Reviews

Unpopular opinion here but I prefer heart warming romance and happy endings over harsh reality

This is a 2019 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 16, 60-73 minute episodes. Also known as Mellow is My Nature.

6/10 is my rating. First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

This is a story centered around three female friend who are roommates and one of their brothers.

Lim Jin joo (Chun Woo hee) is fresh out of a tumultuous seven year relationship when a script she is writing finally catches the attention of an up and coming director. Finding intrigue in his particular brand of sarcasm, Jin joo falls for the Director, Son Beom soo (Ahn Jae hong). Relatively fresh out of a failed 7 year relationship, her feelings for Beom soo ignite while reworking the script for a 16 episodes drama. Having met his match, Beom soo reciprocates her feelings. Since fate has a sense of humor, it turns out her ex boyfriend, Kim Hwan dong (Lee You jin), is the assistant director and she has to work with him in order to get her big break.

Lee Eun jung (Jeon Yeo been) is still grieving the sudden loss of her fiancé, Hong dae (Han joon woo) to cancer. Her grief is so severe that she suffers persistent complex grief disorder and sees and talks to her departed fiancé as if he were still there. Her younger brother, Lee Hyo bong (Yoon Ji on) has continued living with Eun jung after she attempted suicide and her two friends form part of the team that live together and watch over Eun jung. Hong dae invested in a documentary Eun jung directed and she achieved wealth and success as a result of that project.

Hwang Han joo (Han Ji eun) was the school beauty who was conned in love by a man who was not good at committing to anything. She married him after an unexpected pregnancy but they quickly divorced, Now her three close friends and roommates are helping her raise her young son, Hwang In-kook (Seol Woo Hyung). Her role with the marketing and production department is to ensure the production meets the product placement advertisements that were agreed to. She later is promoted to a producer position.

Review

Based on other reviews, some people really liked this or at least enjoyed it. For me it’s one where I’m trying to figure out what people might’ve liked about it. I guess if you really like pure dramas with very little comedy and you want it to be reality based, then you might enjoy this one. I watch dramas to escape reality so I don’t want or need things to happen exactly as they might in reality. Give me the well-developed happy endings that’s what I want. I was interested in the story throughout most of it although there was nothing super exciting or any huge plot twist or anything like that. The characters were interesting and it was a slice of film industry life. Where I really lost interest in it was towards the ending when it became obvious things were not going to end the way I hoped they would. Sort of a soft ending in that things were wrapped up just not completely or well. In my opinion I would not watch it again nor would I highly recommend somebody else watch it. However, if you particularly like any of the actors, they did very well and the script was written well for what it was

Spoilers

Lim Jin joo (Cho Woo hee) was not a very likable character. In the relationship with Kim Hwan dong (Lee You jin) I thought she was wrong in the arguments a majority of the time. It appeared she picked fights with him for no apparent reason. She really wasn’t different with Son Beom soo (Ahn Jae hong) but he didn’t fight back. He more joked her out of it. I think they were trying for her just being a unique personality who could not match well with just anyone. They tried to portray that some some of the roughervaspects of her personality were due to being that element that made her an edgy writer. This was supposed to lead tona determination that the only one that could handle her was another quirky person such as the somewhat edgy Director. I got where the writers were going with it but I just found her very abrasive and not very likable. I still rooted for the romance a little bit which was why the way they never really fully got together was annoying. They were dating, although still having frequent fights, but nothing much else like a solid long term commitment which was not a very satisfying ending.

Lee Eun jung (Jeon Yeo been) was just a sad case the entire time. I hoped the drama would take the turn that she found new love in Kim Ah-rang (Ryu Abell) a fellow director but that never fully happened. There were some hints they might meet up abroad but nothing definite. She was working on her complex grief but was still imagining Hong dae (Han joon woo) enough it was clear she had not fully let go. So there was no resolution to her grief and we did not get to see her happy in a new relationship.

Hwang Han joo (Han ji eun) says she is ready for a romance and there is all this build up between her and her subordinate, Chu Jae hoon (Gong Myung) and it seems headed for romance. But nope. Instead he seems to get back with his crazy ex, Ha yoon (Mi ram) who they portray as the victim in their very tumultuous relationship when everything I saw it looked like she was the aggressor. But that was an overall trend in this film that no matter how wrong the female appeared, she was in the right, and the man was the wrong one. Then, in the end, she is dating some guy she met at a club who we barely knew anything about. Why did I care she had some random romance? I wanted her with her cute assistant who seemed like her other half. Instead he is back with his personality disorder ex and she is with some rando.

Jung Hye-Jung (Baek Ji won), who was Jin joo’s former boss turned rival script writer has this whole flirtation going with Sung In-Jong (Jung Seung gil) and there is even a bit of a love triangle for awhile. So this leads you to expect she will quit being such a horror with her work and get with In jong who seems to mellow her sharp personality. But we do not know what happens as tge writers just drop that story and there is no outcome with all that build up.

