No Gain, No Love had a lot of promise. It had a lot of classic tropes, it had Shin Min Ah, it was very progressive for a kdrama. But I think that the main issue is that this show tried to do way too much with only 12 episodes.

There were so many storylines that a lot of them didn’t get resolved at all (with Ji Uk’s parents, or her ex) or were so rushed that they had no impact at all. Even the main relationship didn’t feel developed, so it felt like it had no stakes. Kim Young Dae really didn’t work for me as a lead and he did not have great chemistry with Shin Min Ah.

Ja Yeon was adorable and I really wish she had gotten more screentime. The show tried to do too much with her character in very limited time. I liked her arc as a romance writer and would have liked that to be more of the focus. The whole murderer dad getting out of jail and coming for her was a pretty unnecessary plot line. I wanted to like her romance more than I did. The way they met was very hard to come back from and it kind of dampened their entire arc.

The third friend’s storyline was completely forgettable and uninteresting. They should have just written her out if they were going to do a shorter show. Everything with Hae-young’s ex was also very annoying and took time away from other plot points.

I could see that there were elements of Hae-young’s character arc that I would’ve liked and could’ve connected with but the show just never delved into those parts in any meaningful way. Even her relationship with her mom felt like afterthought.

After a somewhat promising start, the show really fell flat for me in the last couple episodes. I’d still say watch it if you love Shin Min Ah, but overall the drama felt pretty shallow in terms of the characters and story.

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I loved the beginning of this show so much. The banter and bickering between Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo felt so genuine and accurate for friends who had known each other so long. Seok-ryu was such a fantastic character and I love that the show delved into her burnout and the unfair treatment she got as the eldest daughter. One of the first scenes that really got to me was when they were sitting in the rain and she is laughing and Seung-hyo tells her not to laugh when she really wants to cry, and she immediately starts sobbing. The two of them showed the importance of truly being seen. Both of them could see through the facades that the other would put up and knew what they truly needed. I loved the two of them together. They had fantastic chemistry both as friends and as a couple.

The show really spent a lot of time on Seung-hyo’s feelings and I would have loved more time spent on Seok-ryu’s. I think that the best part of friends to lovers is the tension and them slowly realizing their friend is hot, but since we got so little of her perspective, we didn’t really get those moments from her. It was such a missed opportunity to not do flashbacks showing moments where she found herself attracted to him as well, even if she didn’t realize it or accept it at the time.

I loved Seok-ryu so much and I was so excited to see a depiction of an overachieving eldest daughter crashing and burning, and then her efforts to create a life that actually makes her happy. The show takes a bit of a turn that I was disappointed with because it really took away from all the totally valid reasons that she could be burnt out. I also really wanted her family, but especially her mom, to realize on their own how unfair they’d been to her. The way the show went with it made it so that they didn’t really have to come to terms with how awful they’d been, which was extremely frustrating.

Mo-eum and Dan-ho, the second leads, had such a great meet-cute and her career as a paramedic was interesting to watch. I felt like this couple really went downhill over the course of the series. Mo-eum did have a sweet connection with his daughter but she tried to move things so fast that it was uncomfortable. Dan-ho’s constant rejection of her never really made much sense and it felt a little degrading to have her continue to pursue him when he was acting so cold to her. The energy between them just really seemed to shift partway through the show.

The storyline with his mom’s memory was really what took this show down a notch for me because what was that. The show continued to just throw in dramatic elements for shock value and then just reel it back, which was completely unnecessary.

At the beginning of the show, this was a 10/10 for me. Some of the frustrating elements did bring it down a bit, but I still really enjoyed the show. Jung So-min and Jung Hae-in were both incredible, together and separately. There were such sweet heartwarming moments, not just between the leads but also with their families. Even if it didn’t go into it as much as I wanted, I still really appreciated how they showcased Seok-ryu realizing in her thirties that she doesn’t even know what she likes or wants to do. She became such a beloved character to me that I won’t forget anytime soon.

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I struggled so hard to get through Business Proposal. I skipped so many scenes because I was determined to finish it so I could rate it. I don't hate cheesiness or tons of tropes, there was just something about this that really didn't work for me.

I know a lot of people loved the second leads, but there was a conversation related to consent that bothered me so much I could barely watch the two of them after that.

