1There are so many things that I loved here, but what made the drama that enjoying were definitely our main leads Sung Deok Mi and Ryan Gold. Not only their characters were perfect for each other, but Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook's chemistry was the best. It was so natural that somewhere towards the end, it felt as if they weren't even acting anymore. I love how mature their relationship was which can't be seen very often in other rom-coms... unfortunately. The thing I loved the most about their relationship was how honest they were with each other - they cleared all misunderstanding just by talking, no pointless drama here. I loved the fact that Deok Mi was so considerate of Ryan and that was since the very beginning. And of course, Ryan was the same. Everything about their relationship was perfect and kudos to the writer for writing such a beautiful love story!
I was happy to see that fangirling was shown as a completely normal thing here. Deok Mi and Seon Joo are both in their 30s, but they are fangirls. Why not? There is nothing strange about it and I'm glad that the writer chose to show a different side of fangirling. As I fangirl myself, I'm very thankful for this. Seon Joo and Deok Mi were friendship goals honestly. Seon Joo is my favourite character here and I loved their relationship with her husband. And their child was sooo cute!
I think Eun Gi and Cindy were pretty pointless here, especially Cindy. At first, she seemed to be the antagonist, but then she became just a random character who had some funny scenes here and there. As for Eun Gi, he was sometimes annoying and his presence didn't really affect the story. I guess the writer just needed a second lead, because what is a rom-com without a second lead? And Ryan's friend was also annoying. I don't even remember her name, I couldn't get the point of her existence in the drama.
I didn't like the last two episodes. They were very boring, although there were some sweet moments with the main leads. I couldn't believe and I still can't that we had to see the same trope again..., why? Everything was good enough, so why would you ruin it? Eh, anyway, I was satisfied with the ending nevertheless.
So overall, despite being slightly disappointed by the last two episodes, I do recommed Her Private Life to all of you. It is not your usual rom-com and I believe you'll enjoy it. Oh, and while you are watching or after you finish it, don't forget to check out the bts videos that tvN uploaded, they will make you love the drama even more!
Was this review helpful to you?
both main characters were so smart, levelheaded, understanding, sweet, vulnerable, and yet they were so confident and they never put the other's needs before themselves.. love is great, but self love is important? love doesn't mean "devote your whole existence to the other party"?
I'm worried I'll never watch another "similar" romcom again ;) this is not "original", but it's literally the only acceptable way to deal with cliches... a character driven story...
I'll just describe the characters a little more.... ryan... he's confident, maybe even arrogant and cold, but I love that he shows duk mi his "vulnerable" side.. and he doesn't "push her around".. he asks, he doesn't demand.. he apologizes when he's wrong, and he's not "above making a mistake"... and you can tell that he still wonders "am I asking too much", but she doesn't say no because he isn't asking for something grand, and she's just so precious and I LOVE a confident female lead... strong doesn't equal to mean or a bully, and sweet doesn't equal to a pushover who cries while apologizing for nothing...
also, his goofy playful side... I LOVE that side~ unlike dominic, he only wants "duk mi" to see that side ;)
ps, my rewatch value is just a 1 or a 10, so for this, I'll definitely rewatch it one day. just not the last 2 eps ;)
Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing chemistry & original storyline makes this one stand out
The storyline:The storyline is very original and refreshing. I’ve never seen a drama that had one of the main leads be obsessed with an idol and make that one of the focal points of the drama. But this drama does it and it does it really well. The female leads whole family has OCD but their obsessions are how they deal with a past trauma. So the story is much deeper than it looks like from reading the synopsis. It’s a light feel good drama that touches on some deeper subjects like child abandonment, loss of a child/sibling and OCD without getting too deep and angsty. It delves into those subjects enough to peak your interest and make you want to watch more but it doesn’t make you too sad or upset. It also delves into the world of art and museums as the main leads work together at a museum. So I liked that they gave us a very unique work setting that I hadn’t seen before which was enjoyable.
The acting:
There’s some really good acting here. You can’t help but love the female leads quirky best friend and their crazy relationship. The idol in the drama is just too adorable and pulls off the cute little puppy look perfectly. I wasn’t crazy about the owner of the museum, her acting didn’t impress me. But the main leads steal the show with their acting skills. Overall I’d say the acting in this drama is way above average.
