Fated to Love You (2014)

Incredible!

This is the greatest series I ever watched, I fell in love with the main character easily due to his acting, I was completely involved from the first episode. I actually have returned to watch this series 5 time already! Incredible story and the music was also fantastic, I regularly enjoy the music and think about this series. It was definitely the acting plus story that hooked me from the start. I watched on Netflix with English subtitles, would strongly recommend. Lots of laughing, crying, and you will be emotionally moved.

I must say again, the main male lead was fantastic, excellent acting and got me completely involved and caring about his character. Female was also very good.

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Overall, this has been my most favorite k-drama to date.
I'll admit, the first episode I wasn't automatically gripped, but by the 3rd, I was so absorbed! The story in its entirety has everything I have been so badly searching for in a k-drama. I love how it ended as well. You know how when shows end, a lot of the time it seems really abrupt and you'd like to know more about what happens? Well this one left me fulfilled.
I laughed at this show, a k-drama first for me. While other shows Ive seen are silly and cute, this one made me crack up sometimes.
This show also made me cry and cry hysterically, and so genuinely.
I love these characters in this show so much. I almost don't know if I'll be able to find one to top this, and it makes me scared ha.

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From gold to bronze.

While watching I initially had this at an 8/8.5. The first half was so much fun & very enjoyable/likeable in every aspect. But the second half completely flips to a different story and vibe (the simplest way to describe the shift is that it went from a romcom to a melodrama). It didn't become bad, but I definitely started to lose interest and was just waiting for the end. For this I had to bring the rating down a bit. If I was rating just the first 10 episodes alone it would stay as high as I initially thought. Logically it should be a 5.0 rating since half was good and half not so much but I feel like that would be a disservice to the great first half. It was genuinely good so it would be a shame to seemingly hide that with a poor rating.

Jang Hyuk & Jang Nara are lovely together in that first half. I understand why they've been casted together 4 times now. While Family (2023) let me down quite a bit, here I did get a good chunk of enjoyment and am glad to have watched (despite finding watching the second half to be a tedious task).


Bonus notes:
Choi Jin Hyuk's character's sister storyline was kinda dumb but I understand they probably wanted something for him to do besides be in love with Miyoung.

Also, I loved the music. Jang Hyuk's theme in particular was great!

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I decided to watch it because not long ago I had read the manga and it was funny.
We could say this is an ok drama you’ll see several times (as me) when you need some moments of comedy full of clichés. It has a lot of flaws but at the same time, some good things.
+ THINGS
* some moments are really funny.
* I like very much the main actors. This one was my first time watching them. And since then, I’m a fan. Both are amazing in everything they do.
* I appreciated the fact that there is a good profesional development in the female lead’s life.
- THINGS so so
* Why couldn’t they use the manga in the fullest? Why did they have to add all the kdrama’s clichés (illness, amnesia, piggy ride...)?
* if they would have done as in the manga, the length couldn’t have been more than 12 episodes. Twenty episodes were two many and it dragged so much, overall the last 4.
I haven’t seen the original nor the remakes, but I think if you want to watch a fluffy romance drama with some angst moments not too serious, you could watch this one.

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I really really liked this drama enough for a 10 but I am giving it an 9.5, why? the drama started strong but lost its momentum during the last 4 or 5 episodes. This drama must have been so popular back in 2014 that the producers extended the episodes to 20 instead of the common 16 episodes for K-dramas so the writers somehow could only come up with a bunch of fillers for the extended episodes. That is just my guess. With that said, one can always fast forward the draggy parts towards the last few episodes just be careful not to skip the good parts. The leads have good chemistry and the supporting cast also did a good job with their characters. I have laughed and cried watching this drama. Overall, just do it, this drama is worth watching!!

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All three versions were enjoyable. The original was the 2009 Taiwanese story listed as” You’re My Destiny” but I found the Eng. sub version under “Fated to Love You”. The Second repeat was the Korean drama in 2014 titled ”Fated to Love You”. Lastly, the Thai version called “You’re my Destiny”.

Far too often in many of these dramas, scriptwriters seem to think more is better. It really isn’t. A well-crafted drama will carry the story without having to include multiple romances and numerous disasters. I know they want to put everything in the story to bring a wide and varying audience but like soup, if you add too many ingredients it becomes inedible.

Of the three, I found the Thai version to be the best. The story is much more realistic and flows naturally. You can see even from the beginning the Male leads internal conflict. He senses a connection to the FL but tries to logically push it away due to his constant love for his girlfriend who is off chasing her dream. His love slowly dwindles each time SF breaks her promises and he begins to love the FL because of her caring loving nature.

The first physical connection between the two main characters is probably the highlight of the original Taiwanese version. You can actually feel that sexual tension whereas the other two versions do the normal see them head under sheets wake up the next morning.

The 2014 Korean version I believe has the best acting although the ML can sometimes take his querpy persona a bit too far. Jang Hyuk is one of Korea's talent marvels in nearly all he had appeared in and Jang Na Ra plays her part well delivering a enjoyable performance. I love Ester Supreelee and Bie Sukrit Wiserkaew in this Thai drama. The roles were almost picked for them. Ester has the insecure shy Nid down to a T and Bie plays his hard working business persona yet caring gentleman the best of the three actors.

The secondary actors are good as well but their story line varies from version to version. Their connection to the leads also differs due to the scripts intention. In the Thai version, I found the ML girlfriend to be more realistic in loving him but her focus was on dancing. Dancing is very rough physically on the body. The time a dancer can actually reach their peak is short so I can see this being believable. In all three versions, she is self-focused but more so in the Taiwanese drama to the point she will actually do something immoral to try to keep the ML.

