The Liar and His Lover (2017)

Slightly Better Than Japanese Version

NOTE: I don’t follow Joy from Red Velvet and I didn’t read the manga, this review is solely based on the show itself.

LIKES:
Story development of FL, ML and the two groups/bands, and the CEO guy
Better character development and content for backstory, than the Japanese version.
The friends that stick together rather than go after individual glory/money concept was really well done. The cut throat music industry was well done in how it can divide artists/friends, how it is after money and doesn’t always listen to it’s artists. The singing bits weren’t dubbed, but the actors themselves singing and playing their instruments.

DISLIKES:
Directing wasn’t the greatest, because in some circumstances throughout each episode the characters waited to react, way too long. For example: Episode 6 at end/start of 7 Director had FL wait way too long.
Shaky camera, especially close up shots [it was as if the video stabilizer was removed].
The romance was slow paced and could be boring at times
Repeating music got old, but the first time I heard the song(s) it was catchy and decent in the pop genere.
No chemistry between FL & ML, more of a friends vibe, but their acting was fine.
Predictable Music-drama Fluff with typical teen drama tropes.
The plot kept switching between romance of FL & ML, among some side stories, to the story of Crude Play (their beginning, trials and future).
The writing made the FL dumb and the ML oblivious to everything around him (until maybe the last few episodes).
The love triangle fell flat and completely failed, maybe due to the childish aspect they created for the FL.

OVERALL:
Light content, easy watch, for a K-drama it’s plot was limited, but enjoyable. Kpop fans will love the OST. Better than the Japanese version, that cut content that was needed. [When I watched the Japanese version I remembered watching the Korean one, so had to re-watch to give an accurate review.] I won’t rewatch it again.

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Can Kdramas exist without Love Triangles!?!?!?!?

I love this story, I really do. Which was why immediately after watching the Japanese movie of the same title, I went straight for the longer version kdrama. One thing the Japanese movie did not do was emphasize a love triangle. And I enjoyed it that way. I find it very ridiculous that Kdramas seem to be obsessed with love triangles. Most other foreign shows utilize the element in some way but never as pronounced as Kdramas. I mean why was So-rim attached to Cha So young in the first place? What did he do for her that she felt so grateful to make such deep promises to him just like that. I mean all he did was selfishly offer to produce for their band, which any other person in the label could have done. There was nothing special in his offer. He is not her teacher who went to bat for her so many times and created the opportunity of her life for her. Neither is he Choi sin juk the label manager who signed her. Can anyone then explain to me why So-rim was giving so many promises to Cha so young like he saved her life or something? That part of the writing really irked me till the end of the show.

By now you should know that I really hate love triangles especially when the fl is displaying chummy chummy behavior with the second male lead like it means nothing. Behavior she wouldn't tolerate from the male lead with another woman. I try to wrap my head around shows like that but maybe that's just how relationships work in kdrama land?

I mean it's difficult to find shows with decent second female leads enjoying this kind of freedom and blurring of boundaries with the male lead. They always make her out to be evil or a witch so that you hate her from the start. But not so when it comes to second male leads. They're always good people and the female lead is all but two-timing the male lead.

Oh well. Good story, like I said. And obviously I enjoyed Han gyul. Loved him in a Good Day to be a Dog too. Oh yeah, I'm watching this drama a couple of years late.

