Zoe
This review may contain spoilers
“You came out of your mother’s tummy shouting, ‘I’m a feminist, didn’t you?’”The premise has needless drama but the characters manage to get through it with most of their dignity and autonomy intact.
I was especially worried for our heroine, but she is a survivor and she thrives in whatever environment she is in. It’s been a while since I’ve visited melodrama land and it’s been a while since I’ve been this upset over a show. Why won’t they do what I want them to do?
The best thing about this show is that no matter what is happening the show demonstrates the strength of the characters. It’ll pull up ridiculous scenarios just so we can feel happy about our protagonists.
Mothers
The mothers are pretty standard but about halfway I started getting interested in their relationships with the people in their lives.
What is really great is that the annoying mother-in-law is more of an object of pity because everyone loves the daughter in law so much.
Cheon Ho Jin can’t be matched when it comes to playing a nice elder. His gentle warmth for Seoyoung’s husband was so touching. “That rich family son is affectionate and has a good heart.” He plays Park Hae Jin’s father and the pair have such a nice chemistry.
Seoyoung – female lead
Lee Bo Young’s no-nonsense delivery does the trick. She plays a heroine that is calm and confident. There’s no needless bashing of her identity and person. She is well liked and competent.
Ujae – male lead
In terms of life, Ujae is pretty useless. He’s entitled and spoiled. He becomes wonderfully mature as the drama goes on – being a true older brother to his siblings and sharing his mistakes of the past as life lessons. “Don’t turn this into the same mess I did in the past.”
He doesn’t seem to have any hobbies or work, he doesn’t really get along with anyone in his family or in the drama. But he’s very good at realising his mistakes when he meets Seoyoung.
Romance
Ujae describes Seoyoung as, “Nice and tough.”
The pair get much better as the drama goes on. It is distinctly uncomfortable for the first 10 episodes or so.
Siblings
Park Hae Jin and Lee Bo Young as siblings is cute. They are both academically smart and work hard. I love how they get along.
Sang Woo
Park Hae Jin is so freakin’ good looking in this drama. He at first seems standoffish with potential love interests but he’s actually really kind to them. Throughout the drama he is self-righteous and a key catalyst for causing people around him distress because he needs to protect people in his own way.
“If you can love me like this, I don’t think I’ll find anyone else that’ll love me as much as you do.”
Sang Woo really is who he says he is. If he’s made up his mind to be happy with his decision he will be. He’s simple when it comes to his values and his values will keep his well being secure.
“I consider marriage like meeting a new friend you’ll have forever.”
I respect him because he shows that love is a choice.
Hojeong
Hojeong is such a pain. But I saw some spoilers about her though so I had to like her. And you can see that she makes efforts to improve herself and her personality. The way she wards off her blind dates by dressing up is funny.
She and her step brother are cute. Hojeong is a good example of how this show has these upright, stiff males that have a totally different side to them when it comes to the women in their life.
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Both the main characters are new to living life like ordinary people.
I enjoyed aspects of this drama that I usually wouldn’t highlight (sad times, separations, secondary characters). In comparison, I didn’t enjoy the usual factors such as bromance, romance and family in this drama. Louis’ shopping talent entertained me and Bok Shil’s simple personality also made me smile. I wasn’t interested in the main couple all that much, but was more keen on the overarching story. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns of the story. I found the secondary characters (Ms. Heo, Mr. Kim, the office workers and even the mothers!) worthwhile and was interested in the bad guy schemes and machinations. The good thing about this show is that it wraps up each character and each concept neatly so it feels the drama comes full circle. A lot of this show is really natural. Things actually make sense.
Seo In Guk
Louis is a spoiled but a trapped character. And more so that the usual obligations of a male heir. He obviously compensates for his lack of living with shopping. He’s sad, he’s like an object that he buys. I liked the parallel. He doesn’t have a rebellious personality.
“I can’t make grandma sad.”
He just had no opportunity to mature with everyone spoon feeding him.
“Why does my grandma keep me locked in?”
“It’s because you’re precious.”
Louis lives in France so I’m glad he keeps talking in a spattering of English, French and Korean.
He reminded me of a puppy. His scared whimpers is particularly hilarious.
Bok Shil
This character gets a gold star for never being fazed. She is probably one of the few heroines that doesn’t make a fuss about skinship.
She’s also a wonderfully tragic actress. Her brother was a brat but her love and sorrow for him had me in tears.
Romance
“Why are you so timid?”
“I’m afraid of being alone.”
Oh my gosh. These two are hilarious and cute and dynamic. They’re funny because they are both so over the top at simple pleasures such as the sauna and the market. The best thing about this couple is they’re not shy about skinship. They’re snuggly and cuddly as friends. The couple really excels in doing romantic things without drama. They’re so comfortable with each other whether it be dancing, or holding hands, piggyback rides, or any close proximity. They’re not awkward at all and just smile at each other brightly like the whole world is awesome. Their first kiss was the best.
“I love it here.”
“Me too.”
It’s refreshing to have an innocent hero.
The pair have a simple trusting friendship that is straightforward and honest. It gives the show a lovely vibe without any contrived fights.
“It feels awesome to have someone on my side.”
BONUS: Their kisses were very mutual.
Cha Joong Won – second male lead
Despite his peacock tendencies, Joong Won is a decent person.
