This review may contain spoilers
I forced myself to watch this k-drama. OMG I am so sorry I did. It was the most aggravating show I have watched after SITR.
The music itself made me want to shoot the television; what kind of idiots came up with playing the same songs over and over and over again in a show? Seriously we don't want to hear the same song constantly; regardless of how good the song is. It kept reminding me of the "Stand by Your Man" song that played every chance they could play it in "Something in The Rain" AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
The dynamics between Ji-ho and Jeong-in were also terrible; it felt completely forced; there was ZERO chemistry between the two and they acted like infants; NEWS FLASH; they are adults, not children; they should act like that.
The funny thing was Jeong-in's mother, she was horrible in Something in The Rain but was the nice one in this series; the acting was exactly the same except that she played the nice parent instead of the psycho one.
The fathers of the two!!!! Seriously? How much are they going to be talking about forcing the two couples that are broken up to set a wedding date? Even in episode sixteen, they were at it, I mean seriously???? Such unrealistic stupidity that it was beyond comprehension.
If I sound angry during this review it's because the show was so bad that it made me angry. This was complete garbage.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Frustrating, repetitious, drawn out, illogical
This is the most frustrating kdrama I’ve ever finished. Granted, I haven’t finished many, and I should have dropped this one too. However, the first couple of episodes were pretty decent, and after I got invested in the characters, I felt compelled to see how it played out. What a mistake and a waste of 18 hrs of my life.I don’t know what was worse, the music or the script. Both were relentlessly repetitive torture. The directing was bad too, unless stretching out a minimal plot to fill up the airtime is a skill.
Most of the acting was good though, except for a few key roles, like Ji-ho, who was wooden. But regardless of how good the actors were, the writer had them acting like total idiots. Jeong-in is supposed to be strong and decisive, but she was so frustratingly wishy washy, she brought all her troubles on herself. Why did she continue to lead Gi-seok on like some prick teaser, even accepting his engagement ring? And why is her human doormat of a sister Seo-in just letting her psycho husband and dad walk all over her while she keeps silent about her problems and insists on working it out herself just by talking with her psycho hubby every couple of episodes, even though it never ever gets anywhere? Isn’t she a glamorous celebrity who you’d think had some backbone and drive to get to her position? And why don’t Jeong-in and Ji-ho communicate better? They never tell each other when they’re meeting with Gi-seok or his dad or what happened.
Let me offer some advice to these characters. First, all 3 sisters need to tell their dad to shut the hell up and go fuck himself, since he’s clearly just a selfish clown who no one should take seriously. Then Seo-in needs to call the cops on her slimy hubby, maybe after paying some thugs to beat the shit out of him and sexually humiliate him. Of course, this is after flushing her fetus down the toilet just to see the reaction on her hubby’s face when she tells him that was his rape baby. (Why would she make it so much harder to divorce a monster by continuing to carry his baby to term?) And instead of resigning and refusing promotions, she should just ignore the gossips and stand proud as an abuse survivor who gives courage to others in her situation. And what the hell is the deal with Gi-seok’s dad? It seems like the show is trying to portray him as this shrewd, no-nonsense mastermind, but instead he just seems totally confused, not just to the audience but also to Gi-seok, Jeong-in, and her dad, who can’t figure him out because his behavior is so muddled. Ji-ho should just forget about his wishy washy adulteress who drives him crazy and just marry the person in the world who knows him and loves him best, his nuna at the pharmacy. If she’s too old for him, then that younger girl at the pharmacy would be fine too. As for Jeong-in, I have absolutely no idea what she’s thinking so I don’t know what’s best for her. Probably some guy totally different from anyone in the show. But I think Ji-ho is too damaged and priggish for a wish washy girl like Jeong-in for the long term.
Thank god for a few likeable and sane characters, like Jeong-in’s best friend and her younger sister and Ji-ho’s guy friends and pharmacy co-workers. Seriously, I wouldn’t mind watching a series all about Jeong-in’s co-worker friend, as long it had a different director, writer, and music staff. She would be a great catch for a sensible guy, like Ji-ho’s banker friend.
Was this review helpful to you?
