Mad for Each Other (2021)

Sloppy writing toward the end

Mad for Each Other could have been one of the best show this year. But lazy, sloppy script writing ruin the ending to what could have been a great and funny show of 2021.

Both Lee Min-kyung and Noh Hwi-oh are flawed characters who are neighbors and being see by the same psychiatrist.. Min-kyung is in hiding, scared of people, not trusting herself, and is a victim of past abused. Hwi-oh is a cop who is put on leave due to his anger management.

The series started out so funny with great acting and great story build up. I was so happy I thought I've found a gem. Since it's only a 13 episodes, I thought things would quickly finished without any mishap or dragging storyline. Wow. I was wrong. There are characters that don't even need to be included in the series. The cross-dresser and store clerk add nothing to the story. I don't even care about them, yet they're in the story. Why? Those minutes spent on them should be on the two main leads and their healing of eachother.

The series should have been focused on Min-kyung empowered herself. To be able to heal and not be afraid of her ex again. She need to lean to stick up for herself with relying and needing to be rescued. She was learning self-defense from Hwi-oh, yet, it was not put to use in the latter episode. Why? What's the point of showing her learning to kicks, hits, and run when it was not put to use? Hwi-oh was learning about his anger issue and how to manage it, but the first chance he needed to show that he had managed his anger.....he exploded....right in front of her. And the way she reacted when she saw it is beyond me. I understand she is traumatize by previous abuse but all of these should have taken place during the earlier episode....not the last two episodes. They vowed to trust one another but they broke that promised. What a let down.

The last 3 episodes are the worst. I couldn't believe what I was watching. It's like a different drama. Hwi-oh is a cop but he must have been a stupid cop because he's willing let Min-kyung trespassed into someone else property. Plus.....I thought she was afraid of people....yet she constantly take walk at night, and then trespassed into someone property alone at night. What a moron. At this point, I lost interest in both of these two characters. The way she's acting so childish without any coherent thought in her head during the patrolling. The car chased was the worst. It's so out of characters. This scene doesn't need to be included at all. It all could have been solved peacefully without the chase. Then the verbal abused from her to him. Why? Why did she had to go away? At this point, I gave up trying to understand what the show is trying to show me.

Overall, I don't believe they are healed. They're going to hurt one another continuing in their relationship. They don't trust each other. His is quick to anger and she's scare of that anger. All of these are due to lazy writing in the script writer part. What a let down to a good show. It could have end so much better. The potential was there....but...sigh.

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Surprisingly hilarious and wholesome!

Upon attending their therapy sessions, an ex-police officer, Noh Hwi Oh (Jung Woo), who lost his job when he couldn't control his anger, met a woman, Lee Min Kyung (Oh Yeon Soo) and become straight-up enemies. Min Kyung has an anxiety disorder and has lost faith in people due to an incident in her past. As they keep crossing paths, will these two fiery hearts help heal each other?

Bada boom bada bam! Comedy in your face, again, again, again! Yes, this is how I felt watching this show. I get immediately suck in to the leads from the start, seeing the hot-headed Hwi Oh clashes with Min Kyung, both of them are crazy! They are literally fire and gasoline. Their hijinks are hilarious, super slap-sticks! Even with some cringy potty humor, I’m pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this drama is.

Though short, it handles sensitive topics of mental health and trauma so well. It didn’t feel depressing, but we get to see raw and vulnerable moments of our leads. Characters development is very organic that they touch my heart. Of course, I love their wholesome romance. They had a quite sexy intimate moment too, which felt so organic and earned. The only nitpick is the chaos in the finale, that is not my fave part, but it is a very fun short watch. I would recommend it.

-Feb 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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What was that ending?

I can honestly forgive a show for a lot of things. However, I feel like this show really spiraled at the end beyond redemption. The only reason I'm reluctant to give it a lower rating is because I did enjoy the first 9 or so episodes for the most part.

