Cruel, Bleak...and Totally Worth It.

Honestly, I hate when reviews rave about a show like it's a life-changing experience. When someone starts throwing around terms like "masters of the craft," "tour de force," and "magnum opus," I usually just roll my eyes and scroll away. So now watch me become a hypocrite and get positively gushy about this drama (almost as gushy as all the stab wounds in this show):

If you are a fan of neo-noir film, this is absolutely a must-watch. Or, if you are simply looking for something different than the typical Kdrama tropes, give this a try. Problems do not get tied neatly with a bow, romance is intense but not the central theme, and characters are painted in shades of grey (rather than obviously good or evil). Yes, you'll have to decide for yourself if you like someone, rather than letting the plot tell you if you should.

Expect atmospheric camera shots and seductive music to frame each scene. It's easy to get drawn into this sordid but glamorous world, where heroes and villains alike will do anything at all to move their own interests forward and protect those closest to them. The characters you despise in the beginning may tug at your heartstrings later on.

Central to all this is Doctor's Son, played with hypnotic finesse by Jung Kyung Ho. I really have not seen an actor play a role quite like this one with such elegance and sex appeal. His character is defined by calculating ruthlessness, but there are glimpses into his emotions that are just as powerful. In different hands, one might wonder how such a cut-throat person is able to consistently gain loyalty and affection from the people around him, but in this performance, it's completely believable. I have seen Jung Kyung Ho in other dramas, so I already knew he's a good actor, but this one was truly captivating. I'd love to see him return to this style in the future.

The other characters are intriguing and well-cast. In my opinion, the standouts were Kim Yoo Mi as Lee Jin Suk and Choi Moo Sung as Safari, but everyone was truly wonderful to watch. The actors brought that special "something" that makes a drama feel alive. I didn't feel like I was watching actors, but rather, real people. One could easily go into a character study for almost of all of them, taking quite some time to break down their motivations and personalities. Don't worry, I won't do that here. I do encourage you, though, to do so yourself as you watch!

I'm sure you've heard other people go on about the music and how great it is. It really is that good. The ending theme gives that strangely pleasant feeling of melancholy. Yet, it's actually the instrumental pieces that give the most sizzle. I would pay good money to have that sexy guitar be the soundtrack to my life. I'm sure everything I did would look about 100x cooler.

So after all that long-winded praise, why did I only give it an 8.5? Let me briefly explain the beefs I had. You read this far, might as well see it through to the end.

Yes, there were some plot holes. I can get past them, but I recognize that the scripting isn't perfect. But seriously, where will you find a show with perfect scripting? Seriously, if you know of one, let me know, because I haven't seen it.

The character of Lee Jin Suk was the character about whom I was the most uncertain as to how I felt. She is portrayed as a loyal and intelligent woman who will fiercely protect those she loves. By the end of the show, I really did care about her and empathized with her pain. But...it was never addressed whatsoever that she was literally an attempted child groomer. In the flashbacks to Doc's childhood, she speaks to him flirtatiously, and at one point even overtly sexually. Once he is an adult, she tells people that he's her boyfriend behind his back. I might have been able to get past this if she had ever apologized to him, but that never happened. Instead, it all seemed to be written in as part of her deep love for him. What? Does no one else find that icky? The other issue I took with her character was that, after fighting tooth and nail to drag herself out of prostitution, she chose to enrich herself by becoming a madam. She even tries multiple times to dissuade Soo Min from working there, as she is fully aware of its horrors. Yet, she has no problem employing other women in that capacity. Why?

I also couldn't understand why they introduced that alcoholic reporter girl as a half-baked attempt to give Ji Hyeong Min a (living) love interest. This woman is fully aware that he is still grieving the loss of his murdered girlfriend, yet she weasels her way into his life by offering tips in his case, some of which turn out to be worthless. They don't even give closure to that relationship in the end. So, why was she included at all?

My other very important and not-at-all nitpicky gripes:
Why are the women always wearing stilettos to scenarios in which they know they'll need to fend off attackers or run for their lives? Why does everyone slam on the brakes so aggressively? And why is Doctor's Son's hair so perfect all the time? Doesn't matter if he's in a knife fight, getting beat up, or having sex, his hair stays gorgeous. Major plot hole, I tell you!

Okay, got all that out of my system. Overall, this was a truly excellent drama. I highly recommend it. Sexy, thrilling, and sometimes brutal, it's definitely for adults. If you're interested in something darker than most Kdramas that still feels human, put this at the top of your list.

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A drama that will stir a sense of romance in even the most hardhearted fool

I started this drama once before and dropped it after the first episode, because I thought it was just too over-the-top to ever take seriously as a real romance. Eventually, I became a fan of Jang Hyuk's from watching other dramas, so I decided to give it another shot. And I realized very quickly that I had done myself a great disservice by skipping over this wonderful love story!