As the drama goes on, you can see how he doesn’t put people into a box and how if someone has the audacity to ask him for a favour, he’ll do it. It was amazing to see as much as he hated Louis’ sense of entitlement he also understood it so perfectly.
“Louis lived apart from his family for a long time, so he needs love and care more than average people. Treat him well.”
My favourite thing was how all the other characters made fun of him by imitating his throat clearing habit.
Ma Ri
“You’re the Mother Theresa of Goldline.”
Ma Ri's suffering at the hands of In Sung was funny for me too the way she was so freaked out by him but kept hanging around him.
Ms. Heo
This lady that I only knew from the gentle character in Reply 1988 is actually a really great personality in this show. So much fun! I probably only liked her because she was the sweet Sun Young and I find it hilarious to see her being called Ms. Double Axe in this drama. The flashback to when she was young is perfect and really shows how Grandmother Choi is such a great person that can see past people’s outer layers.
Mothers
I appreciated the silly spin on the mother’s perspectives of how they viewed people.
“You should also get a nickname so we can hang out.”
The mothers’ schemes in this one were more innocent and funny rather than evil mean-spirited. They are not set in their ways. The drama also showed their relationship with their respective husbands and it felt more real and meaningful that most other dramas I’ve seen.
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“And I have taken the bait.”
“So frank?”
“It’s a fact.”
I loved this show. But by the time the end of the drama came, I was a bit disappointed with the characters. Still, watch it for the amazing make out scenes. *swooooon
You know that it’s ridiculous when you’re more interested in the parents than the main romance. Both the lead actors are very charismatic and easy to watch on screen. They make everything interesting. It’s been a while since I really rooted for the main couple instead of just blindly accepting that they are meant to be.
They are both similar in character with the way they get what they want and manipulate people. It’s hard to tell whether their interactions with each other are sincere or not. Even they are confused.
I actually enjoyed all the ridiculous scheming and how the major schemers were getting lost with how many schemes are going on.
I’m surprised at how entertained I was by Hao Meng’s scenes with his clients.
Huan Zhen
This character plays her devious role to perfection. She’s the perfect bad guy and she knows how to get revenge. There are little things about her character that are satisfying. Like how she doesn’t mind sending Hao Meng pictures of her sleep hair. I like that even though she is a crazy bitch, it’s not because she doesn’t have good parents or she had a bad life.
I like the way she is so cool. She doesn’t freak out at blood and she can happily offer her services to the police as bait to catch a criminal.
Huan Zhe is a complex character. She can easily change the direction of a conversation and you can see how she will stop in her tracks and decide to go with a different reaction.
She is never clueless. I was surprised at how many times she reveals what she knows.
Sheng Nan – second female lead
I like that Sheng Nan is not just a cardboard character. I enjoyed her relationship with her brother and her parents’ silent war. It made her story much more meaningful. I felt sorry for her getting caught in the middle. She’s very dutiful in her role though.
It’s probably really mean of me, but she really is no match for Huan Zhen. Sheng Nan just rolls with the fact that she is in Huan Zhen’s shadow. To top it off, when Huan Zhen is in danger, Sheng Nan steps up to the plate readily.
I like the proximity of the enemies with Sheng Nan’s brother being caught in the middle.
Hao Meng – male lead
This actor has a beautifully expressive face. And I loved seeing his expression when he was moved by something. The funny thing about him is that he has such a chiseled look but when he smiles it’s so freakin’ cute. Sometimes, the cuteness doesn’t even seem to fit the situation especially when he’s trying to be masculine. He’s too freakin’ cute.
I liked seeing how conflicted Hao Meng was about Huan Zhen especially after being warned so thoroughly by his sister. His loyalty to his sister is great and so is his fascination with Huan Zhen. He is hilariously clandestine about his new budding romance with her and hides it from everyone like he is committing a crime. The show did well with showing his interest in her had affected his life so completely.
“When she cries I am even more upset than her.”
Romance
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a couple with this much sizzling sexual tension.
It’s funny seeing Hao Meng dislike himself for loving the morally ambiguous Huan Zhen.
Friend - “This girl has serious problems.”
Hao Meng- “How come it feels like I have a problem?”
This pair were more sinister than undercover agents the way they danced around each other. They say all the right things to each other when they are completing bullshitting. It’s funny because they are so busy keeping in mind what’s going on in the other’s mind, they appear to be so selfless.
The show really ramps up the flirting. And the two main characters do flirting so well.
I was impressed that as far as Hao Meng will push her Huan Zhen will push right back even when it come to her modesty. It’s really bizarre having him be so fake nice to her when it really is an enemies-to-lovers vibe.
I really liked that despite them being dishonest with each other, they way they try and trip each other up, is actually very revealing of their personalities and I feel like they really got to know each other despite all the deception.
Despite the cheesiness of it, I love that she could overcome his insomnia.
Friendship
I really like that the girls are so awesome when they patch it up.
Siblings
Sheng Nan and Justin are pretty funny together. They have good chemistry as siblings. I liked the way they interacted and the way they looked at each other, with such meaning and intent like they could read each other’s minds.
I love that he draws the boundaries with her and his relationship with Huan Zhen. But even while they are arguing, he makes her a sandwich. So cute!