Considering that this kdrama was tackling the topic of mental health through its main leads, there was an expectation that the leads would grow and heal from their respective trauma/mental health issues. The kdrama tried but utterly failed in convincing us of that development. In addition, character inconsistencies sprinkle the entirety of the last three episodes, ruining any enjoyment that I had previously.

For instance, Min Kyung is known to be paranoid and to avoid/be wary of other people, but for some reason, throws herself into harms way (going into an abandoned "woodwork factory" alone) while investigating "suspicious" behavior.

She meets up with her abuser WITHOUT telling anyone, without taking safety measures, and doesn't seem to suspect anything fishy. I thought she was paranoid and always suspicious of others, especially of her abuser. How suspiciously convenient.

In regards to her character development, her attempts to better herself and stand her ground are, understandably, not linear. Sometimes she "relapses" in the sense that she'll fall back into the same mindset and behavior. However, by the end of the kdrama, her behavior is just so illogical. This is reflected in both her mental state and her relationship with Hwi Oh. I felt like I was being pushed and pulled, whiplashed. Is she going to stop running or not? Is she going to be with him or not?

Hwi Oh was a cop, but doesn't seem to act like one at all. He lets Min Kyung explore the "woodwork factory" alone and just leisurely strolls in when she blows the whistle, grumbling. Is this a joke? What if she was getting murdered, like seriously?

He doesn't believe her. Just two episodes ago, he swore to always believe her. I guess it's human nature, but it did irk me. I was just bothered that both of them swore to be allies and then didn't believe each other at all in the next couple of episodes.

He rushes into any situation swinging. This ties in especially with the character development, or the lack thereof. He's rash and angry and that doesn't change at all. I wouldn't blame him, honestly, because even when he acts with anger and recklessness, it still works out in his favor. He rashly rushed into Yang's hideout and caught him. He got involved in that ridiculous car chase (don't even get me started) and the abuser was caught. Thanks, sloppy writing.

I'm just done with this show. I really only got through it because it was pretty short. If this had been any longer, I would have dropped it (and I don't drop too many kdramas).

Anyway, that's all. Have a nice day!

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A gem you can't miss❤️

When I watched the trailer of the drama, I didn't actually think that I'll be watching it when it was ongoing. I knew the FL and definitely liked her but then I learnt that it's releasing 3 episodes per week and it has 13 episodes only. So I decided to watch it and I'm so thankful for that.

This drama is a gem. It have to be one of the best dramas of this year. When I started this I went without any expectations and now I'm in love with it. The first three episodes were enough for me to fall in love with this drama.
The trailer showed the flaws which I thought would be the main theme like two people freaking out each other but it was much much more than that.

It showcases the heartbreak, healing, love, affection, trust and everything that one needs in a drama. From the writing to acting and directing, everything was amazing.
The drama also tackles with many social issues like extramarital affairs, assault, anger management, mental health and sexuality. The best part was that each and every person handle and learn how to overcome the taboos.

Each and every cast member played an important and admirable role.
I'm going to watch each drama by the leads. Their acting and chemistry was perfect ❤️.
Idk how I didn't know about this gem of an actor.

Im going to miss it real bad. But if asked do I need a season 2? No! Because it would be stretching the drama for no reason.
I hope it gets all the achievements and love it deserves.

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At least it was short

"Mad for Each Other" is a classic-style romcom about 2 people with issues falling for each other. It's not hard for me to like a drama like this as long as there is great chemistry, but this drama was very hard for me to really like. Thankfully it was short, which made it much easier to watch even during its cringiest moments. There were many moments in this drama that made me cringe and made me frustrated instead of falling for and sympathizing with the main couple. I also think there may have been too many cultural differences for me (as an American) to consider a lot of this funny, or maybe it's just not my style of comedy. Do you find irrational misunderstandings hilarious? Then you will love this drama way more than I did. Irrational Misunderstandings would actually be a good alternative title for this drama!

