I knew from the first episode this show probably was not for me. I kept watching because 'secret longing' is a favorite character trope of mine, and if this show had a defining theme it's 'secret longing.'
But, even all the yearning and pained glances, couldn't keep me watching this. The conflicts are highly typical from the school portion: 'failure to communicate' 'absentee parents' and 'being looked down for being poor' and the adult portion: 'failure to communicate' 'insecurities and jealousies regarding failure/success.'
There's a lot of nostalgia for their school years that feels unearned. Indeed the flashbacks pick moments from all five years of their relationship and yet don't show any relationship development. No stray touches or being able to communicate in an easier way; there's no sense that the relationship was ever lived in.
A five year 'everyday relationship' is more than studying and a few school pranks and awkward and stilted interactions. But that's all we got in five hours, five hours is double the length of a movie!
Perhaps for some, the warm familiarity and predictability paired with better budget and cinematography is enough. For me, it felt too much like drifting without a compass.
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This review may contain spoilers
What is so special in this story?
The idea of the drama is interesting, I managed to see the first 4 episodes, but, psychologically speaking, I saw an immature love, broken by the selfishness of the main heroine and the masochism of the main hero. Why the Korean public considered love in Nevertheless toxic, and here they feel butterflies in their stomachs, remains a mystery to me. She shows selfishness, expects to receive love without giving more than rarely, and he confuses attachment with love.The actors are good, nothing more to say.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Good:⌲ The documentary concept
⌲ The sequencing of the major plot points (first half is more melo, the second half more romcom)
⌲ The docu flashback scenes are the best.
⌲ The romance, mostly (It's way more magical in Hogu's Love)
⌲ The chemistry between the two leads
⌲ The brilliant acting (If ML did variety, he could dethrone YJS in a few weeks & the FL is also incredible)
⌲ FL's cute chubby face
⌲ The bickering
⌲ The weak love triangles
⌲ The last 5 minutes of the drama (Had they spent 1-2 episodes on that 3rd documentary, I would have given the drama a 10/10 rating for sure, flaws be damned.)
⌲ The mild melancholia
⌲ The visuals
⌲ Despite all the stupid foreshadowing the leads stay together after they start dating again.
⌲ The rewatch value should be excellent with some FW buttoning.
⌲ The low key good OST
The Neutral:
⌲ NJ (I'm suspecting the actress was portraying Sulli & that made me quite sad)
⌲ Let's be friends! (Horrible plot device, but the ensuing romcom moments were good)
⌲ There were some well acted, but underutilized supporting characters.
The Bad:
⌲ The writing is not coherent, this is especially obvious if binge watching. (yay live filming)
⌲ The reasons for the initial breakup (I would have accepted "pride", but they just had to put a noble reason spin on it)
⌲ The second ML's character feels misplaced & pointless. (Could have FW buttoned all his scenes for more enjoyment)
⌲ The last 3-4 episodes were sullied by the entire "French Architect School" plot. (Woong of all people is such a genius that he has become an architect/engineer in 2-3 years and then he went back to Korea to continue drawing for galleries and whatnot)
⌲ The story drags in the middle. (The writer pulled the breaks on romantic progress in jarring ways, because 16 episodes..)
⌲ The final episode is weak, sans the last 5 minutes. (It's not ruining anything, it's just whelming)
⌲ The audio quality is trash, don't bother with those planar headphones! (were all microphones bought at the 1$ store, then again even some of the songs sound horrifyingly low-fi, while some others are excellent)
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I strongly recommend watching https://youtu.be/yxGomiIUN8s AFTER you are done with the drama. (it's only 2 minutes long)
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Very sweet, very funny, and VERY SMART
This Drama was superb. Laugh out loud in so many places, but with real heart too. Most importantly, it was intelligent. Everything that happened made sense in its world. Characters behaved in ways that were credible for them, noone said or did anything stupidly out of character and there were no facepalm moments when the Drama caved to tropes to the lasting detriment of the show.The acting was as good as the writing. As much as I loved the leads, and the always excellent Park Jin Joo, I think the character/actor pairing that best encapsulated what made this such a remarkable show was Roh Jeong Eui's NJ. The character was fascinating, not at all a typical 2FL, and not a typical idol character either. Ms Roh delivered her part superbly, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her in future.
