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A K-Drama Examining Unhealthy Relationships and Going against the Grain?
There's something to be said about a series that seems to be angling to be a critique of what is all too common in K-Dramas, or the romantic genre period. Rewarding the asshole, and sweeping their behavior under the rug, because that's what you do or expect."Nevertheless" is a fairly frustrating series to watch. The indecisiveness of the lead, and the manipulation of the love interest, made me want to throw objects at my television and computer screen. It was enough that I stopped watching the series in 2021 or so before deciding to resume in 2023.
In one instance, the writing appears self-aware enough not to play into the common cliches of K-Dramas, while at the same time playing right into them. By that I mean, Na-Bi's indecisiveness, or emotional vulnerability, and allowing herself to be strung along by Jae-Eon, while at the same time knowing that none of what's going on between them is sincere in the least (but she wants it to be real).
With Jae-Eon, it's clear that the script wants to play heavily into the "sympathy for the devil" angle with his character. That his reasons for being flighty, mean-spirited, and typically dishonest with the women he's with, is some act of self-protection. But it's hard to feel any empathy for his character when so much of what comes out of his mouth is dishonest or a half-truth. As the series progresses, his poessiveness and minimization of Na-Bi's feelings, and her relationships with other people (other men, really) don't do anything but want me to see her far, far away from him.
The supporting cast all appear to be sounding boards for Na-Bi's conscious and critical thinking skills that she's not using. They all see her going down a real self-destructive path by remaining with Jae-Eon, but they can only tell her how they feel about it, and ask her, "Do you really think this person is being honest with you?" And of course, Na-Bi remains indecisive and chooses not to listen to her instincts, even as Jae-Eon begins to mirror her ex-boyfriend (who made a sculpture of her in a sex position, for public viewing, without her consent) more and more.
The end of the show really seems to bring all the emotional turmoil together in the ninth and tenth episodes, where, after being emotionally yanked around by Jae-Eon, Na-Bi finally snaps and lays down the law. She won't allow this dude to manipulate her anymore, even if he decides to be honest and tell her that he has genuine feelings for her. And, for me, that would've been enough to give this series high markings, a 10/10. A K-Drama that doesn't feed into the bad feedback loop of "asshole gets the girl".
But, the show dismantles itself by pairing Na-Bi and Jae-Eon together in the end. And all because of a plot thread that would make it seem like their relationship is the stuff of "Star-crossed lovers". The show even appears to know that it's absolutely bonkers for Na-Bi to be with Jae-Eon. A line by the way of "I'll worry about that later" only seems to exist to dismiss arguments.
Overall, despite some stellar performances, the writing lets down what might've been a pretty solid drama. It's fairly reflective of the idea that something in the culture of South Korea really doesn't want to hold assholes like Jae-Eon accountable, because, not unlike the United States, so many of those types are the ones that get idolized as the ideal person.
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Irresistible Compulsion
Have you ever had an obsession, a craving or an addiction where you know, logically, this is not good for me but the impulse over rides the thought? This drama explores, from the FL point of view, how she becomes ensnared by the handsome ML. The attraction is intense, illogical and all consuming - when she is with him. There is a comment she makes about missing his smell that leads me to think pheromones are in play here.On the surface Yoo Na Bi, played ably by Han So Hee , is attracted to handsome fellow artist Park Jae Eon (Song Kang whom I loved in Navillera) and he gives the impression he is interested too.
Where the drama gets interesting, for me, is in the psychological disparity between the actors intentions and actions. We learn very little about the motivations of the ML and are privy to the turmoil generated in the FL by her accepting the relationship limits.
Lots of good secondary relationships keep the story padded out in a good way. The 'hot' scenes are passionate and for their age context very realistic. There is some bad behaviour but then these are typical, flawed humans.
I found the drama mesmerising and even agree with the ending.
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It would be a great drama about toxic relationship, if romance wasn't prioritized
A cozy k-drama, filled with beautiful music. A lot of frames were cropped, it was a great idea, I focused more on my own emotions while watching, not actors' facial expressions. They left me puzzled, melancholic, dissapointed, annoyed, thinking what is the true nature of characters' feelings. Scenes with Na Bi's ex were especially catching — his whole face were never seen, only mouth and rarely — his eyes. Drama tells about art students and looks like an art itself, it's pleasant to watch.At the same time I couldn't help, but be dissapointed in main lead. Yoo Na Bi had everything on her hands, but she trusted her sudden attraction to a guy who never shared enough of himself, was a mystery all along and promised nothing serious (though stepped in when other males showed her attention), who were always busy, but never told what he was busy doing, who told sweet and shallow things. Na Bi's ex was a manipulator, at some point she couldn't stand it anymore, left him, and the next time she fell in love at first sight and fell even deeply when he did nothing, just appeared next to her, touched her, flirted, but kept at arm's length. I was happy to see she didn't roamed much in her previous relationship, but sadly she was just busy thinking about new ones, confused whether Jae Eon likes her or not, they are sex friends or more. This isn't a pleasant feeling and I guessed she would recognize the manipulation, but she liked the feeling of being cherished too much to see through it (again).
