Didn't feel the love
So, I was looking for a romantic show that wasn't filled with too much angst. Based upon the reviews, I felt that this might be a good fit. It was a disappointing watch for me.
Jeju Island - beautiful. For me, the high point of the whole show, other than the So Ji Sub cameo.
Acting/casting - The acting was okay, except for the second female lead. Her acting felt really wooden to me, but the script certainly didn't help. I felt that the mayor of the town was miscast - he looked like he would have been a good "bad guy" but I didn't buy him in this role.
Writing - this is where the majority of my complaint lies. Sometimes it was somewhat slapstick, then it would move to melodrama, then move back to a typical romance. What did it want to be? I did not care for the male lead character at all. He was all over the place as well, but what stuck out to me most was that he was a doormat and I couldn't respect him. He's liked a girl for years that is an absolute nightmare (how anyone with any intelligence could like her, I have no idea), even goes so far as to say that even if she marries someone else he'll still like her, but then almost immediately switches to the female lead. Wait, what? Then the contrived situations that keep the leads apart were just unnecessary, it was one thing after another, including the "separated for a year" trope. When I'm watching a romance, and they are apart more than they are together, can that really be called a romance?
Chemistry - I didn't feel the chemistry between the leads (which is partially a problem with the script). Consequently, I didn't feel too invested in wading through the show until they got their happy ending (which was rushed, by the way). Some really bad kisses, but then they finally got a clue.
I realize that reviews are based on personal opinions, but if you are looking for a show that is really romantic, this would not be one that I would suggest.
Jeju Island - beautiful. For me, the high point of the whole show, other than the So Ji Sub cameo.
Acting/casting - The acting was okay, except for the second female lead. Her acting felt really wooden to me, but the script certainly didn't help. I felt that the mayor of the town was miscast - he looked like he would have been a good "bad guy" but I didn't buy him in this role.
Writing - this is where the majority of my complaint lies. Sometimes it was somewhat slapstick, then it would move to melodrama, then move back to a typical romance. What did it want to be? I did not care for the male lead character at all. He was all over the place as well, but what stuck out to me most was that he was a doormat and I couldn't respect him. He's liked a girl for years that is an absolute nightmare (how anyone with any intelligence could like her, I have no idea), even goes so far as to say that even if she marries someone else he'll still like her, but then almost immediately switches to the female lead. Wait, what? Then the contrived situations that keep the leads apart were just unnecessary, it was one thing after another, including the "separated for a year" trope. When I'm watching a romance, and they are apart more than they are together, can that really be called a romance?
Chemistry - I didn't feel the chemistry between the leads (which is partially a problem with the script). Consequently, I didn't feel too invested in wading through the show until they got their happy ending (which was rushed, by the way). Some really bad kisses, but then they finally got a clue.
I realize that reviews are based on personal opinions, but if you are looking for a show that is really romantic, this would not be one that I would suggest.
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