Zoe
This review may contain spoilers
For a Quick Endorphin Boost
This is a fluffy little macaroon of a K Drama. It was endearing without ever venturing into slapstick or cringe humor, which is my personal sweet spot. While Wednesday 3:30 PM is my first K Drama that was clearly written around product placement, (sans the one exception I go into below), it was well done and didn't detract from the story.
I was on the fence the first few episodes because it had that tonal whiplash thing going on--you know, where something funny happens, and then suddenly cuts to a big catastrophe, which is then magically solved with no lasting consequences. I decided to try waiting it out, and I'm glad I did. The tone evened out as the show settled into its groove.
The general premise is simple, but no less compelling for it. The female lead (FL) gets dumped and tries to get her ex back by pretending to be in a relationship with her outgoing childhood friend. Our male lead's (ML's) there for her during a series of her roughest moments, bringing warmth back into her life.
While I liked the general story arc, I wasn't a fan of some of the specifics, namely trying to get her ex back by looking better than other women when they are collectively vulnerable. (According to a central theory in this world, women are most exhausted and unattractive on Wednesdays at 3:30 PM. The FL's and ML's idea is to go on dates then so she'll look prettier than everyone else and her ex will regret breaking up.) Even though we're not supposed to root for the couple that's broken up, introducing the idea that lasting relationships could so easily be swayed made everything else--even the couple we're supposed to root for--feel so much more tenuous. And that leaves me, the viewer, feeling insecure in a way that kills the happy buzz.
Luckily, after episode 3 the focus shifts, when the story becomes more about our couple "not" falling for each other. The product placement also becomes more about every woman feeling their best during a rough time, which felt much healthier (in a still very capitalistic, consumer-y way).
All-in-all it was very squee-worthy. I love me a sweet and thoughtful ML and a banter-filled relationship, which this delivered on. A very pleasant 3.33 hours.
CW: death of dog (ep. 4), unnecessary 1-year time jump in last episode
I was on the fence the first few episodes because it had that tonal whiplash thing going on--you know, where something funny happens, and then suddenly cuts to a big catastrophe, which is then magically solved with no lasting consequences. I decided to try waiting it out, and I'm glad I did. The tone evened out as the show settled into its groove.
The general premise is simple, but no less compelling for it. The female lead (FL) gets dumped and tries to get her ex back by pretending to be in a relationship with her outgoing childhood friend. Our male lead's (ML's) there for her during a series of her roughest moments, bringing warmth back into her life.
While I liked the general story arc, I wasn't a fan of some of the specifics, namely trying to get her ex back by looking better than other women when they are collectively vulnerable. (According to a central theory in this world, women are most exhausted and unattractive on Wednesdays at 3:30 PM. The FL's and ML's idea is to go on dates then so she'll look prettier than everyone else and her ex will regret breaking up.) Even though we're not supposed to root for the couple that's broken up, introducing the idea that lasting relationships could so easily be swayed made everything else--even the couple we're supposed to root for--feel so much more tenuous. And that leaves me, the viewer, feeling insecure in a way that kills the happy buzz.
Luckily, after episode 3 the focus shifts, when the story becomes more about our couple "not" falling for each other. The product placement also becomes more about every woman feeling their best during a rough time, which felt much healthier (in a still very capitalistic, consumer-y way).
All-in-all it was very squee-worthy. I love me a sweet and thoughtful ML and a banter-filled relationship, which this delivered on. A very pleasant 3.33 hours.
CW: death of dog (ep. 4), unnecessary 1-year time jump in last episode
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