The Real Thing Appears (2023)

"The Real Has Come" s/b called “The Roller Coaster is Here” [UPDATE at Episode 50]

As of Episode 34, the viewer is at precisely 2/3 of the way through a 50 episode drama and for some inexplicable reason, the writers chose to make a major detour in the story-line and the question now is: was the detour planned all along OR, have they chosen to re-write (ignore) the history and canon presented thus far. I don’t know the answer – so this review is for Episodes 1-32 of the drama – and will be updated from time to time. Mild spoilers.

Synopsis: The series depicts the story of an unmarried pregnant woman (Oh Yeon Do/YD) and an unmarried man (Gong Tae Kyung/TK) who enter into a false contract which “leads them to romance, pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing”. But this move proves to be tricky because TK’s first love (Jang Se Jin/SJ) and YD’s now ex-boyfriend and father of her child, (Kim Joon Ha/JH), want to have a say in all this. “Will Cupid be able to sort out this tangled mess of romance?”

Episodes 1-10 were well-written and filmed well in advance to allow for large crowd scenes, outdoor locations and good introduction of all main characters and their family dynamics. There are three main families: Kang/Oh, Gong and Jang, all with the requisite parents, siblings, uncles, matriarch grandmother, etc. and features several couples in various stages of courtship or marriage. Kim Joon Has is the one main character with no family and viewers were told early on (in promotional video) that his family history would be a secret until the end of the drama.

Episodes 11-20 involved the growing connection between the Main Couple (TK/YD) as they negotiate their way through the early months of the contract marriage. They lied and deceived their families about their relationship, claiming that TK was the biological father of Baby “Real” and also lied about registering their marriage. Most episodes were standard k-drama fare: (1) TK/YD trying to maintain their two big secrets and (2) multiple arguments and fights both within and among the main families. There were also several ongoing stories of the other couples and their struggles with unwanted pregnancy and infertility. Episode 20 ended with TK’s declaration that he “liked” (cared for) YD.

Thus began what I call Chapter 3 (Episodes 21-30) - the developing “romance” between the Main Couple as they grew closer emotionally even though still planning to separate a few months before YD’s due date. Also in the mix was the attempted interference of the Second Main Couple (not romantic) as they attempt to split the Main Couple apart by revealing that TK was not the biological father. The other family arguments continued to a lesser extent as the families grudgingly accepted the presumed “married” couple and their presumed “biological” grandchild.

Which brings us to the “4th” chapter - I once predicted that during Episodes 31-40, the Main Couple would “slay all dragons” – that is, commit as a real couple, resolve all issues with their families and fight the 2nd Main Couple. This might still occur by Episode 40ish, but the plot took a 180 degree detour in Episodes 31/32 and as fast as you can say AB-RA-CA-DA-BRA, certain characters completely changed personalities. Previously kind/caring characters became monsters and monsters became caring.

My review thus far: characters that were interesting with interesting stories have been placed on the back-burner. Almost every scene/dialogue now revolves around TK, YD and Baby Real (birth name: Oh Haneul) who was born after YD lied to TK and disappeared for a year. This was the major detour mentioned above and many viewers think the show has gone off the rails at this point. So, that’s the status of the show – major whiplash with characters and story arcs. It’s a circular roller coaster with repetitive angst and trauma and it has lost its charm for me. I will continue watching when I have the time, but I no longer try to find the time to watch. Meanwhile – Episode 36 had its highest ratings in Korea so maybe the writers know what they are doing. Because, in the end, this drama is written by Koreans for a Korean audience and they get the final say on whether it is a success or not.

Review will be updated whenever I feel like it. At this point, I wonder if we will ever find out Kim Joon Ha’s family history before he is hit with a White Truck of Doom.

UPDATE 9/10/23 - after Episode 50:

At the end of what I call “Book # 4” (Episodes 41/42), we wonder to what alternate universe did the characters travel. Nothing happened in these episodes except Main Couple were apart and Main Couple reunited. No other story progressed, and no other characters evolved or changed.

By the end of the drama, the viewer realizes that there was one purpose for these episodes – stalling for time so that the writer(s) could completely re-write the end of the drama. When the drama began filming, the head writer said that 50% of the scripts were finalized. And it showed – the first 25-30 episodes were well done, the various families were intermixed in a variety of scenes and events, including accidental encounters that had meaning in later episodes. After that, it was clear that actors and directors were scrambling because of the rewrites. No more complex, meaningful scenes with a variety of characters. Entire stories were summarily dropped, never to be mentioned again. Location shoots were minimal – frequently taking place with a couple of characters in a coffee shop or driving in a car, walking into a building so that – the interior could be filmed at the studio. Episode 50 filming was completed 3-4 days before it aired.

In the end, almost all of the cast members appeared to be “phoning it in” because there was nothing new or unique in the dialogue or the stories. The exception? Kang Boo Ja (Grandmother) and Jung Eui Jae (Kim Joon Ha) each had scenes which required dialogue and emotion which were seen for the first time. For everyone else, there was nothing new.