At first, I couldn't get past the first few episodes, because of the slow-starting plot. Although, the plot was well written it kind of disappointed my expectations with what I thought it was going to be like. When you watch it, you mainly get a minimalist and calming feel from this series. I feel like it may have been too calming and slow for my liking, but I like the feeling that this series was going for.
I would say, even though it wasn't my kind of drama the acting was amazing. The cast all played their parts well. The soundtrack fits with a lot of scenes and was very captivating. Not really memorable to me, but the song choices were amazing. I definitely wouldn't rewatch it again, but I am happy to say I have seen it once.
I would recommend it to people who are more interested in slower plots and a calm feel with a minimalist touch to it. The chemistry is also amazing and I really love that aspect of it more than the drama itself.
Was this review helpful to you?
The couple had great chemistry. I ship them for real <3
The sisters’ relationship was phenomenal and made me miss my sister.
Strong female roles, especially FL. She spoke her mind, stood up for what she believed in and didn’t put up with anybody’s bs, including her own father’s.
Every character’s acting was on point! The dialogue was written so naturally and all of the actors delivered.
I loved the little kid. In fact, I wish there was more “family” scenes because it was just so heartwarming.
I am sad it had to end and I can’t imagine finding another drama as sweet as this drama was. I seriously looked forward to every episode!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not a show/10This was meandering garbage, it was an improv-exercise. I could be convinced that it's a show if you were to argue that it's supposed to be viewed as a horror series, wherein the characters seem to be trapped in psychological and social circles with no hope of escape. But it wasn't. It was supposed to be a slice of life drama.
The director seems to have identified everything that was wrong with Something in the Rain before amplifying it and omitting any and all ideas that weren't shit. I watched this whole thing with my family as each episode was released on Netflix, and we unanimously agreed it was the most aggravating Korean Drama any of us had ever seen, hitherto surpassed only by The Smile Has Left Your Eyes. At least with the latter there was some comedic value, because its premises and conclusions were so ridiculous. This one is offensively bland. Profoundly boring. Like, I'm taking it personally here.
I just want to address the music composition straight away, because whoever is in charge of timing musical cues in Ahn Pan-Seok's dramas is UTTERLY incompetent. The showrunners choose these obnoxious covers of pop and folk songs that beat you over the head with their messaging; the songs play at random - like you might get one while a character makes some food or punches someone in the face - so they're often tonally dissonant with what's actually happening on screen. Plus, these fucking things sometimes play *multiple times per episode*. By the fifteenth time Rachel Yamagata breathlessly whined, "we could still be happy" my group was just about ready to turn the t.v. off and give up on episode 4 altogether.
The editing was generally terrible, though, so maybe the decrepit state of the drama's soundscape can be chalked up to whoever was charged with editing the fucking endings. Episodes would end in silence, with Ji-ho walking towards Gi-seok, building and foreshadowing some sort of tension, only to lead to a hilariously banal opener in the next episode. We actually started laughing when episodes would start, because the only time we were ever interested was when episodes ended, and when they began we wished we hadn't bothered. The word 'cliffhanger' barely describes these endings. They were more like wet farts that get progressively quieter and increasingly smellier.
We were intensely bored and annoyed by the acting and dialogue. Some dramas have very kinetic acting, with characters moving while they talk to each other, but this one falls into the category of shows wherein the audience is challenged with the task of guessing when the showrunners have replaced the actors with cardboard cut outs. EVERYBODY JUST. STANDS. Staring at each other. It's one of my issues with J-Dramas and older Korean dramas, and when you combine that flaw with the weirdly long delays between Jeong-in and Ji-ho's sentences (seriously, count the number of seconds that pass after someone speaks to them before either of them makes a sound... it's awful when they're together) you get extremely low energy on screen at all times. The lead actors had absolutely no chemistry, either. They've both played charismatic characters in the past, but it's like they were a little high throughout the entire show. That might explain the delayed response times, actually.
Their lack of chemistry wasn't entirely the actors' faults, though. Ahn Pan-Seok has a problem with dragging out specific plot threads long after they should have been tied up. His strategy for ameliorating the inevitable fucked up shitty pacing that he produces is to have characters repeat the same conversation endlessly until the last two episodes. That's when people bend, and fight, and start acting randomly compliant where they had been obstinate for fourteen episodes.
