dramatic, strange, romantic

What a thrilling ride. A visually stunning melodrama that is dramatic, strange, intense, and romantic. It isn't without flaws, but certainly entertaining.

We begin with Nao (Hamabe Minami), a young woman with nothing but talent and a hidden identity, blasting her way into Kogetsuan to search for the truth behind the death of its former master. Immediately, she becomes entangled with Tsubaki (the wonderful Yokohama Ryusei), heir to this establishment, and the Takatsuki family, whose perfect exterior betrays years of turmoil. Dysfunctional would be an understatement to describe this family. As she spends time learning the art of Japanese confections with Tsubaki and unraveling the mystery, she finds herself falling in love with him, a man she thought would be her enemy forever.

Characters in this drama dress in kimonos or yukatas and live in traditional homes. I'm fond of this part of Japanese culture so to see it here in the cinematography was a feast on the eyes. But forgive me for my lack of knowledge of Japanese traditions, because the most I know about Japanese desserts is mochi, so I had no idea there are families in the business of making these small but elaborate desserts they display in the drama for hundreds of years. Seeing the love and devotion, the craftsmanship involved in making these confections steeped in tradition was intriguing, and I quite enjoyed seeing that incorporated into the story.

The other part of the story I loved was the romance between the two leads. There is just something about the premise of an arrogant man brought to his knees by an unassuming woman and falling in love that always appeals to me. In that sense, their relationship progression was predictable, but nonetheless, compelling. Hamabe Minami and Yokohama Ryusei's chemistry is palpable. And he has such expressive eyes that could make any scene electrifying. There is also the added benefit that they look stunning together so it made for a fascinating watch. Also, the soundtrack fits into each scene and sets the atmosphere perfectly.

As for the drama as a whole, the editing can feel jarring; lots of things happen all at once, often at a fast pace. The tonal changes, especially, took some getting used to. But somehow, they make the story work. I was invested in the developments and tolerant of any lack of logic because I was too busy being entertained. There are some frustrating arcs in the story, but thank goodness for the traditionally short duration of Japanese dramas, because they do not dwell on these parts too long. Before you know it, we are back to focusing on our two gorgeous leads.

I don't have the same inclination for Japanese dramas the way I have for Korean or Chinese dramas because it's rare to find a plot that interests me when it comes to the former. I would have overlooked this one as well if it were not for the striking poster. It succinctly captures the look and feel of the show. I wish there are more like it and if there is, I'd get on that bang-wagon in a heartbeat.

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Get ready for the skip button on this one. The only saving grace to the show were the leads; the source of my generous rating here. This drama is lacking in many things, namely a reasonable plot. The show places the heroine in the most ridiculous, humiliating circumstances to create conflict and for the hero to swoop in and save the day. Having said that, once we get to the parts where the leads interact, I ended up forgetting all the nonsense preceding it. So the overarching plot felt contrived but the scenes/dialogues between the leads felt real and thoughtful.

Though cold but not a total jerk, the hero is the mastermind behind many of the heroine's mishaps. It's complicated with him since he hates her mom and has been planning revenge for 12 years. While staying close to the heroine to mete out his revenge, he remains elusive emotionally. She is perceptive to that and tries to reach out to him earnestly. She doesn't doubt his intentions, it is more that she understands he is just a lonely soul who needs warmth. We can see from her efforts that she is kind and pure. I liked watching his internal struggles to deny his feelings and failing every time. Their moments together, whether sweet or angst filled, are well-done (waltzing, biking, dinner by the piano were especially memorable). I could see clearly how and why they fell for each other; her in simple ways, him in layers of complexities. I found myself smiling watching them.

So the show does reward you for sticking with it, with the cute leads, but there was nothing else to offer. Or maybe I just didn't care for all the side stories about the tragedy behind the revenge, the families, and how it all got resolved. In any case, if you're having a long day and just want to shut off your brain and escape into the world of dramaland, you can enjoy this by skipping around.

