theCallowQueen
middle of the USA
Weak story impedes displaying actors' strengths
There were weaknesses in the plot and the characters' motivation that I initially attributed to a long manhwa being condensed to a short eight episodes. However, after much searching, I found the source manga (Meshiagare Ai wo/Meshi Agare Ai o), and it too is pretty short—only one volume. The plot is pretty thin in the manga and was heavily adapted for the K-drama. (So no help in understanding that confusing bathroom scene.)
Reading the manga helped me see how much the two actors worked to bring to life Doo Hoon's social awkwardness and Yoon Soon's quick, cheery disposition. The difference between Lee Ki Taek playing Yoon Soon and K in Devil Judge is impressive.
It also showed efforts to retain parts of the original story's work environments and character reactions that didn't really match up well when translated to the new story. For example, the drudgery and type of exhaustion from overwork matches better with that of a government employee in the Japanese original than of Doo Hoon's more creative job and closer work teams. So, his colleagues actions and reactions to Doo Hoon are a bit confusing rather than reinforcing the perception that he's an unsocial, distant workaholic.
Additionally, Yoon Soon's easy familiarity and Doo Hoon's reactions to him make more sense in the timeline that plays out in the Japanese story, which has the two living in the same apartment building (thought the MC is oblivious to this fact) with the restaurant on the street level of the building, where the MC eats frequently. The manga begins with the two waking up in bed together after MC gets drunk in the ML's restaurant.
The addition of the description of making the food to the K-drama (which wasn't in the manga), is a lovely touch, and it was done very well.
Manga info: https://www.mangaupdates.com/series/44vmh3j/meshi-agare-ai-o
Note: The manga in English is "Bon Appetit, It's Love," not to be confused with "Bon Appetit, My Love" (also BL manga) or "Bon Appetit" (also a manga from the same general time of publication) or "Bon Appetit!" (a recently completed fantasy manhwa).
Reading the manga helped me see how much the two actors worked to bring to life Doo Hoon's social awkwardness and Yoon Soon's quick, cheery disposition. The difference between Lee Ki Taek playing Yoon Soon and K in Devil Judge is impressive.
It also showed efforts to retain parts of the original story's work environments and character reactions that didn't really match up well when translated to the new story. For example, the drudgery and type of exhaustion from overwork matches better with that of a government employee in the Japanese original than of Doo Hoon's more creative job and closer work teams. So, his colleagues actions and reactions to Doo Hoon are a bit confusing rather than reinforcing the perception that he's an unsocial, distant workaholic.
Additionally, Yoon Soon's easy familiarity and Doo Hoon's reactions to him make more sense in the timeline that plays out in the Japanese story, which has the two living in the same apartment building (thought the MC is oblivious to this fact) with the restaurant on the street level of the building, where the MC eats frequently. The manga begins with the two waking up in bed together after MC gets drunk in the ML's restaurant.
The addition of the description of making the food to the K-drama (which wasn't in the manga), is a lovely touch, and it was done very well.
Manga info: https://www.mangaupdates.com/series/44vmh3j/meshi-agare-ai-o
Note: The manga in English is "Bon Appetit, It's Love," not to be confused with "Bon Appetit, My Love" (also BL manga) or "Bon Appetit" (also a manga from the same general time of publication) or "Bon Appetit!" (a recently completed fantasy manhwa).
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