"Mad for Each Other" stars Jung Woo as Noh Hwi Oh, a suspended cop with lots of empathy and sensitivity and a quick temper. He is matched with Oh Yeon Seo as Lee Min Kyung, a woman whose trauma makes her extremely distrustful of... well... everyone. Both of these characters are way over the top on purpose but as much as I grew to love the male lead I honestly couldn't stand the female lead for most of this drama. Hwi Oh has big angry teddy bear energy which makes him easy to like. I also liked that he had average guy swag, which was nice to see for a change. Min Kyung on the other hand is a mess of a character. She wears a flower proudly in her hair so people know she's the kind of crazy you should probably avoid, but her baby-talk voice and constant accusations were honestly annoying enough on their own. I like weird female leads, but I lost patience watching her, and I think that was an issue with how she was written as well as the performance. Of course, the setup for the drama is that the caring mad dog will become a protector for the woman too scared to trust, but how do they get past their issues? That also means a lot of scenes with the female lead being selfish and irrational in THE MOST ridiculous ways...for the sake of comedy and drama... but it just wasn't funny to me.

The rest of the cast is hit or miss. There are annoying gossipy neighbors who were great, and old fellow cops who are fine, a forgettable therapist, a psycho, and two random characters that just felt like weird filler... a girl with too many part-time jobs and "Samantha" which I guess was an attempt at adding some LGBTQ "understanding" to the story... but those "comedic" scenes felt very dated. I think this drama tried to bring up some heavy topics like abuse, cyberbullying, transphobia but still keep the story super light and silly which made it hard to take seriously.

Would I watch this again. I doubt it, but it is short, and the cute moments between the leads when they are not screaming at each other or chasing each other are pretty good. I admit by episode 12 I disliked this drama A LOT (too much of the same frustrating tropes) but in the last episode, they did manage to cram everything in and make sure all was resolved, which gave me some peace. I mean the OST did imply that they would make the ending happy, I guess. lol.

Overall, other romance fans may be way more forgiving of this drama than I. There was a nice overarching theme about finding allies, but it didn't connect with me very deeply because of the style of the drama, or maybe the writing. If you like really silly comedy maybe you will find this funny and more endearing. I also hated "Love with Flaws", starring the same actress, for similar reasons. The more I think about it, what I disliked about that drama does overlap with this one except this drama has a much better male lead. Awkwardness, misunderstandings, LGBTQ awareness attempts, of course poop jokes, and wide-eyed Yeon Seo... once again, none of these things worked for me. It didn't make me emotional or make me laugh, but it did make me a little curious and a little invested in how their relationship would evolve, and it did obviously work enough for me to keep watching. The main thing I'd recommend about this drama is that it's the perfect binge length (13x30 min episodes), so I regret watching it while it was airing. I've just seen a similar dynamic in rom-coms done so much better so many times that this one felt like watching a placeholder until a better drama comes along. In the end, I'm not mad at or for this drama.

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Refreshingly Good !!

I’ve watched many kdramas and this one happened to be on my list for quite a while and decided to give it a chance and boy I’m glad I did.It was such a true to light refreshing series to watch which made me binge watch it in one sitting due to the hold it had one me I love dramas that talk and focus on mental health etc and I feel these actors and storyline made it so believable and heart wrenching I love how it became a enemies to lovers type series as it made it funny and laughable to watch which makes me laugh its defo a series I would watch again and recommend to others especially for first time kdrama watchers overall I gave this series a 8/10 watch watch watch!!!

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Surprisingly mature, with incredible depth

Based on the show's poster, you'd think this kdrama features silly, immature people in over-the-top situations, which does not suit my taste. If you are like me, I've got great news for you: Ignore the posters. Mad For Each Other has surprisingly mature, well-developed characters and relationships, as well as one of the the most tightly written screenplays in kdramaland.

