No Gain, No Love (2024)

Same Contract marriage same illegitimate Son

Nothing new can be found in the story other then people
both leads doing great job
while Side character love line is stealing the show
ML and FL are good to look at but got bored after looking at DE aged shin min ah
CEO and Ja Yeon
i am watching just for them

CEO was doing just fine but his LOSER father has to create some problem by bring his illegitimate son who he claim is deserve to be CEO without even knowing just because he is his sperm out of marriage ?
is it some sort of superpower with all wedlock kids to be talented even in things they never did
ML has been a part time worker now he is a intern
but shitty chairman think he is capable of being a CEO just because he is born out of wedlock from a road side adulteress woman ?

and what was his WIFE reaction cutting plants ? is she adult or a 5 year old child ?
kick that old shit out of windows
from what i got, it seem company is from her fathers side so
how is that whole company shares are given to son in law ?
do she did not hold any stake in her own company and CEO can be kicked as his father wish ?
they are showing a big building but it is a small family own shop ?
if mother hold majority stake in that company then she can kick her husband and his wedlock kid out
why she is being a Idiot ?
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That old bastard has been threatening his son like that and now he will put a kid he had on street at the top of there family business and they are just throwing some plants ?
JUST because wedlock kid is ML its all right

ATLEAST WIFE SHOULD CUT his BALLs
In real life situation CEO would have beaten the shit out of his fathers ass and would have kicked him from windows of real

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Intriguing show with underlying unease

The storyline revolves around the ups and downs of love, career ambitions, and personal growth. The plot is well-paced, balancing comedic elements with emotional depth, which keeps viewers invested throughout. The dialogues are witty and relatable, enhancing the overall charm of the series. The characters are well-developed, with their individual journeys contributing to the overarching narrative.


Intriguingly, the second lead couple's romance emerges as a compelling counterpoint, often eclipsing the primary couple’s storyline. Their relationship is imbued with unexpected twists and a rich emotional tapestry that keeps viewers enthralled. The dynamics between these characters resonate with authenticity, showcasing a nuanced exploration of love that adds significant depth to the overall narrative. This subplot not only enhances the viewing experience but also serves as a poignant reminder of the multifaceted nature of love and connection.


Nevertheless, amid the narrative's many strengths, the female lead occasionally presents as somewhat unlikeable.fThe female lead's reluctance to confront her ex or reveal the truth feels like a missed opportunity for character growth and resolution. By choosing to remain silent, she inadvertently perpetuates a cycle of dishonesty that affects not only her but also the unsuspecting wife. This inaction diminishes the complexity of her character and raises questions about her moral compass, making her journey less relatable for viewers who expect a heroine to champion transparency and integrity.

In a genre that typically celebrates love, commitment, and the simplicity of romantic connections, the presence of polyamory feels somewhat unacceptable. Romantic comedies thrive on the exploration of deep emotional bonds between two individuals, and the introduction of multiple partners can undermine the foundational premise of monogamous love that many viewers expect. This deviation from the norm may alienate fans who appreciate the straightforward charm of traditional romcom narratives.

Despite the discomfort surrounding the polyamory subplot, it does not detract from the overall enjoyment of "No Gain, No Love."

In conclusion, "No Gain, No Love" is a well-crafted romantic comedy that successfully delivers on both humor and heart. While the female lead's character may sometimes be unlikeable, the overall strength of the story and the engaging second lead love story more than compensate for this flaw. With its authentic portrayal of love and relationships, "No Gain, No Love" is a delightful watch that will leave viewers with a smile and a warm heart. Whether you’re a long-time romcom fan or new to the genre, this drama is sure to entertain and resonate with you.

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the leads became the second leads?

Overall the drama is good, light and funny. Its a good show to watch when you feel like having a good laugh with some romance. The comedy scenes are really quite funny, even during serious moments you will be shocked by the sudden change in vibes.

That being said, halfway through the drama the second leads gained a large amount of attention and their story was cute indeed (haters to lovers). So towards the end actually the second leads started getting more screentime and cute moments...hahaha which eventually extended to their own spinoff drama

The starting episodes of the drama were really good but the last few episodes felt very dry for the leads. Glad the drama was 12 episodes because there wasnt any big plot they were trying to solve or anything.

Overall it was a cute a fun drama!

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The leads got shortchanged

Shin Min Ah absolutely shines as Son Hae Yeong who in the hands of another actor would probably be a very misunderstood character. I love her range from being organically cute without any over acting like in the scene she's munching away on the kimbap with her chair pushed back out view in the car and does her little moo to breaking my heart when she confronts the pain that her parents caused her. Genuine foster parents are very important, but I agree with the advice for people considering fostering that if their biological children can't handle it well then fostering is not a good fit for their household. Hae Yeong was just a child who still needed to be cared for and they put their own needs to be saints above their daughter. It also hurt her every time someone who became family would leave her. All she wanted was a stable homelife and to be loved in return, she doesn't even hate the foster kids. She fiercely loves the sisters that came back and stayed. Sadly the show also put the happiness of all the side characters above Hae Yeong.

