A character based romance drama with extremely flawed leads.

(If you hate the ML don't read further cause I won't take any criticism) Ah one of screenwriter Park Hye Ryun's most polarized dramas. Not to mention actor Nam Joo Hyuk's most controversial and hated role yet. Set in the world of Start ups this drama follows the leads as they try to fullfill their dreams and succeed. Most people had the worst case of second lead syndrome for character Han Ji Pyung played by none other than one of my favourite actors Kim Seon Ho. And while he wasn't my favorite character I kind of understand why people liked him. That said I was too tired of the rich tsundre (and shouty which personally annoys me) MLs with a sad past and a childhood connection with the female lead which there were too many of. I prefered Nam Do San who to me was an interesting and complex but very flawed character of his own which you barely get to see any of. I mean if he was too perfect and too nice people would have found him to be boring anyway. That said I found the hate for him surprising and even his small flaws were laughably exaggerated as if he was totally evil. I also thought that Bae Suzy who played the female lead Seo Dal Mi had the most chemistry with the ML compared to the other dramas I have seen her in and it was also her best role yet. You could see the improvement in her acting. The most impressive improvement in acting I saw was though was of Joo Hyuk. Especially since I saw him in Bride of the Habaek where I found his acting to be kind of okayish. Since the character of Do San was introduced at the very end of the first episode people had already started to get SLS. I actually prefered the second lead's relationship with Dal Mi's grandmother. I also loved the ML's relationship with his friends. Most people were also unhappy cause this drama wasn't very realistic about startups even though the writer had done some research. But kdramas (though this is not specific to kdramas) rarely are that realistic. For me the drama was more character based than plot based. I do have some of my own criticisms like the second female lead Won In Jae not getting a lot of screentime and the development of her relationship with her sister Dal Mi was also rushed. Some things were dragged or unnecessary, as was the love triangle. This drama had me crying a lot. I will always remember this drama for giving me a relatable (and soft, lovable nerd who knits! idc about other's opinions) lead like Nam Do San. That said I wish I could have watched it in my own bubble than get involved in one of the worst shipping wars I have seen.

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Do you like Brahms? Kind of

If you want a slow and warm feeling drama then Do you like Brahms? is for you. Park Eun Bin plays a music student Chae Song Ah who wants to become a violinist. But she has started late and is a fourth year University student but tries her best. She tries hard to be good at playing the violin but doesn't have the talent. Meanwhile Kim Min Jae plays Park Joon Young a talented Pianist and had been playing in various competitions but has taken a one year sabbatical. He is unsatisfied and unhappy with playing and doesn't enjoy it. Both leads are introverted and sweet.

Plot wise there isn't much to the drama. The leads are cute together. The drama makes good use of music and has a good OST that works well with the plot. As much as those parts are enjoyable there is are frustrating love triangles in the middle of it all. At first the leads are quite with each other but as they get together in the second half there is a lot of miscommunication between them. There isn't much growth to either the main leads and the other characters. The leads break up near the end and get back together in the second half of last episode. This I think should have happened earlier but they spent to much time on one of the love triangles.

The second leads Lee Jung Kyung (Park Ji Hyun and Han Hyun Ho (Kim Sung Cheol) are a big part of the story but there isn't much attention given to their development either. Jung Kyung especially is used only to come in between the leads. She does have depth but that is ignored in favour of the leads.

That's not to say there is nothing enjoyable about the drama. Especially in the first half before the characters get together is definitely the better part. The leads shared their problems and communicated well. And it would have been good if that continued. The break up I actually didn't have a problem with that. It seemed necessary.

For me the second half wasn't a surprise at all. There was of course going to be angst. There were times Song Ah stood up for herself but at times I was frustrating to watch her be used by her professor. The characters talked too slowly at times especially the female lead. The drama had so much potential but it failed to use it properly.

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