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Mexico
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As of episode 12, I've decided to drop the series. So keep in mind that the following review is based on my personal taste and those 12 episodes. As such, I encourage and advice everyone to read two or three more reviews before deciding whether you should give this series a shot. Something I hated or was disappointed by might be something you love and was surprised by. This review is subjective, after all.
PLOT: It dragged
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The story had potential (to go into a dark and rarely explored territory) which is why I stuck to it as long as I could. The problem is that said darkness it's buried deep underneath clichés, wooden dialogue, absurd sound effects, fluffy romance and sidequests (all support characters' scenes which add nothing of value fall into this). As much as I love comedy, I think this series could've benefited from taking out the forced --and often cringy-- humor in favor for leaning into the melodrama that was at its heart (the only thing I found interesting).
Keep in mind that the reception of this drama has people in two camps. Those who love it and find it hilarious, and those of us who feel like we're trapped in the twilight zone. After some reflection, I believe that if you like watching romance with some story to the side, then this might appeal to you. If, on the other hand, you are like me and you like to watch a story with romance on the side, then I would skip this one.
Episode 11 sums up my experience. The first half dove into the parts I found interesting, focusing on the narrative with a more serious tone. Unfortunately, the last half was weighted down by the standard dose of fluff, cheese and what I can only regard as silly humor (I must say that the "cartoony" sound effects broke me out of the series and often got on my nerves, though I know a lot of people loved them).
The series as a whole had mostly fluffy & nonsensical scenes which never really hooked me or left me wanting more. In the end, I had to muscle through most of the series, forcing myself to keep watching in hopes that it got better. By episode 12 I have given up hope and had decided to drop it.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Dull
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Before I dive into the protagonists, I feel the need to make a note about the source material. Since this is a show based on a web series (which I'm unfamiliar with), I curved my expectations and set the bar very low. I intend no offense, but some web series tend to be beautifully drawn but present very superficial stories. Sadly, this show wasn't an exception and, despite my precautions, I was disappointed.
Kim Mi So (female lead): She's introduced as a strong protagonist. She's as perfect as her boss, with elegance and charm to match. Of course, she's also inexperienced with love, easily flustered, lovably clumsy and a bad liar. So after the first few episodes, she became ultimately boring. I kept waiting to be surprised, only to learn that what I saw was what I got. I truly believe that Kim Mi So would've benefitted if she'd been graced with a sharper wit, streets smart, a weird sense of humor... or something that made her stand out. She needed something to break that "perfect" character and give her an edge. Otherwise, you have a lead that falls flat, like eating an unremarkable dish. Sure you don't hate it and you might even finish it, but you won't remember what it tastes like either.
Lee Yeong Joon (male lead): As much as I like Park Seo Joon, his character was the most frustrating. It had less to do with his acting, and more to do with the source material. Lee Yeong Joon was riddled with traits that were so over the top, it was hard to take him seriously. When analyzed outside the story, he had the potential of becoming an interesting character because he's full of contradictions. He's a man who hides his insecurities behind a wall of arrogance. However, instead of using that contradiction as a base for character growth; his arrogant attitude was used to create cheap humor. There's also a lack of commitment from the writer to give him solid traits and stick with them. Case in point, he was introduced as a player, BUT he was never intimate with anyone. He's observant and smart, BUT he failed to see certain things when it mattered (ex. the flower thing). He's supposedly very smart, BUT he constantly misreads situations. He's bold & straightforward, BUT he can't be honest about his feelings. And on and on. One contradiction makes for an interesting character, but when you have so many, it's hard not to see the wishy-washiness of the writer.
ANTAGONIST: Stale
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Lee Sung Yeon (ML's brother & semi-2ML): He's the closest thing to an antagonist we get and, like the leads, he suffers from lack of depth. He's a paper character and never really comes alive. I wasn't able to either hate or love him and the writing made sure of that. He was introduced as a likable character, sweet and observant. Then, in record time, he was unraveled before our very eyes. We were told how to feel about him, rather than make the reveal of his story more impactful by giving us time to relate to him first. So the only thing I felt towards him was a sort of tired indifference.
SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Painfully shallow
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This is a series that got bogged down by having so many two-dimensional support characters who added nothing of value to the story. Chances are that if you skip all of their scenes (most of them which are aimless repetitions of their actions), you won't really miss anything...
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Fluff with an extra dose of cheese
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This romance started on the wrong foot but at least it did move away from a toxic relationship into a more fluffy one. The thing that didn't work for me, aside from the extra dose of cheese, was that the characters felt and acted like kids. This could've been less ridiculous if both characters had been younger. As it stands, watching them made me feel awkward (I also had to fight second-hand embarrassment during most scenes).
Keep in mind, if you like fluffy romance, you might really enjoy this series.
OVERALL: Based on the 12 episodes I watched, I hesitate to recommend it unless you have a high tolerance for fluff.
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If the series was edited to take out the parts that were a waste of time, it might've been something wonderful. This could've been a good eight-episode story, but by extending it without having good material, it became mediocre. Though I tried to hold on, it became increasingly difficult with each episode to keep my mind from wandering. Now that I've watched more than half the series, I feel like I can make a proper assessment, which is that I doubt it'll get better and I'm unwilling to put more time into it.
Again, the potential was there but the story fell into the wrong genre. This should've been a romantic melodrama with comedy sprinkled in, not a rom-com with a side of melodrama.
I frankly do not recommend this drama if you are expecting a strong, impactful or memorable story, complex characters that grow as the series progresses and/or something refreshingly new. If, however, you are searching for fluffy romance with lots of scenes dedicated to their courtship, then this might shoot to the top of your list.
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A good show that unfortunately felt drawn out...
PLOT: Interesting, but lost steam towards the latter half--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm writing this knowing that I'm playing the role of devil's advocate with a less glowing review than other users, but which I hope offers a different perspective to help you make a decision on whether to give this show a chance.
First of all, I want to applaud the intention of the story. With mental illness losing some of its stigmas worldwide, it's great to see dramas including said conditions as the focus of their stories, rather than just part of them. Having said that, the episodic style of the narrative (a condition/illness being dealt with in a per-episode basis) was off-putting for me. The reason why I'm not a fan of these types of "monster/case of the week" type of shows is that they can turn quite preachy and, as a result, lose the organic feeling of a story that evolves and develops with each episode.
So rather than discovering alongside the characters all the different layers and facets of the FL's condition, we get short lessons on different types of mental conditions and addictions. And because you only get one episode per condition, there's a lot of exposition done through dialogue and fewer discoveries done through scene development. As a result, things feel quite controlled and are easily and cleanly wrapped up at the expense of heart or creating something to be emotionally invested in.
The other consequence this had was the dilution of the Female Lead's arc. This means that important aspects of her arc which the narrative built up at the beginning got forgotten midway through the drama and then dealt with in a very anti-climactic way. Even her prognosis lacked impact since her story got wrapped up so neatly. In that regard, I would've traded some episodes dedicated to minor characters and cases, in favor of getting more development for the Female Lead's condition and how that affected those close to her (especially her best friend).
For this reason, the story was the weakest part of the drama for me which made me dropped the rating to a 7. To be honest, I got a little bored towards the end. This might've been stronger had they kept it at 12 episodes rather than stretch it into 16.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Simple but Likeable
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Han Woo Joo [FL played by Jung So Min] is a rising star who loses everything in the wink of an eye and must start over while learning to lover and value herself more. I've got to handed it Jung So Min, she managed to portray a very complex character excellently. She went from laughing to crying in a single scene, so smoothly, that I forgot she was acting at all! Having said that, I wished Han Woo Joo had a better heart-to-heart conversation with her best friend, as their conflict was dealt with very off-handedly. I also wished her arc had been given more time to develop and that the resolution of her conflict had been "messier" in order for it to feel more realistic.