The romance:
The chemistry is on point with this one. If you liked “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” then you’ll love this drama. It has the same female lead and this girl knows how to do an onscreen kiss right. She sizzles here as does the male lead. It has lots of real kisses and skinship too. There is a slight love triangle. I say slight because it’s one sided for the second male lead. But fortunately, the main leads only see each other.
What really makes this drama shine is how it could touch on some deeper sadder subjects then pull us out of the sad moments and right into something that would make us smile or laugh so seamlessly. I like that the comedy and touching romantic moments were interwoven throughout the angst ridden moments so that things didn’t get too anxious or upsetting. It’s definitely a sweet romcom but it goes deeper than expected and touches your heart. This drama has everything. It’s funny, very romantic, sad, thought provoking, sexy, and cute. It takes you through a range of emotions but leaves you feeling happy and satisfied. I liked learning about idol fans and seeing things through their eyes. I also liked the unique work setting and learned a lot about art and museums. But what I liked best is how this drama touches your heart and makes you want to go back and watch it all over again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Healthy relationships and communication all around!
This drama is very cute. One thing I especially love is how it evolves around the two main characters' relationship - even after they got together! I really missed a drama where the actual realtionship had screen time, since many dramas end at the getting-together part, so thank you for that.Also, the mc's relationship is so pure and supportive, they respect each other, listen, talk honestly. Although the story may build on many clichés, I don't mind, as all the characters were so nice and wholesome and amazing. The story has many hidden gems in the characters' backstories, and it all comes together in the end. Truly a happy ending for all.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
HPL is very special for me and it did teach me a lot. The main theme of a fangirl is something so close to many of our hearts. I especially loved how they chose an older heroine - this generation created the fan culture we know today, so that was a big bonus in my book. Also, I head no idea about the sasaeng world, that was a new experience.The drama starts out very strongly. First couple of episodes are phenomenal, the first half of the third episode made me fall in love with the drama like nothing else. The tempo was there, there was also a lot hinted at and besides one of the best romcom couples on screen, it was interesting to unwrap all the mysteries. Unfortunately, the writing became a bit weak in the second half of the drama, notably after episode 10 or so. Writers used a couple of shortcuts that did a bit of harm to the drama in my opinion.
Also, HPL has some of the best developed relationships between all of the side characters out there. It was a shame, that one of the shortcuts was not exploring these further. in the later episodes. Mostly because in this drama, the minor characters don't feel like props at the beginning, as they mostly do in this genre in other dramas, they come off strong from the start. It is just a shame that they did not keep pace with main couple.
Now, Deok Mi and Ryan are strongest part of HPL. Their relationship is so well done and explored through patience, kindness and nurture. Also, the chemistry is just mad - I kept thinking that my screen is going to burst into flames. almost every episode.
The music, colours and overall playfulness are also a huge strong point of HPL. I was pleasantly surprised that both PMY and KJW went for it fully in this one - some of the humorous scenes got me by surprise. They both balanced the emotions so well, a joy to look at.
I think that I will come back to HPL to look at my favourite parts. However, I don't think that I will rewatch it as a whole. It is worth your time, though. I looked forward to it every week.
Was this review helpful to you?
That being said, while the story was not the greatest the acting and every scene between the main couple was sooooo good. I literally fell in love with their love. Their relationship is so honest and so sweet, and it can be seen that they genuinely always care about each other. I loved their interactions sm to the point where I really really hope they are a real couple, they act so naturally. I have watched every single bts released so far and they just look so goddamn natural and happy together and that’s what made this show great. This is what made me happy watching this show.
The cast for this show was phenomenal and while I didn’t like some characters and maybe they weren’t needed the actors/actresses that played them played them relatively well. I don’t particularly like any other character besides the main leads and perhaps Cha Shi An and the child. The music was also wonderful and matched very well, my two favorite songs in the OST are maybe (a must listen) and smile again. The rewatch value is a bit low because while I loved watching their romance, since the story isn’t really there I feel that it doesn’t really make me want to rewatch the drama. Totally recommend this show for those that love love romance !
Was this review helpful to you?
So here's my review on this drama...many people said that it was nice at first but at last episodes it's become something which they can't understand and trust me because of this type of reviews I thought I'll not watch this drama but I am glad I watched this cause I really like it somehow I understand the writer's feelings and if you watch this drama carefully you'll automatically relate the ending from the starting episodes..I know that childhood trauma is now becoming common in kdramas but I still recommend this drama to watch cause it's worth watching..I really loved the cast acting and the script also..I loved this drama..:))
Was this review helpful to you?
