Absolute Favorite
My favorite thing about this show, besides the main leads and their phenomenal chemistry and adorable relationship, is that this show is so unexpected! They give you what you think to be a typical plot device and they completely flip it on its head delightfully and unexpectedly. You think ‘oh here we go with a miscommunication trope’ and then BOOM the characters communicate beautifully and you are delightfully surprised. Every single time they surprised me!The visuals and cinematography were fantastic, the soundtrack was iconic and the characters, main and side were so absolutely loveable. They way this show had me literally yeeting myself off the bed with laughter and then shedding actual non self-pity tears (which is rare in this economy tbh) the next scene.
Please watch this show and love this show, I want to give it the world and my first born child. Like seriously if my love isn’t like Dali’s and Moo Hak’s I’ll pass. They are so adorable and dramatic and I’ll have what they’re having thank you very much.
I could go on and on but please just watch it. I love this show so much. So refreshing and lovely and fun!
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I said in my first impressions about the irregular path that the story follows, but I didn't think that this would be a remarkable thing about it. More than just breaking the cliches, DATCP makes fun with it and surprises us in each episode. The story reveals freshening even when put common themes like wealth and CEOs at the table. I can imagine myself talking about this drama to someone else: "You have to watch this! There's a rich girl, who falls in love with a rich guy, but he is kinda ignorant, and there's another rich guy, but he is bad and her ex..." and I also imagine the answer that I would receive "this is just another k-drama." Believe me, it is not.
Kim Da Li (Park Gyu Young) was a character that didn't bring my attention at first sight. I didn't feel a connection with her mostly because I was just expecting the disappointment that I always feel with the majority of female characters like her. But how I was wrong! Dali was a great surprise and the strongest female character that I saw in a rom-com k-drama. Her resilience and determination were inspiring. Park Gyu Young has the sweetest face ever, and this sweetness does an incredible contrast with the power of our main character. Our Jin Moo Hak (Kim Min Jae) is not different at all. What a male lead! I loved this guy since episode one and this love only increased. Moo Hak is just the personification of security and great self-esteem. He isn't an incredible mind, but an incredible man. I love the fact that Dali wasn't hiding behind the money of Moo Hak and the fact that he never suggest this to her. He believed in her potential and strength and this gave space to our female lead to shine. Kim Min Jae is such a baby and I'm amazed by his talent. I really hope that he grows up more and more, and I think that "Do you like Brahms?" will be my next one with this beautiful. I could mention the most part of the cast here, as Kwon Yool that made me crazy in anger, or Hwang Bo Ra that made me laugh so many times... The thing here is that we don't have just villains or just good guys/girls, we have a story with complex characters that can't be condensed in a simple term.
In short, I loved the fact that NO CLICHES SURVIVED HERE! I really never saw a rom-com k-drama where I could say this. Because of all that, I'll put this one as an amazing one, half-point to be a chosen one (★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ ★ ★ ★ ★/2). The half-point is just for some little thing in the script that I expected a little more and just show up in the last minutes. This drama is so worth it and will make you smile and vibrate with the story and the possibilities that we could see in the next productions from now on.
See you soon!
XOXO, Mari.
P.S.: WHAT A OST!!!!! Loved every single song!
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This review may contain spoilers
Light and Fluffy but also explores some deep topics
10/10 is my rating. This is a 2021 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 16, 70 minute episodes. Alternate title is Dal-ri and Gamjatang.Kim Dali (Park Gyu-young) is tasked by her boss (at the museum where she works as a curator), to pick up a VVIP from the airport. However, VVIP Mr. Jin is not the only Mr. Jin coming into the airport that day and she winds up picking up the wrong Mr. Jin (Jin Moo-hak played by Kim Min-jae). This case of mistaken identity winds up being a fateful encounter as Dali offers the traveler a place to stay when his credit cards do not work. They part ways the next day and Moo-hak immediately regrets not getting her number but believes he will see her again before leaving the Netherlands. Right after they part, Dali discovers her father has died in South Korea and immediately leaves for her home country. Moo-hak leaves the Netherlands without seeing this girl he found an immediate connection with only to soon discover the girl he had been looking for is now the heiress of a museum he lent a significant sum of money to. Dali remains in South Korea to save the museum, which is her father's legacy, but finds there are multiple creditors looking to be paid. Moo-hak is torn between doing whatever it takes to recover the money and save face with his family and helping out this girl he finds so compelling. Moo hak knows a little something about making money having helped his father build a global food company from the ground up. Add in a wealthy ex fiance, a girl who is obsessed with Moo-hak, the mystery surrounding the real reason for her father's death and the current state of the museum's finances and the viewer is in for a wild ride.