Doctor Lee Shi Joon [ ML played by Shin Ha Kyun] is an eccentric psychiatric who's trying to get over his own trauma while using unorthodox tactics to help his patients. Dr. Joon gets introduced as a round-go-lucky guy with a hidden tragedy looming just below the surface, peeking out every now and then. For the most part, I liked his character and found Shin Ha Kyun's portrayal very charismatic. However, there were certain things regarding his story (like his trauma with his ex) which I wish had been given more weight and time to explore. As it stands, the whole thing felt a bit convenient and then quite irrelevant, as it didn't deter him from pursuing Han Woo Joo quite early in the show.
SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Colorful but Irrelevant
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Although I liked the support characters, there were way too many to properly develop and thus they ended up becoming cluttery. Don't get me wrong, there was an attempt to develop them and dedicate some air-time, but by splitting that time between so many, we ended up with filler scenes that didn't add anything relevant to the main plot. I wished there had been fewer characters and better developed.
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Healthy & Nurturing, but Disbalanced
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K-dramas seem to love the scenario of the FL falling on hard times and having this result in the meeting of our leads. In so doing, the ML gets introduced at the peak of his power (success, financial stability, fame) while the FL is at her weakest (financial insecurity, shame, uncertainty). This scenario thus introduces a disbalance of power which is hard to get rid of. And because the ML starts off as the FL's doctor, that disbalance plays a major role in the early development of their relationship.
Fortunately, the FL ends up breaking off her role of patient and, in so doing, manages to even the odds a little bit. However, I would be lying if I said it wasn't disappointing that we didn't see her climb back up towards stardom. I would've loved to see her cling to her dream and recover some of what she'd lost. Of course, you could argue that some of that is hinted by the end, but I would've preferred to see it's development. I think it would've given a great message of hope (that she can achieve and maintain her dreams) despite suffering and/or dealing with a mental illness.
OVERALL: Recommended as a one-time watch
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Despite my rating and my inclination to write about some of the show's flaws, I still think it's a good one-time watch if you're in the mood for a show that explores mental illness. Understand that this show can feel more educational than immersive.
As a result, you get a lot of information spoon-fed through exposition (character dialogue) rather than exploration (scene development). Even so, some of the cases were well-executed and heartfelt. Not to mention that for a show that deals with such a heavy subject, it somehow managed to feel lighthearted and maintain a good pace. Just keep in mind that, like with many k-dramas, the first half is stronger than the second.
It also goes without saying that Jung So Min's acting is the major pull and highlight of the show. So if you happen to be a fan of the actress, then this is a show you shouldn't miss.
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This isn't an original plot. You have two girls from different families & backgrounds who coincidentally look exactly the same. Then something happens that forces one of the girls to take over the life of the other. So far so good, right?
Unfortunately, the two girls seem to have such a similar personality that none of the other characters notice or even question the change. Thereby diminishing the impact of the "switched" ploy. And sure, for the first few episodes, we are given a "medical" reason why that may be so... but that doesn't apply to the latter half of the series.
The other problem lies in how unfocused the narrative became as the episodes went by. At its core, this was a revenge story with the switching of the girls becoming a means to an end. Eventually, Byun Ji Suk (the female lead) enters in direct conflict with Min Seok Hoon (the main antagonist) because the former wants to protect her lover and his family, while the latter wants to destroy them for "reasons".
The problem rests in that this type of story relies on how well explained, executed and developed are the antagonist's motivations. But for most of the series, Min Seok's motivations were vaguely addressed. By the time we fill in the blanks, the story had run out of steam and the impact was lost in the wake of its dust.
MAIN CHARACTERS: A mixed bag
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Before I dive into each lead, I'll address some general issues that apply to all the characters. First and foremost, there's a lot of ambiguity. Perhaps the writer didn't take enough time to build each character's personality, because not only were there a lot of inconsistencies, but the characters even started to act the same at some point. It was like they all became one core character with little variation. This extended to the way they spoke and solved problems. Ultimately, it made their acting fall flat and somewhat boring.
