Frankly Speaking (2024)

Drama which could've been way better

So, when this drama was first announced, I was pretty excited because it had one of my fav actress, Kang Han-na.
When the first episode aired, I had high hoped from this drama. The idea felt new and the pairing also felt fresh.
But as we ventured into the second half, it became evidently clear that the writer had no clue of how to proceed with this drama. Some of the things that made this drama interesting were gradually faded out in an effort to make it more "romantic".

1. The idea of a person suddenly developing ability to speak truth is a already used in Hollywood, but I guess this was pretty fresh in Kdrama universe. So, yeah the plot appeared to be nice.

2. But this was the only good thing about that plot. Halfway through it felt like the writes have altogether forgotten that they have a ML who is incapable of telling lies because in no shape or form he looked "very uncomfortable".
This lying thing could've been churned more to induce more laughter. But after 2 or 3 episodes, that laughter vanished. It went from a romcom to a seriously romantic drama.

3. Another interesting thing about this drama was that fictional variety program. It made mid episodes very interesting. But this barely went for 4 episodes and then we were slapped back to slice-of-life romance. This thing should've been explore mode and perhaps should've been central plot along with lying thing.

4. Second Male Lead was a pretty boring character and there was no "strong antagonist". While I am love dramas where there are no villains, but the thing about this drama was that they introduced a vamp kind of SFL and she just disappeared after 4 episodes. It was a pretty dumb move. If you are introducing a villainous character, make it a stronger one.

5. Drama is 12 episode long which felt way too less for the story to fully develop and end satisfactorily. This is ongoing problem in kdrama. Drama that require 12 episodes are being somehow stretched into 16 and dramas that deserved to be long are cut short.
This same problem was with NKM starrer The Veil.

6. The cast was good. As said, I'm fan of Kang Hanna. I found her very cute and charming in this drama. ML was also fine but need some polishing.

Overall, this drama isn't bad, per se. But it could've been so much better. The cast and the audience is let down by some seriously ridiculous writing.

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Run away, run away

Yet another mental health educational video masquerading as a romcom in the same vein as Doctor Slump and Daily Dose of Sunshine, which were also terrible. The two leads and main love interests have no discernable chemistry. The plot was all over the place before settling in to its preachy mental health message. As if that weren't enough, the producers even had the temerity to finish the drama with an allegory in the form of a children's play so that even a 5-year-old could get the message. (I wish I were joking.) This one was as bad as the other two. Hopefully , this is the last of them. Skip.

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A mess of a storyline

You know, I was really looking forward to the drama, but I think it lost its way. At the start, the concept of a news anchor who can't lie was so promising! They could have really dug into the whole fake news angle and made it hilarious, like they did in "The Honest Candidate." The romance could have been a fun side story. His people-pleasing nature could have added another layer of humor to the plot.

But instead they threw in a reality dating show and a pointless love triangle. Honestly, I don't think it needed all that drama. It just needed to be over-the-top funny with a sprinkle of romance, like "Sound of Your Heart."

I'm so disappointed. I was really excited to see Ko Kyung Pyo and Kang Hanna together, but the story just missed the mark.

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A cute love story and a lesson

I liked the concept of this one I thought they did such a great job and it did not feel like it was predictable. I really like the couple together. I liked that the people that were supposed to be villains and name pretty good people and that it was A. Redemptive hopeful story. I love how they ended it and how everything felt like. It was well thought out and while written instead of being an afterthought.
It was the perfect length and needed to be. And I really like over subjects that they covered. It did kind of feel like it was dragging around ep 9 and that is why im giving it 9 stars. But I think that it was just amazing. And I would definitely recommend it to my friends.

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Cliche but fun

Typical romcom dramas in general with all their clichés are surprisingly good and can make you feel at home following them. Starting from the comedy which happens to suit your taste, the romance is also a healthy romance, not a toxic one. Apart from that, this drama also has a story that seems simple but has a lot of meaning, from romance, family issues, to self-love. All the cast members who appear can really carry their characters very well, especially the two main characters who seem to feel like they are playing themselves rather than acting. One of the hidden gem dramas this year? Who knows...

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Meandering and light but not awful

It's a chameleon of a show. It begins with fart jokes and shocking truths. It morphs into a low-key romance. Eventually the light comedy dissipates in favour of a standard healing drama. The character interactions are good and the backstories are robust, but the situations are not terribly credible and the main relationship looks like more of a background story than a stand-out plotline.

