Original and daring
Original, thought-provoking, and daring. A masterpiece as far as the Korean series go. The actors all did a fantastic job and the variety of characters, their quirks, and sheer reality of their depictions leave one glued to the screen.It is sad that this series gets such a bad rep on various social media outlets. People who like a typical sugar-coated, far-fetched, conservative Korean drama might not actually like this series. For the rest of us, it is a breath of fresh air.
The bulk of negative comments online surround the male lead character and his "poisonous" personality. Also, the relationship between the male and female leads is frequently described as toxic. If you watch this and your negatives only pertain to the male lead - you have missed a lot.
The male lead does not want a relationship - the female lead does not want love. She is raised by a mother so frequently in and out of love that she is determined not to go down the same route. He does not think one needs to settle. Their physical attraction and their inexperienced selves think they can handle a detached and aloof relationship - that was their common starting point. Yet they fall for each other without even knowing it- and they spend a good amount of time denying it.
This is a story about love if there ever was one. A story that is much more rooted in modern reality than 90% of shows out there. It is original, heartfelt, and exudes love and emotions. A coming of age and growing-up story, too.
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This review may contain spoilers
A genuine slice of life as a young adult
Right off the bat I am going to say that I am old enough to be your grandmother or even your great grandmother….so my review comes with having lived this myself. Both as the ML and the FL.When a child never has had any love bestowed upon them to speak of, they carry that burden with them perhaps their whole life. The kind of love that is needed in a committed relationship needs to be taught to a child throughout the time they live at home…or they enter the outside world with no real knowledge of what it means to love. The ML suffers from that to some extent. He finds it hard to take the next step….to reach out….for fear of being abandoned. It is seen, quite often that children like this, becoming adults, will often use sex to get close to someone….it is their version of love and it holds less danger to them emotionally. I know this to be true for that was me, well into my 30’s.
However, we see that the ML is gentle and kind to the FL…..he is always honest with her…he doesn’t make promises he cannot keep. But through lack of training as a child….he doesn’t know how to take the next step from sex to expressing love on a wider spectrum. He tells her right from the start what he would like the relationship to be….he asks her many times if what they are doing is okay with her. When he is with her…..he gives her his full attention. He is a gentle lover in bed. At some point early on he falls for her but he doesn’t know what to do next and he founders.
The FL is mentally and emotionally deranged. She is what we call a basket case. She really shouldn’t be in a relationship. She has too much baggage. She doesn’t love or trust herself and therefore she doesn’t know how to love or trust someone else. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen in my long time friends that the type of behavior shown by the FL, in real life, has damaged young men so traumatically from the push pull, emotionally blackmailing, demanding type of behavior that they never quite recover and carry a mistrust of women their whole life.
She is really unkind to him. And he just stands there and takes it. He doesn’t make nasty comments back to her. She continually tells him to leave her alone….then has a snit when he does. She does this in so many ways…I relate to this on a very deep level…..I was that woman for a very long time myself and I destroyed several relationships with my mistrusting suspicious behavior.
Then instead of taking some time to heal from leaving him, she instead jumps into another relationship….she says to herself at one point “Am I cheating”. Yes, you are. You know this other man is in love with you but you don’t care, you just string him along and make rationalizations to yourself. I’ve done that too. So you hurt the SML in the same way that you accused the ML of.
I know its a movie….but I kept thinking to myself….it is clear to anyone that the ML is head over heels in love with her…he is always sincere with her…and he never lies to her. How can she not see it? The truth is that she feels unworthy of love…here is this handsome, sweet man, and she feels unworthy and she projects that insecurity constantly.
I want to say something about the situation where she thought he was having an affair. In a relationship…you need to trust the other person. If they say “no” then trust them. Don’t spend hours, days or weeks throwing it back up to them. If you feel you can’t trust what they say then the only option is to leave the relationship. If someone is a quiet person like he is, respect that. He wasn’t a coward….he just didn’t see the need for hour long discussions. See, the main problem here was she was trying to remake him into what she wanted him to be….and didn’t care about who he really was. Did she ever take the time to actually get to know him? No. It was all about her. In every scene, even at the end, it was still all about her. She is living a self-fulfilling prophecy. If her main thought is this won’t work, I’ll be unhappy then she has already programmed the relationship to fail.