Byun Ji Suk | Seo Eun Ha (female lead, played by Soo Ae): The actress plays two different characters... sort of. It has less to do with her acting and more to do with what I mentioned before, which is that neither character had a strong enough personality to tell them apart. Now, this is CRAZY considering how different the two characters' backgrounds are.
So by the time Byun Ji Suk took over Seo Eun Ha's life... there was no learning curve. She was never caught by anyone, despite knowing very little about her counterpart. Whatsmore, even when she applied herself to study Seo Eun Ha's life so she could stand up against Min Seok, her personality didn't change. She just "knew" people now and used them... so why didn't any of the people who supposedly knew Seo Eun Ha thought that she was different?
There were also some inconsistencies with her character. Byun Ji Suk --who had been working as a store vendor-- was put in charge of assignments that should've been out of her league unless she was a genius. And yet she does them with ease and with little help.
The inconsistency and lack of personality aside, Byun Ji Suk had her good points. One of them is that she was given tremendous character growth, which is always appreciated. From a weak woman who had things happen to her, she grew into her power and became a woman who made things happen. It's also worth noting how refreshing it was that she remained a protagonist throughout the series, rather than fall into a supporting role to the male lead (which usually happens).
Choi Min Woo (male lead played by Joo Ji Hoon): Like with Byun Ji Suk, he lost his personality (alongside the quirks that identified him) as the story progressed. He was a sympathetic character, someone who had been broken down by living in a house full of enemies. However, the transition from withdrawn and antisocial to normal functioning and sweet came out of nowhere. He was also later sidelined into a support role (the fate of many female leads) and, therefore, wasn't an active participant of a good chunk of the story.
ANTAGONIST: Malicious but not fleshed out
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Min Seok Hoon (played by Yeon Jung Hoon): He started out as an intriguing antagonist, but the lack of depth crippled his growth. We didn't get the full story behind his motivations until the last chapter, by which time there wasn't any impact to be had. Out of everyone's acting, Yeon Jung Hoon did stand out. But that's not saying a lot considering there weren't really any powerful moments...
Choi Mi Yeon (played by Yoo In Young): She was a character who became more and more unlikable as the episodes rolled by. Though they did try to give her something of a good side, it was inevitably squashed by her malicious actions. Whenever Mi Yeon tried to change for the better, she would quickly (as in the same episode) return to her devious and unhinged ways. If anything, I give props for realistically depicting her character as being unable to change her base nature.
SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Okay
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I'm not going to say a lot about the support characters because there's not much to say. They contributed little to the story. Some of them were used to further the plot with one or two actions, others were used as motivations for the main characters and quite a few others were there just to fill the gap. Nothing extraordinary or hateful, really.
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Like a negotiation
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The romance was okay. It did start out rocky and toxic, but it soon moved to a more mellow relationship. If I'm honest, the transition was a bit abrupt but not overly so. The romance is consistent if a bit plain. Their relationship felt like a negotiation (which is realistic), with some sweet moments accompanied by short conversations to set their rules of engagement. Though there weren't any moments that stood out, it was still an overall "cute" romance.
OVERALL: Not memorable, but watchable
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This is a watchable series. It's nothing out of the ordinary and it can get a bit heavy if you're not in the right mood, but it's not the worst series you'll ever watch.
The thing I can highlight is the fact that the female lead is the true protagonist of the story and isn't sidelined as the plot progresses. She's the one who goes toe to toe against our main antagonist. Despite the inconsistencies, she's overall a strong protagonist, even if the story did lack focus and diminished her impact.
If you have time to kill and want to see what an active female protagonist, you can always give this a shot. If you like cute romances and aren't too serious about plot consistencies, this might also be something you'd be interested in watching.
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More than entertainment, this show offers food for thought through a social critique of not only South Korean culture, but of society as a whole. It presents problems by putting the status quo on trial, allowing us to witness the protagonists fight tooth and nail to change the way we think of "justice".
