The Greatest Love (2011)

I heard wonderful things about this drama, so I decided to watch it even if the description didn't appeal much to me. And at first, I really enjoyed it! However, a bit after the middle, I began to feel bored watching it. All the dramas I've watched were predictable, and this one is no exception. But the difference with the others is that they kept me entertained. The only thing that kept me watching this was the wonderful acting and the funny scenes! That's something I really /loved/ about this drama. Especially Yoo In Na's and Cha Seung Won's scenes. I'd like to point out that this was definitely not a bad drama. Far from that. However, I think that most of the people who might like this will be slightly more mature than a childish sixteen-year-old like myself :P To conclude, I recommend this to anyone who enjoys comedies, funny engrish (I'm looking at you, Dokko Jin), awesome acting, and is in the mood for a light watch. And even if you are just as childish as me, give it a try!

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My Favorite thing about this drama was definitely Cha Seung Won and his Dokko Jin. So different and outrageous from the usual rom-com leading man. I absolutely fell head over heels with this completely ridiculous and relentlessly endearing character. Gong Hyo Jin's Goo Ae Jung was a perfect match for him (almost like his straight man most of the time) and they created completely convincing, adorable, and hilarious chemistry.



The story line is a little ho-hum for me which is why I put off watching it until about 8 episodes were already out (also because Goo Ae Jung's hairstyle seriously repelled me, but that's a small thing and I eventually got over it as it seemed to match her character and the drama after all). My opinion of it didn't improve much after finishing the drama, but it was handled better than I thought it would be.



Despite the story keeping this drama from, in my opinion, being a perfect 10, this was an exceptionally entertaining summer drama. I laughed out loud at least a handful of times every episode, which rarely happens, and I would happily sit down to watch this again, which also rarely happens. The supporting cast is delight to watch and the "2nd female" is handled in a refreshing way. The costumes are an absolute hoot and the sets are colorful and a delight to the eyes. Definitely one of those rom-com dramas whose head sticks above the rest.



Another of my favorite elements was how this drama pointed out that celebrities are real people as well and they are deeply affected by those "thoughtless" comments that come out of people's anonymous fingertips. I would hope that to some, at least, it got across how stupid it is to write viscous things like that. I can't understand anyone who would do that in the first place, but hopefully they think next time they open their mouth or log into their anonymous accounts.



Definitely make a point to watch this heart-warming, refreshing, and seriously funny drama. It's not perfect, it has a few flaws besides just the story, but there are so many great things about this, it's not one to be missed.

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The Greatest Love is brilliant drama. Hong sisters didn't disappoint with this. Most of my friends by-pass this drama cause the leads aren't pretty boy like lee min ho.



If u really are drama fan then u going to love this drama. The plot is just amazing. Not one episode was dull. I couldn't wait to see the next episode. Their love story is refreshing and its interesting. You get to see how lives of celeb from the top celeb to the has-been celebs.



Also the chemistry from the leads are just hot hot hot! This drama is just amazing. There is a reason why celebs in korea are still talking about this drama.^^

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Even though the story line of this drama is very common to c in Kdrama it was still rly good. I enjoyed it mostly b/c of the actors/actresses. The leads were perfect. I enjoyed the chemistry that flowed between not just the main couple but the love triangle/secondary couple. There were so many back stories that kept popping up that made this drama more interesting than just the main story line. The drama made me laugh, cry (not rly, but figuratively), and made me want to watch it again. The last episode was the best, b/c I just love babies. I think if u watch this drama it will make u feel many different things & u will want to watch it till the end. I will prolly watch this drama again b/c I rly loved the acting & it made me laugh A LOT! Check it out 4 urself. Enjoy!~)

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I have been absent in korean drama world for a while but "woah" what a comeback for me. This show is currently being televised in our country. When they first advertised it, it got my attention so I thought, let me read the reviews. After doing so, curiosity got the best in me. I waited it to be aired and then I start watching...first 2 episodes, I said, okay...then it became addictive that I can't wait for the next days for it to be aired so I spent my 2 rest days to watching the drama non-stop. I've got hooked. The leading man is so funny. I super love the ending. ITS A MUST WATCH DRAMA.

