Cinderella at 2 AM (2024)

NOT A CINDERELLA STORY

A May-December chaebol-poor girl love affair, that to be honest, doesnt offer anything new, that you have to question what's the point of this entire series, if there's anything.

This type of story has been done so many times in a K-drama. Its not even a fairy tale, i dont even get why they titled it Cinderella at 2AM - main lead putting on a pair of shoes to the female lead a few times doesnt make it a Cinderella story. It doesnt even draw parallel to the fairy tale title. And why 2 AM, maybe i just dont get the symbolism.

Whats sad is this is such a waste of the talented cast. I dont know why Moon Sang Min's management team chose this project for him, are they trying to sabotage his career? This is very similar to the tone and vibe of Wedding Impossible, even down to his personal styling. Such a waste of a talented actor because we know he can do more. Shin Hyun Been did the most of the heavy lifting in this drama and she is as beautiful as ever and lets just say she did a good job with the material she got.

Even worse, at only 10 episodes, it still felt too long that the events in this series felt repetitive and extended that you feel like they can squeeze everything out in 6 to 8 episodes without losing the story. The two office co-workers are so annoying and unnecessary.

There are some hints of discarded gold here - Yoon Park and Park So jin's pairing and love's story was a much more interesting story and could have used a lot more screen time and their characters could have been elevated more to co-lead status. I also feel like they have underused Lee Hyun Woo here because they just conveniently pulled the rug on his storyline just when he is starting to make an impact.

Also, I need to mention I am inlove with the soundtrack! Yeonjun's Boyfriend is so catchy and fits the sh ow perfectly!

Will i reccommend? Not really unless you are big fans of the actors, just watch the soundtrack music video. Will I rewatch? My goodness, no! Is it bad? No not really, but it is also not good enough to make an impact. This is one of those rom-coms that is just there because some producers have money to throw away - for sure I wont event remember it's story after a few months.

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Chasing Love The Korean Way

The drama starts with the FL taking money from the ML's mother to break up with the ML.. Honestly.. If you love someone truly.. No matter the reasons.. You wouldnt normally do that.. And her reasons were ridiculous.. Then begins her struggle to breakup with him and get over him..

She broke up with him because he is rich?? Feeling she wouldn’t fit in with him or his family.. Most of the drama, she kept judging the ML because he is rich.. She had the audacity to ask him ' Did u ever skipped lunch because u couldn't afford it? ' That was her reason to breakup?? He was rich?? He loved her wiht everything he had.. Apart from the fact that he hid how rich he is.. Did he make any other mistake?? Most people don't know how to cherish true love.. The ML deserved someone better..

She acted like the most mature and smart character in the drama.. But I felt it was the ML who despite seeming childish at times.. Showed the real maturity in their relationship..

" You were afraid you would get hurt and let go of my hand right away.. "
" I know I am pathetic for not being able to get over you after breaking up.. But even in this moment I am only worried how to keep you from getting hurt.. So how could you do this to me?? "

ML was really pathetic.. But he wanted to fight for his love.. Unlike the FL who was waiting for a reason to runaway.. I don't know who was more pathetic..

I understand she went through her own hardships.. But that doesn’t give her the right to judge someone else’s life.. He showered her with love in every way possible.. While all she did was hurt him when he was trying to protect what they had.. Even when she got back with him.. She chose to have dinner with someone else instead of the ML.. Her situation was understandable.. But she could have shown some decency and spared her boyfriend the embarrassment instead of indulging some random guy’s interference in their relationship..

The second couple literally stole the show.. I found myself wanting to see more of them than the main couple.. They deserved more screen time.. And their relationship really called for deeper exploration.. Their chemistry was captivating.. And the moments they shared felt more genuine.. It would have been great to see their story developed further..

Overall.. The drama falls short of expectations..The FL's choices undermined the genuine affection of the ML.. In contrast, the second couple shines with authentic chemistry..

P.S.. Moon Sang Min needs to find a new agency or start picking good scripts for himself if he doesn't want to waste his career doing dramas that doesn't treat his career well.. This drama was an average one.. But He could do better..

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GREAT Acting, Story, Cast, Humor, Production Values, Length. It's Both Sweet and Realistic.

I finally signed up for an MDL account just so that I could write a review to balance other reviews that seem to be written by people who did not actually watch this excellent and professional show.

