. Is Saeum supposed to be big like Samsung? Also, how the heck does she have her boss’s number, who she barely met?

QUOTE of the episode: “Some say that marriage is where romance goes to die.” Wow 😂

The sticky note on the forehead. Lol. I’ve only ever seen that ONCE and it was on “Better Off Dead” so the filmmakers probably have watched it.

Ep3: Beach break-up scene: LAME; no one in real life would be staring that hard at someone crying; those folks just want camera time 😂

After work team gathering: Drunkee restaurant? Wow, office boozing scenes never fail in a K-drama. Lol

Ep4: QUOTE of the episode: "Hey, work, thank you for letting me drown out my sadness with pain." 😂

Baseball game Saturday demo: “(random fan) May I get your autograph? (Kang Si-Woo) I’m not a player." Wow, really, random fan, how do you not know who’s a player and who isn’t? You do WATCH the games right? In the stands: they're allowed to drink on the job? 😮

Club scene where Yun No-A confronts Lee Jae-In: lame but not worse than the one in Dynamite Kiss! At least these kids looked like they were actually dancing 😂

Ep6: Whaaa, how could those be the most “phenomenal” croissants you’ve ever had? The Costco ones look better! 😂

Ep7: 어째서죠 (how come)? She can't just tell him the truth about her ex forcing his way into the wedding performance?

Ep9: QUOTE of the episode: “Good... morning?” (from Kang Si-Woo’s friend’s advice: always start your conversation with a question) 🤣🤣🤣 I wish they stretched out these antics more and had more co-workers swooning loudly around her just to make it stick. Maybe added her daydreaming about him slow motion in his boyfriend outfit, and then asking later why he changed his look. That would be so awkward. 🤣 They dropped that part so fast that it seemed irrelevant and non-comedic. That was a wasted opportunity for drawing in the audience more.

After team demo practice and speak of ghosts: What’s with the Kawaii office animals?? 🤔

Ep10: Burgled?? Huh?? Now I know the translator speaks British English!

QUOTE of the episode: “It never once crossed my mind that marriage could be one of my housing options." 😂

And who is this random tall and pretty guy all the sudden hanging out with their task force team?? 😂

Galaxy XR? Is that a hidden ad for Samsung?

Ep11: Ummm, I know it’s for love and everything buuutt I think the smarter approach would’ve been to film Mr. Ko acting all crazy in the lobby and just tell him that Mr. Kang was helping her with a personal emergency because no one else was available. But you know, that’s too reasonable and boring. Lol. Another no-fail use of the scandal trope in K-dramas. (sigh) I do like that it turned out fine eventually and that most of her co-workers were nice people. :)

PEEVE of the episode: Video meeting with external investor: annoying; forcing non-native speakers to do English dialog...for no good reason. And then the cruelty of not translating that in the subtitles! Why is it that English never gets translated in Asian drama subtitles? 😩 Just because they’re speaking English doesn’t mean audiences automatically know what they’re saying. Ugh.

Ummm, from where the heck did that window behind his kitchen show up?? It can't be outside because he's facing the sliding door window to his balcony.. That better not be the window to the outer hallway. Creepy 😵

Ep12: Leads walking up the street from the beach: That was an unexpected twist but I like that the story didn’t have to succeed with both of them overcoming adversity in big corp but rather figuring out what they wanted to do in life. However, I didn’t get the new tech job setup that Kang Si-Woo had going. What was the point of that scene? That he completed his soul searching within 6 months and actually found what he wanted to do? And what’s with the Kawaii AI bot giving attitude to him in the meeting?

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Premium Blend

Summary: A complex but not overdone blend of genres including musical, fantasy, comedy, mystery, thriller, and romance in just six episodes! It started out amazing and then fizzled out a bit with a few loose ends. The music was ok to me, not much stood out other than the first song and the duet between the female lead and her sister. The acting, singing, and choreography were great though and each episode did keep me wondering whether or not Ri Eul was the real thing. I also loved the community service message about accepting oneself.

Details: Yoon Ah-yi is the typical tortured soul in a not-so-typical Korean drama, facing unfair treatment or circumstances often by three-fold — all while singing her way through life’s woes. The first episode had me hooked with the fast-paced and whimsical way the show began with none other than a song and dance. The handsome male lead gave off a Johnny Depp like vibe to the character. Later on, I got a familiar feeling that sprinkled essences of “The Prestige” (2006), which also told the dark story of a struggling magician.

A sobering message addressed the societal and parental pressures forced on kids to excel in school and to narrowly focus on their future careers as their only option in life: “…if you don’t meet the set standards, you’re treated like a failure... Just what kind of qualifications are necessary to become a respected adult? I just need to be me.” That was a helpful reminder for me as a trapped (or trapping) adult. Lol. And “I didn’t know before that flowers don’t bloom on a smooth asphalt but on bumpy dirt,” was a beautiful reminder of what good things may blossom if we’re willing to navigate the challenges life brings.