The main couple I did not find very interesting and there were a couple points at which I feel that relationship would have been over. Spoiler: at one point he kicks her out of the car in the middle of nowhere, at night, without a phone while they are supposed to be on a date. Regardless of the reason, she could've died! The love triangle was also incredibly boring and I didn't care about it in the slightest.

I think the character relationships just all had deal breaking moments for me that really put me off the show. There were parts that I enjoy, because there were some scenes where the main couple had good chemistry. Her team at work was pretty entertaining to watch.

While there were some entertaining and humorous parts of the story, I found the characters shallow and relationships problematic.

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Moving was different than I expected, in many interesting ways. The beginning of the show is much more of a teen drama, focusing on the younger characters, their abilities, and relationships. While some of the younger characters were endearing, once the story shifted more to the parents I was way more invested. Some of teen characters didn’t feel fully developed and the plot lines could feel a little boring.

The parent storylines were all so well done and the show surprised me by having such great love stories. All of their storylines were a little heartbreaking but it was so beautiful to see that they would do anything for their children. Mi-hyun was a real standout character. The show took a character that was a mother who didn’t have the powers of physical strength like a lot of the others, and made her one of the most badass characters. Mi-hyun was cunning, perceptive, intelligent, and did not hesitate to take out anyone who threatened her family. The romance between her and Du-sik was one of the best parts of the show. Their romance felt quiet and realistic but you could really feel their connection. The romance with Ju-won and his wife I haven’t seen talked about nearly as much and I think I loved their story just as much. I honestly would’ve watched an entire show about any of the parents.

The action sequences were a lot of fun to watch, especially a lot of the later ones where there are so many different powers. Some of the fight choreography was wild, especially with Du-sik and his flying abilities. It didn’t feel like all of the backstory made sense at times and it wasn’t clear if the show was planning to get to those things later or if they were just plotholes. The show seems like it really needs another season and it would be unsatisfying if it doesn’t get one.

I think that while I enjoyed most of the show quite a lot, my biggest issue was with the pacing. The show felt a bit boring at the beginning, then it switched to a lot of flashbacks, and then it felt like they tried to fit all of the conflict and resolutions into a couple episodes. The rush at the end to tie everything together made it so that some parts felt out of nowhere and others were unsatisfying because there was so little time for them. I rarely think this about shows but if they wanted to try and do this much with the plot, it could’ve benefitted from being longer. It would’ve given more time to develop the huge cast of characters as well.

It seemed like they were really setting things up for another season, so it’s hopeful that a lot of questions will be answered! I would love another season and to see all of these characters interacting with each other again.

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I loved a lot of things about this drama but let me get this out of the way, the age gap WAS weird. Personally, I think the show could’ve made things feel a lot less awkward by having them meet when she was 17 rather than when she was in middle school and then later reconnecting. Even though her character is supposed to be around 14, the actress they cast to play this younger version of her looked about 7 years old and seeing her act opposite to the male lead felt extremely uncomfortable to me, especially because they kept flashing back to that time. There were way too many episodes taking place when she was a kid, it felt like maybe three or four would have been plenty. The show also made such a big deal about the age gap that it was hard to forget about it. It could have been the translations or a cultural thing, but at certain points when they were talking about their ages, it didn’t seem to line up with a five year gap. Again, I think this might be a cultural difference, but it was also odd to hear him constantly introduce her as sister. It could have been the translation but when he said “I don’t want to just be your elder brother, I want to be your boyfriend” I almost laughed out loud at how bizarre that sounds, when this is supposed to be a very sweet scene.

All this being said, I actually really did like the romance for the most part. Sang zhi was such an interesting character and was written so differently than a lot of other drama leading ladies. Jiaxu was of course written as the perfect boyfriend and the actor did an amazing job showcasing his charm. While age gap is not my favorite, the show allowed Jiaxu multiple opportunities to see Sangzhi in a different, more mature light that made him realize she had grown up. What was such a great aspect of their relationship is that they were a true partnership. They both were extremely protective of each other, not just him being protective of her. Sangzhi was constantly standing up for her man and Jiaxu’s reaction to that was heartbreaking because it was clear that he’d never had anyone on his side like that before. Sangzhi had a lot of scenes that I think in other dramas it would have the male lead in her role, for example when she wraps the scarf around his neck or when she confronts his harasser. They really highlighted that even though Sangzhi was younger than him, she was willing to go to bat for him just as much as he was for her.