This is a VERY GOOD show: a bit sweet, a bit funny, a bit modern, a bit warmhearted, a bit tear-jerking. It was just the right length for me, without all the excessive political intrigue and evil characters. The "recommendations" include What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, so that gives you an idea of the "feel," just a bit more compact. The production values are high (with the exception of one blue screened backdrop of the city of Madrid), the music is good, everything is top-notch even though it is a shorter length. The script is tight with good dialog that enters a relationship mid-way and then references back to previous events (as many dramas do). I like the unusual 10-episode length, and it is possible that they arrived at that because of production scheduling issues. Any cuts that might have removed the storylines or scenes of peripheral characters are all good as far as I am concerned. The story as shown is tight as a drum and still includes the now standard "social issue" message, this time against violence and bullying. (There is, however, too much drinking going on, even more than usual in a Korean workplace-based shows.) What really blows my mind are the reviews that say that the script/plot/story is bad or not understandable. This is IMHO totally UNTRUE. Some reviewers seem to take exception to the idea that the FL could agree to stop dating the ML. In real life many woman stop seeing their current boyfriend when they realize that a long-term relationship won't work out. And many of these women in real life still like or love their boyfriends when they decide to end the relationship. It happens all the time; many relationships unfold just as that of the ML and FL does. Many of the negative reviewers mentioned that they did not understand the title of the show. It is explained in the first episode, further explained mid-way through, and referenced a number of times with "glass slipper/broken shoe" events and references to Cinderella. The actors include some excellent newbies and many, many seasoned favorite actors with tons of experience. Their acting is pitch-perfect for this comedy/drama. The ML did a wonderful job of portraying the sweet, devoted boyfriend and the FL did a great job portraying the dedicated professional woman. Their love/chemistry was very warm, joyous, and, later, realistic. The secondary couple and the two mothers are actors that are the best in the business for both campy comedy and melodrama and bring additional energy and chemistry. I don't understand what is behind the poor reviews. What could motivate people to be so false?

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When All You Need is a Simple Romance

I might have an unpopular opinion based on what I’ve been reading from others lately, but I have to say—I really enjoyed every episode of Cinderella at 2 AM. The plot intrigued me from the start, offering a fresh twist on the classic rich-guy, poor-girl romance. I especially loved how the main leads were already deep into their relationship before the story really began, which felt like a refreshing change.

What stood out to me was how the two leads continued to have a deep respect and love for one another, even after their breakup. I do agree that the breakup phase dragged on a bit, and I wish Moon Sang-min’s character wasn’t the only one holding onto the relationship for so long. I would’ve liked to see the female lead fight a little harder at times. That said, the subplot surrounding her family’s history was heart-wrenching and helped explain why she held back emotionally.

I also wish there were more scenes exploring her relationship with her brother, as well as a deeper dive into the male lead’s relationship with his mother. Of course, I understand those weren’t the main focus. Overall, while the show was full of clichés and tropes, it genuinely made me laugh and had me rooting for all the characters involved. So, no—it’s not a perfect show, but if you go in without too many expectations, I think you’ll enjoy it. Side note: The OST is stunning, and TXT Yeonjun’s Boyfriend was instantly added to my playlist after watching!

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I had fun!

I'll keep this review short and say people are haters.

This was a delightful show. A generic but unique storyline, with well-written characters, a great cast with superb acting, an OST that complimented the show so well and aesthetically pleasing cinematography. It was well-paced, consistent, short and sweet. The show was extremely warm and fluffy. I found myself smiling, giggling, swirling my toes, laughing and internally screaming at how cute, fun and funny it was. If you are looking want a simple, cute and enticing storyline. Then this is the show for you.

If you don't like romance then this show is not for you. Simple.

People were just so salty about the age gap that the rating ended up very low. There are plenty of dramas that have the same agenda but apparently this was a world crisis.

If you are an open-minded person you might enjoy this, don't ponder over the other bad reviews and just go for it. I'm sure you won't regret it. I won't go into extensive detail about the show because it's not very complex and it's better to see it for yourself. However, I believe that the show dealt with relationships and break-ups in an insightful and somewhat relatable manner.

I 10/10 would recommend and watch again!

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I finally decided to drop this one...

