Lovestruck in the City (2020)

Enjoyable, Emotional, Character-Driven Drama with a Few Flaws

If you enjoy romance-centered KDramas where the focus is on the characters and their experiences dealing with their feelings, then this is the drama for you. When the show was airing, I stayed up until 3 am to watch the release in my region. Since then, I've watched this drama 3+ times all the way through and loved it each time. At the same time, I think there are some flaws, which may turn into complete dealbreakers for some people. It's a weird thing for me to review, since I am not giving this show a 10, but I love it to death.

Format-wise, it was produced as a short-form show for KakaoTV. With each episode having about a 30-minute runtime, and the entire series having a 17 episode length, Lovestruck is basically 50% of a typical KDrama, which is a good thing if you're busy or your KDrama backlog is too big. The main highlight of this show is the extremely touching conversations/heart-to-hearts that happen during a select few episodes. The producers tried to make this a really humanistic show, and I think the raw emotions of the characters really shines through. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but overall, I really empathsized with the characters when they were desperately in love, extremely frustrated, sad, or basically any of the capstone moments that define friendships and romantic relationships. For me, there are just so many snapshot moments in this show that I can easily go on youtube, watch a short clip, and immediately feel a strong sense of nostalgia for this show.

However, there are some flaws which bog down the show's quality a little bit. Firstly, the pacing is a little off: the first episode kicks things into high gear by establishing all the characters and the main narrative settings for the two main characters. The next two episodes flesh out the main story and also start revealing the backstory of the two side couples. However, following this, the show starts to get a little draggy until episode 8, when the main story speeds up again. Additionally, they were too ambitious by trying to cram into 3 love stories into a show that is half-as-long as your regular KDrama -- there is simply not enough time for all the stories to be properly established and resolved, and I would argue the side characters don't have a completely satisfying conclusion. One of the side couples actually has some "new reveals" at the end of Episode 16 which is never resolved -- without a Season 2, I'm afraid we'll never find out what happened. Finally, the mocumentary format is a little lacking: it starts off as intriguing, possibly inspired by famous mockumentaries like The Office, but very quickly devolves into nonsense -- in some later scenes, there are some "interviews" which are completely impossible for the "camera crew" to have captured unless they were omnipotent and/or being extreme creepers.

One extremely controversial point to discuss is that many watchers found the characters, especially the main lead female Lee Eun Oh, to be extremely unlikeable and/or unrealistic. My personal opinion is that Lee Eun Oh's character does suffer from SOME poor writing, but that overall, she was created to mimic a real-life human being. In real life, sometimes we do do things that make us unforgiveable jerks. Sometimes, we do obsess over loving people that we need to let go. Sometimes, we do say one thing, but our hearts make us do the exact opposite. At the end of the day, though I don't think the characters were written perfectly, I do think they were written to be people that you could meet in real life -- if you reflect upon your own acquaintances, friends, and family, I bet you might know guys who were obsessed over girls that they needed to drop like a bad habit or girls who weren't sure what they wanted so they kept teetering between self-confidence and love. In this way, I think it is very fitting for the humanistic theme of the show.

Overall, I think this series is underrated and you should give it a shot. I think you will know fairly quickly whether it is your cup of tea: it might be something you love like I do and if not, it's easy to drop it mid-watch.

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Interesting, Underestimated and Mistreat

This gonna be a short review because I think this show is underrated. Romance lover should give it a shot.


First of all, It was a pressure to Watch " Lovestruck in the City" ( 도시에서 남녀 사이의 사랑 wich mean How to love between men and women in the city ). This Show-tell a Story of how Park Jae won met Yoon Sun Ah and instantly fall in love with her playful, positive and beautiful look. He basically loves everything about her. What he didn't know that's she hide her real identity.

The show does a kind of interview with the protagonist. I've never seen anything like it. Yes, it follows us across the show. You don't have to like it. It is just a stylistic device from the director to tell the story. At first, it was used to explain the past and to bring the individual characters closer to us, later it is there to show the feelings, opinions and thoughts of the people. Like a diary.

The story starts quickly and is easy to understand with a long middle section full of highs and lows. The script just feels real, it could happen in real life. It's not cheesy or too applied and yet very romantic. There is not much more to say without spoilers.

