A healing drama is just like a donkey . . . I mean onion

On the surface it is a short, slow burn romance with low angst. We need to peel back some layers to find the deeper meanings.
The ML is a tortured soul whose near perfect world collapsed in short order due to his gradual loss of hearing. He doesn’t know how to deal with it, so he became withdrawn and pushed everyone away. He tried to join the deaf community but finds that he is still on the outer because he was not born deaf. He came to the sad conclusion that EVERYONE sees him as being different and there is nowhere he truly belongs.

I believe that one of the motifs of the Show is how society divide people based on many assumed and perceived criteria into different groupings. Both real and invisible barriers are here to segregate and isolate them into smaller cliques.

Our need to belong creates pressure points in our social interactions. It can be exhausting and debasing when we run into unyielding barriers. How horrible it is when you are yanked from a comfortable reality into a new one where you are confused and lost.

It was fortuitous that the ML met a kind deaf girl. She befriended him and helped him to learn the sign language. It is not acceptance but at least he can function again. Their relationship is ambiguous. The girl is clearly interested in him, but he is afraid of commitment and shows no inclination to take their relationship to the next level. The girl is happy to stay in the friend zone as she has him all to herself. However, all that changed when the ML's ex-girlfriend ran into him by accident and started a chain reaction that changes several lives.

For me, the Show is a beautifully crafted story about rediscovering love, friendship, sacrifice and the need to compromise. I don’t want to give away the plots regarding the SML and SFL but let's just say that I'm getting serious second leads syndromes by the end of the Show.

From my perspective, the first half of the Show is very well done. There are lots of backstories, raw emotions and misunderstanding before the fateful reunion. The show took its time to explore all this. It was never going to be a joyride but the writer-san skilfully weave the story back and fore along the timeline so that we know how each character arrives at their current circumstances. There were plenty of broken psyche that needs healing. They get patched up enough to keep functioning but not completely healed. The amount of baggage carried by the ensemble cast will keep a caravan of camels fully loaded.

Unfortunately, while the Show start to untie the knots and salve the troubled souls in the second half, it is a slow process. The pacing of the show becomes almost meditative.

The healing and exploring requires a lot of dialogues between the OTP and sometimes side characters. I think the writer-san wants to show how difficult communication can be even though it is based on a common language. We ended up with a mix of sign language, written words, phone apps and normal conversations. It can be slow going as the ML has to keep the signing slow and simple so that the FL can keep up. It is like watching two primary school kids trying to communicate. They do resort to writing sentences on paper when it got too complicated.

In the end, the bulk of the breakthrough came in the last episode. All the affirmations and compromises are nutted out then. Some of the best scenes are also found there.

The FL worked hard to live in his world and she cajoled the ML into compromising his unyielding stand. It is a fragile middle ground but one they can call their own.

The acting is great with a lot of depth. Without spoken words, they need to emote with their facial expression, posture and their eyes. That requires real skills.

The loveline of the OTP is sweet-bitter-sweet. It is ashame that there is almost no skinship.

I can recommend this show but you have to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it.

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There is no escape from the mundane

I'm a bit late to this party as I binged the whole series a few months ago and I was a little OD on the characters when this special came out.

I finally got around to watch it and it is nice but it lacked the original's freshness. The quirky relationship of the leads have mellowed into domesticity. They still have this partnership arrangement but is now more relaxed and accommodating. The growth is nice to see but this is dramaland so it can't be all smooth sailing.

To stir things up we are going to have a baby! Hooray! Cue all the tropey stressors and complications that goes with a pregnancy. It ticked all the boxes and they covered a lot of work and societal issues but it wasn't anything new nor particularly egregious. Most are bullet points that are instantly recognisable. There are few hard and fast answers as their options are limited.

The addition of the covid lockdown was topical. It is done with a light touch as none of their family nor friends got sick so the Show mostly dealt with the initial shock, prolonged isolation and longing as the whole country went through a painful period of apprehension and uncertainty.

The acting is par for the course with few surprises.

The Show is largely fan service and a satisfying watch for their fanbase. We got more antics from the leads and their friends with minor updates. For some, this is perfection. However, with only two hours to play with, there are a lot of assumed knowledge about the backstories of the ensemble cast. If you haven't seen the first series then you should start there or it will be quite baffling.

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A dodgy script is also a crime

The first few episodes are tracking fine as far as a tropey romance/melodrama goes. Affairs, crushes and a complex web of lies are on full display.

I have a feeling that the Show is banking on the visuals and chemistry between the leads to hook the viewers. It would have worked ok if they give the leads room to grow and the plot to develop some complexity. Unfortunately, it took a different turn and wasted a lot of potentials and time.