And lastly, they were young adults. I don’t see any thing wrong with his behavior that he was dating and bedding as many women as he wanted to. He was always nice and considerate to all of them. And after doing so for a long time, he finally found someone that he was ready to commit to. Is that wrong? I don’t think so.
Please….do not keep throwing up “old baggage” to the other person in a relationship. It will destroy the relationship.
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Also in the wake of Harvey Weinstein and Jeffry E, consent has become so important and no drama usually do that well however this angle was explored beautifully with no characters ever crossing boundaries. I feel that some of what women go through with their bodies and the physical pain that they feel at specific times was also such a healthy thing to show. I wish more Korean dramas did that. I have seen a few Chinese dramas show this such as put your head on my shoulder (I love that drama) and I always love it when these things are addressed.
The redemption arc of main lead was awesome since he did not have a linear path but he went back and forth, sometimes slipping on his path to being a better person till he could find his Center. I think that was beautifully done. He also received his comeuppance since he realised that lot of people actually did not like him and were hurt by his actions. I feel that both the hero and the heroine fit like two imperfect peas in a pod.
My only beef with this drama was that this drama showed clearly rich kids since no one seem to have any financial problems and that was unrealistic. How were they thinking of earning money and what were some of the avenues they wanted to do beyond college. I wish that was addressed since I think before love, what concerns a college person is how will they earn and make a living in this world. And I thought that this bit was very poorly done. There should have been some focus on this. It felt too easy peasy for people to earn money, like hey I will open a noodle shop and hey I will earn pots of money, hey I will make metal sculpture and I will earn pots of money that is so unrealistic and unreasonable
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It was alright (No super major spoilers but might be able to tell the ending)
The show started off interesting and different but ended up bland and repetitive to me. After episode 5 I wasn't interested in watching every week so I waited until episode 9 came out to start watching again and my feelings about the drama did not change. It kind of feels like a waste of time with the ending but maybe that's because I thought a different message was trying to be told. Nevertheless, the actors did a great job portraying their characters, the side couples were great, and the music was good. A couple more points from me...- Nabi and Jae-eon needed more character development, point blank period ESPECIALLY with the ending on PJE's part.
- All the side characters/relationships were more interesting than the main characters/relationship
- Do Hyeok was an unnecessary character
- I guess the show is still realistic because people are really like Nabi and Jae-eon from start to finish whether we like it or not.
- The show was ok, not terrible but not great either
Overall, watch the show if you have patience and don't watch with any expectations for either of the main leads lol
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sultry, compelling, subtle
This drama is about giving in to your deep guilty pleasures, for once not caring about the rigid standards of relationships in society in order to lose yourself in this work of art.The alluring soundtrack, the deep emotions conveyed by just a single stare, the subtle-but-clearly-there tension. "Nevertheless" is quality. It cares not about the standard and seeks to break the mould and honestly? It's refreshing. I do not care what is perceived as "right" or "wrong". This is about immersing yourself in a drama that doesn't care about the consequences.
The sexual tension is on peak and I'm here for it.
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Underrated and undervalued
I wanted to write a review for this drama because I think it is vastly underrated. Reading the comments it was clear that the toxic elements in the main relationship were a serious problem for a lot of people. As far as I’m concerned, showing toxic relationships is not a problem as long as the consequences are also honestly shown. And for me, this drama does that. There is a beautiful moment of show-not-tell in the very last scene which I will write at at the bottom as a spoiler. And that moment spoke volumes to me.I thought it a beautifully insightful show about the types of relationships that happen in your inexperienced early twenties, when you are trying to live the fantasy of your adolescence and start to realise that a great deal more is required of you than you had expected. That however much you assumed it was going to be possible, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Love it seems, is not some magical thing that waves its wand over you and suddenly Cinderella is dressed for the ball. Excitement is not the only necessary ingredient or even the main ingredient. Trust, not manipulation, must be there and that is something that you need to work out how to build and then maintain.
