No Gain, No Love (2024)

Great! until halfway through.

This show had so much promise while airing! I really liked the first half and was genuinely invested in everything going on.

Once we pass a certain point this shows gets dumb. It's nonsensical twists and people causing drama for no reason and of course theres a murderer fresh outta prison lurking around for the last 4th for no reason...

But I loved that this a rom-com for adults that handled most of its romances well. Plus its hilarious. Eps 1-4 are almost perfect.

BUT I HATE all the cameos in this show. Its so distracting and unnecessary. I don't need to see characters from your other shows from like 5 years ago or the actor from a sh**tier drama that came out earlier this year.

You could dedicate that time to the characters from THIS story.

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No Gain No Love is a heartwarming Korean Drama

No Gain, No Love is a heartwarming Korean drama that explores the dynamics of love, personal growth, and sacrifice. The story revolves around individuals who are striving to achieve their goals, only to discover that love, which often comes unexpectedly, can change everything.

Plot Overview:
The drama focuses on individuals who seem to live by the motto "no pain, no gain." Each character has a backstory of facing hardships—whether in love, career, or family life—and they’re all navigating difficult circumstances. The central characters meet and interact, often clashing at first, but soon develop bonds through shared struggles. As the title suggests, their journey revolves around the idea that one must put in effort and face adversity to gain something meaningful, particularly in matters of the heart.

Themes:

Romantic Development: The romance is not instant but slow-burning. Characters initially see love as something they don’t have time for or as an obstacle to their goals, but as the series progresses, they learn that love can be a source of strength and growth.

Personal Growth: As each character faces setbacks—whether in business, personal ambitions, or past relationships—they learn the value of persistence, and the drama underscores the idea that success, in life and love, requires both effort and emotional openness.

Balancing Work and Love: A recurring theme is how people prioritize their work over relationships. The show explores how characters learn to balance their ambitions with meaningful personal connections, ultimately highlighting the importance of finding harmony between the two.

Characters:
The characters are diverse, each representing a different aspect of life’s challenges. Some are workaholics, others are struggling with unrequited love, and a few are dealing with family expectations. Despite their differences, they all share the desire to overcome their obstacles and find happiness.

Tone and Style:
The drama has a mix of lighthearted moments and deeper emotional beats. There are plenty of moments of humor, particularly as characters deal with awkward romantic situations or workplace challenges. At the same time, the drama doesn’t shy away from more serious themes, like heartbreak, personal failure, and the effort required to rebuild one’s life.

Conclusion:

Overall, No Gain, No Love delivers a relatable and meaningful storyline, offering a blend of romance, personal development, and the ups and downs that come with pursuing love and happiness. It's a solid choice for fans of heartfelt Korean dramas.

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Forgettable and disappointing

This drama started out so strong and was so hilarious but then it deaffed and dragged and became boring. I have already forgotten so much that happened because it was so meh and although the actors were great choices, they were let down by the uninteresting plot and dragging on of the story. If this drama was shorter, I would have enjoyed it more. If you're looking for a lighthearted, funny story where not much happens, I recommend still giving it a try, but just know that this story was flawed and was really nothing special and despite its strong start, it had a very weak end.

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Spice Up Love ♨️ For What It's Worth °7.4° °VG°

“Is this a wedding invitation or an invoice?” Her friend muses as she holds the paper up to the light. Hae has always felt like she was getting cheated. She still does. Son “Hae” Yeong is a girl who had to share her mother's love with all the stray kids her mother always had a habit of taking in. She's at her ex's wedding, now. She would look weak if she didn't show. Cro-chi? The slide show celebrates the pair's 1 year anniversary of being a couple… Um, Hae broke up with him a mere 6 MONTHS ago. There he is: Happy, carefree, adored, getting the company marriage benefits of cash, free vacation, & honeymoon suite. All she does is transfer her hard earned money to coworkers because they are having weddings & babies, and generally living more successfully than she. Hae HATES being cheated; her ex is a devil. She blows up the group photo - in her imagination. Pssshhh. She didn't like him anyway. She was just killing time.