Problem stems from the Show’s decision to replay multiple scenes from different characters’ POV. This means instead of moving forwards, we went back and forth extensively for several episodes, replaying scenes from a slightly different angle or composition and sometimes adding a bit of inner monologue. Time and again, we are presented with pieces of information that we already know while other times, the information is actually contradictory.

This extends to other characters watching each other watching the leads so it is like a relay race without ends. I can accept it if it is a major revelation, but it is mostly along the line of “you like her but not me”, “she like him but not you”. We get it . . . we get it the first time.

It is also a surprise to see a 2019 show that objectifies female characters to such a degree. They are seen as objects of desire and targets for seduction. There are not a lot of rules, married woman, co-workers, anything goes. The flip side is that the female characters are willing to do anything in the name of “love”. Love in this case is a loose term. It is more like a hunger for attention and affection rather than the classic definition of love. Of course, the Show will tell us true love is most important but it also throws shade at itself. The Show is not short of mixed and contrary messages.

The logic behind the ML’s action is quite obtuse. He loves someone who is married to a man who is having an affair. He wants his crush to be happy so he steals the man’s mistress, not necessarily for revenge (it is a source of some confusion), but so that the man will go back to his wife and live HEA. What? How? If the husband have had one love affair, he can have three. Not to mention what is the ML going to do with that woman he just seduced. The plot didn't thicken, it congealed.

In the end, the Show is “saved” by the happy endings. It is hardly a surprise as the Show has no where else to go.
Acting is ok. There is quite a bit of skinship and more than the usual quota of bed scenes. Some are replayed several times for our titillation.

The repetitive nature of this Show means that only about 50% are truly original content. So if we were to extrapolate this to its logical conclusion then the Show would have worked much better if it is only half its current length. That works for me. Peace out.

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Tangled web of subplots with bonus bait and switch

This is not a bad show but it could have been better.

From advertising to the opening sequence and during the first couple of episodes, Kim Sejeong was the focus and it was assumed that the show is her starrer. However, once she join the webtoon department, her role faded into the background and she was just a rookie in a small struggling team. A lot of her "jobs" are quite mundane and largely involve putting out spot fires involving webtoon artists. We do see her growth but other aspect of the storyline suck the oxygen from her narrative.

This is a natural segue because the collection of artists are actually a lot more interesting than the FL. They are a diverse bunch but some are neurotic prima donnas. The Show does try to shine a light on how much hard work is involved in the creative process and the constant grind just to meet the deadline which I appreciate.

So rather than the show focusing on the FL, it is really an ensemble show with the plot switching from office politics to dramas with the talents and then occasionally we get a bit of the FL's backstory. That would have worked ok but some of the narratives involving the artists are tropey and flow oddly. One particular subplot involving a young male artist was very impactful and troubling but the Show whitewash the issues in the end. That was disappointing and feels like a cop out. Other times the subplot would end abruptly only to have the character pop up again several episodes later involved in a different subplot. It all sort of pulls together towards the end but it does make the show feel scatty.

A relevant but minor issue is a lack of romance. This show is definitely made for it. There are multiple possible pairings but nothing concrete happens. There are some side-eyes and meaningful looks but everything is literally left unsaid. Even the "confession that has to happen" is last minute and unanswered. I'm not saying that all shows need to include love lines but this show tease us constantly and delivers very little.

Acting wise, it is generally decent. The more experience actors anchored the Show but some of the roles are tropey and one dimensional. Even unto the end, I'm not a 100% clear on the efficacy of the male and female leads. Yes, KSJ is technically the FL but her role is marginalised and lacks depth. She laughs and cries on cue but she is hardly the focal point. Ditto the 2 male actors who can be considered ML's but doesn't seem to want the job either. LoL

Now that I have finished the show, I can actually say that it is watchable but I would have enjoyed it more if the show was more upfront about its genre and composition rather than try to capitalise on the popularity of KSJ.

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A do-over done right

The first few episodes hint at nothing other than a typical office romance with the usual difficult boss (ML) and a suffering female assistant (FL). There is more hate than love and they are very combative. The FL was in a bad place both in her career as well as relationship fronts. Nothing cute nor sweet. Fairly standard stuff so far.

I’m glad that I hang in there until she has the accident and ended up in a coma. When she woke up, she is 18 again and back in law school with all the old classmates including the ML. Henceforth, the tone and feel of the show changed completely. It is now a fun, sweet rom-com and really uplifting. That change surprised me in a good way. Do-overs can get good but often it is just a one trick pony aka the ML wins the FL, again.

