No Gain, No Love (2024)

A PROPER ROMCOM!

I hope everyone ignores negative reviews and give No Gain No Love a fair chance because I have never enjoyed the comedy and heart fluttering romance as depicted by the main leads. Shin Min Ah is the life of the show and brings so much chemistry to this pairing that you'll never notice the age gap. And the humour is on point!

There have been 2 other romcoms airing simultaneously (Cinderella At 2 AM and Love Next Door) but none of the comedy has been on par with No Gain No Love. It has been so much fun watching this. Though the plot is not unique with some typical tropes likes fake marriage and opposites attract, the direction and the dialogues catch you off guard! You predict the FL to say or do one thing and she completely surprises you which makes it so much more entertaining. The chemistry between the main leads is sizzling and my only complaint is that I wanted to see more of them because of how much I enjoyed their romance. And I also loved that for once the female lead is the bolder one in the relationship besides also being smart and quick on her feet. The male lead is kind, at times shy and aloof and gentle. They really complemented each other.

We also have 2 other couples. Though I wouldn't say I was fond of them and sometimes I even found them annoying but it definitely presents something for everyone. The second leads also have a 18+ spin off which I will be watching to see if I enjoy their chemistry better in that. However don't let my preference dissuade you because I was fully entertained and it gave me lots to talk about.

Another thing I liked about this show is that even in the low moments of the characters, it never got too depressing and tried to maintain an overall happy and light moments so this is great for watching when you need an escape. All the actors stayed true to their characters with room for some character growth as well.

The "weakest" of the episodes were the last two because they had more serious aspects to deal with and I would have liked 2 more episodes to depict more of the main duo. And that is why I can't give this a full 10. I still loved enough about the show that I can't be too upset with it.

The main theme song is nice and upbeat. It suits the vibe of the drama.

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I looked forward to every episode as it aired. Great chemistry. Well acted. Enjoyable.

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy series with 12, 60 minute episodes.  Other titles are “Spice Up Our Love” and “No Loss in Love.”

 

First, I provide a Unique Synopsis then review. 

 

Synopsis

 

Son Hae-young (Shin Min-A) was an only child but grew up with her parents continually taking in foster kids and, as such not paying a lot of attention to their only child.  In the balance of life, she felt like she was constantly having what should have been hers taken away by others that may have just been passing through.  That early experience, and the resentment she still bears as an adult, has shaped her so she wants equity in every interaction.  At work promotions and many other opportunities are restricted to those that are married.  This unfair policy reminds her of her childhood which she felt was completely unfair.  When a competition opens at work that is only available to married employees, Hae-young makes a decision which would allow her to participate.  A fake marriage she determines is the only way to gain all the benefits she can at work. 

 

Hae-young has been in an ongoing battle with convenience clerk Kim Ji-wook (Kim Young-dae) who has gained the reputation of being an angel for his kind nature and selfless volunteer work.  So, it is out of character for him to be mean or petty but Hae-young’s over the top antics, which he observes as she frequents his store, have made him her anti-fan.  He pettily deprives her of her favorite snack insuring there is limited, or no stock, and she does stuff like mess up his store shelves.   But Hae-young is desperate for a fake groom and her rival in her mind is the perfect candidate because he dresses bum sheik and their conflict ensures no feelings will develop.  Ji-wook originally refuses Hae-young’s outrageous offer until he realizes Hae-young will choose anybody, including this con man he knows, to fulfill her plan.  Even with their cold war Ji-wook cannot stand to see Hae-young get hurt so he agrees to her crazy plan, pretending he is in it for the compensation and assurance of a quick divorce.  But things start to change when Ji-wook cleans up to above average handsome.  As the two work in partnership on the fake marriage, they learn things about each other that change their opinion. Maybe Hae-young’s heart may not be as safe as she thought it was. 

 

Review



 This was a super heart warming romantic comedy which I waited eagerly every week to air. I like both of the actors a lot and have enjoyed many things they have been in so was excited to see them in this one and I wasn’t disappointed. They had great chemistry and their romance was very believable. It was really fun in the beginning when they had this bit of a rival going, it made it very interesting. She was really unique and you could tell it was gonna take a lot to win her over and convince her that there were more important things in life than keeping a tally. I would watch it if somebody had it on I might even seek it out to watch it again. I highly recommend it to anybody that likes romance or any of the actors.



Spoilers



It definitely takes you an emotional roller coaster as I felt for him every time she pushed him away emotionally. It was so clear she really liked him and was just getting in her own way. I wish we had more of reunion in the end. It was really just the very last few minutes. We actually saw more of the second couple together.



