What Comes After Love (2024)

“A Love Story That Heals: A Poetic K-Drama for Heartbreak”

I first got into this K-drama because of the clips circulating online—it seemed like a lovely story, and I was intrigued. Right from the start, I enjoyed it; the love story felt sweet and genuine, something simple but charming. But as the episodes went on, my feelings changed, and I found myself disliking parts of it, feeling frustrated at times with the back-and-forth between past and present. I’m not usually a fan of stories that blend timelines within episodes, and that did lower my rating a bit.

Still, by the end, I had fallen back in love with it. It’s a rare show that can take you on such an emotional journey, making you feel conflicted but ultimately touched.

The drama is only six episodes, which I think worked perfectly for the story. If it had been longer, I imagine they would have dedicated one part to the past and the other to the present. That could have been interesting too, but in the end, the shorter format brought an emotional intensity that hit me deeply. The reunion in the final episode was incredibly moving—it felt as though the actress was speaking directly to me, reaching out in a way that felt personal and genuine. It’s one of those rare scenes that stays with you, especially if you’re someone who’s experienced heartbreak.

I’d highly recommend this K-drama to anyone going through a tough time, particularly if you’re healing from a breakup and seeking something comforting and gentle. It’s a show that won’t overwhelm you with excessive drama; instead, it’s soothing in its simplicity, filled with quiet moments that feel like a balm for the heart. And I have to say, I’ll definitely be buying the book. It’s beautiful, truly a work of poetry that stays with you long after you’ve finished watching.

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Muted, poetic, thoughtful

Although it is a Korean drama it has all the hallmarks of a Japanese production. The sombre moodiness and the underplayed emotion. The observation of thoughtful faces in a muted colour palette. The poetic rather than the pragmatic approach softens the tone so that it sits comfortably in melancholy. Any raw emotion is smoothed out by gentle music and there is no wailing going on. The OST was good, setting the tone for the drama.

There is a thoughtful progression to the feelings that work their way through right to the end which has a gentle landing. It delivers what it promises in the title, “What Comes After Love” so don’t come into this thinking it’s a standard romance. The messages in the show resonated with me, and reflect the changing perspective of what love and relationship are/should be as we grow older. It is the journey the protagonists take as they learn to appreciate who they are and what is needed to sustain themselves and a relationship.

Overall the show is solid with good performances, believable chemistry and consistent quality in the production values. Although I enjoyed it very much, there was not that spark to lift it to something special. There were no new insights for me and the story played out in a safe and somewhat predictable way, taking no risks. Where it did do very well was to show the progression of emotions. The rating reflects the quality of the production overall, rather than the originality, which would have scored lower.

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Not only cliche, but annoying

The first lines she spoke was her self awareness that she's flighty and runs when there's conflict, then she packs up and leaves the love of her life because he "made her feel lonely"? Ridiculous. She claims she's alone in a foreign country and only has him to rely on, but she speaks fluent Japanese? There was nothing keeping her from joining a club or taking up a hobby. They're working to make ends meet, but she doesn't respect that he's working, not ignoring her. She accused him of being self absorbed while whining about HER needs? I literally detest dramas where the lead has a whole blown up melodrama going on inside her head that she barely shares with the one person she should have. It's called COMMUNICATION. I just cannot root for her to get back with this man. He wasn't cheating, wasn't hitting her, but she's walking around Korea being a total coldie to her staff and treating him as if he was the worst boyfriend ever? That's not loneliness, it's needy codependence. Girl needs a pill and a reality check.

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Moments that Last Forever

From the first note of the music until the last, we are drawn into this captivating and mesmerizing drama…"What Comes After Love." When I first heard the title, it caught my attention but also the synopsis as well, which was quite simplistic – a Korean student is studying in Japan and falls in love with someone who is Japanese. Simple right. Nothing more. But it was that they fell in love. We all love a good love story and this by far lived up to my expectation and then some.

You always have to have the right couple and this pairing was exceptional. You have FL (Lee Se Young aka Cho Hong /Beni) and ML (Sakaguchi Kentaro aka Aoki Jungo/Sasae Hikari/Yun Oh) who made you feel in each scene, each frame their passion and longing desire of love for each other as all love stories begin. But life can intervene and what you thought was your “forever” lends itself to breaking up – a breakup that lasted for five years.