Parents
Huan Zhe’s parents are cool. Her relationship with them is good and she’s particularly cute with her mother. I like that her dad can talk to her about meaningful things too.
Hao Meng’s dad is cool. But too cool for the family.
The show makes a point to contrast Huan Zhen’s simple and happy parents and Hao Meng’s argumentative, stressed parents. Huan Zhen’s mother is girlishly still in love with her husband.
I liked Hao Meng’s relationship with his mother and how the drama really fleshed it out. It felt more real than the usual mother idolising her precious only son. The show allowed Hao Meng to understand her viewpoint. He’s already really considerate of her, but this show took it to another level.
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I enjoyed the show way more than I think it’s worth.
There is nothing much to the plot but before I knew it, I was at the end. So I guess it was entertaining enough to keep me marathoning.
I really liked how the drama showed the three cousins being distant with each other but also getting more comfortable with each other. They remained prickly and antagonistic, but the way the circumstances shoved them together, you could see they were starting to feel more warmth about their dysfunctional relatives.
The step family really makes it feel like Cinderella in the way they are just hopelessly petty. I did appreciate that they really love Ha Won’s dad though.
Ha Won – female lead
Ha Won can be aggressive but she’s polite and easy going too. Her smile is so genuine and sweet. It doesn’t feel like she’s pushing the cheerful heroine, it seems so sincere. This show is so over the top. It has so much high drama. Of course she’s a hard worker like most Kdrama heroines but I liked that her mission was more relational and she had to think about how to win over the boys’ personalities.
My favourite parts were when the boys all had to react to announcement at the same time and how their personalities were so different. It was so fun how they came together for Ha Won’s sake. They all loved her so much. I liked how they were so impacted when Ha Won just casually called them chingu in conversation.
A drama always gets extra points from me where the heroine isn’t belittled for her looks or her brain.
Ji Woon – male lead
I wasn’t confident that I would like this actor because his looks just isn’t my cup of tea. But I really came to like him. This guy seems like the oldest to me because he is so serious. I like that he is distant and isolating. He doesn’t go out of his way to be mean. He just consistently tells her to get lost.
Romance
Ji Woon has a very nice way of looking at Ha Won. He isn’t the most handsome guy but he does have this aura about him that is very gentle and charismatic. I liked the orphan spin on this drama that both Ha Won and Ji Woon are both very alone in this world. The pair have a subtle way of connecting over their parents.
General Secretary
I love dramas that have that stereotypical stern guy that is uber polite and professional.
Kang Min Young – second male lead (?)
This guy starts out pretty stereotypical but he became such a funny character later on. I like the way he talks. He isn’t the best of actors with the more dramatic scenes. But he is good at skinship. He just looks good when he’s next to a girl.
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I like the idea of the story being about the king and queen of the school that don’t really cross paths. Young Sook leads the girls and Joong Il leads the boys and there is clear segregation.
The girls have a very structured hierarchy and order to their gang. The boys are rather scared of them.
“You’re Gwang Sik’s girl.”
“Who says? We just have an alliance.”
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This is the key guys. I kind of like that the whole saga of the hero loving Luo Han gets flipped around and it becomes all about Yu Xi’s love for her sister. This drama is really different from other shows. I can't quite put my finger on it.
This is the shortest C-Drama I’ve seen. A very pleasant 20 episodes. Chinese dramas often have very painful starts. But if you can get past the first few episodes, you’re set. I like that the pair don’t feel any romance or attraction to each other at first. Zhan Cheng and Yu Xi are bottom line a mature couple. I enjoyed how they spoke into each other’s lives, and gave story examples to communicate with each other. I loved that their miscommunication lasted about five seconds. They sorted things out so quickly.
The drama’s quite good with keeping its consistency. For example, I liked that Yu Xi forgot to control her expressions around Zhan Cheng, because she was so used to him not being able to see her. Or when Zhan Cheng didn’t know who people were even though he’d met them multiple times.
I appreciate the way the characters have romantic moments at separate times from each other. For example, Yu Xi might suddenly feel caught up in the moment, but Zhan Cheng doesn’t notice anything and vice versa.
This show has a totally different boss/underling romance style. They’re very even footing on a relational level even though Yu Xi puts herself in a very supportive role. She doesn’t even consider that her boss might like her despite his tendency to spoil her. I like that she innocently wants him to find someone to love and never considers herself a candidate.
Zhan Cheng – male lead
Zhan Cheng doesn’t have any super powers, but he is talented and smart. I like how he reasoned things out in his mind. He knows how to connect the dots and he really analyses conversations so that he can figure out the meaning behind a person’s motivations or intentions.
Our hero is actually pretty darn good. He’s not unnecessarily mean or overbearing. He’s quite charismatic and he’s gentle, which is really sweet. I liked how kind he was despite Yu Xi’s terrible personality and work ethic. He has these little smiles that are so cute when Yu Xi isn’t looking. I loved his funny expressions – it was almost Kdrama worthy.
He’s very loyal to Yu Xi as well.
I like that he’s not always sure how close their faces are, so it’s a bit of a moment for Yu Xi but he’s just concentrating on whatever they’re doing.
I like how he asks her if she’s hurt all the time.
And he’s really affected by the tone of her voice.
I really loved how he came to trust her.
It was so funny how he let her lie to him and he’d tease her about it later.