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I decided to start this drama for two reasons: (1) my new addiction to Thai dramas and (2) my newest drama crush: Push (Puttichai Kasetsin). I'd heard of him and had been consciously avoiding him for a while as I foresaw that I would get sucked into his world like a black hole. And as soon as I caved, that's exactly what happened! This man is not only one of the most beautiful men on the planet, he is also an outstanding actor, that it almost seems unfair. I saw four of his dramas in a few short weeks. But it was this one that I hadn't been able to move on from that I felt inclined to write a review. What surprised me though was that I loved this drama because of Gypso Ariigantha Mahapreukpong just as much as Push. She is equally wonderful here that they're my favorite pairing to date.

As a further prelude, I want to say that as much as I love this drama, I almost dropped it at one point. Although I felt all kinds of emotions that I wanted to articulate, I didn't want to write a review at first because the overwhelming feeling at the end was disappointment. Only after watching it a second time was I able to better digest what I saw and felt enough love for the drama again to conduct this review. That's why objectively speaking, I would rate it an 8 but my heart says 9.5, so I settled for an 8.5 here.

I read some comments and reviews prior to my watch so I was prepared for what was ahead of me. I agree that the drama has a slow start as it takes some time in setting up the story. Wanneung (Gypso) is a struggling actress. At one point, Win (Push) describes it as such, that "she had nothing but her dream". And that pretty much sums her up as the story begins. There is nothing in her head except to be a Dara (famous actress), even though she appears to have no talent nor an agent or mentor to help her reach her goal. Her parents got so fed up with her pipe dream that they sold their house and went abroad, leaving Wanneung behind. Win, a former celebrity, turns out to be the new owner but she decides to stay anyway, unbeknownst to Win. Her behavior reminded me of news from years ago of a Japanese woman living secretly in some guy's apartment for months without his knowledge. I know that sounds creepy but thank goodness it's amusing here. Win thinks the house is haunted because of her sneakiness, until he catches her one day sleeping in his backyard. This scene is what sealed the deal for me. We are at episode 3 at this point and this first full, real interaction between the two of them had me in stitches. They play off each other so well; they are fantastic together that I knew I was in for a treat.

Wannueng's opportunity to stay comes in the form of snooping reporters waiting to accost Win at his house about his return to Thailand after having left the entertainment industry five years ago. Win lets Wanneung stay in exchange for helping lie to the reporters that the house is hers. And that's how the cohabitation hijinks begans. And boy, were they entertaining! They had me cracking up left and right. Also, Wanneung has no qualms about unintentionally getting into situations with Win skinship-wise because she thinks he's gay, to which Win doesn't bother to correct her; which, by the way, is funny at first but exasperating in the latter half with how confused he makes her. I don't know how she can believe him in the beginning though when the sexual tension is there on full display.

I know there were some who described Gypso as "overacting" as Wannueng. I thought she is somewhat like an anime character in the beginning. Perhaps that's what put some people off but I found that sort of wackiness entertaining rather than silly. It didn’t take long for me to like her; she is hilarious. And don't think for a second that Win is normal, lol. They are perfect for each other. He draws lines all over the house to signify "your side" and "my side." I laughed every time they are in the living room bickering and see how much couch space he has compared to her little spot at the end of the blue couch. And then seeing much later, from him happily removing those lines while waiting in anticipation for her to notice when she gets home, to her perfect, delightful reaction to it…like, I couldn't handle all that cuteness. Also, I loved the fact that although the comedy tones down as we settled in, it never disappears. The lighthearted banter between the two is consistent throughout the drama.

With respect to other characters, I didn't care for the second leads at all. I skipped most of their scenes. But I really liked Lukpit and Tom, who play Wanneung and Win's friends respectively. Lukpit is the perfect sidekick to Wanneung. He is probably the only other person who can handle Wanneung's quirkiness aside from Win. Tom is the voice of reason for Win. Honestly, I don't know what would have happened if Tom hadn't been patient enough to explain to Win how much of an idiot he is being when it comes to love.

The villain in the story is WanWan, who is Win's former manager. He ruined Win's career by tricking Win into appearing in a scandalous video five years ago. WanWan is the kind of person who will stab you in the back while you hugged him. He will destroy you in the most despicable way possible. I was disgusted by his actions that I skipped almost all of the scenes involving him and his scheming because I felt uncomfortable and I think that was intentional.

