"marriage, not dating"

Marriage, Not Dating is one of those dramas that I just picked randomly. I wasn't even aware the same male lead was from the drama I just finished "My Shy Boss" when I started it, Yeon Woo-jin. Although I didn't care for My Shy Boss, I did like him. Han Groo as Jang Mi was delightful.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It wasn't just a simple marriage contract trope. There were many layers of story- parental acceptance, finding one's place in the word, and learning how to love. The leads had good chemistry. The characters certainly didn't start off on the right foot and really didn't start a "real" dance until about halfway through the drama. She was still interested in the second male lead. That aspect was a bit weird. It was like a triangle but one that the other male lead was okay with for a time. I do wish they weren't still dealing with trust issues with 12 minutes left in the drama because it didn't let me have the warm fuzzies I needed from the ending. In fact, it made me question whether they needed to get married at all.

The second lead characters were annoying, particularly the female lead. I'm so tired of the writing for female characters that by rights they should be strong females- they are doctors, lawyers, businesswomen- but they make them so weak and despicable in their quest for love that it devalues the "strong" part. The way they undermine everything isn't cunning or cute it's just a turnoff.

The second male lead was good looking and certainly understanding but in the middle he also played a terrible part in undermining the two leads. I am glad that in the end they were all able to reconcile their relationships in a manner that they could be business partners and friends.

Gi-Tae's best friend Hoon-Dong was just too much. This actor likes to overact in most things I've seen him in and this was no exception. I never, ever would believe that Jang Mi "loved" him and was able to tolerate him dating for a year.

While in the end I understood Gi-Tae's Mother and her actions, she was almost just an manipulative as the second female lead. And how was Gi-Tae supposed to learn how a man is supposed to be and do with a louse of a father? I give Gi-Tae credit for being and trying as hard as he did to overcome that role model. Jang-mi's parents weren't ideal either. These kids had an uphill battle from the time they were born in regards to love and marriage with those role models.

The music was an odd mix. The main OST was this jaunty upbeat tune that fits the opening sequence well but was overused and a lot of times used in inappropriate places.

Overall, it's an easy watch. It's enjoyable. My rating is a 3/5. "Enjoyable but not ground breaking".