The plot twists were well-timed but the musical parts of the story were weakly introduced thereafter and new elements of storyline were not finished off. For example:
- Was Ri Eul really gifted with supernatural powers and how did he obtain those powers? Did that mean that both Yoon Ah-yi and Na Il-deung were gifted as well? None of that was explained, only focus on a wandering butterfly.
- What does the blue butterfly symbolize? Also an element never explained.
- What happened to the budding love story between Yoon Ah-yi and Na Il-deung? Do they end up dating?
- What happened to Na Il-deung after he made his big life decision at the end?

For the last episode, I was confused as to where the audience for the final song came from. Suddenly, there was this hypnotized and excited crowd cheering on all the characters as if it was a stage play all along. I didn’t get that part. Why didn’t the filmmakers introduce that scenario in the beginning? It felt a bit jarring to the rest of the story.

Overall, I really like this series with its unique and blended storyline.

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Use as recommended

Summary: A sweet and simple love story that could very well be blamed on fate, I found “Touch Your Heart” to be a nice romcom (with a little mystery) that didn’t twist too hard into other genres. All the characters felt lovable, except the short-lived villains of course, and difficulties or misunderstandings got resolved quickly. The ending was a bit boring to me, wasn’t much story to tell after they cleared some misunderstandings. Interestingly, I was drawn to this drama through one of the soundtrack songs, which are solid as well. I also appreciated that the product advertising was somewhat more subtle than in other dramas but now I’m feeling like I need to get a ginseng drink before I can move on with life. Lol. I’d consider this show a rainy day re-watch but not high on my list.

I’ve presented some points of story hole evidence at the end of this commentary.

Details: Now that I think about it, there wasn’t a whole lot of exciting situations happening in the story but somehow it kept me entertained. The synopsis of the male lead being cold-hearted didn’t match in my mind. I just perceived that he was just very particular and straightforward about certain matters. There’s plenty of other dramas with super cold (and easily hatable) male leads…but this one was like mild sauce in comparison. Would have loved to see more backstory on Lawyer Kwon Jung Rok's relationship with his father.

The love story between the leads was sweet and it was nice to see their character development over some episodes. Honestly, Kwon Jung Rok is one of the sweetest male leads I’ve seen, a genuinely nice guy. Just gave Oh Jin Sim/Yeon Set a hug when she was guiltily trying to reveal the truth about her situation; he gave her a lot of grace. But of course did dumb things to hurt her in an attempt to help her. I like the references to classic Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday (the filmmakers have good taste) to scare the viewer into wondering what kind of ending it would be (but we weren’t fooled, right?).

I got more of a kick out of the awkward love story between the law firm co-workers Dan Moon Hee and Choi Yoon Hyuk. Lololol. Lawyer Choi’s momma’s boy behavior and little monologues to sexy guitar riffs was so hilarious!

By the last handful of episodes, I was not sure what more story there could be without any villains or mystery left, even with some plot twists thrown in. I can’t say I’m disappointed that there wasn’t much drama to this drama. But I also can’t say it’s a must-watch either. Use as recommended, let it touch your heart with the straightforward love story. :)

Side Notes:
- Do Subways in Korea really sell Americanos? I saw a menu with a seafood sandwich but not any coffee type items.
- Hole in the story, Exhibit A: (between the leads) if you were someone’s ride and took a walk with them in a deserted area, why would you just leave them there by themselves (even if your relationship changed)? Most people with common sense would at least drive the other person home.
- Hole in the story, Exhibit B: (encounter with villain 1) how was Lee Gang Joon able to break into Oh Yeon Seo’s house and how did Kwon Jung Rok get in so easily as well? I get that Lee Gang Joon was stalking her but none of those details were how he obtained so much private personal information on her. Just implying that he’s a chaebol isn’t good enough. Also, why did they have Oh Yeon Seo hire Kwon Jung Rok as her lawyer, then just drop the story in the same episode? Strange.
- I’ve seen Hwang Chan Sung as a great villain in "...Married an Anti-Fan (2021)"; wondering why he (who had already a long resume of dramas by 2019) took a small role as a delivery person. Confused. Lol.

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Funnier than expected

Summary: This drama was funnier than expected and left very little loose ends (side notes below), which I appreciate. The storyline got deep in the middle of the series about their past and the plot twists were interesting. The one thing that threw me off was the unnatural facial expressions the female lead made toward the male lead which took away from the romance in certain scenes. The cinematography was well done with different angles of perspectives or blending of locations/times. The last episode dragged on a little but the ending was really sweet. ^_^ Certainly worth a re-watch.