Life is funny. Fate can always play a part can’t it. That is what happened to Beni and Jungo. For those five years, while apart Jungo wrote “their” story in the novel, “What Comes After Love.” Coming to Korea to promote his novel, the interpreter he has is no other than the woman who has never left his heart, mind or soul…Beni. She too was shocked to see him. The play of emotion on her face, yet subtle, you could see when she first meets him. She is visibly shaken by the man she left without a word to come back to Korea, but she hid it well.

We feel the words, so many words not spoken between them, but each wanting to say but yet not say, for what, fear, more misunderstandings…neither would know until they were ready to take the step, leap of faith to find out but that was not to come…yet.

The tug of war throughout this drama was of their hearts and facing what had broken them up. The flashbacks of how they fell in love. The youthfulness of both of them. To see the beautiful smile of Beni, the illumination of light that radiated from her which drew Jungo to her. Her carefree nature and openness of love for him, you will see is a stark comparison of how we see her after those five years.

Jungo too was captivated by Beni. Love at first sight. She was just a shining beacon that he could see from afar that drew him to her no matter how far apart they were. Then life, misunderstanding, loneliness, and goodbye.

They both have others in their lives that wanted to get close to them but their always seem to be a barrier particularly for Jungo. Sung Ryung aka Manager Kong wanted Jungo in her life, but she knew once he saw Beni again. It was over, for her. The thoughts of what could be, we feel she had portrayed in her mind vanished. Her overall conclusion was to be his manager/friend. That is all his heart could give her. But being his friend, she gave him advice to take the steps towards Beni and look in her eyes without any more reservation and tell her his feelings that he could not do so before.

Beni had Hong Jong Hyn aka Kim Min Jun as the man that loved her, but which was not reciprocated in kind. I feel Beni never felt anything more for him but friendship as well. We all like to live in an illusion that a person has feeling for you and the misunderstanding of love is what was between her and Kim Min Jun. I feel he knew she was never “all in” but he was willing to overlook it because he loved her. He was the anchor that she did need in some respects when she came back from Japan. I felt like no one really ask her about what she thought but she just went along with the program. But once Jungo came back emotions that were hidden deep within her came rushing back so much so until she told Kim Min Jun, she couldn’t accept his proposal.

You probably are wondering what broke them up. It boiled down to me -- communication, misunderstanding, complaining and learning to say, “I’m sorry.” Loneliness for Beni was a big factor and Jungo after years of self-examination understood that he was the catalyst that pushed Beni even further to want to leave because he always left her alone. For Beni’s part it was her arguing and constant complaining wanting him to be with her.

Taking the first step towards rekindling the love was Beni. Going to him on his birthday and bringing flowers only to see he was with Manager Kong. Departs without a word. I thought Manager Hong wouldn’t tell Jungo that Beni was there. But to my surprise she did, leaving him to chase after her.

You see the utter defeat as Jungo sees Beni is gone.

Beni has never read Jungo’s novel, which she does after we find that Jungo has come to the office because he was leaving to go back home, leaves the keychain which symbolizes never begin apart but together. Jungo makes one last attempt to get Beni's information which he does from the interpreter. Getting ready to call, Beni calls and they meet. Sadness, no communication, words still left unspoken. goodbyes once again.

This is our first glimpse of seeing Beni’s rawness when she realizes how deep her love is for Jungo. You see the resilience of holding strong, the armor that she worn just fall fast and hard, exposing her to the harsh reality that he might finally be lost to her. Her crying uncontrollably makes your heart go out to her. And just wish if only….

At last, love does prevail...

Jungo is getting ready to depart for the airport when one of the concierges approaches him. Apologizes for not giving him the flowers that were to be his. He takes them and sees the card in the flowers as he is riding to the airport which simply states: "I'm sorry about earlier. Happy Birthday - Hong." Beni took her step towards him to let him know she was wrong; all of their misunderstandings were not only on his part but hers as well. The tears and sadness in Jungo's eyes make you scream at him to go back and get your girl.

Now it is Jungo's turn. Take his step to Beni but it wasn't steps it was running. He found her and ran alongside her every step of the way. Until they stopped and looked at each other, really looked at each other and talked.

