Lovestruck in the City (2020)

Really different production and direction make this one stand out a bit

Short: A small (17 x 30 min episodes) collection of interlinked stories about a group of people living in the city. The main standout difference with this is the production and direction, leaning more towards "fly on the wall" type approach but done in a clever way so it won't put off those that don't like that style I think. Good stories, interesting twist in the last episode, it's fun and light for the most part.

Detail:
The style is that this group of people who may or may not know each other at the start are followed around by a cameraman and asked for answers to various questions relating to life and love. It's essentially following people from different walks of life with different outlooks and comparing their answers to various questions, but done on the backdrop of an underlying story that really nicely ties it all together.

I thought the relationship between the two leads was really nice, both in the start and then as it goes through various complexities through the story. There was a clear chemistry between them. As with life, it's not all roses though for everyone. Good to have on the whole strong characters throughout, showing that you don't need a relationship to be strong and you don't need lofty goals or money to be strong.

Wish it was a bit longer perhaps but also worried that if it was longer then it would have felt slow - which this didnt, the 30 minute episodes combined with multiple stories developing made it feel like it was constantly moving.

It's complete, and has an ending, which seeing the shorter overall runtime and the fact it was on netflix made me a bit concerned about starting it in the first place (was tempted to wait until the end and see how many people started posting "cliffhanger cant awit for season 2" etc etc) but happy to report this is complete and while they could do a season 2 perfectly nicely it is absolutely not necessary based on the conclusion of this one.

The cast are all really good, lots of actors and actresses i've seen in many other dramas - some less than others so it was good to see them here with perhaps more important roles than previously such as Han Ji Eun who i've only seen in one or two dramas previously and find her to be really unusual and interesting to watch!

Definitely worth a watch, it won't take up much of your time but it will make it fun :)

Lire davantage

I LOVE this show so much and I NEED a second season.

This is my first review here so I'm not sure how to go about this... But I LOVED this show! A lot!


I finally got to see post-military service Ji Chang Wook shine in a show! As someone who fell into the kdrama rabbit hole and loved his shows when he was in the military, I was kind of disappointed with his last two outings but OhMyGod he brought his A-Game. I didn't watch Arthdal Chronicles so I loved seeing Kim Ji Won return on my screens with such a great role. I absolutely adore the whole cast and have enjoyed all of their previous performances so that added to my enjoyment.

For the uninitiated, the show follows a mockumentary style filming format, kind of reminiscent of The Office, but instead of a workplace, it is about the love lives of individuals in the city. To no one's surprise, our main cast is participating in this and their lives are all somehow connected. The 30-minute episode length with the new editing and filming format is a refreshing detour from conventional romantic dramas but still brings on all the feels!

I loved all the couples, even the extra fourth one in the bonus 17th episode. Ji Chang Wook and Kim Ji Won look great together and their chemistry is off the charts! On another level! Kim Min Seok and So Ju Yeon are so cute individually and even more so together! Han Ji Eun and Ryu Kyung Soo's characters have an unconventional relation but they make it work so well!
Janet Suh's opening theme song and all the other OSTs were perfect for this show.

I just finished the show, I loved it, and I know that I'll miss the whole dynamic and I'll definitely come back to it.
I need a second season, if you finish it, trust me, you will too!

Lire davantage

It’s a frustrating journey of two heart broken people in love

This show takes time to develop, so you’ll either like it or you won’t I don’t think there’s any in between, but if you do intend to watch give it time.

The concept is definitely fresh and all the characters have distinct personalities and the actors do a very good job in bringing those out (even if I put my love for JCW aside and see, he’s mind blowing in all the emotional scenes and always delivers).

The side characters are more interesting to me in this show and they don’t get enough screen time in my eyes.

My issue is that the 2 main characters are not as likeable. I did not root for them to be together- I wanted them to develop but separately. It takes time for them to come around one another and their journey made me believe they were better off. The way they were written came across as whiny (ML) and Selfish (FL) and made me loose empathy for them. If frustrating character decisions get to you then you should keep this into account while watching. Also lack of communication is the source of all problems in this drama- between literally most of the characters.

There are episodes in the middle of the show which could easily be counted as ‘filler’. Nothing develops for a while in between and the later episodes are comparatively faster (in a good way). The ending was also not really satisfying and I feel some stories had much more to offer even though they wrapped most of them up as they could.

The epsiode length really works in the show’s favour as I never realise when the time passes. However as mentioned earlier, nothing happens in some and thus a 12 episode format could have worked better.

These were enough reasons for me to keep going- however I don’t think everyone would like it.
I do think this show would be enjoyed more if binged watch at once. Give it a try for it’s performances, cinematography and OST!

Lire davantage

THE MOST FRUSTRATING LEADS EVER...