He lets her get away with a lot of things, he’s rather indulgent. But still, it’s nice to see such a generous hero even when the heroine is pushing it. I mean he really just loves her flaws.
I love the way he tries to keep a straight face. It always looks like he’s trying not to laugh around Yu Xi. It was cute how Yu Xi would handle him and he began to find her touch meaningful, but she was just being practical and going about her job.
Zhan Cheng is very mature. He’s never petty, doesn’t get jealous, and he’s overall a real man.
Yu Xi – female lead
The show gives us a terrible first impression of our heroine. Honestly, I thought she was the worst heroine ever, so I was kind of shocked at how much I liked her after a few episodes. She’s actually a really good character. She starts of incredibly obnoxious and dumb. She gets upset at Zhan Cheng for being blind. WHAT EVEN. She’s loud and aggressive for no good reason. But her thick skin character is somewhat necessary to break through all of Zhan Cheng’s defenses.
Then of course, I really liked that when she persuades him to try something new and she gets beaten up trying to make sure he doesn’t get hurt, she doesn’t complain at all.
I like how many times in the show when someone asked here to do something she was like, “I’m working right now.” And she always checked in with her boss no matter what it was.
She does a lot to show her support of him. I like how she learned to help him and in ways that are practical. She knew her duties of counting steps in rooms and etc. I like that she reassures him of her presence and that she’ll be there for him. She’s concerned about him feeling safe. I liked the dynamic of it being ok that she looks after him and he readily accepts her help.
When the pair get together, she’s completely comfortable with skinship and she doesn’t act awkward at all. It’s lovely. I like she doesn’t overthink it. She just accepts they’re together.
She’s a really great romance partner in the way she affirms her darling’s feelings for her and communicates her trust in him.
Yu Xi also gets thrown into the deep end with roles that she’s never been trained in but she shows common sense and attention to detail.
Secondary Characters
Assistant William
I like that this guy got some opportunity to be more than just a comical, or stupid character.
“Do you know who you just provoked?”
“Ever since I met Zhan Cheng, I have never been afraid.”
I enjoyed William’s relationship with Yu Xi too. How they teased each other but united in their care for their friend Zhan Cheng.
Bo Yan
This guy is handsome and sometimes he is sincere, or at least thinks he is. But his best shining moment was when he wrote up those pregnancy notes. I mean, that was just so hilarious. I don’t think it was even supposed to be a funny thing, but how he so seriously prepared the information was so great.
Fashion: I like Yu Xi’s personal assistant clothes.
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I was really baffled at how the drama would handle the romance of the show with Soon Ae at the reins in someone else’s body. But how cute is it when the two of them become friends? Na Bong Sun kind of becomes drunk on the charisma that is a Kim Seul Gi character. Kim Seul Gi just totally commits to whatever she’s doing. Her crying is tragic, her terror is so gut wrenching and her happiness so freakin’ contagious.
The story telling really becomes strong as the drama moves along. I enjoyed the characterisation and the events that happen as it escalates towards the deadline that is Soon Ae’s ghost life.
Sun Woo – male lead
Sun Woo is your typical arrogant, famous, rich, proud kind of guy. I was impressed that he just liked Na Bong Sun even with her “mental illness”. But in general, he was a hero that I didn’t really connect with. He’s unlikeable and I don’t know what he’s thinking. This means that it’s pretty adorable when he loses it over Bong Sun. He is a rather awkward character but he definitely shows his vulnerability when it comes to his lady love.
Romance
Of course Sun Woo is shocked by Bong Sun’s transformation and I liked how he grew to respect her new personality.
He also became less confident around her. I appreciated that he began to be aware and concerned about what she thought of him. It was kind of hilarious how scared he is when he thinks he’s upset her.
I like how the show demonstrated that Sun Woo did have a connection with Bong Sun through her blog.
It was a bit jarring how the possessed Bong Sun kept throwing herself at Sun Woo, but it was kind of cute how Sun Woo started to have the giggles over it too.
Sun Woo becomes a much better person thanks to Bong Sun. I really liked the transformation and the sensitivity he developed towards her.
The show explores the troubles that Bong Sun goes through because of the relationship building that has occurred when she wasn’t conscious. e.g. Soon Ae likes blood sausage and Bong Sun hates it. So there are so many things that Sun Woo is bringing up because of what Soon Ae told him. But it also gets meaningful when he begins to say things he appreciated about her and what made him like her and they were all things that Soon Ae did for him. It’s a shame that he could never really connect with Soon Ae especially when he admits that he loved her too.
I enjoyed the time of separation that Bong Sun and Sun Woo go through. For once it was done well and was effective for the plot instead of just an in between period to play sad songs and mope around. Also the show demonstrates nicely without too much drama that time is rather healing.
After Sun Woo finds out everything towards the end it is endlessly entertaining as he figures out who was who throughout the whole drama.
Joon/Corden
Big shout out to this character who was so hot and funny and cool and nice. He was one of those random side characters that rooted for the main couple.
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This drama is everything. I loved the pretty, the filming, the story telling, the characters. I don’t even usually care about feeling or atmosphere, but I noticed how the setup was so freakin’ awesome and delightful. When I got to the third episode I was so sad, I didn’t want to let go of the drama just yet.
I really like shows that tell stories about people who are good at what they do.