Jiaxu was truly adorable and it was so understandable how Sangzhi had a crush on him for so long - who wouldn’t! The college roommate crew was such a good addition and it would have been great to see more of them. One of the other places that the show really excelled was with the depiction of the sibling relationship. Brother sister relationships are not often done this well; the way the two of them bickered felt so natural and even when they were fighting or didn’t know how to express it, you could tell how much they cared about each other. My only complaint is that there wasn’t enough of the brother, especially in the later portion of the show. I would’ve liked him to have his own storyline and I thought there would have been more shown with the girlfriend.

Sangzhi’s roommates were cute but they didn’t feel like realized characters because none of them really had their own arcs. The one roommate having the crush went nowhere and it felt like a waste for the show to spend time on it. The latter half of the show started to feel like it was dragging and part of that could be because almost every scene was just these two main characters. It could have worked better if the show was either a few episodes shorter or if they spent more time on some of the other characters, especially the brother!

Even with some of the issues, I do still think the show is worth watching. There were a lot of very sweet moments that I can see myself going back to rewatch, not even just with the main couple but also with Sangzhi and her brother. The part of the show when Sangzhi is a child is pretty long, so just be aware of what you’re getting into, but once she gets to college it was a lot more enjoyable.

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Link started off with an interesting premise and did not deliver on any front. The main issue with this show is that it had no business being 16 episodes. If it had been 10 or 12 the pacing wouldn’t have been so off. The main mystery was dragged out to the point that I didn’t even care by the end. The show somewhat held my attention until about episode 10/11 and then it just really fell apart and I struggled to even finish it.

The main part of the show that I was interested in was the link between the two lead characters. Feeling each other’s emotions was something that sounded unique and it could have been really cool. I don’t need big drawn out explanations about supernatural elements, but the whole link plot line was so poorly done. In the beginning it was kind of funny and sweet, and then towards the middle it felt like it was barely even a plot point anymore with no reason given. The fact that the female lead did not know what was happening despite him explicitly telling her, her feeling his emotions, and him knowing things about her that would have been impossible to know was so irritating. The way this plot device was used to allow the male lead to continue to find her when she was in trouble was cute though.

I cannot imagine a woman with a violent stalker on the loose acting anything like Dahyun and it felt so unrealistic that it was hard to watch. Episode after episode it felt like all she did was wander down deserted alleyways alone at night. The stalker plot also just abruptly ended with almost no resolution.

I normally love a small town show with kooky characters but almost every single person in this show was a horrible person, which would have been fine except the show tried to make them all sympathetic and give them happy endings. I’m sorry but a man who leaves an injured small child alone at night while she is crying, begging for help, and saying that she’s scared and being chased, simply because he’s too tired is supposed to deserve a happy ending? I don’t even know what the show was trying to say by vindicating all of these terrible characters.

There were elements of the show that I enjoyed, primarily the relationships between Dahyun, her mom, and her grandma. Their dynamic was a lot of fun to watch, especially the way they tried to protect her from stalker by constantly carrying around bats, rolling pins, and hammers. There were elements of the romance that were cute and the leads did have some chemistry, but there were so many breakups and back and forth that it really lost its appeal by the end. There were some pretty scary scenes with the stalker that had me on the edge of my seat. The very beginning of the show when Dahyun is realizing that she is being stalked was also very creepy but interesting. Overall kind of a letdown and not something I’d recommend unless you are fast forwarding through a lot of the scenes.

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Starting off this show, I thought that the child actors were just going to have a few scenes. I was a little annoyed when I realized that it was more than that, until they stole my heart with their earnest and heartbreaking performances. It was impossible to not be rooting for them so hard after that.

Of course the premise of the show is a little ridiculous and the show really leans into the absurd nature of her past rather than what would actually be an extremely traumatic experience. I feel that this choice was made because of the already very bleak and upsetting depiction of domestic violence and the show wanting to still have some lighthearted moments.

I think what worked best in this show was Ki-ho and his dedication to Mok-ha. Every choice he made in his life revolved around her. His unwavering devotion to her was so beautiful. I really wish they had shown more of their romance. His family was so precious and I would watch an entire show based on the backstory of the mom and dad running away together.