I was super excited when this project was announced and literally checked on its update every month after it was announced and the excitement was there till ep 5-6 and after that, the main leads became extremely frustrating and i watched it the same way we watch soap opera or makjang... you know, frustrating characters but still want to know what will happen next... for a drama that's advertised as a realistic drama that's not a good thing...



lets start with the good aspects of the show which surprisingly are many
1. the acting is very good esp by jcw... kjw was good in the present but very over the top and artificial in the flashback... the rest of the cast also did well... the only thing realistic with this drama is the acting...
2. the cinematography is amazing and the scenes on yangyang were well shot...
3. the ost is amazing...
4. i personally liked the iv format which made it look like the characters are talking to the viwers and every character gets to express their inner thoughts...
5. the comedy scenes were really good and weren't overdone or too animated...
6. minho's extended cameo...

there is only one single aspect that just destroys the entire drama for me and that was the so-called deep love of the main leads and unfortunately, it takes up 60-70% of the screentime...
it started off well but the writer just overdid the flaws of the character to the level their relationship looked right out unhealthy.... jaewon has so little to no self-respect, is whining and wont take anyone else's pov other than his own... his love looked like an obsession... eunoh is extremely selfish and is emerged in self-pity to the level she is unfit for a relationship and the only person who can have a relationship with her is jaewon... sometimes i felt the writers degraded jaewon just so he will fit with someone like eunoh... she claims to love the guy but lied to him from the get-go, dumbed him out of the blue then didnt care about him even when he became a borderline alcoholic for more than a year, stalked him occasionally for more than a year and when he finally found her instead of sitting down and talk with him she lied more, insulted him in every chance she got (which apparently is supposed to be seen as bickering b/w lovers), treated him like shit, played with his emotions a little bit more by kissing him and then when he cornered her and she had no other option but to talk to him, she said he isnt her priority anymore even though she likes him but within a week or so goes back on her words and goes after him only because she didnt know the meaning on the pentant he gave her and he wasnt showering her with the attention she wanted and was getting for so long... since jaewon is such a pushover and have little to no self respect he dont care for the fact that she treated him like shit for more than an year as long as she says she likes him which is very hard to belive as a viewer... there isnt a single moment where eunoh even considered jaewon's feelings and that too for more than a year... she admits she is completely messed up but still wants to get back with him because she knows if she stays silent he will move on and find a better person...
also to justify all of her messed up unhealthy behavior we get a look into her past which only gives a reason for her behaviors and not justify her actions... the drama literally romanticizes an extremely unhealthy relationship b/w two people who need counseling asap esp the FL...
the happy ending looked very artificial and forced... these two ended up together only for the sake of a happy ending and nothing else...

also, all the female characters behave and blame the guys as if these guys are some psychics who will understand every actions of them even if they hide things from him or behave the exact opposite of what they want... not a single female character even try to communicate with the male characters and then point fingers at them for not understanding them...

Their love story literally looks like the gender-reversed version of playful kiss... the ML of playful kiss don't even stand a candle in front of eunoh when it comes to being self-centered....

the bad aspect that i said might only be a bad aspect just for me and if people watch it only to see jcw and kjw together then its a perfectly fine drama for them... personally as a fan of jcw, i seriously hope he dont even do a cameo as jaewon in s2 of this drama... i would never want to see him as park jaewon ever again...

for people who want to watch it should watch it and judge it on their own as its a complete hit or a miss and the liking for the drama depends entirely on the individual... i personally didn't like it but there are people who loved it...

Lire davantage

Fun, Relatable, Full of Lessons

From the title and synopsis, the impression was this is a part comedy, part cheesy, part romantic, series. It was so easy to dismiss but I am glad I did not. Each episode are around 30 minutes long and they did well in telling the stories of the characters and their relationships while staying to a particular topic or subject in each episode.

I like the OST, at least what was used so far in the first 8 episodes. Good acting, the chemistry between the actors were great. Relatable story, romantic and yet light--not cheesy, not teenage drama, no serious political and family drama.

If you're looking for a TV show to break your existing serious line-ups, definitely pickup "Lovestruck in the City".

Lire davantage

Full of unlikable characters

I get that a lot of people praised this show for its originality, but for me it didn't work. The documentary style just took me out of the story too much. I didn't care much for any of the characters in this show, but especially the main couple. I think the actors did okay with what they had to work with, but the way these people were written was lacking. The male lead spent the entire show going on and on about how much he loved this woman, to the detriment of everything and everyone else. Why? Why was he so obsessed with her? She was NOT a nice person! Their relationship seemed toxic to me. A romance needs to make sense to me, I need to be able to empathize with the feelings of SOMEONE in the show that I am watching, and I wasn't able to do so with this show. And the ending was just very abrupt and strange.

Lire davantage

blahstruck in the city

Initially intrigued with its unique documentary-style format, promising a fresh perspective on modern love. However, the series quickly devolved into a predictable and overly sentimental romance drama. The show’s innovative approach, which could have offered a deeper, more nuanced exploration of relationships, was ultimately squandered.

The writing was a major letdown. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, and the dialogue was often cringe-worthy.

Jae Won, the central character, was a constant source of frustration. His self-destructive behavior and inability to take responsibility for his actions were tiresome to watch. While the show attempted to address his alcoholism, it often felt like a superficial solution to a deeper problem.

Eun Oh, the female lead, was a complex character, but her tendency to avoid confrontation and hurt others was frustrating. Her character arc was inconsistent, and she often seemed to regress rather than progress. Worse... he was particularly annoying, with his constant whining and indecisiveness. His performance was lackluster, failing to bring any depth or nuance to the role.