The story line with Gi-Seok, for example, should have ended midway through the season. He stalked Jeong-in for basically the entire series, to the point where even the dads were, like, confused about how deluded he was about forcing Jeong-in to marry him. He has this weird misogynistic rivalry with Ji-ho that was so stupid and chauvenist I actually started wishing Jeong-in was just end up single by the end, but there's no resolution! The rivalry is built up for basically 16 episodes and it doesn't end with Gi-seok and Ji-ho confronting eachother to the end that Gi-seok finally relents, it ends with Gi-seok eating dinner with a rapist and going, "nah dude, because the series needs to end I'm just going to chill out now," before just, like, walking away?? Wtf
Jeong-in and Ji-ho's relationship was unbelievable too, so we couldn't get invested into the OTP vibe shit that (let's be honest) most of us watch this shit for. Since 90% of the conversations anyone has in this show are ABOUT those two, this wasn't just a minor problem. They meet and basically fall in love instantly. Ji-ho sets some clear boundaries, and then they both start acting like being apart is the WORST form of torture annnnyone could have cooked up. How about a few episodes where they get to know each other? Where they just vibe as friends, run into each other in public with their friends and family? How about SHOWING us Gi-seok joking about breaking up and hurting Jeong-in's feelings, or how his dad disapproves of her, rather than dumping that information into exposition? How about some new sideplots? I JUST NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS SHIT FRESH. I need SOMETHING to suspend my disbelief when Gi-seok randomly starts suspecting Ji-ho is sliding in on his girl. He sees Ji-ho's shoes in her apartment with multiple other pairs ONCE and he's immediately convinced something is afoot. GI-SEOK IS NOT THAT SMART. None of these characters are believable! Everyone's life revolves around Jeong-in and Ji-ho! And the only side plots are Jae-in's flirtation with her buddy-bae and the eldest sister's fucking traumatizing ass story line. Basically all the dialogue is arguments!!! I can't listen to these people argue about Ji-ho and Jeong-in anymore!!!! holy fuck!!
TL;DR - all the conflict that's introduced in the first episode is basically all that you get until episode 14. It does not develop. It's completely inorganic, and it's a case study in a screenplay for a film stretched thin over 16 hours worth of content.
The delays in the acting, the dragging plot, and the illogical and inconsistent characterization feel like they're consequences of something being made up on the spot. Like, instead of giving the actors scripts, they gave them general subjects to have an argument about, so the leads are constantly pausing to figure out what the hell they're going to say next. There's no imagery as strong as the umbrellas in Something in the Rain, and the spring metaphor was shoved into random meeting scenes at Jeong-in's work. They're ALWAYS meeting up at night time, which spring night is the significant one, exactly?
This one is my new bottom. Er, of the list. Bottom of my list. OF MY LIST.
Was this review helpful to you?
Great characters and direction make this drama!
"One Spring Night " is a hard drama for me to rate only because I have some American perspectives that contribute to my lower rating. This is a slower, slice of life paced drama, although the romance progresses pretty quickly, the overall pace of the drama does not. That could also be because although I was very invested in the characters I was less impressed with the actual plot. The stakes just didn't seem high enough for all the drama, to me, and things get repetitive quick. Still, I just couldn't stop watching this drama, and through all the frustrations while watching my fascination with the characters kept me hooked.The cast is what makes this drama, especially the main couple. The story starts with a chance interaction between Jung Hae In as Yoo Ji Ho and Han Ji Min as Lee Jung In, and from their very first scene together I knew I would love their chemistry together. I admit that Jung Hae In is my favorite thing about this drama. His baby faced good looks and performance made it impossible to not root for Ji Ho no matter the circumstances. I adored all the subtle expressions he's so good at. I was really impressed by him from beginning to end. I also really liked seeing Han Ji Min in a more mature role than I've seen her in before. Her character was written to be annoying at times, but her performance was so great! I liked that she was so flawed, including her temper, and I love how real things felt between them... their flirting, their awkward glances, their tears, their fights, their romantic moments... all of it. Their conflicts and obstacles however felt too overexaggerated. This is the part that is likely a cultural thing but what is considered scandalous and taboo is just not a big deal to American me, and how characters reacted to Ji Ho's situation just seemed way too close minded. Also, the obsession with marriage seemed crazy! What I did love is the dynamic between all the characters and how they all connected, and that was way more interesting to me than any particular thing that happened or was revealed.