I loath all the side pairings which also has the worst characters Gyu Hyun and U Jae, both of whom are scumbags who abused Hae Yeong in a professional setting with Gyu Hyun the creep who both spammed Ja Yeon with hate comments as well as making his secretary do it then demoting Hae Yeong out of spite because she's married to his father's extramarital child and U Jae who dumped her to marry up, creepily stalked her after he's married, and stole her work and keeps failing upward. It's so much worse that the show chickens out and makes it that Gyu Hyun did not write the worst hate comment, they don't even let his character growth count for anything. He also never rectified what he did to Hae Yeong. He should have given her all the money she wanted for her start-up as compensation. The lip service to the polyamory storyline ends in the most heteronormative way with Hee Sung marrying the one guy and having the child instead of getting an abortion and being the independent person she wanted to be.

I did enjoy Hae Yeong and Ji Uk's romance. He knew who she was, but truly got to know here as they gradually built up their rapport through their interactions at the mini-mart and supporting her schemes. I also like how their first meeting made sense because it's her house that he was staying at and was trying to walk by to avoid her while she was contemplating smoking for the first time and he just so happened to have a lighter which foreshadowed their future as co-schemers turned lovers. He actually looked better with his longer hair, it frames his face very nicely. Ji Uk's story was also swallowed up by the annoying side characters. I would rather see his friendship and brotherly/fatherly relationship develop with that guy that was formerly the Bok family secretary and settle his angst with his birthmother. Hae Yeong and Ji Uk deserved their fantasy ending being happy in love, snuggling with their cat Baby and her with a successful business venture instead of ending on a kiss after reuniting post a long separation.

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Fun, enjoyable and easy to watch!

I really enjoyed this drama from its start to its ending. It’s really fresh and heartwarming. The perfect series that boosts your mood after a tiring day!
It also has a satisfying ending, even though I hoped that secretary Yeo would feel more sorry about his really hurtful comments and that he wouldn’t brush it off with a smile… or maybe that’s just how his character is.
I really really liked Hee-sung and Yoon PD and how their relationship evolved and got more clear.
I also believe that the overall plot was explained well and it unfolded smoothly. Shout out to the writers for this amazing drama!!

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Bright start but a poor development of the characters

The start was fantastic! We have a strong story, a female lead (FL) that seems intelligent and ambitious, and a handsome male lead (ML) that is strong, sweet and has his own convictions. We also have good side characters. At the beginning, their stories seem to take almost equal attention as the main story, which makes sense as the series advances.
However, the development of the characters is so bad, specially the FL, who becomes very annoying (Min-a is a good actress, is the character who becomes insufferable).
Just when you think the FL is finally evolving and becoming less selfish, she strikes again with another tantrum. The perfect example is episode 10, when the ML really needs to hear from her that she loves him. Well, she didn’t not say it and in top of that, when she realises that Ji-wook was one of the kids her mother took care of, instead of asking for his reasons to hide the truth, she only explodes and says she is disgusted by him. The ML losses all his convictions and he becomes a total FL pleaser, he is immensely patient and always demonstrating his love for the FL, and she keeps being her annoying self.
the FL’s sister/friend and the Chairman’s son had a much better character development… it looks more and more as they were the main characters and not the originals.

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one of the best dramas of 2024 - highly recommend to binge! ✨

My life-mantra is "life is too short to waste on bad, draggy dramas" - this drama is definitely not one of them.

It has been a while since a drama has been able to balance multiple themes, great acting, story, pacing and entertainment so well in a crisp format of 12 episodes. The closest that comes to my mind would be Business Proposal and I can see many other MDL users citing the same. Breaking it down for anyone still debating to watch it:

❤️ Story:
✦ contract marriage and fake relationships are nothing new, but the writers took a cliche plot & gave it a great re-packaging.
✦ it had every right ingredient in the right amount: comedy, romance, mystery/crime, heavy messages, bromance, chaebol drama
✦ the focus was on main and second leads, but even the supporting characters held their own, blending into the main plots seamlessly

❤️ Acting:
✦ Shin Min-ah [FL] - this the first drama of hers that I was able to complete. She is charming and fierce as her role demands, and vulnerable beneath that tough exterior as we progressed in the drama.