Cha Sik and Yoon Seol meet each other in such normal and affable circumstances, it was such a nice setting. I expected them to meet through a misunderstanding or some form of aggressive combat.
I like how the characters can receive criticism. Cha Sik literally just says, “Acknowledged. Keep going.”
Yoon Seol
I know Kim So Hyun is a popular little actress. But I hadn’t seen her in a main role and I didn’t realise how good she is until now.
Her character in this show starts of prickly. But she soon starts making her own decisions. I like that she defends Cha Sik and she is loyal. She just doesn’t let him take any abuse.
Yoon Seol has these sort of mocking moments that always follow with her sincerity on the topic. For example, she’ll say something mean to Cha Sik, but then follow it up with a sentence that shows him she meant it for herself (unless when she was teaching him).
She also uses parallels of his sport and how that relates to piano. I like that she thought about his point of view when he wasn’t understanding something.
I think one interesting thing about the drama is that Yoon Seol does get tricked because she can’t see. But it ends up better for her that people are tricking her for her own good. In the same way that she says she can’t get embarrassed because she can’t see, she also can’t let her pride get in the way because she can’t see.
Cha Sik
“I know it doesn’t make sense but I will make it so that it does make sense.”
I have loved Ji Soo in everything he’s been in. He’s got crazy good chemistry with everyone. In this show, he really shines as the easy going, optimistic and honest sports student. I have only ever seen Ji Soo play angry, over the top broody and intense characters. Here he keeps the intensity, but instead he is over the top energetic and excited, which is so wonderfully fun to see Ji Soo smiling and being so happy. He is such a simple and open fellow. I almost couldn’t believe that he is the same person because of the other complex and closed characters he’s acted as – he’s just so good. Even when he gets into fights, he’s so jolly, it’s great.
He keeps that beautiful innocence though and it’s just so heart breaking. I was so impressed by his character.
“I you tell me, I will steadily show you my improving fashion.”
“Please don’t misunderstand. We’re meeting to promote a healthy youth appropriate matter.”
“At first I just seem shabby like scrap paper, but after digging in deeper, I’m pretty awesome!”
Cha Sik just gets better and better as the drama goes on. I love that he used sound to make Yoon Seol laugh.
Cha Sik’s mother
Cha Sik and his mother are such a great pair.
“Crazy. Is he some kind of celebrity?”
“Wow Mum, I’m so disappointed. I’m tell you this great secret because you’re my mum!”
Jin Mok
I grew to like him quite a bit and he had some very meaningful moments. I love that he kept Yoon Seol’s curler.
Umm, that ending was rather bizarre. But the whole show was so feel good, let’s just forget what happens after the competition. Oh gosh what a weird ending.
Music
I like that they made some attempts at showing the high level of Yoon Seol’s piano ability. I like the way she bobbed her head to the beat that Cha Sik was missing when she was listening to him play.
I very much doubt that Yoon Seol couldn’t tell the difference between Cha Sik and Jin Mok’s playing. Ridiculous.
Also, no way Jin Mok would be on the same page as Yoon Seol with a piece that speeds and slows down like their arrangement. It would’ve been a hot mess most likely since they’d never played the piece together. Bit of a shame that the climax of the show was based on this impossible musical scenario. A duet of all things is such a form of serious connection between two players.
Musical complaint – a sight reading test is testing skills that are completely different from memorisation tests….
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“What is it to you if I cook him ramyeon or a meal with 18 side dishes?”
“Nobody can beat someone who’s having fun.”
As the show goes on, itbecomes clear that the girls suck at life and the boys are good atwhat they do and get praised. The girls get chewed up and spat out.
Ko Dong Man – male lead
I’m a Park Seo Jun fan. Hischaracter in this show is...loud. And kind of a country hickKorean-style.
His acting is always sonatural.
“Is this what they callsexy? I look like a 90s office worker.”
Seo Jun is actually really soamazing. I really believed he was this awkward, gangly, impatientman-child.
I love Dong Man’s softheart.
“You’re, you’re notreally crying are you?”
“Pat me. Go ahead.”
And Dong Man as a kid is justgold.
Ae Ra – female lead
Ae Ra is a bit of a nagginghousewife. She does view Dong Man as more than a friend. But I likehow she’s so fierce and scary but she also is very vulnerable andsoft-hearted and doesn’t mind admitting it.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS
I liked all the characters andthe side plots. That’s really rare for me.
Coach: “I’m more afraid ofAe Ra than any woman in the world.”
Landlady: Hey, 102, fighting!
Dong Man: What did she say?
Joo Man: I think she justcursed at you
Joo Man and Sul Hee give the drama a great feel of relationship exploration. I love it when shows think past the HEA.
“Sul Hee was like the vast ocean.”
I like the way they paint Sul Hee’s character. Of this never ending giving loving person but so annoyingly weak. She’s a typical useless kind of girl but she’sso nice and warm you feel happy in her company. I loved the dramatic part of her relationship with Joo Man and what a calm and great person she was.
PARENTS
The parents dynamic in thisshow is really good. In a way it’s nothing new but the show just does it so darn well. The main characters become like children againaround their parents but they’re striving to prove themselves. And the parents really show how well they know their children even though sometimes it looks like they’re estranged. The relationship between Sul Hee and her mother, Joo Man and his mum, Ae Ra and her dad.