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The title is deceptive. It is an idol drama about struggling musicians

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2017 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 16, 62-68 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Kang Han-gyul (Lee Hyun-woo) was a bass guitarist in the pre-debut boy pop rock band “Crude Play” and helped make the band successful with his amazing song writing skills. Along the way, he discovered he had more talent as a producer and song writer than a guitarist. With the encouragement of the company CEO, Han-gyul quit the band to focus on perfecting his skills behind the stage. He is considered a genius in his field of music production but his people skills leave a lot to be desired. It does not help he represents his former band members who often resent him for losing site of the people in the product. He was recently in a relationship with popular female solo singer, Chae Yu-na (Hong Seo-young) but she did not feel he was dedicated to their relationship and felt he prioritized his work over all else. He is shocked and hurt to discover Choi Jin-hyuk (Lee Jung-jin), his mentor in the music world and CEO of the company started a relationship with Yu-na after she and Han-gyul had a fight. Devastated by the betrayal and already struggling through conflicts with his friends/former band mates, Han-gyul has a chance encounter with student Yoon So-rim (Park Soo-young). In a moment of inspiration Han-gyul bumps into So-rim in a park amd asks to borrow her phone to record some lyrics that came to him, Later he realizes the young woman now has his chart topping song and tells a series of lies to disguise his identity and attempts to charm her to get it back. What Han-gul does not realize at first is So-rim is a talented, singer and song writer herself. But So-rim fell in love with the talented Han-gyul at first sight. So-rim gets her break in the music industry and it so happens to be atthe same company Han-gyul works with. Despite his rocky romance with his former female singer girlfriend and despite the fact that So-rim is younger than he thought, Han-gyul finds himself drawn to her. Once his lies are exposed will So-rim still like him the same? Will their careers interfere with romance?

Review

Titles can be so deceiving. I thought this was going to be about a con man or someone who was a pathological liar. But this was more like the genius, prodigy musician who told some lies to protect his famous identity. And the story is really centered around the struggles of producing music and being a musician. There was a very sweet romance and it was a strong focus of the story but there still was a heavy focus on music and it was definitely an idol drama. It was good, I would watch it again. Would recommend it to fans of any of the actors as they all acted their roles well. And it ends happy.

Spoilers

I liked that there was not a separation trope because it seemed to be leaning in that direction. There were no annoyingly overdone tropes. Which is always refreshing.

I wish the jealous brat teenage girlfriend, Lee Se-jung (Jeon Yoo-rim) would have suffered more consequences. Some social shaming would have been something. Lee Kyu-seon (Park Jung-hyuk) going after her and comforting her after she was rightfully chastised was disappointing. Call me spiteful but I like to see people who act atrocious out of jealously get some serious karma. At least Chan-young what’s like? How could you possibly think I would’ve noticed you or liked you after what you did?

I do not know why they had So-rim’s childhood friend and band mate, Baek Jin-woo (Song Kang) be secretly in love with So-rim.

The President of the company, Yoo Hyun-jung (Kim Sung-joo) was horrible. She forced Crude Play to fake then was angry when they wanted to tell the truth.

It was a bit of a soft ending. I wanted to see both bands find real success after they chose to be honest in their music. It showed things were “taking off” but not that they arrived. There was also no real ending or resolution with Han-gyul’s father, Kang In-woo (Choi Min-soo) and having his music stolen and all that. And so what President Yoo was in love with him, nothing ever came of it. So In woo who could have made it big, just remains a street

Chae Yu-na (Hong Seo-young) cheated on Han gyul but then turned it around and made it his fault. You made me do this type thing. And it seemed he accepted that because he was not as angry with her as it felt like he should be. Like he was mad for a minute then back to writing songs for her. At least Han gyul’s friend and band mate, Seo Chan-young (Lee Seo won) told Yu-na off about how she cheated.

Seo Chan-young (Lee Seo-won) was a bit ridiculous. He gets his golden opportunity that so few musicians get to play with a band on the eve of debuting and all he can think of is how he is supposedly. I thought he was a huge whiner. Then he selfishly insisted that so rim saying his music when she would’ve more likely came out bigger if she had use the most successful songwriter, Han-gyul. I felt like it was cool he was supportive of all Mush & Co at the end but he was a little bit responsible for them being in danger of being spilt up because they did not debut as well as they could have.