✦ Kim Young Dae [ML] - I'll be honest when I first saw him on Extraordinary You and Penthouse, I thought that he has a great voice and has the acting chops, but he might not be taken seriously and get stereotyped. But am loving the journey this guy has had - while many might still see him as a handsome face - this guy's voice and face is able to deliver such a wide range of emotions, that it seems unbelievable that he had debuted just a few years ago. I have always been a fan and eager to see him on-screen, so I know only good things are on his way.

✦ Lee Sang Yi [SML] - Saw him last in Hometown Cha Cha Cha and My Demon, where I did took note of his acting, but the roles were too small to make an impact. Bloodhound too was a different genre - but this guy is super hilarious, and this drama showed how! His clumsy CEO act, to the serious face, bromance, BL-hints and romance were just too good. I think because of his antics a lot of people were more focused on the ML/SML Bromance and second-couple romance storyline. No wonder we are going to have a spin-off, cause we just can't get enough of Team #BokGyu

❤️ Pace:
This is really a make or break for me while drama-watching. Given I have limited time, I prefer watching dramas that are crisp, on the point and keep me hooked. I am not patient enough to hope that a story will get better and drag myself through episodes. If it is good, it will have my interest from Ep 1, in fact probably the first 5-10 minutes. This drama was of 12 episodes, which already piqued my interest and further it landed a good punch/hook as you'd like to call in every episode, making me want more and wait eagerly for the next episode. This is what I personally prefer - and not a single minute is wasted or is boring. In this aspect this drama is definitely a 9/10 - which is very, very good.

⭐Special Note: Applauding the Crew BTS:
[1] Everyone actor played their characters as if it was them IRL. While I appreciate the individual talent, I think a lot of appreciation should go towards the writing/direction since their work in the background gave the actors the chance and space to deliver their roles so well!

[2] Character and Plot Development - delivering some heavy messaging well
The writers, directors and other involved - managed to showcase some delicate aspects of the story really well, like: sisterhood, unwanted pregnancy, polygamous relationships, brotherhood, abusive parents, dynamics at foster homes and orphanage. It is very difficult to find that empathy to show these aspects in the right light - as too little, or too much can give a bad experience to the viewers. So really hats off to the makers of the show!

Overall: Highly Recommended to Binge ❤️
One of the best of 2024 in my humble opinion, you'd not regret watching this for sure!

I really cannot point out any bad parts in it - the only one would be that at times I liked the second couple's story more interesting than the main's. And the last episode maybe - it was not as entertaining as the others previously, but that is okay as it was the finale and that is meant to tie all loose ends and give us the happy ending. So no complaints - I give it a 9/10 which in my ranking system is an "Almost Perfect" drama!

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Simply in love with this series!

the real romantic comedy! From chapters 1 to 10, everything was incredible, the plot was fun, light, funny, I started watching because of the trailer and I loved the main characters. The main couple's irritation at the beginning was very funny, the protagonist boy flirting with the protagonist girl was simply wonderful, I simply loved their romance, but then in the last two episodes the screenwriter commits disrespect towards the main couple and the viewer, by including many more scenes of the secondary couple and giving crumbs of 3 seconds in the last episode of the main couple, I was very angry, so much so that at first I was looking forward to the spin-off of the secondary couple but after this disrespect in the last two episodes of no gain no love, I lost the desire to watch the spin-off!

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I have finally decided to drop this drama...

Many may be confused why I waited every week for the episodes and then just gave up on episode 10, so I want to clearly want to explain my thought on this narrative.

This story felt like a slice of life comedy since no matter what dramatic situation the character was in there was a bit of a comical twist as well as a deep topic with a dark turn.

Example:
One of the fl sister is in a polyamorous relationship, the fl found out and thought one of the sister's partners was cheating and beat him up with rage (filmed in a comical way from the exaggerated attacks comical) then finds out she is pregnant.
Another of her sister wrote spicy novels and a the CEO finds out his mum read it so spammed it with hate from shock. While serving his community service from the hate comments their romance arc started but then it touched on the sisters trauma with the harshness of the comments leading to her abusive dad.
In conclusion the side plot bought in dark situations from everyday life but added some comical element to not make the side story not too dark.

Or some stories are just comical e.g the fl planning a wedding just to get her cheating ex boyfriend's wedding money back

But all of these drastically contrasted the main plot e.g. the potential chaebol that became an orphan who is now looking for revenge is just deeply contrasts all the other topics written in the show and makes it seem so dramatic because it really stuck out for me. Which was not funny, just serious and very stereotypical. I think this just really put me off because they primarily shifted the focus to that plot which annoyed me.

In summary this is MY OPINION about this drama, I honestly found the main plot , the whole chaebol thingy just so boring because it is a very saturated market and has been around since for ever so I got bored and decided to drop it...

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