True to Love (2023)

It's a bit funny how in the drama 'Touch Your Heart' Inna was basically playing actress Oh Yeon Seo, someone who has been criticized for her bad acting a lot over the years. In this drama however Inna has a very similar character that Oh Yeon Seo herself portrayed before in the same author's work 'Mad for Each Other & Oh Yeon Seo was a much better fit for this I think, so we have kind of gone full circle in a sense.. Don't misunderstand she has done a decent enough job, but it's just a bit weird and ill fitting. Of course -unlike Yoo Inna- Hwang Chan Sung was a massive weak link in the drama overall. So to summarize, the drama is AT BEST average in the acting department.

The writing & the pacing of the script are objectively bad. There is no way around this, there really are a lot of problems & some astonishingly bad lines in the earlier episodes. Although I suppose the drama's saving grace are also lines, because here and there there was some brilliant dialog that really resonated with me. (a very smart intern writer's work perhaps?) Looking at the plot delivery It's not hard to see why it's more than a little bad. The first 5 episodes are completely about FL's mental breakdown/breakup, after that we get a relatively average, but serviceable romcom & then following that there is a rushed weird mess in the final two episodes that culminate in a 15 minute long, substance-less happy ending.
The characterization is also a hit and miss. Bora and Lee Soo Hyuk's characters are okay, but there are quite a few side characters that are just horrible, weird or just extremely two dimensional. (Uri, Yu Jung etc..)
Also the obsession with confessions is a weird theme for a drama to have, I don't really know what to think about this..

Can Love Triangle haters watch this? Maybe, though the previous love interests do stick around..

People like bashing the drama for that one admittedly very insensitive Auschwitz comment. While this is fair, I think it's more of an ill researched analogy that came from ignorance rather than anything else.

Overall the drama is a weird amalgamation of multiple genres. I don't really understand who the target audience is suppose to be. Sad-melo enjoyers will like the first 5 episodes, but will probably be very disappointed with what comes after, romcom lovers might not even hold out long enough to reach the 5-7 romcom episodes & then either of those groups would be at least somewhat disappointed due to the final two episodes.
Maybe the problem is just me, since the 10/10 reviews just keep on coming..

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Best Rom-Com of 2023.

I loved every bit of this drama. Generally, dramas shows breakups as painful but the leads try to act cool. But this showed the true nature of breakup. When breaking up, you get to see the lowest of the person you once loved and lose yourself as a person.
We have seen how she tried the hardest to being loved and when breaking up, we saw her breaking apart and let go of her perfect image in front of the world. Similarly, we also saw her grow as a person and su hyeok standing by her side and being with her at her worst. The ex was trash until the end and his ending was hilarious lol.
I loved how they showed the beautiful ending for all the couples. It was the best rom com with lots of laughter and hilarious moments. It's funny, sweet and makes feel grow as a person as well.

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Painful to watch

never written a review on mdl before but then again I've never hated a kdrama more than this. Bora finds her shitty bf cheating on her and then begs him to take her back?? not just once, but multiple times! painful to watch. she sobs uncontrollably for days/weeks about their breakup. also, the show approvingly quotes Donald Trump which is laughable. none of the characters feel like real people! the best friend is mad at her husband for something serious and he buys her a purse and suddenly she wasn't mad anymore?? it's like a parody of how women behave. I went into this show very excited and it just completely makes no sense

Edit: i will also say that it wasn't clear that Bora even liked her boyfriend at the beginning, she just wanted to marry someone and this guy "had it all." so i thought once she realized "oh wait, maybe i didn't even like him, i just wanted to marry someone who looked good on paper" that she would get over him and move on. but through 7 episodes, that never happened. she continued to sob over him! the show seemingly hates Bora because after all of the mess with her ex bf, she is then a victim of a phishing scam, which scammed her and her friends out of a lot of money. there was very little going right in her life which made it hard to watch and not entertaining. the side characters also didn't interest me very much. The publisher guy seemingly being attracted to the young temp was also weird and creepy to me. im not sure if thats where the show went with that plot line because i stopped watching but it creeped me out to watch their flirting. Bora's friend seems to be in a horrible marriage but doesn't seem to realize it. i dont even know if the show realizes how bad their marriage is! having a "hideout" place from your spouse is not a good thing! again, i really wanted to like this show and i kept watching it, thinking it'd get better and it never did.

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Watchable Rom Com Falls Prey to 11th Hour Problems

Having Yoo In-na and Yoon Hyun-min spearheading this was a major incentive to jump on the bandwagon. Especially Yoo In-na who is so much at home in rom coms. So after skipping ahead for a sneak peek, I decided that this might be fluff worth wasting time over. I was sold after watching Episode 3 and my heart went out to a very humiliated (and devastated) Bo-ra who was being mercilessly gaslighted by her ex and social media.