At first, I decided to watch this because of Moon sang-min. I really liked how he played in My name, I enjoyed his acting. What I really didn't like at first notice was the FL's acting, I was okay with the age gap it wasn't something too bothering, it was rather sweet, but the chemistry between the main couple was off from the start. I didn't see the spark between them like other kdrama main couples. They should've had a better casting or writing. I'm not saying that they're bad actors, in fact I like them individually but not together, IMO they didn't make a great couple with appealing chemistry.
And about the story I have a lot to say...
If I was the FL, I would've dumped him ASAP. I wouldn't respect a boy who can't even take my side and confront his mother properly. If he really loved her, he would've done something to prevent his mom from messing up their perfect relationship. He is such a baby and a manchild who can't even stand up on his own. The FL was so dense for continuing to acknowledge him after his mom offered her the money. Girl don't you have an ego to protect? If you love money, it's okay, but don't accept it and then keep up with having feelings for him afterwards.
Some episodes had the comedy I've been looking for in a rom-com. But they wasted the actors' talents. The writing was too poor to be honest I skipped half of the last episodes I was watching before I decided to drop it.
Last words: If you're looking for a cozy rom-com to watch this is not for you cause it only pisses you off with poor writing and off chemistry.

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2AM is a moment of choice

I came into this series expecting a lot of cuteness and fluff and the series definitely delivered. What I didn't expect was the little life lessons sprinkled throughout. I also wasn't expecting so much honest and sincere conversations. Any misunderstandings that happen gets resolved pretty quickly and I loved that. The main reason I was interested in watching this was because of Moon Sang Min, who I saw in "Under the Queen's Umbrella", which was a series I loved. However, while he was very cute and adorable, it was the female lead that I truly loved. She was a strong and capable woman, who never really needed anyone to save her. Truly a different kind of Cinderella.

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● SHORT REVIEW
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LIKES:
--Her goal was revealed by Ju Won's brother in the first episode, so we didn't have to see her confuse Ju Won for two month in order to get him to break up with her. Everyone is on the same page as far the situation was, nobody was in the dark.
--Many great life lessons were presented in this series with some memorable dialogues/conversations.
--The series does a great job of showing how emotions are very complex and how trauma/adversity can affect us differently.
--Female lead was very capable and wasn't someone who needed saving. Ultimately, she's a hard worker and very sincere. For the major obstacles in her life, including the male lead's mother, she was able to resolve them with her own efforts.
--I enjoyed all the different relationships in the series. A key component of all of them was honesty, which I loved.
--And obviously, very cute/sweet, funny, and very sincere with some thoughtful, emotional ,and heartwarming moments.


DISLIKES:
--While Yun Seo's colleagues were well-meaning and very good coworkers in the sense that they cared about Yun Seo, they were often misguided. Other than being comedic relief characters, I'm not really sure what value they added to the story. I say this because I know they were suppose to add humor but their scenes just felt unnecessary
--While I have nothing against people getting drunk, I dislike its use as a plot device for certain honest conversations or actions to happen. It makes it convenient for the characters to later deny something or use it as an excuse. So when I see scenes of characters getting drunk, I just feel like such a cliché direction to take. If it's used for humor, I don't mind so much depending on the scenario and what kind of a drunk they are.


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● IN-DEPT REVIEW
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[ --THE TITLE: Cinderella at 2AM-- ]

You can skip this section if you want, this is mostly me giving my thoughts on the title of the series. In the classic fairytale, it's at 12am that the spell starts wearing off and the magic is lifted. It's a return to reality. So why 2am? What happens at 2am? The first thought was that 2am is a time after the magic ends, when Cinderella is back to living in reality...which describes the world Yun Seo has lived in. The second thought that came to mind was the kpop group named 2AM. Their name was given to them on the idea that 2:00am is a time to reflect on the previous day. What I loved about this series that there were a lot of self-reflection and moments of inner dialogue. The leads look back on their situation and reflect on their actions or feelings, giving us some both understanding on their choices or insight on their growth/development. From an internet search, 2:00 AM could also have spiritual significance relating to duality and balance. We can't be so caught up in romance that we can ignore the realities of life like social class differences. Life isn't a fairytale. At the same time, we shouldn't be so much of a realist that we stop believing that happiness and romance we want are not worth fighting for. There needs to be balance.