NGNL is a 2024 release that is rated 89 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of 12 65-minute episodes. It's got it all. Spice Up Our Love is a follow up 2-episode short that dives into one of her friend Bora's novels and examines the 2ndary couple's romance further. That's pretty cute. NGNL is a trope salad: Fake marriage, lost son of the chairman, enemies to lovers (× 2), and total validation. It's a fairytale. It's not serious. It's simply fun escapism. And fun, it is.

It seems to Hae that everyone is wedding obsessed, right now. She can't get near the company president because she's single. The owners won't let any temptation around their son. All the secretaries and high level execs are MEN. If she was married (AKA, NOT a threat to the family bloodline) she would already have been promoted. She begins to wish she was married. On a night when she's feeling desperate, she asks the 7-11 clerk to be her groom. Hae's goals are purely financial. She has no interest in messy emotions. It's about what's in it for her - Cash envelopes, company stipend and honeymoon time… she's gonna get what she has due.

The wonderful Shin Min Ah (Our Blues-8.5, Oh My Venus-7.4, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha-8.4,Tomorrow with You-7, born in 1984) is our FL. She is competitive. She hated the attention that her mother gave to the constant masses of foster children that flowed through their home when she was growing up. She despises unfairness (especially when she's subjected to it) and she's not above cutting corners. She doesn't value love or intimacy. Her relationships have been mostly shallow. Her BFF (Nam Ja Yeon / Yeon Bo Ra, played by Han Ji Hyun of the Penthouse Series) writes spicy romance novels. Joo Min Kyung (One Spring Night-7.8, Something in the Rain-8.6, Green Mothers' Club) is Cha Hui Seong, Hae Yeong's other friend. Both of Hae's BFFs “did time” in her home when she was growing up. If her mom hadn't taken in foster kids, Hae would be completely and utterly alone. She fails to recognize that.

Kim Young Dae (Penthouse Series, born in 1995) is Kim Ji Uk. He's an orphan, he works at a convenience store (he needs a better job) and he's a perpetual do-gooder - a saint. His halo stays polished. He's gentle and conscientious. He's looking for a nice, modest, respectful, quiet girl to marry. That ain't Hae. He's been watching her for 6 years. She's had alot of interactions with MEN in that mini mart. She's bought alot of condoms. But ‘the head is the domain of knowledge and our heart is where love resides’, after all. He's actually more mature than she, despite the age diff.

Lee Sang Yi (Han RiverPolice-7.4, Youth of May, Bloodhounds, born in 1991) is the trust fund baby, Bok Gyu Hyun. Things are stiff at home, and he's doing his best to keep his parents happy and the company afloat. His mom loves Bora's novels. One day, the men in the family find out what's in /those novels/. Gyu Hyun decides he's going to destroy this author, this purveyor of smut. He's declared war on Yeon Bo Ra. I have become a fan of this actor. He has tremendous skill.

Lee Yoo Jin is Yeo HaJun, Gyu Hyun's secretary. I've seen him in Be Melodramatic-8.7 and Familiar Wife-8.5 - exceptional shows, both. His face is completely different now. It is much fuller. He looks good. Kim Hae Sook (Mr. Plankton, Under the Queen's Umbrella, Inspector Koo-8.4, Start-up-8, Hospital Playlist-9, Saimdang, Light’s Diary-8.5) makes an appearance as a grandmother. She's always fantastic. The screenwriter is Kim Hye Young who also gifted us with Her Private Life-8. Kim Jung Shik directed NGNL, Work Later, Drink Now, & So Not Worth it, among others.

