Our Beloved Summer (2021)

...the emotions they displayed just with their eyes were enough to make me curl up & cry

PLOT :
Choi Ung & Yeon-su were high school sweethearts who suddenly broke up 5 years ago and have not been in contact since then but when a documentary which they did about the daily lives of 1st ranked high school student Yeon- su & last ranked student Choi Ung whose personalities completely clash with each other at that time becomes suddenly viral again in the present, the two ex-lovers are re-united again reluctantly and due to some circumstances they are asked to do another documentary about their present lives. As old wounds re-surface again, we get to explore the journey of their past which shaped their present, how they are coping with their adulthood which turned out different what they hoped it to be, their insecurities, their bickering, petty jealousy and revenge and if they are ready to move on from the past, grow up, forgive and maybe give themselves a chance again.

My REVIEW:
The premise of Our Beloved Summer is simple but what it excels at is character development, the chemistry & the art of subtlety. Rather than bombarding us with grand displays of emotions, it slowly nudges our heart and let our heart do the rest of the work because they know we will be able to relate to it and can feel what they are going through rather than trying to make us understand it to feel for them. And this art of not doing too much is risky because it can be hit & miss as many actors can't pull it off, so usually dramas take the other route. But, my God, Choi Woo Shik (Parasite) & Kim Dami (Itaewon Class) were up for it. The emotions they displayed just with their eyes were enough to make me curl up, cry and keep me awake at night, I don't think any other actors could pull off this beautiful imperfect characters and their chemistry was off the charts. The anguish of their heartbreak & yearning for each other yet unable to move on from their past can be seen plainly by us, the viewers within their subtle ticks and features but yet we can see how they hid it from everyone else.

There is no one dimensional antagonist in this series. All the other characters are also normal humans who are also going through their pain and struggle and trying to cope with it, and live their life. We can probably relate to each characters because we can see that all of them are inherently good persons just dealing with their demons like the rest of us. I wish some of them had more character growth but still it was a better representation of the secondary characters than some other kdramas who are just there as a catalyst for the main characters.

The unique documentary styled editing with the combination of showing a same flashback of past from multiple perspective was ingenious, it showed multiple facets of different character’s point of view which has also enriched the viewing experience of this drama. I also loved the minimalistic indie approach by the director as in, they didn’t go in the direction of display of grandeur with a huge iconic scenic backdrop or soundtracks blaring every second when there is an iconic moment, instead they toned it down, let the actors do their part, used silence or slow song to drive the important turning point scenes so that it feels like we are in the moment with them and we are paying our full attention to them.

And if this drama is not already worthy to be a must watch, it hits off the park with the soundtrack. All the songs in the soundtrack are exquisite, they perfectly compliment the scenes they are used in.

I would like to end my very long review with the parting words that I absolutely loved the journey that I went with the characters of this drama, I cried and laughed with them and always rooted for them. This drama is definitely not for everyone but I will miss Yeon-su and Choi Ung a lot and my Mondays and Tuesdays will feel empty without them.

Leggi di Più

A warm, fuzzy, feel good drama

When I first saw the plot for this, I had no idea how the story would revolve around the documentary angle. But the previews and stills really got me interested.

May I just say that I love both the leads so much? They make a wonderful pairing! Despite their actual age, they can pass off as high schoolers. Character development from teens to working yuppies is portrayed well. Ung is someone I would love to have as a BF. He is totally devoid of ill intentions and has an easy going personality. Yeon Soo is a strong character who, despite the difficulties in life maintains a strong sense of responsibility.

Except for NJ, I loved everything about this drama. The setting, the cinematography, the narratives, dialogue, and the soundtrack.

If you want to watch something light but full of wonderful characters and emotions, this is definitely a MUST watch.

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enemies to lovers to ex lovers to lovers again... made new

this is one of my new favorite dramas.

the story:
i absolutely loved both the plot itself and how it was presented. i think it portrays relationships (romantic, platonic, and self) in a more accurate way than some other dramas may. of course, it is still a drama, so some things aren't realistic, but that's part of the suspended disbelief: believing something is true even if it may seem impossible. we saw how being friends with your ex isn't some easy thing to do--it's difficult, especially when feelings are involved and you don't know what feelings they are. we saw how getting over a crush is difficult and how it's hard to control your feelings--but it's not your fault. we saw how mending broken relationships with parents is hard and sometimes you can't forgive. we saw how hard it can be to address your own feelings and experiences of guilt, abandonment, and loneliness/emptiness.
i really liked how the characters were able to narrate their thoughts in a natural way. it added a layer of depth to help understand their motivations. and even though sometimes i was screaming for them to just communicate!!!, i understood their reluctance.
the characters were amazing! i loved how three-dimensional they were and how different aspects of their lives were explored: romance, family, friends, career, and general self-improvement. like a normal person, they have various stories in their lives, and i liked how we got to see a bit into the side characters' lives as well.
there are really only 2 minor things that i didn't like: the use of fate/coincidences and the slightly rushed ending. the fact that ung happened to drop his phone the night yeonsu was talking about her difficulties and the fact that they lived in the same area but never saw each other for 5 years are among the plot points that bothered me a little bit. once again, bringing it back to suspended disbelief. also, there were a few stories that i wish they spent more time wrapping up: choi ung talking to his biological father (maybe just showing the scene?), chae ran and ji ung's relationship, sol-i and eun-ho's relationship, and the wedding scene why didn't we get that :(((( i know it's a lot to put in one episode, but i wish we could've seen it. at least we got a bit of married life <3

