You guys. When this present was introduced as a spin-off of No Achieve No Love (assessment right here!), I used to be truthfully sooo excited.
Not solely is that this complete spin-off factor not often carried out in kdramas, this is able to additionally imply that we’d see Lee Sang Yi in a lead function!
I’ve had a delicate spot for Lee Sang Yi for a while, so this was a must-watch, for me.
And now that I’ve come out the opposite facet, I’m right here to inform you guys allll about it. 😁
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS
I’d say that managing expectations is fairly vital with this little present.
Actually, I’d had little or no concept of what to anticipate, coming into this one, and solely with the trailer, posters and different stills that had been launched forward of Present’s premiere to tell my expectations, I’d imagined that this present could be on the spicy facet of issues.
I imply, simply take a look at this second poster that the manufacturing launched:
It creates a sure vibe and expectation, sure?
Effectively, I’m right here to let that this present is quite a bit much less spicy than its promo supplies counsel.
So assume enjoyable and humorous as a substitute – with extra eventual candy, than spice. 😁
Additionally, as a result of our story is brief, don’t anticipate something to be all that properly fleshed-out. For the report, I do assume that Present does a good job, contemplating its time limitations.
STUFF I LIKED
1. Attending to see Lee Sang Yi within the romantic male lead area
Ha. No prizes for guessing that this was a biggie for me, since this was one of many key causes that I used to be on this little spin-off, to start with.
Actually, it looks like we’re witnessing an vital milestone in Lee Sang Yi’s appearing profession, like he’s graduating into romantic male lead territory earlier than our very eyes.
Plus, let’s not overlook that he’s taking part in a bit, within the shirtless, attractive area, and even singing a observe for the OST; isn’t that each one very Romantic Male Lead stuff? 🥲
2. Han Ji Hyun as Ja Yeon / Yeon Search engine optimization
Between our two leads, I used to be admittedly much less enamored of Han Ji Hyun, however I believed she did a stable job of the function.
Particularly, I believed she was fairly daring, leaning into the spicier moments, as Search engine optimization Yeon Search engine optimization.
3. The thought of Ja Yeon attempting to determine the principles of her story world
I believed it was fairly enjoyable to look at Ja Yeon working to get a way of how her story world labored, whereas looking for a method to outsmart the system.
It amused me, that though she’s the writer and subsequently creator of this world, she has no actual management over it, and is mainly at its mercy.
Like, whoops, why would you write your story that means; see the way you’ve mainly trapped your self..? 🤭😅
4. The precise workings of the story world [BROAD SPOILERS]
A number of the particulars round this tickled me, like the way in which the bus solely truly goes to the hospital, as a result of that’s the placement of the complete episode, and the way in which the identical dude (Kim Yong Myung) cameos as each facet character that’s wanted, from bus driver, to physician, to taxi driver, to retailer supervisor.
In an identical vein, I believed it was quite cute, that each actor / superstar on this world seems to be like our male lead – as a result of he’s essentially the most good-looking man in that world.
I used to be inordinately tickled by this. 🤭
Different particulars, like the way in which Yoon Search engine optimization (properly, Ja Yeon) instantly finds herself in a brand new location, as demanded by the occasions of the episode, jogged my memory of 2019 drama Extraordinary You.
Total, I believed that writer-nim did a good job of teasing this out, given Present’s brief working time.
THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]
Actually, in the course of our first episode, I’d felt slightly perplexed, due to the way in which Ja Yeon was preventing on the within, whereas her physique, as Yeon Search engine optimization, was mainly programmed to have interaction in attractive scenes along with her male lead Ha Jun – who now seems to be like Gyu Hyun as a substitute of Yeo Ha Jun (Lee Yoo Jin).
For one factor, it felt mistaken, like she was being compelled into doing stuff that she didn’t need to do, although I informed myself that on this fantasy setting, the place she’s writing the goings-on, it doesn’t actually matter a lot. 😅
For one more, her mortified, grossed-out voiceovers took all the warmth out of her skinship along with her new male lead, Kang Ha Jun (and subsequently, all the warmth out of the scenes that includes Lee Sang Yi 😅).
Fortunately, by the center of episode 2, she manages to persuade Kang Ha Jun that she actually is the writer of the story, Nam Ja Yeon, and this modifications lots of issues.
I used to be truthfully fairly pleasantly shocked by the quick poignance that this provides us, as Kang Ha Jun goes by way of an instantaneous id disaster, as a result of he’s devastated that the love that he feels for her isn’t actual – and that he himself isn’t truly actual. Aw. 🥲
After which, I believed it was candy and affirming, that Ja Yeon reveals him that he, and this world that they’re in, are all actual – as a result of they’re all part of her.
I believed that was a really good angle through which to method it.
After that, I believed it was very candy that Kang Ha Jun would love Ja Yeon for actual; not as a result of he’s written to take action, however as a result of he actually does love her.
I’m not too sure of what it means, that Ja Yeon and Kang Ha Jun achieve extra autonomy as our story goes on; maybe it’s as a result of Kang Ha Jun turns into self-aware?
That second on the hospital roof, the place Kang Ha Jun tells her that she’s the rationale he exists, feels so filled with coronary heart and that means.
Like, sure, she did write him, and that’s why he exists, but additionally, together with his newfound autonomy, he’s selecting to like her, and he’s pledging himself to her, to at all times be subsequent to her, and it’s all very candy. 🥰🥲
..Which additionally, in flip, offers a very nice added layer of that means, when Ja Yeon then wakes up in her actual world – and Gyu Hyun’s proper there, thus fulfilling Kang Ha Jun’s promise. 🥲
Aw. What a sweetly poignant ending, sure?
And likewise, what a pleasant extra layer of context to how Ja Yeon’s view of Gyu Hyun started to vary, in our principal story. ❤️
THE FINAL VERDICT:
Cute and enjoyable, with some good layers of candy poignance.
FINAL GRADE: B+
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