Temporary physical satisfaction vs committed love is the theme. “My body and heart come together as a set,” our ML says to a h0rny and disappointed Hae. One of Hae's friends has been dating her boyfriend in a lackluster fashion for over 10 years. He mentions marriage and she realizes that she doesn't feel like marrying him. They decide to have an open relationship. Hae, not in the “know,” almost takes his head off one day when she sees him with another woman, which leads to an argument with her friend. (“You're a s!u+!” “/You're/ a prude!”) Life is complicated and it can be difficult to know the best course. We all chafe under too many rules. People have a habit of looking at short term gratification while ignoring long-term satisfaction. I don't know how many open relationships work out in the long-term, but I've heard lots of stories about them not working out. Jealousy plus feelings of betrayal and abandonment often take hold. The evidence is there that most of us crave an intimate relationship - one where we are the most important person in someone's life. Throwing that idea out for sex with multiple partners seems like a cheap exchange to me. If a person dates someone for years but doesn't want to marry, there simply isn't enough love there. There isn't a deep enough connection. I'm for cutting the cord and moving on. Why do people continue to date a person they will never commit to? Loneliness has to be the main reason. Casual sex, more often than not, ends up making a person feel lonelier and emptied out, though it's a slow process that may go unnoticed for a long time. As problematic as marriage can be, married people are less lonely and have more sex - more money, too. The high divorce rates are driven by 2nd and 3rd marriages. The majority of first marriages still don't end in divorce. I guess it comes down to whether sex actually means something or not. According to human history and most world religions it does. It seems to be a conjunction the emotional and physical at the very least, and in its highest form it is the union of the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Cheapening it down to a mere physical act could be robbing ourselves. The show’s plot reinforces that concept, in the end.

Another theme is living free and not being enslaved by others’ expectations. “{My father} wanted me to live the same life that he had and I thought it was my duty as his son to honor him. Now that he's gone, and I followed his will to the letter, you know what I've come to find out? It's pointless. It was a huge waste of time… I don't feel accomplished in the least. If I had disappointed him a long time ago and lived how I wanted to live then I would have been much happier… don't hand over your reins to someone else,” we hear from another character. People are by nature controlling. While parents and elders have lived longer and have seen more, so their advice can be valuable, no one has the right to rule your life. Always evaluate your presuppositions and what is spurring you on. Make sure you are doing /some/ things that make YOU happy and fulfilled. Never stop improving. Never stop working on yourself.

Craft and art-wise, the show is competent. The theme song is kitschy but cute. Miracle, by HEMIAN, is very nice. There is plenty of levity and some genuine laughs. ‘You really have to love someone to do all of this,’ Hae muses as she reviews a wedding checklist online. In ep6 people with a multitude of convoluted cross sections and undercurrents sit down to a meal - it's big fun. The primary romance is nice, but the 2ndary couple's story might even be better. That's why they get their own follow-up special. There's no pain in this gain, and there's a fair amount of spice, which is nice!

QUOTE📢

The nation's strength relies on integrity at home.


〰🖍 IMHO

📣7.5 📝7.3 🎭7.8 💓7 🦋6.8 🎨7 🎵/🔊7 🔚7 ▪ 🌞6 ⚡2.5 😅4 😭2.5 😱3 😯2 🤢2 🤔4 💤0


Age 15+ Language : R-rated w/ F💣s;
The international peace sign is waived (middle finger salute)
Sexual content 4/10

Rated TV-14: Parents Strongly Cautioned.


Re-📺? Unlikely, but not impossible

In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

😵‍💫Uncomfortable pact/gig:
🇰🇷K: 99 days with the Superstar-7,
Mr. Queen-9,
Mystic Pop-up Bar-8.2,
Crash Landing On You 9.1,
Business proposal-7,
Hotel del Luna-8.4,
Because This Is My First Life-7.7,
The Bride of Habaek-7,
The King's Affection-8.3,


🌐Modern Day -
🇰🇷K: A Witch's Love 7.8,
Love to Hate You 8.9,
Her Private Life 8,
Touch your heart 8.2,
Oh My Ghost 10,
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9,
Love Struck in the City 7.3,
Be Melodramatic-8.7
Hospital Playlist 9,
My Liberation Diary-8.9,
My Mister-9.5,
I'll See You When the Weather is Fine 9


💘Romance junkies only -
🇰🇷K: My Secret Romance-7 (if you ff thru overdone flashbacks),
Boys Over Flowers-8 ~ melodrama to the max,
The Bride of Habaek-7,
Heirs-7.3,
That Winter, The Wind Blows-7,
Something in them Rain-9,
C🇨🇳: Well-Intended Love-7.5 Rom-porn - extra points for the dopamine, but the ML pulls an offensive stunt
When I Fly Towards You-7.8,
You are my destiny-6.8 - cute and sweet and 1/2 padding,
Find Yourself-8.9,
Hidden Love-7.8,
Wait, My Youth-8.4,
A Little Thing Called First Love-8.5,
Tw🇹🇼: The Fierce Wife-8 - worth sticking with

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True definition of a romcom!