At this point, I want to expand on my disappointment with the show as I had mentioned earlier. Many criticized the female lead, however, my dissatisfaction was in the male lead's character. Wanneung may have been naive but at least she is honest. She wears her heart on her sleeves. And I can't fault her for misunderstanding when she is left in the dark for longer than necessary. Win, on the other hand, is frustratingly silent at times. And if there is a compelling reason, I'd have understood. But there really isn't a concrete logic to support his reluctance to open up to the person who obviously matters most to him. What is he afraid of? Half the problems they face could have been avoided if he'd been more honest. And how could he have let Wanneung stay under WanWan's management fully knowing what WanWan is capable of? I understand Win doesn't want to get in the way of Wanneung's rising status. But knowing her personality, she'd have done everything she could to get out of that contract if she knew the truth. There were times when I was swooning and then there were times when I wanted to smack Win upside the head for being so idiotic. I think this is just weak writing. I recognize that conflict is necessary to keep the story moving forward. But I would have kept watching even if there wasn't any ridiculous plot device to fill all 26 episodes. Their growing love is what had me watching. The closer they get, the more I adored them for the reasons I described that even if everything is peachy, I would have gladly watched it. The last episode, especially, felt like our feelings were being toyed with because we had to put up with so much BS before we get our rushed happy ending. I resented the writer for that.

Be that as it may, I want to end on a good note all things considered, so I want to talk about what Win does right. For him, it is that actions spoke louder than words. One of the first major steps he takes that illustrates his love for Wanneung is in accepting a big budget film role that he previously hadn't given much thought to just so he can support Wanneung in landing a role. This is a big deal because it also means that he'd be stepping back into the entertainment circle that had so cruelly treated him five years ago. He straight up tells the director he won't act in the movie if she doesn't get to as well. He has seen how much she wants to be an actress, how much she has been struggling and it pains him to see that things aren't working out for her. He wants to provide an opportunity for her to live up to her potential. He then offers to coach her on acting. His genuine care and guidance brings out the serious and talented side in her and it is just the support she needs to be able to fly on her own to stardom.

I can’t express enough on how much joy I felt in watching Win go from a grumpy housemate to a teasing friend to a nurturing mentor who loves Wanneung so much he doesn’t care who gets hurt in his efforts to keep her safe, including himself. Or the times he beams with happiness watching Wanneung’s reactions to all the little things he creates to make her happy. And Wanneung has the best reactions! Her astonished excitement and exclamations had me laughing; she is so endearing. Everything just felt so real between these two. These are the moments that made me love the drama so much and left me wanting more.

The music in the drama blended well with the story without being intrusive. The comedic scenes sound cheerful and fun. There is a recurring song sung by Gypso herself that is so, so sweet. I loved hearing it every time it comes on. Push sang for the drama as well. I didn’t like his song that much until it accompanies their time in Phuket and I was sold!

Let me end my long review to say all that may have just been me fangirling over these two. But in all seriousness, it’s a great romantic comedy. My recommendation is to watch this drama twice to enjoy it to its fullest. Trust me, it will be a better experience the second time around and one that will stay with you for a long time.

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I'd been binging on crazily plotted Lakorns that this one caught me by surprise at how normal the story is. I thought Thai rom-coms are way too silly for me to enjoy that I'd only been trying Lakorns with heavy themes lately. But I am a new fan of Push after watching Roy Leh Sanae Rai so I decided to give this one a go. And what do you know, it was the best decision ever! This is such a fun watch; a well done friends to lovers story. The leads are so adorable. The whole drama is dripping with cuteness in a really good way. And when things get serious, they pack an emotional punch as well.

I'll admit, at first, it was somewhat difficult to watch the female lead on screen because her skin problem looks too realistic. But I have to give props to the drama and to the actress for willing to depict it in such a way. It's something many suffer from at some point in their lives. I went through that phase myself, so I resonated with the heroine's insecurities. And the drama succeeds in showing that it's your heart that makes you beautiful because I found the heroine really adorable. She may be "ugly" on the outside but she comes across genuinely as kind and caring that I felt she is lovable, just like the way the other characters in the drama sees her. Push's character is a flirt but an all around good guy, the kind of senior you'd definitely fall for at school. Their love story is simple and there are many squee-worthy moments between the leads. I will note that the main conflict in the story isn't as concrete as I would have liked but the well written dialogue makes up for it. Also, the supporting cast is delightful! I liked the lively campus atmosphere they created; I really wanted to hangout with them.