Kim Joon Han as Kwon Ki Seok also gives a great performance. He rounds out the main trio with a character that isn't very likable but is still sympathetic in a pathetic way. Yes, this story is absolutely about a love triangle, a pretty messy, and petty one. I like a love triangle done right, and performance-wise this drama does a good job, but Ki Seok's actions are ridiculous throughout. Some of his obsessive and delusional behavior made me almost want to skip scenes after a while. It was just too much for me. I preferred the more subtle scenes about how to navigate a love triangle amongst mutual friends and acquaintances than the traditional parents getting involved tropes or him . His stubbornness went from sympathetic to creepy quickly, and since that's a huge part of the story it made things drag more in the later episodes.
I loved the rest of the cast as well. All of them. Family, Friends, Coworkers, and Frenemies alike, and that super cute kid! I really felt like I got to know everyone to the point that no character really felt like a filler character after a while. I give more credit to the actors and director than the writer for that because some of the characters were written as more one-note in their actions. It was the performances that saved them from becoming complete caricatures. That's especially true for Lee Moo Saeng's role which I wish was given more depth since he represented heavy subject.
Speaking of the direction, I think it set the mood so perfectly. Even settings felt like characters I knew, the pharmacy, the apartment building with that cool staircase, the library, Jung In's hallway... the attention to certain details really made a difference. I loved the direction so much, especially how it gave insight to different character's perspectives too which highlighted their performances even more.
Another weak point in the writing was that I didn't much care for the side stories, which may have also been my American pov. Once certain things were revealed I felt they kept revisiting the same point over and over and I was bored by it after a while. The performances were fine, but I rather stick to the main story. Some scenes had depth without the characters having to say anything, so I think Ahn Pan Seok deserves a shout out for that .
Would I watch this again? Even though I did like this drama I would be too tempted to skip through a lot of the scenes in a second viewing (like every Dads plotting marriage scene, or her older sister's scenes). I would be more interested in watching certain performances and scenes more than rewatching the entire drama. I almost want to say that this drama should have been shorter, but I admit that by the end I was sad that it was over, and the ending is well done.
The music is also tough to review because although I liked the songs they were so distracting! Maybe that's because they were mostly in English, so much harder for me to tune out, but it also could be that they were played too loudly and too often. In some scenes the music felt jarring, and that took away from some moments that didn't need it.
Overall, I can see why this drama has such high ratings, especially if you're interested in a love story that isn't too stereotypical. I would recommend this drama to romance fans but don't expect any major plot developments or twists to drive the story. If you're not into the story by midway then you should probably drop it because it's just more of the same till the end. I personally appreciated the theme throughout of not taking the safe, boring, or expected road and following your heart instead, or not putting what's considered socially acceptable above what you feel is best for you. I felt inspired after watching, which I didn't expect, and I am glad I stuck through the slower parts. Also no, I did not watch "Something in the Rain" but for Jung Hae In and this director maybe I will... maybe... lol
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
One Spring Night took me aback with it's poignant anecdotes and life lessons spoken from those in different positions in life. I originally had this drama on hold after the first episode because I believed it would be slow paced and boring, but I deeply regret not picking it up sooner. This is such a beautiful, gentle show that contains almost everything I could ever ask for in romance storytelling.STORY - 10/10
The general setting of One Spring Night circulates between the love story of a woman who seems to have the rest of her life planned out for her and a man who struggles trying to make plans for himself, and the many societal issues that correspond to them falling for one another. The situations the leads placed themselves in were unlike anything I had ever witnessed before in a drama - they were so grounded, realistic, and handled that way too. It wasn't exaggerated or taken into a dramatic approach for the sake of the drama's contingency. The concept of a woman in a dying relationship and a single father who only lives for his son is one I could not have picked up simply if not for the amazing way the drama was written and directed. Alongside this, the side stories between Jeong-in's sisters became a reminder that this is what love may resort to. Love may become diluted and dark, or merely simple and fleeting, not always the shiny bright sparks and cherry blossoms that many kdramas seem to provide us.
