So I Married an Anti-Fan (2021)

This Could Have Been So Much Better

This drama was filmed back in 2018/19 and kept on the shelf until mid 2021. I don't know why it was kept in cold storage for so long, but I suspect that the producers thought they had made a bit of a lemon and hoped it might improve with age. It didn't.

Choi Tae-joon stars as musician Hoo Joon is actually quite good in the role considering what he had to work with - an idol with not much personality and the usual icy demeanour. Choi Soo Young stars as Lee Geun-young. Geun-young should have been such a strong character, a reporter who was unfairly fired from her job and victimised by Hoo Joon's fans, instead she was just limp, excepting abuse and constant poor treatment.

The second lead characters were just awful, Huang Chan Sung as JJ, an abusive partner to In-Hyung (Han Ji An), a idol hopeful and full time sad sack.

There are so many ways that this drama could have written, a straight up comedy, or address the issues of domestic violence, or the craziness of the whole idol system - equal parts worship and then just as quickly condemning and ostracising. So much potential wasted.

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After watching such heavy dramas like Mouse and Penthouse, I craved for something light. Something that won’t make me think a lot and will just let me enjoy watching. Good thing, they finally released “So I Married the Anti-fan.” I have been waiting for this drama for so long. This drama was filmed around 2018 or 2019? But the airing was pushed back because no companies would like to air it. There were even rumors that this drama won’t be airing at all. But, I’m so thankful that it got released even after a very long time of waiting.

Plot: So I Married the Anti-Fan is a story of a top star, Who Joon, and a magazine reporter (who was also named as Who Joon's anti-fan), Geunyoung, got in a reality show together. This is where their story started.

Things I liked about the drama

Light story with full of heart-fluttering moments
With all these heavy dramas (not only in the K-Drama world but also in real life), we really need a breather, something that will just makes us "feel good". And this drama is one of the dramas I can recommend. I was having a hard time with my job and all I needed is something to lighten up my mood. This drama is full of kilig moments. You will really wish to just be an anti-fan and experience everything Lee Geun Young is feeling. Compared to other dramas, you don't really need to think a lot with the plot. The storyline is very simple but that's what makes it special.

The main leads have a great chemistry
It's been awhile since I last shipped a drama couple so hard. The last time I remember was the Chinese drama, Skate into Love. The feeling I had with this pairing was the feeling I felt when I watched W: Two Worlds, like, I wouldn't really mind if they ended up together in real life. In fact, I would love that to happen! But the main reason why I am stopping myself from shipping them in real life is because both the leads are into a happy relationship. Sooyoung has been dating Jung Kyung Ho for a long time already and Tae Joon has been dating Park Shin Hye. I love all of them, therefore, I am happy for them.

The eye-pleasing kisses
Let's say that this drama has a lot of kissing scenes. I usually say galawang Who-Joon because he kisses Geun Young in a smooth way. For example, during the car scene. He was pretending to look for something in the car but mischievously kisses Geun Young. Their scenes will just make you roll out of your bed. I really got addicted with this drama that I'm having a separation anxiety with the characters.

Anyway, this drama will always have a special place in my heart. If life is stressing me again, I will just re-watch this to feel better. How about you, have you watched this series? It's available on the iQIYI app. So, download it now!

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Impressed

When I started watching this I was slightly questioning if this was going to get to a point that I could really get into it. I stumbled upon it and the whole “anti-fan”/idol thing was eh but then I realized it wasn’t JUST about that.

The story was good, I really did think it was goofy then as the season went on it continued to get better as the characters changed and grew as well.

The acting was great! I’ve seen a couple shows e Hwang Chan Sung and I enjoy his acting. Choi Tae Joon and Choi So Young were amazing! They made me fall in love w the characters and them as actors! Han Ji Ann is a wonderful job! I really liked this aspect!

Music, SOLID! As in every drama a certain song plays and you just know you’re about to SOB for hours.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. Like I said at first I wasn’t a fan. Haha, I thought the concept was weird because I usually go for something different. The “villain” in my opinion kind of got old, but I know every story has one but eh..... I’d watch it again for sure!

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Not impressive

Some clips of this drama pops up in my feed, and I thought, wow.. it looked interesting and funny. Tried to finished it was a struggle. Turned out the funny part was only in those clips, the rest was just full of boring old cliche plot. Main characters were just unlikeable. FL is a 27 yo woman, have worked for years as a reporter, but all her actions was like a clueless-helpless little girl. Most of the problem she faced were caused by her own stupidity and passiveness. Many of her problem can be resolved, better yet non existent, if she chooses to act as an independent and responsible adult, as she should be. SFL was a very toxic, acting as eternal victim, using ML & SML as she pleases, and all of the characters around her just willingly treat her like this fragile white porcelain. And another thing i've had enough of, k-drama favorite cameo, the white truck of doom... why? please be more creative writer-nim

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Highly predictable, but easy to enjoy

There are things that So I married An Anti-fan have that I enjoyed when it comes to rom-coms; sarcastic, funny banters, and great chemistry. Basically, if it’s a rom-com and you have these, then there’s nothing I ask for. It’s only a bonus if the show managed to somewhat logically makes sense throughout its run.