All in all, a breezy, mood-lifting watch!

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First off, I'll say that you'll need to sit through the first couple of episodes to give this drama a fair shot. The start was extremely slow; endure it and you'll find yourself plowing through the rest of the episodes with glee.

The story is not unlike a mix of Extraordinary You and W-Two Worlds, as our heroine Zheng Xiao En (Vivian Sung) finds herself waking up in a romance novel. She soon discovers the male lead in the novel, Situ Aoran (Marcus Chang), looks a lot like He Tian Xing, the CEO she admires in the real world, who is in a coma. Vivian Sung did a fantastic job portraying a strong, funny, self-aware heroine, determined to change her role in the storybook. She realizes she is only a side character, possibly a villain, in the story of the romance between Situ Aoran and Ling Chu Chu. I confess I’m a sucker for stories about alpha males paired with delicate female leads. But seeing this trope from Xiao En’s perspective, I also felt the ridiculousness of it all. I lost count of how many times I rolled my eyes at Chu Chu’s damsel-in-distress behavior (and funnily, some of the characters were visibly rolling their eyes right there with me, haha). It was so much fun watching Xiao En try to sabotage the author’s many predictable set ups to get the “leads” to fall in love, change the direction of the story in the novel and catch the attention of the arrogant and childish Situ Aoran in the process. One of my favorite parts was Xiao En's time spent at Situ Aoran's place as his housekeeper and the two of them getting close while trying to battle and outwit one another. I wish this part of the drama lasted longer because it was so entertaining. Case in point: when she chances upon him showering, she tells herself to satisfy her curiosity and enjoy the view. Naturally, she gets caught and when an angry Situ Aoran confronts her, she says "who told you to look so handsome? If you were me, you'd have looked, too." She makes her argument with such conviction that it renders him speechless, and oddly enough, convinces him, LOL. Or that time she blurts out without thinking that she likes him and when he asks why, she says: "money..." Gotta love this girl.

I'm sure there will be viewers who will have a major second lead syndrome here. I didn’t suffer but I admit to being charmed by Duan Mu Qing Feng (Simon Lian). I enjoyed his presence and really appreciated seeing him be there for the heroine in times of need. He is such a gentleman and so understanding. However, Marcus and Vivian simply had incredible chemistry; there was no competition. They took the tag “steamy kiss” to a whole new level. Hands down, theirs is the best “finally, they did the deed” scene in all of dramaland, ha. They look so natural, so real, so good together that I felt as if I was intruding on their privacy for watching.

I didn't want the novel world to end because while the real world is playing out in parallel, I literally skipped every scene whenever that occurs (corporate shenanigans of He Tian Xing's family, yawn). So I thought I would hate it when they inevitably return to the real world. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed that world in the quarter half of the drama. Unlike the earlier episodes, the scenes between the leads are sweet, with a touch of melancholy. Xiao En is heartbroken to find He Tian Xing appears to be a different person from Situ Aoran. Meanwhile, I adored this version of the lead. Compared to Situ Aoran, He Tian Xing is such a gentleman, so mature. He is thoughtful, intrigued by the woman before him with sad eyes. I had no issues accepting the explanation they provided to meld the different personalities of Situ Aoran and He Tian Xing together at the end to confirm they are one and the same. And to be honest, I thought she ends up with the better half of him, so no complaints from me in that respect.

In conclusion, don't expect logical explanations for the whole "I traveled into a novel" premise. You'll enjoy it better if you just roll with it. Come for the meta references and the sizzling romance and you won't be disappointed.