Jungo: "Ever since we broke up, I wanted to be closer to your heart. So, I just kept running. I ran around Inokashira Park...and I thought about you. At first, it was because I missed you. But as I kept running...I started to understand.... how you must've felt back then. You were running to get over your loneliness. I thought...that I knew everything about you. But now I know...that I didn't understand the most important part."

Beni: "You know what? After we broke up...I couldn't even run for a while. It's just like you said in your novel. I was the same. I regret everything I did, too. When we were together...all I did was complain and didn't even try to understand how you felt. I was just the same. I didn't see what was actually important. I didn't see it until it was too late. I made you feel...lonely and miserable too."

Jungo: "No. It was my fault. I made you lonely. I'm sorry."

Beni: "No. It wasn't just your fault. I'm sorry too."

The simplest words to say, "I'm sorry" yet at times we cannot say them, can we. But through the tears and laughter, we see our couple clasping hands as they walk together hand and hand as the first snowfall of the year comes bringing a new beginning of the changing of season as well as new moments for them to share in their next chapter of.... forever,

The beautiful thing to me about this drama is we all have moments in our lives, particularly that all-encompassing love. The love that sets itself above all other loves. The one that made you smile to yourself when you thought of them, your youthfulness, your carefree spirit, a glance from someone who resembles them, all these things will bring you back to that "moment' that moment in time that has stayed etched in your heart and mind forever. Oh, we will love someone again, but we all have that "one" that you will never forget. So, we remember them and embrace them, hold onto them because even though they are moments they are ones we always will love and remember.... forever.

As a side note: The OST to this drama is so beautifully composed. You will definitely keep it on your playlist. Each track is better than the last.

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Love is a blessing. How ironic.

There are not a lot of collabs between Japan and Korea on the drama front. This is a rare exception and it is a good one.

The A-plot is simple. The OTP meets in Japan. Falls in love. Falls out of love. They meet 5 years later in Korea.

I'm glad that the Korean production team embraced the J-drama style because it kept the story simple and focused. This is why it is only 6 eps long instead of 16 and is not weighted down with filler subplots and multiple couples. BTW, because the plot is so simple, I'm not going to spoil it. You really need to experience this yourself to fully appreciate it.

Let's get straight to the point. This drama is wonderful. The acting, dialogue, cinematography and OST are all topnotch. The sum is definitely greater than its parts. As such, this is not an easy watch. While there are cute and swoony moments during their meet-cute and honeymoon period, the wheel starts to squeak as their relationship is put under pressure later on.

To be honest, it pains me to watch their sad moments. It helps that the plot is not convoluted nor bloated. It is just real people doing their best with the hand they are dealt. That's RL, chingu.

BTW, there is a 2ML and he is a good man who deserves every happiness in the world but he is the second lead so you get the drift…

OK, this is where I stop rambling and let you go and watch the show. No spoilers. Watch to the end and you shall be rewarded. Hwaiting!

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trying to please people with happy ending isn't always a good thing

when i started watching this series, i thought that they would make their break up make sense, and they would properly solve their issues. it didn't happen. instead, we got two episodes of fluff, and three episodes of present. i feel like the writer was just pushing CH and AJ's differences aside until the final scene was taking place for the viewers. CH felt random quilt over the break up in last episode for some reason. AJ neglected her until she packed her bags and left. It makes you wonder if they're going to fall into the same rabbit hole.
despite the writing flaws, this drama has definitely an excellent cast, and cinematography.

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Rare Gem

First off I love melodrama! This made it onto my top 10 from story to production & cinematography to acting to ost. The actors did amazing portraying their characters, so much that I fell in love with both lead characters.

Reasons you should watch this drama:
1. Story - Mature and refreshing
2. OST - Beautiful music that fits well
3. Characters - Great acting, great chemistry between leads. No overuse of side characters as story focuses mostly on the lead couple.
4. Cinematography- Beautiful scenes with snow, cherry blossoms etc
5. Short series - Short and easy, not too drawn out, don’t feel like you miss anything or it was rushed. It’s just right.

Go ahead and give it a try! You won’t regret it!

