onceiwaskingofspain
Kdrama Parks and Rec with an Odd Couple Romance and Down to Earth Politics
Good Things:
• The no holds barred heroine. She's an underdog in an unfair system - economically, socially, and politically - but she's been fighting back in her own way her whole life. And when she's suddenly in a position to effect change, she hits the ground running and doesn't care who's in the way.
• The P&R-esque plot. It showcases the best and worst of politics at the local level. The ensemble cast of representatives runs the gamut from legacy egoists, pragmatic do-gooders, ambitious social climbers, and semi-witless lackeys. They all have an agenda, and their conflicts with policy and each other drive the drama.
• The romance. ML and FL go from casual adversaries to long-lost friends and gradually progress to more; incredibly satisfying if you enjoy daily life romances that rely on small acts of service and support as well as the occasional grand gesture. There's also a great trope reversal where FL is the boss and ML the secretary.
• The sense of place as character. Between the home base fairy-lit manga cafe, the liminal spaces of bus stops, alleys, food stalls and overpasses, and FL's whimsical secret hideout that overlooks her domain the district FL lives in and represents has as much narrative presence as the leads.
* The witty verbal/visual humor. It has overtones of self-aware mockumentary style productions, but less meta.
Either/Or Things:
• The quirky cinematography. Love it or hate it, it's unique and unforgettable.
Bad Things:
* The narrow focus. It's all politics, all the time. There's romance and slice of life, but if political shenanigans aren't your preferred genre it'll be a slog through large portions of the drama.
* The temper tantrums. FL was a bit of a bully to ML when they were kids and the dynamic carries over into their adult lives in the earlier episodes. They get over it, but it's a bratty beginning to their relationship.
Interesting Things:
* It's screenwriter Moon Hyun Kyung's only Kdrama, though she's a published author of a guidebook on how to get involved in local level politics in South Korea.
Recommended if you like romcoms with meaningful plots, enjoyed the dilemmas and dynamics of Parks&Rec and prefer realistic, slow-burn romances.
• The no holds barred heroine. She's an underdog in an unfair system - economically, socially, and politically - but she's been fighting back in her own way her whole life. And when she's suddenly in a position to effect change, she hits the ground running and doesn't care who's in the way.
• The P&R-esque plot. It showcases the best and worst of politics at the local level. The ensemble cast of representatives runs the gamut from legacy egoists, pragmatic do-gooders, ambitious social climbers, and semi-witless lackeys. They all have an agenda, and their conflicts with policy and each other drive the drama.
• The romance. ML and FL go from casual adversaries to long-lost friends and gradually progress to more; incredibly satisfying if you enjoy daily life romances that rely on small acts of service and support as well as the occasional grand gesture. There's also a great trope reversal where FL is the boss and ML the secretary.
• The sense of place as character. Between the home base fairy-lit manga cafe, the liminal spaces of bus stops, alleys, food stalls and overpasses, and FL's whimsical secret hideout that overlooks her domain the district FL lives in and represents has as much narrative presence as the leads.
* The witty verbal/visual humor. It has overtones of self-aware mockumentary style productions, but less meta.
Either/Or Things:
• The quirky cinematography. Love it or hate it, it's unique and unforgettable.
Bad Things:
* The narrow focus. It's all politics, all the time. There's romance and slice of life, but if political shenanigans aren't your preferred genre it'll be a slog through large portions of the drama.
* The temper tantrums. FL was a bit of a bully to ML when they were kids and the dynamic carries over into their adult lives in the earlier episodes. They get over it, but it's a bratty beginning to their relationship.
Interesting Things:
* It's screenwriter Moon Hyun Kyung's only Kdrama, though she's a published author of a guidebook on how to get involved in local level politics in South Korea.
Recommended if you like romcoms with meaningful plots, enjoyed the dilemmas and dynamics of Parks&Rec and prefer realistic, slow-burn romances.
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