This review may contain spoilers
It could've been done better, but they chose not to.Started this drama because of SWDBS, which is one of my favourites of all time. However, this drama fell terribly short compared to SWDBS. At first, I thought it was unique because we started good with the story— how the villain was smarter and the whole premise of hunting down the root of this whole drug chain. I have to admit, the story here was more interesting than SWDBS because it has more depth. However, why did they chose to give us crap the whole duration of the drama?
First, the female lead. I get how she was clueless when she arrived for the first time in South Korea. But she didn't change at all. She was immature and child like all along, her character didn't develop one bit.
Second, the romance. It gets me frustrated how we got to see A LOT MORE cute fluffy scenes between the FL and the villain but almost none was given between her and the ML. Why are we shipping the villain with the FL more than the ML? Besides, there is no chemistry at all between the FL and ML. It's like we were forced to think the two love each other even though we were not given much scenes to feed that fantasy. And it's annoying how the FL just went around flirting with the villain then going back to the ML like she loves him all her life.
Third, the villain being the most pitiful yet given the worst treatment and ending ever. I believe his past was enough to give justice for his actions, but how come they had to use the FL to make another heartbreak for him? Are we supposed to hate or empathize? There's so much going on with him, almost making him the main character rather than the other main leads.
Fourth, Namsoon's neglectful mother. She'd rather save the world than give a f*k about her children. She's been thought as a mother who cares about her children, but in reality, she was really neglectful of them— she doesn't even know what's going on with her son and to think she's so willing to give Namsoon a difficult job that could endanger her life, like she could easily die even with that immense strength. I liked the father more. He was more parent material to his children.
Fifth, the unnecessary love line between Namsoon's grandmother and a barista. I swear, they got more lovey-dovey screen time than the main couple. I know it was for comedic purposes, but who the hell cares we don't need them and they were so cringey all the way.
I'm really mad I have to force finish this drama in hopes of watching a better ending or development, but to my dismay. I should've dropped this earlier. Giving this a 5 for the supposed to be good storyline plus good start. But everything fell off so this also fells off as the worst kdrama I watched this 2023.
Was this review helpful to you?
Thank God it has ended
I was looking forward to this show cuz the original series was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, the plot and script were poorly developed and executed.The only watchable thing here is the villain. Si Oh was the only reason I kept on watching till the end. I didn’t mean to fall for him, and I tried not to feel bad for him, but I couldn’t help it and tbh I don't care because Si Oh is the only character worth watching in this drama. I liked his chemistry with Namsoon. And no, I wasn't hoping for them to end up together. I didn't expect her to be his friend either. I just liked the way he smiled only when he was with her :') I felt almost no chemistry between Namsoon and the cop. But whenever the villain and Namsoon came close, I blushed. Ik many people liked the cop and Namsoon chemistry, but not for me.
So, to summarize:
1. The mother seemed more like a FL than the actual FL herself. She had much more screen time than Namsoon and so many unnecessary scenes. (her outfits were nice tho :)
2. The grandma and his boyfriend. Instead of wasting time showing us their relationship, the writers would have focused more on the main couple.🙄
3. The main couple is so underdeveloped that it seems odd that they like each other, and with so many things going on, they didn't have enough screen time for good development.
4. The homeless couple. From the start till the end, I just didn't understand their purpose in the drama.
5. The police taking all the credit as if they could've done anything without Nam soon. 🤨
6. Ryu Si Oh is a perfectly written villain with so much depth in his backstory. He had so much more to give. Not at all excusing his actions as a character, but the writers could've done so much better. And considering his heartbreaking past, I think he deserved a second chance and wish he had a better ending. . ("I was betrayed by the only woman I trusted" that line broke me. 💔)
This drama could've had great potential, but anyway. I just hope there's no 3rd season. This season has destroyed the drama enough for it to just end right here.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Hmmm.....nevermind, just read the following!
I want to start off with positive points, yeah it does have few positive things that I wanna mention, lol.1) first season couple's cameo, loved that scene.
2) I really liked how FL's mom was super rich, strong, pretty and smart all in one..cuz in most of the dramas it's other way round. She was the highlight of this show and all her scenes were super entertaining, I never skipped her scenes. Her acting was pretty good.
3) ML - he is cute, considerate, kind and everything. Acting was good.
4) actors acting was good, those 3 stars are for their acting.
Now negative points. There are many but I will mention only few that made be give only 3 stars.