I loved this movie from start to finish. It did not have any of the tired tropes that I sometimes find annoying, there were tons of suprise twists that suprised even someone that has watched hundreds of dramas. Dali is now one of my all time favorite characters I loved how she was such a thoughtful, kind and caring person yet could, at all the right times, really lose it. Moo-hak was so genuine and you could really see how he had gotten to where he was and even understand his crazy penny counting. Spoilers*** In the USA, at one time, kids were often not told they were adopted for fear of the social stigma surrounding a child that is not blood related. It was all tied into the stigma around being born out of wedlock. As the prevalance of that social stigma has decreased, so has the stigma around being adopted. Not to say it is not still present, it just isn't as widespread as it once was. In as much as this is an "accurate" portrayal in South Korea, it seem that social stigma is still something that is dealt with as well perhaps to a slightly higher degree. I was surprised that her simply being adopted could cause such a major hit to her social standing. There was also the concept of "old money" versus "new money" which is something that is tied to class distinction, to varying degrees, in developed societies perhaps the world over. I really like how she stood up to her ex-fiance and never validated what he did to her by going back to him. There are certain things a person can say or do to another person that there really is no going back from. Dali was generally calm, level headed, and sweet. Her character was the type that spreads calm when she walks in a room. I liked that you could tell she had learn those traits from her adopted father. I was happy the uncle came around and actually apologized to her for the horrible things he said to her. The museum staff was, on balance, loyal and I was glad they did not wind up turning on Dali as that would have lessened my enjoyment of that slice of life "family." Dali stood up to Moo hak's dad when he told her he didn't think her and his son should be together. It was truly a love that conquered all and it made it all the more sweet overall. They really tricked us with the year separation, I thought she had left for a year because of the father's disapproval. That is a trope I am not found of - that whole leave for 1, 2, 3 or you know 5 years, sometimes don't even call or contact, come back and everything is all hunky dory. The writers must have known that because they tricked us into thinking she left for a year then went "psych they were together the whole time". I would rewatch this and highly recommend it to anyone that loves this genre. So good. One of my favorites.
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A Great Drama With Some Flaws
Dali and the Cocky Prince is a very unique drama about a very smart and sophisticated girl whose about the lose her wealth and a nouveau riche boy who has street smart but no education and is unsophisticated. When it comes to tropes about portrayal about relationship and characters it subverts all of your expectations. You see one of the healthiest relationships blossom between characters you wouldn't expect the get along. Stingy guy learns that there are more important things than money while the girl who knows nothing about real world learns about struggles people give for money and a better life. All while they love, care and most importantly communicate with each other. They never give up their ideals and identity for the relationship, they never use their influence on each other to stake claim. They don't become new people but they become their best self. In that self Dali and the Cocky Prince is perfect. However Dali and the Cocky Prince may not be what you've expected, it was not i expected. You may have heard it's rom-com and it's true but mystery and thriller is very big part of the drama. All of the chaebol stuff going on backwards drives the story more than the relationship itself. On that part Dali and the Cocky Prince is nothing special. It rewards your attention and theorizing but that means the story is very easy to predict. Which also means it's very up to K-Drama tropes and does nothing much to subvert or improve it.Overall I think Dali and the Cocky Prince is a very good drama wit amazing highs and okay lows. I suggest people to watch if they are looking for healthy portrayal of relationship in drama, nice and unique humor and interesting characters.
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Perfect balance of comedy, romance and drama (without too munch angst)
Every holiday season I try to avoid heavy themed dramas and go for pure fluffy, romantic comedies and this hit just the spot. Honestly, I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did but here we are. It has the perfect balance of comedy, romance and drama (without ever really getting too dramatic and angsty). I don’t think I have ever started a drama a lost the sense of time. One hour went by like it was nothing and without realizing it I was on episode 10. Had I started this on a weekend I am pretty sure I would finish it in one sitting.I really love how the writers took the drama clichés and turned them on their heads. From what they did with the time jump at the end, (I mean they really had us) to the characters.
First of all, Dali, although she is the rich, spoiled princess that loses all her money and nothing ever goes her way after that, she is never a naïve damsel in distress waiting for a man to come and save her. She has her dignity and integrity even after facing all the obstacles. She never takes any man’s money to fix her problems, she never blamed all her difficulties at her fate/luck and she never victimized and pitied herself like many other characters would do. Also no matter what others said she always thought highly of Moo Hak and never gave up on him.
On the other hand, we have Moo Hak, not your usual rich male lead. He is not a cold emotionless perfect robot. He is expressive, intelligent although not knowledgeable and so but SO adorable. Dare I say one of the healthiest male leads out there. Although many found him annoying and obnoxious at first, I never did. It was clear that he was intrigued by Dali from their first meeting and money were never an issue when it came to her. The only reason he acted the way he did it was because he himself was not sure how and what he was feeling and that was the excuse he was giving himself as the reason that he cared and wanted to be with her. But once he knew and understood what he was feeling he never hid away from them and he was always straightforward.