The actual answer to why 2AM is significant to the series is actually answered starting from episode 8. It is explained that from 2am until Prince Charming arrives, it is the most difficult hours of Cinderella's story. It's when the harsh reality sets in as she waits to be saved by the prince. But as the artist Seong Min points out, she's not the typical Cinderella. She's never been. Our female lead, like Cinderella also comes from a poor background where her parents abused her and her brother. The sad thing was that these were her actual parents and not even step-parents. It's a sad backstory, but unlike Cinderella who waited for Prince Charming to save her, Yun Seo was able to save Ji Seok and herself from their abusive situation. Already, she is shown to be very strong and capable. She worked hard to raise and take care of brother alone. She got herself through college and got a great job. There was no prince to save her. She is the heroine of her own story. 2:00AM represents a moment of choice for Cinderella. She can suffer until happiness finds her, or she can go fight for that happiness.

[ --STORY/PLOT-- ]

There was so many things that stood out to me about this series that I liked, but at the heart of it are the sincere characters. I loved the female lead, if that is not already evident. There are so many series where when the female lead is in trouble, the male lead comes in to save the day. In this series, Ju Won is our Prince Charming, but there isn't anything major that happened where he needed to "save" Yun Seo. She did a great job at taking care of herself. If anything, Ju Won was only there for emotional support and to give her the fairytale happiness she deserved after overcoming her sad background. Her character is also pretty honest. The only major dishonesty was her initial plan to try to get the male lead to break up with her, but that didn't last long thanks to Ju Won's brother Si Won. I also love the way she take cares of her brother. It is very clear that she loves Ji Seok deeply. When you're young, it's easy to be selfish and focus on ourselves. However, Yun Seo made sure she saved her brother too from the abuse. Not only that, she imparts on him lessons about helping others, the consequence of inaction when someone needs help, following through with his education, and doing his best. At the same time, even when she is harsh, she makes sure he knows she love him. It is also clear that her brother loves her very much and how appreciative he is of her.

Our male lead, Ju Won, was also a very likable character. Cuteness aside, he was very sincere in his pursuit of Yun Seo after she broke up with him. Although he was aggressive in his pursuit of her initially, he learns to reign it back and respect her boundaries. Later, when she expresses her frustrations, he finally accepts her wishes of breaking up. Ju Won also expresses his feeling fairly well, whether it is jealousy or hurt. I think episode 5 was a memorable moment where he expressed his hurt over how "easy" she thinks the breakup is. It gave some depth to his character as well. A lot of the things he has were not the result of his own hard work. However, his relationship with Yun Seo was achieved with his own effort and so he clings to it dearly. It was also during this conversation that made realize selflessness and selfishness is matter of perspective. There is a duality to it.

I also liked Si Won and his wife Mi Jin's story very much. Although their marriage was arranged, they learned to love each other. The development of their story was cute. Any misunderstandings they had were always quickly resolved through communication. It was often very endearing. Individually, they also both great people. Si Won is a supportive brother who always has Ju Won's back. Mi Jin is also a strong, capable and perceptive female lead with great empathy. She was emotionally aware enough to recognized when her husband was feeling disappointed after a tennis photo session. She is the first to point out that even strong people can feel lonely, giving us some insight into the mother. In fact, I think it was both Yun Seo and Mi Jin who ultimately are the heroine of the story. It was their empathy that helped the two brothers gain some perspective on their mother and ultimately help mend the family's relationship.

The artist Seong Min was also an interesting character. His father was also an abusive one. Through an accidental interaction with Yun Seo, his life was saved. In return, regardless of whether it was intentional or not, he kind of becomes the fairy godmother of this Cinderella story. It was his actions and suggestion that motivated the female lead to finally fight for her love and go find her Prince Charming at the airport. I personally don't think we needed to introduce the artist to fill this role. I think maybe Si Won and Mi Jin could've fulfilled a similar role, or even the female lead's best friend. But I guess he's also here to add some kind of urgency/rival for our male lead. I initially didn't like him because Seong Min came on way too strong for someone Yun Seo has never met, but I liked that he ended up being a friend to both Yun Seo and Ju Won.

[ --ACTING/CAST-- ]

I saw a lot of comments about either the female lead being too old or the male lead being too young. While I was watching, it never really saw the age difference because I thought their chemistry was quite good. It would be a lie of me to say that physical attractiveness between individuals doesn't play a part in chemistry, but it only makes up a fraction. Compatibility/personality, familiarity, and actions/expressions all also play a part. Personally, I didn't think any of the actors in this show was lacking physically. All very pretty and/or handsome actors/actresses. And talented. I won't say there weren't some scenes where the humor didn't hit or the acting wasn't over the top, but I feel like usually, this is more of a director/characterization choice than an acting one.

