This review may contain spoilers
secondary characters and the casting saved the show
I'm not sure where to begin, since I have a lot to say but I guess I'll start with our central characters: Phap is loveable, kind, and extremely emotionally intelligent. Half the time. Somehow he is either a master at resolving emotional issues or he's a total Neanderthal. I found myself disliking him sometimes, and feeling endeared by him other times. He's gross and immature, but also loves animals and has a soft heart. I'm all for embracing a free lifestyle and not confining yourself to suffocating restrictions, but even I would say he's a bit too irresponsible. I try not to judge people based on their age since everyone has different circumstances, but as a 30 year old man he should be more consistently put together than he is.
Onto Maze, who I will preface I am biased towards because he's played by Singto. This, however, does not at all stop me from seeing that he's a horrible person. He's iredeemably selfish and often quite mean. He's kind to his employees, so he's not a stereotypical tyrannical CEO, but one good thing doesn't overshadow all the bad. Specifically to Phap he's controlling, demanding, harsh, critical, dismissive, and downright cruel. I've never seen a character be so selfish and yet somehow still not apologize for his actions. There should have been a scene with him pouring his heart out, explaining and apologizing for every horrible thing he did and making a promise to try bettering himself. Instead, he flips even the final conflict around to make himself appear to be the victim somehow. It's beyond frustrating and I'm upset because I see how they could have redeemed him and that just makes it worse. It was possible! It's sad because there are moments where he's likeable, though this is maybe just my bias towards Singto slipping in. Because when he's smiling, laughing, and just being a normal person he's so loveable! And cute!
Now, it might be absurd, but contrary to my wall of slander preceding this, I actually didn't hate the two. Obviously it's undeniable that they're a completely unhealthy couple, but I still found myself smiling at them being cute together, even at the end. I didn't like them very much, and wouldn't gush about their love story, but I wasn't mad.
--*--
Sorry to say that I have more to say, but now comes what should be a much less critical portion.
Nae, Than, Neung, and the other cast of characters.
Starting with Than who is the reason I stuck this show out, and who is undeniably my favorite part. Yacht did a wonderful job and it was nice seeing him play a sweet character as opposed to the typical mischievous roles I've seen him in.
Than, from the start, is loveable and cute. He's never mean or unjustly vindictive. He is the sweetest boy and I love everything about him. Which means I therefore love Neung.
Don't get me wrong, I have my issues with him, but I can't help but love him. My main issue is that he is really petty and rude towards Phap. I like him more than Phap, but I still hate how he behaves towards him since he riles Phap up unnecessarily. He was suspicious for a long time to me, because he's not super expressive so I couldn't tell if he'd end up being two-faced or not. Luckily, he's at his most genuine with Than.
The (spoilers!) scene where they were shooting for the drama and improvved that kiss? Oh my gosh. Maybe one of the best parts of the entire show.
Nae is THE best. She's equal to Than for me and without her, so much of my viewing experience would have been ruined. She's a fun, kind, strong, influential, smart, caring, cool, and reliable woman. I love female characters that aren't just props for the plot and villainized for convenience sake. I'll give it to this show, the female characters were wonderful. Even Pooky, a horrific person, was done well in that she was a villain for her own means and not just there to cause strife in the relationships of the men in the show. She was just a horrible person, not specifically a horrible woman.
Nuna and Elle have my heart and I'm grateful for them.
I love the other employees as well, and Mr Ken is the most precious soul to ever walk this earth and I would put my life on the line for him.
Neung's manager was an incredible character and every scene they were in was made better. An absolute icon.
Overall, the show was entirely character driven and that fact makes my opinion difficult to clearly convey. Since the main characters weren't very likeable, I'm inclined to say I don't like it too much. On the other hand, because the secondary characters were so ridiculously loveable I find it hard to be so critical.
I enjoyed watching it, but I can't casually proclaim my love of the show without like 50 disclaimers.
The actors all did an incredible job. Any criticism is of the characters, and I think that adds on to my appreciation of the actors because they were able to portray a person who isn't always likeable which is a feat of its own.
I appreciate all the work put into the show and believe that the cast and crew did a great job. The biggest flaw is just poor character writing and unhealthy relationships.
Sorry for such a mess of a review, but I can obviously say that I felt a lot about the show lol
--*--
I forgot to include this very important part.