Her friend/sister was in some polyamarous relationship and I just think that’s odd. I’ve never known anybody other than swingers in that kind of relationship. I don’t know why they felt the need to include that and I didn’t really like it, but it wasn’t a big enough part of the story to ruin it for me. I liked her long time boyfriend and liked it when he wanted to be exclusive and was willing to accept the baby even if it wasn’t his. Their relationship actually wound up being pretty cute. I just didn’t think they needed that part where they each had another partner and that she wasn’t sure who the babies’ father was. Again just seemed completely unnecessary and actually a departure from why I usually like Korean shows where they’re much more wholesome typically. So I think that was a Prime effect rather than anything. Korean writers would’ve typically done.



I wanted to reconcile with her mom and understand more why she did what she did with the foster kids, but they never really took it there.



It was good that the brothers were starting to come together. I would’ve liked to see more of their relationship develop because they were both lonely in a way and needed each other. I also wanted to see him get to know his dad a little bit.



While it was cool that she started her own business and took the secretary with her. It would’ve been a step cooler if it had been highly successful and she wouldn’t have had to go back to her previous boss for a loan. I mean the interaction where he sort of tease them and then end up giving it to them anyway and called them. Traders was cute, but I still would’ve liked to have seen her being really successful on her own.

 

#NoGainNoLove  #SpiceUpOurLove  #NoLossInLove   #KimYoungDae   #ShinMinA

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Realistic emotions portrayed

At first it just seemed like another Noona drama that didn't make sense. But after binge watching 8 eps I felt like this is a rom com. The plot is heart-warming. The characters did wonderful justice to their roles. The main lead is mysterious but kind. The female lead is ambitious but also warm hearted than she shows. The second female lead did the most amazing job. Her portrayal of emotions of a victim of domestic abuse weren't like concept but something her character experienced. She also has this really versatile range from penthouse to cheer up to NoLove, NoGain. The second male lead and his secretary make a really funny duo and it seems natural. The transition of second lead's character that showed him as a troller who wrote a comment on 51st chapter to getting to know he wasn't the one was surprising. Also,love how he starts putting positive ones later and for a moment it becomes clear that why the triangle becomes a line between the second leads. The supporting characters did a good job and did not have a typical role. The Ex-boyfriend's wife is not annoying. Sure she is doubtful and controlling but to the fl she is like a normal friend. I hope they don't make her the mean character because of her husband. Also a new concept of polyamorous relationship was shown. I think that was new for me to see such a normal one. The ending of 8th ep left many surprises like the secretary being the one to leave the comments on 51st chapter. The third sister seems to be pregnant. Sml got to know ml is his half brother. The male lead seems to have to do something with fl father's death. In all it was a good drama that should not be judged on the first look

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a fun, no loss no gain watch!

ignore the no gain comment tho lol. i gained my favourite second lead couple. a total win!

such an enjoyable watch ? mondays were good again thanks to this drama. noona romance done right with the perfect mix of comedy, blended in with found family vibes that doesn't feel superficial.i loved the bond between the three sisters. all the characters are so lovely and even the side characters are fun and not easily forgettable.

ep12 the funeral scene was so real and natural like it felt like real life. shin mina broke me when she cried. i love hayeong realised the value her mom had on the foster kids and vice versa.
love they explored that topic.

lots of funny scenes, some emotional ones, a bit of action ( with a dildo no less lmfao), and some of the sweetest of romance with both the couples. heck even the third couple were sweet.

some semi bold topics explored right

small complaint being that they really could have done the ending better. kdrama writers have to insert a last minute breakup even if it's on the final episode like what did that even gain. fine jiuk got freed sure but the reconciliation could have happened earlier and we could have had some cute moments and even a reunion btwn all the characters!

anyway i was so focused on the second couple & squealing at how cute they were that i wasn't really bothered lol. gyuyeon are one of the best second lead pairing we have had in a while. can't appreciate the visionary who saw the potential and thought of the spin off enough! a real legend!

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SECOND COUPLEEEE

sooo cutie. started this just for the second couple and i was not disappointed. UGHHHHH HE LOVES HER SM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i watched this on 2x speed cuz i had to lfinish it in one night LOLL the main couple obvi not my fav, but the GUYYYYY SO HOT! anywhol. didnt like the girl... ABASOLUETMELY LOVED THE WRITER AND THE CEO, HOW FUCKING CUTE IS THAT. hes sso sweet, even tho he had the hatger comment blowout, he made sure to re read and rerate each episode, read all her sgtories over to cover, save her using dildos, care about her work, UGHHHHHH!!!!!!!! theyre so cutie and im so excitde to watach the spin off. also this was rly funny, like i found myself laughing a lot cuz some parts were just so unserious. ok anywho awesomeness.

