"Lovestruck in the City"... The Tale of Three Couples

This is a drama about three couples- a couple beginning, a couple ending and couple in waiting.

Everything about this drama really spoke to me. From the stylization, the documentary format, the clothes, actors and the stories. The main couple of Jae Won/Seon Ah-Eun Oh was one that had me go through all the emotions you can from empathy to anger to joy. The second seemingly perfect couple were delightful to watch but also sad to see the perfect relationship not be so perfect. The third former couple was a couple that still obviously have feelings for the other but sometimes baggage and timing just don't mix well.

I know some had some issues with the 2nd and 3rd couple not getting enough development but I didn't. They weren't the leads and the 30 minute format didn't really allow for all the plot lines to be fleshed out. I feel like we get enough of all as long as the other couples are revisited in the second season and we get their stories then.

Let's talk about format first. It was different but I dug it. It was a documentary style and the couples were participating in a interview for a show. No, it didn't make sense how all these related people just happened to be picked by the same company and you never really knew if the interviews were broadcast live or not but it was easily overlooked for me. This format allowed us a real peek into their emotions that we often don't get to see or hear in kdramas. We got words. True words. Anguish at times. Shout out to throwing the PPL in there. That was funny.

The beach scenes were breathtaking! I now want to go to YangYang and learn to surf. The interweaving of the past and present for all couples was seamless and I never had any problems determining where we were on the timeline.

The clothes they picked out for Jae Won (JCW) were also top level. Ji Chang Wook has never looked better! I swear sometimes his clothes, especially the coats, were a character unto themselves. And the transformation of Ji Won's character from Seon Ah to Eun Oh was also well done. The outfits and the hair matched who she was at that moment and I love in the finale her hair was back to being the free spirited girl we knew she always really was.

Characters. Jae Won. My precious heartbroken boy. To me this was a breakthrough role for Ji Chang Wook. We've seen him do action and we've seen him be vulnerable before but this character had him being all the emotions. Anger, fear, broken, complete joy, complete sad, anguish. Every time JCW had to deliver he did. I felt so much for this man. I was so mad for him and so sad for him. He also looked particularly hot in this drama. Just saying...

Eun Oh. I also felt all the emotions for her and sometimes they weren't pretty. She was the biggest enigma for most of the drama. Why did she do this? What was her motivation? There was one point I was furious with her. Maybe two episodes. Then the minute they allowed you to see just a small glimpse of her why, Kim Ji Won's acting made me immediately buy into her pain. Not quite 100% forgiving but enough to root for her and for her and Jae Won. I'm glad they got their happy ending, not so much ending but happy place to work on being together in this new way. None of us are perfect and there are all times we want to be something we aren't, to be a new person. I don't fault Eun Oh for that at all. She now just needs to figure out the parts of her that were already Seon Ah and integrate that into the best parts of Eun Oh and it looked like she was well on her way.

Rin Yi and Gyung Joon. Such a sweet little bean of a couple that in the end had a serious underlying issue. Gyung Joon wanted more for Rin Yi, to be more and she liked herself for what she was. Ouch. I'm not saying Rin Yi doesn't have issues cause I think she does. I think she's commitment phobic with her intention to never work more than part-time. Flitting from one job to another so as to not make emotional connections. There's also something there with her family. Even her desire to not marry. Also, not willing to accept things from Gyung Joon but just making do. Not all of that is bad but when your partner starts to feel like he's not needed or not appreciated for the things he wants to do for you, then it's an issue. Also, Gyung Joon not able to tell family the real story of his girlfriend is a huge problem. Is he ashamed of her? Seems like it. He wants someone with ambition and she's not it. That's hard to reconcile forever. He did have a point when he said "you can't work part-time forever" cause was she really planning on working four to five jobs when she was a senior citizen? Kim Min Seok needs to be a lead. He's just to good to be supporting forever.

Kang Gun and Sun Young. Our third more elusive couple. We didn't get much info on them so they are the most intriguing. The Pushover with the Headstrong. He wants her but is afraid to tell her what she wants. She wants him but he won't tell her what she wants. Ahhh...what to do??

The friendship between Eun Oh, Rin Yi and Kang Gun was perfect. I loved them all together. I loved Candle Night and wish my best friend was still alive so we could do that.

The finale sets up the second season perfectly! How easy was it to fall in love with the actress character in less than a scene or two? The friends to lovers trope will be one of my favorites always and I was so rooting for her to not have to kiss that smug, smarmy actor as her first kiss. I need Minho and her story. We should also see how Rin Yi and Gyung Joon will reconcile if they do or come to terms with their views/flaws. And of course the Pushover with the Headstrong. I do believe they are right for each other but their timing has been off.

Overall, this was a show that I enjoyed a lot. I want to rewatch it again knowing the Eun Oh backstory and seeing how it fits from the beginning. I welcome a season two!

I give this show a solid A.