On the cast and acting side I though that it was generally good but both leads were the weakest link. In a show that should have been filled with both laughter and vexation you'd look to the actors' eyes for the key expressions. These two looked like they'd just come off a botox treatment so neither joy nor mortification successfully crossed their faces. Apart from Joo Jong-hyuk, who did very well as the SML, I though that the best performances came from the people who were not seasoned drama actors, those characters being Director Yeon, I-na, and the kid.

Also on the upside, nobody gets stabbed. I find it weird that I have to mention it but that's the K-drama world for you.

Waste of time? No, not really even if I did not rate it highly myself. It's more in the line of "Love is for Suckers" than "My Lovely Liar" so you'll get some mileage out of it if you're looking for light viewing and light romance and are content with a 7/10 show.

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a vida como ela é

o comentário em português que vc procurava haha

O drama em sim não é uma história emocionante com grandes protagonismos, mas acho que seja bem vida real; ele um cara que mentia para ser aceito e a moça que sempre fingia estar bem sempre, o secundário que tem fama mas não é feliz e lida com questões de ansiedade; Em tese todos eles usam máscaras,falham consigo mesmo em expressar seus sentimentos e aprendem uns com os outros e com as situações a respeitarem seus sentimentos, não precisamos mentir sobre quem somos para realizar sonhos, está tudo bem não estar bem o tempo todo e mesmo que aparentemente vc tenha tudo tá tudo bem ter um tempo para cuidar da sua saúde. É um drama leve sem vilanias, tranquilinho, protagonistas simples com suas vidas pacatas. vale a pena assistir.

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CHAOS, COMEDY AND LOVE

Frankly Speaking kept me immersed in a whirlwind of emotions and unexpected twists. The story revolves around Ki Baek, a news announcer from a seemingly wealthy background, who suddenly finds himself trending for the wrong reasons after a bizarre on-air incident. His life takes a wild turn when, after an accident, he begins blurting out his thoughts uncontrollably, leading to some hilarious, yet chaotic moments. I loved the premise—it was refreshing to see a protagonist struggle with the inability to lie, especially in a world where everyone constantly puts on a façade.


One of the highlights was the dynamic between Song Ki Baek and On Woo Ju, a variety show writer who initially tries to use Ki Baek’s newfound fame for her own show, only to develop a genuine connection with him. Their budding camaraderie, and later romance, added a heartfelt layer to the chaos surrounding Ki Baek’s life.


I appreciated how the drama tackled deeper issues beneath the comedic exterior—Ki Baek’s real financial struggles and the pressure to maintain an image at work resonated deeply. The drama revealed that beneath his polished surface, Ki Baek was just as vulnerable and flawed as anyone else, which made his journey all the more compelling.

The supporting cast was a mixed bag for me. Characters like Jeong-heon, Ki Baek’s high school friend turned rival, added tension, especially with their unresolved issues from the past. On the other hand, Min Cho Hui’s manipulative behavior and constant need for attention grated on my nerves. Her emotional blackmail tactics toward Ki Baek were frustrating, but I was relieved when he finally set boundaries.


I won’t lie—there were moments when the story’s direction left me confused, especially with the constant back-and-forth between characters’ motivations. However, it all came together toward the end, especially with Ki Baek’s unexpected recovery from his disinhibition, which was a bit of a head-scratcher but ultimately served to show his growth.



The ending was sweet, though somewhat predictable. The romance between Ki Baek and Woo Ju felt satisfying, especially with that final proposal on stage. It was a full-circle moment, considering how much they’d been through together.


Overall, Frankly Speaking was an enjoyable ride with its mix of comedy, drama, and heartfelt moments. Although it had a few pacing issues and underdeveloped subplots, the main storyline kept me engaged. It’s definitely worth a watch if you enjoy quirky dramas with a unique premise and character growth.

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Not Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Frankly Speaking '' is a romantic comedy which blends in a lot of genres but ends up a hot mess.

The drama starts off smoothly, but soon it loses its way and gets all messy. It actually turns into a completely different drama, completely forgetting its original storylines and ending up being all over the place.

Thus, the romance was swept up into this mess and was hard to enjoy it. The comedy part got weeker and weeker as well.

The performances, on the other hand, were all great by every actor and actress of the cast and, especially, the two main leads.

So, overall, two out of ten.

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