This is hands down one of the most original, well-acted and re-watchable romantic comedies I have ever come across. And to think that at first I kept ignoring it! Like a lot of other reviewers have mentioned, the title led me to believe it was just another clichéd love story. Not so. Yes, there is indeed a love story between a rich man and a poor woman - but that's pretty much where similarities with other dramas end.
There's just so much going on in every aspect of this series. Each character is entirely believable, and you can tell that time has been taken to ensure that characters have their own depth without needing to be supported by the others. And don't even get me started on the actual storyline - it's original, almost entirely unclichéd (that's right - no mid-season camping trips where the main character eventually comes to terms with their feelings, lol!) and totally believable as a genuine narrative which could happen between two people in real life.
It's this which I personally feel makes the drama's title so clever. Instead of following its namesake and being a predictable, cookie-cutter love story, what the writers have actually done is create an original piece whilst remaining totally self-aware of the sort of tropes and clichés that occur within its genre. In short: the drama's title and overall plot idea is INTENTIONALLY clichéd. By taking the bare skeleton of a stereotypical romantic comedy then creating something new, original and interesting, the writers have shaken up and brought new life to the very genre it has stolen its skeleton from. It's probably done tongue in cheek... but I also think it's very, very clever.
One other thing I particularly loved about this drama is that the lead characters genuinely irritated me sometimes. In most dramas or fictional stories of any kind, the general idea of a main character is that they are somebody we can relate to and root for - but instead, the writers of this drama have opted to give us interesting and complex characters instead of just slotting in the same tired stereotypes. Every personality in Rich Man Poor Woman is fully-fleshed out with positives, negatives, memorie and faults, and you'll see clash after clash of personality and personal intentions throughout the series - just like in real life. It's extremely human and realistic, and I absolutely love that there are producers out there brave enough to try something new with its castings and characters.
So honestly? If you've currently got a spare hour or two, then just stop what you're doing and watch the first episode. You will NOT be disappointed. Trust me. ;)
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