#TheLiarandHisLover #LeeHyunWoo #HongSeoYoung. LeeJungJin #ParkSooYoung

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I watch this drama when it was aired
well it's typical idol drama though
and while Joy's acting was super green, it was still watchable and she's not annoying
Yoon Sorim's character just typical high schooler
the thing that annoyed me the most was the age gap, like how could a grown ass adult like Han Gyeol dating a high schooler like Sorim, just a big NO
and tbh I don't really follow Lee Hyunwoo, but why he mostly act in typical idol dramas?
Sorim's and Han Gyeol's relationship felt more like siblings rather than lovers
at first I had a major 2nd lead syndrome, but in the end Seo Chan Young was just another jerk

on the other hand I really love Sorim's band and Yoo Sihyun's relationship with the manager, they're cute
overall this drama just so so, still watchable but not good enough

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Story
My younger self enjoyed this drama but not the part when everyone hurts Joy. There were heart fluttering moments that my younger self would love to enjoy those moments. Joy is a ray of sunshine. Her smile is lovely and contagious. That's all I can remember cos I watched this years back.

Acting/Cast
Visual casts! Everyone were cute except Lee Seo Won.
Joy did well for her first drama. Lee Hyunwoo is a cutie pie! I remember having a huge crush on him. My first time seeing Song Kang lol.

Music
THIS IS WHAT IM HERE FOR!!! JOY'S ANGELIC VOICE! The scene when Han gyeol fell in love and was obsessed with Soo rim's voice. FELT!

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Drama bom, porém com pouco sal.

The Liar and His Lover foi um dorama bem monótono, digamos assim. De pontos fortes, temos a trilha sonora claro. O drama tem como tema principal música, então obviamente a trilha sonora seria muito boa. Outro ponto que temos que concordar que foi bom, foi o "limpa vistas". Ô pessoal bonito esse viu! Os produtores pegaram três obras primas e fizeram eles correrem atrás da protagonista só pra gente sofrer e ainda por cima, ver os bunitões sofrerem de coração partido.

Do elenco, eu só conhecia a desaguada da Hong Seo Young, desculpa amiga, nada contra você como atriz, mas seus dois personagens que assisti, não me descem... e o Song Kang, lindo e maravilhoso. Gostei do elenco, porém, não me aproximei dos personagens tanto assim.

A atuação também não é: Óó que atuação. As cenas entre o casal foram lindas à principio, mas depois foram ficando escassas. Também senti exagero nas cenas melodramáticas e aquele ponto né: o casal secundário foi mais emocionante que o principal. Alguns dos personagens secundários mereciam mais tela, e até os principais não foram tão explorados. Enfim, poderia ter sido melhor, mas não foi ruim. É como disse, foi bom, porém faltou umas pitadas de sal a mais.

Concluído por mim: 08/10/21

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the crew need to practise holding the mic over the camera while actors do their role

firs of all the drama is good i loved the acting and the spicy scenes that was good. I loved the teacher and the student the most (those who looked older) loved their play.

the type of like oh 3 gay couples together like kinda cliche plot maybe to much? idk but I enjoyed it. the acting is good

but the CREW! need to practice to hold the microphone up so it doesn’t show in the movie!! it was 2 scenes it showed… the first time outside the house with the guy on roof like the mice was showing I the drama and made the acting actually look like acting and it’s bad😅.

no 2 I don’t remember in the last few episodes but.
like needs to practice holding it up and maybe the editor could’ve edited it to remove it?!

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This is the only drama that makes me dislike the two main protagonists. Im somehow rooting for everyone else. I heard this drama was popular so im confused. Some of the characters are well done and very believable. I also love this “inside look” into the music business. The storyline is fresh and new. I started liking the drama but now I am just rooting for the bad guys. The main characters seem too childish. Hard to explain. Music is nice and the whole story feels very real. Theres also a lot of sub-stories within the main story. I like that a lot as well. But main characters really fell short for me. I wanted to like them more. Just seemed like young dumb kids.

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