This show covers plenty of subjects close to my heart — the complexities of courtship, marriage as well as differences between the sexes. Not everything works for me but there are nuggets of gold everywhere and the gleam of gems even when episodes don’t light up. What’s become evident is that Kdrama rom coms are gradually turning into parodies of the genre which would account for the histrionics, hijinx and odd foray into toilet humour. This accounts for why the genre that catapulted SK dramas to international glory have become very hit and miss. Here there’s a dual purpose in that because the show needs Yoon Hyun-min’s character Lee Su-hyeok to see the very worst of Bo-ra and still somehow manage to fall in love with her. Why? Because everyone defaults to hiding behind masks and facades in public. In a society where status and respectability holds incalculable currency, one’s public face may bear little or no resemblance to one’s private realities. This fact has ramifications for how dating and marriage is viewed in the wider population.

The first 7 episodes are a mixed bag. Some segments contain sparkles of brilliance and insight into the fallen state of humanity while others leave behind the sour aftertaste of second-hand embarrassment. The lifeline during those moments are the leads’ banter which is always a delight to behold. Whatever the show’s flaws there’s no doubting the quality of the dialogue. But from Episode 8 onwards when Bo-ra finally bids the duplicitous ex-boyfriend farewell and the leads share an intimate moment in a karaoke booth, a switch in the show’s engine is turned on.

By about the third or fourth episode it becomes clear that this show is about endings. The end of a relationship doesn’t have to be the death knell to one’s existence. It can be the beginning of something else. Perhaps something better than what came before. Out with the old, in with the new. Hence the jalopy vs Mercedes analogy that is referenced in Episode 11. The very best part of this show is reserved for the leads and rightly so. From the first they are set up with parallel journeys and in walking together, groping around for answers, their eyes are opened to what’s been there all this time. The ending of a relationship doesn’t have to be a tragedy regardless of how it ended.

It occurs to me that this story really begins with the exes — Ju-hwan and Yu-ri. The leads are going on their merry way more or less maintaining the status quo. Bo-ra who is the talk show queen of dating and author of three books on the subject gets mugged by a rude shock when she finds out that not only was Ju-hwan messing around with a close family friend on his busy days, he had long since given up on their relationship. In his words, he felt smothered by Bo-ra but I’m inclined to think that in his case there’s a lot more than that. Yu-ri on the other hand was fed up with Su-hyeok’s reticence and was already looking elsewhere for security and solace.

Infidelity, an immoral act, is usually an expression of a much deeper problem that hasn’t yet been laid bare. It’s also a case of wanting your cake and eating it. A lack of communication is often blamed for break-ups and no doubt that plays a integral part. However, it goes much deeper than that. The death knell of a relationship is the consequence of unspoken, unmet expectations much of which are unrealistic.

The show swims along nicely for about 5 episodes and then it falls apart with the last two which are almost a reversal of what transpired in the two preceding episodes.

Do I really want to know what was in the kimbap or fried chicken in the writers’ room when ideas were being pitched for Episodes 13 and 14 of Bo Ra! Deborah / True to Love? I was fervently hoping that they wouldn’t screw up the resolution but alas they just couldn’t help themselves. Episode 13 in particular aroused something in me that few dramas are capable of doing. It made me want to punch the screen. What the show did to Su-hyeok’s arc in particular was sloppy and asinine. All in service of a push and pull that had to be until about 10 minutes before the end. It was a resolution in search of a conflict… and a villain. And even now I’m puzzling over who that might be.

Is it the insufferable Ju-hwan — the pompous egotistical ex who was caught red-handed cheating on Bo-ra? He seems to be the front runner. The classic bad guy and the quintessential obstacle to true love and happiness. The guy has no shame and the show is shameless in exploiting the very worst aspects of his personality. Or is it the gutless wonder that is the male lead who somehow loses his nerve when the destable Ju-hwan confesses on public radio that he wants another chance with Bo-ra. So what does Su-hyeok do. He caves. Accordingly Su-hyeok backs down from a fight because he says during a drunken stupor that he “doesn’t want to be the bad guy in somebody else’s romance”. It’s easy to believe that someone else wrote Episode 13 because the Su-hyeok in the last two episodes underwent a brain or personality transplant. He became a different man. In my exploding head I can just hear Jeremy Northam’s Mr Knightley saying to Gwyneth Paltrow’s Emma. “Badly done, Emma, badly done.”

Another candidate for villain here might be Bo-mi who sinks to new lows in terms of churlishness and stupidity. Gee “Sister, thy name is gaslighting” was out in full force. I’ve never liked Bo-mi who has never been much of a presence in this drama but all that defensive tantrum throwing in the final episodes is very hard to watch.