Additionally this might be one of the only, if not the only, Male leads that is not afraid of his father but on the contrary sometimes his father seems to be afraid of him!
Although on a first look they both seem childish, naïve and immature, together they probably make one of the best, healthiest and most mature couples in dramaland. They always find a way to communicate and that's why any problem that comes along gets resolved quickly never giving the viewer any angst. Their chemistry is no joke and are probably one of the cutest couples out there.
And we cannot forget about Won Tak, the best friend of the FL who is close to her as a brother. And that’s exactly what he is. Someone who grew up with her and they are close as siblings and nothing more! He is does not realize mid-way through that he is in-love with her and tries to win her heart! He is just there for her and wants to protect her like any older brother will do! How refreshing!
I would recommend this in a heartbeat not only to drama lovers but to newbies and people that have never watched a K-drama before.
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MUST WATCH
I loved the story & acting....this is really a drama worth watching. It had romance, comedy, drama, thriller. mystery etc I like the fact that ML & FL had a mature sort of love story, even though in many scenes its portrayed that the ML is very shy in matters on intimacy - its the FL who takes the initiative...once they got back together inspite of the many difficulties they stayed with each other - the ending is really great & cute too, although would love to have see a wedding.I felt although the acting of the leads and supporting actors was excellent, during the first few intimate scenes I felt they lacked ML/FL chemistry, but I think as the story progressed it kinda grew. The ML is so innocent, cute in clueless kind of way about ART/Gallery/ Exhibition (Cocky is an apt word) & initially for him everything revolves around money, however as the series progresses we see positive character development. We see FL as an educated and strong young lady . I loved the short hair, I haven't seen many K-drama's with the FL having short hair (unless she's impersonating as boy), so it was a wonderful touch - somehow trying to shift how the definition of beauty is perceived in K Drama's. There were so many sweet and cute moments between the leads.
I would highly recommend it.
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An engaging romance drama with some suspense!
This drama was amazing to watch from start to finish! There was never a point where I felt that there were unnecessary scenes in the show to kill time! There is quite a bit of comedy due to the male lead and his character. The female lead matches well with the male lead, and their chemistry is fun to watch! They truly complete each other! The supporting characters are also well-written, and I especially liked the male lead's assistant and Ahn Chak Hee! The plot development was really smooth, and the writers made the best use of adding some twists which engage the viewers! Overall this drama was really fun to watch, and I liked the OST as well! It really invoked my emotions at some scenes in the show! I'd recommend it! You won't regret it! The first 2 episodes alone will convince you to binge the rest 14 episodes in one sitting!Was this review helpful to you?
My favorite couple
This story is spot-on in every way that counts. The sincerity and chemistry that Park Gyu-young and Kim Min-jae bring to their roles makes the emotional moments, ranging from searing pain to soaring joy, strike to the heart. The comedy pops, often catching you off guard. The supporting cast completely committed, making us empathize with their sorrows and celebrate their triumphs, It was hard to say good-bye to these terrific characters. I know I'll watch this series again. The soundtrack is great, it compliments the story perfectly. When I have to go out in the rain and cold in the stressful conditions of the pandemic, I know this OST will insulate me in a warm layer of happiness.Was this review helpful to you?
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It DID NOT give what it was supposed to have gave
I started watching this under the impression that it was gonna be a light, fluffy, cute, sweet kinda moment. That’s what the streets (aka MDL reviews and Reddit ) were saying. I was told it would give me fuzzy, warm butterflies like just like Hometown Cha Cha which I adored… FALSE!!The first episode completely deceived me bc I fell in love with the show in that beautiful, initial one hour. Great set up, chemistry, fun and sweetness in a way that was new and refreshing. Everything went downhill from there and this ended up being a frustrating, repetitive, tropey mess.
Firstly, Dali was a doormat the ENTIRE time. Just bc you’re sheltered and timid doesn’t mean you just sit there and take all the crap EVERY SINGLE SECOND. The amount of unnecessary hatred towards her from multiple characters in the story was just excessive.
The mystery/inheritance/business drama was very much “meh” for me. It didn’t give lighthearted, easy watching at all. This part of the storyline was boring, annoying and unoriginal for the most part and I did not enjoy it.