Cast and acting were presented perfectly. Kim Ji won is a really charming , you just have to fall in love with her. After "Fighting for my way "and "Descendants of the Sun" amazing performance from her.
I want to believe every word from Ji Chang Wook when he looks at her. He plays the broken one so realistically that you can taste his pain. Overall really good performers a solid 10.

Music was my personal highlight of the show. The OST are very good especially "Kiss me Kiss me". There are a few moments where there is just silence, I also really liked that, sometimes less is more.

Overall, it's one of my favorite show lately. It was great fun when they made love and it was heartbreaking when they broke up / quarreled. While watching Lovestruck in the city I want to find my own Eun Oh with all of her mistakes, to fall in love so much that you can't think of anything else, to put up with the pain because it is worth it and to fall for her completely.

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It is the raw surreal relatability that pulls

No spoiler! Where do I begin? Is it the raw relatability that pulls? Yes for me. It takes you on a journey. A journey you wish to go on but perhaps are unable to. A journey you can only feel, a story that can wring out those anonymous tears and smiles from within you, only if you are infact a Yoon Seon a/ Lee Eun-O yourself. I don't know what else to say. What can I say about the performance? Ji Chang Wook, Kim Ji Won and the entire cast lived their roles magically, beautifully. Surreal camera work, beautiful music, beautiful story telling. Tip : Don't listen to people saying ..ugh its boring. Just jump in, and decide for yourself.

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Realistic, beautiful, heartwarming and full of romance

This drama was beautiful and so full of love from the very start to the very end. I absolutely loved it. Very relatable and realistic, it depicts how love isn’t easy and it’s full of twist and turns and bumps but eventually love finds a way. The format of the drama is a little different as it’s supposed to depict an interview between people but overtime it became less confusing and very enjoyable to watch. I love love love Ji Chang work and to see him acting in this drama was so refreshing. His chemistry with Kim Ji Won is off the charts, they legit look like an actual couple, some scenes it doesn’t even look like they’re acting. All the characters portrayed they’re roles very naturally, and each character’s personalities developed and shined brightly.
Storyline and plot were so well written that it killed me waiting several days to find out what happens next. This drama will make you smile, laugh cry and give you butterflies. All the romantic scenes were so fluffy and it made my heart really warm. It keeps you tingling and yearning for more every episode and the drama delivers. You will feel all sorts of emotions watching this but trust me it’s worth it.
The OST is incredible, I’m just waiting for it to be on Spotify. Each song was perfect for each scene and it made the show even better. I truly loved it and enjoyed it and it made me wish I had a significant other to experience what love really feels like. It is well crafted and well acted out. Watch it. Don’t even hesitate, just watch it. So worth it and not to mention Ji Chang Wook is super handsome here, the drama showed his maturity well.
All in all, it’s great, I’d definitely put this on my list to rewatch. And here’s hoping for a second season because I don’t want to see what the future holds for these couples

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Zakochałam się tej dwójce! ;)

Ogólnie porwała mnie ta drama ;) Cała historia była bardzo ciekawa, różniła się od dram, które oglądałam, skojarzyła mi się trochę z amerykańskimi serialami romantycznymi, ze względu na fabułę.
Historia głównej pary bardzo mnie urzekła, ich aktorstwo było fenomenalne, chciałabym zobaczyć tą parę jeszcze w innej produkcji 😍Oczywiście nie wspomnę o postaci Ji Chang Wooka (był cudowny), który jest jednym z moich ulubionych aktorów 😁
Muzyka w dramie aż tak bardzo mnie nie wciągnęła ale była spoko, po skończeniu dramy OST obowiązkowo jeszcze raz przesłuchałam 😁
Jeśli chodzi o to czy obejrzałabym ponownie, to odpowiedź brzmi: TAK! Polecam
Drama super, jedna z lepszych 🤩🤗

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Loved it all the way until the last episode

I loved everything about this drama. Some of the music was a little comical but it grew on me. I’m not a huge fan of JCW or KJW but this the the best JCW drama I’ve watched so far and definitely the only one where I actually kind of like KJW’s character. I couldn’t stand her in everything else I’ve watched her in. This drama had me all in my feelings and was pretty strong until the end. The last episode was a big wtf. I feel like it was rushed and I was left hanging. Would’ve loved to see some development of Dong-sik’s story. I feel so cheated. Maybe we’ll get a season two. Who knows?