In a way I’m glad that I didn’t invest weeks on this show only to be left feeling vaguely defrauded by the production. To put a positive spin on this I can see how the show runners who are tethered to the ratings system are terrified of the leads coming together too early because the complaint has traditionally been “oh the show is not interesting once the leads come together.” This kind of thinking has incentivized bad endings more times than I can count with two hands and ten toes. A moderately good show can’t have a clunky ending because a clunky ending has a detrimental effect on the entire shape of the narrative.

Adapted from two posts from my personal blog.

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BORA + DEBORAH = PROFESSIONAL LOVE LESSONS!

This has to be one of the most realistic take on romance genres out there.. Especially the breakup aspects of the drama. like that was so damn on point.

People tend to believe that break up and coming back as a kickass female lead and slap ex blah blah is the standard and how humans should behave but girl... That's only what fantasy tells you. have you ever been in a breakup?? let Deborah tell you and show you how it really feels!

The acting was SOOO on point that I feel in love and grew up be fond of each role! like it was nicely shown. especially FL! omg she had been wishing I had a bestie like her!

The Plot was one in a million. I've always loved series's where we're given quoted and speech on love topic and theories and this drama was Just that.

I loved the concept it gave. a Love couch with a relatably fascinating character ends up Heartbroken by ex for the first time...how she went through it...In a very messy way..and overcomes it all.

it was saddening but realistic watching how she overcame it all. that is how you describe one going through a breakup!

Unlike what most drama show u, FL gets cheated on..next day she's walking and flying and face slapping up and down... Girl.. That's a lie? Unless she didn't like ike him in the first place.

But this drama took us through DEBORAH messy recovery from a breakup and how she found love again. Interesting.

what I love most about this drama is the love theories we're given omg I'm gonna head back and write down for future reference! Bora really said all that was neede to be heard. the love lessons here cupped with the quote was so on point and epic.

Deborah says!He's a jerk?

It's so fun to watch. the comedy was another thing to die for because she is really killing the rom com and I love it!

a drama where all the couple are equally Lovable. and I love how each couple represents a certain societall couple. like the older guy younger girl, married couples and their issues and young love..and let's not forget the divorcee haha.

and I really love the manuscript Bora wrote in the end. because that ending was SOOO perfect like how she ended it was a Gem. I'm gonna end my book like that too,??

All in all One of the best drama 2023 which is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED and I'd recommend to anyone out there. watch it now!

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If you're recovering from a break up, watch this.

I actually genuinely enjoyed this... it's light and funny despite having 2 major breakups take the center stage of the plot.

We get a lot of heartbreak stories and moving on stories in the world of kdrama, but rarely do we find one that has it as the central plot. And this is what I loved about this show, it focuses on the break up and how Bora moves on from it with the help of another person. The show is a true embodiment of the saying, "misery loves company", but I find it amazing how the whole mood of the show was rather comedic than gloomy.

I honestly found myself laughing at the antics of Bora here. It's relatable in a sense where at some point of our own breakups, we find ourselves doing the most vulnerable and embarrassing things to bring back the other person, until such time we wake up and realize our worth. Watch this if you're trying to get over a break up.

Basically, it's a very easy show to watch. I haven't been hooked in a kdrama for the longest time and I'm happy I took a chance on this despite reading a few bad reviews.

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RomCom? I call it “Romantic Friendship” with heavy dose of comedy. I loved it.

As the MDL synopsis states: “The series follows the romantic journey of Yeon Bo Ra, a celebrated love coach and successful author of romance novels, and Lee Soo Hyuk, a charming man who grapples with matters of the heart.”

And it is quite the journey. Bo-ra is popular and a self-proclaimed attention seeker – she craves attention and that people admire/like her. Soo Hyuk is a very reserved man who expresses himself by actions, not words . Both are essentially dumped by their significant others at the same time. Although Soo-Hyuk is stunned (and he blames Bo-ra’s books/radio show for what happened to him), it is Bo-ra that publicly crashes and burns – and Soo Hyuk is there to witness it all and – since he has a caring heart – help her even though he still dislikes her.

It’s a bit of enemies to friendship to love – as Soo Hyuk eventually states “after a few serendipitous moments, we came to work together.” Destiny? I don’t know – I’m not the “destiny” type so choose to belief that it's the right person/right time story.

Over several episodes (beginning around Episode 6), their romantic friendship begins and grows. I call it “romantic friendship” because the viewer could see – in both small moments and Mega Big Moments – that they were falling in love with each other as they continued to grapple with the fall-out of their separate break-ups. In other words, they were good for each other. While learning about the other person, they also learned about themselves. Although they evolved, their basic personalities did not change and that’s probably the number one reason I loved this drama – the writers kept them consistent to the very end.

