Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru (2020)

Xiu Xiu, a 15-year-old girl living in the city of Chengdu, moves out to study horses in the countryside with a nomadic Tibetan. She is told that after six months, she will return to take charge of her all-girl cavalry unit. However, she quickly discovers that she is not returning. She learns lessons about life while struggling against corrupt government officials who manipulate her hopes and body. Her only friend is the eunuch horseman, Lao Jin.

Ayaka, who works at the bridal department at a hotel, has a beauty that everyone recognizes, yet her personality is the worst. Everyone calls her a "wicked woman" after the way she wraps numerous men around her finger. The one who sets his eyes on her is the hotel's new executive Togo, who is the son of a very powerful person of the town. What are the orders that this King-like man requests of her!?

Food, family secrets, a parent's painful past that affects a child... And little glimpse of food history. WwDS is edgier than IC but both are as addictive as the foods they showcase!

Hanaoka Nao's mother, Yuriko, works as a confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the owner's six-year-old son, and they become childhood sweethearts. Tragedy strikes when Tsubaki's father is murdered. Nao's mother is arrested based on Tsubaki's testimony, and Nao is left homeless after her mother's death. With Nao as the daughter of a murder suspect and Tsubaki as the victim's son, they part ways with bitterness. Over 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki cross paths again during a Japanese confectionery competition. Tsubaki, unaware of Nao's true identity, is captivated by her creations and impulsively proposes marriage. Nao, determined to prove her mother's innocence, conceals her past and agrees to marry Tsubaki, gaining entry to Kogetsuan. Little do they know the challenges awaiting them. Despite life's adversities, Nao and Tsubaki's bond deepens as they're drawn together. The truth behind the events of 15 years ago remains a mystery.

Yuki Rio, the daughter of an old, prestigious family in Kyoto with over 1,000 years of history, enters into an arranged marriage at the age of 16 with a man she’s never met. Her husband is Takamine Masatomo, a handsome CEO in the IT industry. Every year on her birthday, she would receive 50 million yen, making their relationship one based solely on money. One day, after ten years had passed with no contact, Rio decided to move to Tokyo. She asks her husband, whom she’s meeting for the first time, for a divorce. On the other hand, Takamine finds himself unexpectedly attracted to Rio and doesn’t want a divorce. Thus begins a romantic battle between a wife who wants a divorce and a husband who refuses to let her go.

This drama is a love story between Kataoka Sakuya, a grim reaper who comes to the human world for the first time, and Mochizuki Nayuki, a woman who lost her father at a young age and has devoted her life to raising her only remaining family—her younger brother. As they meet, they gradually come to understand each other, and slowly, they begin to fall in love. However, a fate that will dramatically change their lives awaits them both…

A lover of food, murder, and a black widow in the background spinning webs and pulling strings for her own reasons. BTAG is darker, with more of a muder mystery vibe including violence. Still addictive though, wondering just how crazy the woman can get.

Hanaoka Nao's mother, Yuriko, works as a confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the owner's six-year-old son, and they become childhood sweethearts. Tragedy strikes when Tsubaki's father is murdered. Nao's mother is arrested based on Tsubaki's testimony, and Nao is left homeless after her mother's death. With Nao as the daughter of a murder suspect and Tsubaki as the victim's son, they part ways with bitterness. Over 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki cross paths again during a Japanese confectionery competition. Tsubaki, unaware of Nao's true identity, is captivated by her creations and impulsively proposes marriage. Nao, determined to prove her mother's innocence, conceals her past and agrees to marry Tsubaki, gaining entry to Kogetsuan. Little do they know the challenges awaiting them. Despite life's adversities, Nao and Tsubaki's bond deepens as they're drawn together. The truth behind the events of 15 years ago remains a mystery.

Hanaoka Nao’s mother Yuriko is a single parent and a live-in confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop of long standing. That is how Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the 6-year-old son of the owner of Kogetsuan, and they become each other’s first loves. However, Tsubaki’s father is stabbed to death by someone. Nao’s mother is arrested as the suspect based on Tsubaki’s statement. Nao is kicked out while her mother passes away while under interrogation. Now daughter of a murder suspect and son of the victim, Nao and Tsubaki separate with ill feelings for each other. More than 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki are reunited at a competition on Japanese confectionery. Tsubaki takes an interest in Nao’s creations and asks her to marry him at their first meeting without realising that she is his childhood friend. Nao hides her true identity and decides to get into Kogetsuan through her marriage to Tsubaki in order to prove her mother’s innocence. Little does she know that all sorts of adverse circumstances lie in wait. Despite being made sport of by cruel fate, Nao and Tsubaki are drawn to each other. What is the truth of the case 15 years ago?

