romancevicariously
Lead Chemistry made me convinced they were dating / had feelings in real life.
Plot: Contract dating story. I am a sucker for those.
Watch it if you’re in the mood for: A light hearted, low angst love story which convinces you that the leads are actually in love. Sizzling chemistry of the leads in kisses and in interactions. Far-fetched concept of “Contract Dating” but they sold it as realistically as it can be. The Male Lead (ML, Ha Seok-Jin) has traditional masculine traits (aggressive, dominating, protective and take charge) and the Female Lead (FL, Jeon So-Min) has traditional feminine traits (nurturing, understanding & submissive). Such pairings are getting rarer in dramaland due to “wokeness” so it was refreshing to watch. They were well done too. ML was considerate and FL did have a spine.
Why I liked it:
* CHEMISTRY: The leads have crazy chemistry, I was convinced they were dating in real life. It’s not just the hot kisses (though they were HOT), the chemistry is in little details on how the leads react to each other through their body language. I read a reviewer say that it seemed like this series cast an actual pair dating and I agree.The way they lean into each other, caressing the hair, holding hands etc. The way the ML cared for her after she was recovered from the kidnapping, whoa! I got goosebumps. However, the credit goes to the FL for making their kisses so magical. Most of K-drama actresses kiss like dead fish pressing their lips. Poor MLs do all the work and plenty of MLs kiss well. However, here the FL was an active participant so magic on screen :)
The ML’s breathing has been audibly captured a lot: He breathes deeply / sighs in a lot of interactions which gave me flutters :) The breathing sounds were very strategically placed. His deep voice also did things to my heart. I became a fan of Ha Seok-jin after this show (do more such roles oppa!)
* PLOT SENSE: The plot made sense in why the leads would be attracted to each other. I see too many plots where the ML is an over-achiever, filthy rich person and the FL is clumsy / tomboyish, beautiful-but-not-aware-of-her-beauty, and somehow the ML falls head-over-heels. I never quite understand what the FL is bringing to the table apart from her looks because clumsiness/aggression-of-hitting-guys is not a quality I find endearing.
Here, it made perfect sense to me why the ML loves the FL and vice versa. ML had a broken childhood, has family members fighting over money with each other and is used to females being attracted to him primarily for money as he is depicted to be an abrasive sort of character. The FL comes from a loving home. Very early on the drama establishes that she couldn’t care less about the money he brings to the table. She is a school teacher, great with kids: this last trait the ML specifically admires. I think in fact that’s a common trait they both share, they both love kids. The series has shown instances where the ML goes out of his way to protect a kid, which catches the female lead’s attention and made her realise the good part of him. The ML was cognizant of all the troubles the FL had to face just because she was dating him: burglary in her house, getting kidnapped, hearing taunts from his family and exes etc. So when the FL falls for the ML, he did have the security that she has actually fallen for him alone, the money associated with him was actually a burden that she had to overcome to fall for him.
Personally, I think given the FL was shown to be submissive (see the scene where she just hides behind the ML when she realises her house has been broken into), she actually enjoyed the possessive/protective (yes, it’s a fine line between the two) nature of the ML.
*TRADITIONAL MASCULINE / FEMININE VALUES PORTRAYAL: The ML did one heck of a job portraying a man-child. He could look very child-like innocent in a few scenes and managed to turn alpha male when certain situations called for it. The FL is submissive and the ML is dominating, they both work that way. I think that is how it is in real life too, a pair of submissive / dominating partner can work well (any gender can assume any role). I am way more dominating than my husband, I know he enjoys it. I believe my dominance is within the boundaries he feels endearing, not stifling. I have read reviews calling the ML’s behaviour toxic. I am not sure I agree. As long as it is in the FL acceptance zone, it’s fine, even endearing. For example: The days my husband shows jealousy, I remember them for a long, long time. They are so few and far between and reaffirm to me that he still loves me in a profound manner. For some couples these instances might be more frequent, but as long as the other partner is touched by them and not stifled, it’s fine. I don’t agree with broad labelling of certain behaviours as toxic, life is more nuanced.
The FL was accepting of some behaviours like him being possessive etc because it was within her acceptance zone. However, she gave it right back when the ML stepped out of her comfort zone. For example: she absolutely refused to ever listen to any suggestions about her leaving her teaching profession for being a society wife.
They were not opposites but complementary personalities attracted to each other.
To end it all, the series summarised itself: There is a person with 99% unattractive traits, but if he / she has 1% of a trait that you find attractive, you can fall for that person, that becomes the charm of that person.
I think it slandered the ML unnecessarily though because he was shown to be a good person overall, even though if a bit controlling and possessive. As I said, it’s a problem only if the partner finds it a problem. The world at large and their opinions do not matter. Here, the partner clearly enjoyed the trait. I mean folks are literally supportive of BDSM relationships, but not this? I call double standards.
So, if you are in the mood for feeling romance vicariously, go watch Something about 1%.