That is not to say that the story didn’t have any insights to offer. The drama managed to show a glimpse of the lonely life that idols live behind the incredibly lucrative world of the K-pop industry. Even though it wasn’t a lot, I felt that by showing us the vulnerabilities of these idols, the characters felt more real and human. Just like Geun-Young, I was able to understand and empathize with Ho-Joon and In-Hyung.

However, given that this was produced way back in 2018, it definitely felt outdated in some areas. It utilizes overly used tropes in the story and an awful display of emotional abuse. So take that into consideration when watching the show.

All that said, if you are a rom-com fanatic and fans of the lead, this is going to be a sweet treat for you. It’s one of those few rom-coms, where I didn’t mind being hit by those romantic clichés that it throw.

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The perfect laugh-out-loud entertainment

Looking for a light and cute watch that will have you laugh out loud? You have come to the right place!

I really don't understand what so many people's issue with this drama is. I think with lots of intricate and complicated dramas around, people have forgotten how to have fun. Not every piece of media is meant to shake the world and have you contemplate the meaning of life. Sometimes, a story is written simply for you to have a good time and forget about the hardships of reality for a while. That is exactly what this drama is for.

I’ve seen some weird comments, such as people claiming the female lead having character flaws is „bad writing“ because we are supposed to root for her. Obviously, bad writing would be if the female lead was flawless. Nothing more boring than one-dimensional characters.

Anyway, this is great entertainment. Sure, the plot is predictable. But boy did I have fun, watching it unfold.

Both Sooyoung and Choi Tae Joon are very cute and fitting for their roles and I always love seeing Chansung as a bad guy - he just does it so well. Kim Min Kyu is always cute to watch and this is my first time seeing Han Ji An, but I enjoyed her performance, too.

The main couple actually developped a surprisingly mature relationship without your typical miscommunication issues, which was refreshing to see. My only criticism is that I didn't like the route the writers went for the second leads. After having been very toxic people throughout most of the drama, I would've liked them to settle their issues in a different way. It kind of robbed them of the opportunity to ACTUALLY grow as people.

I laughed out loud a lot, was always looking forward to the release date of the next episode and will definitely rewatch this. Ignore the fun-hating reviewers and give it a chance.

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An enjoyable drama

So just started watching and up to ep 4 it is a addictive drama. I watched the other by same name and it has some familiarity to it, but this is more true to everyday life style. I think the cast did a great job especially the ML & FL had good chemistry. The story begins with Hoojoon a famous singer /actor and everyone wants a picture or a story of him being scandalous. Well at an event that her company sent a newby to she was drunk looking for a bathroom and accidentally see him with a girl who she thinks he hit. When he sees her he thinks she took pictures and he doesn't listen and removes SD card and destroy the camera as she throws up on his sneakers. Now he's really mad and calls her trash in which makes her loose it as she telling him to appolize and chases after him, she throws her shoe and hit his head. With reporters all around it recorded and put on TV the next day she is fired and while arguing she's slapped by her boss and decides to make him apologize and goes to war. She was constantly taken advantage of by her coworkers and just takes it I would have slapped that boss back especially when she was already fired. Even more so when these 18 yo fan confront her she stood there like a tree, but when she grab the girl arm I was like "Go for it* and she failed and says don't post pictures please. I mean come on..she's 27 They could have made her a little smarter I know this can happen in real life and it's only a show, but I had to vent it🤐A producer can up with a reality show hense the name and both of them were reluctant to do it. She needed money to pay rent/food and wanted to get back at him so they both agreed. Next problem was she was homeless so she snuck into his home and was living there until he came home one night. She explained why she was there and he agreed reluctantly, but as time went on they started to understand each other more on and off the screen.