What worked the least in my opinion was the music industry bit. The show spent so much time focusing on the shares when that storyline not only didn’t really make sense but also was uninteresting. Ran-jun could be pretty frustrating to watch and her romance plot line was tiring. The show would have been better with less focus on the music industry.

The portrayal of domestic violence was definitely meant to show how deeply unfair the legal system was towards victims. This was a very important message but it felt like even the show was giving their bio dad too much grace. It felt crazy that fighting back against someone who is attacking you and your family was shown as almost equivalent to being abusive? Just let the guy punch his dad, he deserves so much worse.

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Sometimes in action or mystery stories, less is more when it comes to explanations because the more they try to explain things, the stories become less fun and it’s easy to find the plot holes. Healer definitely did not take the less is more approach and I think the story suffered for it. I almost dropped this drama so many times in the first half because I was so bored by the backstory. It took probably until episode 7 until I was more invested.

The action itself is great and it’s clear that Ji Chang Wook had a great time doing all of the stunts. The romance was also very well executed and Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young had such good chemistry. Her character getting into a love triangle with Healer and one of his other aliases was hilarious.

I ended up skipping a lot of the scenes with the main villains because it just did not feel interesting or make a lot of sense. The second male lead was also one of the weaker parts of the show as it seemed like they didn’t know what to do with him.

Everything with Healer and his team was great. The team dynamics, humor, and caring for each other. Her dad and the ex-cons he’d hired at the cafe were fun to watch and the dad was one of the sweetest drama dads ever.

I wish the show had found a way to be more mystery of the week rather than focus on this big convoluted conspiracy that’s gone back decades. Every time the show would focus on the mystery, I just wanted to go back to the main leads or see some more action sequences.

I would have dropped this drama if the romance didn’t hold my attention like it did. Ji Chang Wook really is great in both action and romance, and Healer showcased his skills in both.

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This was my first ever kdrama and is still the only one I’ve rewatched to this day. I know CLOY gets a lot of hype, but there is a reason for it!

First off, the love story is epic and very well done. The premise of the show creates the perfect opportunity for a star-crossed lovers story. I love the meet-cute, I love the grumpy-sunshine trope, I love the backstory of their paths having crossed before. Many, many shows have the storyline that the leads have known each other in the past, but I think few have executed it the way that CLOY does. One of the reasons I think it’s so successful is that it’s not a forced storyline of them knowing each other as kids or unknowingly being a part of the same traumatic event, instead it shows the ways their paths have continued to cross against all odds. This aspect of the show had a fated lovers/red thread of destiny aspect to it that I just loved.

Captain Ri is so reserved for most of the show and, yes, he is constantly saving her life, but he also displays his love through such beautiful, little acts of consideration. Se-ri is also such a fantastic female lead. It would have been easy in a show like this to have her solely be the damsel in distress who needs saving from the hero, but she also saved him multiple times. Se-ri was brave and determined, a perfect match for Captain Ri.

Another one of my favorite parts of the show is the found family dynamic she has with all of his friends. Found family is one of the best tropes and CLOY does it so well. Se-ri had her own relationship with each of the soldiers and they all loved her so much by the end of the show. All of these characters added so much needed humor to the story.

I know not everyone does, but I loved secondary couple as well. I wish they’d gotten more time on screen together. The two of them seemed like a perfect match because they both could be pretty morally grey but had such a soft spot for each other.

I love the majority of this drama but there are a couple things that keep it from being a 10 for me. The first is that I really wish the main couple had been more passionate. These two people are living never knowing when they’ll be pulled apart forever and understanding that when that happens, they’ll never see each other again, and you’re telling me that they barely touch each other?! Yeah, right. There are also several plot lines that the show spends way too much time on, which makes the episodes a lot longer than they needed to be. Dan’s mom and uncle had too much screen time, as did Se-ri’s brothers. Se-ri’s family dynamics were very confusing, especially with her dad.

Even with my minor complaints, I would still recommend just about everyone to watch this show. This is a fantastic starter drama as well and it introduces you to a lot of the most beloved tropes. CLOY was unforgettable to me.