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Office Romance with a Twist

For a revenge themed Lakorn, this drama lacked intensity in the way that was delightfully present in the more explosive, similarly themed dramas like Hua Jai Sila and Ra Raerng Fai. That said, it was nevertheless an engaging watch. There was simply something about it that had me flying through the episodes at great speed, even when plot-wise, not much happened in the earlier episodes. Because it's a Lakorn, a fair share of the usual nutty characters was in attendance in the mist of the more reasonable, likable characters. However, there was semblance of logic and I considered it relatively tamed compared to the few Lakorns I've seen.

Abandoned by his father at a young age, Poramee (Donut Phattharapon Dejpongwaranon) returned as an adult hell-bent on pursuing revenge. In his quest, he set out as "Paul" to seduce his stepmother, Net, who played a major role in their family’s demise. I'm in agreement that this was wrong on so many levels, and thankfully, Paul did not cross the line in the end. But it was interesting to see how deceptively Paul melded into Net's world using his charms, in order to advance his plans for revenge. With Net's help, he landed a job at Crown Diamond, his father's jewelry company. As he worked his way up the corporate ladder at the company, he slowly fell in love with the adoptive daughter of his father/stepmother, Nai (Prapye Ramida Theerapat), a person he somewhat resented for having taken his place.

Though he hid his identity with purpose, Paul's anguish was evident when his father did not recognize him. Unbeknownst to Paul, his father, Paramee, had long realized that the person who truly loved him was his first wife, Paul's mother, the one he had tossed away cruelly, along with his son. Paramee was living with regrets, longing and searching for his ex-wife and son, with his only source of happiness now being Nai, whom he loved like a real daughter. I had no sympathy for this man though, both for his past conduct and for his passivity and tolerance for a vicious woman like Net. As beautiful as Net was, she was rotten to the core. I applaud the actress for her excellent portrayal of a greedy, self-centered, promiscuous socialite. And for that matter, I was disappointed at Nai as well, for indulging to Net's every whim. Having led to believe Net as her savior, Nai grew up worshiping Net, when in actuality, Net caused the accident that killed Nai's biological parents. As this was, of course, hidden from Nai, it was reasonable that she would love this person whom she considered kind and like a mother. But her willful devotion for a blatantly horrible person like Net, to the detriment of her own life, tested my patience. I liked the actress; I thought she was a better actor than Donut. But her character was extremely frustrating at times for not standing up for herself, and especially, accepting a marriage proposal from her scumbag of a boyfriend AFTER he tried to drug and rape her, all so, in her twisted logic, she could express her gratitude toward her adoptive family. This was a major flaw in the story, no matter the reason, and I was so disappointed that she allowed herself to be treated this way, when otherwise, her character was likable, in the way she carried herself with grace, sweetness, and with the gravitas of a fair and level-headed executive.

It should be noted that except for sporadic charged moments, there wasn't much progress in the romance department for half of the drama; though I was pleased with their interactions all the same (especially whenever the song Tum Mai Taung Tur by Instinct came on). Only when Paul was revealed to be a major shareholder of Crown Diamond, did things began to pick up overall, driving the story forward (and also the part of the drama that graced us with Donut looking mighty fine in his executive suits). This was the first of two major turning points in the drama, and one where Paul and Nai's boss/employee relationship reversed. And interestingly, Paul turned out to be one mean boss, like making unreasonable demands on purpose or relegating her to secretary duties. But not so unforgiving that you wanted to strangle him, like the time he scolded her for upsetting a sleazy client but when the guy tried to sexually assault her, Paul smacked him with a wine bottle, heh.

Though I felt he was lacking in some ways as a leading man and for the type of character he played, when Donut delivered, he was amazing. I especially enjoyed witnessing his rage, or when he was seething in silence, in defense of or because of Nai. The other compelling part of the story was when Paul mistakenly believed his father ordered the hit on his adoptive father and rashly kidnapped Nai as retribution. I have to admit though that the built up to get to this point was flimsy, but I liked watching the fallout in any case. This was in contrast to some of the other story arcs, where the development may have been strong but the payoff was a major letdown; like in the way Net found out that Paul was actually her stepson. Because it was one sided, we were deprived of the perfect opportunity for a fierce showdown. Or in some instances, the rushed editing took away an otherwise perfect scene, that if left to play its full course could have had more emotional impact.