To the contrary, it is the FL who took charge of her “new” life and set about righting wrongs and starts to see things from a different perspective. In so doing, she archived a lot of growth, closures and changed the lives of those around her for the better.

Her (do-over) romance with the true ML was so sweet! The ML was the nicest guy and supported her 100% from the start but she misunderstood him in the real past and picked the wrong guy.

Of course, there are angsts and setbacks, but the writer handled them with a deft hand and gave each dark cloud a silver lining. Events are cross-referenced between the two realities. She could influence some key events but not all. Overall, her time in the dream-world is the most engaging and coherent do-over plot I have seen for a long time so kudos to our writer.

After she woke up from the coma, the show is still good, but the shady business subplot started to turn nasty. In fact, how that plotline is concluded is a bit contrived and overly dramatic. The scenes with the luxury cruiser and cars felt tagged on. It is a misstep in an otherwise coherent and well written script.

In terms of acting, there are the odd misfires amongst the big cast but the actors in key roles are all solid. I’m particularly impressed by the FL. She usually plays a bubbly/feisty girl, but it can get samey. She is still in a familiar role, but her acting seems better, more nuanced. There is no doubt that she is the main lead here. I also like the FL’s father. He really embodied a father’s love for his family. The ML did well but played second fiddle for a change. The 2OTP is a cute couple but interestingly, their love line in the dream-world was more organic and relatable than their real-world counterpart.

I started watching this show expecting very little, but I am pleasantly surprised. I’d have score it higher except for a few odd plot issues towards the end. I’ll have no problem re-watching most of it. BTW, don’t miss the epilogue after the final credit. It is sooo sweet! :) Enjoy!

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Is that a damsel in distress?! No, it is Super Damsel™!!

I started watching this show quite by accident and it was an "interesting" experience. ;)
Surprisingly, the Show’s timeline was not the usual “sometime during Joseon” but is pinpointed quite precisely. It was set several years after the end of the Qing Korean War which is dated to1636. However, a good deal of the show is subversive of the ideals of the day and this is not your typical sageuk.
The cornerstone of the show is the character played by the FL. She may be small in stature, but she gives off a big aura with her personality and attitude, she is definitely a force to be reckon with. To compliment her is a noble scholar that is about as righteous as you can get but he is not cold and heartless. In fact, his heart was quickly captured by the unique qualities of the FL. I’m quite happy with this pairing, not only because of their nice chemistry but also it allows them to be partners and not just the usual ditzy FL clinging onto the strong arm of the ML. The intelligence of the FL does come to the fore and gives the ML a run for his money. In fact, this show is quite female centric with strong female characters forming the nucleus of several subplots.
In terms of acting, it is good from most quarters. Some roles are a bit over-the-top, but the actors put in the efforts, and it shows. I’m particularly pleased with Kim Hye Yoon. She is a dynamo with an infectious smile. It was also good to see Ok Taec Yeon in a nice, good guy role where he can do some comedy as well as playing it straight. One surprise is the “illegitimate” son of the main antagonist. This character seemed straightforward at the beginning but grew more complex as the show progressed. Lee Jae Kyoon portraited him well and gave the character depth.
Now we must address the elephant in the room, historical accuracy. If you are a sageuk aficionado, then give this show a miss. This show is all over the place when it comes to history and its interpretations. The core premise might be based on an actual historical event, but the Show just ran hard and fast with a lot of plot ideas, and it can border on irreverent at times.
Another issue is the tone of the show. It really can turn on a dime. One minute we are watching slapstick comedy and then without much preamble we are in the midst of tortures and murders. It can be disconcerting when you are not really sure if the Show wants to be a light-hearted romcom or a serious drama.
There is also more than a passing nod to spaghetti western movies with both its OST and some set pieces. I dare say to really enjoy this show you must firmly affix the rose-coloured glasses and stop worrying about plot holes and questionable storylines. Yes, it is a hot mess of storytelling at times but you cannot deny that it is also swoon-y, cheeky and entertaining so caveat emptor.

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A wuxia drama that ticked all the boxes

Obviously, a bold statement like that comes with caveats. This drama works because it is so short. In total length, it is the equivalent of an extra long movie or a very short drama series. It is chopped up into bite sized pieces for easy consumption. While some short form web dramas stick to a fixed episode duration, this show is more flexible and is designed to finish each episode logically and sometimes even with a mini cliff-hanger. Similarly, such short dramas tend to be cheaply and quickly made for obvious reasons. However, this show didn’t feel overly cheap. It used a lot of existing assets so that it can still look lush without having a huge overhead. Its short run helps when you can literally shoot the same house/streetscape from different angles and time of day to make it look like a much larger set has been used without being repetitive. That takes clever planning, cinematography and direction.