Dong Man’s relationship withhis father was so typical and familiar. A dad who doesn’t know howto say what he wants to say so it just comes out as criticism andinstruction. I actually really liked this segment because it was soclose to home.
ROMANCE
“I can’t take all the burden for you but I’ll take 2 out of 3 bullets for you.”
Dong Man and Ae Ra are like siblings. They fight squabble, and cry.
“Only the microphone moron can awake the sleeping Hulk.”
I really like that Ae Ra know show Dong Man reacts to anyone messing with her. She fears for her adversaries when Dong Man shows up.
“You can’t even look after yourself yet you’re always trying to defend others.”
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The story telling goes round and round and the logic and rationale of characters is frustrating.
There’s so many times you want to shake them and tell them to get a grip.
Our heroine’s characterisation is not too bad. She isn’t the best heroine, but she’s strong as a human being and I can always support a character like that.
Moo Gak
He’s ok. He’s played in a typical Yoo Chun style. I find Yoo Chun’s romance not at all my cup of tea. But his comedy is fine. He is good at the straight face delivery.
Lieutenant Yeom was one of my favourite characters and I laughed at most of the other detectives' antics.
Bad Guy
The show just loved the bad guy so much. So much gloating. At least he was handsome. And I’m glad how they finished him off.
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You wouldn’t think that a story like this would be heart warming. But it is as its base because selfish, and cold people start caring about others and I think that’s rather awesome. They lay down their pride, their ambition, their lives, for the greater good. It’s also nice to see some helpful people that they meet along the way. But it’s a bit weird that they try and be moralistic to their old colleagues about living a better life.
There is also this contrast, that these criminals learned so quickly to become good people, given the right support and context and then there were the corrupt authorities messing things up.
Another thing I liked was how when it was a personal moment for anyone of them, they all looked a little flat and sort of unable to deal with it because they aren’t into emotions haha.
It’s nice when a rag tag bunch get together and learn to get along. There’s a lot of ego and they try and see who can be the most sinister. But it gets old fast. Basically, they’ve all been through a lot and each one thinks he’s the biggest baddest wolf in the room.
Every little attempt at getting along made me smile.
It was amazing actually to see how they stopped fighting amongst each other and began to look out for one another.
There are gangsta politics but there was a nice spin to it. And some surprise loyalties and disloyalties as they explore the hyeong and dongsaeng relationships within the hierarchy of the underworld.
Gu Tak
Our Squad Leader Oh is a surprisingly moralistic guy considering the darkness he portrays. He is also very compassionate and sees the heart and the pain of these hardened guys. I never care much for characters who are already dead, but his flashbacks with his daughter were so sweet and painful.
Jeong Mun
This guy always has his hair in his face. In a way he is the most pathetic out of all of them. The other guys get friendly pretty soon but he’s a hard egg to crack. He’s the psycho pet at the youngest, quietest and most reserved. He’s very nonchalant. Nothing ruffles his feather. He always walks.
Tae Su – contract killer
I loved this character the best. He just gets better and better as the show goes on and the actor is amazing the way he portrays everything so beautifully. He had the best arc and he was always a winner despite the crap things he did and the tragedy that hit him. I like the dignity of this character. He’s very polished and civilised. He is indeed like a wolf. I don’t know if he got in touch with humanity, or he was always quietly human as a contract killer.
“You might be an ass, but your brain works pretty well.”
“We’ll have to find him so he can explain it, right?”
“That’s enough. Should I lose my temper too? Who do you think I’d kill first?”
“Don’t always choose death. First find a way to stay alive.”
“Once we’ve found how to stay alive and have uncovered the truth, there will be plenty of time left to kill each other.”
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Byeol
Our heroine is a crazy academic and comes from a big family. She starts off pretty inane but then she turns out to be quite the badass. She had some unique trials as a child from scaring off the teachers with her big brain.
I liked seeing Byeol and Han Joo just naturally work together to look after Woo Rahm.
Han Joo
I like how he talked to his kid and how he grew into his role as a father. He wanted to be a better person for his child. I like how heroes become so honest in front of heroine’s parents. Our hero is a gangsta kind of guy.
Han Joo’s Parents
They were such a funny quirky couple.
“I can’t sleep thinking about him.”
“Whose idea was it to run away from home?”
The baby is so cute when he smiles.
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And it kind of makes me laugh about the head nods. How do the hench men know what each one means? The head hench men actually stood out to me. There were pretty cool/weird/interesting.
I liked that the espionage life is acknowledged as being so difficult and soul-crushing. They really explored this idea. I really liked seeing the relationships and how they developed and revealed themselves. Another theme is how everyone just wants to protect someone they love.
I find I am all about that atmosphere. If the drama can convince me of their premise, then I'll totally get on board with whatever's going down. The intensity and the plot is so strong. The story just pulls you in and the drama makes connections repeatedly so you have to find out who is connected and how. When people describe this as a smart drama it's not because it's smart, it's because the drama let's the viewer put two and two together and doesn't spell everything out. I like that. It says a lot because it doesn't say much. You gotta love a drama like that, right? There were so many little things that really impacted me. That scary moment when Eun Soo smiled for instance.
All the characters are quite intense and I found them rather compelling. The music did amazing things to support those emotional and significant moments.