Read my more detailed review on: romancevicariously(dot)wordpress(com)
Watch it if you’re in the mood for: A light hearted, low angst love story which convinces you that the leads are actually in love. Sizzling chemistry of the leads in kisses and in interactions. Far-fetched concept of “Contract Dating” but they sold it as realistically as it can be. The Male Lead (ML, Ha Seok-Jin) has traditional masculine traits (aggressive, dominating, protective and take charge) and the Female Lead (FL, Jeon So-Min) has traditional feminine traits (nurturing, understanding & submissive). Such pairings are getting rarer in dramaland due to “wokeness” so it was refreshing to watch. They were well done too. ML was considerate and FL did have a spine.
Why I liked it:
* CHEMISTRY: The leads have crazy chemistry, I was convinced they were dating in real life. It’s not just the hot kisses (though they were HOT), the chemistry is in little details on how the leads react to each other through their body language. I read a reviewer say that it seemed like this series cast an actual pair dating and I agree.The way they lean into each other, caressing the hair, holding hands etc. The way the ML cared for her after she was recovered from the kidnapping, whoa! I got goosebumps. However, the credit goes to the FL for making their kisses so magical. Most of K-drama actresses kiss like dead fish pressing their lips. Poor MLs do all the work and plenty of MLs kiss well. However, here the FL was an active participant so magic on screen :)
The ML’s breathing has been audibly captured a lot: He breathes deeply / sighs in a lot of interactions which gave me flutters :) The breathing sounds were very strategically placed. His deep voice also did things to my heart. I became a fan of Ha Seok-jin after this show (do more such roles oppa!)
* PLOT SENSE: The plot made sense in why the leads would be attracted to each other. I see too many plots where the ML is an over-achiever, filthy rich person and the FL is clumsy / tomboyish, beautiful-but-not-aware-of-her-beauty, and somehow the ML falls head-over-heels. I never quite understand what the FL is bringing to the table apart from her looks because clumsiness/aggression-of-hitting-guys is not a quality I find endearing.
Here, it made perfect sense to me why the ML loves the FL and vice versa. ML had a broken childhood, has family members fighting over money with each other and is used to females being attracted to him primarily for money as he is depicted to be an abrasive sort of character. The FL comes from a loving home. Very early on the drama establishes that she couldn’t care less about the money he brings to the table. She is a school teacher, great with kids: this last trait the ML specifically admires. I think in fact that’s a common trait they both share, they both love kids. The series has shown instances where the ML goes out of his way to protect a kid, which catches the female lead’s attention and made her realise the good part of him. The ML was cognizant of all the troubles the FL had to face just because she was dating him: burglary in her house, getting kidnapped, hearing taunts from his family and exes etc. So when the FL falls for the ML, he did have the security that she has actually fallen for him alone, the money associated with him was actually a burden that she had to overcome to fall for him.
Personally, I think given the FL was shown to be submissive (see the scene where she just hides behind the ML when she realises her house has been broken into), she actually enjoyed the possessive/protective (yes, it’s a fine line between the two) nature of the ML.
*TRADITIONAL MASCULINE / FEMININE VALUES PORTRAYAL: The ML did one heck of a job portraying a man-child. He could look very child-like innocent in a few scenes and managed to turn alpha male when certain situations called for it. The FL is submissive and the ML is dominating, they both work that way. I think that is how it is in real life too, a pair of submissive / dominating partner can work well (any gender can assume any role). I am way more dominating than my husband, I know he enjoys it. I believe my dominance is within the boundaries he feels endearing, not stifling. I have read reviews calling the ML’s behaviour toxic. I am not sure I agree. As long as it is in the FL acceptance zone, it’s fine, even endearing. For example: The days my husband shows jealousy, I remember them for a long, long time. They are so few and far between and reaffirm to me that he still loves me in a profound manner. For some couples these instances might be more frequent, but as long as the other partner is touched by them and not stifled, it’s fine. I don’t agree with broad labelling of certain behaviours as toxic, life is more nuanced.
The FL was accepting of some behaviours like him being possessive etc because it was within her acceptance zone. However, she gave it right back when the ML stepped out of her comfort zone. For example: she absolutely refused to ever listen to any suggestions about her leaving her teaching profession for being a society wife.
They were not opposites but complementary personalities attracted to each other.
To end it all, the series summarised itself: There is a person with 99% unattractive traits, but if he / she has 1% of a trait that you find attractive, you can fall for that person, that becomes the charm of that person.
I think it slandered the ML unnecessarily though because he was shown to be a good person overall, even though if a bit controlling and possessive. As I said, it’s a problem only if the partner finds it a problem. The world at large and their opinions do not matter. Here, the partner clearly enjoyed the trait. I mean folks are literally supportive of BDSM relationships, but not this? I call double standards.
So, if you are in the mood for feeling romance vicariously, go watch Something about 1%.
Read my more detailed review on: romancevicariously(dot)wordpress(com)
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