amateurcritic
|| OVERALL ||
After watching the last episode I wanted to give a much lower rating but I felt I wouldn't be doing the cast and crew, also the people behind making the OST justice. This drama was really saved by the phenomenal acting. There are multiple individual scenes that were fantastic and evoked the emotion that it intended, but the plot overall was just suboptimal and a bit of an overkill. During the drama's run, though, I did look forward to the next episode and didn't fast forward too much like I do with other dramas so the drama wasn't bad...it's just a lot of wasted potential. That said…I think overall I liked this drama more than CLOY.
**I recommend this drama to those that like a wide variety of genres but also have high tolerance to and able to overlook plot holes and sometimes absurdity. Watch the drama for the acting and for the romantic comedy scenes. The drama will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions - heartwarming, anger, frustration, sadness, etc. all at random.
|| DETAILS ||
= Story =
*Premise - Should be quite simple really...the story of how a chaebol heiress and a legal director fell in then out of love, then how they will repair their marriage. If focusing on that alone, the drama was great but because there were so many side quests and obstacles that got randomly and unnecessarily added into this central concept it really downgraded the drama.
*Genre - Truly an overkill as it included romance, comedy, action, melodrama, thriller, crime. Multiple genres is not a problem as Crash Landing on You also had that, but as this drama attempted to focus on all of them equally it became too much. For this drama I think it would benefit if it cut down on the thriller and crime aspect and resolve it 1-2 episodes earlier, then focus more on the relationship portion more. The amount of action was adequate and just right though. The rom-com scenes were well written and weaved into the story given the circumstances.
*Main Plot – I liked the way we learnt how the main leads met in that it wasn't given chronologically and we could piece it together ourselves. The romantic comedy scenes were indeed very sweet, cute, and funny. I am a sucker for romantic comedies so I didn't mind and actually enjoyed the clichés - destined to be together since childhood, getting injured and treating each other's wounds, getting drunk and acting cute, getting jealous of each other, in awe of each others' glow up. The melodrama scenes were also well written, especially the two scenes in episode 14...I even shed a tear. However one thing I realized was that I only enjoyed those certain scenes on their own but when looking at the big picture the plot was just so absurd. The premise made it seem like the drama would be more on the realistic side as the couple is married and explores how relationships can be mended. So...why were there so many simultaneous plots going on? Just pick one and focus more on it! The whole cancer situation was a bit much. The whole situation with the antagonists was a bit too much. There are too many plot twists and it just got too ambitious. The writing was sloppy in the swaying between protagonists and antagonists winning. When the writer wanted the antagonists to get their way everything just seemed to go smoothly for them, then the next episode the writer wanted the protagonists to win so all of a sudden they have all this evidence fall onto their laps and everything goes smoothly for them. It didn't feel like a natural progression but instead an omniscient force that keeps flip flopping between the two groups deciding who wins. All in all, if I just focus on the rom-com and melodrama parts i.e. just how they met and fell in love then fall out of love then fall back in love, the plot is great.
*Side Plot – This is the one thing I thought improved from Crash Landing on You. My complaint for CLOY was that I wanted to see more of the main couple and less of the other people from the ensemble cast. QOT had an ensemble cast again but the way they were weaved into the main plot was well done. It didn't take away from the main plot and I didn't find the other characters' stories taking away from the main plot. The side plots were also much better than that of CLOY so I didn't skip much of them as they also helped progress the story.
*Additional features – As with other dramas by this writer, the epilogues....really love them. I even started guessing which part the epilogue would be about. The epilogues are one of the best parts of each episode.
*Ending - Actually I enjoyed watching QOT throughout its run more so than CLOY...but the ending made me question this. There were many speculations on whether it would be a happy or sad ending. I anticipated the direction the ending would head towards and as expected it went there, but didn't expect that it would leave me with such a bitter feeling. CLOY's ending was well executed and it matched the subtle intensity of the love between the two until the end but I really can't say the same about this. I wanted more! They were so lovely together before they fell out of love, the extent of their love was so much stronger and showed more blatantly than CLOY. After the turmoil and rollercoaster the writer put the leads through...put the viewers through...what kind of subtle soft ending is this? At least give us some more lovey dovey scenes before ending like that. I mean they only properly kissed once, what a major letdown. It’s more than okay to reference the scene of them visiting the cemetery during the honeymoon at the final scenes, but give me more rom-com vibes before ending like this...it felt so rushed…I don't know...am I the only one thinking that? How frustrating.