I like that I didn't know how much each character knew and how their responses to situations was unpredictable. I didn't know how they were going to react.
Just when you think one character is in trouble, they reveal what they know and the tables are turned.
I really like how the plot sets traps for the other characters and doesn't explain it to the viewer so you really are on the edge of your seat wondering what they're up to.
I like that for the most part the men treat their female colleagues like any human being and that they sometimes are put off when someone treats these women as females.
Doctor’s Son
The doctor has the Batman instincts. You can definitely see the charisma that is Jung Kyung Ho. He suffers so much tragedy but he is consistently tantalising whether he’s being a badass, being vulnerable or in a tumult of grief and loss.
So there is waffling before things get nail biting again. Actually, I have never experienced sweaty palms when watching a show ever. And this show got me so worked up I was freaked the hell out.
THERE IS NO LOVE TRIANGLE. I just lumped Soo Min’s interactions with the two guys in this one section.
At first I thought any romance with that puppy of a girl would be so ridiculous with the seriousness and intensity of the men. But for some reason, I liked it. Maybe because it offered a different avenue after the waffling. Also, it makes no sense, so I guess it’s the quirk factor. I also think I have a thing for that “one happiness” kind of concept where everything is going shit but there’s this one positive thing in their lives that is nice and sweet. It’s funny how everyone is “ahjussi” to Soo Min. I like that it doesn’t have an ahjussi romance feel though. The guys don’t really have the tendency to lord over Soo Min or baby her.
The guys communicate a lot with their body language very subtly. Like the way they turn towards her or look at her in just one little instance. It’s a big deal for them to show any kind of interest when they are so stuck and focused in their own world of corruption and pain. I like that there is no playing games with them. And limited wrist grabbing! Even though sometimes it seems called for and I was just waiting for them to manhandle her.
Jin Sook
Jin Sook’s character is pretty ho hum. I like how she looks after Soo Min. I also like how she knows how to live like a gangsta even when she’s scared. She demands respect.
Towards the end they really show how human she is. And you can see how much she loves Shi Hyun.
Soo Min – Baby Cop
Soo Min doesn’t shy away from the reality of life, so I guess that’s appealing. No wide eyed kissing with her. Her relationship with Jin Hyung Min is so fascinating. I really enjoyed their flashbacks. “That’s not a sister but a gangster.” She of course has her immature moments but she really started growing towards the middle of the drama. It’s like she stops thinking about herself all the time.
Hyung Min
I really liked how Hyung Min softened. How he let his anger and revenge die down and started seeing the people around him. His stern personality kind of made me laugh. He was so consistent even when he was doing a good deed. “Are you hurting? It’ll continue to hurt. It’ll still hurt but you have to make up your mind whether you are going to hurt alone and go on or are you going to burden others and hurt them like you’re doing now. I hope you’ll decide soon and hopefully you won’t burden others anymore.”
The thing about this show is that you have someone to root for on the cop side and the gangsta side. So even if it's dark and dirty, at least you get the satisfaction that the person you're rooting for is winning.
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The first half of this show is great. It’s still strong as it goes along. But the big reveal somehow seemed unsatisfying. Of course there are some moments when they hit the nail on the head with the feels but other times I just felt disconnected. It’s mainly Sung Joon’s character. I feel like we don’t get to experience what she’s thinking. Her decision making feels detached. The most impactful moments are when Min Ho doesn’t know whose heart he now possesses. I was glad that the show explored togetherness. I still would’ve liked the drama to explore more how the two would navigate a relationship. But I suppose the general feels is that love conquers all.
Min Ho
Min Ho is a funny character.
“I’m going to send you flowers until I die!”
He plays the sinister as well as he does the comedy. I really love how naturally he talks, the way he mucks around, and he’s so darn quirky.
“What kind of charms do you have exactly? You are only as tall and skinny as me, like anchovies.”
Despite Min Ho’s doubts about his romancing, he does it quite naturally. Min Ho is such an adorable sap when he’s in love.
“But I’m a little sad. I thought this feeling was very special and precious.”
“This special feeling, I wish it was mine.”
“Come hell or high water, I am going to love you.”
I like that from the start Min Ho looks at Sung Joon in a very intense way.
He is rather vulnerable around her when he’s not being a jackass. It’s so strange.
If it wasn’t for Sung Joon’s gentle persistence and belief in him, he would be such a douche. But she rounds him out nicely. Makes him human.
“Either way Director, you’re not a bad person. You’re just hurt on the inside.”
Min Ho has a few great lines.
“It’s not my fault.”
“But I liked you because you’re you, Kim Soon Jung. I just wanted to tell you that.”
“I didn’t have a need to love because I didn’t have a next time for me.”
Joon Hee
Joon Hee is the bad guy. But he is also the kicked puppy.
“Joon Hee and I don’t have any family. If we don’t take care of each other, nobody will do it. We have lived this way for all our lives.”
This would be nice if it were true. But Joon Hee still has a dad who Joon Hee kicks all the time. Also, Sung Joon still had a dad into adulthood.
Dong Wook
“As I’ve always told you, happiness may seem to just pass by, but sadness passes by as well.”
Dong Wook is the honest and straightforward fiancee. I really liked how well he knew Sung Joon.