The story is straight out of the classic Book of Plots. It is as tropey as any wuxia drama can be, but the Show distilled it down to the bits that people love about this genre, but do away with the excess baggage. There is nothing new about the plot nor the characterisation, but they are done well.

Being a wuxia romance, I can’t fault their take on the two key elements. There are some decent fight scenes that are cinematic and well choreographed. The two main leads have great chemistry and there is a decent amount of skinship including several passionate kisses. The 2OTP was a little contrived but they are a cute and innocent couple. It was a pleasure to see the push-pull of the 1OTP over and done with in 5 minutes instead of being dragged out for hours. Huzzah!

Another aspect that surprised me was the amount of comedy in the show. There are actual laugh out loud moments. Yes, they are clichés, but they ain’t forced nor laboured. I also appreciate that the plot is logical (within the realms of a wuxia playbook) and it flowed smoothly. Just when you expected something to happen with the plot, it happens. They even have time for some sweet CP moments which gave nuance to their relationship which can be lacking in dramas that are much longer. Like I said, this drama really know how to tick all the boxes.

In terms of acting, the cast did well. There are no big-name actors on the roster but there was energy and commitment from the cast. The 2 main leads were particularly well suited to their roles, and they have their moments. By keeping the cast small, there is time for some the support roles to shine as well.

From my perspective, there are two things that can be improved. Firstly, the ending was nice but lacked impact. I would have like to see the two leads fight as a team to take down the antagonist. The ending is also a bit wishy-washy as if the Show wanted to leave it open for a sequel (yes, please!). Secondly, the English sub was bad. At times it read like auto generated dross (which it probably is). Occasionally, it is completely out of sync.

There is no point in comparing this show to a classic wuxia drama from the "golden era" but it certainly held its own against some turnkey productions. For a quick wuxia fix, you can do worse.

OST was nice and appropriate. I can certainly rewatch this show without hesitation.

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A good, tight rom-com that wears its heart on its sleeve

The central plot of the show is the usual beautiful but feisty lady being drawn into a contract marriage with the handsome ML. No surprises that the CP fell in love and the tale as old as time gets another retelling. It helps that the chemistry between the leads is very good.

The ML is not a heartless ice god but a true gentleman. He tried his best to be respectful to the FL and did not play any demeaning tricks on her. How refreshing! On the other hand, the FL was just a ball of energy, and she is a sweet, kind soul that will go out of her way to help others even though she has little to give. Her heart is big and full of love. It is this love that the ML needed as he was brought up feeling abandoned. Everyone she touches is affected by her.

To be honest, it is just as well that this show has a lot of hearts because it is tropey and derivative, but you want to cut it some slack. It is sweet without being too artificial. You can't expect harsh reality in a show like this but It doesn't sugar coat everything. Life is tough but there is always hope if you have a big heart.

While the show started as a rom-com that was big on comedy. It did changed style as the show progressed (don't forget this show is only 8 x 45 mins long). It lean towards melodrama for a stretch and then romance became the focus. This means the pacing is quite fast and plots are deftly handled without the usual long strolls down garden paths. Some emotional subplots were dealt with firmly rather than left to fester as a result. This, in general, is a good thing but there are times when you wish some plots were explored a bit more. The same goes for the ending. there was no surprise there (hint, hint) but it felt underdone.

In terms of acting, the leads are good looking, solid actors. The support cast are fine, some are veteran actors and their experience showed. The younger set has room to improve but they played their roles with gusto. OST is nice, romantic and not overused. Rewatch is there as a quick filler while you wait for the next blockbuster. 8 episodes is an easy binge.

In the end, Hello, Heart is a good, solid show that will make you smile and feel a bit sentimental at times. It will warm the cockles of your heart. There are some angst, but nothing that will cause you to facepalm. Plots are logical (mostly), progress and resolutions are usually an episode away. It has the quality of a show twice as long. I can recommend this show to any romantic at heart.

P.S. I did it! I mentioned "heart" 8 times to match its score. :D

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I wish my brain cells are that cute

Yumi's Cells tells a fairly typical modern romance of two people from different walks of life. They met by chance, fell in love, experienced all aspects of a serious relationship, reach a critical juncture and had to make the tough decision to either push through or allow their love to wane. The inclusion of the animated cells added a new facet to the story telling and gave it a multi-dimensional aspect beyond the typical inner monologue. Without the dramas within the cell villages, the story would be engaging but hardly original.