Hanaoka Nao's mother, Yuriko, works as a confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the owner's six-year-old son, and they become childhood sweethearts. Tragedy strikes when Tsubaki's father is murdered. Nao's mother is arrested based on Tsubaki's testimony, and Nao is left homeless after her mother's death. With Nao as the daughter of a murder suspect and Tsubaki as the victim's son, they part ways with bitterness. Over 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki cross paths again during a Japanese confectionery competition. Tsubaki, unaware of Nao's true identity, is captivated by her creations and impulsively proposes marriage. Nao, determined to prove her mother's innocence, conceals her past and agrees to marry Tsubaki, gaining entry to Kogetsuan. Little do they know the challenges awaiting them. Despite life's adversities, Nao and Tsubaki's bond deepens as they're drawn together. The truth behind the events of 15 years ago remains a mystery.

They have similar, dramatic, kdrama-ish vibes and reminds of each other, even though the themes don’t overlap.

-Whoever is watching Nevertheless for Han So-Hee, must check out WWDS. The FL (Hamabe Minami) is quite literally her twin from Japan. They are also pretty-much styled with the same haircut. The characterizations of the two young-women land similar too.
-Those who are a fan of the 'cinematic' camera language of Nevertheless, must check out WWDS. Very eerie shots, creepy & uncomfortable close-ups of faces. Both actresses have plenty of close-up angles of their eyes (as they engage in mental-gymnastics). Those scenes are pretty inter-changeable imo.
-There is an air of 'nostalgia' to the cinematography. Very deliberate color-grading.
-There is a lot 'name' significance and history around the name of the leading ladies. Nabi= butterflies. Sakura= cherry blossom flowers.
-Infact, the first point of attraction for the boys towards their leading-ladies, IS the significance of their respective names. Jae-Eon loves his butterflies, and Tsubaki loves his sakuras.
-While Jae-Eon and Na-bi are art-school majors, Tsubaki & Sakura are traditional sweet-makers. You'll see beautiful hands, make beautiful works of art. <3
-Really messed-up dynamics between the leading-couple. The attraction and forbidden sexual-tension is the driving-force between the two couples.
-They look stunning together, but are SO wrong for each other. Unless the 4 of them can heal from their respective emotional traumas.
-The leads are the same age (young 20-somethings) making really questionable choices in life.
-Both the stories are told from the PoV of our protagonist-ladies. While intentions of both their male-counterparts are kept ambiguous. You will question the MLs till the very end, right along with our lovely heroines.
-Intriguing MONOLOGUES.
-'Psychological' angle of both the stories are milked HARD.
-Low-key workplace/ industry sexism & double-standards by the truckload.
-Both girls seem to suffer from some emotional-trauma/ blockage that prevents them from being the best artists that they actually have the potential to be.
-Both stories are based on illustrated originals: Nevertheless from a webtoon & WWDS from a manga.

Hanaoka Nao’s mother Yuriko is a single parent and a live-in confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop of long standing. That is how Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the 6-year-old son of the owner of Kogetsuan, and they become each other’s first loves. However, Tsubaki’s father is stabbed to death by someone. Nao’s mother is arrested as the suspect based on Tsubaki’s statement. Nao is kicked out while her mother passes away while under interrogation. Now daughter of a murder suspect and son of the victim, Nao and Tsubaki separate with ill feelings for each other. More than 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki are reunited at a competition on Japanese confectionery. Tsubaki takes an interest in Nao’s creations and asks her to marry him at their first meeting without realising that she is his childhood friend. Nao hides her true identity and decides to get into Kogetsuan through her marriage to Tsubaki in order to prove her mother’s innocence. Little does she know that all sorts of adverse circumstances lie in wait. Despite being made sport of by cruel fate, Nao and Tsubaki are drawn to each other. What is the truth of the case 15 years ago?

Hanaoka Nao's mother, Yuriko, works as a confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the owner's six-year-old son, and they become childhood sweethearts. Tragedy strikes when Tsubaki's father is murdered. Nao's mother is arrested based on Tsubaki's testimony, and Nao is left homeless after her mother's death. With Nao as the daughter of a murder suspect and Tsubaki as the victim's son, they part ways with bitterness. Over 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki cross paths again during a Japanese confectionery competition. Tsubaki, unaware of Nao's true identity, is captivated by her creations and impulsively proposes marriage. Nao, determined to prove her mother's innocence, conceals her past and agrees to marry Tsubaki, gaining entry to Kogetsuan. Little do they know the challenges awaiting them. Despite life's adversities, Nao and Tsubaki's bond deepens as they're drawn together. The truth behind the events of 15 years ago remains a mystery.

Mo Rae struggles to remain loyal to her husband while living with a handsome and exciting stranger. Her husband is her childhood best friend, but the seductive stranger is imaginative and adventurous. Who will she choose?