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blahstruck in the city

Initially intrigued with its unique documentary-style format, promising a fresh perspective on modern love. However, the series quickly devolved into a predictable and overly sentimental romance drama. The show’s innovative approach, which could have offered a deeper, more nuanced exploration of relationships, was ultimately squandered.

The writing was a major letdown. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, and the dialogue was often cringe-worthy.

Jae Won, the central character, was a constant source of frustration. His self-destructive behavior and inability to take responsibility for his actions were tiresome to watch. While the show attempted to address his alcoholism, it often felt like a superficial solution to a deeper problem.

Eun Oh, the female lead, was a complex character, but her tendency to avoid confrontation and hurt others was frustrating. Her character arc was inconsistent, and she often seemed to regress rather than progress. Worse... he was particularly annoying, with his constant whining and indecisiveness. His performance was lackluster, failing to bring any depth or nuance to the role.

Rin Yi, the free-spirited artist, was an interesting character, but her development was limited. She was often used as a plot device to advance the stories of other characters, rather than having her own meaningful arc.

Gyung Joon, the kind and understanding friend, was one of the few likable characters in the show. However, his passive nature often hindered his ability to help his friends.

Sun Young, the cool and collected career woman, had a more complex character arc. However, her behavior towards her romantic partners was often questionable, and her actions sometimes seemed selfish and manipulative.

Overall, the characters were a mixed bag. While some were intriguing, many were underdeveloped and frustrating. The show could have benefited from a deeper exploration of the characters' motivations and backstories.

The pacing of the series was uneven, with some episodes dragging on while others felt rushed. The show’s attempt to balance the documentary-style format with traditional storytelling often resulted in a jarring and disjointed viewing experience.

Ultimately, it is just a missed opportunity. While it had the potential to be a unique drama, it failed to fully capitalize on its central concept. The show’s reliance on clichés, melodrama, and inconsistent pacing ultimately undermined its potential to offer a meaningful exploration of love and relationships.

Pros:
Unique documentary-style format
Visually appealing
Strong performances from some of the supporting cast

Cons:
Weak writing and character development
Unengaging male lead performance
Inconsistent pacing
Overreliance on clichés and melodrama
Disjointed narrative structure

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Ehh.

First things first, for me, the first two episodes of Lovestruck in the City were so slow I think I would have preferred to watch paint dry. I was heavily considering to drop it after watching the first two episodes - but decided to give the next episode a chance before I did. Thankfully from the third episode onwards - improvement! While I still was never really truly brought into the universe of Lovestruck in the City there were good parts - most notably the acting and chemistry of the cast.

I don't think there should be a second season, but it's possible. I might check it out but it won't be a high priority for me. Also, I think people who watch romance dramas on a regular basis compared to someone like me will enjoy this more, so check it out!

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Simple, different and quite good.

The first episode felt really weird to me. Breaking of the fourth wall is not something every show is capable of pulling off. I never really understood what was the reason for these "interviews" or "interactive lives" and how it actually worked... I guess they could've just talked directly to the audience instead, cause if not, then logically, i don't quite understand in what terms does the camera crew follow these characters xD like are they stalking them 24/7? You know? Doesn't really make sense.

But if i don't put too much weight on how that would actually work, and view it more like them talking to the audience, it get's easier to follow along. And after the 1st episode, i can comfortably saythat i liked this kdrama a lot. Not one of my favorites, because we didn't had enough time with all the characters (due to all these interviews). So instead we got a lighter way to convey these stories.

I liked all storylines honestly. Every couple has it's own and i like the adult feel a lot! i've been feeling sick and tired of innocent YA romances lately, so dramas that are about people reaching their 30s sounds a lot cooler to me now. Many say how the FL is too cold and weird, but i understood her feelings completely. After you lose yourself to a point of not even knowing who you are anymore, it's not easy to accept love from someone else, no matter how bad you actually want it and need it. As for the ML, we all have different ways of falling in love, so for him, he fell hard into it and couldn't give up on it for anything. So in some degree i also understand why he behaved like he did.