From experience, I've learned that as bizarre as the story may get in Lakorns, if you stay the course and stick around until the end, you will be rewarded with a happy ending. And this one was no different in that respect. In conclusion, Fah Mee Tawan wasn't the most exciting drama out there. But despite its lack of intensity, it sustained my interest and was charming in its own way, thanks to the leads. I encourage you to watch it and see for yourself.

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A delightful romantic comedy with an endearing heroine.

The story began with our heroine who’s had to live her whole life with her community's overwhelming opinion that she was ugly, culminating in a horrific bullying incident that induced her to almost taking her own life. After pulling herself back from the depths of despair, she sought help from an online beauty guru and when a chance to transfer schools arrived, she remodeled herself through the magical powers of makeup. As she navigates the new high school while hiding her “ugly” past, making friends and grappling with all the newfound attention from boys (especially two in particular), she learns to face her fears and reveal her true self.

First of all, I must say that I very much enjoyed this show largely due to how charming Moon Ga Young was in portraying Ju Kyung. She was so endearingly funny and genuinely cute that it was hard to dislike her, even when she made questionable choices. What is with this director who is able to capture the charm of the actress through their character (hey there, Extraordinary You's Kim Hye Yoon)?

Ju Kyung is sweet and kind. But her reluctance to speak up for herself, her tendency to run away rather than fight back; these behaviors will certainly create frustrations for the viewers, as I also felt the same. From the lens of an adult, the problems of teenagers bordered on trivial. And yet, you cannot deny the reality of it; because as much as I wanted to pull her aside and tell her that looks aren't everything, that there will be more to life than what happens in high school, I also understood her insecurities completely and the choices she made as a result, because they were universal. I sympathized with her sentiments, especially after watching Moon Ga Young portrayed Ju Kyung with such heartrendingly realistic despair. I was appalled at how cruel her peers could be. So when she was able to make a fresh start and simply be happy because she was able to make friends, I was happy for Ju Kyung too. Yes, the new friends flocked to her because she was pretty but it was also clear that they genuinely liked her. The teachers fostered a warm environment as well, especially one kind, emasculate teacher who had a funny love line with Ju Kyung's beautiful, confident sister. One of her new friends included a girl named Soo Jin (Park Yoo Na), whom I thought was super cool for a good portion of the drama, then felt nothing but disappointment in when the writer took a lazy turn by making her character a typical, conniving second lead in the end. Or maybe that was the point; because of how strong and righteous she was, protecting her friends like a guardian angel, her betrayal at the end cut deep. I was also a bit disappointed in how long it took for Ju Kyung to confront her bullies, though I rooted for her all the same. It was sweet that the courage to face her fears came from her kind heart; wanting to protect her friends was ultimately what gave her the strength to stand up to the bullies. It was a fist pump moment but I wish there was more to see of the positive changes in Ju Kyung than what was shown. And there was much left to be desired in the bullies meeting their comeuppance.

Anyhow, the majority of the drama was certainly a fun ride and a mood lifter. This was in every respect a romantic comedy because the romance had me laughing and feeling the butterflies all at the same time. It had one of the most interesting love triangles I've ever seen (and I typically hate love triangles); I felt Ju Kyung’s chemistry with both boys. But not in the way you think, in that, it's clear who the heroine likes and who she will end up with (deserving and more on that later). Instead, it's simply that the second lead, Seo Jun (Hwang In Yeop), contributed to the story in a way that was wonderfully interwoven into the main plot; he wasn't just there to spur the story for the leads. Ju Kyung and Seo Jun's interactions were just as interesting and uniquely comical. Also, why is it that when your parents are friends, you instantly become friends? Any gap would close so quickly whenever you're thrust into such a situation that you don't even know what hit you. And this is exactly what happened to the two of them, as their moms turned out to be friends. Ju Kyung went from feeling intimidated by this bad boy from school she barely knew to comfortably teasing him that she'd tell on him to his mom, ha. And then this delinquent, of course, developed a huge crush on her; it was an absolute delight to watch (roar!). And I’ve gotta say, if you can rock a mullet, that’s an achievement in and of itself. The man is HOT. But then he had to go and completely capture us with his heart of gold too. I recalled spotting Hwang In Yeop for the first time in Nokdu Flower as a quiet assassin and thinking he was intriguing then. Well, he is simply amazing here. I look forward to more roles from him. And that voice!