There were a couple of side romances that got very little screen time that were cute but not central enough to carry the story. Eun jung’s younger brother, Lee Hyo bong (Yoon Ji on), marries his partner and moves out because his sister is finally well enough he no longer has to be on suicide watch. Probably the cutest romance of the show was between Lee So min (Lee joo bin) and her manager Lee Min joon (Kim Myung joon) as they had been friends and it was obvious he felt more for her. So them realizing their feelings and getting together was heart warming,good friendships can stand in for love,

Overall it felt like the writers wanted to convey a proposal is not necessary for a happy ending, good friendships can stand in for love, and strong independent women do not need a man. A disappointing surprise for me to find in a Korean drama.

#BeMelodramatic #MellowIsMyNature #HanJiEun #JeonYeoBeen #AhnJaeHong #ChunWooHee #HanJoonWoo #YoonJiOn #SeolWooHyung

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Surprisingly good mini series with some bromance

This is an example of a mini-series (a series with super short episodes) done mostly right. For some reason, most parts do not feel too hurried. The main weakness of many mini series is the pacing and erratic storytelling, and while Decline isn't entirely spared from it, I'm surprised by the plot development and character backstories.

I don't what the relationship between the two main characters is like in the novel, but I would classify it as bromance in the series. I was wondering whether to describe it as censored BL, but I think it is a case where we are left to imagine things if we want to but there isn't really that much BL innuendo. Sui Han Bai realizes that Su Chengxi is someone he has known since his childhood days quite early on although Su, who has lost his memory does not realize it till much later. We see Sui's devotion to Su when he blocks an arrow shot at Su with his own body and even in his semi-conscious state, calls for Su to stay safe.

The story unfortunately does seem incomplete, but to its credit, the series does have at least a tentative happy ending for the main characters and does not end with a silly cliffhanger when there may never be a Season 2. There is potential for a Season 2, but Season 1 at least ends satisfactorily.

Despite the synopsis, I think the series shows more promise if it is marketed as bromance rather than mystery/detective series because it thrives on our interest in the characters, and the mystery aspect leaves too much unaddressed.

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Adult AND Smart

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Not good

I don’t really mind the idea of having two people from different countries speak two different languages and understand each other, but imo it was really obvious that the actors didn’t really know what was being said and where just going by script. Or at least that’s what it felt like.
There was really no chemistry at all between the two leads, to a point where I felt uncomfortable watching.

The plot, well idk. It’s a short series so not much can happen but still it all felt very strange.
Strange to a point that it was almost sort of hilarious. So I guess that’s a redeeming quality. I don’t feel bad about finishing it since it was very short afterall.

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Love this K-drama

This drama is entertaining.

I love the queen who would do everything to protect her remaining four sons, the Grand Princes, and her deceased Crown Prince's family following the death of her eldest son, the Crown Prince.

The main protaganist, the Queen, who was happily married to her king, never bothered her four sons so the boys were let to do their own things which affected their studies. When her eldest son fell ill, she sought out help from the previous deposed Queen who was deposed from her position following the death of her eldest son. She also learnt from the deposed Queen that the latter's remaining three sons were murdered by the killer.

From that moment onwards, the current Queen decided to train her sons to be eligible for the position of the Crown Prince in order to safeguard her family.

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Plot twist twisted so hard she broke her back

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Despite these two major critiques however, this BL was enjoyable to me and I looked forward to watching the newest episode every week it dropped.

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No plot, no fortnite, no nothing

I watched this BL immediately after Between Us cause Prem and Boun have my whole heart. And I know without a doubt that if it wasn't for them I probably would never touch this messy, underdeveloped BL ever again. My main gripe with this BL isn't even the confusing/lazily explained story. I actually thought it was pretty interesting and had some good drama, just not played out well in execution due to lackluster and sloppy story progression.

No, my main gripe with this BL is all the side stories. Sun and Athit felt extremely rushed with their romantic plotline and if they're the main couple then that tells you all you need to know about the side couples/plotlines. The boxing couple plotline ends with them kissing and then that's it, no aftermath or epilogue on how they deal with the boxer's father or where they go from there. Were just left to, assume everything goes well I guess.

Now I wouldn't say this BL isn't worth a watch. The plot does have its moments and gets pretty interesting a little further within the series. The setting of the beach was also absolutely gorgeous and I loved the summer and sun aesthetic of the characters. Overall this BL is something I would recommend to someone wanting a summery and beach vibe, just as long as they don't mind their BL with a hefty chunk of clunkiness.

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Nothing happens?

I watched this solely because I saw a reddit post where someone asked for the Drama with the least chemistry between main leads in Thai BL and like 60% of the answers mentioned this one.

I don’t personally think the chemistry between the actors is the biggest issue. It’s the story that doesn’t really pick up anywhere. Honestly I don’t feel like anything happens, and even when something happened at some point I was not engaged enough to care.
I only finished this cause I was doing something else during so it didn’t really matter that nothing happened.