Jung Woo was made for his role as Hwi Oh, the tormented but ever-responsible cop with anger issues, while Oh Yeon Seo plays the suffering Min Kyung with just the right touch of anxiety-ridden ice that warms up layer by layer as the story progresses. The humor as well as the bumpy interactions are heartwarming, not crass or slapstick. They work off an impressive screenplay by Ah Kung who deserves an award for her genius. I am wowed by the way in which the script gets to the point so quickly, yet expresses endless depth in each interaction. I have never seen a show pack so much into just 13 episodes of 30 minutes each. Furthermore, the supporting characters featuring a snooping band of ahjummas, an over-worked part-timer, Hwi Oh's cop friends, and a mysterious young person in the neighbourhood, are fleshed out as much as they are in many shows that take up more than double the run time.

Thirty minutes may seem short, yet the story itself takes steady breaths, with expert pacing and balanced emphasis that focuses first and foremost, on the personal growth of the leads. We see their healing and learning as individuals rather than focusing on romance as an end goal. On top of this, we are given visibility into our leads' internal mental states and changes in their perspectives, rather than simplified, preachy messages about the injustices they face. This is the only drama I've seen in which a man learns how to become a true ally to women. Min Kyung pointedly explains to him why she couldn't just "stand up for herself" and he understands.

I highly recommend Mad For Each Other, a deftly executed gem where screenwriter Ah Kung and director Lee Tae Gon mix together well-known kdrama ingredients into something so slick, tight, and thoughtful that you feel like you've spent an hour in-depth with the characters each episode. This may be the best kdrama of 2021.

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One of the best shows so far

What a great storyline, Two crazy people and their chaotic lives and the chaos that creates humor ,takes you on a emotional ride, Brilliant performances by the lead and supporting actors, Character development has been at par so far ,Brilliant screen play ,keeps you engaged ,some dialogues are so thoughtful and compelling
highly recommended during these tough times ,it will definitely refresh your mindset.
Very critical subject like Mental health has been tackled so beautifully, it makes you to think. Mental health has been so crucial in these trying times that we need a fresh perspective

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Gut wrenching but a must watch

This one is a gem. While I love k-dramas, one of my biggest beef has been that they really don't know how to handle the warts of a relationship. This drama definitely took care of that. (While I recommend this ten on ten, I would also add that if domestic violence, abusive relationships are triggering for you, please sit this one out. Meanwhile, may you find all the love, peace, and healing you need and deserve.)

I can't imagine how terrible it must be for those who have to live in toxic abusive relationships or have a past experience of it. The society isn't equipped to handle it, not are individuals, and so its just brushed under the rugs. The trauma of never being able to trust anyone is crippling in itself and add to it the constant worry of threat to life and it can be more than enough to send anyone spiraling into so many mental health issues. The drama covers them so well. Oh Yeon‑seo is just exceptional in all her rage, her anxiety, her strengths, and her vulnerabilities.

I love the fact that the writers haven't created a male lead who blindly believed the FL in everything, he has his doubts of her haunches because he thinks they might be from her fear psychosis and not lived experience. This is how real life is! Also, there is this scene where the female lead says she might deserve everything because who knows, it all might ave been her fault after all. Again, that's exactly what toxic people do. They dig it deep in the victim's mind that the abuse is their fault and not the perpetrators.

The writing is extremely rooted in reality and that makes it a gem really. And definitely the handling of trauma. There's absolutely no glorification of violence. They show how important allyship is to the victims, how love and trust are completely different things, and how tough it can be for someone to trust others once that has been broken.

Overall, this is a breath of fresh air. It's short, no unnecessary dragging of the story, absolutely to the point. Just perfection all round. Definitely worth the watch.

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A healing show with lots of fun and laughter touching on important topics ?

I absolutely loved this show, quite an easy watch and it's packed with interesting characters. But there are a few problems, let's start with those.