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Great Start, Weak Finish

I loved this drama so much at the beginning. I liked the focus on friendship and the chemistry between the couples. The show portrayed sexism and had a pretty progressive attitude towards sex. One of my main issues is that the show focused on the three main friends and their romances, but I only cared about two of them. I found one of these storylines to be incredibly boring and skipped most of those scenes. The last few episodes really took the show down for me, which I would have rated much higher before I saw those. The decisions that the main lead makes in the last few episodes felt really bizarre and out of character.

Likes: Soo-ji - a part of me almost wanted her and the CEO to be the main couple because I cared about them so much. The portrayal of sexism, especially that in the corporate world. The focus on female friendship. Forced proximity and contract marriage trope for the main couple. Chemistry between all the couples was great. The way that the main couple bonded over the simple things and how those became some of their greatest joys in life.

Dislikes: Ho-rang's relationship just did not work for me and there is just no way that couple would work. I was frustrated when it would switch to this storyline because it took time away from the storylines I was interested in.
Everything with Ji-ho's family felt very unsatisfying as it didn't seem to really address the issues with her dad and brother. While I liked the main couple for the most part, there were quite a few times that I didn't understand her draw to him, as he felt pretty unappealing. The last few episodes Ji-ho made some decisions that felt almost cruel and didn't make any sense.

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Enemies to lovers is possibly my favorite trope of all time and I also love fake dating, so a combination of the two was right up my alley. I was not immediately sold on the show and it took me a couple of episodes to feel invested, but I ended up loving the leads and romance. I did feel like the reasons they hated each other at the beginning felt a little bit forced and didn’t resolve in a very satisfying way but I always appreciate the tension that enemies to lovers trope brings.

The show does have a pretty progressive and feminist lens, at least by kdrama standards. The male lead is fully aware of the female lead’s past and he stands by her completely. It did bother me that the show seemed to really harp on how he was drawn to her because “she’s not like other girls”, but it did bother me a little bit less because to her, he’s also not like other guys, so at least it went both ways.

I love when dramas don’t stick to the 16 episode model and allow themselves to be shorter, but the characters backstories were not as well-developed as I would have liked. It seemed pretty obvious that her issues with men stemmed from her dad’s treatment of her mom, but it was never really explored in detail. The male lead’s issues with women seemed to stem from his mother but they seemed so extreme and then just resolved immediately, with very little explanation about how his ex played into it.

I love when dramas show adult relationships in a complex and realistic way, which this show did really well. Once they get together, the main couple is very affectionate, they communicate well, they tease each other in a very sweet and good-natured way, and they very clearly support and trust one another. I would have liked to see more of them being happy in a relationship, but I do appreciate that this was a legit rom-com, with no wild unnecessary side plots. This was a super fast watch and it was overall a great time.

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Crazy and Fun

I am not usually a fan of the very soap opera-esque dramas that have over-the-top plots and acting, but this one worked for me. I think the secret to this story is that it was overtly overdramatic and didn't try to be anything it wasn't. The villains were so wildly evil that it was comical at times. Perfect Marriage Revenge is the perfect binge watch because it's a shorter short with a super fast-paced plot that keeps you interested. It's not the most memorable show, but it was super entertaining while I was in it.

Likes: Chemistry between the main couple was great. Keeping the explanations of the time travel vague worked and kept it from overcomplicating the story. The male lead was very protective and supportive immediately, total green flag. The female lead realizing her power and finding her self confidence. The mother-in-law and family was great and I loved her and the stepmother battling it out.

Dislikes: several characters got second chances that really did not deserve them. I wanted to see her entire family punished because they all deserved it. Ending felt a little rushed. The backstory for the romance was not explained or delved into enough and I would have liked more of it. Everything with his brother was kind of bizarre and a definite weak point. I wanted more of the friendship with her, his sister, and his cousin! Seeing Yi-joo before she starts her revenge was painful to watch.

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I actually ended up watching When the Weather is Fine during the summer, but it was such a perfect cozy show that I’m going to have to do a rewatch in the winter. I was shocked at how much I loved this one from the beginning because it’s very slow but it was so atmospheric and beautiful that it really drew in. The cinematography of this show is gorgeous, the winter scenes especially.