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Brave characterization for an FMC, but finale left a couple of things to be desired

I truly haven't read any comments or any reviews because I can imagine what they'll say about Son Haeyoung. As it stands, for me personally, she is the most relatable FMC I've ever seen in a kdrama.

Typically, if there's a grumpy, seemingly cold MC, the love interest is warm and personable. Here's a story that takes place between 2 characters that grew up learning not to want things. For SHY, that made her resistant to taking anything from anyone and making sure to always get her fair share in every single aspect of her life, professional or personal. For KJU, it meant basically putting his own desires aside if it conflicted with anyone else's.

I love SHY. I don't think I've ever seen an FMC in a kdrama like her before. She's complex, flawed, intelligent, driven, and very protective of those she cares about. Her morals regarding loss/gain applied to everyone she cared about, meaning that she'd push someone in what she felt was the fairest direction, even if that caused her pain. I'd hope others could see how many things she did that were selfless and in defense of others, but I've noticed that these traits tend to be demonized in female characters. And in a show that clearly pushed other characters into more of a sympathetic light, I'm certain she rubbed other viewers the wrong way.

This show explored something very interesting in that I initially thought it was going to show a sympathetic take towards a child neglected while her parents served others. It explores that children growing up in the same household can have very different childhoods. SHY's mother was kind, generous, and attentive to *other* children. I could not understand why there was never a point where she's showing that same attention to SHY. It's implied the only parent that remotely did was her father. I couldn't understand why they bothered having a child if they weren't going to pay attention to them. I thought it was shaping up to be a rather brave story choice, but it didn't really stick the landing in my opinion. Not a single character validates that SHY was right to have wanted more from her mother. The narrative repeatedly pushes the idea that her mother was a "saint" and SHY is presented as selfish for wanting an actual childhood. If the show had shown at least one person understanding SHY's relationship with her mother, I probably would've given this a 9.5 and called it my favorite kdrama of the year. But... here we are.

To be clear, I think it's great SHY's mother was so kind to foster children. I don't think it's great the show implies SHY was selfish for wanting her parents attention. She says repeatedly that her mother was great to *others*. I don't get how anyone watching could fault her for not being super thrilled about her personal experience with her mother. Especially considering SHY still took care of her despite that.

Ultimately, I think it was a nice (intentional?) thing that the show highlights the many ways SHY was like her mother - helping foster kids, protecting abused children, protecting kids from bullies, and giving so much even when she suffered for it.

Anyway, I loved the relationship between SHY and KJU. It was adorable watching him flounder with relationship ups and downs and the misunderstandings were actually very funny to watch. I liked how SHY cared for him and encouraged him to seek his own desires and let go of the promises he made to his grandmother, birth mother, and foster mother. She was often more outraged on his behalf than he was outraged for himself. SHY fought for everyone and I just wished she had more people understanding of why she is the way she is without constantly pushing the "your mother was a saint" thing. It's honestly quite unhealthy when you think about it. Sidenote, the moment in the finale when he says he won't lie to her ever again, I laughed. To be honest, I lost count of how many things he lied about, but still, I liked them together.

I loved Nam Jayeon. The actress is great, she did a wonderful job, and her story was very moving. I enjoyed her romance with the CEO, though it is a bit strange the show has her flip flop on being loyal to SHY after she was unfairly demoted. The fact that he screws SHY over and its never remedied is pretty messed up. Anyway, I'll check out the spin off show.

I didn't connect with Huiseong as much as the others, but I thought the actress did a great job.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show. It's paced well, I never really felt like the episodes were too long or just filler. This show does a great job balancing drama and humor. The humor of the "light saber" fight was a bit jarring after such a serious scene, but ultimately, it's one of the scenes that made me laugh out loud. The show discusses some very difficult topics. I found the handling of some aspects braver than others, but it's a clear recommend from me. I can't think of another kdrama I've seen with this many complex and interestingly written female characters.

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A Lighthearted and Enjoyable Show!

I have been waiting to write a review for this show, so now that I'm finally done I'm excited to do so.

Story: 7/10
Frankly speaking, this show is very on-brand with the current wave of Booktok-esque shows that have been coming out. It has lots of well-loved tropes: strangers-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, found family, and onwards. The premise of the show is interesting but nothing new--two strangers that get married for convenience. Even the subplots have a lot of familiar plots and cliches---enemies-to-lovers, rich-girl-rich-guy, and onwards. The show actually makes fun of its own cliches at different points, which adds to the lightheartedness of the show.