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So this drama in one word if described it is "perfect." It was hilarious, amazingly cute, charismatic, and all time love-able time drama. The leads had amazing chemistry, though at points the main girl made me want to smack her with a fish -_-. :P What is note worthy is DOKGO JIN xD .. he was more that hilarious. His character was very lively, enjoyable, devilish yet very cute. The writer has done a fabulous job with the script writing. The story had life in it and never got me bored. The music is extremely catchy and one which you won't be bored if you listen to even after you've finished the drama. The actors did each of the roles justice, and were not lacking in my point of view. Re-watch value, if i had nothing to watch at all then i wuld not mind looking at dokgo jin the second time. Overall this drama definitely deserves a solid 10 on 10. I would highly recommend it to all comedy-romance lovers. You can watch it in dramacrazy.net. Thank you!

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I LOVE this show.

In fact, when I watched it for the first time, I liked it a lot but after watching it twice, I completely fell in love with it.

It is full of cuteness and comedy and romance.

Ding Ding is the CUTEST kid ever....he is one of the major reasons for my fondness of this drama and his bromance with Dok go jin was simply awesome!!

I liked all the characters...Pil Joo is the cutest second lead ever. Period.

The lead couple has great chemistry and Cha Seung Won has done a terrific job, whose over the top attitude is perfectly balanced by Gong Hyo Jin's natural and understated acting. Also, I liked that the second female lead is not a negative character.

Another thing, the drama is full of amazing metaphors.

It's a great Hong Sisters drama.

I loved the soundtrack as well!!

A MUST WATCH.

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I never expected this to be so good!

Honestly, I found myself disliking Dokgo Jin from the start. He's a self-centered, arrogant, not-a-speck on my impeccable suit top star who thinks everybody should think it's an honor for them to receive his attention--and even says so! To top it off, he makes this annoying peek-a-boo action and drawls out 'Dingdong' with unbelievable obnoxiousness. And what kind of man can have perfectly-shaven arched eyebrows?! Well, only Cha Seung Won!

But then, who would have thought this demi-god of a superstar would come down from his pedestal and be the knight who valiantly offers to sell himself out just to save the has-been that is Gu Ae Jong? How this perfectly conceited man turn every flaw into an endearment is...amazing.

For her part, Gu Ae Jong has seen it all, a fame that was struck down in an instant and been trampled on for the past decade. A woman who reluctantly accepts Dokgo Jin's affection and then bit by bit, learns to embrace every 'dingdong', 'recharge' and 'dugun dugun'.

Memorable moments: embrace scene at Ep 9, the way he said 'Bo?' and the way he looked when she asked him to go on a picnic with her, and darn, when he shaved that cow mustache!

Awesome acting, tight storyline, definitely for a rewatch, only wish there were other songs to listen to. I'm going on a Cha Seung Won backtrack!

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My Mini Back-Story:

I saw a lot of recommendations, so I said why not? Besides, the casts seem solid, and I have a soft spot for Yoon Kye Sang.

Storyline:

Let me just bluntly lay it out, and get to the point.

a) Humor. I didn't like the comedy AT ALL, and not to mention, this drama is a rom-com. Perhaps, the sense of humor wasn't my cup of tea. Then again, the highly exaggerated comedic movements/expressions felt too slapstick. It was as if I was watching a childish cartoon/anime. Don't get me wrong, I love cartoons and animes, but I hate the ones that degrade the audience because they're narrowing it for the younger generation. In this case, The Greatest Love was really corny for me... I was hoping the humor would get better, since the first episode was already hard enough to digest. Though, it doesn't get much better. Sadly, not at all.

b) Too much predictable/boring tug-of-war. Our two leads' stories are uninteresting. Their unrealistic backgrounds are too generic that I had no connection with them. Their relationship is formed by mere bickerings. The love-hate story is handled too typically for me. Everything worked out too conveniently.