I would like love to always be cute and simple, but in the middle of having to pay your bills, family drama and personal crisis, dating can be smt really triggering. I liked these stories a lot. Unfortunately, it was too short to fully explore everyone's feelings, cause i actually wanted it to go even deeper than this. And that's why this is a 7 for me. If this kdrama didn't had this 4th wall thing, perhaps they would have more room to explain a few more things in a different way, but i appreciate the creativity.

From what i can tell a S02 will be in place! Even if the main focus will change, i think all these characters will keep popping into the screen from time to time, so i am hopeful for different outcomes later on for some of these characters.

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A good 1 time watch

I thought this was a pretty good drama. It was tough to acclimatize to the way of filming, with characters sort of breaking the 4th dimension and talking to viewers. However, I think it was cute. I never understood the idea behind what they were filming for, and why they didn't know who was involved etc.. but that's fine. I enjoyed the various messages people had surrounding their idea on dating, romance, and love. It was interesting to watch a seemingly unstable relationship become stable, and stable one quickly deteriorate. I enjoyed all the characters. I thought they were all fun to watch, and I loved the friendship between them. That was heartwarming.

I'll admit it was a very slow start. It took me about 5 episodes to really get into it. I struggled a bit with the last 3 episodes as well. There didn't seem to be a lot of closure surrounding the secondary characters which sucked. Based on the way things ended with Gyung Joon and Rin Yi I felt like there would be a season 2 of sorts? Otherwise that was a very odd ending. There was a lot of their relationship we didn't get to explore. The Minho + Celebrity arc was random as heck for me. I'm a Shawol and all so I'm not complaining, but it was weird.

I did enjoy the style in which they slowly depicted Eun Oh's story. I had a hard time understanding in the beginning what her deal was. It just didn't really make sense why she decided to leave. But as you get to understand the circumstances that lead her to that beach, you really begin to get a feel for what she was going through and thinking at the time. Everything kind of clicks together. I thought that was both heartbreaking and relatable. Who hasn't wanted to just run away after going through all that?

Ji Chang WooK did a fantastic job on his character. I didn't enjoy him in Backstreet Rookie or Melting me Softly, but this was a good role for him. He was charming, witty, and VERY funny. His breakdowns were really well done. I was impressed. There were scenes that definitely made me swoon!

I also thought the PPL was HILARIOUS. The 3 ppl wearing PPL shirts in the pizza shop in the background made me chuckle. Well done.

Finally, BIG ups on the music. Beautiful is all that comes to mind. It went really well with the sort of everyday life scenes, the sort of romantic tension scenes, and the weather ones. I am definitely listening to some of those in the coming days.

I'm not sure I have much else to say. I wouldn't say there's a lot of depth here per-se, but overall I still really enjoyed it.

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Rookie

I personally enjoyed the drama I just wished they gave more depth to Rin. I wish we go to know more about her past to understand her relationship.
Rin boyfriend also deserved more depth. They did not explain what was in the letter which was annoying.
The main leads relationship was very refreshing. We really got to see in my opinion at least a healthy way to deal with an ex. Though it took them forever the did communicate their feelings and were able to resolve and rekindle their relationship.
Sun young on the other hand didn’t have any character development which I wish she did because her relationship with Gun would’ve been so much better.

Overall show was very realistic, people are flawed and people don’t communicate in relationships properly and we get to see that.

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A Must Watch Drama!

Let me start off and say that this drama was amazing. It gives you a different perspective of love. The drama focuses on 6 different people. Each of them has a different pov of love and different opinion. And each of them has their own story to tell. I recommended this drama if you're looking for a fast-paced, short and amazing chemistry story. This drama gives you 3 different stories of couples in the city and all of the stories actually blend in nicely. The friendship, the stories, the interviews and lastly the chemistry are some of the things that make this a nicely written kdrama. I cannot stress this enough, the chemistry between Ji Chang Wook and Kim Ji Won is incomparable. They blend in quite nicely together and they looked like a real couple. They make you feel single on another level. This drama truly is like no other, it is unique. It is totally different from your normal kdrama, the style and the vibes are so good and I really enjoy the individuals pov of each character, it goes in-depth and they explain their actions and they're feeling which is why I'm able to understand and feel on what they're feeling.

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