I absolutely love this drama. It fulfilled the definition of a romcom very well.

The romance from the lead and second couple was absolutely amazing. I loved the buildup of the romantic tension for both couples so much. I especially loved Son Haeyoung (FL) and Kim Jiuk (ML) as a couple. Like the romantic tension between them was so palpable. You could tell just be their eyes that they loved each other. The communication between them is top tier. Also, the transition between their relationship to a real relationship was so seamless. There weren't any weird situations between them when this was happening. I feel like other romcom dramas lacked this.

The comedy part had me laughing so much. I genuinely found the comedic timings in this drama so on point, and the jokes were absolutely gold. My favorite scene had to be in episode 11 towards the end. That scene made me crack up so much. I didn't like the FL's ex that much but he did have some good comedic points so I can't hate him entirely.

I absolutely loved Son Haeyoung as the female lead. She has to be my favorite character in this drama and probably one of my favorite characters ever. I'm so glad Shin Min Ah acted as the FL because I don't think any other actress would've done justice to her character. Son Haeyoung is literally my role model now. She's just such a straightforward FL which is so refreshing. I love that she communicates her feelings to everyone in her life so easily. This might seem like a bad thing but it definitely avoided weird situations in the drama that would have otherwise happened. Also, the fact that the synopsis made her character seem like a selfish person when she was the most caring and selfless. I love how fiercely protective she is of the people she loves. I would love her as my older sister so much. She's also someone who just understands people so well. Just from someone's behavior and the things they say, she can immediately understand their feelings (specifically referring 11 and 12). Also, the way she's always so understanding of Jiuk and genuinely thought of him as family when they had just gotten fake married. I love how she never denied the feelings she's had for him.

I love Kim Jiuk as the ML. He's such a caring and understanding person especially to the FL. I just love how attentive and gentle he is to her. Given all the stuff he went through, it's a miracle he's such an amazing guy. The first few episodes definitely cemented in that he isn't one of those overly possessive and controlling MLs that care only about the FL. Overall, he's just a big softie who's absolutely in love with the FL.

The SFL is an absolutely adorable person. I loved how endearing she is as a person but also isn't afraid to stand up for herself. I absolutely love the bond she has with the FL and loved it even more after episode 11. The SML seemed like a jerk at first but had the best character development. He turned into quite the romantic around the SFL. His relationship with the SFL had so many bumps but at the end, they ended up together. I love how cute they are with each other. The SML turned out be such a gentle, caring, and kind guy, and the SFL needed just that in a partner especially with all that she's been through.

Overall, this drama was really amazing! It exceeded my expectations and went beyond. If you're looking for the perfect drama to make your heart melt at the romantic moments and for your stomach to burst of laughter because of the comedic moments, this is the one.

Sidenote: There are quite a lot of sexual jokes in this drama but they're all handled really well and don't make you cringe. In fact, some of them may make you laugh your heart out.

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The usual tropes with a slight twist

This drama turned out a little better than the boring, run-of-the-mill productions of 2024 .
It had all the usual tropes of k dramas - orphanage, mother issues, unlikely match, contract marriage etc, yet it overcame those tropes with a coming of age spin.

The comedy - it was spot on¡! The second ML and his secretary were fantastic and they kept the drama going.
The Romances - there were 3 couples. The 2nd couple had a fun spin and it was interesting enough.
The 3rd couple had a new age and thought provoking relationship which came as a pleasant surprise.

This is actually what we , as non regional viewers were attracted to in the first place, the delicate handling of new age situations, but in 2024 only boring romances were made.

Now the 1st couple- I adore both the leads separately but they were totally mismatched as a pair.
When put together, she makes him look younger and he makes her look older - which is all irrelevant because love transcends age - but when the chemistry is lacking, then nothing works.