There are some more serious subplots, too, though which make the comedy more fun I find. There are plots about family abuse, foster family, what family really means. There is one quote I liked, which is when the FL states to the ML regarding her mother "just like you can like someone with loving them, you can love someone without liking them." I think it hits the nail on the head about one of the central themes of the show.

To be honest, overall, this show isn't anything really ground-breaking which is why I've only given it a 7 despite really enjoying the more "heavy" subplots too. The plot twists are all very easy to guess, which can get frustrating if you're used to watching heavier shows where you have to analyze or guess twists. I enjoy shows where I have to guess, too, but this was a relaxing change. Also, without giving spoilers, I must say that I found the last episode very rushed. I was hoping we could get more closure on some of the side couples' upcoming changes, the changing family dynamics, etc. I think if it had been 14 episodes instead of 12 we might have better closure. But that's okay too.

Acting/Cast: 8/10
I know I always say this, but I really enjoyed the acting of most of the characters on this show! Starting with the leads, this is the second show I've watched of Shin Min Ah's (the first being Hometown Cha Cha Cha) and I honestly have no notes. I love her comedic timing and her cute smile, along with how she deals more fierce lines and her emotional scenes. She's really a wonderful actress.

As for Kim Young Dae, this is the second show of his that I've watched to the end (the first being Penthouse seasons 1-3). To be honest, I tried to watch Shooting Stars but really coudn't due to the off-putting plot and his acting. I had my hopes up but unfortunately, I really did not like Kim Young Dae's acting in this show. His expressions are very stiff, he seems to have the same tone of speech in every scene regardless of the emotions his character is going through. I did find his crying scenes very good and his startled expressions in comedic scenes good, but in terms of classic rom-com ML energy, I didn't really get that.

In terms of chemistry between the leads, I disagree with people who said the age gap was too big. I don't think the age gap was the problem at all, I think both actors look good together. However, I think with KYD's acting being so stiff that SMA had to carry the show especially in their romantic scenes which was definitely a let down.

As for the side characters, I enjoyed everyone's acting. I really liked the acting of Lee Sang Yi in his role as the rich CEO (I've previously watched him in Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Bloodhounds, and more), I think his expressions and comedic timing are really good. I also enjoyed the portrayal of the characters of Ha-Jun, U-Jae, Hui-Seong, and onwards. I did have a bit of a hard time with Han Ji Hyun's acting (who plays Yeon Bo Ra / Nam Ja Yeon), I found she was also stiff at times and her line delivery wasn't always the best. But I also really liked her in comedic scenes and enjoyed her romantic chemistry with LSY's character.

Music: 8/10
I say this on all of my reviews, but I'm not really an OST person. The music was enjoyable, so 8/10.

Rewatch Value: 8/10
Full disclosure, I'm not really the type that re-watches shows, so it's always hard for me to give a rating in this category. But that being said, this show was fun to watch and a nice break from my day-to-day life. I also plan to watch the spin-off with the second leads. So, there's a good chance I may come back and re-watch it someday.

And that's all! As always, no hate to any of the actors or team members, these are just my opinions :)

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the leads became the second leads?

Overall the drama is good, light and funny. Its a good show to watch when you feel like having a good laugh with some romance. The comedy scenes are really quite funny, even during serious moments you will be shocked by the sudden change in vibes.

That being said, halfway through the drama the second leads gained a large amount of attention and their story was cute indeed (haters to lovers). So towards the end actually the second leads started getting more screentime and cute moments...hahaha which eventually extended to their own spinoff drama

The starting episodes of the drama were really good but the last few episodes felt very dry for the leads. Glad the drama was 12 episodes because there wasnt any big plot they were trying to solve or anything.

Overall it was a cute a fun drama!

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Happiness

I can't believe it's over. For the past few weeks, this drama has been such a source of comfort and anticipation. Each upcoming episode felt like something to look forward to, but sadly, all good things must come to an end.

What really drew me in was how deeply I connected with the characters and their emotions. Their journeys helped me better understand my own feelings. The show beautifully conveyed the importance of self-discovery and keeping promises to oneself before reconnecting with the people you love.

It also showed abandonment and the experiences of orphans, highlighting how much they deserve love and belonging. And, in subtle ways, it provided thoughtful insights into good parenting and responsibility. The layers of emotion and life lessons it offered made it an experience I won't soon forget.

The writing is sharp, with moments of humor and poignancy that resonate deeply. The supporting characters add richness to the narrative, each contributing to the main themes of perseverance and self-discovery. The production quality is excellent, with beautiful cinematography that enhances the storytelling.

Overall, No Gain No Love had me screaming, giggling, kicking feet in the air for the cute fluff romance, laughing out loud because of the comedy, but at the same time warm my heart as I look through the bonding and relationship between all of the characters.

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