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What really comes after love

Angst and yearning throughout. The show captured the feeling of love and longing really well. Great acting makes you feel the emotions even better. Both the leads pulled off the roles with so much ease and chemistry is just oozing out naturally. It was quiet and beautiful in its own way. The story has you tugging towards both ends because their love was beautiful and their mistakes were human. Only con was the ending, could have been more detailed and settled well. A beloved drama with excellent takeoff but just the ending didn't pacify the angst that was present throughout the drama. A delightful melodrama watch and made me reminisce how much it emotes well when the leads can really really act !!

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A rollercoaster ride of emotions brought to you by excellent acting

“What Comes after Love” tells a simple story of young and innocent love, going through the challenges of everyday life, and coming to the realization that only love is just not enough. These young lovers reunited 5 years after their breakup. The drama tells their love story through flashbacks to the past and present, and is narrated from both leads’ perspectives. There’s an added colorful touch with regards to cultural differences between Japan and South Korea.

After the series ended, I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. There are so many frustrating moments where I want to strangle the leads because of the lack of communication and the lack of action. Towards the end, I did feel the interactions between the leads become somewhat repetitive but not to the extent that I dislike the drama. I just want them to speak up or do something!

However, I cannot deny the fact that I love this romance from innocent puppy love, to regrets and pain. Their smiles, laughter and passionate love for each other is so contagious. On the flip side, the longing, pain, depression, loneliness and regret break my heart. But none of the emotional rollercoaster could have happened if not for the excellent acting from Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro.

Both actors are perfectly casted. I am not sure how Lee Se Young’s Japanese sounds to a native speaker, but it sounded perfect to me. This might be one of her best roles yet. Kentaro has this dorky and shy charm. He conveyed the unspoken words through microexpressions on his face and his eyes. His character is a man of few words and Lee Se Young has very few lines in the last couple episodes too. Yet, I feel every emotion that they’re trying to convey.

If you like a melodrama of lovers reconnected after a difficult breakup, I would recommend “What Comes After Love” for you. The cinematography, music and the use of literature complemented the plot and the acting so well.


Completed: 11/5/2024 - Review #509

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All the Feels

What Comes After Love is not your typical romantic K-drama, and it may not be for everyone. Clocking in at just six episodes, the story unfolds at a slow, deliberate pace. It's very different from other more fast paced J-Dramas with few episodes, and is much more mellow in its vibe compared with other K-Dramas. The leads spend very little time together in the present, with most of the narrative told through flashbacks. The result is a nuanced story focused less on plot and more on the feelings of loneliness and love—themes that gradually build throughout the series until it resonates deeply with you as a viewer.

What sets this drama apart is its emphasis on the subtlety of emotions rather than grand gestures. In a way reminiscent of Japanese storytelling, What Comes After Love is more about exploring the feeling of love than showing it through big, dramatic scenes. This approach may resonate especially well with viewers who have experienced similar feelings, like living in a foreign country and facing cultural differences with a partner. For others, however, the slow pace and understated approach might feel a bit tedious.

While the show excels at building a quiet, melancholic atmosphere, it’s not without its flaws. Certain characters, like the female lead's sister, felt underdeveloped and unnecessary, and the leads' current relationship could have used more depth. Given the short episode count, though, it’s understandable why some relationships weren’t fully fleshed out. Despite the overall mellow vibe, I found myself yearning for a few more significant, emotional moments between the leads.

Still, What Comes After Love is a uniquely moving experience with a classical romance feel—perfect for those willing to sit back, slow down, and immerse themselves in the emotions at its core.

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A realistic romantic story about modern relationships, loneliness and regret . . .

The real highlight for me was the depiction of an adult relationship on screen. Here, there were the little physical touches, the petty squabbles, the deep regret of a fully lived in relationship. Here, was the constant frustrations and loneliness of modern life with work all consuming, often living in new, strange places with no community, filled with a longing for home.

The pacing in the last few episodes slows dramatically. While it starts off with extremely understandable reasons a relationship may not work out, our main characters then dance around having a true conversation stretched over 6 episodes - - a concept that starts to wear thin.

The acting was excellent and these two characters were made real. The music was atmospheric. I wouldn't say there was much rewatch value, there's not much of a cathartic release to the whole thing.

If you love rekindled past romances, like Past Lives, Before Sunset, or even the Jane Austen novel Persuasion, this is for you.

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