However, the writers give us their own interpretation of such a love with the main leads in such a deep and devoted manner. While countless romance dramas and films have made me feel envious towards relationships and the usual feeling of "wanting romance in my life", this one really takes the cake. Jeong-in and Ji-ho's developing love for one another is so gentle and natural that it almost feels like slow burn. You constantly root for them to finally be happy together and individually, and you're left with the realization that this is what love is SUPPOSED to be. Forget the cheesy skinships and the inevitable heart racing moments - two people who remain devoted to supporting and loving each other despite the countless difficulties that unravel just from the thought of being together? That's what I want.
The overall reason I gave this story a 10/10 is because while the plot is not outlandish and the kind that garners attention or extra viewing points, it's a real love story with real people. It makes me feel like I'm experiencing it myself and feeling it for myself. The aesthetic that comes from such a concept served a lot for how much I loved the show, too.
ACTING/CAST - 10/10
God, where do I begin? I loved the cast so much. I initially started watching this show for it's two main leads. Han Jimin, who starred in my other favorite drama, The Light In Your Eyes, and Jung Hae-in, who I just adore in general regardless of what character he plays. Their chemistry was out of this world and added onto the realistic touch this show loved to go for. While skinship wasn't exactly as excessive as, for example, Weightlifting Fairy, they take their character's ages and personalities into consideration to develop the perfect formula of a couple in their late 20s-early 30s. Each character served a purpose in the story and almost none could really be considered an antagonist in their own sense (except for the abusive husband. He could go screw himself lol), which is what amplifies my love for this drama even deeper.
MUSIC - 9/10
I usually never listen to all of a drama's OSTs after watching, but this came as an exception. Although I finished One Spring Night several months ago, I still find myself listening to the OST every now and then. The music is so soft and calming and suits the drama perfectly. I loved the old retro feel the music gave to the show as well as how it precisely gave that sense of belonging, fear and slowness the story represented.
REWATCH VALUE - 7/10
I usually never rewatch heavy dramas, and the slow pace of this one certainly contributes to why I wouldn't prefer rewatching the entire show again. I'll certainly stick around for their adorable romance moments, though.
OVERALL - 9/10
Beautiful storytelling, a wonderful cast with a gorgeous soundtrack. If you love slow paced yet satisfying romance with touches of realism and lack of cliches, then this drama is definitely for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
A decent watch but not my type of genre
The story deals with our leads’ personal problems within the paradigm of social norm. The ‘conflict’ of this show surprised me as I had no idea that getting a divorce or dating someone with a child is such a taboo in Korean culture as it's not negative in my reality...What I like most are the authentic cinematography and the well-written dialogues among the characters. The romance is very calm, lovely and honest. Despite the lack of spicy passion, Jung Hae In and Han Ji Min create a harmonious and good chemistry. I also enjoyed the bond and communication among the three sisters; Their arcs feel organic. The ending is done in a proper way.
Confession, there are times that I got so bored due to how slow and mellow this story is. I also struggled to finish it because "No Direction" plays on repeat. The OST is good but extremely overused that it gets tiresome. I would appreciate a little more variety or less repetition.
-Jan 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
After watching this series, I must say that it was way better than "Something in the Rain" in terms of how realistic the approach was on how one should deal with different types of problems/adversaries.I really admired how practical the story was. Jeong-In (HJM), who was seemingly trapped in her own four-year relationship with her boyfriend, stumbles upon an unexpected affair with Ji-Ho (JHI). The plot itself was very relatable because I think at some point we all found unexpected love from someone. For me, this was how SITR was suppose to happen, and for that I give a lot of credit to the writer for totally making it up from the previous series. It wasn't perfect, but it was less flawed. It shows a lot of growth and maturity to be able to exemplify such norms and beliefs and how it can greatly affect relationships in this modern society.
The first few episodes might seem "boring" given to the nature of its story, but it actually gives you everything you need to know from the characters and the entire series. I like how the writer points out different taboos when it comes to dating/marriage. No offense to those who believe in certain things but in my own opinion, this series shows exactly how "love conquers all". The last three episodes were near perfect, as it shows how the main actors deal with their own problems. Everyone does have something to say regardless of what you do so why not fight for what you believe in, especially with someone you love.