This show was an introvert’s dream. It takes place in a small bookstore during winter, the town moves at a slower pace and the characters are more reserved. The scenes in the bookstore felt so cozy and comforting. The main characters are both quieter and more introverted but they really open up throughout the show. The romance was extremely sweet and their evolution from acquaintances to friends to lovers was beautifully done. Eun-seop could come off as cold or indifferent but it became clear that he just struggled with expressing his emotions. He did so many little things to show Hae-won how much he cared for her. The bookstore blog posts that they put at the ends of the episodes added so much to the story and you got to see everything from Eun-seop’s perspective. Those little bits made me fall in love with him. Even though Eun-seop fell first, Hae-won was the one moving the relationship forward. Her character was willing to put it all out there when it came to love and Eun-seop really needed that. I was so invested in their relationship.

The storyline with the mother felt kind of boring at first but it ended up going in an interesting direction. There were a lot of great side characters, especially Eun-seop’s family. The one character that I truly hated was Hae-won’s ex best friend. I’m glad the show did not entertain a true love triangle but she was such a terrible and deeply self-centered character.

I loved this show and can’t wait to watch it again while it’s snowing outside. This is absolutely a show to be enjoyed during the winter. Even if you usually like slower shows, this one is still worth a shot.

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It was so hard to rate Just Between Lovers because there were characters and storylines that I absolutely loved and then ones that I could not have cared less about. I ultimately did give it a pretty high rating because the best parts of the show made it so worth watching.

The main reason to watch this is Lee Jun-ho. The acting range that he has in this show is astounding. He perfectly captured the heartbreak, anger, charm, and recklessness of Gang-doo. Even without knowing his backstory, I immediately felt connected to this character. It really is Jun-ho’s show and no one else can really match his performance, but I did still like the female lead. The chemistry between the two of them was captivating and they really showed their emotions every time they looked at each other. Their characters and the romance was what kept me watching.

Going into this show, I thought it was going to be a lot more focused on healing and it was a bit of a disappointment that they barely go into that. The characters, especially the two leads, are deeply traumatized people. Highlighting the impact of trauma can be an important message but it didn’t seem like the characters got any kind of help and just were better. The show continued to dump more and more trauma onto Gang-doo’s character all the way until the very end of the show. It would’ve felt a lot less bleak if they didn’t add in all health issues at the end and instead just focused on him getting the help he needed and realizing how loved he really was. It was actually very hard to watch by the end because this kid could not catch a single break.

The second male lead was one of my least favorite parts of the show. He crossed a lot of boundaries and made it impossible to root for him. As her boss, it was very uncomfortable that he asked her out knowing she didn’t like him and then reacted poorly when she rejected him.

The side storyline with Ma-ri was also one of the weakest parts of the show and it was confusing why they were giving her relationship with Yoo-taek so much screen time. I had to skip most of their scenes. Moon-soo’s friend and her romance also felt really distasteful because of how they’d met.

Just Between Lovers brought attention to the real-life tragedy and addressed the importance of honoring those lost but also the emotional and physical scars that survivors and families have forever. There were so many characters that all had different connections to the event and it was interesting to see not only their own reactions but also how they all interacted with each other.

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My Sweet Mobster was ultimately not the adorable sweet rom com I was looking for. I totally understand that the point of the show is to have a former mobster who is gentle and sweet but his characterization felt a little odd at times. The chemistry between the leads felt pretty lacking and also very juvenile when the male lead is supposed to be like 40 years old. The love triangle was so bland and I had to skip most of the scenes with the prosecutor. The entire mob and villain storyline was so over the top silly that I couldn’t watch it.

The backstory of their intertwined childhoods was dragged out to such an unbelievable degree that it was very frustrating to watch. It felt very similar to What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim in that aspect for me. The childhood connection, especially one that’s executed like this, just feels really overdone and boring.

There were many parts of the show that I did not enjoy but I did end up finishing it because there were certain things that kept me engaged. The forced cohabitation is always a fun trope and not it was especially cute to see her develop relationships with all of his friends. The found family part of the show was definitely a strength and seeing their friendships with each other, as well as the female lead, was very sweet. The business hiring ex-cons was very interesting and I would have liked to see even more of that, as well as the friends backstories. I really enjoyed the second couple and I wanted both of those characters individually and together to have more screen time.

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