Song Kang did a masterful job as the fb Park Jae Eon. So good in fact that there were many times I just wanted to slap him (metaphorically speaking). His character’s arc is about reliance on sex as the answer to all problems and what it takes for him to realise it is not the only answer and sometimes absolutely the wrong answer. A criticism would be that not enough time was spent on Park Jae Eon. His character transitions were there, but I could have done with a little more help, especially towards the end, in recognising them and understanding them. Time could have been stolen for it by omitting the somewhat bland relationship taking place in the office. As a viewer you need to work a bit, don’t just notice Jae Eon’s jealousy or his domesticity, but realise what those things mean.
Similarly, Han So Hee was also very good as the conflicted and self-doubting Yoo Na Bi. Again her reasoning was not always explicitly stated but hinted at all the time. Of the leads, only Chae Jong Heop as Yang Do Hyuk had a straightforward role which was because there was no significant character development. He played the nice guy nicely, what more can be said. It was not a demanding role. There was lots to like in the relationships of the supporting characters, which looked at different hurdles to be crossed in the relationship game. In particular Lee Ho Jung as Yoon Sol stood out.
This drama is not a romance about getting love right and living happily ever after. It’s about getting love wrong. It invites the viewer to observe the mess that we make of things with each other and what might be required to muddle along in a better way.
It is a good script, with credible dialogue, brought convincingly to life by an able female director and good actors. It showcased some great artworks (Na Bi’s sculpture at the end was stunning) and some beautiful cinematography. And for once, because it was a Netflix original, the sex scenes were realistic and believable.
This drama does not lay it all out for you, but requires your attention to detail and some thought. To really get the most from it I would recommend that you watch it twice (it’s only 10 episodes long, so not too onerous to do that) and track the development the second time round. You will see and understand much more once you know where it’s headed. If you are prepared to put in a little effort, it will not disappoint.
Spoiler ahead…
Spoiler ahead…
In the last scene, Na Bi almost drops Jae Eon’s hand when she sees Do Hyuk in a cafe with another girl. The look of naked panic and vulnerability on Song Kang’s face is what spoke volumes to me. Na Bi will leave Jae Eon behind quite quickly and he knows it. It is not Na Bi who will be hurt by this relationship. On the contrary she will gain confidence. He is the one who will be licking his wounds. I just hope to any sort of god that he doesn’t go to Paris with her, that would be just too painful!
What my rating means: 8+ A great drama with interesting content and good writing, direction, acting, OST, cinematography. But didn’t quite have the requisite sparkle to bump it into my all-time fave list. Worth watching.
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good drama, not your typical fairytale
looking at the ratings I might have to look into low rated kdramas exclusively now . welcome to the real world my sweet 11-year-olds. ML is not toxic at all, he never cheats on her, FL believes the words of every tom, dick & harry about the ML and keeps breaking up ( not that they are in an official realtionship). according to kdrama fandom the complete responsibilty of a realtionship lies on the ML and FL should be treated like a princess all the time anything other than that is highly 'toxic'the chemistry is off the roof, kisses make you feel two adults are doing it, which is missing in general in kdramas with their fishy kisses. the story/plot is not really there, we'd have loved to see some backstory of both leads and side leads as well, the side characters are amazing, and the lesbian couple could get a show of their own. probably one of the very few dramas where I didn't skip anything.
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Disappointed
What to say about this ending? They romanticized a toxic and abusive relationship. They romanticized that a woman is indeed a repair shop for men. I feel shame and pity for Na-bi because in that conversation where they return their relationship, it is evident how emotionally dependent she is on him. She knew what he was like, what he put her through, and yet she threw herself into his arms again. I am disappointed! Fortunately the secondary couples - Sol and Jiwan, Bit-Na and Kyuhyun, Min Young and Kyung Jun - saved that story.They could have made Na-bi discover female empowerment. They could have made her realize with Jae-eon that no one deserves to go through an abusive relationship. What about Jae-eon saying he fell in love with her at first sight? This was never a crush because if he really had fallen in love with her, he would have had intentions of getting into a serious relationship with her from the start. And not just after losing her. What starts wrong will never work. Except in Nevertheless, history made people think everything that happened was normal.