The Secondary male lead on the other hand is selfless and giving. So many times I wanted to scream, “forget the lead and go for this guy! “ He is gorgeous and sweet…will do anything for the FL yet that spark just never flares to life. The Taiwanese SL is the most stern and is more like her teacher than a lover. The Korean SL is probably my favorite. The actor makes you really feel how much he loves her yet just wants her happiness.

China is making a new version. https://mydramalist.com/31762-you-are-my-destiny If I were to give my advice, would be to keep that original oops love scene!! Do not throw so much into the story. Having more episodes is not a recipe for success. Stick to that which makes your viewers really feel a connection. Make the Lead strong enough to know when he is no longer in love with his girlfriend and move on not let it linger.

Highlights: Taiwanese: Opening love scene; ending scene. Could keep bad checkup results that seemed a different twist that was original yet touching. Please, do not add that grandma has a kid or the guys winding up in bed together…sigh. Everyone in your story having a partner is not necessary. Keep the story real unless you choose to make it a total comedy.

Korean: Acting is a highlight. Male lead strange behavior was a bit over the top but the story line behind the father leaving and the so-called second son…awesome. More background of the male lead made the story richer. While the ML takes longer to warm up to the female lead you understand because his love for his girlfriend has been has been since they were teens thus the deeper connection. This version hurts at certain points to the point of crying or screaming in frustration so get ready for a roller coaster ride but the ending is fantastic. I wish the Thai version had ended like this one.

Thai : Acting was great, story was believable . It was shorter than the other two but I felt great after watching it. There were painful moments but not to the point of that gut wrenching sadness. The main part I would change would be to skip the return to that fate childhood moment and add a moment with a child they had from their wedding night.


Music: Overall the Korean Fated to Love You Ost is by far the best. Fantastic songs that are haunting and beautiful. The Taiwan series has that comic style background music most of the time. The Thai version has Bie singing of course and is pretty good.

If you haven’t tried the Thai and Taiwanese version give I them a try…they are definitely worth it!!

Thanks for reading!! ☺

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Fun and sweet romance

Oldie but goodie! This show just revived my long buried love for Jang Hyuk! 🥰 I watched the TW version years ago but it wasn't as fun as this remake!

Likes
1. The Snail Couple 🐌 was so fun! Loved Lee Geon and Miyeong as a couple and Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara as the leads! Even though they were only together for 3 months, they just have this beautiful connection that even Sera, who has been with Geon for 6 years couldnt shake. And even after Snail Couple broke up and Miyeong left with Daniel for 3 years, Daniel wasnt able to capture her heart.
2. I also loved Lee Geon and Miyeong as separate characters. Some were put off by Geon's maniacal laughter and eccentric ways but i thought he must be a very fun husband to be with! He is good with kids, attentive, and charming. On the other hand, Miyeong may look meek and unassuming but once you get to know her, she is an amazing person. She just needed to be more confident with herself. But once she did, she just shined even brighter.
3. The side characters were also funny like Mr Tak and Yong (Dragon). I also loved Miyeong's mom even though Geon is so rude to her (but utterly charming). And Grandma Wang is one of the nicest chaebol grandma i've seen!! 🤣

Dislikes
1. This would have been better if the length was just 16 episodes (max 18 if you just want more Snail couple cuteness). The second half was so sad compared to the lighter tone of the first half. I didnt like wimpy broody Lee Geon. Someone should have told Miyeong earlier so she could slap him out of his funk.
2. Didnt like Sera, even at the end. She was sorry not sorry to Miyeong all the time.
3. Yong's mom didnt fully apologize for trying take down Geon when she never had the right in the first place. Again you just know Geon is a great person when he was able to forgive her despite the lies and almost ruining his life.

Rating: 8.5/10

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I am new to Kdrama started watching them due to the Covid19 home confinement in my city. I am hooked and have watched many of them. I keep coming back to this one title and have viewed it around 5 times in a very short period.

Some of the acting is a bit over the top and the male lead's laugh initially is quite grating however as the story progresses it just fits into his personality in the drama.

The chemistry between Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara is some of the best I have seen. The romance is cute and the longing for each other is very realistic . The camera stays on the face of the actors for just the right amount of time so that facial expressions can convey the emotions in addition to the vocalisation.

If you want to be entertained and enjoy a great love story then this is the Kdrama for you. Just the best!

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TLDR; Don't judge the first episode, you'll regret it

This one... Now, i almost dropped this title after the first scene with our lovely ML. However, a review on this site made me reconsider, and man what a good advice that was. This series was a rollercoaster, and though i think it was a bit too drawn out in the latter half, i still think the ML and FL's chemistry is so amazing that you shouldn't miss it.
Don't be too put off by our ML, his strange laugh and overbearing personality soon became very dear to me as a viewer, and now i'm gonna feel a piece missing every time i see a cool ML in another title.
Please do watch it :)

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Hama hamaa

It's a story of two halves. I fell in love with the first part which was stronger. The ML always shows up when you want him to and protects FL, this is the most endearing part of the story that he loves her no matter what. It's highly doubtful this would happen in real life. There are a lot of inconsistencies, where at one moment it feels that if you are a woman and choose to prioritise your career you'll be dumped but if you act like a passive snail you'll be loved, but then it changes again in the second half, so that she's even more attractive now that she's a career woman! Poor Sera, she doesn't even get another love interest just her long lost bro, who is so underused! And what's up with the continuity, first noticed when she was wearing slippers in the hotel corridor and then he's pointing to her bare feet! It feels very disjointed, but the ML's performance is strong enough to pull it through.

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