She heard a lot about Jae Eon and believed it, the next thing — she sees him and discards her doubts. It's good to criticize what others say, but she didn't have any proof, just couldn't think in his presence. And god, every time she was alone, Jae Eon showed up and touched her. They attended the same university and didn't met before, why he is everywhere now, it's creepy? They talk a lot about fate that brought them together, but in fact he stalked her all the time. And why it's so easy to change her mind? She literaly cut things with Jae Eon (she called him a liar, he changed his number), avoided him and decided they could be friends and work together when she's not over him, all in the same episode.
The guy isn't any better, he wants everything, doesn't feel responsible at all. He comes when he's not wanted, tries to get closer when pushed away. He is stone when talking to guys, but flirt with every girl naturally and can't keep his hands to himself. Na Bi talks with other guys — he's pissed. When they are with friends, he stares at her not blinking, while everybody have fun, when they're alone and she has something to say, he tries to kiss. His selfish 'I missed you' and 'you're beautiful' are nothing romantic, he treats women just like his butterflies he keeps at home with a promise to release them one day.
All their relationship with Na Bi are — he flirts, she is happy, people tell her 'he isn't serious', she feels played, pushes him away, he tells how deeply it hurted him, she is confused till same people tell 'oh, he likes you', and the guy appears again. Repeat 20 times. No development. Somewhere in between they find new possible love interests — and the jealousy machine launches. All main story builds on love triangles and jealousy. Themes like egoism, abuse, friends-with-benefits-relationship are brought up, but in the end it's all about how they see each other with another person and can't live with that.
I am glad I watched the drama too — and a lot. Characters have different personalities, their stories are unique, not boring and they don't exist for the sake of jealousy of Na Bi. Gender isn't something important there — female characters are just as strong as male ones, and they all can love, learn, have fun, suffer. You can change their genders, but stories would be the same. Also it's refreshing to see k-drama where people have sex life not somewhere in the future after marriage (and then they will be embarassed to talk about it); and not all of them seek for relationships. It's strange though how supports (like Bit Na) have their own storyline, but when focus shifts on Na Bi, Bit Na exists just to remind her about Jae Eon. Their friendship doesn't feel real.
Sol and Ji Wan relationship is another great thing. Friends since school, they are expected to face their new reality where Sol have many options both in relationship and studies and eventually cut their ties, but they don't want to lose each other. As time comes, unsaid things pressure their friendship more and more to the point where all they had crushes, and it can't be solved till they talked their fears. Overall supporting cast are way more interesting than the main couple.
To conclude, I believe it would be better, if episode 9 was the last one. Maybe it should've been a web-drama with shortened length too, because many cycles of main relationship only damage the whole picture. Jae Eon changed in the end (it's pretty for his development and cliched at the same time), but Na Bi who took over most of the drama, she stayed the same — and it was reffered as a happy ending. She had many opportunities to change, her desicion to move forward from this relationship would be a more positive outcome.
I think the main problem is not in characters, but rather in the choice of priorities. Na Bi and Jae Eon could be all the things I mentioned - weak and problematic - and be a good portrayal of people stuck in toxic relationship, but in the same row with other couples it seemed like they could have a happy ending too. No matter how often she repeated 'I know it, nevertheless', last episodes make it look like a bittersweet love story.
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Watch it for the lesbians and cinnamon topography
Pro: The camerawork and framing in this show is so so good in this show. It's stunning. It's breathtaking. It almost distracts you from the fact that the plot isn't actually going anywhere. Han SoHee and Song Kang look wonderful in this one, as they always do. Soljiwan supremacy.Cons: The ending will definitely leave you wondering what kinda message this show was trying to send. Watching this feels like you're traveling down a river, and the scenery is generally nice and all, but nothing is really happening. Some of the twists and turns you're taking are a little concerning, and the destination is nothing like you expected it to be.
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why all these haters?