Lucky for us, the complete package was a refreshing take of the old chestnut and the emotional ups and downs were amplified and bought to a sharp focus by the cells' dialogue and machinations. It was really funny to see how the writer-nim translated the characters' thought process into 'anime-action' of the various cells and their interactions. However, whilst this type of segue was a fun and welcome diversion in the early part of the show, later on when some serious decisions had to be made, the cut to the cells can feel jarring and break the tension. It is hard to relate the urgency of the decision to a cutscene full of cute toons even though they were agonising over the same point. This is particularly true for Woong's thought process. The cold AI overlay subsumed the more human side of his character which was much more prevalent earlier on. The mechanical deliberation also made his thought process seemed slow and ponderous. Quite unlike the impulsive Woong we loved. Let's face it, who can forget the out of control Naughtysaurus!

Having said that, it was interesting that in the last episode, the show introduced the face card motif whereby everyone is walking around with an imaginary game card on their forehead which showed their motivation or intention at any given moment. Of course, that also made possible the direct translation of phases like 'keeping your card close to your chest' or 'lay down your card'. It allowed a glimpse into other peoples desire and motivations but it is not as innovative as the animated cell village. Is that a cost cutting move or just exploring options for S2?

As I mentioned before, the core relationship of the OTP was not overly dramatic. It followed a fairly well worn path. When they arrived at the critical juncture, the ML stumbled (there were warning signs) and it started the downward spiral. It could have been saved but several opportunities were missed or mishandled. Both Woong's pride and Yumi's insecurities played key roles in putting pressure on their relationship. Coupled with Woong's stress over his failing start-up, it was hard to see a happy ending. It might be salvageable if both parties opened up and talk through the issues but they became more withdrawn and compounded their problems. It led to a sad outcome but it is not an unrealistic portrayal of a modern relationship. Everyday pressures have to be dealt with. Dancing around issues will not magic them away.

I suppose we have been conditioned to expect rom-coms to have a happy ending but in this case, writer-nim gave us a dose of reality and I respect and appreciate that. Bring on Season 2. I will not take a smooth ride for granted ever again, at least for this show.

In terms of acting, I can't fault the main casts. They drew us into their world and shared their lives with us. It was heartbreaking when they were in despair but equally joyful when they were basking in glorious bliss. Support cast did their job well but most were one dimensional.

OST was good and had a broad range from happy tunes to soulful ballads.

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Soak up the atmosphere and breath

It is a lovely, well made drama but it has issues. The mood is generally mellow, slow and contemplative. The acting all round is good and some stands out more than others. While the OTP is lovely together and Park Min Young can just stand still and be beautiful anytime and I won't complain, it is a slow burn. There was almost more chemistry with the 2nd OTP and they certainly had more fun with them. ML's sister is a scene stealer. I do wish they let her develop a bit more. Now on to the elephant in the room . . . Like so many k-dramas, they have to add a dark twist or two. Unfortunately, it was telegraphed very early in the show but the writer insisted on recounting the events again and again but with a slight change of angle or a bit more voice over or an added scene. I suppose the idea is to reveal the "true" event over time as you get deeper into the story but there are no surprises so the recounts just feels draggy. I'm glad that they did wrap up the story nicely so you do feel satisfied. It is well worth the watch but you have to be in the right mood.

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10/10 for the OTP and nothing for the pitiful brother

Oh, what a Jackal and Hyde of a show. I loved the developing love story of the OTP. It is one of the sweetest and most adorable love story of older characters I have seen in c-dramas. It was refreshing to see both leads being highly skilled and highly paid individuals, no power play here, thank you very much. I would ship them any day and once they confessed (swoon!), it is just so satisfying to watch them being loving, steadfast and understanding. Their support for each other should be a model for any relationships.
On the other hand, the family drama was just too much (maybe it was realistic but it was very tiring). We are talking about 2.5 dysfunctional families and it made merry hell with the lives of the two main leads. The antagonist was the FL's younger brother. When I was thinking of words to describe him, I came up with useless, needy, pitiful, bully, scheming, douchebag and many more. I think you get the idea. The problem then spread to the 2OTP which was the brother and his girlfriend. If he wasn't such an annoying character, that romance would have been quite sweet too. Unfortunately, his actions and behaviours just tainted everything he touched. The 2FL actually had the insights to call him out on several occasions but his father and the 2FL's father both enabled him and it went on for far too long.
This leisurely pacing was problematic. The show is 44 (or 46) episodes long and some of the main plots went on for many episodes. The annoying brother subplot started in ep.1 and lasted over 36 episodes. I ended up doing my own director's cut by skipping a lot of the scene involving him. It would have been ok if the subplots were more original. Alas, we had the whole cliché collection, meddling mother, stubborn/unthinking father, femme fatale, get-rich-quick schemes, love triangles and more. They were all standard tropes with their intentions telegraphed well in advance. The show wasn't exactly draggy but it just weave all these plots around each other and strolled down several garden paths.
There was little doubt that we will get happy endings, this is a morality tale after all. The last few episodes were largely fan service and tied everything up (mostly with pink bows). Lots of resolutions, reflections, apologies, tears and hugs. Here I didn't mind the slower pacing and I gave the show extra marks for that. The last half of the final episode was very jingoistic and your mileage will differ depending on your personal view on that.
Acting was superb on most fronts. They have to act well for you to really dislike their characters and they did just that. It was no picnic watching those scenes and there were many inward groans but you have to give credits where they are due. There were lots of character growth as well. A little scripted at times but growth nevertheless.
OST was fine. Quite like the end credit song. Rewatch value is good but I would do my own cut again.