1) FL- I guess her character was supposed to be cute and innocent cuz of the way she was brought up in mangolia but I found her very annoying. It wasn't cute in anyway her constant smiling for no reason and making faces trying to be cute was very irritating. (Am talking about character not actress)
2) villain is handsome and looked dangerous in the beginning but he was actually very stupid, mentally and emotionally weak not to mention how it ended with him committing suicide. I feel pity for him but for God sake hez a villain and took many innocent lives, distributed drugs etc. here I don't really understand what writer was trying to do cuz his pitiful story and everything made many people actually hate FL for betraying him, leaving them in confusion on whether he really deserved to die or not, and suicide? Really? Left everyone with bitter taste by the end, maybe that's what writers were trying to do but it made villain's character steal the focus from main leads and I didn't really bother about leads cuz villain's character had more depth than leads only cuz of his past lol cuz he isn't that smart there are many points where you feel hez soo dumb, he was played with for more than half of the story. anyways it's really silly how writers tried to make us LOVE AND HATE him at the same time but what really happened was that it made us get annoyed with FL even more for God sake show's title is on FL but her character itself is very annoying. and she did betray him no matter what the 'reason' was everything eventually led him to commit suicide. At least they should have shown him getting arrested or something. There's no going back as his life is anyways ruined cuz of all the wrong decisions he made but committing suicide brought even more sympathy to his character. Like why?
3) story - Gosh!! Didn't like the whole drug shit at all. There was no solid story. Even though its on a sensitive topic (drugs) but story wasn't good at all. I didn't enjoy it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not a very good sequel,/spin off nope not very good at all...
This is pretty much what you get if you take the Adams family, give them superpowers add a bunch of odd stereotypes, put them in mission impossible goes honest and becomes a cop show honestly any cop show will do put them all in a blend/word mix app and ta da you got this show.The most interesting character in the whole show is the villain who is not only fine but is the only one with a story... Dude is as evil as evil gets but he has his reansons and if only he were the male lead, maybe just maybe Nam Soon could have turend the bad boy good... or we could make a copleatly different story just for him maybe have him date the mom in reverse K2 type deal or maybe just give him a different lead to fall in love with all together... Anything would probably have done and uped the score from this otherwise pretty boring mess...
That said there are some moment of interest and intense stuff some of the friendships here are nice and the mom and grandma have their moments. The. grandmas guy and the cop male lead have thier moments of sweet but to be honest t he cameos 3 seconds of Bong Soon probably stand for one of the stars in this rating.
So if you loved the first season for it's chemistry and fluff, You are bound to get disappointed as it is just not there...
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It's really not THAT bad, y'all...
I have seen dramas that were waaay worse.I'm not going to say this is without flaws - they could have removed some of the storylines (like the uncle and secretary, etc.) and could have given the lead couple more scenes together, but I still think the good outweighs the bad here. I really cannot understand all the negative reviews. It's not the best drama, but certainly doesn't deserve a 1 rating.
From what I can see, the biggest downfall of this drama is making the antagonist too alluring - he's like that hot bad boy next door that all the popular girls want to tame. Add a sad backstory, and we're hooked. As viewers, we are completely invested in his arc (because he's really the only character that gave us a glimpse into his past) and despite him doing all the wrong things, we can't help but feel sorry and root for him. I can see his arc becoming a completely different drama entirely where he changes for the better and gets the girl in the end.
Alas, this isn't his story, and Ryo Shi-O has to play out his role until the very end - as a drug lord who dreamt of a life free from his past, but was destined to fall the moment Nam Soon showed up.
I'll be honest and say that I never once rooted for him (though I did feel really sorry for him) because his character never felt any remorse for his actions. He literally plotted and killed SO many people and smiled about it. Yes, he was great to look at, but when you truly see his character (NOT the actor), he was still an evil guy. Remember, he even tried to kill Nam Soon, the girl he supposedly loved - yes, she betrayed him, but besides revenge, would killing her really have solved anything? It sounds to me that many people are rating this drama poorly because they wanted some kind of switcheroo and have him be the ML. I blame it on the fact that Byeon Woo Seok was just too charismatic for this role.
Like many others, I too was excited to start this drama because of him (especially after watching 20th Century Girl) but I stayed for the laughs and the silliness that you need sometimes in a drama. Yeah, there are parts of the story that were over-the-top, but isn't that what makes it fun? There are people saying this show is too "childish" but if that's the case, they can just go watch a melodrama - why watch a comedy and especially one where the predecessor has the same vibes and then complain about it? It's like watching Wonder Woman and complaining that she has super powers.