The intelligence of the writing was also shown by the way it kept me guessing about the ending right into the final episode. Not only was it not clear how it would end, what was even more remarkable was that HOWEVER it ended, the ending would have felt right. I would not have felt cheated, frustrated or disappointed by whatever end transpired. Bravissimo!
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SO GOOD
this drama definitely raised my drama standards. I love how chill it was, yet dramatic and suspenseful. it had a nostalgic vibe which I love, and the plot was very entertaining and even though it was serious at points, there was still a lot of comedy and banter scattered through the show which made it even more enjoyable. the actors played the parts perfectly and had lots of chemistry. they were funny to watch which you don’t see much anymore! this drama is one of my all time favorites I 1000% recommend it!Was this review helpful to you?
This is such a feel good drama
I don't know why, but this is my all time feel good drama, that I want to watch when I'm sick,sad,tired or in need of something to lighten me up! I love this, I love story and the flow of it and all the characters in it ❤ no annoying parents, who always stick their nose into their childrens business, no unecasserary love triangle (there's a slight one, but it doesn't bother you most of the time ) Iwatch it , when ever there's nothing else to stream and I never get bored of it! So much love for all the actors and the story, they're telling!Was this review helpful to you?
Our Beloved Summer
Just finished watch this Drama for the 3rd time. It´s so beautiful , one of the best for sure !! Main couple with wonderfull chemistry, lots of good suporting actors/actresses , beautifull OST soudtrack and photogaphy.The way the Drama takes care of the subject "love" it´s real and well done
The way the jump 10 years in time it´s very well done too. In both period of time tha interest of the story keeps the same good level.
Kim Da Mi is a top actress any part of the world. Choi Wook Shik it´s the perfect mate and wins a lot playing role with her (like in "The Witch")
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Just amazing
Very beautiful drama. One of my best rom/com dramas. There is love, hate, friendship, romance, everything. Such a great drama.I don't remember how I stumbled onto this drama but I am really happy that I found this drama.
The actors are great, very talented and the characters suit them very well.
if you are like me who enjoys rom/com dramas a lot then I highly recommend this drama to you. This drama fits really well in the rom-com genre. I would actually put this drama in the list of top 5 best rom-com k-dramas of all time.
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this drama is so pretty!
eveeeerything about this drama is so beautiful, honestly. it’s well-written, amazing soundtracks/osts, great casting and acting, wonderful scenery !!!<3 && our beloved summer proved to us that gentle, soft, and calm men are so attractive. they make you feel secured and reassured. they aren't boring and they’re usually deep and just by talking them eases all your internal worries! their aura overall just screams peace and comfort. huh i love kook yeonsu & choi ung sm! ???our beloved summer will always have a special place in my heart
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A drama that tugs at your heartstrings
Our Beloved Summer chronicles the two lives of Choi Woong and Kook Yeon Soo as they meet in high school while filming a documentary, fall in love and then meet again 10 years later post a painful breakup and after having no contact for 5 years. The story alternates between present day and the past as you find out what happened between them and as there are new developments in their relationship in present day.While it is a romance drama, the show also really dived into both of their individual lives and what made the characters who they were... their upbringing, their family, the way that they present themselves to the world and how that was a result of their history. It's definitely an emotional show and I feel like I cried a lot but you do really get to know the characters and they all grow so much.
I liked the friendship between the two "Woongs" and it was so heartwarming seeing how Choi Woong welcomed Ji Woong into his family and pretty much gave him a home. I was NOT expecting the big plot twist / reveal near the end but my boyfriend predicted it so maybe I'm just not good at picking up subtle hints. Regardless I feel like the writers / director were very clever with how they chose to reveal things and with the flow of the show.
Even before I watched the show, I listened to Christmas Tree by V because it was so popular and it really did fit the show so well. Beloved Summer has probably one of the best OSTs I can recall in recent shows that I've watched.
I also liked NJ's character a lot. She was really fun and I looked forward to her scenes and how they added to the story. I also like that she was a decent person, despite being the second female lead and she didn't do anything shady.
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Overrated Show
I watched it & finished it without liking the main leads(judge me as I have to have feelings for the oppa before the FL iykwim), much of the plot & loving the OST the most. I didn't go back to it so it's an overrated drama with nothing much memorable to go back to. Maybe it's just me but I don't rate it highly.OST & cinematography of this show is absolutely beautiful, more than the story itself.
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One time watch & it's Internet that's made it cult classic kind of show.
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