So yes, it was a 12 episode short fun run with the expected need to forward some clichéd nonsense.

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IT WAS OKAY

Let me just break down the couples :
1. The main couple ML (Kim Ji Uk/Kim Young Dae) and FL (Shin Min Ah/Son Hae Yeong)
2. The second couple (Lee Sang Yi/Bok Gyu Hyun)and (Han Ji Hyun/Nam Ja Yeon / Yeon Bo Ra)
3. The third couple that shouldn't have existed (Joo Min Kyung/Cha Hui Seong [Hae Yeong's friend]) and (Heo Jung Min/Yun Tae Hyung)
4. I don't know if they are a ship or not but they are married so 4 couple (Jeon Hye Won/Kwon I Rin [U Jae’s wife]) and (Go Wook/An U Jae)

Let me start with the MC first I had one problem it's the fraud marriage I felt like they were trying to brainwash women into doing marriage fraud to get the advantages that come with becoming married such as a paid honeymoon/ hotel furthermore trying to make it seem like its a good idea to do a fraud marriage which is not

I have no problem with the 2nd couple it was actually the one ship that I don't mind.

I have a lot of problems with the 3rd couple like really what were the scriptwriters thinking paring up Cha Hui Seong and Yun Tae Hyung back up together it was one of the worst couple. 1st off I don't have any problem with the actor or actress of the characters I just hate the characters that they acted. One minute they in a relationship next break up and then they are in an idk what phase like honestly the character Cha Hui Seong should have stayed the single mom instead of giving a chance to Yun Tae Hyung again. IDK if they are trying to brainwash women into thinking that they need a man/father to raise a child in Korea or some shit; lets be real there is nothing wrong with a single mother can creators normalize single mother troupe it's not that hard to do. Like bruh normalize breaking up with wishy-washy guys.

Now on to the 4th couple oh dear god I don't know why the creators made the character Kwon I Rin forgive An U Jae; HOnestly, An U Jae should have never been forgiven because he cheated on both Kwon I Rin and FL (Shin Min Ah/Son Hae Yeong) IDK know why they gloss over that. Also once again felt like they were trying to brainwash women to stay with trash like really; feels like Kwon I Rin had to forgive that cheater because he was her husband or some shit like that.

I will repeat this once again I have no hate towards any actors or actresses I just hate some of the characters that is all. I really wish the 3rd and 4th couple had never existed because they don't even feel like couple feel like the woman characters were forced to be in a relationship with the male characters in both the 3rd and 4th couple. I hate how they ended the 3rd and 4th couple honestly the 3rd couple should have broken up and Cha Hui Seong never forgive Yun Tae Hyung as for the 4th couple they should have been fucking divorce . I don't understand why the character Kwon I Rin was still married to that trash An U Jae also Kwon I Rin had the upper hand because she is more financially stable than that trash husband she has,

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Divertido, mas será que alguém vai lembrar dele daqui 1 ano?

No Gain, No Love foi um dorama surpreendentemente divertido, principalmente porque soube levar seu lado cômico a sério. Apesar de tocar em temas mais pesados, como violência infantil e abandono, ele nunca perdeu o tom leve e manteve seu gancho cômico ao longo de toda a trama, o que é algo raro em doramas. Muitas vezes, as séries acabam mudando de gênero no meio para tentar cativar diferentes públicos, mas No Gain, No Love conseguiu manter a consistência e não desviar de sua proposta.

Agora, é claro que o dorama não foi isento de defeitos. A má atuação de Kim Youn Dae, o protagonista, me incomodou muito, especialmente em contraste com a atriz experiente Shin Minah. A química entre os dois era quase inexistente, e o personagem de Ji Uk carecia da profundidade que se esperava de um protagonista. Em muitas cenas, parecia que o resto do elenco estava carregando o peso do dorama.

