Since most reviews are from people who loved it, I thought it may be useful to offer a different perspective. I adore the trope of a secret identity, so I was into the premise, even as a comedy. I knew it will be very silly since it contains the actual words "heterosexual amnesia", I was ready for a lot (or so I thought). Unfortunately, it did not quite deliver for me.

The plot itself was decent, though it kind of dragged on. The side characters weren't very deep and didn't change much, or only changed so it would advance the plot (for example ML's brother's family was always greedy and ready to ruin lives to get what they wanted, and then they just gave up, out of nowhere?). But my biggest issues were related to the main couple, despite their cute sweet ending.

You know how many dramas start with a highly dysfunctional couple that eventually learns to be nice to each other and appreciate each other? I just don't think that happens here. For most of the story, FL is actively trying to use ML and he is not aware of it, misreading her gestures as romantic as he continues falling for her. She's into his hormones, abs, and the "chip" he has, but that's about it. She has to lie to cover up her identity, yes, but she is also actively trying to manipulate him and use him for her goal. She only changes her mind near the end, and I think it comes way too late, with not enough regret of how she treated him (there's a lot of self-pitying but not much self-reflecting).

Also: I can't believe more people aren't talking about this, but she SPIKES HIS DRINK. With medical drugs. As in, puts actual drugs in his drink and tries to trick him to consume it, and when that doesn't work, she physically forces him to swallow it??? And he manipulates her into honesty by basically drugging her, too. Is this really intended as a romanic comedy? :/

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It could have been a beautiful touching story capturing the life's hardships, the struggles to adapt and learn, to overcome one's flaws. Instead, I think it only captures people unable or unwilling to learn from their mistakes, and an assumption that all romantic relationships are doomed to be unhealthy.

*

I think I see what they were trying to do, but imho, it did not work out. But first, here are some aspects I enjoyed:

• From all of their storylines, FL's brother's one was the most interesting to watch to me, as he went through several stages of character development. It was genuinely engaging! We first met him when his life was quite good, but then he faced truly hard moments, he reached very very low points. Through outside help, his determination, and a bit of luck, things turned around. Then he faced new obstacles but kept on learning from it. I did not really like him as a person, but I enjoyed following his journey.

• I was also initially invested in FL's boss, but then they changed her course in a deus-ex-machina way instead of allowing her to learn from her mistakes. It honestly felt like she was being punished by fate for wanting a relationship and being unable to love herself. I was looking forward to one of her breakdowns leading to a realization, but she was not allowed that. In the very end, her character had some interesting growth too.

• My favorite episode is when ML leaves the country and pursues his dreams. The episode had a different vibe, he got into a loving relationship and worked on his career; he was making progress. Of course, though, they couldn't let him have it. I still don't fully understand why the writers were so determined to destroy his relationship with the second FL, their breakup looked unnatural and forced. People can fall out of love, but this felt... wrong, like they both suddenly stopped caring for each other. It usually happens for a reason, and it could have been interesting to explore, but that didn't happen. We only got a few awkward moments of tense silence and teary-eyed calls, out of nowhere.

Now for the parts that did not sit right with me:

• FL started out as a manic pixie girl. I don't think I need to elaborate on that.

• Even during the fun "spring" part, ML and FL had an uncomfortable dynamic: FL left him guessing, withdrawing her attention ("I might arrive, I might not. You'll see!") and forced him into activities he wasn't comfortable with (but it was played off as comedic), and then left him, completely wasted, alone on a night bus. He was drunk and asleep and she just left him there. But the writers did not address any of this, and she never realized she treated him poorly; no, there's just a cut scene and he's, SOMEHOW, safely home. Okay. Clearly, they did not want to address it, it did not need any character development despite being glaring flaws.

• There is just not enough growth on either of their sides for the relationship to work in the future. FL is busy dealing with trauma, but she's STILL emotionally distant and detached. Perhaps understandably so, but it does not say anything good about their future if – through her whole life – she did not make much progress.

• ML still copes with difficult situations by lying through his teeth and not being able to draw his boundaries (though he made some small progress in that, the tragedy of FL's life makes him unable to stand his ground anyways). On that note, I honestly suspect ML is a pathological liar. It's definitely a pattern in his romantic relationships and he never learns from that, either.

• When the second FL asked ML why he loves her, he said, among other things, that he is comfortable around her. Some people in comments thought that's the proof he doesn't love her. But to be honest? That's exactly how a long-term, loving relationship feels like: you are a comfort for each other, the familiarity is grounding. It's not the initial passion or the attraction to the forbidden (like one-sided love or painful crushes), but it's good, it feels good. I feel like this sends the wrong message.