After he dies, it’s actually really sad to see where his heart leads him and how his heart reacts in his new body.
It actually is really romantic how Dong Wook’s love for Sung Joon is so strong that it’s biological.
At first I thought it was miserable that his romance gets lost in Min Ho’s blooming relationship with Sung Joon. But in a way, Min Ho gets his comeuppance by forever having Dong Wook live through him in the little things.
Sung Joon
Sung Joon is a cool character. I love how unfazed she is by Min Ho’s brusqueness and bullying.
She doesn’t have family but her fiancee’s family loves her.
Sung Joon is stalwart. She is steady and doesn’t let her emotions get the best of her. She’s one of those scary secretaries that know how to keep a straight face.
Anything that happens in life, she’s ok. Fiancee dead? Fine. End of her career? Fine.
Sung Joon is an amazing secretary who really looks out for her company and her bosses’ best interests.
I love her direct politeness. How feisty she is even while being impeccably respectful.
The only thing I didn’t like about her was her moralistic, over righteous behaviour. Sometimes it seemed out of place and forced.
Other than that, I loved how insightful she is.
Most times her feelings towards Min Ho are unclear but I like that she says this, “No matter how serious the situation is, you always make me laugh.” And I could see that was definitely a big part of their relationship.
Dong Wook’s Dad
He’s a great guy and a real lovely Ahjussi. “My son’s death wasn’t completely meaningless.”
He has many beautiful moments in the drama.
“My heart knew then. There’s something about this guy! That’s the relationship between a parent and a child.”
“Maybe you love those two in different ways.”
But he’s also really funny too with the way he interacts with Min Ho.
“This used to be my son’s favourite dish! I guessed it correctly!”
“Why are you looking for vicarious satisfaction from someone else’s son? How perverted.”
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“I searched for love like a madman all my life, but I’ve never loved myself.”
I like how the girls watch each other’s lives like it’s part of their daily television viewing.
The girls’ personalities are so different. We've got the doormat, the man slayer, the quiet one, the bossy one and the princess. They have a hierarchy of course with the two main seniors, and the three younger ones. But I liked seeing them cross the boundaries to team up together.
I think the main thing about this drama is that since we have five heroines we get a lot of personality. Things that we don’t usually get to see in Kdrama heroines, because obviously they all have to be different not the same cardboard cut out copy.
The girls have different combinations of dynamic because obviously the girls aren’t always all together at the same time.
Eun Jae
Eun Jae is the seriously boring one who is so meek and mild and the only interesting thing about her is her love interest and her backstory. So weird that such a personality has a mother like she does. The story starts and ends with Eun Jae though, and in a way, it kind of wraps it up nicely for me. We underestimate her screen value for most of the drama.
Yi Na
Senior Kang is the man slayer, and even though she was the second to arrive at the apartment, she kind of reminds me of the oldest sister. Taking everything for granted but secretly protective over the other girls.
Jin Myung
The quiet one is my favourite. Because she isn’t exactly exaggerated quiet. She’s just no-nonsense and dignified, and I loved her so much. I like how I’m surprised every time she speaks or smiles and jokes around, but she totally owns it. I really felt for her as she cuts off romance before it has time to do anything, it’s totally something I would do. There are so many things about her that I really could associate with. I had such a girl crush on her. Everything she does is awesome. The other girls also act like Jin Myung owns the house. It was sweet how much they thought of her and how she didn’t even realise how much they respected her. In a way she’s so gentle but she’s for sure the scariest of them all. Even though she’s the reserved one she has no problem being part of the girl team and being one of them.
Jin Myung’s dreams and longings are so intense and unattainable for her. She wants so much but feels she can’t ever get there.
Ji Won
Then there’s the bossy one. She’s also the eccentric one but I liked how she was the comforter of the group. She had the biggest heart and stood up for justice and all. She observes and understands people. She’s also desperate for a man, she’s everything and she tries to be so friendly and I also feel that annoyance when you try so hard to make someone like you and it just doesn’t go down. I like that Senior Kang wasn’t the only one who could talk with guys. Ji Won is so confident she kind of overpowers her men, is all.
Ye Eun
Actually, she probably bored me the most. I was really glad that she broke up with her douchebag.
Romance
It was also really great getting interested and involved with the girls’ love lines.
I could kind of see myself in all of the girls and the way they approached romance. From Senior Kang’s trust issues, to Jin Myung's too-busy excuses, Ji Won's forwardness, to Eun Jae's awkwardness, and Ye Eun's attempts at putting on a show.
“A party?”
“Yeah. They’ll be a cute girl, a lovely girl, a glamorous girl"
This drama has a bunch of fresh faces. Sure, I recognised a few here and there, but it was nice to see nobody that I already knew from another drama.
Also the fact that there are a lot of get-to-know-you relationships in this drama, it was cute and fun to see how they developed from shy or antagonistic or friends-to-lovers (“Friends shouldn’t photoshop the reality of their lives to one another”). Korean love interests, are such softies, so innocent and nice, it’s very satisfying. Also, they’re tall haha.
Even the landlady was so funny with the way she threw things at the men who lingered around the girls’ door. I really loved that part near the end when all the love interests show up one at a time to check on their lady love and each lady is so surprised to know that she has a gentleman who would bother to show up.
There’s very little soundtrack involved, which is refreshing.
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