CharlieHere

I had never watched a Korean Drama before, I was scrolling on Netflix looking for something to watch for an hour to unwind and thought the premise sounded interesting.

Then, I proceeded to watch as many episodes as possible until I fell unconscious.

I did this for the next three days, everyday I got home from work. I was absolutely shattered but didn't care. Then, when I finished the series, I decided to go and watch my favourite parts over and over and over again. This is definitely in my top 10 favourite TV shows of all time.

All the actors are amazing, Park Bo-Young is absolutely terrific at acting as two different characters. The cinematography was done perfectly, I cannot describe to you the emotion and the humour that some of these shots added. The plot, the mystery, the suspense! And, of course, the romance! It was unpredictable, original and made me blush, laugh and cry. I've been in such a cheery mood since watching it. All the different characters and their storylines, this show had so many layers. I don't want to hype it up too much, but I do absolutely love it and would recommend it if you want something that can be both fun and emotional.

I'm a big fan of Anna Akana, I also think the entire cast is amazing, soundtrack was amazing, the central ideas and themes were amazing- but wasted by shallow writing. I really don't want to be harsh here, it was interesting enough to get me to watch the whole thing, but I struggled to focus, I ended up multi-tasking. I'm interested in watching a next season too, if they make one. However, my interest is mainly for Anna Akana and Sean Grandillo, they are wonderful actors and I think they've got good on screen chemistry.

My only issue with this show is the writing, but that makes up most of it, which is why I've given it a 5. Jason Ubaldi misses opportunities for mystery, suspense, sexual tension and in-depth exploration of characters. Everything is instantly paid off, serious issues that should have been main plot points were diluted and skimmed over after a few episodes. Some characters made seriously stupid and unnecessary decisions (I'm thinking of the end in particular, where was the need? There were many solutions to this problem- that wasn't one.) The show needed to do a lot more characterisation and plot exploration. There weren't really any consequences or problems that couldn't be fixed, until the end, but that'll get fixed in season 2 no doubt. It felt cluttered with different subplots but not one of them was explored to even half their potential.

There are also characters who make no sense. The show likes to tell us things and then show no evidence, or evidence to the contrary for these things. You can't have a gorgeous, talented, kind-hearted, charming social outcast who is supposedly rubbish with girls and, yet, is naked with one in episode one. His name may as well be Gary Stu- saying this I do like the character but he doesn't have to be labelled a social outcast, that's silly. Some subplots and characters are just completely forgotten about too, when I was expecting something to happen with them.

To summarise, if you're looking for a well written show with relatable characters that can make you laugh or cry, this isn't it. I recommend it if you're looking for something decent, with good acting that is easy to watch.

I think Jason Ubaldi should consider working with other writers who are skilled in suspense and could help him improve the show for season 2. The ideas are really good but there needs to be a build up. The characters are interesting but they need to be consistent with their main traits. If you are going to have a gorgeous, lovely, social outcast, he needs to have done something to destroy his reputation. If people are going to metaphorically throw themselves under a bus, they need to have exhausted all other options before doing so. Otherwise, the show just lacks sense and depth, and ends up feeling shallow.

I read some bad reviews where people quit watching or didn't seem to get the point? I mean, if it's not your cup of tea, then fair enough. I like a bit of light-hearted drivel now and again, and I did get Pitch Perfect and Bring It On vibes, but I absolutely love any film or TV series that explores social issues in new and interesting ways. I love the characters in this, especially the protagonist, everyone is shown to have their flaws and it's always great to see actual character arcs. The characters and even the ideas presented by the movie are somewhat stereotypical at first, but this does change the more you watch, and the more you get to know the characters- which I thought was really clever! There are some hilarious scenes, amazing dancing and I wasn't disappointed by the end. While it has its flaws (e.g wee bits of awkward acting) and while it isn't the most amazing film I've ever seen, I really enjoyed it and recommend it!