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Pride and Prejudice (and Zombified plots)

Oh how I wanted to like this show. It started off strong, a bit whacky and over the top but had a certain je ne sais quoi. It started the fourth wall breaking from ep.1 which suggested some fun, insightful touches. There were definitely some funny moments in the early part (the hypnosis scene was a classic). There was little fluff though. It had very adult themes and the unicorns were locked in their stables most of the time. This is definitely a melodrama but with funny moments. The production value appear to be high as well. Main characters are well dressed, dare we say, stylish. No cheap set to be seen, hooray!

The main actors were good looking, especially the ML. The OTP had good chemistry and appropriate skinship. There is no mistaking the relationship between the FL (Cai Huan Zhen) and the 2FL (Hao Sheng Nan). They were the worst frenemies. They were always catty to each other and tried to one-up each other at every opportunity. We soon find out that they were the best of friends in senior high school but during their college years, they became the worst enemies because of some misunderstanding over a male college senior.

That's ok, a bit tropey but dramaland is built upon such tropes. The problem in this case is that there were just so many misunderstandings, lies, manipulations and failure to communicate that it was wearisome within the first few episodes. The show kept telling us that this was all due to their pride and inability to admit their mistakes. Fair enough, I agree that that can be a problem in real life too but this show suffered from a plague of this affliction. All I can think of when they finally got to the pivotal wedding scene at the end of ep.2 was "this is not going to end well".

Due to this heavy handedness, I began to dislike many of the characters very early on. All we saw were their nasty behaviours and how they tortured themselves as well as people around them. That is a bad thing. A drama need protagonists as well as antagonists. When you don't really care about the main characters, you lost the key motivation to keep watching the show. It is a fine line when a show can be seen as draggy. In all honesty, I was sorely tempted to drop the show at several points along the way but I hanged in there because the show did have its moments but it was a close call at times.

Things do improve about mid point. The OTP was reasonably stable after they managed to communicate more openly (after many frustrating failed attempts and bucket of tears) and even had some sweet moments. Then they introduced the 2ML (Jiang Qian Yue aka THE college senior). OMG, I'm sorry but he was a completely douchebag. His older brother was even worse. The plot went for a swim in the muddy pool of sleazy tropes with them. Of course that took the OTP off the rails and down a cliff but unlike most dramas, where the 2/3OTP would step up and lighten the mood or at least distract us. We just have more angst and bad behaviours from all involved. The problem is that the 2FL and the 2ML pairing just didn't gel (unless it was another dastardly plot twist), I cannot ship them. That subplot was pretty flimsy and self serving. Nevertheless, the 2ML maintained his feelings for the 2FL was genuine to the bitter end, just like his secret crush on her for 10 years. Not buying it, not feeling it, not at all. By then, Illogical plot holes abound in the show so it was just another whatever moment.

But wait, there is more! The writer pulled the Noble Idiot card on the OTP as well and we had the mandatory breakup. I have said it before and I'll say it again, why writers insist that breaking up with someone who truly loved you is the best way to bring them happiness, success and peace of mind. Really?!

And drumroll please . . . my pet peeve taunted me throughout this show. Putting aside the frenemy shenanigans, all the bad deeds went unpunished. Attempted rape, slander/libel, invasion of privacy, inflicting actual bodily harm all received no sanctions. Yes, I get that this is an adult drama and not a fairy tale but this is one heck of a dystopian world they lived in.

Not all characters were unlikeable, the ML turned out to be a flawed character but very loyal and had a heart of gold. The FL was a flawed character but tough and strong willed, she will grow on you (in time, I hope). The FL's parents were loveable but their were like caricatures especially the mum but at least they were nice and sweet and didn't trying to harm anyone. The ML's parents were kind of funny in the beginning but it just became sad after a few episodes of constant bickering, especially when you learnt that they have been like that for years. It also made their reconciliation in the end felt rushed and undercooked.
The ending was over the top and it would be sweet if the storyline supported it. Just watch the café scene before finale and hear what she said to the ML and then watch the last few minutes, you will see what I mean. It just didn't make sense. Damn those unicorns, they are getting restless.