For those viewers whose definition of “romance” is lots of skinship, flowery words, The woman falling on top of the man, passionate declarations of love and marriage proposals, this may not be your cup of tea. Especially if you’re the type that screams at the TV – “just tell her you love her, you introverted jerk”

There are three other couples/quasi-couples in the drama and they provided back-ground support (i.e. “sounding board”) to the main couple and experienced their own little dramas [translation: filler]. Two were actually cringey – and I won’t spoil further because I never cared about any of them as “a couple”, but I almost removed a two⭐'s from my rating because of them. If the writer wanted us to understand their purpose (other than filler and sounding boards), I don’t know what it was.

Nevertheless, it’s getting a 10⭐ from me because eagerly looked forward to each episode (setting the alarm early morning PDT), I thoroughly enjoyed the Main Couple’s overall story, character “development” and journey, terrific acting by both Yoo In Na and Yoon Hyun Min, and a script that ran the gamut from cringe (did they just show that on tv?) to deep affection. I will probably binge watch again in a couple of weeks.

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worth watch for sure

I feel like many people didn't like that drama and I know why but in my opinion it was something different from an ordinary love story and it kept me excited to watch. I definitely recommend these series if you want to watch something about getting over a breakup or comlicatedrelationships. Also this drama got me out of my slump and make me laught a lot ?

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Perfect RomComs are getting harder to find I hope you stumble upon this one!

This one was soo good. It wasn't too light on feelings or emotions but it wasn't complex and "smart" either. It's a perfect Romcom movie that gets into details without boring the watcher. You sign up for what you get and you get what you sign up for.

I see it as extremely re-watchable. Not because I missed anything but because I think the actors breathed enough life into their characters to last ages. Just like a classic rom-com. I found this drama very endearing and likable after being made to watch a romance on top of tons of tragedy and social justice-provoking problems. It's not that I don't like my dramas with a pinch of tragedy but simple ones that aren't so simple are getting harder to find. Dramas I can watch without raking my brain but feeling and setting back. Dramas that don't want to make me cry but empathize and try to understand what it's like for spring to arrive as the weather gets ready for snow, what it is like to muster the courage to confess with false hopes and get let down.

The lines in the script were beautiful. I enjoyed all narrations and I loved the feeling of being able to read Bo-ra's book. You might not relate to or like everything but that's life and I loved how this drama is as realistic as a drama could be.

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I felt bored watching this show but I kept going on for FL

I absolutely loved the FL for her decisive and extroverted personality. She plays a strong and independent career woman who can, at times, be overwhelming like a whirlwind. I wasn't super into the ML but I appreciated his patient and considerate personality. Tbh, I found him a little bit boring and frustrating at times. However, the deal-breaker for this show wasn't the ML but the lack of plot which didn't allow the romance to progress properly. By the end of the show, I felt like their relationship was lukewarm at best and I no longer cared if they got together or not.

One of the main reasons I had trouble shipping them was that there was too much will-they-wont-they going on. They kissed around episode 8 (I think), but the next day, both ML and FL agreed that their hot make-out session was "just a mistake". After that, things started heating up between them, but the ML ghosted the FL and didn't reply to her texts because he felt guilty moving on so soon. His ex-girlfriend cheated on him, dumped him for not confessing his feelings, and then gave him a wedding invite just to hurt him. Yet, when his ex called him to a bar and said she wanted to get back together with him, he ditched FL and went to her. Even though he went to break things off once and for all, he shouldn't have ditched FL like that since he had already agreed to be her date at a wedding.

Meanwhile, FL has already seen the nasty side of her ex, Juhwan, after they broke up. Juhwan cheated on her, gaslit her, blamed her for his cheating, ruthlessly dumped her, fired her from her job after she had a meltdown and then avoided her like crazy. Even so, she wanted to get back with him until a certain point and clung to him desperately. How does that make any sense????? And then when Juhwan wanted her back she allowed him to remain in her life as "friends". This backfired because Juhwan sabotaged FL's relationship with ML and guilt-tripped ML into thinking he was taking advantage of FL's vulnerability.

There are so many things in kdramas that don't make any sense to me, and the main leads' slow-paced relationship and inability to communicate is one of them. Every-time they take one step forward, they take two-steps back and try to date their exes. It's like they don't remember what happened just a few episodes ago. They are never true to their words and keep contradicting what they said earlier. Also, ML is so emotionally constipated and frustrating. FL gives him so many signals that she likes him, but he never says it back and keeps playing with her feelings. He's always overthinking things and is easily manipulated by the exes.

As a result, by the start of the last episode, the main leads are still not together and neither one of them has confessed to the other. All this drama was really boring and reduced the quality of this show. I only started this show because I kept seeing its clips on Instagram reels, and I continued because I was hooked in the FL's story. I have to say that Yoo In Na did a superb role in her role, and she was so charismatic and expressive. However, the plot was so unsatisfying that I regret watching this show and I kind wish I had done something else instead.

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