Now let me get to the part I hated the most about this show. TAE JIN. This man was so insufferable and obsessed I just couldn’t. And I get that every story needs an antagonist but he just got on my nerves sooooo much. I just couldn’t deal with the audacity and guts he had the ENTIRE time. For him to have done what he did and still feel that entitled to Dali was just irritating to me. I hate 2nd leads that can never take no for an answer and spend the majority of the show harassing a woman they supposedly “love” after rejection. SO UNHEALTHY.
Anyways there were some cute moments in this and stuff but they just were not enough to make me forget about the rest of this train wreck!
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Good Enough
Korean Drama "Dali and the cocky prince" is a drama that nails it when it comes to esthetics. Everything was beautiful, from the paintings to the costumes, which were especially tasteful. The performances were great too, with the two main leads delightful to watch, with plenty of funny scenes and a smooth chemistry between them that sparked right from the start.However, the drama did not offer anything new. Rather, and especially after the first half, things got predictable and boring. The drama used many cliche, and the love triangle was stale and lacked the dynamics that it should have had, considering its setting. The romance had a great pace at first, but it started rushing things after a while. The side characters were enjoyable though.
So, overall, 6 out of 10.
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Probably hands down the best couple...
What makes this drama special?Well, besides the great chemistry between the lead couple, - Jin Moo Hak and Da Li - played by Kim Min Jae and Park Gyu Young, all the hilarious interactions of Moo Hak and Won Tak (Hwang Hee), definitely the catchy music and a few pieces of art and art filters, perhaps the way it develops.
But more than that, is the fact that we have reverse roles that give a refreshing sight to the storyline and characters. We find ourselves keep on wanting more. From admiring to how composed Da Li seems to be, and how knowledgeable she is towards certain subjects while being able to speak more than one language, although quite terrible at managing her own personal life.
And we keep on laughing aloud with Moo Hak and his dumb antics and exaggerated reactions, to all of his memorable and absurd moments where he can ridicule himself to no end. And yet there is an authentic aura coming out from him, of someone who knows how to survive and thrive with his business despite having less studies and the support of his family.
The whole deal with opposites attract, can define them.
Da Li and Moo Hak couldn't be any more different and yet they can compliment each other and bring out the best while showing each other the worst. They clicked from the very first moment, from the very first misunderstanding, from their unique bonding and the sole adventure that led for them to lean on each other and tell their darkest fears and secrets while trusting one another.
The thing about this drama is that both leads are strong characters and both have integrity.
They are well written. In such a way that we value their actions and scenes because of that.
We don't have weakest links among them, even among the clichés they manage to avoid most.
The moment they surpass a certain breaking point, they are linked and trust in each other.
That is definitely what I like most about this. The way Da Li always knows when Moo Hak is joking, when others call him dumb and doubt of his intelligence, and the way Moo Hak always knows how to comfort her when she needs it, - be it by a warm meal or a simple hug, - he is there for her. He does not judge her, and she doesn't judge him either. While others around have prejudices and point out their flaws, both Da Li and Moo Hak see their strengths and qualities even in their weakest moments.
What lacks in this drama?
The mystery. It's very predictable, it's not hard to see who is behind everything or following the hints in every single episode and figure the whole puzzle. Disappointing to say the very least. I found myself continuing this drama solely by 3 characters and their respective arch's - Moo Hak, Da Li and Won Tak. The rest falls down flat. Although I must say that the bonus character we can all admire is probably Moo Hak's secretary Yeo Mi Ri played by Hwang Bo Ra. Loyal, funny and friendly,
Storyline is the same as most dramas, corruption blending in with family dramas, oh and the petty Ex.
The highlight is the comedy, the iconic style, the symbolic messages this drama has under the lines.
Family does not always end in blood. Acceptance and freedom of expression. Even with losses learn to value the importance of a warm meal on the table, and the presence of your loved ones close by, the whole do what you love and love what you do, etc.
The palete in this drama is the most interesting as well as the whimsical style of it. It's all based on works of art, and well the story is set in a gallery too. Da Li's colorful outfits and unique hairstyle seems straight out of a painting, the filters at the end of each episode embody that as well.
The OST has a few catchy tunes with English lines that we can't help but to notice it.
Overall is not a bad drama, not the best either.
But it's a light romantic comedy to enjoy.
Probably hands down the best couple...
Not toxic, not giving up, not many clichés.
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Quirky Humor, Unique Fashion
Frolicking through this power play of money, politics, and an art museum is enhanced by the humor and surprises that keep popping up. Fighting for the art museum, fighting for the truth of who's loyal and who's not, it's an intermingling of characters who might not ever meet in real life. I'm enjoying it more than I expected while watching Episode 1 with all the mix-ups of who is who and what qualifies a person to love a particulare work of art.But the fashion -- what she wears, what he wears -- the pins on his lapel. That part is so much fun for me. I hope you're enjoying it, also.
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