No Gain, No Love (2024)

It had everything to be one of the best series of 2024!

It had everything to be one of the best series of 2024! But in the last episode they had to disrespect the viewer and especially the main couple, I started the series because of the main couple, in the last episode I just wanted to see more romantic scenes from the main couple and the scriptwriter screwed up in the last episode, filling the last episode with scenes of the secondary couple, I hated it, they gave practically 3 seconds of the main couple in the last chapter! A screenwriter like that should be boycotted! I was so in love with the main couple together, their incredible chemistry, I'm very angry with the last chapter!
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Oh this is actually really great - wish I had skipped the spoilers and episode guide

This is a complex story about fictive kinship and found families and the limits of monogamy and nuclear families. Basically, everyone has more than one love interest and multiple families. The love interests are not love triangles but more explorations of what it means to be in love with two people simultaneously. It is most explicit with the sister in an open relationship. I actually thought this plotline was well done and thought provoking. Fathers are often shown with multiple lovers, as in this show, but what about mothers? The show further plays with who is the male and female leads as a result, which many found off-putting. But if you watch through the lens of this is a show about the love stories of two competing brothers who are both male leads and a set of sisters it makes complete sense. If you further consider the lens that each person has competing families and is probing who is inside and outside their family it is also quite compelling.

It was impossible not to read any spoilers but the episode guide on MyDramaList is especially misleading. Some of the early episodes are just laugh out loud funny, I dare you to find better deadpan humor, especially between Kim Young Dae and Shin Min Ah. But I actually really enjoyed the plot in Episodes 9-12. It kept me guessing, in suspense up to the very last moment. Given the extreme backstories of the characters as foster children, it would have been too saccharine to not have some tension and true challenges. The moment where they put up a new list of chief mourners is so profound and brings together the theme on the meaning of family so well. I found the ending very satisfying. I thought the break up was justified and very sweet and generous on the part of Shin Min Ah's character. There needed to be space and healing for their relationship to proceed. If anything, I would have enjoyed an additional episode during the breakup to learn more about Son Hae Young's new company rather than a passing overview with her innovative ideas dumbed down with a cutesy pitch.

What I did not like at all and why I assume this show is on Amazon Prime and not Netflix was the cigarette placements with a full storyline and the corporate anti-child abuse program. Media is too powerful and cancer and addiction too pernicious to make smoking seem glamorous to young viewers. The part about documenting child abuse with strangers taking photos was also just absurd and inappropriate, even if the end result was a positive for the child.

Go Wook as An U Jae was a stand out for me, every scene with him sizzled and plumbed the depths of the theme I mentioned on "can you love more than one person at the same time." I assume that Han Ji Hyun will be the one who goes on to have the biggest career, she just completely takes over in her role as a writer, with a two episode spin off to prove it.

So, assuming you have made the mistake of reading too many reviews, try to get inside the playful world of overlapping love and multiple families and see if it works better for you as a unique and creative drama.

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Entertaining but Forgettable....

This was an entertaining watch, one of those dramas I watched today but will most probably forget tomorrow or the day after... as I had to take a break in my binge (a few days) and it took me a while to remember what the plot was once I started watching the last two episodes.

While I do not like the female lead. By not like I mean I generally try to avoid her dramas, this was one of her better works, still not very likeable but indeed bearable.

Pretty much every single one of the side characters stories out shine the leads, by chemistry, story line, acting... You name it the other characters carry this show and are what makes it an entertaining watch worthy of that next episode button.

Male lead was fun in the beginning giving me my beloved cliches bit grew dull towards the end all in all an ok way to pass time...

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A PROPER ROMCOM!

I hope everyone ignores negative reviews and give No Gain No Love a fair chance because I have never enjoyed the comedy and heart fluttering romance as depicted by the main leads. Shin Min Ah is the life of the show and brings so much chemistry to this pairing that you'll never notice the age gap. And the humour is on point!