[ --MUSIC/OST-- ]

The music definitely enhances this series. There wasn't any songs that I did not like. Shoutout to Vincent Blue, Sam Kim, Ha Hyun Sang, Yeonjun, Kim Haewon, Ejel, and Riwoo for their contributions to the soundtracks. Let me know if I missed anyone. I loved them all. Fitted well in the scenes they were played. They all left good impressions on me, not much else to say there. If I had to pick a favorite, I really like "Sailing" from Ha Hyun Sang. Of course, being a TXT fan, "Boyfriend" from Yeonjun was also quite memorable.

[ --REWATCH VALUE-- ]

Chances are good at I may revisit this series again someday. There was a lot of cuteness, but the most memorable moments for me were the conversations between characters that imparted some kind of perspective or lesson. I am also a sucker for series with good female leads and this was one of them for me.

[ --FINAL THOUGHTS-- ]

I would recommend giving this one a chance. For me, this series wasn't just another romcom. It was very thoughtful aside from being cute/funny. Some of the many lessons this series delivered:

---When someone is getting bullied/abused, doing nothing means you are actively letting the victim get hurt. You don't have to be confrontational but do something. Tell a teacher, tell a family, tell someone.
---Don't be so quick to judge how easy someone has got it. We all have different things/values we fight for.
---Humans are weird. Our emotions are complex. Even if someone has hurt us before, we can still have lingering/buried feelings that makes us mourn their loss.
---Know when to be angry and when to show understanding and compassion. It's about picking your moment. When you handle situation with sincerity, compassion, and maturity, it can be more effective than getting angry.
---The respect you get from others isn't as important as knowing your own worth.
---Be in control of your own happiness, don't wait for it to come to you.


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● NOTE
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I'll always conclude my review by saying that ratings and reviews is not really a indicator of whether you may enjoy something. We all have different criteria and standards. Don't let a bad rating, review, or comment discourage you from watching something. My advice will always be to give something a chance if the premise interests you, and only use the ratings/reviews to determine priority if you have a list, or if you're deciding if you want to continue it due to time limitations.

♥ Thanks for reading my review! Feel free to comment or hit me up if you want to discuss anything ♥

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Somewhat funny, somewhat bitter, somewhat... something

I am puzzled.... not sure what to make of this one.....
There were a lot of opinions about the FL acting... most of them negative. And I kind of agree....

Story is not bad..... Yun Seo agrees to break up with Jun Won because of their different backgrounds and expectations.
Only... it is easier said and done... Particularly because Jun Won is the most amazing boyfriend you could imagine.... and he decides not to let her go.

So far I have come across a few dramas where the ML is just unrealistically nice...
This is one of them....

Ju Won is rich, handsome, caring, funny, loyal... the whole deal.... only min point, a bit young but I forgive him for that...
Actor Moon Sang Min plays him wonderfully... he is simply adorable. In his suffering because his girlfriend left him, he is super cute... in his resolution not to accept the break up... he is a champion. I was rooting for him all the time.

Now, FL is a different story. The character was written to be plain.... which was delivered accordingly.
This is a woman that suffered child abuse horribly by both parents, to the point she had to run away in her early teens, with her little brother, in order to survive.... Because of that, she became a practical, realistic individual...

that is fair and relatable.
BUT
The way she was portraited... it delivered no emotion in me. The scenes of the child abuse are terrible, those one made me cry, but for the rest... she is very bah... which is a shame.
She agrees to break up with Jun Won, and later on realizes that she loves him and can not be without him...
really? I would not believe it.. she looked pretty normal to me.

Now... the 2nd couple was AMAZING and lifted the whole show ....
Seo Si Won (Yoon Park) is one of the most versatile actors I have seen so far... he is just adorable, cute, like a teddy bear. One moment he plays ruthless CEO, the other he is confused man about his wife and how to deal with her...
His interactions with his contracted wife Mi Jin (Park So Jin) are hilarious... so adorable... they made my time watching the show worth it.

same effect as in Business Proposal... and I would love for them to get their own season.

This is a fluffy story, good to pass the time.... the big lesson is that your mind can say but the heart rules.