I'm sorry that this turned into a bit of a rant but this show just worn me out. It tried to stir our emotions but most of the time I just felt annoyed or dumbfounded. Episode 13 was the best one in my book because the characters finally voiced my frustrations in their own dialogues. They actually called each other out and say what is wrong with them. Is it a realistic portrayal of modern relationships? I hope not. It had its good moments that kept you watching but most of the show was mired in a swamp of its own making.

Acting were good but it is a tough gig. I particularly felt for Joanne Tseng. OST was fine. Rewatch is no thank you, unless they added zombies.

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Cookie cutter college rom-com that set a low bar

I think your mileage with this drama will depend a great deal on how high a bar you set. I can understand that a college romance drama is unlikely to push many boundaries but sometimes you need more than just having the OTP being good looking to get a pass mark.
If there is a god for this genre then she must be smiling upon them as this show was so heavy with tropes and clichés that it will be a chore to keep score. Yes, both ML and FL were right for their roles and they looked good but they were not asked to do much. The cold, aloof ML persona was on full display from start to near finish. There was a bit of softening up by the end but there was not a lot of character development (except for some negative aspect which I shall discuss later). The cutesy, clumsy FL was also straight out of the genre's playbook. It was honestly a bit overused as time and time again, the FL managed to trip, slip, fall, etc onto the ML's chest, his arms or just ended up in the classic dip pose. If all that egregious set up didn't scream OTP I don't know what will. The odd thing for me was that if I look beyond the tells and manipulations, I'm not 100% sure why the ML fell for the FL. There was chemistry and sweet moments but was it as simple as the knight and the damsel?
This bring on the topic of the 2FL and 2ML. I have to say that I really feel bad for them, not that they did a bad job but their roles were just so meh. The 2FL was literally being rejected on a daily basis by the ML (not sure why he disliked her so much) yet she just kept coming back for more. The 2ML didn't stand much of a chance with the FL but at least the FL was a bit ambiguous about their relationship for a while (they even played the fate card) but in the end, they were just pitiful. It is nice to play good and even good to be bad but the no-man's land in the middle is death for an actor.
The rest of the story was cliché filled with little dramatic development. There were hints of family dramas but barely explored. Just a couple of phone calls and vague comments about disapprovals or "family troubles". The ML's grandmother would have been a lovely diversion but she only popped up once or twice and had little to do. What was left were typical petty college shenanigans built upon the venerable tropes of rivalries, bullying and jealousy but they had little dramatic impact. Wrongs were righted before the episode was over and the angst meter barely moved. I suppose it is better than having the ill feelings and misunderstanding fester for multiple episodes as per the standard trope. The problem here was that you just don't feel invested. A lot were caused by lies told constantly by OTP to cover their budding/secret relationship. It just got a bit old.
The support cast was standard fare. The FL's roommates was the classic set, one tough girl, one shy one and the chubby BFF. The ML's roommates were straight out of central casting and forgettable. The more mature cast members had very little to do. Their professor was meant to be their guiding light and he was a nice man but I can't sense the burning passion when his role demanded it.
Now for the things that really bothered me. For the first half of the show, the ML was nice and sweet while chasing the FL. Sure, the cold exterior melted over time and when he smiles, the sun did shine brighter. However, once they became a couple, he became possessive and was a green-eyed monster. That type of behaviour is not new to dramaland but it felt jarring with his earlier persona. Coupled this with his manhandling of the FL, made me felt uncomfortable with their relationship. Hence, the real elephant in the room, the FL (Ireine Song) is a popular actor and she knows her craft but I fear that she is being type casted whenever she pops up in this type of drama. I'm sure she could have sleep walked through this drama. Often it is just a variation of the archetype. Dial up the cuteness, tone down the street smart or be more clumsy. She is almost always paired with a tall ML. In this case, she is barely up to his shoulder (and half his width). Some finds this pairing attractive but when it was played out more like a dominant (D/S) relationship then I feel the positive note is muted. I sincerely hope that she will find projects in the future that will allow her to break out of these roles.
Ultimately, is this a bad show, not quite. It was a mostly harmless (once only) binge but that was a low bar to pass.

