Oh! Youngsim (2023)

Sweet, light and funny drama!

It is an unpretentious drama, a simple story, without big surprises but a delight to watch. If you are looking for a drama to watch without any sorrow or stress, this is the one!

Song Ha Yoon is an excellent actress and has a great comedy timing, I really enjoy her reactions. On the other hand, Dong Hae is wonderful in this return to dramas playing a successful CEO, but inexperienced in love. I hope this comeback to acting is to stay!

This drama is a classic cliché, but it's still a pleasure to watch two people who love each other in such a pure, naive and true way. I loved it in all episodes!

Read More

It exists . . . awkwardly

If I want to be generous, I can call this show a fluffy rom-com. However, that will be doing a disservice to the readers of this review. The premise of this show is a rom-com but what is delivered is subpar at every level.

The main story line is awkward. Bits of cliche plots are cobbled together. It feels tired and predictable. You could call it a labour of love because a bunch of people certainly worked hard to deliver it even with all its problems. Unfortunately, the core concept is not particularly funny nor romantic. I get that they want to get some laughs out of the struggling dating show but you are more likely to gag than giggle. The pacing is also inconsistent. Some plots feel rushed while others just meander along.

This is not helped by the OTP having little chemistry. Their whole love line felts contrived. It was a bad case of puppy love when they were young teens but their feelings for each other is unchanged for 20 years. Ok, it is a bit of a stretch but this trope has worked in other shows so it can work here too, right?

Yes, it can work and they say that they have resolved their issues and they are all lovey-dovey. Yet the same issue caused them to breakup again before the love bite had time to fade. Have they learnt nothing? Are they 34 or 14? The fact that the issue can be resolved with some straight talking is totally ignored. Some of the later dialogue doesn't make much sense. It is the classic "Do as I say, not as I do". I know the happy ending is mandated but it is one audacious piece of writing.

In terms of acting, the FL is prone to overact because her character is quite exaggerated. I have to give her credit for acting like a fool at times just for laughs. The ML pulls his weight but he can't carry the whole show and his character is a bit nebulous. Support cast is patchy. Lots of one dimensional characters. It feels like they are trying to be a caricature of themselves.

To be honest, I am a bit numb after watching this show. It is not so bad that you want to throw things at the monitor nor is it good enough to be truly enjoyable. You keep watching while clinging onto the hope that it will get better. In your heart, you know the actors deserve better, the crew deserve better, WE deserve better!

It exists . . . awkwardly. Enough said. Peace out.

Read More