There have been 2 other romcoms airing simultaneously (Cinderella At 2 AM and Love Next Door) but none of the comedy has been on par with No Gain No Love. It has been so much fun watching this. Though the plot is not unique with some typical tropes likes fake marriage and opposites attract, the direction and the dialogues catch you off guard! You predict the FL to say or do one thing and she completely surprises you which makes it so much more entertaining. The chemistry between the main leads is sizzling and my only complaint is that I wanted to see more of them because of how much I enjoyed their romance. And I also loved that for once the female lead is the bolder one in the relationship besides also being smart and quick on her feet. The male lead is kind, at times shy and aloof and gentle. They really complemented each other.

We also have 2 other couples. Though I wouldn't say I was fond of them and sometimes I even found them annoying but it definitely presents something for everyone. The second leads also have a 18+ spin off which I will be watching to see if I enjoy their chemistry better in that. However don't let my preference dissuade you because I was fully entertained and it gave me lots to talk about.

Another thing I liked about this show is that even in the low moments of the characters, it never got too depressing and tried to maintain an overall happy and light moments so this is great for watching when you need an escape. All the actors stayed true to their characters with room for some character growth as well.

The "weakest" of the episodes were the last two because they had more serious aspects to deal with and I would have liked 2 more episodes to depict more of the main duo. And that is why I can't give this a full 10. I still loved enough about the show that I can't be too upset with it.

The main theme song is nice and upbeat. It suits the vibe of the drama.

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Pretty good but the second half was unsatisfactory

I quite liked the fake marriage and office drama and the secondary couple was also very nice. The show lost its appeal for me when the show shifted it's attention from the growing romance to Jiuk being an illegitimate Bok and how Gyu hun behaved. There were some very toxic moments that weren't adequately dealt with. Overall aspects of the ending were very unfair which I appreciate are life like but it felt tonally too different from the original premise and light heartedness.

I also kind of wish more romantic shows would bring back the tendency to have a final episode that just shows the couple happy and give us a few everyday happy scenes.

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ROMANTIC COMEDY OF 2024

finished 9.5/10 🌟
ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE YEAR
As the saying goes: I was looking for copper and found diamonds.
excellent chemistry of minah and youngdae ✨
He was heavily criticized when the characters were chosen but he was able to silence many mouths 🤭
script that masterfully mixes comedy, drama and romance... a main couple with a beautiful story, a secondary couple well done and explained
Minor things I would criticize: Hae Yeong's work life wanted something more and not the ex succeeding... a couple more chapters to develop certain things but in general I enjoyed it a lot 👏

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Realistic emotions portrayed

At first it just seemed like another Noona drama that didn't make sense. But after binge watching 8 eps I felt like this is a rom com. The plot is heart-warming. The characters did wonderful justice to their roles. The main lead is mysterious but kind. The female lead is ambitious but also warm hearted than she shows. The second female lead did the most amazing job. Her portrayal of emotions of a victim of domestic abuse weren't like concept but something her character experienced. She also has this really versatile range from penthouse to cheer up to NoLove, NoGain. The second male lead and his secretary make a really funny duo and it seems natural. The transition of second lead's character that showed him as a troller who wrote a comment on 51st chapter to getting to know he wasn't the one was surprising. Also,love how he starts putting positive ones later and for a moment it becomes clear that why the triangle becomes a line between the second leads. The supporting characters did a good job and did not have a typical role. The Ex-boyfriend's wife is not annoying. Sure she is doubtful and controlling but to the fl she is like a normal friend. I hope they don't make her the mean character because of her husband. Also a new concept of polyamorous relationship was shown. I think that was new for me to see such a normal one. The ending of 8th ep left many surprises like the secretary being the one to leave the comments on 51st chapter. The third sister seems to be pregnant. Sml got to know ml is his half brother. The male lead seems to have to do something with fl father's death. In all it was a good drama that should not be judged on the first look

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