Just binged ep 5-13 wow it's like a great rollercoaster with the 2nd ML/FL in which it's still a little unsettling for me. From my understanding JJ and In hyung were part of shooting star when it was a startup company. Then Hoo Joon join and they all became close friends until hoojoon and in hyung became closer and JJ became jeousle(he had a unrequited love). When JJ was just about to debut the company paid more attention to Hoo Joon and so his debut was push back. JJ father started up a company for him and had In hyung follow him and was devistated when hoojoon declined his offer. What they didn't know was Young Seok son was really sick and he couldn't afford all of them and hoojoon overhead his call and felt quily so stayed behind and became famous. Now here's where I'm lost when the 2nd ML/FL left the company why over the next 6 years did neither of them debut or become anything. Jeousley and resentment has been building up especially from JJ over Hoojoon who he feels deserted them and he had to pick up In hyung broken heart. In hyung on the other hand makes you feel sad and confused is she with jj and a couple or just friends and he reminds her that she is his. There is so much to their story and I hope in the next 3 ep. everything will play out especially about his father and the ring.. and is his mother actually alive or does he just calls her for confort?..Just finished and it did fill in all the blanks plus more. Things were sort of looking alright when Geunyoung go to work for a sleazy Company that previously wanted her to spy and snoop around which she rejected. The boss told her she would handle other things but nothing to do with Hoojoon in which again nieave she agreed to work. A day later she needed to print something, but told needed higher up approval so gave them her laptop in which they copied her files and then reported it. Now Hoojoon is back in the news with the bad stuff she wrote months ago and other things they took(I would have sued there asses) now his life is in disarray and he knows its not her doing. His boss Young Seok warns her to move out and stay away from him for now and starts to give Hoojoon more jobs that he doesn't want. They argue and Hoojoon decides he has had enough and wants to quit in the meantime his boss isn't going to let his life be easy so he starts to release all of his past mistakes.
Now JJ is mad since he realizes that there was so much he didn't know about him good and bad. Now Hoojoon leaves to get his life back in track at the same time Geunyoung is also doing the same getting a new job and also writing the hoojoon manuel about his struggles as an idol. 3 month pass and he returns to the beginning again as a new star.
There is so much more hopefully you get the point. It's a grest drama always full of excitement.. Enjoy

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Another staple in K-drama romcoms, filled with cliches, but I mean that as a compliment!

Plenty of cliché-filled shows are outright bad, while others fall into the usual cliched patterns to hit certain required emotions without packing any punch. "So I Married an Anti-Fan" stood out because it managed to work within its confines, made the best of what it had while maximizing its potential by using certain tropes in a fresh way. It is so nice not having to sit through tedious and frustrating misunderstandings!

For me, I'm down for all romcom cliches as long as there's fantastic chemistry between the main leads, and I find their romance believable. Even better still if I can see passion, and that was where this show hit the sweet spot for me. Watching Hoo Joon's gradual change of heart towards Geun Young and how their relationship shifted into high gear after he realized his feelings for her was an incredibly cheeky, fun, and "feel good" ride for me. Choi Tae Joon showed how he can kiss a woman, and there was this intensity every time he as Hoo Joon kissed Geun Young. The way he held her neck, caressed her face, and pulled her in for intimacy. It's like a fierce "this is no accidental kiss, woman" vibe. I enjoyed Tae Joon's portrayal as Hoo Joon - an idol who rose to fame, fell from grace, and triumphed again but in a much better way. His character growth was well-written and well-acted, and that was one of the show's strong points. I hope Tae Joon continues to get lead roles since he certainly has the charisma, looks, and skills!

I liked Choi Soo Young in "Run On" and she did pretty well in this drama. Her acting was not as strong as Tae Joon's, but it was still fine. As Lee Geun Yung, she displayed a certain vulnerability underpinned by a quiet strength. No matter how low Geun Yeung felt, she always bounced back, and she was resilient to move on by herself. She was neither a pushover nor a strong, stubborn woman. I simply love how Geun Yeung gets all girly with Hoo Joon, and their moments together were always sweet and smile-inducing.

The best part, though, is the ending. So happy and lovely to relish! There was forgiveness and redemption, reflection and discovery of new purpose and direction, reconciliation and progression. Absolutely gratifying!

The OSTs were great and varied, but for a show that focused on the music industry, it would have been better if the music producers were more prolific. I enjoyed the songs and instrumental pieces since they lent a romantic and charming tone that underscored the show. Some songs, however, were overplayed and, at times, were not fitting for some scenes. I always like it when the actors contribute to the song tracks, and Choi Tae Joon sang two songs. For posterity, I have included the songs that I like the most below.

So far, I have focused on the positives, but there were flaws as well. Like the toxic relationship of the second couple, JJ/Choi Jae Joon and Oh In Hyung, which I have no doubt will infuriate many viewers. The story did provide enough details and background information for me to sympathize with JJ and In Hyung, although I did feel more for JJ than In Hyung. Ultimately it will all work out, though!

Overall, I hope that people will give this drama a try. It provides more of an emotional roller coaster ride with a good-looking cast than the run-of-the-mill romcom. Echoing some commenters, it would be great to have season 2 filled with more of the main couple's chemistry and kissing!

