MattPeddlesden
Kent, UK
Brilliant but not without issues
Short: This is your average bubbly fun romance. The main leads are just perfect and seeing their relationship develop is the definition of happiness for me, brilliantly written and performed. it *doesnt* have some of the flaws of other romance stories, it *does* have some, and there's a bit of lazy writing near the end. This became a "must-watch" the minute each episode was available with subs for me, definitely recommended.
Detail:
After the disappointing lack of happy ending for Choi Soo Young's character in Run On I was hoping for her to get a great role in this one and she really delivers, finally given the chance to actually be a "normal" character and take the romance to the conclusion was a joy to watch and she's definitely become one of my favourite actors.
This story does follow the usual path to many extents, including the flaws, it even has the "go away and come back months later" thing that drives me mad. BUT, it does improve on the formula in a few ways. Firstly - in the go-away thing he didn't ghost her and said he'd text regularly, ok so that's not terrible. In another instance there's a strong case for them to have a massive misunderstanding when something she's written privately is stolen and published but without any question he trusts in her. Trust, wow, in a romance drama? That's new, I like it, let's see more of that please writers.
There are a number of pillars that make up a strong relationship - trust and support being two. They nailed the trust thing I think better than most, but support? not really - giving support is easy, receiving can be hard and when I felt they should have had the big star being supported by her he kinda cocoons and excludes her from it, I guess some notion of "protecting" her, but I'd have liked to have seen his vulnerable side more and given her the chance for the Anti-Fan to become the Number One Fan - in fact I was largely hoping that was the direction this would take, but it really doesn't. She does some things in the background but there's no visible payoff to it so it may as well have not been included.
She's a strong character, but I don't think the story gave her enough room to actually see that strength be of value, so it's almost that it didn't *matter* her character was strong as much as it should have. I think is the crux of the problem that I have.
I don't like that they didn't explain the path of Hoo Joon back to popularity. The writer used an (imho) lazy trick of doing a reset by sending him away and when he returns boom all is good again. For me, it was the anti-fan becoming the number 1 fan and standing up for him in the publics face, setting the story straight, that I was expecting to be the way ship righted but they went for the magic button reset instead - a real waste and the crux of why I didn't rate this a 10 because otherwise, it's a solid 10.
Other characters:
The second leads.. well... Jae Joons character is probably one of the most frustrating i've seen in a drama to date, massive massive chip on his shoulder, huge inferiority complex, rage issues, self confidence issues and more besides. In Hyung, his girlfriend really does love him but he can't see it because he's blinded by everything he perceives is going on around him that isn't. I kinda wish they'd been able to find a *better* solution to it but sense is kinda knocked in to him in the end albeit rather drastically.
I will repeat the flag noted in at least one other review though, this is NOT a normal relationship and if YOU find yourself recognising any of this with your own circumstances please talk to friends or professionals and get help before something bad happens.
The third couple - who I won't name - were brilliant as well, fun and bubbly and I adored how they did the proposal for that one, completely in character for them. They had a fun dynamic throughout and was good seeing their relationship develop - I mean it was a very minor part of the story but just made scenes all the more fun with their story in the background.
Music was good, but the repeated use of "Bittersweet" (the one that starts "I wonder what is love...") got a little annoying and even out of place given it was already part of his performances and then here they are in the production studio apparently working on that same song.
Definitely recommended, and one I'd certainly watch again to enjoy their relationship and Choi Soo Young's brilliant acting.
Detail:
After the disappointing lack of happy ending for Choi Soo Young's character in Run On I was hoping for her to get a great role in this one and she really delivers, finally given the chance to actually be a "normal" character and take the romance to the conclusion was a joy to watch and she's definitely become one of my favourite actors.
This story does follow the usual path to many extents, including the flaws, it even has the "go away and come back months later" thing that drives me mad. BUT, it does improve on the formula in a few ways. Firstly - in the go-away thing he didn't ghost her and said he'd text regularly, ok so that's not terrible. In another instance there's a strong case for them to have a massive misunderstanding when something she's written privately is stolen and published but without any question he trusts in her. Trust, wow, in a romance drama? That's new, I like it, let's see more of that please writers.
There are a number of pillars that make up a strong relationship - trust and support being two. They nailed the trust thing I think better than most, but support? not really - giving support is easy, receiving can be hard and when I felt they should have had the big star being supported by her he kinda cocoons and excludes her from it, I guess some notion of "protecting" her, but I'd have liked to have seen his vulnerable side more and given her the chance for the Anti-Fan to become the Number One Fan - in fact I was largely hoping that was the direction this would take, but it really doesn't. She does some things in the background but there's no visible payoff to it so it may as well have not been included.
She's a strong character, but I don't think the story gave her enough room to actually see that strength be of value, so it's almost that it didn't *matter* her character was strong as much as it should have. I think is the crux of the problem that I have.
I don't like that they didn't explain the path of Hoo Joon back to popularity. The writer used an (imho) lazy trick of doing a reset by sending him away and when he returns boom all is good again. For me, it was the anti-fan becoming the number 1 fan and standing up for him in the publics face, setting the story straight, that I was expecting to be the way ship righted but they went for the magic button reset instead - a real waste and the crux of why I didn't rate this a 10 because otherwise, it's a solid 10.
Other characters:
The second leads.. well... Jae Joons character is probably one of the most frustrating i've seen in a drama to date, massive massive chip on his shoulder, huge inferiority complex, rage issues, self confidence issues and more besides. In Hyung, his girlfriend really does love him but he can't see it because he's blinded by everything he perceives is going on around him that isn't. I kinda wish they'd been able to find a *better* solution to it but sense is kinda knocked in to him in the end albeit rather drastically.
I will repeat the flag noted in at least one other review though, this is NOT a normal relationship and if YOU find yourself recognising any of this with your own circumstances please talk to friends or professionals and get help before something bad happens.
The third couple - who I won't name - were brilliant as well, fun and bubbly and I adored how they did the proposal for that one, completely in character for them. They had a fun dynamic throughout and was good seeing their relationship develop - I mean it was a very minor part of the story but just made scenes all the more fun with their story in the background.
Music was good, but the repeated use of "Bittersweet" (the one that starts "I wonder what is love...") got a little annoying and even out of place given it was already part of his performances and then here they are in the production studio apparently working on that same song.
Definitely recommended, and one I'd certainly watch again to enjoy their relationship and Choi Soo Young's brilliant acting.
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