Would I watch it again? Nope

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first half of the show was better than the second one

when starting this drama, I wasn't expecting to be a great drama based on the average ratings, but the first half of the story was more engaging and pleasant to watch like having two different feelings through all the show, in my opinion the drama started so strongly in the side of romance and comedy and the acting was so good talking from the chemistry between first leads and seeing how the male lead is holding onto his relationship with female and doing his best for making her besides him showing a sincere love for him, even ready to give up his background being a chaebol and disobeying his mother just to be with the one he loves her so it was so promising to see such great character of male lead BUT...

regarding 10 episodes length for such drama, I perceived that there was a lot of repetitions of male lead not able to let go of his beloved one and the idea was clear that he was struggling to keep her with him through the first half and even they made the drama unnecessary adding more scenes like drinking too much and bidding farewell for their last meeting with the several scenes of eating together but was not bad going to amusement park as the end of their relationship...

moon sang min was doing so good in his acting expressing his deep sadness, shedding tears though a lot if people called him "simp" to still following her and clinging on his relationship with her but I think someone genuinely loving her and unable to believe that she wanted deliberately to break up witu him has at least to show her his devotion until feeling there is no hope from this relationship!!!! he acted in this drama better than wedding impossible which I dropped it not feeling he was suitable there!!!

while shin hyun been was too unable to give up on him and lying to herself that it is better to break up with him for the difference of the social class and backgrounds regarding her parents were so violent, while people had criticized her to accept the money from his mother in return to break up with him while she was forced to do that when knowing the real background of her boyfriend so I don't want to say if it is right or wrong but maybe her dignity didn't allowed her to stay with him having such cruel and outrageous mother of male lead disparaging her!!!

shin hyun been was having average acting like moon sang min, both of them are great to be paired together but to be honest I can't be saying that they had presenting a top notch performance in their roles, the emotions they shown was enough to convince sadness and happiness but still I think there would be other better actors could be replaced exceptionally the second male lead so surprisingly was so good, I think he was so fitting for his role to be a supportive brother and rooting for the relationship of his younger brother with shin hyun been

really yoon park was so amazing being funny portraying the comedic side of the story that it would had been more better if giving more screentime for him and park so jin cause he was the essential one making the comedy successful in addition to the support characters being the colleagues of female lead in office, all of these characters gave a value for the drama cause I felt a lot of boring moments in the second half when the story only focused the most on the first leads with the repetition scenes of both of them struggling to be together...

I think the OST of the drama was something so brilliant and outstanding that saved the show from being less rated for me, such well choosed OST added more value to the show making a balance between the positive and negative sides of the drama cause the script could had summarized the story to less number of episodes as from the episode 6 I felt losing interest in the drama and skipping a lot of scenes till the end so the drama is being average for me as I was disappointed how I started rating it 8 then 7.5 when noticing a lot of repetitions until don't know why feeling the general ambiance of the drama was not deserving that in the second half just to give it 7 if it wasn't for the great performance of second male lead and the OST and the promising start of the drama, it could had been considered for me less than average but that was saved the drama what I mentioned before...

second leads are deserving to be given more scenes but unfortunately the drama was not giving their existence more worthiness cause even on mdl they should consider yoon park and park so jin second leads not from the support characters!!!!! I would emphasized that second male lead was the best actor of this drama not expecting that as yoon park was not playing so well in his previous dramas but here he was so different maybe I would had kept the rating of 7.5 or 8 for the drama but the acting of first leads became not the same great performance as it started but second leads kept more outstanding chemistry till the end, even I think giving park so jin more scenes in the drama after the third episode was wrong while she should had been present from the beginning as only the focus was on first leads more and it was not helping the drama at all!!!

I started to watch this drama being interested in the age gap which was controversial at the beginning before being aired but through all the show it was no longer mentioned cause looking at both of first leads this 14 years age gap is not noticeable at all, so the female even looking younger than her age not making this age difference being obvious for me!!!

the charcter of lee hyun woo as third wheel between the relationship of first leads making a silly love triangle though was short but considered unnecessary for me as his character could had been only as a supportive friend for shin hyun been not making him interfering in this love story as well the actress playing the character of the mother of male lead was not fitting, only feeling not able to see her having this repellent character but though any other actress could had played maybe better than her despite she is given an evil character here...