"So I Married an Anti-Fan" OST:
Pop Star - Choi Young Jae (GOT7)
Pop Star - Choi Tae Joon
Bittersweet - Choi Tae Joon
네가 분다 (When U Blow) - Kwon Min Je (권민제)
It's You - Moon Kim (문 킴)
이보다 더 좋을 순 없어 (As Good As It Gets) - Lee Shin Seong (이신성)
봄날 (The Spring Days) - Onew (김온유)
들리나요 (Can Your Hear Me) - Onew (김온유)
작은 아이 (Small Child) - Chae Myoung Joo (채명주)
Starlight - Ro Min (E'LAST)
Be lost in thought - Lee Cheol Won (이철원), Park Min Woo (박민우)

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Focusing on the few positives

I think there are plenty outstanding reviews of this drama & I agree with all the flaws. However there are few great minor characters that I thought were the only positives of this hard to watch drama.

1. ML's Manager. He's an outstanding character. I loved all his scenes.
2. Female producer who just blurb out brutal honest comments for the comedy relief.
3. Female makeup artists for the show. Few funny moments but highlight of the drama.
4. Male ex co worker -- "Dimples" Seriously he doesn't need to say anything, those dimples are just worth seeing
5. ML's CEO - few humorous lines.
6. FL's Dad - Hilarious!

In the end you can't really out act a terrible script. I pretty much skipped all 2nd couple's toxic scenes and somehow manage to finish.

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A complete waste of time.

I hate this kind of drama; it carries all the wrong tropes. Honorable mentions:

1- Two immature, emotionally constipated male rivals, with a woman at the center of their little self-worth.

2- Timid women, "I must endure and sacrifice for others (mostly men)". Typical, traditional female figures who are literally there for the males' emotional support. They fill the missing mother role, they're literally just there as emotional garbage cans. Geun Young and In Hyung are written as incompetent women, they're bad at their thing, they're less than average at best at their jobs and unable to make/maintain a career. They're failures in their own lines of work, they're dismissed, overlooked, undermined, and patronized.
Furthermore, the men are given careers, statues, professionality, and over all respect of others. The women's characters center around them being overlooked and dismissed but they "hold on" and "push through". That's it that's their whole characters, they're only loved for how they're dumb and beneath the men in a "cute" way as if it's a thing!
Who Joon has absolutely no respect for Geun Young, he treats he badly, he speaks to her with hash language, he speaks informally always while she speaks formally, he has no trust or faith in her whatsoever and believes what others tell him? He acts like an oversized man baby and a total jerk, but she still falls for him of course. He's blinded by ego, selfishness, emotional instability, and trauma. LITTERALLY IF THE MEN GO TO THERAPY THE DRAMA WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER???????????????? JUST GO TO THERAPY! I literally don't understand how people write such characters who are well into their 20s and 30s but behave like 6-year-olds??????

3- Oh my God the controlling men in this drama!!!!!!

4- Over use of tropes in general! The drama throws in ten thousand over dated troops: he's a jerk that's deep down actually "nice", mother doesn't care for him, father is missing with a small stupid lead behind. Best friends that hate each other over a girl, rivals because of the girl and their personal success. Other guy also hates his family and himself.

JUST GO TO THERAPY PLEASE GOOD GOD! AND LEAVE WOMEN ALONE THEY'RE NOT YOUR TRAUMA BANKS! YOU CAN’T JUST CASH IN YOUR TRAUMA IN WOMEN????????????? I HATE DRAMAS LIKE THIS SO MUCH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

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Started off strong but quickly became so disappointing

Let me just start off by saying that it was my LOVE for Chansung that kept me invested in this drama when I was bored and dying to drop it.

This drama started of quite promising. It had so much potential and I did enjoy the early episodes. I can't tell you exactly where it got boring, but once it did I just struggled so much to finish it.

I really love the male lead, I struggled to like the female lead. I don't know what it was about her but she was super annoying to me.

Jaejoon was definitely the best character and once again Chansung blew me away with his phenomenal acting. Inhyung as annoying as she was to watch also held my interest the entire drama where the love story between the main leads bored me.

Personally, I liked the side couples a lot more than the leads. I can't be the only one that found the ending, the proposal to be super CRINGE, right? To be honest they should've invested more time into repairing Jaejoon + Inhyung's relationship and made THEM get engaged by the end because they were together much longer than the leads.

One thing that annoyed me was that Inhyung never apologized to JJ for how she treated him during their relationship or for making him jealous of Hoojoon. JJ should've apologised for his jealousy too. I wanted them to acknowledge that there WAS love there because it was evident that they DID love each other. I'm happy that they were endgame but I wanted them to have a heart to heart and sort out their misunderstandings. I hate when kdramas leave things ambiguous.

Overall, I found the drama to drag a bit and then rush over important things like repairing JJ & Inhyung's relationship. The leads failed to hold my interest and their chemistry was non-existent. I definitely preferred all the side ships and characters to Geunyoung .

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