c) Unrealistic or rather not plausible. I know that most Korean dramas are unrealistic considering the characters and the environment set-up. Not to mention they're mostly all melodramas. Though, that isn't an excuse to make the characters' reactions and actions do illogical things. I seriously don't understand the way these characters' mindsets work, especially Dokko Jin.

d) Nothing happens. From beginning till end, it's about Gu Ae Jung getting shoved down and brought back up then shoved back down. The same thing over, and over again. I don't mind a simple plotline, but The Greatest Love doesn't give us any new ingredient. Honestly, I can't differentiate between any of the episodes because nothing big ever happens. There's nothing for us viewers to guess or wonder. Everything is laid in black and white, but in an uninteresting way/fashion.

e) Boring side characters. Ae Jung's brother was boring and unnecessary. That farting scene was just idiotic. If anyone thought that was funny, then I'm sorry. There's just no dynamic between any of the side characters, and our main characters.

I'll leave it at this...

Acting/Cast/Characters:

I didn't like any of the characters, nor was I rooting for any of them. The only character I felt sorry for was Yoon Pil Joo. Even then, his character was very 2-D. Heck, all of the characters are like cardboard cut-outs. They're all the typical Korean dramaland characters combined into one. Another reason why I didn't like the character Pil Joo was because he's the typical nice lad that always gets tossed aside. I'm starting to get sick of the pitiful supporting dudes. Even though, I love Yoon Kye Sang, I couldn't understand why he did what he did for the main lead girl, Ae Jung.

It's like these characters complain about their hardships when they surround themselves near people who give them a hard time.

The character formula here is very typical of any Korean drama. We have the main female lead who likes this egotistical dude. However, there's this really nice/proper lad who likes her, but she uses him or pays no mind to him. Wait, there must be more drama (for no reason) to add hardship for this pitiful lead girl. So what do they do? They throw in this evil (not so menacing) girl who's jealous of the leading female. Though, the female protagonist is so oblivious to all of this, and she tries to be a saint and save everyone's life, but never her own. Awww... this makes the boys love her even more. So preachy! It's as if the scriptwriters didn't know what to do with the evil girl, so they just dumb her down a notch. You'll know what I'm talking about if you give this drama a try.

Aside from my hatred of these poorly developed characters, I thought the performances from Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin were very solid. Though, I wouldn't recommend them doing another rom-com. They're not funny. It was a nice change for Seung Woo, but I prefer him sticking to his bada** roles. Anyway, I understand that it's harder for actors to excel in comedic roles because not everyone is a natural comedian/joker. Hence given this leniency, I'd say they did a good job. I can tell that they're really great actors because of their range of emotions. Though, no matter how good their acting are, if the characters fail... then most likely it's a fail overall. Good acting can't help cover/compensate for bad characters in the end.

Music:

Hmm... don't remember the songs much. There wasn't anything that captured my attention.

Bonus:

The only time I actually laughed was when Lee Seung Gi came on as a cameo. Now, that's a dude that knows how to act naturally in a comedy.

I like the way Dokko Jin says "Bingo". Don't know why though - haha.

Overall:

Yeah, maybe it's just not my type of comedy. There were no witty lines nor cute banters. I strongly disliked the script (or more like the dialogue exchanges). In fact, I don't really like The Hong Sisters because their scripts/characters can be a great hit or a huge miss. It's like a 50/50 chance here. Most of the time, their characters are overly exaggerated, or try too hard to be cute, which sometimes works and sometimes it doesn't. In this case, it didn't work for me, and it's a rather run-of-the-mill storyline/characters that have been rehashed far too many times already.

I fast-forwarded many scenes because they were redundant. I was about to give up halfway or near the end, but somewhere within me, I was still keen on seeing these characters on-screen. So I'll give them bonus for that.


Overall rating for review: 4/10

Purely for entertainment: 4/10

My Dramalist rating (avg): 4/10

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