Cheese in the Trap (2016)

Thinking back, I don't even know why I chose to start watching Cheese in the Trap: Everything about it seemed so simple and kind of naive, but in the end this series managed to touch me on a very deep emotional level. And oh boy was I wrong about the story being simple.

At first it was details and mysteries around Yoo Jung that caught my interest, but eventually I found myself getting more and more hooked on supporting main roles whose personalities had so much to offer. I was basically having very busy time falling in love with every single main role: They all had their own cute features and flaws and yet surprisingly addictive mysteries and secrets.

In all, the acting was superb (I'm having a serious arising Seo Kang Joon problem) soundtrack was beautiful, clothing was on point (Kim Go Eun could wear a garbage bag and look fashionable), humor was on point and was on a good balance with drama and the story line had way more to give than I expected!

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reasons why you should watch this drama???

1. even though second lead is soft and sweet, you might think he is the real hero and you will start with shipping Second ML but no one loved seol like jeong did. jeong (ML) was loving but different from others.
2. everyone acts so well, after 2 episodes you will feel like connecting to this drama. It is relatable to our daily life, this drama is based on different psychology of different people.
3. everyone is so beautiful
4. FL's character shows growth in the end of the drama.
5. people might think its not a happy ending drama, but as she says in the end of the last ep that for the person like sunbae she has to wait more, she has to understand him more and it feels like they had a happy ending in the story.
6. if you watch this with open heart, you will love it.

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This was a very engaging story. Everything that happened added onto your perspective of each character. At first each character is a mystery but as you move on you discover things in their past in flashbacks or their actions that either make you like them more or question your pervious outlook on them. This drama was a good mix of happy, sad and exciting moments. Sometimes I would cry and other times I would be sitting up bouncing up and down with excitement during a scene.
NOT A SPOILER!
The only thing that really bothered me is the outcome of the romantic storyline for Hong Seol. It just let me down because I waited for a decision/outcome to happen. You will have to watch to see what I mean and this might not bother everyone. It's just that I watched 16 episodes just to be unsatisfied with the end? Anyway on another note it was very dramatic. It had me at the edge of my seat unable to blink because I didn't want to miss anything. Watching this is your decision but be warned the ending is in my opinion not very good. It just felt unfinished, but their is not doubt that all the actors were the perfect choices.

Thanks for reading my review, if you have gotten this far! :)

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Sassy Go Go is everything Cheese in the Trap Should've Been

I have never been more annoyed by a drama than I was with CIT. It was frustrating to watch the director lead Park Hae Jin through a maze of no redemption. I started out watching this drama because of Kim Go-Eun but continued watching for Park Hae Jin. It's a shame the drama's director took the direction they did with his character. Kim Yeol's character from Sassy Go Go was spot on what Park Hae Jin's should've been, but adjusted for maturity and a deeper context. I'm just laughing at all the "Second Male lead Syndrome" cooers because the second male lead was practically the male lead in this drama. The director gave him everything the male lead should've had-lots of screentime with the female lead and a redemption arc. I wish they did better because the storyline had such potential and I was glued till the end but ended up annoyed and disappointed.

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Was good till the end☹️

I REALLY wanted to like this series. I really did. But my BIGGEST hang up is the ending. So that is my honest opinion and reason why I rated the “Story” and “Rewatch Value” lower.

The story in itself was really good! I thought it was well written and executed. (All but the ending)

The actors did an amazing job! Especially the Main Lead! For one, he is cute!😉🤪 And two, he did a really good job at playing a bit of a psycho! Everything flowed and came together just right.

Rewatch? I might if I really want to. For now... I will watch the movie version even though it is lacking all the important stuff the series has. At least it has an ending that does not leave you hanging.

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This drama is not perfect. Far from it, But what trendy drama is perfect? Several TV drama have that second lead syndrome for purpose of benefit several people behind the scene. Many show did. But some of them were just went unnoticed. But who cares? Because I feel she is indeed take a good job to make this drama very watchable.

The focus is not only for the main character, but also focus on anyone else. A drama with having good ensemble cast like this would be waste if you focus only the main character arc, And I'm glad PD and writers took that route (Though some actor just has that limitation that at times unable to explore the complexity of their own character, that sometimes makes me wonder what could have been if they cast a more capable actor).

Let the original writer of the webtoon do her job to write the main character arc more depth and detail because she has a freedom to do it. PD and writer only have 16 eps on their hand to complete the series! and Other than Love Triangle storyline that might be taken away the quality of the drama, everything else is fine. They cover the overall message from the webtoon. I like the fact they explore all Jung's victim and how Jung or Hong Seol action affect them, and how their action affect our lead.
That's the reason I find it worth to rewatching. Watch the first time and we will normally see through our main character point of view. And watch again for the second time, and this time you are in our victim main char point of view, and you will see a different light.


IWhat I found interesting about this drama is writers refuse to take aside any of the character, and let audience judge the char choice and pointing out the mistake they made and the consequence they have to face. Many drama just like to take aside especially for their lead and afraid to make their leading take a darker route. Many drama fail to potray their anti hero, they don't want to take a risk afraid the audience won't accept their char, seems abit taboo for them to acknowledge their leading flaws. Several drama that are suppose to bring up an anti hero as their main theme fail to move forward the issue and conflict into something more interesting and meater because of this and fail miserably. ( I can't believe this writers is the one who write that mess stairway to heaven. Even if the idea mostly from Soonki, seems to me they are deliver a different message. And She is still the one who wrote the script, screenwriter and mangaka storytelling has different concept.)