That’s probably why their relationship feels off, cause it never really gets built at all in the first place.

Side couples were ok, at least I was sort of engaged with them lol.

4.5 stars because Perth was precious and given the strange role/plot he did a good job. Personally not a fan of the other actor in this one, but honestly he didn’t get much of a chance to show his skill either…

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It was OK

This was such an odd series. I struggled to get past the first 4 episodes, when they are either getting beaten, robbed, scammed, etc. In fact, I think I skipped Ep 3 as it was getting to be too much. But once it hit its stride around Ep 5/6 it was cute and worth watching. Has one of the most eclectic OSTs ever, whoever curated the music was either crazy or a genius or both. I didn't care much for the ML or his character, but to each his own. And the FL character seemed forced and unrealistic. But the supporting cast was great with many familiar faces: Kim Gyu Chul is a standard in Historical Dramas and delivers another standout performance as the greedy Mr. Baek. "National Grandma" Kim Young Ok does her thing with aplomb (seeing her in heels was odd, to me, though). And the utter shock of seeing Chae Soo Bin in a cameo role at the end was wonderful (one of my fave actresses). What's funny is I'm also watching "Once Again" and many of these actors are in that show too, LOL. When they tied up all the loose ends (oddly in Ep 15 and not the finale) I wish they had addressed MaRi & InSung. The lead's ending was not unsatisfying without a wedding and seemed fitting. Rewatchability? I dont' think so, but I don't regret watching it.

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I didn't recognize the actor Wei Lie Jin at all, who plays one of the main roles in the tender series DNA Says Love You, which we have here translated into Czech. In this short, he plays a boy who falls in love with a lifeguard and has to deal with his feelings. I also see a Taiwanese aborigine (lifeguard Da Han) in the film for the first time. However, the sexual awakening is without romance in this short, as the lifeguard is straight and the story revolves mainly around the main character and his self-discovery of his own orientation, falling in love and how to cope with all of this under the supervision of his strict father, with whom he runs a Chinese medicine and acupuncture practice. In addition, the film ends without salt, without fat for the audience who will expect a fairy tale ending, but the very end, when Yun Wu swims away from the place where he was drowning at the beginning, symbolically meant for me that he realized his self, began to respect himself and continues strengthened into his next young life, and that's what I appreciate about the film, even if the project doesn't have a top ten rating.

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Will it be the best drama of the year?

This series has a sophisticated atmospheric magic blended with real life traumas and believable characters. Every person in the drama is flawed, but relatable and likeable (except the ML’s sister, about who I'll rant below). As opposed to recent “Queen of Tears” where every character was also flawed, but none of them were likeable (perhaps the exception being the aunt).

In “The Atypical Family” story as well as character development expands with an atmosphere – the colour tones, the music scores as well as sound design, and the easily flowing caesural pauses allowing the viewers to take in the vastness of the scene settings, the seriousness of the situations. One could almost compare this drama with the poetry. Actors and their characters are allowed pauses to think, not to say that they’re slow, on the contrary, it makes them and their choices more believable. The script and most chosen actors are spectacular in their roles….. except one minor detail.

The rant (at ep. 4):
To me it seems that in Korea there are no plus size actors. I’d bet anything it’s not the truth, but the industry is hellbent on trying to prove to the world that there’s either no obese people in Korea or no “fat” actors. Whenever the creators need to have a heavier character in the show, they just find the skinnies actress and put her in a costume. (To be fair it is impressive, what a film crew can do nowadays, and it does look somewhat realistic, however, it also gives “uncanny valley” vibes, because the actor trying to act is not actually fat.) Not to mention, the creators make that particular character as unpleasant visually and in personality as possible. Around the world there are plenty of big and heavy people, who are wonderful, who do not care for their weight, and even have a sense of fashion. But noooo, let’s vilify the fatness. I would not wish it but, I’d guess the plan for Bok Dong-Hee is to lose all the weight, so she could fly again. I would prefer, if she could accept herself as she is and still could regain flying, because that power should not depend on her actual weight, it is after all a Super.Power.
End of the rant.

All in all, I find the story refreshing and interesting, the clashing of one dysfunctional family with a fake united one, the deadpan comedy, the pain of trauma and not managing to let go of the past.

This drama for me might even be the best of the year.

Second rant (at ep. 10):
At ep. 10 Bok Dong-Hee becomes slim, just like that. Boom. We see each episode that she is becoming slimmer, but that amount... just took me out. I generally skip a lot of her scenes because her personality is too childish for me and grinds on my nerves about the whole "get back the cheating man" by losing weight. Ughhh. Bish, if he doesn't want you fat, he will not want you slim.
The only, ONLY redeeming point about the whole lost weight thing is that she still can not fly! Thank you! Because it's not the weight that was holding her down!!! It. Is. A. Super. Power!
End of the rant.

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