This review may contain spoilers
"So Not Worth It" was the thing I needed the most right now
If you are searching for something fun and relaxing to watch - that's definitely the show for you! Tbh, the first episode didn't get me much but I decided to give it a try and I ain't sorry. The storyline was really good, I love how they focused on every character's backstory and told us more about how they spend their time outside uni. The acting was amazing, I'm so impressed by Youngjae, I will definitely watch his future dramas. Minnie's character was kinda cringe for me but that was the point of it i guess and she played it really well. The OST is chef's kiss and I will definitely rewatch it soon. I hope there will be a second season, I can't wait to see how Sam and Minnie's relationship will develop and ofc I can't wait to see more adorable scenes of Sewan and Jamie. ^-^Was this review helpful to you?
A Fun and Delightful Series That Will Likely Tickle Your Funny Bone!
First of all, I love the uniqueness of this series. Bringing in an international cast of actors and actresses, all of whom, quite obviously either live in Korea or are from Korea. I love how all of them (American, European, etc.) are fluent in Korean, giving the series a very authentic feel. All of the inflections and syntax and pronunciations sound dead-on to me! I guess I'd have to be fluent myself to notice any peculiarities or inconsistencies.The series is about a group of college students who are all from somewhere else (America, Australia, Trinidad, Thailand, Sweden, etc.) and living in the dorm for international students.
The stories are mostly episodic with stories lasting only one or two episodes with a few minor storylines carrying over into subsequent episodes.
Pretty much all of the performers are very good--to--excellent. Carson, Se-wan, and Hyun-Min are the strongest, in my opinion, with very good performances from Minnie, Youngjae (Sam), Terris, and Joakim (Hans). Shin Hyun-Seung (Jaime) is good but tends to come across as a bit wooden at times. You'll notice that most of the characters use the same name as the actor/actress.
We have fairly typical scenarios of college kids trying to navigate life, studies, and love. Sometimes, they fumble and trip over themselves and others, and sometimes, they find ways to be there for each other.
My only real "knock" against the show is that I wish they didn't use a laugh track. We don't need to know when to laugh. Most of the laughs are pretty obvious, and the show would be better without it. But, that's a minor thing which won't prevent me from watching.
All-in-all, this is a fun series. It's only 12 episodes long, but it's quite obvious that more seasons will be coming, which I will be looking forward to.
If you're looking for a short series that is fun, with likeable characters, that isn't too heavy or overloaded with melodrama, you'll enjoy this series!
Was this review helpful to you?
This show doesn't know if it wants to be a horse or a mule
It is rare to see foreigners in a k-drama. Even rarer for them to have major roles. This show is definitely ground breaking in that regard. However, it is also a bit of a two way bet as most of those actors are trying to be more Korean than the Korean actors. It was an odd feeling when you see them together all speaking (I assume near perfect Korean). Compounding this disorientation, the Korean students who were supposed to return after living aboard for years (hence why they are in the international dorm) showed little "foreignness". They hardly spoke a word of English and you can forget any slangs or idioms. So it is basically like watching an American school sit-com but in a Korean setting with a juxtaposition of faces but utterly Korean.Now that's out of the way, on with the show, I mean review. The plots of the show are simplistic. Slice of life with some odd ball side characters and running gags. Some storylines are fairly topical for a k-drama, love, money, fame, beauty standard, etc. It works most of the time if you are not expecting anything deep and meaningful. Plot developments are telegraphed well in advance, no horrible twists but there is a darker undertone which was not resolved by the end of this season. I do find the laughing track overused and largely pointless.
Overacting is pretty much to be expected in a sit-com setting and some times the actor's inexperience does show but they tried their best.
It is odd to say this but I felt that I would have enjoyed it more if it was allowed to be a true sit-com set in an international dormitory in Korea. Where foreign students behave like, well, foreign students. Suffering cultural shock, committing faux pas and mangling Korean idioms. I fully understand that it will be a fine line between cutting humour and racist undertone but comedy only works if your audience are not confused. Now it just felt like they had a foot in each camp and is straddling a pool of muddy water.
Was this review helpful to you?
So not worth it is not complex in its story or its characters, they're both basic but the show has some kind of charm. The fact that we have a bunch of foreigners speaking korean is quite refreshing. This show is very disney like, made me a little nostalgic. It has a bit of waikiki vibes in its humor. All around its enjoyable.
The osts and the bgm were are cute and I would definitely go back to some osts.
The fact that it is basic and has nothing special to it is the reason why it's gotten some points cut. Some scenes were lowkey annoying and dumb but nothing too bad.
It's a cute drama to binge watch in a day!
Was this review helpful to you?
very enjoyable show, easy watch!
han hyun min my love…<3 anyways this show is so diverse, the characters are very likeable (except for Hans I’m sorry omg). It honestly makes me wish I had a cool group of friends?I also loved seeing Minnie acting!! She’s honestly my absolute favorite as well. Idc if people thought it was cringe like yeah maybe some moments were but I ate up it up so…?? it’s honestly a comfort show, every episode something new and interesting happens. I also love the concept of it being a bunch of nice friends that are in an international dorm.