While I agree that she was broken and had issues that she was trying to deal with, she was majorly selfish and wanted everything to be as she wants. She never paid any heed to the well-being of the ML for whatever reason it may be and was always self-centred. That is not love, maybe dependence? I was sympathising with her throughout, but the second last episode just had me done with her. She did not give any chance to the ML, even when he tried to explain it to her nicely also. It just went one step ahead to show her self-centredness once again. Like I said, I understand that she is ill, but that does not justify everything you do in life. She has been horrible to the ML in countless situations and at times it just made me feel like she’s just using him again and again.

Other than that, I loved absolutely everything about this show. The way they’ve handled the sensitive topics of mental health, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, camaraderie, etc. - all the topics have been well handled and nicely conveyed. It’s a fresh breath of air from the usual ‘over-the-top’ ‘trying to fit in’ but extremely problematic mental health related shows like It’s Okay Not to be Okay and many others. Without being as loud and celebratory of mental health issues, the show aptly portrays them, and does so beautiful. There is no over the top hype created which just seems fake. Well balanced and really well executed story-telling and acting.

I quite enjoyed the subtle romance and cute moments between the leads too. While I’m not a fan of the FL, their scenes together (where she was not harassing him) were pretty enjoyable to watch. It’s a really fun watch.

On a side note, the main actress is so so pretty, cannot able. So happy to come across her work. She is a brilliant actress and just so pretty. Would definitely like to watch more of her!

All in all, it’s a good show, with a nice story line and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Not rewatching it since I found quite problems with the FL, but that’s just me personally. It can be overlooked easily and might even be funny for many people. Hope you have a great time watching this and enjoy it as much as I did. Cheers!

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This drama made me go mad

I must say that I saw this drama a little while ago so my opinion is not quite fresh.
I didn't expect much from this drama when I started it, to be honest I started watching it because it was among the 'trending this week' dramas.
My opinion is quite short and radical: I didn't really enjoy it. From an entertainment point of view, it's quite repetitive and... not great. The suspense and the wait for the next episode is not unbearable.
From the point of view of the characters... I must say that the secondary characters are interesting. We meet a guy who likes to dress up in ' women's clothes' and with whom the main character becomes friends. The shocking comments of the women who insult him for his ‘strange attire’ are called out on but maybe not treated as seriously as they should be.
Now, the main reason I am writing this review is because of the strange relationship of the main characters. From the title, it's clear that they wanted to pair two 'broken' people, but the whole thing just makes it unhealthy.
What made me have such a mixed opinion about this drama is surely the way they treated the abusive relationship of the female character. I was 'happy' when I saw that they were going to talk about abusive relationships and I was hoping, as I always do, that things would be treated seriously. We have a traumatized, paranoid, man-hating female character.
But that same character is just unbearable. To the point that even though I can from my own experience completely understand her condition, I couldn't stand her after a few episodes. I understand and I know that trauma can make us unreasonable but this character is not only unreasonable, she is also mean, nasty and comes to practically harass the one who will become her boyfriend. We don't really develop any affection for her, which is quite problematic since she is the main character. This is a mistake on the part of the show.
The main male character. A guy who is supposed to have anger issues but who is for a big part of the drama less toxic than the girl. Early on. Towards the end, I started to see a whole bunch of warning signs of abuse. He becomes physically and verbally aggressive. I can understand him being tired of having to put up with all the flaws of this woman. But I thought it was a very odd choice of the show to pair a woman who has suffered domestic violence with a guy who just happens to have trouble controlling his anger and hits people pretty easily.
There are non-consensual kisses like in all dramas, full of warning signs of abuse like in all dramas. But what made me almost hate this drama is the way they pretend to denounce toxic relationships while reinforcing them.
They pretend to put forward a woman traumatized by an abusive relationship and denounce this violence. But in parallel, her relationship with the main character has nothing healthy and it is to wonder, when we notice all these warnings signs, what will know the sequel.
In a word, I found it quite hypocritical. And to add another one, it's a mess. As the title suggests.

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