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Only for those looking for romance and nothing else.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

If you are looking for a pure romantic comedy, then “Cinderella at 2 AM” is for you. The whole drama focuses on the relationship between Yun Seo (FL) and Ju Wong (ML). There’s a little bit about family relationships but for the most part, it’s romance all the way. Is that a good thing or not? Well, it depends what you are looking for. I am a romance lover, but I find the drama lacking in plot. I was more invested in the first half of the drama and loving the romance. But towards the second half, I was looking for more than what the drama could give me.

Having said that, Moon Sang Min is just too adorable. I am actually watching this for him (and because I am looking for a stress-free fluffy romance). Moon Sang Min pouts like an adorable (but very clingy) puppy. But when he stands tall with his 3-piece suit on, he’s a lovely sight. His visuals deserve a solid 8.0 rating. Can you tell I might have a tiny crush on him? LOL.

I am glad “Cinderella at 2 AM” doesn’t focus on the age gap, since I am not a big fan of noona romance. However, visually, you can see Moon Sang Min is younger than Shin Hyun Been. Their chemistry is good though. Their cute scenes make me giggle, and their struggles to stay away from each other hurt me as well. I love that ML is happy just from watching FL being happy, and that he’s willing to try things he doesn’t like because of her, and end up finding new hobbies and likes. The acting is decent and their story is fun….up until I found it a little repetitive with the back-and-forth. I understand it’s not easy to break up when you still love each other. The wishy-washy behavior is totally understandable, it just doesn’t give me a fun watching experience.

The secondary couple is odd yet interesting and lovable at the same time. It’s quite interesting seeing how Seo Si Won and Lee Min Jin fall in love. It provides some more comedic moments.

The two sets of siblings have very different dynamics, and I love them both. The work colleagues though, are borderline annoying and over-the-top.

“Cinderella at 2 AM” is a decent rom-com if you are in the mood for it. It doesn’t take itself seriously and oftentimes makes fun of drama cliches and tropes. But if you are looking for something with substance, then this is not it.



Completed: 9/27/2024 - Review #491

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Missed its mark.

It had potential but ultimately didn't reach it. I never thought it would be a drama that would hit it out of the park, but I thought it might have some hidden depths. The drama started out good, they explored some issues in the beginning and I liked how understanding the ML was. He is clearly a green flag. But the story was very subtle and didn't leave much of an impression. The ML's brother and his wife were more interesting to watch as a couple.

Every week I tuned it expecting that something would happen that would break the linear path it was on, but it never got to it. So, I am a bit disappointed. But it did have the power to make me complete it so there is something there.

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Better than the other Cinderella kdrama but I wish for more depth

I needed something light & romantic to watch after finishing Again My Life. Moon Sang Min's face was heavily promoted on Viu so I chose this drama. Cinderella at 2 AM is light touch romance drama with moments of seriousness.

What I liked:
1) Moon Sang Min - He has this sweet, kind face. This is my first time watching his work and I enjoyed it. For a leading man with this characteristic, he's alright.
2) Yun Seo chracterisation - It's great that her past was shown to the audience because then I understand why she is the way she is - fiercely independent woman who is focused on raising her younger brother. I cried when scenes of her childhood was revealed - I did not expect that at all.
3) Si Won characterisation - I also enjoyed knowing Si Won outside of work. Such a quirky but sensitive character.
4) Seong Min - At first I find his character creepy but later on he turned out to be a great guy. I wish he formed a tighter friendship with Yun Seo because they have a lot in common.
5) Yi Rae & her Uncle - Great support system for Yun Seo and Ji Seok. Plus I love that they brew their own maekgeolli.
6) Music - I love most of the songs featured in this drama, which is quite rare for me. Love the 80s vibe of the OST. Standout songs are Sweet Drama and Boyfriend.

What I disliked:
1) Romance - The romance between Yun Seo and Ju Won was sweet but I wasn't convinced at the end and I sided with Ju Won. I don't know why they needed a wedding when Yun Seo doesn't seem to be ready. I also wanted more of Si Won and Mi Jin's romance. They were so adorable but only got together in episode 7 if I am not mistaken.
2) Si Won and Ju Won's mother - She is selfish because she acts more like a chairwoman than a mother. I still don't understand why she opposed Ju Won's relationship with Yun Seo. Overall I find her character poorly written.

Favourite scene
Yun Seo's childhood because I see the love she has for her brother.

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