Details: At first, I was hesitant to watch this show because the beginning just seemed like every other hero-in-disguise male lead and doormat female lead scenario I’ve seen previously. However, the series had me rolling at stuff like the thunder/lightning scene or situations warranting matching sweatsuits. Lol. Yoon Ji Won’s reaction to seeing Seok Ji for the first time after 18 years is the best (not expected at all), including the scene of them flipping each other off covered by cartoons! XD

Another thing that was amusing was that the writers parodied typical romance formulas in which one lead falls into the other’s arms as they stare passionately into each other’s eyes. “Writers should think deeply!... They don’t look at each other [in real life], they just get hurt,” then a hilarious martial arts spin to embrace, followed by a surprised gaze. XD

I love that they added a backstory to the leads (and their families) that explains how they ended up where they were and felt like the younger versions of the leads could have been a whole drama by itself. It also explained why Yoon Ji Won became a shell of herself later, always getting picked on to organize events, run errands, stay late to talk with parent, etc. I like that Seok Ji Won’s mom was so supportive when needed.

Some things I found annoying were the plot twist with the 2nd female lead (but I suppose was necessary to explain what kept the leads apart for so long); how Mr. Byeon couldn’t just stay out of people’s business and embarrassed the crap out of the leads; and Yoon Ji Won’s weird deer-in-the headlights look along with some unnatural facial expressions (eye popping, eyebrow raising, heading teetering, etc.) that made scenes unromantic to me. I do wish one of the villains (a student’s parent) got more than just a smacking but you can’t have everything be perfect on every show.

Overall, I really enjoyed this unique drama.

Side Notes:
- If Seok Ji Won was always there watching and protecting, why didn’t he ever go up to Yoon JI Won? Why didn’t he just go to her house if he wasn’t getting responses through text, or send a snail mail letter? And when Yoon Ji Won later found out the truth about the phone situation, why didn’t she talk to him about it?
- There’s not much explanation as to what exactly happened with Seok Ji Won AFTER the hospital incident. Supposedly, his dad sent him out of the country but that’s never really elaborated on. I wish there was more backstory on that part.
- Knowing how intrusive Mr. Byeon was, why would Seok Ji Won willingly give away his address to him? Is that standard etiquette in Korea, to give out personal information readily to a near stranger like that?
- Can people really pass out from one drink, and have selective tolerance to different types of alcohols?

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Never saw a marriage in there?

Summary: This would have been a great concept as cultural/language crossover romcom but it missed the mark in some ways. I found the storyline a bit exaggerated and annoying in the beginning with foolish yet unfunny characters who seriously lacked boundaries. The ending was sweet but also seemed a bit rushed, wish there was more build-up that led to their romance. Also, where’s the marriage in the movie like the namesake states? I realized at the end it was an actual movie and not a show, which was nice not have to keep starting a new episode. It’s an easy watch but the some of the plot development seemed disjointed to me.

Details: The beginning scene setting seemed a bit over-processed, showing the female lead to be incompetent at her job. I was disappointed at the way the filmmakers wrote her: an aggressive, overdramatic, and impulsive nuisance. Even though this is common character behavior for females in many Chinese dramas, I still tǎoyàn zhège. I didn’t think it was funny seeing her make a fool of herself in multiple scenes, which is what led to her downfall in the first place. Her plan for revenge (via online bullying) made me super sad thinking about how that stuff has led people toward taking their own lives in real life.

I do like that Fang Miao Miao wasn’t a pushover and had some fighting skills (able to subdue a grown man with one punch) but was so immature at the same time, blaming everyone else and not taking responsibility for her own actions which led to her getting fired, beaten by Hou Zhan’s fans, losing her housing, etc. She could have just taken a regular office job to get to her goal of becoming a novelist, like most normal people do, but for some reason was holding on to that toxic workplace. On the other hand, Hou Zhan had some anger/trust issues and was super mean to the Fang Miao Miao, even egging her on at times and nearly putting her life in danger (crowd stampede). When they started getting close, I didn’t understand why Fang Miao Miao would still consider betraying him. Also, I didn’t understand why she went back to the workplace that betrayed her in the first place, which also led to a huge misunderstanding.

Side Notes:
- Something that is pet peeve of mine is people wearing glasses without lenses in them. C’mon people! At least make it look real (you can make it prescription free)!
- How does Fang Miao Miao not know Korean in some scenes then suddenly understand it in other scenes? Wish writers double-checked their story development.
- Why would Fang Miao Miao just leave her laptop lying around? Don’t most writers take their laptops everywhere with them?

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