The Greatest Love (2011)

This was probably one of the funniest dramas I have ever watched. At some points I had to laugh so much I had to stop watching for a while. I am not sure if it was only because Dokko Jin was such a strange and perverted stalker who did really strange and sometimes very embarrassing things or because of something else. It was kind of surprising that such a cocky and narcissistic person could behave this way. I have never seen a character as childish as him. And he was so sometimes so innocent which was really cute.

I've read a few times that Gu Ae Jung had no personality and that she let Dokko Jin do whatever he wants with her, but I absolutely don't agree. Actually I think that Gu Ae Jung is a really strong person who knows what she wants and how to get it. The only problem is that she doesn't have the luck needed to achieve her goals. And that's exactly the point where Dokko Jin helps her. Things she can't do because of her circumstances he does to help her. And there is really nothing wrong with helping people. She also helped him a lot. Moreover they were in love so that was really ok.
Even when she "followed" him around because she loved him I would have rather said she fought for his love and didn't give up. And that's why she got the boy at the end.

Although I watch many (*cough) dramas with love triangles I can't getting over the second-lead-syndrome. Although I wanted her to end up with Dokko Jin I sometimes wished that she would still somehow end up with the doctor. He was so sweet and it was so sad that he didn't get the girl. I wanted to hug him and comfort him. Poor guy.

What I also found really enjoying was the relationship between Dokko Jin and Gu Ae Jung's nephew Ding Dong (haha, he kept calling him Ding Dong till the very end) and the relationship between Dokko Jin and his manager. His mangager was also very adorable. I liked him a lot.

All in all this was a really nice drama. The reason I didn't rate it any higher is that it's not been so long that I've watched "The Master's Sun" and I couldn't help not to compare both dramas at some points. I sometimes had the feeling that "The Master'S Sun" was the better version of "The Greatest Love". But that's just my opinion.

Aah, I nearly forgot! This drama had many kisses which were not awkward at all. The were actually one of the best kisses ever seen in kdramaland!

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I had initially dropped this drama because I had got terribly annoyed by Dokko Jin and Ae Jung. However, I came back to watching it and I realized that it wasn't that bad.

This is a fairly entertaining show. I understand why it got so popular. The humor is very good and there are light moments in almost all the episodes. I took forever to make peace with Dokko Jin but it happened. He was pretty funny, actually! His jokes were quite good especially the 'Ding Dong' parts. Although the actor who played him has very mediocre looks, he is a good actor. The expressions are clearly visible on his face and it is not too difficult to understand what he is feeling. In comparison, Gong Hyo Jin's acting was terrible. Plus, her character was excessively dull so I didn't like her at all. Her chemistry with Dokko Jin was non-existent and I just had to skip a lot of their scenes after episode 9 or 10. This was one of the worst pairings I have ever seen.

Apart from this, since it is a comedy drama I am not going to talk about the characterizations and writing part at all. Both were kind of alright. There isn't anything more to say in that area.

My favorite characters were Yoon Pil Joo and Kang Se Ri. They both looked adorable together and all their scenes were my favorites. I kind of wished that either they should have been the main couple or there should be a similar drama with them in it. That would be so great. I think their story had great potential and their chemistry was great. I have a thing for love stories between bad girls and good boys. Pil Joo was an ideal man. I would love to have a guy like him. And the fact that him and Kang Se Ri were polar opposites was very funny. I really love Yoo In Na. She's absolutely fabulous and her sense of fashion was perfect in this drama. She makes me envious every time that she manages to look so pretty.

Anyway, overall an enjoyable show to watch but the rewatch value is really mediocre.

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Just want to add something

There are many reviewers who already gave 10 to this drama. Not much to add as to how good it is. Many people think it's the best by the Hong sisters. It topped the TV chart for 5 consecutive weeks when it was aired. It got 13 awards (including 7 MBC Drama Awards) plus 13 nominations. It was so successful that its rights were sold to 5 countries. So I just want to add, for those who commented that the ML is abusive, mean, and so on, that his character is not that of a mean guy, but of a spoiled, arrogant man due to what he overcame after being ill for so long. But his heart, who never opened to another person before, is a gentle heart. We can see it when he's regretting doing something, or when he helps the FL from the very first episode. In fact, this is one of those rare dramas where the ML realizes very early on that he likes the FL. I've watched many dramas, and this is still one of my 5 all-time favorites. The chemistry, the original plot, the laugh-out-loud moments, not secondary annoying characters, no cliches, the little kid... Such a treat.

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I liked this drama, I always like the Hong Sisters and how they use lots of symbols throughout their dramas. The story was a bit weak, but still better than a lot of other korean dramas I've watched. There are so many funny and corny scenes in this drama that alone make it a must watch.