• As for ML's sister, I guess it was a fun concept for them: a reversed trope! Emotionally distant wife, clingy stay-at-home husband! But their relationship was just painful to watch, it did not feel fun, it did not feel like a creative reversal, it felt like she was treating him like trash, making him work hard for a hint of affection as if it were a gift, giving him just enough to make him want more (that's controlling and abusive btw). And they knew from the beginning that they weren't compatible at all. What even IS the message of their relationship? I know that people like this exist, but ML's sister's partner was called out on his mistakes. Her mistakes go on, unchallenged.

In general, I think they could have handled many things better, I never saw the "OTP" as romantic or compatible (in fact, they seemed really bad for each other), and if they wanted realism, there should have been their friends, telling them it's a really bad idea to re-enter a dysfunctional relationship, or shaking ML by his shoulders to make him realize that being concerned for a person he loved for a long time before is NOT a reason to start lying to his fiancée or to break up. Caring for more people is not wrong. Lying about it and hiding that they dated in past and then, when he was called out on it, leaving instead of apologizing? That's just messed up and so, so emotionally immature, that I don't know why we were supposed to get invested in his "growth" at all. :/

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What I enjoyed:
• The story's premise is great, and the drama is generally very sweet. :)
• I enjoyed some of the side characters, especially Old Man Yu, and their stories!
• Oh, and the first half was fun because of the switching between game world and real world! (They stopped doing that later)

Now as for some things I did not like as much:
• The constant focus on FL's beauty. Her beauty always comes first before her skills, and she proves others "wrong"/surprises them... by being beautiful? All the while the show acts as if looks were not important.
• ML is a little too "perfect", I don't recall any moments of him acting in a normal, flawed, human way. I saw robots with more development than he had. :/ I don't know if it was the acting directions, but both ML/FL had very stiff delivery.
• I thought I was misunderstanding at first, but some really creepy stalking happens there.
• The "antagonist" storylines didn't have a very satisfying wrap-up.

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Lighthearted, comedic, rushed?

While the ending is rushed (side storylines deserved better resolutions), most of the season has decent pacing. Many romantic cliches are turned into awkward moments/jokes and they go all in with over-acting, editing and sound effects to play up the comedy. (As a heads up there is A LOT of second hand embarrassment, it is their main comedy device.)

Most of the actors are selling it. The friendships are definitely one of its strengths & the family and workspace dynamics are usually fairly entertaining.

--- spoilers below ---

My list of highlights would be:

* Young Seo and Shin Hari's friendship! It feels most solid and fleshed out – they genuinely feel like close friends. They bicker, they are supportive whenever they need it & call each other out without reservations.
* Young Seo's acting overall is just so fun to watch.
* Shin Hari's appearance & acting actually changes with her roles.
* The work team dynamic is mostly entertaining and has a few touching moments.
* Shin Hari & Tae-moo have a few very lovely bonding moments.
* The second love interest wasn't really a doable love interest at any point. They part ways on good terms.
* The guys are mostly respectful when it matters the most?
* The editing and sound effects are great.

But some things were really dragging it down, too:
* Most characters are exactly the same in the beginning and at the end.
* Too many characters only exist for comedic purposes, but are used in serious plots. (Like Young Seo's cousin ruining her meeting with Sung Hoon's parent figure.)
* Most plots don't actually have consequences. For example, no one ever did anything after Shin Hari's defamation. She was supposed to be forced to resign/move away, she said no, and the editing specifically hid the response to that. Then they move on as if it never happened.
* I also really, really hoped for defamation lawsuit. When your entire career and reputation is ruined after the same person broke your friend's heart, you don't just shrug it off. On that note–
* The show's morals are very confusing and inconsistent. Min-woo thought his friend is in an abusive relationship and punched the assumed abuser, then got scolded. He found out he got cheated on & got scolded for being upset about it. I have no idea what moral stance the show was trying to take there??
* Or like when Young Sae's cousin does almost the same thing she did (pine after Sung Hoon that rejects her and make scenes about it), but it's framed as pathetic instead of funny/romantic.
* Young Seo mentions being in heavy debt, but that's just one-off comment again.
* The families never meet. Shin Hari's parents could get along with Tae-moo's grandpa, but they are never even in the same room. The show completely forgot Tae-moo's grandpa complains about living alone and having meals alone. Extended family dinners when?
* Hitting people is still supposed to be funny when it's the mother doing it.
* Last few episodes have very confusing flashbacks.
* Tae-moo doesn't appear traumatized from having a car accident when rushing over to Shin Hari, even though the theme of the episode is dealing with his trauma from his parents' car accident. It's just not even addressed.
* Last minute sickness for drama, yet easily curable off-screen. Come on.
* Forced separation/time skip. Really thought we avoided that one, but no.
* We never even learn what Young Seo's new business plan is?

I'll stop here as the review is getting too long, but yeah, tl;dr don't think about the plot too much and then it can be fun!

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