Rin Yi, the free-spirited artist, was an interesting character, but her development was limited. She was often used as a plot device to advance the stories of other characters, rather than having her own meaningful arc.

Gyung Joon, the kind and understanding friend, was one of the few likable characters in the show. However, his passive nature often hindered his ability to help his friends.

Sun Young, the cool and collected career woman, had a more complex character arc. However, her behavior towards her romantic partners was often questionable, and her actions sometimes seemed selfish and manipulative.

Overall, the characters were a mixed bag. While some were intriguing, many were underdeveloped and frustrating. The show could have benefited from a deeper exploration of the characters' motivations and backstories.

The pacing of the series was uneven, with some episodes dragging on while others felt rushed. The show’s attempt to balance the documentary-style format with traditional storytelling often resulted in a jarring and disjointed viewing experience.

Ultimately, it is just a missed opportunity. While it had the potential to be a unique drama, it failed to fully capitalize on its central concept. The show’s reliance on clichés, melodrama, and inconsistent pacing ultimately undermined its potential to offer a meaningful exploration of love and relationships.

Pros:
Unique documentary-style format
Visually appealing
Strong performances from some of the supporting cast

Cons:
Weak writing and character development
Unengaging male lead performance
Inconsistent pacing
Overreliance on clichés and melodrama
Disjointed narrative structure

Lire davantage

Definitely a new & fresh concept ^^

This drama was definitely a stepping stone to more similar Kdramas in the future with this 'interview' type of concept. The starting was quite slow but started to get better and addicting from Episode 8 onwards. I like the concept of them having an interview while talking about their love stories, this drama also implemented some comedic elements so it wouldn't be as plain or boring. I don't really like how they wrapped up Rin-i and Kyeong Jun's story though, they were doing good until the end where they just broke up abruptly and no news from them onwards, it was quite disappointing. Was also hoping for Seon Young and Geon to get back together too along with Rin-i and Kyeong Jun. This drama tells us many love lessons and many life stories so it was interesting to see that. At the end they showed us another character story, so maybe hoping for a Season 2? Overall, a good drama. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY . Its so good, beach scenes were also aesthetically pleasing, the snow scenes, the raining scenes. It was healing. Chemistry between the actors and actresses too !!!!! The cast was amazing, Changwook and Jiwon.. wow , they did it again, they pulled off another good one.

Lire davantage

LOVESTRUCKING WITH JCW & KJW

WOW I can only say WOW to this new, chill, easy to watch, refreshingly warm and light drama. Refreshing because of its new format -- mockumentary where the characters are being interviewed while their own story are being presented from current time to flashbacking their stories in the past.

STORY is simple, 6 people trying to love and receive love differently on their own story. More than you giving love, it is you loving yourself first and finding your self worth in the process. The writer is so creative in presenting the stories of the six people. The story telling is crisp, brief, creative from flashback, to interviews to narration.

All the CHARACTERS are believable and relatable and that's how special this drama is. One can just be nostalgic in her / his own lovestory. The viewers will be given so many thoughts to ponder and to look deeper into their lives. There are many introspects that one can deal with. It's like you are watching your past self, or dealing a present dillemas. It's a drama where you can say "been-there", "done-that" while watching.

The SCRIPT is well-written and is worthy of the actor's dramatic talent. Both Ji Chang Wook and Kim Jiwon has such great onscreen presence that their portrayal and depiction excites the passion and senses of the viewers interest that one cannot wait for the next episodes to happen.

CINEMATOGRAPHY and VISUALS are what makes this drama so magical. The settings and the vibes gives you a 70s to 80s vibes. It is like you are watching a Hollywood movie sets in the countryside with the beautiful background of the East seas. The picturesque background one cannot help but fall in love. The visuals of the actors are exquisitely palpable and the sizzling NATURAL CHEMISRTY of Jichangwook and KimJiwon cant help but to feel fluttered everytime you see them in the screen. You will surely fall in love with them that one can say that they are not acting at all especially in the flashback stories.

Directing are well executed and shows the creativity in its presentation. Since it is a new format, predictability has no room in the flow of the plot. Every scenes were well thought thus providing an overall fantastic presentation of the drama.

MUSIC and OSTs are undeniably my favorites too. They are packed with songs with perfect melodies that are feel-good and highly-listenable that fits the past happy life of the couple and the present time city life of the couples.

Overall this drama provides a new door in drama watching, with its short 30 minutes duration, one can hardly notice that you already finished one charming, happy episode and excited to divulge in the next episodes.

Lire davantage

NEW FORMAT......A REFRESHING ONE

I watched this drama ongoing......From the very first episode I enjoyed JCW and KJW chemistry....Their sizzling chemistry was out of the world...I don't know why people find this drama slow pace...It was only 30 mins so it was not possible to show everything in detail...
JCW and KJW portrayed their character very well and they did a great job...But there was something off with the writing..the writer could show us more after they were reunited...I just hope that they make a 2nd season with the same cast...cause the chemistry between the leads were very strong which I didn't see lately in other dramas....

Lire davantage