As for the acting, I really only stuck it out for Gong Hyo Jin, I just couldn't connect with Cha Seung Won. In fact I hated his character Do ko jin, he was really whingy and dorky. And it seemed like they had no chemistry, not to mention he is noticeably older than GHJ. I thought maybe he was portraying the character this way and then halfway through he would be more sophisticated or something but that never eventuated. I was left wishing Gu Ae Jung (GHJ) had run off with the second male lead Yoon Pil Ju (Yoon Kye Sang), it just seemed they had more chemistry and he genuinely cared about her (although he did seem a bit boring)

So yeah, watch this if you love the hong sisters and/or romantic comedies, just don't expect too much from the male lead.

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This drama was so funny and light! Nothing too majorly serious happened but it was a story about finding that one person who can move your heart and accepts you for who you are. I enjoyed that when they did finally decide to be together they didn't waiver from their relationship. I liked how he never gave up on his love for her and no matter what he was not giving her up for anything. The main couple was really endearing and I think that's why I gave this such a high rating, I really like them together. Gong Hyo Jin is turning out to be one of my favorite actresses and if she's in it I am willing to give it a shot. (Except maybe It's ok, that's love, I'm sorry I could not get through the first episode, it seemed all over the place! Will maybe try giving that one another shot at a different date)

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"through your love, my heart will recover"

This drama is amazing, it delivers fantastically on all fronts!!

At first glance it's just a rom com, but upon further scrutiny it is a commentary on South Korea's entertainment industry, while at the same time documenting the first love of man child Dok Ko Jin.
The love story between Dok Ko Jin and Gu Ae Jong is very well paced and delivered with comedic flair ( there are plenty of laugh out loud moments) and a lot of HEART; one minute I was laughing out loud and the next I was going Aaaaw! with a decided sheen in my eyes. The two leads are absolute perfection with a very outstanding performance by Cha Seung Won whose portrayal of Dok Ko Jin is unique and engaging; even when he veers into crazy territory in the earlier episodes he still manages to make it believable and never ridiculous. This is really a story about his coming of age (at his big age) because he's a top celebrity at the absolute peak of his industry, with all the conceit, arrogance and over confidence that accompanies such fame; Even with all that, he has the indefinable naiveté of someone who's led a lonely life with no real friends, only colleagues and doctors because he spent so much time in hospitals growing up; he's never unpleasant though and remains lovable and relatable throughout.

The story has some beautiful metaphors for the love between the main leads, case in point the potato flower that Jin nurtures so lovingly and coaxingly.
The cultural commentary drama centres on celebrity and the entertainment industry, which can actually be said to be an additional character in the drama along with the fans. The two leads navigate their love amidst the restrictions placed upon them by this industry and all its accompanying rules. The drama also explores the idea of a celebrity's image being worth something eg. money, power and influence, the idea that a good image has the power to erase negative perceptions, and the idea that a good image can be traded between parties to achieve a tangible goal.

This drama has the best finale I've seen in a drama so far, we get to watch a solid hour of our OTP's married bliss, something that is quite rare in Kdrama rom coms; usually we're left to imagine the wedding and the happily ever after or sometimes we'll get about 5 minutes.

The cast is excellent all round. I like the portrayal of the second male lead Pil Joo, he could easily have been one dimensional but managed to come across as genuine and empathic; his character is well fleshed out and he serves as a plot driver rather than just a deterrent to the OTP.

The OST is great, the songs are just good enough to let the story shine without stealing the limelight; having said that I must add the songs get even better on subsequent viewings of the drama. I am guilty of rewatching this drama more than once, it's definitely one of my sure fire pick me ups.

Rewatch value for me is definitely a 10.

Overall rating is a 10, it's a keeper!

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well i dont even know how to categorise this, the story was great, the acting was ummm cant really say very good just good. there were some flaws here and there esp during the award season and they showed a false audience. how do i know this, i saw some actors in the audience like won bin when he received award for "man from nowhere"...... i like ae jung but in pasta, she seriously dint fit this role at all they shouldve done a better job at casting. i say this because the way they portrayed her was poor, the outfits they chose and the hairstyle were all unflattering to her. she looked like an ahjumma instead of an ex band member i mean seriously. as for dok jin, well umm he was good and weird esp with his silly faces and voices. his house was to die for. this couldve been a good show with the right female cast and some realistic moments. the doctor was actually descent and the little manager

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So this is an update review after rewatching it a 2nd time...

Story: A predictable HILARIOUS well paced romcom about the entertainment industry. Had an awesome ending!!

Cast/Acting: Cha Sung Won was PERFECT as Doko Jin. Really I dont know anyone who could have played him better. He had a subtle chemistry with Gong Hyo Jin (same tame natural acting style you see in every drama). I didnt really care for the supporting characters as their scenes tended to bore me. That was kind of disappointing because the Hong Sisters usually tend to write interesting supporting characters that I love in addition to the main characters.

Music: Catchy songs for the drama but I was disapointed that it wasnt as good as their past OSTs that get me to download them.

Rewatch: Being super hilarious Ill watch this again in the future when I want a good laugh.

Final Thoughts: This is a must watch if you like romcoms and are a fan of Cha Sung Won.

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