klugpuff
Brazil
I do love the premise of the drama, even with much wasted potential, the set-up here is enough to bring a touch of uniqueness to it. The romance, which is the central matter, despite everything, is very really sweet and you are in for a lovey-dovey drama. The aching atmosphere is enriched by the beautiful soundtrack. It got me very interested in the Habaek universe and I expect to read the manhwa anytime soon because the story inspires you to find more about it. And it was my first drama with Nam Joo-hyuk and now he’s my ultimate crush.
So, is it a masterpiece? Nope. Is it any worse than some of the beloved clichés worshipped by this website? “Noper”. Had I read the reviews here, I wouldn’t have watched it and because I did, I know it would be a shame. It’s a fluffy past-time, if that’s what you’re looking for, go for it :)
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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
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This is a very sweet and fresh slice of life romance and I recommend it to anyone that’s looking for a light-hearted coming of age romance. About that, my opinion is a bit biased because Nam Joo-hyuk is the ultimate eye-candy for me and his chemistry with the equally stunning (and loud) Lee Sung-kyung is very cutesy. Yes, there’s a bunch of whining and screaming, but, all of that seem very insignificant compared to all their loving moments and constant support.
One of the best things about this drama is that Kim Bok Joo doesn’t exist solely for her romantic interests, a common problem in rom-com stories. However, I feel like the characterization of Jung Joon-hyung felt short and this burden was transferred for him. Don’t get me wrong, I really like his character, but I pity that his background was under-explored considering what was initially presented. I wish we had seen more about his family and his relationship with swimming, dealing with his trauma.
I do have to write a word about the weight issues in this drama though. I don’t know a thing about weightlifting so I might be talking silly, but I felt Kim Bok Joo should be, at least, more muscly. Specially considering the athlete she’s based on (Jang Mi-Ran). It was nice to see a bit of light in the weight requirements both in sports and society - how draining and dangerous that can be. On the other hand, the character representing the “fat” and “chubby” was not even 60kg. Maybe that’s very accurate for South Korea, but it seemed a bit scary to consider that standard. All the eating and suffering was a bit relatable, but also a bit triggering too. However, the drama did discuss the topic and there are hints of self-love here and there.
When it comes to rewatch value, I think it falls under the category “rewatch favorite scenes only” - which I’ll certainly do. I’ll miss the “WHAT” sound effect and the “SWAG” of the girlfriends. I will miss our quirky Kim Bok-Joo. And my, oh my, I will surely miss Nam Joo-hyuk.
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Crash Landing on You main leads are Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin. That’s a perfectly heart-throbbing choice for itself, but their looks and acting look the best here. Both their characters - Captain Ri and Yoon Se-ri - are unforgettable, interesting and leading people in their fields, while also sharing a soft and very funny side underneath. They are so protective of each other, it’s just too touching. Actually, most characters and their human connections in this drama are very richly developed and the second main leads - Kim Jung-hyun and Seo Hi-jye - are a great example of that. Their character development in the second half of the story were surprisingly moving and heart-warming, which almost made me fell like the writing on the main leads was getting behind it.
About the writing - it’s the most skilled drama writing I’ve watched so far. There are so many profound moments, the humor is spontaneously funny - get ready to have lots of laughs with so many characters, specially the ducklings, the love details are so gently created. I did felt there was an overuse of the flashbacks and a sort of artificial insistence on some fate lines though.
I chose to let the political aspects as only background as I believe it was intended, but it took me some time to get used to the way North Korea was portrayed. We are mostly uninformed about the country’s situation and people’s lives there, so I felt the storyline had hints of propaganda at times - NK as a land of oppression, starvation and corruption, with its citizens sometimes being portrayed as clueless and behind schedule. Opposed to that, we see the freedom and wealth in SK. I was surprised to hear it was accused of romanticizing life in NK - I wasn’t surprised when I read who said it though. On the other hand, we also see such a sensible portrayal of the human relationships there, carefully researched aesthetics and life blossoming in a very human way - the opposite of everything I mentioned before.
That being said, I can tell you that this drama is just a basket of special fond memories you will delight yourself gaining if you watch. The music, the landscapes, the characters, the plot. I know I will rewrite this one day, by now, I just want to endorse the love so everyone is aware of how amazing this drama is ❤️
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