Having said all that though, and I may be in the minority here but, I am team Su Ho (Cha Eun Woo) all the way. And I say this not as a fan of Cha Eun Woo. This was actually my first drama in which he starred in, and I am well aware of the fact that he is famous for his looks just as much as his lack of talent. But, honestly, I thought he was decent here as an actor. Of course, comparatively, Moon Ga Young and Hwang In Yeop were a step ahead, but overall, there wasn’t much to complain about. As bland as he may have been, there was no denying his attractiveness in a conventional way. Su Ho was a complete jerk (actually, all the boys were) in the beginning but then he fell for Ju Kyung first, in all her pimply glory. It's really cute. In one instance, he says that he doesn't see a difference between Ju Kyung with makeup and without makeup. He said it without much fanfare, as if it was a matter of fact; it made it all the more convincing and sincere. As much as I like Seo Jun, I was a solid team Su Ho in that respect. Ju Kyung was at her worse, or her truest self, when she was with him and that's whom he fell for. He was there for her from beginning to end (except for that short noble idiocy right before the end, which I chose to forget because I liked the drama too much to be so critical about it). He was the only one who had seen her barefaced, fed her food when hungry, shared hobbies like their mutual interest in horror comic books, tried to make her feel better when upset, protected her, etc. It's all super adorable and he's pretty swoony while doing all of it. It was even better once he confessed; he was understanding, patient, attentive, devoted. In short, he was the perfect boyfriend. They managed to do what a good number of dramas could not, and that was, to keep their relationship compelling, even after they started dating. They were simply adorable together. Ju Kyung was such a klutz around him. Second-hand embarrassment is strong here but it was so funny that in the end, I found myself thinking her bumbling adorable more than anything else. There were many scenes where I had to pause, squealing and screaming at her to just STOP because in that split second you figured out exactly what she was about to do that was bound to be uber mortifying, like when she told Su Ho to LET GO, thinking he had stopped her from leaving when it was just her shirt caught in the door. Or that time she sat on his shoulder. Omg, I busted my gut laughing. This girl, I'm telling you.

Admittedly, the comedy bordered on over the top at times, filled with antics and slapstick humor. But the truly funny, literally laugh-out-loud parts significantly outweighed the exaggerations, so I tolerated it. And even then, it didn't make me want to skip scenes.

This was certainly not a perfect drama. It started out refreshingly different but ended up predictable. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. So much happened in each episode that words would not do justice to convey how entertaining this show was. You'll miss out on all the fun if you're merely reading about it so just go watch it.

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Be prepared for onslaught of dopamine hits

As complex as time traveling stories can be, at the heart of it, Lovely Runner is a simple love story about two people whose journey to happiness together will fill romance lovers like me with deep satisfaction and delight. And as light as that story is, there is nothing shallow about the impact this drama had on me that I can only call it a phenomenon. Even for a seasoned drama watcher like me, it far exceeded my expectations of what a drama in the romantic comedy genre could deliver. There is just something about it that gets me right in the heart. So if your experience is anything like mine, be prepared for an onslaught of dopamine hits to the senses that will stay with you well beyond the initial watch.

At the start, we are introduced to a wheelchair bound Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) in the present time who has committed to living well despite her circumstances, thanks to words of encouragement from Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok), the lead singer of the popular band Eclipse. Though Sol is a loyal and dedicated fan, she is metaphorically light years away from Sun Jae, or so it seems.

Sun Jae has that aura of a superstar, but also sorrow and regret in the way he carries himself that is a mystery as to why at this point. Soon, we learn he has died from an apparent suicide, devastating Sol. This touch of melancholy was so strong that it took me some time to settle into the lightness of the story as Sol travels back in time and we reset to Sol and Sun Jae in high school, 15 years in the past. Sol realizes she can walk again and learns Sun Jae is actually her next door neighbor. Equipped with the wisdom of the future, she sets out to save him from his untimely death.