Overall, I still really enjoyed this drama despite its flaws. It's really fun, unique, light-hearted, and will give you a good laugh. Just don't expect completely fleshed-out characters and enjoy the ride - you definitely won't be bored.
Don't let the rating and negative comments deter you! I would say to try watching at least the first 3 episodes and judge for yourself.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Missed opportunity
When I first watched this drama, it looked really promising. Totally different from predecessor. I loved the funny and chemistry between all the main characters. I was enjoying the show for the first half of it and Ryu Si-Oh stole the scenes. I knew he was the villain and I was resigned with the fact that he won’t end up with Namsoon. Up until episode 10 I was hoping for at least a redemption story for him but the writers did his character dirty. After making us sympathize Ryu Si-Oh’s upbringing they just gave him the saddest death scene. I’m really disappointed in this series, I do hope the next one will be better and they have learned from their mistakes.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Byeon Woo Seok's exceptional performance breathes life into a lackluster storyline
Strong Girl Namsoon falls short of its predecessor, "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon," leaving viewers with a sense of disappointment. The dubious comedy, lackluster romance, and weak storyline contribute to an overall underwhelming viewing experience. The characters, once vibrant and relatable, now come across as ridiculous caricatures.However, amidst the mediocrity, Byeon Woo Seok shines as Ryu Shi Oh. His portrayal adds a redeeming quality to the drama, making it somewhat bearable. The character's poignant last words, "I was abandoned by the women I trusted," unveil a heartbreaking narrative of constant betrayal. Shi Oh's struggle with love and trust, where every connection turns into betrayal, captivates the audience.
Byeon Woo Seok's exceptional performance breathes life into a lackluster storyline. The character's development, dialogues, and backstory stand out, making him the saving grace of an otherwise forgettable series. While the overall drama fails to impress, Woo Seok's captivating portrayal of Ryu Shi Oh serves as a compelling reason to endure till the end.
In conclusion, it definitely not live up to its predecessor, but Byeon Woo Seok's remarkable performance as Ryu Shi Oh manages to salvage some enjoyment from an otherwise disappointing narrative. Despite the flaws, his character's emotional journey adds depth to the drama, making it somewhat worthwhile for those seeking a silver lining in the midst of a lackluster plot.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Worst of Worst
I mean how can a writer be that dumb that he/she show the MC as side character .The most of the time and story revolve around the mom only.Hear are the some poins that i realy hate in this drama.1) The Story is so basci that i can predict what will happen in next scean not only that i can predict others episodes also
2) The MC is good but because of writer worst writing i hate her.
3) Means in drama the mom is so rich that the batman is nothing compare to her and she also behave like batman she has a bike a blackdress just like batman means, the writer was writhing the show while watching the movie The Batman and he/she thins that i should aslo develop a charater that is aslo like batman but i will change the gender and will make worst of it .
4) The mc uses the power without hiding it,using every time and not using her brain for a second.
5)The mom loves the most her girl chid but okay okay with son child
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
After watching 20th century girl and seeing all the Ryu Shio edits, I was quite intrigued to watch this series, but decided not to due to all the negative comments. But now that I have watched Lovely runner, I decided to give it a try for Byeon Woo Seok. Unfortunately I couldn't finish it, even for him!Why did I drop after ep 8 (+ep 9 only Ryu Shio scenes)?
- FL: I believe they wanted to make the FL innocent and naive, but she ended up being a 6-year old child in an adult body. At first I found her cute, but then when the whole spy thing started, she was just dumb! Someone mentioned that this series audience are kids, and that's really true! Who would hold a watch with hidden camera like that? And why didn't the cops give her any instructions regarding the computer, usually in movies they put an USB stick into the computer to get access, but here she is stealing the whole computer... I think it's supposed to be funny, but it just felt stupid.
It's so sad, she could have been a very cool & cute character...
- ML: The actor is cute, but character is very bland, boring and uncharming. Also he didn't have any chemistry with the FL. The romance didn't really make sense to me, like how & why did he fall in love with her?
- FL's Mother: It would have been great to show that she succeeded as a hero & businesswoman, but as a failed mother (not sure if that happens later in the drama), that would add more complexity to her character. And then we could have seen her redeeming herself.
- Villain: Him verifying FL's identity and ML being able to hide voice recorders in the building was very sloppy for someone who was part of Russian mafia. He also wasn't as cold as I expected him to be. However I didn't watch the whole series, so maybe after watching the whole drama it would make sense...
As for the rest: I didn't care about the grandma at all (was kind of expecting her boyfriend to be an enemy, but read somewhere that that wasn't the case). I was disappointed that FL's brother and uncle were very weak and had nothing to themselves than being "ill". At least her father showed some kind of character...