Quanto ao desenvolvimento do protagonista, Kim Ji Uk, foi completamente decepcionante. A revelação de que ele era filho do CEO veio tarde demais e, para piorar, foi mal explicada. A "família" dele era tão irrelevante que aparecia sempre no mesmo cenário e não acrescentava nada à história. O drama parecia esquecer esse subplot de vez em quando, e no final, apressaram a resolução com ele sendo enviado para outro país. Isso claramente demonstra que os roteiristas não tinham ideia do que fazer com o personagem. Outro exemplo disso foi a revelação, de última hora, de que Ji Uk já havia sido adotado pela mãe da protagonista, algo que foi sim construído aos poucos desde os primeiros episódios, mas em nenhum momento foi abordado com clareza.

Quanto ao roteiro, tive a sensação de que ele foi construído com a atriz Shin Minah e sua personagem Son Hae Yeong em mente, e todo o resto, pareceu ter sido moldado em volta disso, algumas coisas soando até mesmo como um grande improviso. O enredo continha uma quantidade absurda de momentos que desafiam a lógica, exigindo uma suspensão de descrença constante. No entanto, Shin Minah é uma atriz com uma habilidade incrível para fazer coisas absurdas parecerem naturais, então, apesar do caos narrativo, ela trouxe uma leveza necessária que salvou muitas cenas. Sua escalação foi, sem dúvida, essencial para manter o dorama minimamente coeso.

No entanto, uma das melhores coisas no dorama foi a dinâmica dos relacionamentos, especialmente o casal secundário, Nam Ja Yeon e Bok Gyu Hyeon. Eles protagonizaram um clássico "enemies to lovers" com química incrível, merecendo muito mais tempo de desenvolvimento. Fiquei especialmente empolgada ao saber que eles ganharão um spin-off, embora seja uma pena que a história pareça ser diferente do original.

Outro ponto que gostei foi a inclusão de temas como adoção e a menção, ainda que sutil, de relacionamentos poliamorosos. Apesar de não terem sido abordados de forma profunda, trouxeram uma camada interessante à trama. Em resumo, No Gain, No Love é um dorama que, apesar dos defeitos, se manteve divertido e consistente, graças ao seu tom leve e cômico. Mas a questão é: será que alguém vai lembrar desse dorama daqui a um ano?

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Grande potencial, mas que infelizmente foi desperdiçado

O enredo inicial de No Gain no Love é cativante, assim como a introdução dos personagens principais. A protagonista, determinada e competitiva, se destaca por sua aversão à derrota, enquanto o outro é um trabalhador de loja de conveniência extremamente bondoso e inteligente. Nos primeiros episódios, o drama proporciona momentos divertidos e envolventes, mas a história começa a se perder quando é revelado que o protagonista é, na verdade, o filho bastardo do dono de uma grande empresa. A partir desse ponto, diversos sub-enredos se acumulam e, infelizmente, muitos acabam mal resolvidos ou simplesmente deixados em aberto.

A forma como o CEO manipula os protagonistas a mando de sua mãe é particularmente frustrante, especialmente porque ele não demonstra qualquer arrependimento, nem mesmo no final. Ele não pede desculpas ao meio-irmão e tampouco restabelece a posição da protagonista na empresa, além de dar os créditos de sua ideia a outro funcionário – que, coincidentemente, é o ex-namorado dela. Esse funcionário, por sua vez, sai ileso, recebendo os méritos que não lhe pertencem e mantendo o casamento intacto, mesmo após ter enganado a esposa e perseguido outra mulher. Além disso, há outros pontos problemáticos, como o comportamento da irmã da protagonista, que, apesar das ações prejudiciais de seu interesse amoroso - o CEO - contra sua irmã e "cunhado", segue com o romance sem demonstrar preocupação.

A decisão de limitar a série a apenas 12 episódios foi claramente um equívoco, considerando a quantidade de enredos e conflitos que No Gain no Love tenta abordar. Isso se torna ainda mais evidente no episódio final, que é apressado e deixa várias pontas soltas, dedicando pouco tempo ao casal principal. As cenas finais são marcadas por um término abrupto e sem sentido, que poderia ter sido resolvido de forma mais coerente, seguido por uma rápida reconciliação que transmite a sensação de um desfecho feito às pressas. Enfim, um drama com grande potencial, mas que infelizmente foi desperdiçado.

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