Sol has the cutest, most relatable reactions to seeing her high school friends again, and in particular, the guy she had a crush on, which is just hilarious. I think I would have had the same reaction seeing my old crushes again haha. It's also at this point that we truly get to know Sun Jae. No longer the elusive celebrity from the future, Sun Jae is an ordinary 19 year old athlete. Sol's sudden appearance and interest in his life has him completely flustered. And as you're thinking as a viewer how he must be processing all this when they're virtually strangers, you learn that he knew her before she did, and in fact, has the biggest, most adorable secret crush on her.

It is at this stage of the drama that I turned from merely watching to completely in love with the drama. The incredible chemistry of Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok is evident from the get-go. As Sol and Sun Jae, they filled me with laughter and happiness at each interaction. The scenes are gorgeously shot, capturing the youthful charm of the two leads. The framing of each pivotal moment is like a work of art that's unforgettable, turning the romance spectacular. The music further strengthens these scenes and all this makes for a lethal combination that triggers a flurry of emotions from me and had me grinning like a fool.

Sol tends to get herself into very awkward situations with Sun Jae that had me feeling second hand embarrassment, only to quickly turn into giggles over Sun Jae's reactions to her. It's like she's got him wrapped around her little fingers, no matter which timeline they're in. As the story progresses, we see that their lives are even more intertwined than we ever expected, and in some ways, tragic. As a result, there is a layer of sadness present throughout the drama that gives it depth in that respect.

I have to say the pacing of the story is great. The plot is segmented into four main timelines as Sol time travels back and forth. And this has the added benefit of giving us progression in the leads' relationship throughout the drama without the expense of turning the story dull in the later episodes, as it often happens with dramas of this format. The romance delivers early on to your satisfaction. But there is also plenty left to keep you happy. A highlight for me is the part in which Sol travels back to the present, now able to walk and has the funniest encounters with the celebrity Sun Jae. You can turn Sun Jae into the most popular star on the planet, but you can never take the dorkiness out of him. Furthermore, I love seeing how steadfast his love is for Sol, which is perfectly captured in the song Sonaki (Sudden Shower) that pulls at my heartstrings every time I listen to it. Sun Jae is one of the best male lead characters I have ever seen. You think you have found the best version of him, only for him to endear you with an even better version in each progressive timeline. There were so, so many wonderful moments to look back on, but those flying kisses he gave Sol will forever be ingrained in my mind xD.

I'll acknowledge at this juncture that if you're watching for the time traveling concept, you may be disappointed because that is simply the mechanism used to propel the main plot, which is this deep focus on the love story of Sol and Sun Jae from teenagers to adults. I honestly didn't think much in length on whether it all made sense. All I wanted was for the two of them to have a happy ending and I was willing to accept anything that can make that happen. And to that end, it delivered enough for me to be satisfied with the resolution of the time travel aspect.

Kim Hye Yoon is naturally charming as Sol. She is like a little ball of sunshine. Her character can be frustrating at times but I never disliked her and I think that's all thanks to how Kim Hye Yoon portrayed Sol. Whether she's being cute or crying her eyes out, Kim Hye Yoon does it so well that it just elevates the scene. As for Byeon Woo Seok, thanks to him as Sun Jae, the heroine's reality in time traveling turned into a dream for all the viewers. Tall, handsome, and a wonderful actor with an incredible voice, it's remarkable how long it has taken him to get to this point in his career. He deserves all the recognition and popularity that has followed him since the debut of the drama. I see him as an underdog who was given a once in a life time opportunity with this project and he superbly exceeded all expectations with his impressive performance as Sun Jae. The OST, which he extensively participated in, is outstanding as well; sweet, touching and soothing, just like him.

In my opinion, this drama epitomizes all the wonderful idiosyncratic things that make kdramas special in ways that has captured the hearts of many romance lovers like me. It has been a lengthy period of time since I've come across a kdrama with this much rewatch value. The entire drama is filled with so many heart tugging scenes with such moving soundtrack that they have me in a tight grip and I can't let go. The characters of Sol and Sun Jae will remain in my heart as fond memories for years to come.

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