= Cast =
*Acting – Phenomenal acting. I really don't know what to say. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun carried so hard. The subtle expressions and gestures...just wow. I became a fan of both of them (more so Kim Ji Won) after this. I watched their previous works but I think the acting range they showcased in this drama made me see them in another light. I guess we have the writer to thank for that because with such a crazy plot (really too many twists and turns) the way they portrayed their characters enduring all that was as realistic as they could have possibly made it. Also...honest opinion...news that IU was supposed to play Hong Hae In, I'm almost certain that she could not have done it anywhere near as good as Kim Ji Won. I just had to say it. Supporting cast were all great with special mention to Park Sung Hoon who is really so good at being an antagonist, Kwak Dong Yeon, and Kim Jung Nan. The acting was really what saved this drama and gave it the high ratings.
*Chemistry – The lovey dovey scenes between Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun are just so heart-fluttering and cute. They had great chemistry. Visually actually I think Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji matched more but I think personality wise and shipping wise I felt KJW and KSH matched more. They were just too lovely in the pre-wedding scenes and both honeymoon period scenes. Chemistry between the supporting cast and the main characters were also very natural. They all had their own time in the spotlight and I didn't find any of them too overpowering or taking away from the main leads.
= OST =
A great soundtrack with many good songs. Very fitting.
|| A LESSON ABOUT LOYALTY ||
It is extremely rare for a relationship to be harmonious all of the time. It is about enduring the tough times together and staying by each other's side through thick and thin. Sometimes staying together might not mean you will be happier, instead it will just be less painful. So gather all the happy memories whenever you can in your jars and when goings get tough, take them out and reminisce the good days. Tough times will pass and they will pass much easier when surrounded by people you love and that love you.
After watching the last episode I wanted to give a much lower rating but I felt I wouldn't be doing the cast and crew, also the people behind making the OST justice. This drama was really saved by the phenomenal acting. There are multiple individual scenes that were fantastic and evoked the emotion that it intended, but the plot overall was just suboptimal and a bit of an overkill. During the drama's run, though, I did look forward to the next episode and didn't fast forward too much like I do with other dramas so the drama wasn't bad...it's just a lot of wasted potential. That said…I think overall I liked this drama more than CLOY.
**I recommend this drama to those that like a wide variety of genres but also have high tolerance to and able to overlook plot holes and sometimes absurdity. Watch the drama for the acting and for the romantic comedy scenes. The drama will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions - heartwarming, anger, frustration, sadness, etc. all at random.
|| DETAILS ||
= Story =
*Premise - Should be quite simple really...the story of how a chaebol heiress and a legal director fell in then out of love, then how they will repair their marriage. If focusing on that alone, the drama was great but because there were so many side quests and obstacles that got randomly and unnecessarily added into this central concept it really downgraded the drama.
*Genre - Truly an overkill as it included romance, comedy, action, melodrama, thriller, crime. Multiple genres is not a problem as Crash Landing on You also had that, but as this drama attempted to focus on all of them equally it became too much. For this drama I think it would benefit if it cut down on the thriller and crime aspect and resolve it 1-2 episodes earlier, then focus more on the relationship portion more. The amount of action was adequate and just right though. The rom-com scenes were well written and weaved into the story given the circumstances.