I was pretty confused by Neung and Maze's relationship, in that I wasn't sure if Maze ever actually loved him romantically or was just an overly attached younger brother afraid of losing what he felt was the last of his family. It's never made clear, and is more confusing when Neung explains to Than saying "I think there's been a misunderstanding, Maze and I are brothers." But I thought that was a well known fact? It was expressly stated but still Than and Phap thought Neung and Maze were romantically involved? It was a weird situation and wasn't made overtly clear, but I feel honestly that Maze wasn't ever in love with Neung but instead loved him so very deeply because he was his whole family.
Onto Maze, who I will preface I am biased towards because he's played by Singto. This, however, does not at all stop me from seeing that he's a horrible person. He's iredeemably selfish and often quite mean. He's kind to his employees, so he's not a stereotypical tyrannical CEO, but one good thing doesn't overshadow all the bad. Specifically to Phap he's controlling, demanding, harsh, critical, dismissive, and downright cruel. I've never seen a character be so selfish and yet somehow still not apologize for his actions. There should have been a scene with him pouring his heart out, explaining and apologizing for every horrible thing he did and making a promise to try bettering himself. Instead, he flips even the final conflict around to make himself appear to be the victim somehow. It's beyond frustrating and I'm upset because I see how they could have redeemed him and that just makes it worse. It was possible! It's sad because there are moments where he's likeable, though this is maybe just my bias towards Singto slipping in. Because when he's smiling, laughing, and just being a normal person he's so loveable! And cute!
Now, it might be absurd, but contrary to my wall of slander preceding this, I actually didn't hate the two. Obviously it's undeniable that they're a completely unhealthy couple, but I still found myself smiling at them being cute together, even at the end. I didn't like them very much, and wouldn't gush about their love story, but I wasn't mad.
--*--
Sorry to say that I have more to say, but now comes what should be a much less critical portion.
Nae, Than, Neung, and the other cast of characters.
Starting with Than who is the reason I stuck this show out, and who is undeniably my favorite part. Yacht did a wonderful job and it was nice seeing him play a sweet character as opposed to the typical mischievous roles I've seen him in.
Than, from the start, is loveable and cute. He's never mean or unjustly vindictive. He is the sweetest boy and I love everything about him. Which means I therefore love Neung.
Don't get me wrong, I have my issues with him, but I can't help but love him. My main issue is that he is really petty and rude towards Phap. I like him more than Phap, but I still hate how he behaves towards him since he riles Phap up unnecessarily. He was suspicious for a long time to me, because he's not super expressive so I couldn't tell if he'd end up being two-faced or not. Luckily, he's at his most genuine with Than.
The (spoilers!) scene where they were shooting for the drama and improvved that kiss? Oh my gosh. Maybe one of the best parts of the entire show.
Nae is THE best. She's equal to Than for me and without her, so much of my viewing experience would have been ruined. She's a fun, kind, strong, influential, smart, caring, cool, and reliable woman. I love female characters that aren't just props for the plot and villainized for convenience sake. I'll give it to this show, the female characters were wonderful. Even Pooky, a horrific person, was done well in that she was a villain for her own means and not just there to cause strife in the relationships of the men in the show. She was just a horrible person, not specifically a horrible woman.
Nuna and Elle have my heart and I'm grateful for them.
I love the other employees as well, and Mr Ken is the most precious soul to ever walk this earth and I would put my life on the line for him.
Neung's manager was an incredible character and every scene they were in was made better. An absolute icon.
Overall, the show was entirely character driven and that fact makes my opinion difficult to clearly convey. Since the main characters weren't very likeable, I'm inclined to say I don't like it too much. On the other hand, because the secondary characters were so ridiculously loveable I find it hard to be so critical.
I enjoyed watching it, but I can't casually proclaim my love of the show without like 50 disclaimers.
The actors all did an incredible job. Any criticism is of the characters, and I think that adds on to my appreciation of the actors because they were able to portray a person who isn't always likeable which is a feat of its own.
I appreciate all the work put into the show and believe that the cast and crew did a great job. The biggest flaw is just poor character writing and unhealthy relationships.
Sorry for such a mess of a review, but I can obviously say that I felt a lot about the show lol
--*--
I forgot to include this very important part.
I was pretty confused by Neung and Maze's relationship, in that I wasn't sure if Maze ever actually loved him romantically or was just an overly attached younger brother afraid of losing what he felt was the last of his family. It's never made clear, and is more confusing when Neung explains to Than saying "I think there's been a misunderstanding, Maze and I are brothers." But I thought that was a well known fact? It was expressly stated but still Than and Phap thought Neung and Maze were romantically involved? It was a weird situation and wasn't made overtly clear, but I feel honestly that Maze wasn't ever in love with Neung but instead loved him so very deeply because he was his whole family.
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