I really hope there’s a second season!
Was this review helpful to you?
A tasty snack of a show
It's unfair to judge this show against most of the other K-dramas. They're not from the same species despite speaking the same language and being set in the same locale. And objectively, there is not a long list of positive attributes that "So Not Worth It" has and many things that deserve criticism. It definitely struggles early to find its form. But it does find it and it's got enough warmth and character and laughs to make it worth the small investment to watch.Park Se Wan and Carson Allen acquit themselves nicely when given the opportunity to step to the front of the ensemble. None of the rest are given much chance to show much except for Shin Hyun Seung and he fails to deliver. The production does lean far too heavily on a laugh track. The show does deliver some genuinely worthy comedic moments but it's overshadowed by the hamfisted production.
It could have been better. It could have had more clever writing. It could have better production value. It could have better acting performances. It could have a brisker beginning. It made itself a big target that is easy to criticize and it deserves a modest amount of credit for doing so. But it still entertains and ultimately that is what matters. Enough to make it a recommendation with the qualifier that it's more like an easy bowl of microwave popcorn than a 7 course gourmet feast. In the right context, it works well enough.
Was this review helpful to you?
Always take note that this is a sitcom :)
The fake laughter in the background doesn't bother me anymore because I'm used to western comedy. Over-the-top and cringe-worthy acting is a certainty when it comes to this type of genre.Something many people overlooked about the show was how it showed the lives of many types of students. Here are a few examples: commuting for 5 hours since you live in the province but your university/school is in the city, working hard for the family because you're the only one they can count on, addiction to dramas, and more.
There are also some hilarious ones that happened organically, with the majority of them coming from Minnie! Her and Carson's characters are two of my favorites. Carson, on the other hand, is the mature one and she has a lot of sense!
I recommend watching this drama without any expectations and when all you want is a good chuckle and a short one.
Was this review helpful to you?
it more charming. I think the only problem was that the episodes were a bit short but apart from that it was very enjoyable. And it covred a wide range of things so it was nice. I hope there is another season but i also hope there isn't. It ended on a perfect note. The insider jokes were funny and it might not be everyone who gets it but all in all, it was a pretty good watch. It isnt heavy at all and a good laugh.
Was this review helpful to you?
One of the most rewatchable shows
So this is my first foreign sitcom and it did not disappoint I loved it start to finish especially Hyun-Min's character. The show has great diversity in the characters origins and lifestyles but they all come together and it makes for some very funny situations.While my favourites are Hyun-Min, Jamie and Minnie I love them all aside from Hans, now don't get me wrong Hans is a well written and decently developed character however I find him irritating.
No spoilers but the finale broke my heart and I can't wait for a follow-up season. Season 2 is supposed to release in June of 2023
Was this review helpful to you?
What I hated the most was the laugh track. I understand it's a sitcom but they put the laugh track to the most boring and unfunny situations, I had to cringe.
But if you want a light, short, somewhat cute, and fresh tv show to watch, I think it's worth giving a try, though one cannot have high expectations when going for this show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not Good Enough
Korean Drama "So Not Worth It" is a decent try to create an American sitcom with a Korean setting and an international cast.However, where it fails it's at the comedy element. The story was not funny and the jokes were lukewarm. However, there was a happy, energetic feeling to it, and the friendship part was pretty interesting. The romance, on the other hand, was predictable and, even though the main one was cute, the other ones were not that great. The ending, in addition, was open.
Finally, some of the performances were pretty good, others got better as the series progressed.
So, overall, 4.5 out of 10.
Was this review helpful to you?
Just a fun light-hearted watch, Kind of Worth It for me
After falling deep in the world of Reply 1988, So Not Worth It is a nice palate cleanser if I would say although I'd rather have the literal title for this 'I Wish The World Get Fxxxed Tomorrow.'Overall, this was a unique watch. I haven't heard of that many Korean sitcom and this one works. It's not really perfect nor it has like an extraordinary story but I guess the simplicity of show makes it charming for me. I love seeing and hearing foreigners speaking Korean like a real Korean. It's so impressive. But the real catcher for me is how all the characters has a bit of 'craziness' in them. I would just love to watch their daily life interacting with each other. It's quite funny for me and some scenes are a little bit cringey.
Not a big fan of the lovelines though. One scene did give me butterflies but after that, the lovelines became corny. But I still liked it overall. Sitcoms for me are all about out of this world scenarios. It's so crazy that it becomes funny.
To be honest, I kind of wanted more episodes. 12 episodes are a bit short for me. Not all may agree but I kinda want a second season. It's not that long and it's funny so I guess it's worth it after all.
Was this review helpful to you?