Lire davantage

Chemistry

Great story and great actor's, the only thing that I cept disliking throughout the whole drama is the chemistry between the two Lead actors. The scenes they had separately ware great but when they got together they were more like brother and sister instead of lovers. I really couldn't get into the scene because of it. I cept hoping it would get better after they were acting with each other for a while, but it didn't get any better.

The rest of the cast was amazing I really could get into there scenes.

It is an amazing story, I finished watching it because the story was so well written.

I would love to watch it again when it's refilmed with other leading actors.

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Drearily dull drama

I gave a sigh of relief when finally Ep50 landed on our screen . No more of this family saga of cardboard characters with no backbones and with insipid smiles . I did not like it but wanted to see if it improved with the development of the story but it never did . It dragged on and on . There was no chemistry between the two main characters . Heavens know why they fell in love ! They stand apart and look at each other with languor , or sit side by side in their matching pyjamas pretending to be a couple ! Baek Jin Hee as Yeon-doo spends her time apologising right left and centre to everyone ! False humility becomes sickening . He , as Tae Kyung , lacks not only charisma , but clout and resolve to escape from the control of his family. Only the older characters as mothers and grandmother have a bit of fire in them . As to the villains of the play , they are so unlikable , you can't wait to see the back of them . A waste of time . Not re watchable .

Lire davantage

speechless

Several factors just made this drama a total shIt show! It would've been better if and I hate to say this
if the female lead role was casted with a different actress. Sorry but that mousy look and child like acting topped with the way they had the character dressing in every ep. The actress just wasn't the right fit for the role as harsh as that might sound. SMHD
Then there's the writing, I don't know what the purpose is in making the female lead not be a tolerable character. This drama had the bad people pretty much carry the show. The story overall was good enough its the casting and the way it was carried out that made this just bad and frankly soured my stomach. I stayed till the end because of the male lead. This is one of those dramas that I'd suggest to watch only if your at the bottom of a barrel and only if there's nothing left that your able to watch.

Lire davantage

Writer is misogynistic

I tried to hold myself from calling this writer as such, especially when he wrote one of the best sageuk "The Princess Man" and I am aware he might not has fully control over his writing. But I still need to say what I want.

This drama used most of female characters as his tools, and he wrote them as the most annoying and bad characters in the whole series. But he wrote the male lead as the most greenest character, other male characters while not perfect but not written in the worst ways.

Let's not forget how he made Inok as the "villain" in several ep ? and suddenly resolved it in just simplest way lmao.

The lead actress hard carried this drama but the ones benefiting the most are both male leads - one is loved for playing the greenest character (viewers are easy to be pleased lol) and other one is hated for this role but he also became more popular. Both of them are truly "The Real Has Come".

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Wasted potential

I watched this drama completely and I still don't know how I didn't drop on the way. I think I had faith that the potential he had could still be exploited, but in vain.

The theme was really interesting and offered several issues to explore.

She was pregnant but looked like a normal woman, even though we were moving forward in time (I'm talking months). They did a time jump straight to birth (botched).

The drama started well but ended up revolving around something that could have been resolved more quickly and more logically (for me). Any other issues or plotlines presented at the beginning were completely thrown into the trash. Looks like the writer forgot.

Lire davantage

Get Bored & Annoyed - What a Waste?!!

Wow! Ahn first return after cheating scandal & divorce is to fight to marry some dude's ex and become father to his child by getting his whole abnoxious family bully the guy to no end! 50 episodes for this!!!! The extended families are over bearing; the story lines are annoying and unnecessary! The script is badly written and badly delivered! Actors literary stand next to each other, recite what they memorized as if filming occurs during rehearsal while they still have scripts in their hands. The rooms are so staged as if a big wearhouse divided into rooms where scenes occur! Ahn who used to be a model is now fat and his wardrobe is sad, his face is swallen, and the female actress is short and suffering from anorexia rather than being pregnant! The contrast in visuals look like a fat tall male obsessing over a short starved middle age woman! The side stories literary fall to the side and remain unfinished by the end of 50 episodes! The best thing about the drama is the ex-boyfriend and the father of the child. He literary saved 20 episodes. He is handsome, energetic, has great delivery despite the poorly written script. He needs to get more main roles! Anyhow, there are numerous Chinese and Korean dramas that are worth watching. Skip this one and you won't miss much!

Lire davantage

Dropped....

To think that it took me to reach the 26th episode before finally giving up on this drama.

The first 2 episodes had shown such promise that I was really looking forward to the subsequent ones. But over time, the storyline just fell flatter than ever. The ML and FL do not have any chemistry with each other; that I would go so far as to say that this is a mismatched pairing. The second leads are also irritating beyond belief!

Added to this the minor stories of the FL's uncle, brother, the in-laws etc...... I just kept on fast forwarding the episodes every time.

Finally came to my senses and dropped it. Sadly, this is the ML's comeback drama and yet, if that is the limit of his acting skills, I doubt I would watch anything of his again. The FL???? well, not the typical face of an FL and seriously, half the story already and her pregnancy is still not showing?????

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