So, overall this series is not good imo (even w/o the comparison with Do Bong Soon). It failed to capture me. I'm actually a sucker for cute FL, but it has to be done right, which this series couldn't. I fail to see the good points of this series...
Was this review helpful to you?
I'll make it short...
Strong Girl Namsoon had a cool premise with the mix of the different approaches of feminism, but the story went off the rails.Kang Nam Soon's search for her parents in Gangnam turns into this weird drug case involving her family, and it just feels forced.
The detective subplot is okay, but they threw in a villain, Ryu Si Oh, who's the only thing worth watching.
The writing is a mess, though.
No clear direction, and it feels like the writers lost their way.
The family dynamics are interesting, but the lackluster plot overshadows it.
Despite some cool action scenes and good performances, the show doesn't live up to its potential—just a letdown.
The series could have done better in delivering a more coherent and empowering feminist storyline.
( I'm being generous here so I gave 8 because I'll be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it a bit )
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I WAS DISAPPOINTED!
I wanna start off by saying that i really wanted to love this drama! I feel like there's something missing. I personally felt like it was rushed and could of been better. the only character we got to kind of know was Ryu Shi-Oh. i would have Ike to have a back story on how Gang Nam-soon was lost. Also I think Nam-Soon mom got more screen time than anyone. it started off kinda slow. i liked it after episode 2. in my opinion it was kinda hard to keep up with all the characters just because they were thrown in randomly for a short period of time. personally i felt namsoon had more chemistry with Ryu shi-oh than Hee-shik. also it felt like they rushed their love story and it felt cringy and bland. The only reason i watched until the end was because Wooshik! WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE KILLED OFFF!!???? Also whats up with putting half the characters in the hospital almost every episode? no ending has ever upset me more than this, I'm super disappointed.One thing that i really liked was how they brought awareness to homelessness, drug abuse, sexism, and ageism
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Funny in some parts, but would not reccomend
This show is quite cute/funny, but not one to be taken super seriously. Also, not to be compared to strong woman do bong soon at ALL,, bc it would get like a 1.5 comparatively. Thinking of it as a standalone drama: the first half started pretty strong/quirky, and I enjoyed the buildup to the story. My main problem with the drama was the second half of it, it really falls apart the last few episodes closer to the end.SPOILERS: There are so many side plots that end up hastily tied via just killing characters lmao. I feel like it derailed itself so hard. It made the villain the most interesting character in the show and then did nothing with it like he kills himself in the end no recourse. Like they wrote him super interesting and made us sympathize w his upbringing just to shoot him in the skull?I believe a strong part of why so many rooted for the villain in strong girl was due to Byeon Woo Seok and his character's chemistry with the FL (watch Lovely Runner if you want to see more of him!).
The main girl gets annoying/grating after a while bc she wont take anything seriously and her mom is almost more of the main character than she is. The ML is just boring after a while tbh like he has less chemistry with the FL than her and the villain do like ur shows kinda fked if everyone's rooting for the bad guy. They tried to set up for another season at the end bc they left so many sub plots open as well.
There was this whole subplot that was so lame like this girl was an evil orphan who pretended to be Nam Soon and tries to kill the real Nam Soon, but then the mom's like we can live happily w u as my daughter too if u change ur ways and she DOES and its like a really sweet happy ending about redemption and stuff and then second to last episode villain kills her in an alley like what was the messaging there: don't turn good bc u think it'll be happy ever after but it won't and you'll diE??? I saw the vision in the story before that, it was like teaching u the lesson that if u choose good, good things will come to you, which was a really nice message even with the story being a bit unrealistic, but to toss it out like tieing down a loose end seemed poorly thought out.
I think that was a lot of ppls complaints with it is like they had so many sub plots and shit they panicked at the end and were like how can we tie all these loose ends down? ah yeah; death
villain story? dead. second daughter story? dead. love story? (they've been together for 2 months) marriage.
Its like u took some highschooler, hired them as an intern, and they're practicing basic story concepts but they're like well we need to have a happy ending w no complications.
All in all, I think it could have been executed much better and the only reason I'm giving it a non zero score after flaming it so hard is that I really enjoyed the first half as a comedy, and appreciate the actors and team's work on the show. Just wish the script/storyboarding was thought out a little better on the grand scale of things. I will say this show introduced me to Byeon Woo Seok as a compelling actor so I'm appreciative of that! I don't think I would have watched Lovely Runner if not for that, and that's a really nice romance show~
Was this review helpful to you?
