Reviews

I first started this web drama just because Kim Seul Gi was the main. Not even bothering checking the summary.
And I won't lie, at first I was not sold. AT. ALL. KSG’s character is supposed to be ugly, so ugly there’s no way anyone would fall in love with her, especially not a “pretty boy”. It would have made more sense to describe her character as “average” but irradiating such a low self-confidence that it would impact her relationships and how others see her. Also her character keeps wallowing in self-pity, especially at the beginning of the drama. It was just very cringeworthy.
However, once I passed the first half mark, I started really getting into this drama. After all, the aim of this series is pretty sweet: it essentially criticizes the fact that “beauty” is so predominant in our society - and in this case especially in South Korea. Also they managed to wrap up the drama in a sweet way, instead of the hot mess I was dreading.
So yes, it was far from perfect, but I still don’t regret watching this drama. Actually, I may even rewatch it, bc I’m cheesy trash.

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Ahh well! Being a Ji Chang Wook fan I cannot miss watching this film even though I knew this genre was not exactly my glass of juice(I do not drink tea or coffee...hence the modified idiom :P)

But still for a fair review... I just had to closed my eyes and I could still feel my heart racing, could hear the screeching cars, blaring sirens and ear splitting guns shots....felt almost like I just finished a game of NFS (an updated version of it...maybe!)

The movie had a familiar plot that was wound around Hi-Tec visuals to give you all the feels of a gaming world. Story revolved around how the unemployed strata of the society become scapegoats to the country's social economic "higher-ups" and how a bunch of online gamers get together to fight them successfully after one one of them was falsely accused.

Acting was on point! As for Ji Chang Wook fans, it is a disappointment as there are not many scene where you can go all heart eyes over his sweet face or his hunky body... but for all you gamming fans out there, it is a fast paced action packed treat you would not want to miss!

Liked the fact that a pixie looking young girl was the master hacker who helps, in place of a stereotypical nerdy boy that is the usual!

Over all the movie did a fair job in its genre and you can watch it ...for it is a visual treat for all action lovers!

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Although I usually quite like the contract marriage premise, this isn't the usual kind of genre I would enjoy because I find that most Japanese romcoms completely lack depth. Enter Nigehaji: it basically took all the tired and clichéd romcom tropes and turned it into something of, to quote another user here, an "original masterpiece". The first thing you'll notice are the endlessly amusing different formats in which Mikuri's daydream scenarios are illustrated (the news segment parodies, the tiny cheerleader, the game show darts, the wheel of fortune, among many others). I knew it was going to be a fantastic drama from then on, it was *already* a breath of fresh air from the first three minutes.

It had some great philosophies about marriage, modern relationships, equality and gender and age dynamics. I was really quite surprised at how insightful many of the analyses were in response to the various issues that cropped up in this drama, and it's something that a lot of Japanese dramas lacked. It's a really accurate look into the common personal conflicts that many modern Japanese face and it's portrayed in a way that doesn't enforce judgement on the refusal to conform to that standard that society has already set from the 20th century. The way their relationship/marriage was redefined was one of my favourite parts too; incredibly refreshing and truly forward-thinking when seen in the context of how Japanese gender dynamics in regard to marriage are normally defined.

Aside from being invested in the main characters, I also especially loved Yuri and Kazami's respective characters, as traditional romcom tropes (older career woman and lonely handsome playboy) with a lot of built-in complexities. Every single character, both main and supporting, are thoroughly fleshed out and made into nuanced and balanced people, that have their garishly obvious flaws but can still be pleasant and whole.

Lastly, the Koi dance at the end completely grows on you and there were tonnes of "aww" and laugh out loud moments nestled in between all the social commentary. It's so much more than your average romcom and for that it's almost a 10/10.

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