I also would like to point out how great Han Ji-Min was. We already saw how capable Jung Hae-In in SITR, and we almost saw Son Ye-Jin again in OPN (but she declined). I first saw her in Hyde, Jekyll, Me, and since then I have been binged watching all her works. She is very versatile and matured to play any kind of role, and their chemistry in this series was really sweet and real. No other actress could have played this role better, and one of the reasons why this series is a must watch if you're tired from the usual romantic-comedy setup.
The OSTs were also well tuned in a way that it mixes with the scenes and the emotions throughout the episodes. It could literally give you the "feels" especially at some of the climatic parts of the series.
Overall, I gave this a 9.5/10. It was a near perfect redemption for the writer after SITR. I expect more series to come with the same concept and hopefully would be as good as this one. This is a must see series for everyone!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The first word that came out of my mouth in the first few episodes were "Scandalous", as a joke of course. The main premise of this show felt very real as iv'e never seen a show quite like this one. One Night Spring isn't just a simple romance story to me becasue there were many things in which i havn't seen in other dramas other than this one, bare in mind I started watching dramas last august. The story intriqued me alot becasue it was about the female lead Jeong In having issues with her relationship with her current boyfriend and then meeting Ji Ho randomly and found a spark. The first thing I want to say is something about the whole cheating thing in this story. In my opinion Jeong In didn't cheat on Ki Seok because she stated numerous times to him that she wanted to break up and we could clearly see they were having problems so Ji Ho just sped up the inevitabal and also save her from a life of misery in my opinion. This also taught me is that if i'm ever in an relationship and im not happy with it and I met someone else in which i could be happier with, i would pursue that (of course i'd break up with my current gf because if I wasn't happy with out relationship in the first place, we wouldv'e broken up anyway.)
The characters in this show were all very well written and no character was wasted in the writing of this show which is very rare in any type of show, everone in this drama had a purpose. Firstly I wanna talk about Ji Ho's son Eun Woo, he is the most cutest thing i have ever seen in a show and he made some of the scenes so nice to watch. Jeong In's Ex firstly I would like to say that I did feel sorry for him at the start but I realised how ungratefull he was and how obsessive with beating Ji Ho whicc was annoying becasue he looked down on him because he had a "flaw". The Husband of Seo In was just a complete dick in my opinion with the whole verbal and pysical abuse he dished out and showed us exactly what not to do in a marriage. Both the sisters were so refreshing to me because i rarely see sismances in dramas and it was great seeing them support each other and look out for eachother which was good to watch.
I lastly want to touch on the topic of everyone in the drama with seeing how having a child is a flaw, I understand it is probably a cultural difference but I know many people with step-fathers or mothers and I just thought everyone was overreacting but I know there is most likely a cultural difference.
Overall this show was a breath of fresh air to me as I have never seen anything like it. I highly reccomend it if you want to see something diffrent and also thrilling in my opinion to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Aggravating in a nutshell
After the traumatising second half of the Something In The Rain series, the notion that the same director/writer combo (and same male lead) created something even better was so appealing. However, after the first 8 episodes, I really struggled to continue watching. The glowing reviews that this show has gathered have left me very confused.The introduction between the male and female lead left much to be desired. Especially needed as the female lead is frequently abrasive and rude to him - in the first half of the episodes in particular. Yet what the storyline uncovers is that she is a woman who has allowed herself to be in a boring and mainly emotionless relationship for 4 years. She clearly has no love for her boyfriend yet when it comes to breaking up she behaves like a victim - we spend episode upon episode with her skirting back and forth with "shall I, shall I not" and "poor me, this is all so hard". She has no ability to be honest with those around her and her abrasiveness and rudeness to the male lead just make this the most frustrating watch/start of the series.
I guess what is most difficult is just to understand why the male lead likes her and wants to be with her. Actually, scratch that - the most difficult thing is to watch that there is still a society on this planet that shames single parents and puts them at the bottom of the food chain. Add to that the constant plotting of the ex-boyfriend, fathers, and other male characters and their male chauvinism - and the apparent inability of women to decide whether they want to break up or not (turns out that unless the man agrees you cannot break up?!?) - and you have just an aggravating 16 episodes to get through.
Was this review helpful to you?
