Contemporary Romance
These are the contemporary romances that don't fit in any one category. I'll give you my honest opinion, so buckle in!
-
1. A Gentleman's Dignity
Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes
My Shorttake: The life of long-time 4 friends around 40, and how they find their lifetime partners. 2 cute idols were in the show, wish their stories could have been developed more. Great little background skits start off each episode. Don't miss them.
Rating (out of 10): 6.5
Chemistry between leads: The main couple only had average, or below average chemistry
Believable S/S: Only 1 of the 4 couples had believable S/S. The main couple had very awkward kisses and embraces. Not sure if the actors liked each other.
ML Personality: Arrogant, emotionally stunted. He kept making and breaking promises. Lots of all talk no action.
FL Personality: Good actress. Believed she loved him, until they touched, when she would freeze up. She forgave him way to easily for ignoring her often.
Ensemble Cast: Really good chemistry between the 4 male friends. Loved the alternate storylines as well.
Secondary ML: Really good. Not another romantic suitor, but interesting and well-played.
Secondary FL: Never a real threat.
Quality of the Story: Above average.
Did it drag in the middle: Yes. I got tired of the montages of the main couple in angst about different misunderstandings.
Production Quality: Good.
Soundtrack: Average.
Would watch again: Nope. -
2. Touch Your Heart
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
My Shorttake: Scandal-ridden actress takes job as legal secretary to restart her movie career. She makes friends, falls in love with the boss and restarts her career.
Rating (out of 10): 7.5
Chemistry between leads: Above average. I found their romance more believable in Goblin, however.
Believable S/S: Yes, but it looked like he liked her more than she liked him. Their S/S looked a bit staged, vs. natural.
ML Personality: Arrogant, emotionally shut-off. Came across too cold for too long. Wished I could have seen him express more emotion.
FL Personality: Didn't showcase her acting talents. Her character was a bit shallow. He was cold and she was shallow, in a nutshell.
Ensemble Cast: Very good ensemble cast. They really rounded out the story.
Secondary ML: N/a
Secondary FL: N/a
Quality of the Story: Average
Did it drag in the middle: I love watching Lee Dong Wook in ANYTHING. So with any other actor it would have dragged for sure.
Production Quality: Good.
Soundtrack: Average.
Would watch again: Nope. Will re-watch Nine-tail Fox or Goblin for my Dong Wook fix. -
3. Shopping King Louie
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Rating (out of 10): 7.0
My ShortTake: Spoiled Rich Kid gets amnesia, finds a girl to take care of him and fall in love with him. Turns out he's a rich chaebol with a knack for sales, marketing and merchandising, so not a complete flake.
Chemistry between leads: Average. The FL mothers him, then decides she's romantically interested. Hard to reconcile both. He's obsessed with her, but it comes out like she's a bit of a mother figure.
Believable S/S: Sweet kisses, but their love has that weird element to it, described above.
ML Personality: Sweet, but clueless and entitled. It got a bit old. No mature male vibe here.
FL Personality: Sweet, very capable, and loving. She treated him like a kid or younger brother. He didn't deserve her.
Ensemble Cast: Very Good and kept me interested.
Secondary ML: Terrific. I wish he had won the FL's heart. Much more worthy of her and she of him. It's called "secondary ML syndrome" and this show is a prime example.
Secondary FL: Wanted ML for his money. Never a real threat.
Quality of the Story: Average, but the amnesia storyline and mystery around it was pretty good.
Did it drag in the middle: Yes, but I kept hoping the SML would win out, so I stayed tune.
Production Quality: Average.
Soundtrack: Average
Would watch again: No -
4. Kill Me, Heal Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Rating (out of 10): 10.0
My ShortTake: ML with DID meets a gal, a psychiatrist, and falls in love. I actually hoped she would end of with one of his bad-boy alts, not the main. But it was a great ending, anyway!
ML Personality: Amazing. Each personality is fully realized and believable. Now I'm a complete Ji Sung fan.
FL Personality: Smart, kind, savvy, and worthy of ALL ML's personalities. She loved all of the too!
Secondary ML: Park Seo Joon as the FL's brother, and one of ML's personality falls in love with him. Loved it! So good!
Secondary FL: N/a
Quality of the Story: Fantastic. Deep, meaningful, well acted. Can't say more about it.
Did it drag in the middle: Nope. Wish it was longer!
Production Quality: High. Costume, Sets, scene transitions, all of it was great.
Soundtrack: Very good.
Would watch again: Yes. Absolutely! -
5. Wok of Love
Korean Drama - 2018, 38 episodes
Rating (out of 10): 9.0
My ShortTake: Due to politics at hotel restaurant, our ML begins work at a diner across the street run by thugs. The good guys win and he gets his job back AND the girl.
Chemistry between leads: Great, very believable.
Believable S/S: Yes, fantastic flirting and follow through. Swoon worthy kisses.
ML Personality: Arrogant, cute, great chef, good actor.
FL Personality: Funny, smart, courageous.
Ensemble cast: Perfect! Great characters who enhance the story. Couldn't ask for better.
Secondary ML: Definitely SML syndrome. He loved FL and wanted to be a better person for her. While they would have been a good couple, the main couple were better suited. They gave him a love interest too, so didn't feel too sorry for him.
Secondary FL: N/A
Quality of the Story: High. Excellent story-telling about growing as a person and in a career.
Did it drag in the middle: Nope, which is always refreshing.
Production Quality: Above Average.
Soundtrack: Average.
Would watch again: Maybe