The story is nice and truly realistic. For sure way more realistic than the stories on which are based the 90% of the k-dramas available for the vision, which I find sometimes too much conventional and over-filtered in terms of contents and topics.That said, I can understand who does not feeel comfortable in watching the show because feeling irritated by some of the characters, but that's it reality. You can make a choice: watching a k-drama because looking for a fairy tale or watching something more real life related, where (surprise!) people is just normal people: can be fragile, boring, messed up, idiot, brilliant. But just normal people. And, in our case, just youths witht their cumbersome luggage for the life filled with fear, enthusiasm, uncertainty, youthness.
Han So-hee perfectly suited for her role. I like her way to act. I'm less positive for Song Kang, instead. Sometimes he looks too much stunned. I liked also the supporting roles and the fact that (very likely because based on a webtoon) sex and thorny topics like homosexuality were included in the show. (Yeah: they're part of the real life too). Very nice the OST
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Couldn't decide whether to root for them or not
Halfway through I wasn't sure how this was going to go and read some reviews which made me worry that it was going to be a depressing, miserable ending in which we pitied the lead woman. But, I actually really liked it. It was a little slow - which was probably when I started checking reviews and wondering if I really wanted to be watching it - but I think it shows people coming to terms with their emotions and figuring them out quite well. That seems to be mostly what's happening. It had a few unanswered questions - I wish they'd answered what exactly one of the person's relationship was with the other at one point rather than keeping that all quite vague.I liked the first half - not just because it was 'new love' and felt really happy but the second half was less good, and I had to play that one 1.5x speed because I wanted to know what happened but found it was really labouring it and felt very slow. I also couldn't quite decide - maybe like Na-Bi - if I wanted to emotionally invest in the ML & FL in the second half. In that way, I suppose it was pretty effective. I liked seeing Jae-Eon emotionally evolve a little bit, finally.
The other couples, I loved. Especially the GL.
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Art , Romance , Toxic
How can I move on? I found a best tone controlling drama. OST are gorgeous. 10 episodes was too short for this relationship and because of female director, every frame and angles is so aesthetic. casting 박재언 and 유나비 is so flawless. their behind the scenes was cute too. My friend recommend this to me last year but I was busy, now I understand her why she crazy about this drama a lot.I'm writer and artist. so every time, I love when two characters spend time together likes Jae-on and Nabi in Jae-on workshop or just lay down and drawing each others in Nabi apartment. That's very touched.
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An artist's romance. Nevertheless aptly describes Nabi.
In short, it was a steamy artist's romance. In my opinion based on artists I know, and my own life, we draw inspirations from our surroundings and how deeply they affect us. The more we feel, the better our artistic instincts awaken.As this drama wasn't a sweet romance but realistic one, my take in judging it is different.
Slight spoilers here guys (if any)-
The endless rebounds, attraction, struggle to understand, openness to explore and get to know themselves and their romantic partners. Na Bi left her relationship with her ex-teacher who was an artist and got into a steamy open relationship with the ML- a guy who liked to flirt with anyone attracted to him. He could use it to his advantage and string them just enough he got what he wanted at his own pace, with a distance he liked to maintain. This story showed how such kind open relationship was hard to maintain as the relationship progresses over time. Very realistic behaviour when your body can't get on the same page with your logic and ignores red flags as Nabi faces an ambiguous relationship that had no boundaries with a person full of unspoken lines that she wasn't able to cross. Trying to juggle her studies, ambitions, and her unconscious nod to romance, she experiences how each important position in her life was interlinked- grew as a person, an artist, drew her boundaries and straight up finally gave ML a choice. Ofcourse during the course, she slipped, made mistakes and in the end, came to her own conclusion (be it right or wrong. Such is life). While I may not agree with her choices, but I appreciate her assurity, own interpretations, self worth and confidence while making them.
For the ML on the other hand, the progress was so sloooooow. I never got his deal, could never get fully invested in him. He used all the right words, right actions, his calculated thoughtfulness that mentally and emotionally linked, touches that simulated sexual awareness... He was fully in control of himself most of the time. Always aware. He lived like a butterfly. Yes he changed a bit, though it was minuscule enough that I felt his life and progression may have happened offscreen and thats why I couldn't understand his perspective, growth, pain. His whole character was built on vagueness in terms of decisions, until he released the butterflies and lightly asked for her back
They both finally entered into a relationship, with their eyes open. As people they wanted to give it a go. As artists, they both will gain from each other- through love, pain, attraction, heightened emotions, and when they split (they know they will), they'll gain further still. They just want to enjoy the now.