Acting: The actors did a phenomenal job. Kim Jae Wook especially proved that he's superstar leading man material (I hope to see him in many more dramas in the near future). Excellent as always Park Min Young convinced me she IS her character Deok Mi and in love with her 'Lion'. I also really loved Kim Sun Young's funny portrayal of Ex-Director Uhm So Hye. Sure wish though that we'd got to see more dimensions of Si An other that 'sunshine', but "oh well..."
Music: I might download a song or two, but the soundtrack didn't blow me away as anything special.
Rewatch Value: If I do re-watch bits of this, it'll be for those kisses that make your toes curl.
Overall: If you're seeking a pure-heart drama that warms your heart - look no further - this is it! Light and fluffy, and sweet as cotton candy. All the characters get happy endings. Just don't expect anything beyond your standard rom-com here.
Was this review helpful to you?
Well written script with lovely characters, great music, fun humor and awesome romance!
After rewatching "Her Private Life" multiple times, I finally decided to leave a short review highlighting why it remains one of my favourite dramas to watch over and over again.1) Talented, gorgeous lead actors - not only are Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook are beautiful to look at, they also have the acting chops to elevate this rom-com to the next level. I cannot wait for their next movies and I wish Kim Jae Wook acted more in rom-coms.
2) Great acting all around - kudos to the casting director since everyone truly delivered!
3) Well-written script - The characters are nicely developed and being adults, actually behaved like adults. None of those childish drama that the writers usually throw in to create conflicts. Without the unnecessary drama, the show is a great stress-less option when you just want to relax and enjoy the sweetness of a non-cringey romance. Perhaps some more emotional scenes or side stories were watered down but the resolution or outcomes were still realistic and nicely played out.
4) Enjoyable music - seriously, the soundtrack is delightful! Each piece was fitting for the scene and added to the mood or emotion appropriately.
Overall, I do recommend this drama. Give it a try!
Was this review helpful to you?
I've seen dramas with Min Young and just came to really dislike her- this drama changed that. It was basically the roles she portrayed that I disliked so much and not the actually actress herself. Deok Mi is hands down now one of my top 10 fav fictional FL; she is straight up gf goals. Jae Wookis an actor who I have liked from the jump and this drama just made me love him. The chemistry the leads had with each other was stellar and that made this more enjoyable to watch (there is nothing worse than watching a drama with the leads that have terrible/ no chemistry). I'm made that I waited so long to watch this and would totally recommend this especially if adult romance is your thing.
Was this review helpful to you?
But I think I have a cavity.
Story (6.5):
This show was pretty much perfect for quite a ways. There was a great premise and set up, plenty of romantic drama and potential sabotages, media frenzies, fan greets, drama, romance, will they won't they... And then stuff calmed down.
And then the story went bonkers. I don't want to offend anyone, because the story is actually emotional and moving and it's not stupid or like I hate it, but it did change the tone of the drama. In my eyes, it broke up with most of the realism and down to earth maturity of the drama I'd felt to that point and got a new girlfriend called all the k-drama cliches you can think of.
I'm not going to lie, we saw some of this stuff coming from miles away and there are sooo soo many coincidences riddled throughout this drama, but as that ending kept going and oh wait another secret thing and okay that's convenient now that I think about it that's super coincidental... it's great but kicked me a bit out of starry eyed love into dispassionate appreciation mode. :)
I think if it had fewer episodes it would have been great. Either that or they need to change up their drama. Some of that stuff I was okay with but eventually I stopped caring all that much.
By far my favorite part of the plot was her undercover fangirling which also suffered a hit when the end drew near. I felt that particular storyline lacked full conclusion compared to other aspects. The last two episodes were twiddle my fingers candy. :D
Okay, enough criticism, now everything else is perfect.
Acting/Cast (10.0):
Park Min Young is (and has been) one of my favorite actresses (perhaps even my #1) and Kim Jae Wook is great in this drama. I was hesitant about the pairing at first and it's still not my favorite pairing (I much prefer Ji Chang Wook), but combined with their chemistry and Jae Wook's brilliant portrayal of a perfect boyfriend, you can't hate on this lead couple.
