9/10 is my rating. This is a 2010 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 16, 60 minute, episodes. It is also known as “Marry Me, Mary.”

Wi Mae-ri (Moon Geun-young) grew up in a tumultuous environment with a father who was frequently in debt and hiding from debt collectors. One day, while working odd jobs to support herself, she hits a pedestrian, Kang ul (Jang Keon-suck). Kang ul is a talented but struggling musician and reassures Mae-ri he is ok and won’t sue. Having trust issues she follows him and relentlessly persists he acknowledge he is not hurt and won’t sue in writing. Having a young single mother who was absent until she needed something, Kang ul quickly noticed a kindred soul when he realized Mae-ri’s living situation. Needing a place to stay he invited himself to Mae-ri’s and a friendship developed. While running from debt collectors, Mae-ri’s father, Dar-Han (Park Sang-kyung) runs into an old friend. Turns out it is a friend, recently returned to Korea, with whom there was an agreement for their children to marry when of age. Mae-ri's father sees the renewal of the agreement as a win win he can pay back his daughter by giving her a secure future with a wealthy and handsome husband and becoming a part of the family, his old friend will pay off his debts. His friend’s son, Byun Jung-in (Kim Jae-wook), always does as his father wishes. However Mae-ri has no intention of having an arranged marriage. Her friends and her concoct a ”fake” marriage with Kang ul just as her father counters her resistance by forging Mae ri and Jung-in’s signatures on a marriage registration. In order to persuade his daughter to do what he thinks is best for her Mae-ri’s father proposes a deal: for 100 days Mae-ri must spend time on a schedule with Kang ul and Jung-in and decide who she will marry at the end. Her father is confident she will choose steady and charming Jung-in over a struggling musician. Jung-in was promised investment by his father in his company so he is determined to win Mae-ri. Soon fake love becomes all too real and Mae-ri’s decision not so simple.

Spoiler 🚨 I liked this overall. The romance was cute and it was well acted with great character development. I so strongly liked the second guy it was really difficult to watch as I could see in so many ways that he was a better choice. The fathers were pretty over the top and I thought Wi Mae-ri’s father, in particular, was a bit heavy handed given what his daughter had put up with from him. Kang Ul’s mom reminded me of some people I have known. She was an immature mother who leaned too heavily on her son for financial support. It kept me guessing until the end and even then I was a bit surprised.