*Plot*
This drama is a great example of classic clichés done well. There really isn't any trope in this show that breaks new ground regarding plot. But I've been let down before by romances, and this one finally delivered everything we want from cohabitation, chaebol ML, sweet FL, and all the rest! There were a lot of silly coincidences to drive the plot along, which one could roll their eyes at, but I choose to see it as part of the overarching theme of "fated lovers." Of course they are always running into each other, it's destiny! ;)

I admit there were some plot choices that I very much disliked (the only reason I didn't rate this a nine or a ten). Yet, I can't decide whether or not, if I had a magic wand, I would change them. Nothing was throwaway, it all fit into the main story. Like most dramas I watch, it's more about how the characters execute the plot than the plot quality itself, anyway. Which brings me to the meat of this review...

*Acting*
The acting in this drama is what elevates it from a typical romcom to a must-see. Main and side characters alike are simply a delight to watch. I'm going to dwell on this for almost the entirety of this review.

Our main couple, Lee Gun and Kim Mi-Yeong, are played by Jang Hyuk and Jang Na-Ra. These two are so perfect in their roles, your heart will burst with emotion. Ah, what a corny thing for me to say. But if that's how I felt, I cannot stay silent!

Jang Hyuk plays Lee Gun, the eccentric president of a large company. And when I say eccentric, I'm not talking about the quirkiness that screenwriters often inject into MLs to try to give them personality. I am telling you that this man is straight-up weird and takes some getting used to. Strange mannerisms, at times odd vernacular, and, oh yeah, let's not forget the old "he he hE HE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" in almost every situation. This is why, if you are a bit put off during the series premiere, you absolutely need to watch at least one more before making a decision. I promise, Gunnie is worth it. He is charming, funny, handsome, gallant, and passionate. But he is not that perfect, boringly nice ML that makes me fall asleep. He has a lot of baggage, and he doesn't always handle it properly. His growth throughout the drama feels very real and gratifying. Jang Hyuk plays this character with equal amounts of dorkiness and sexiness, and it's exactly right. Several episodes in, that maniacal laugh ceased to be disturbing and became deeply endearing. And I cannot tell a lie: it does not hurt that Jang Hyuk is one of the most good-looking men I've seen in my life. I could stare at him all day. What? We were all thinking it.

So let's talk about Kim Mi-Yeong, as played by the wonderful Jang Na-Ra. We've all seen the FL who is naive, sweet, hard-working, a pushover, bla bla bla. Is Mi-Yeong these things? Yes...but in such a way that creates a real person and does not feel contrived. She is very tender to the needs of everyone around her, and it is not annoying at all. I could easily imagine any man falling in love with her gentle ways. Her smile is loving to everyone she meets, and her lovely eyes have earnestness that never falters. Many dramas have tried to create a character like this, but few have succeeded to this level. And her growth arc is so good! I was worried that she would lose that warmhearted spirit as she gains confidence, but that never happened. She found her way into her own skin as a woman, but always held onto that grace and vulnerability. There were a lot of moments that broke my heart in this drama, but the only time I genuinely cried with tears streaming down my face was a scene that had her in it alone. Jang Na-Ra knew exactly who this person is and how she needed to convey her feelings (or hold them in at times).

And the two of them together? Fireworks! Electricity! DAEBAK!!! It may seem odd to call this romance a slow burn when it literally starts with a one night stand, but once you watch it, you'll get it. You will feel their desire for each other, which they try to stave off, on a very palpable level. You know, those kinds of moments when you have to pause the episode and go do a few chores just to keep your head on straight. I can't be the only one who does that, right? Someone please tell me I'm not alone there. So when those romantic moments happen, they feel very earned. And this is not a fish kiss drama, I will tell you that much.

Ahem. Okay, side characters. My favorite of the supporting roles was Na Young-Hee as Mi-Yeong's mom, by a mile. I thought she'd just be your typical drama ahjumma, walloping people and calling names. She does indeed wallop everyone and call them all sorts of rotten names, but her heart is pure and very full of love. The other actors played their roles well and made me smile, but this eomma was just shining.

If anyone bored me, it was the second leads, Daniel Pitt & Se Ra. But that could just be that their characters were written to not tug your heartstrings too much. They each had their own backstory that was separate from the main storyline, but I couldn't find it in my heart to care about them. I sound awful saying that. Please forgive me.

*OST*
Great music. Standout tracks would definitely be "Goodbye My Love" by Ailee and "Destiny Sonata" by Jung Dongha. Their voices are somehow both sweet and powerful, which perfectly conveys the feelings of yearning and true love.

*Rewatchability*
I think I'll stray from other fans of this show and say that I can't see myself watching FtLY again. I got so very invested in their romance that the several agonizing crises they faced were almost too much to bear. I probably will be more likely to go look up clips of the best scenes sometimes. I will be satisfied with all the happy moments in my memory.

Wow, did you read all that? Thank you, friend! If you did, my guess is that you are already a fan of this show and looking for someone who agrees. If you have not started it yet, I'm even more thankful that you took time to read my opinion. Now, I will tell you your fate: it is to watch Fated to Love You, starting today!

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