*Main Plot – I liked the way we learnt how the main leads met in that it wasn't given chronologically and we could piece it together ourselves. The romantic comedy scenes were indeed very sweet, cute, and funny. I am a sucker for romantic comedies so I didn't mind and actually enjoyed the clichés - destined to be together since childhood, getting injured and treating each other's wounds, getting drunk and acting cute, getting jealous of each other, in awe of each others' glow up. The melodrama scenes were also well written, especially the two scenes in episode 14...I even shed a tear. However one thing I realized was that I only enjoyed those certain scenes on their own but when looking at the big picture the plot was just so absurd. The premise made it seem like the drama would be more on the realistic side as the couple is married and explores how relationships can be mended. So...why were there so many simultaneous plots going on? Just pick one and focus more on it! The whole cancer situation was a bit much. The whole situation with the antagonists was a bit too much. There are too many plot twists and it just got too ambitious. The writing was sloppy in the swaying between protagonists and antagonists winning. When the writer wanted the antagonists to get their way everything just seemed to go smoothly for them, then the next episode the writer wanted the protagonists to win so all of a sudden they have all this evidence fall onto their laps and everything goes smoothly for them. It didn't feel like a natural progression but instead an omniscient force that keeps flip flopping between the two groups deciding who wins. All in all, if I just focus on the rom-com and melodrama parts i.e. just how they met and fell in love then fall out of love then fall back in love, the plot is great.
*Side Plot – This is the one thing I thought improved from Crash Landing on You. My complaint for CLOY was that I wanted to see more of the main couple and less of the other people from the ensemble cast. QOT had an ensemble cast again but the way they were weaved into the main plot was well done. It didn't take away from the main plot and I didn't find the other characters' stories taking away from the main plot. The side plots were also much better than that of CLOY so I didn't skip much of them as they also helped progress the story.
*Additional features – As with other dramas by this writer, the epilogues....really love them. I even started guessing which part the epilogue would be about. The epilogues are one of the best parts of each episode.
*Ending - Actually I enjoyed watching QOT throughout its run more so than CLOY...but the ending made me question this. There were many speculations on whether it would be a happy or sad ending. I anticipated the direction the ending would head towards and as expected it went there, but didn't expect that it would leave me with such a bitter feeling. CLOY's ending was well executed and it matched the subtle intensity of the love between the two until the end but I really can't say the same about this. I wanted more! They were so lovely together before they fell out of love, the extent of their love was so much stronger and showed more blatantly than CLOY. After the turmoil and rollercoaster the writer put the leads through...put the viewers through...what kind of subtle soft ending is this? At least give us some more lovey dovey scenes before ending like that. I mean they only properly kissed once, what a major letdown. It’s more than okay to reference the scene of them visiting the cemetery during the honeymoon at the final scenes, but give me more rom-com vibes before ending like this...it felt so rushed…I don't know...am I the only one thinking that? How frustrating.
= Cast =
*Acting – Phenomenal acting. I really don't know what to say. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun carried so hard. The subtle expressions and gestures...just wow. I became a fan of both of them (more so Kim Ji Won) after this. I watched their previous works but I think the acting range they showcased in this drama made me see them in another light. I guess we have the writer to thank for that because with such a crazy plot (really too many twists and turns) the way they portrayed their characters enduring all that was as realistic as they could have possibly made it. Also...honest opinion...news that IU was supposed to play Hong Hae In, I'm almost certain that she could not have done it anywhere near as good as Kim Ji Won. I just had to say it. Supporting cast were all great with special mention to Park Sung Hoon who is really so good at being an antagonist, Kwak Dong Yeon, and Kim Jung Nan. The acting was really what saved this drama and gave it the high ratings.
*Chemistry – The lovey dovey scenes between Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun are just so heart-fluttering and cute. They had great chemistry. Visually actually I think Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji matched more but I think personality wise and shipping wise I felt KJW and KSH matched more. They were just too lovely in the pre-wedding scenes and both honeymoon period scenes. Chemistry between the supporting cast and the main characters were also very natural. They all had their own time in the spotlight and I didn't find any of them too overpowering or taking away from the main leads.
= OST =
A great soundtrack with many good songs. Very fitting.
|| A LESSON ABOUT LOYALTY ||
It is extremely rare for a relationship to be harmonious all of the time. It is about enduring the tough times together and staying by each other's side through thick and thin. Sometimes staying together might not mean you will be happier, instead it will just be less painful. So gather all the happy memories whenever you can in your jars and when goings get tough, take them out and reminisce the good days. Tough times will pass and they will pass much easier when surrounded by people you love and that love you.
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