For that, thank you Cheese in the trap

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This drama was definitely entertaining. The plot was unique specifically the personality of the main character. A combination of romance and mystery with a little slice of life thrown in. My rating is an 8.5 but I would have given this a 9.5 if not for these “flaws”; first- I don’t have anything against open or implied endings but still the ending could have been made better feeling somehow rushed; second- the ML looked old for a college student role although his acting was great for the role; and third there were a few plot holes that were left unexplained in my opinion. I admit, I came here for SKJ and having a bad case of second lead syndrome after watching this drama but in summary, I recommend this drama as a must watch.

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I've had a night to think about this drama since finishing it. I'm still, at a loss of words on how I really feel about it.

The drama, as a whole was good. While some of the acting could be over the top and stiff sometimes, everyone was generally good. The plot moved quickly in the beginning so I was sucked in immediately. I felt like a woman possessed, consuming episode after episode. The story progressed well, the plots and characters enticing and the romance gave me butterflies. For the first time, in a long time, I was so excited to watch a show.

And then my feelings changed. I think it happened around episode 10 or 11. I just felt... tired. I think it had something to do with the characters and their developments. They did not develop in the way I had hoped - which both pleased me because it made things more interesting, but also, kind of pissed me off.

When I had finally reached the end, I felt like I was irritated with every single character. A lot of the issues I was having with each character was a reflection, I think, of my own personal morals and beliefs. I could not relate to any of them anymore, nor could I understand (or want to understand) their motives. You know, when you have a friend, who has these quirks that, in the beginning you were just able to except, but then as you mature and change, that person does not and you start losing patience with them? That's how I felt at the end. It was an unexpected feeling. I don't think I've ever had that kind of a reaction to a drama before.

I really enjoyed this drama and I would probably re-watch it down the road. But for now, I need a break from these "friends".

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I put this drama on hold for a long time and finally decided to watched this drama. From the beginning to the last episode it was really good. But I didn’t like the ending. I know, sometimes not every drama should have a happy ending. But Atleast some closures. I kept looking for a happy ending since he was suppose to find himself. Also whats the point of the after 3 years, it didn’t really say much or explain except they're working. Hayyy... I really like the story up to the very end but it left me hanging and looking for who sent those email. Hopefully, there is a season 2 or not.

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After reading a few reviews on MDL, although skeptical, I decided to give it a go, and I was in for a nice surprise. Two main leads did their job really well and you can really feel the chemistry. Second male lead, was absolutely wonderful in every aspect, he is the guy any girl would be lucky to have, yet, I was rooting for Jeong (the main lead), the whole time, because Park Hae Jin did such a marvelous job portraying seemingly cold and distant, but a seriously sensitive and misunderstood character. Vulnerability he showed in front of Seol, really made me understand him as a carachter.
What I really loved about this drama is great understanding of characters and what motivates them. There were no unnecessary dramatic ploys, because drama can be found in everyday situations.
That being said, the finale was more than a disappointment and that's the reason that overall score is this low.

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Review Justification:
Story: 9/10 - I loved this drama and its story so so much. For me, this take on college life and its struggles was the freshest idea out there. I am a person that, by default, does not enjoy dramas with a high school setting, and though I tolerate college a tiny bit more it still cringes me beyond belief. But surprisingly, this story was not all what I was expecting. The normal cliches we normally have to put up with were, THANK GOD, discarded from the story, and things like stalker behaviour, obsessive behaviours, gang bullying, senior entitlement were dealt with in an amazing matter.  
Acting/Cast: 9/10 - This cast was great. I think they could not have chosen better actors to portray the characters! Hong Seol was the perfect lead, confident but slightly awkward. This was my first Kim Go Eun drama, and more and more I appreciate her as an actress. The way she changes and adapts in every situation and character is very impressive. Park Hae Jin, the man himself, was probably the best antagonist in a "college" drama I have ever watched. He was delightfully bad, but still managed to make us questions ourselves everytime he captured our hearts! Seo Kang Joon was also incredible and got me feeling some type of way everytime he played that piano.
Music: 9.5/10 - This OST was just delightful!
Rewatch Value: 8/10 - This criteria is a bit hard to judge for me, seeing as I am a person that doesn't enjoy rewatching things that much, so I have decided to judge this based on how much I predict I would enjoy it in case I did rewatch this drama. I am back with my usual 8 mark because even though I did love this drama, I don't think rewatching it would benefit my high expectations and memories of it.
Overall: 9/10 - Overall this drama was amazing! It was very well thought out and very well executed. The cast was incredible and made the drama more relatable and compelling. I still do not understand people's problem with the ending, that in m opinion was perfect for this kind of drama. People need to realise that even though this is a drama and none of this is real, not every story needs to end with an happy ending (in peoples' standards).

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Cheese in the Trap (2016) - I watched it because a friend of mine keep suggesting it to me which she is currently reading it as a webtoon but nevertheless it was great. I came to understand the webtoon because I watched it first before starting to read the webtoon. I really like the actors and actresses who acted the roles and I think that they suit it so much. I really like the fact that they kept the original story line and didn’t do as much changes as the story in the webtoon. If I didn’t read the webtoon I would have basically sorted this as a normal drama/typical drama but that is the charm of it. Although it tackles some parts of being a “chaebol” which is common in korean dramas, what I liked is that it focuses more of the struggles of being a college student and love of a normal student which cannot be seen in other dramas. I feel like I can remember my college days and I liked it that it speaks of the normal society and that a lot may feel that they belong, or they have a place in the story. Others may be disappointed with the ending, which I felt too after a few minutes after I watched the ending but after it, I realized that it was a good ending. I think it is done to respect the author of the webtoon (which have the basic rights to put an end to it), to let the viewers expect from it and also, I am positively waiting for season 2 which I hope would come soon.

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