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Interesting but meandering love story that could be a lot tighter

I really enjoyed this series. The acting was good, there was nice growth in the characters, the music played a key role and the story line fresh. However, I did get annoyed with the show towards the end. It is not like they killed one of the main characters or forced the OTP to breakup but it was how they dragged on and muffed up the OTP romance line that had me baffled and annoyed.
Let's face it, the bulk of the plot is the romance of the OTP. They are cute together and their dynamics are great. BUT that went on and on for 40 episodes and they don't even hold hands! Even though both are totally into each other and there is constant flirting and teasing (and no small amount of prompting by the ML). When you considered that each of them have separately told everyone who would listen that the other half of the OTP is their one and only. They even told the rival love interests so that there is absolutely no chance of a love triangle. Yet the OTP still live in this bubble where they don't seemed to believe that the other half are in love with them. OMG, are they deaf and blind? It is so obvious to everyone else that they are in love.
Fine, drag it out if you must but why when the ML finally confesses in Ep 42 (out of 44), the FL rejects him, calling it a joke. OMG! Why? She even stated again and again in other episodes that she hope he loves her as much as she loves him. I wished I can reach inside the screen and slap some sense into her! LOL Luckily, the writers saw the errors in their way and she accepted him at the beginning of Ep 43. The down side to this meandering plot is that all the skinship was crammed into the last 2 episodes. So much time was wasted. When you consider this show suffers from the usual mid show drag, they could have done so much more with their love story. Converting a lot of that cute but ambiguous "we are just friends" moments mid show into sweet couple time would be real fan service and I would gladly give it an extra point.

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Spare us the schadenfreude

Let me be clear in the outset, if I were to give this show a score based on when I think the show should logically end then it would have scored a 9-9.5 but the tail end really disappointed me and I can only give it a borderline 8.
I was really enjoying this show from the start because the acting of the ML was superb. He made the younger, cooler actors look like they OD'ed on Botox. The FL was pretty good too, cute but feisty. Their chemistry was great and felt organic. The ensemble cast was above average with the bromance between the ML and his BFF a real highlight. The night market crew were real characters.
I also liked the fact that there are no psycho plot twists and the "villains" were not really evil but more meddling and driven by petty greed. Pretty harmless by dramaland standard and they even generated the occasional laughs.
Refreshingly, the 2FL was actually quite sensible and pragmatic. She lost to the FL and just moved on and even cheered the FL on. I do pity the 2ML, he was just a sad puppy for most of the show and he knew that he didn't stand a chance against the ML but he just kept needling away regardless. I know he acted his heart out but his love sick scenes were wearing thin.
As a rom-com with a cliché storyline, it was actually going nicely and there was no mid show drag so typical of t-dramas. If anything, the middle episodes were actually the highlight of the show (ones I would re-watch). I can see why some reviews wanted the show to stop at episode 17 as the story sort of peaked then. However, I think the next couple of episodes were ok. The 2OTP love story was kind of cute and it was worth the screen time. Sure, the plot about saving the night market was standard trope but it wasn't a waste of time.
Oh, before I go on to detail the big negative for me, I want to highlight the odd way time was handled by the show. The initial promise of the show was based on the FL achieving something in 7 days to win a bet. No issue with that, however, by episode 7 or 8, I was getting weird temporal vibes. Let me explain, the structure of the show meant that we were watching events happening on consecutive days but what we saw felt temporally disconnected. A case in point, quite early on, the OTP went to a swanky party, got drunk and shared a bed (no hanky-panky, thank you). They just showed up to work the next day. More major events happened. A day or two later, they ended up camping overnight in the middle of a work week, does that happen in real life? What we saw felt like it should logically spanned weeks. But the show kept telling us it was only 7 consecutive days. My brain hurts if I stop and think about it.
So .... what got me really annoyed was when the ML played the Noble Idiot card just after they saved the night market. It was so unnecessary. The OTP was riding high and totally in love. Good place to end the show on a high, right? No such luck! We ended up with 2 episodes (over 1 year in show time) of the OTP walking around in misery and longing for each other after the breakup. While the acting was fine, the plot was just convoluted and unrealistic. The FL more or less morphed into a female version of the ML and assumed his mannerism and roles. The ML became a love sick stalker, nice. I would be ok with the breakup if they get back together quickly so that we can get more happy couple time in the last episode but it just dragged on and on.
If they really must keep going after ep 20, the simple fix would be for the OTP to have a nice heart-to-heart talk at the beginning of episode 21, resolve all their misunderstandings (and it was just a misunderstanding). They then formed a partnership and conquer the corporate as well as culinary world. Job done, high five all round!
Instead we got the longest, most pointless detour to an ultimate happy ending in the literal dying minute of the show. Please, writers, stop Noble Idiocy now. Yes, a bit of emotional rollercoaster is mandated but the quota was full by episode 20. Why tack on a poorly scripted extension? Maybe the writers like a bit of schadenfreude. Just spare us.

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