In a way Im glad the SL didnt get Nabi. I feel like the person she is nowouldn't have gelled well with him for long if they had. She would have been emotionally exhausted to be with him because she never gave me that vibe that showed interest and he would have put in a LOT of effort ( he already was) and he would have felt a bit insecure in the relationship. It's best it ended as a first love. She was always invested in the ML. He deserves someone else. In the webtoon though, I prefer that ending.
I agree with Bhoomi though, it was realistic enough to be queasy, and later on there was a lot of eye rolling on part. Became too repetitive with no development.
That saying, I loved watching the supporting characters more, especially in the 2nd half of the drama.
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A protagonista é muito chata
Minha primeira resenha e só to escrevendo ela, pois fiquei indignada *SPOILER* com o tanto de macho atrás da Na-bi mesmo ela sendo uma pamonha.Além de ser uma pamonha, ela é completamente indecisa, vi muitas pessoas falando que o protagonista é controlador/abusivo etc, contudo não achei nada disso, acho que o problema mesmo é a Protagonista. Ela desde o começo sabe que ele não se envolve, que ele tem fama de mulherengo, mas mesmo assim quer ficar com ele (ATÉ MESMO QUANDO VIU ELE BEIJANDO OUTRA NA PORTA DA CASA DELA). E quando ela realmente confirma que ele é mulherengo da um chilique sobre ele procurar ela quando ele quer, sobre ele não ser sincero, sendo que geral avisou para ela e ela sabia onde tava se metendo. Não satisfeita, Na-bi manda ele ficar longe dela, MAS ACHA RUIM QUANDO ELE FAZ ISSO.
Até no final do dorama, ela diz que nunca mais quer olhar na cara dele e quando ele vai embora para valer ela acha ruim dele não ter procurado ela, sendo que ele só estava realizando os desejos dela (DEPOIS DE TER PERCEBIDO E DEMONSTRADO QUE GOSTAVA DELA, COISA QUE ELA QUERIA DESDE O INÍCIO E ENCHEU O SACO A SÉRIE INTEIRA POR CAUSA DISSO. )
É claro que o protagonista teve seus defeitos, mas a Na-bi complicou a situação muito mais, ela pedia para ele ser sincero sendo que ela nunca era. Enfim, peguei ranço dela, muito pamonha e hipócrita. O dorama só valeu a pena pelos casais secundários.
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My first review for a show I do not appreciate.
The kdramas I watch I actually like most of them. This one is my first that I loathe. I think it's nonsensical, the writing is abysmal where our main woman lead is walking around miserable for the last like 4 episodes of a 10 episode series, and she decides to get with the man who made her miserable and says she knows he'll cause her pain but she'll do it anyways. I guess that's supposed to be deep, but... it isn't. Not even slightly.I love Han Sohee and Song Kang but this wasn't it.
What I will give it props for is basically EVERY other character in this show besides our two leads are pretty enjoyable. I mean all of them, they are all just fun or cooky or interesting.
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It's not as bad as they make it to be, Nevertheless
To be honest, people are being too harsh on the drama although I haven't read the webtoon. I would be lying if I said i didn't watch this kdrama because of Song Kang, and it's true that the cast was better than the story line itself but I think it's fundamental to understand the fact that it's a friends with benefits plot/"girl is devoting her time into another red flag" and perhaps that might not be everyone's cup of tea which is probably why many don't like the drama.I wouldn't say it's trash because personally I completed it and in fact re watched it. It's not a waste of time if you actually try to view and understand each character and their love lifes . It is different from your other romance collage plots but it's fun to once in a while watch something distinct, and also if you like the cast it's a big plus, because I think what really helped me get hooked on the plot and the show was the acting and the actors. If that's not what you're looking for, pretty understandable.
Also a plus, I loved the OST it encapsulated the vibe of the drama really well and gave it some good atmosphere.
Overall, I don't hate or dislike this drama, I think there's no such thing calling it a "disappointment" or a "waste of time" (at least in my book) so if you're looking for a spicy and fairly realistic plot, watch Nevertheless.
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Que novidase Song Kang...
Que o song Kang so pega roteiro ruim n eh novidade mas dessa vez nem a Han So Hee conseguiu salvar. Eu juro nunca senti tanta raiva vendo algo. A unica coisa q salva eh que realmente eles tem muita quimica, se fosse um roteiro bom seria maravilhoso. Uma enrolaçao, mas retrata mt bem a realidade de que homens nao prestam. É bom pra quando vc ta sendo otaria pq vc se poe naquele lugar e ve o quanto vc eh otaria igual a Na Bi tirando isso n recomendo nunca eh horrivel sofri de raiva msm por ser tao ruim em tds os epVond je deze recentie nuttig?