Though this is an inspirational show, the overdramatization of some of the cases results in a rose-tinted version of an otherwise realistic scenario. By presenting cases in black and white, with very few shades of grey, the writers also discouraged any surprises. The show could've benefitted from some variety in regards to the cases, showing that trend they set wasn't absolute.
Other than that, however, it was an enjoyable ride.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Provocative
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One of the thing that's worth highlighting is the interactions between the two leads. This is a story of Idealism (Judge Park) meeting Cynicism (Judge Im) and striking a balance between their views. The saying "opposite attracts" is perfectly portrayed and it allowed for a lot of positive character growth.
Park Cha Oh Reum (female lead, played by Go Ah Ra): Her character is the embodiment of idealism. Though she overcame a brutal experience, she came out the other side fighting. She's passionate, justice-driven, solution-oriented, courageous and generous. But she's also bias, judgemental, emotionally-driven and reckless. She's someone who isn't afraid of her emotions and isn't easily swayed by others' opinions... but she also has a hard time accepting advice from whoever disagrees with her views. Despite her popular opinions, Judge Park risks her career and takes a stand. In so doing, she inspires those around her to join her cause, showing that change can only be accomplished when one has the imagination to think it possible and the courage to make it so.
Im Ba Reun (male lead played by L): He's the embodiment of cynicism. He follows the rules, acts by precedent, rarely questions the evidence and keeps his emotions on a tight leash. Being an introvert, Judge Im struggles to voice his thoughts and can't help dismissing Judge's Park extroversion as craziness at first. The change in his character is gradual, subtle but constant. We know about it because we get to hear his honest thoughts; those words that he leaves unspoken due to the anxiety caused by his social awkwardness. Yet despite accepting the status quo, Judge Im shows he's willing to listen to other peoples' views, even if --or especially if they contradicted his own. That adaptability and open-mindedness push him to step out of his comfort zone and embrace change. Out of the entire cast, Judge Im is probably the most relatable.
PORTRAYAL OF THEIR TEAMWORK: A match made in heaven
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The balance the leads managed to strike despite (or maybe because) of their extreme views made the show come alive. While Judge Im was prone to think rather than act; Judge Park was prone to act without thought. Her recklessness would oftentimes force him into action. But at the same time, his caution would oftentimes force some restraint on her.
So, in a way, Judge Park was like fire. Though necessary for survival, fire without a construct to keep it in check or guide it can become destructive. That's where Judge Im steps in. He's the pyramid of wood for Judge Park's fire, capable of making her fire last longer and shine brighter. The beauty of their teamwork resides in their interdependency. No part can function to its full potential without the other.
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Like a candle
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The romance between Oh Reum and Im Ba was treated as a constant sub-plot, but it never detracted from the real story. The romance isn't portrayed as a raging fire, which is the norm for many K-dramas. Instead, we get a love that burns tenuously, like a candle. The flame is small, fragile but beautiful. It lights the whole room, provides comfort and eventually guides our characters towards one another.
Here are some of the highlights:
1) The romance is in the yearning and admiration, which creates tension that never turns hostile or detracts from the narrative.
2) These two really have each others' back and I appreciated that they found their footing as friends first.
3) No unnecessary love triangle or misunderstandings, it was pretty straightforward.
4) It was gradual, so it made it much sweeter when they got there.
ANTAGONIST: Status quo
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Although there were antagonistic characters, the status quo was portrayed as the real (and more frightful) opponent. By presenting controversial subjects, the writers question whether we should let precedent dictate the solutions or if we should start thinking outside the box.
OVERALL: Recommended
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This is definitely worth watching for its powerful social critique and its unique female lead. This is a show that will make you emotionally invested, will have you thinking for days and, overall, ends on a satisfying note.
Some of the trials may hit too close to home for some, so keep that in mind if you are very sensitive, as there are no trigger-warnings. Another thing of note is that the pacing of this show slow. There's no overuse of drama to create conflict and no over-the-top romantic moments to spice things up. Even the comedy is sparse, with a serious note taking over most of the show.
But if you're looking for a thought-provoking narrative, complex characters, and interesting human interactions, you've come to the right place.
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