All of the other cast is very well done (yes even crazy director), but I think one of my favorites was the actress Kim Bo Ra who played Cindy. After watching this show, I realized I've seen her in a handful of other shows, most recently Ghostderella. I would honestly love to see a spin off show of her and that potential romantic interest at the end (not gonna spoil it guys). That would be such a fun show :D
Music (9.0):
That main opening song kept getting stuck in my head! I'd be going around thinking "All I want is you, all I want is you!" lol. There wasn't a whole lot else that stuck out, but there are other good songs throughout this show even down to the background music playing in the Cafe.
Rewatch Value (9.0):
There's such an assortment of fun and cute moments in this show, it's highly rewatchable. I'll admit, I'll probably stick to the first half, but don't put down the rest so easily.
Overall (8.5):
So overall, some mixed feelings; well over halfway, this completely topped What's Wrong With Secretary Kim (WWWSK), but as it kept going so much felt thrown on to keep the show going and also made the show lose some of it's credibility that it'd done so well holding to for awhile. We could see some of it coming for awhile, and I'd groaned a bit, but expected it... and then they just kept adding on... But if I'm really bored of a show I have trouble watching it, and that was not the case here. I watched every episode the day it came out... so yeah.
Compared to WWWSK they come up about even in my recollection, though this has the lead in the first half.
Recommend to all rom-com fans especially if you're sick of people who don't communicate and stop talking over minor mis-understandings and act like teenagers when they're in their 30s. This show is for you!
Was this review helpful to you?
The story is a nice feel good Romance without too many dramatics like Romances often tend to have. What I really liked about this, is the fact it feels very slice-of-life without having the drag that slice-of-life sometimes tends to get (in my opinion). Characters communicated and because of that, the plot was allowed to move forward easily.
I like how the plot mostly focused on the development of the characters. Though at first it tends to focus on the romance aspect, slowly it begins to focus more on in-depth. Kinda like how you begin to know another person while being in a relationship. So though the plot wasn't super intense, the tension (or better put excitement) was mostly to find in the way the romance and friendships developed. How common life struggles can be overcome quite easily, if only you communicate. Honestly - I loved the communication message in here. Along with the message about family and friendship. How together you can overcome struggles.
To make this drama more unique, it's about a mature woman who is still a fangirl. Being a fan of a boyband myself, I could relate to this. For humor's sake, of course some things were exaggerated (though that doesn't mean it doesn't actually happen in real life) , but it was amusing cause it was just SO relateable for me. Definitely amused me well.
Also - the main couple is just relationship goals honestly.
Acting/Cast
I think the cast did a great job portraying their characters. Everyone was unique in their own ways. The characters were pretty diverse making for interesting interactions and each actor did well on their part. And I think the development their characters went through was shown well too. Honestly, I can't say much more other than I enjoyed the acting. (The only cringe worthy part for me was the obvious commercial scenes. But those hardly ever feel natural.)
Music
I can't say this was anything super special, but the music was catchy and overall suited the drama well. Oftentimes on the background you could hear other well known Kpop groups/artists and I loved when I recognized for example Ha Sungwoon's song. So the diversity of artists/music chosen on the background was REALLY nice for me.
The OST specially created for the drama was pretty average, but not bad. Catchy and enjoyable but I don't feel like listening it outside of the drama. (But I rarely do anyway haha.)
I have to admit though, 'Precious Little Girl' is still echoing inside my head. And I did love the pingle-tune that re-occurs a lot throughout the drama.
Rewatch Value
It was a really nice, feel good ride. It was nice not to have complicated plots. I personally probably won't rewatch it for a good while to come, but maybe in the future I will. I can definitely understand others would want to rewatch this though! But since the plot isn't very exciting, you won't be left with much new things to explore. But if you're in for some good fangirling over the relationshipgoals - then it's a very pleasant rewatch.
Next time though, I would definitely try to spot more mistakes. It's amusing to see the director or editors didn't notice some recording flails. But those weren't too distracting. I just couldn't help from noticing though.
Overall
I don't regret watching this drama. I really enjoyed my time, though I do admit I -sometimes- missed a little more action. But honestly, it was just too much of a feel good not to keep watching. I also shed plenty of tears because you just start to feel for the characters.
I can't say it's a favorite of mine (I'm too picky for that), but I can definitely advice anyone who enjoys Romance to give this a try!
Was this review helpful to you?