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Such a good cast for shitty ass show
Not even joking when I say this is the worst kdrama I have watch along with love alarm season 2...The only good thing about this drama is the second couple and the cast, like the acting is good and they have such a great actors and actresses but the story is B O R I N G, the main character is so lame and the other one it's a jerk, there's nothing interesting about them, really, the second couple made the drama watchable, if you wanna know about them, just watch the clips and don't waste your time.
It's a shame that they gave this drama to such a great cast.
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To watch or not to watch? (yes, watch it rn!)
You can shit on me for this, but I'd really recommend everyone to give this show a try even after seeing all the negative reviews.It is intimate, captivating, enduring and perfectly captures the reckless nature of young relationships. It's rocky, imperfect, yet passionate and sentimental.
You will fall in love with side couples, and be allured in with beautiful cinematography and soft light.
I do not give a flying fuck about people saying that the relationship between main couple is unhealthy. They are as imperfect as the people are and the actors did an IMMACULATE job on portraying every emotion in the most raw, natural and beautiful way.
This drama awakens the most intense emotions in people, and you can see that by the amount of the negative reviews lol. You will either love it to death or hate it to death. Nothing in between.
"Nevertheless" is not about the morally right relationships and impactful plot, it's about intense emotions that people can experience thanks to each other.
I can't stress enough how much this was a breath of a fresh air for me. For the last couple years I've gotten so sick and tired of all the sweet k-dramas that we were fed, and this title is exactly what i wanted to see.
Even though we were left with some unanswered questions, I am guessing that we can find the answers for these questions in the manhua. ( but imo they aren't that crucial to how they ended this story).
If you still aren't sure is you should give this a try, than let me tell you, the intimate scenes are TOP TIER. The are never over the top or distasteful, the chemistry between the actors is insane and I felt like I was given a glance into someone's private life.
Also there's a wlw subplot that has a happy ending :') I am very thankful to netflix and JTBC for the cute , unsexualized and realistic portrayal of the wlw couple. It was relatable, fresh and warm.
OVERALL :
I will totally re-watch this drama next year. It's great and I am very curious in how my point of view on this drama will change over the course of time.
9,8 / 10
Because I loved it dearly but i still don't know what the hell was with that lighter lol
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My opinion of this passionate, romantic drama
The Man:Do you think this drama is unrealistic? I don’t think so. Haven’t you ever seen a man who only wants one thing from a woman? Haven’t you ever seen a man that doesn’t want any commitment in the process? They call them players in the social world or users in the not-so-nice world. Sometimes they just called them creeps. Some people will watch this drama and think he was honest with his feelings and worthy of praise. Sure he was. For all ten episodes, he never said a word or looked at her without a manipulative meaning behind it. There was no chemistry, just a man working on his mark—a butterfly for his collection. Guess what? Do you think he changed in the end? Releasing his butterflies was comical. Please make no mistake about it; in the end, he captured the butterfly.
The Woman:
This woman was oblivious to everything around her except him. Her artwork and communication skills suffered, and her entire personality changed the second she met him. I don’t think she realized that she had no chance to escape the butterfly net. She was naïve enough, or weak enough after a breakup, to fall for his cheesy approach. She wasn’t looking for a relationship in the beginning; she was looking for the same thing he was, uncommitted passion. She couldn’t even look at him without getting weak in the knees, and he was well aware of her feelings. Hanging with him after he made himself clear was her problem. She tried to turn herself into the victim, but in reality, she was just there for him to use, and that’s exactly what he did. I saw no redeeming value in her character other than the passion she had for him. Everything else, everybody else suffered in the wake.
Conclusion:
It gives credence to the saying, ‘nice guys finish last.’ She made a point of crushing her childhood friend so many times, but she would come back to use him to make herself feel better. He dodged the bullet. He should consider himself lucky. She was not the kind of woman that would coexist with a nice guy. Or at least she would only be there until the next bad boy cast his net.
Plot:
The plot was not too involved. Girl falls for the player, the girl thinks she can change the player, girl rejects the nice guy, and finally, the girl surrenders to the player. There is nothing unrealistic about this plot, I’ve seen it dozens of times in real life. It might have been better if they spent a little time building up the destroyed character of the player. It would have made her look better. In the end I just saw two users walking hand in hand.
My ratings:
I will probably rate this better than my words show because I like any dramas with romance and passion. This drama had both so I enjoyed it.
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