acting/cast:
i would like to hug the casting director and give them my warmest thanks for their work. literally everyone was casted so perfectly. i cannot imagine anyone else as yeonsu, ung, ji-ung, NJ, sol-i, eun-ho, chae ran, and everyone else.
wooshik's acting never fails to disappoint. the way his seemingly blank or sad expressions convey a much deeper level of feeling always gets to me. same with dami. you can see her thinking, and then it hits you. the actors all put on such emotional performances (with the exception of our comedic relief, eun-ho and sol-i, of course). i wish they had been given some "real" storylines, not just comedy and a supporting role. i know it's hard to develop so many characters, so i think the story was good with the time frame and those two actors did great with what they had. i hope to see them in future lead roles! i have to give a shout out to my personal favorite, jeon hye won (chae ran). obviously her character was more background here, but i think with a bigger role, i see her acting being amazing and i'd love to see more of her as well.

music:
the soundtrack is really lovely as well. the songs are so good and the way they're inserted into the tv show is just *chef's kiss*. also, it's so stacked! we got BIBI, V, and Sam Kim! plus OST icons 10cm and Janet Suhh!

final thoughts:
i am a sucker for tropes, i'll admit that. but i have standards hehe. and i think OBS took those tropes (enemies to lovers, ex lovers to lovers, etc.) and made them their own. they made it refreshing, lovely, wholesome, better, and all around amazing. these characters felt so real. i feel like i learned more about life, not just romance, watching this drama. and that's why i love it.

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Refreshing Slice of life/Romance Drama

Absolutely top 3 fav dramas of all time!! It is a slice of life drama which I think is why it's not everyones cup of tea since it doesn't have a lot of dramatic plot points and can get slow but I loved it for the fact that it focused on character and relationship development. (Also just a sucker for good slice of life/exes to lovers/established relationship)
Story/characters
I think the strongest point of this drama is that you can relate to the characters so well bc they're very real in the sense that they are flawed in their own way but are living through life and trying to overcome the hurdles life throw at you. I adore how they ended up developing their relationship in a healthy manner and grew to be people that were able t o love each other fully again. I think it was very realistic how sometimes more than love you need to find and love yourself first before being in a relationship. I think the healthiest relationship is when two people are sure of who they are and what they want and know how to be themselves and they find a partner that only enhances those aspects in life and I think this is exactly why woong and yeonsu needed that break. To develop themselves as people and figure out who they are, what they want before being in a relationship again. Getting to know the side characters was also beautiful and the way the side characters were there as support rather than toxic competition was really refreshing, I ended up loving NJ so much in the end although she couldve been easily written as the toxic superstar, she was really the opposite, someone with a lot more layers than you expected. Also super stokes that Jiung ended up having his little happy ending as well;-;

Acting
I love choi wonshik and kim dami so much! their portrayal of these characters was amazing and it felt so real. All the supporting cast was also really well casted, overall acting was superb!

OSTs
Some of the best OST's in a drama I've heard in while!! It's very different vibes from your usual drama Ost ballads but it fits this story so well. I love Christmas tree and I did not know it was sung by V until a good 5 episodes in lol but damn did his voice fit this song and drama so well. The intro song was also lovely and I have most of the OST's in my playlist^^

TLDR
Extrememly well done slice of life drama that focuses on the characters and relationships and portrays them pretty realistically. Very refreshing characters and storyline as well, close to no toxidity/annoying drama tropes/characters. Acting is amazing and OST's are perfect and make this a well rounded, romantic slice of life drama that I'd highly recommend!

Leggi di Più

Not so complicated, youthful, refreshing and warm!

It’s like a refreshing summer drink. But it is also like a warm hot tea you drink when you’re cold. It’s a mix of everything. All the feels, scenes are so relatable and realistic!

The plot is simple but mixing everything together made this amazing drama. The documentary is kinda unique. The FL and ML reunion feels so natural. The break up was so painful that I felt like I’m going through it too.

I love that there is no Evil Parents. Well, there’s Yeonsu's grandma but she’s not that annoying. There’s also Ji Ung's Mom but they didn’t explain why she’s like that but we get the gist of it.

I love how all Actors portrayed their roles really well. Feels like each characters given to them are written for them.

Choi Woo Shik looks oh-SO fine! Choi Ung may pretend he doesn’t care or that he didn’t know but I think that’s his defense mechanism. I love how he is when he is with Yeonsu! They’re made for each other!

Kim Dami is a cutie. She looks really really young especially when she’s crying. Yeonsu's defense mechanism is acting tough. I think both Yeonsu and Ung need to develop on how they can open up not just with each other but also to other people. As they are both lacking on that aspect. And I hope it was shown more in the drama. Perhaps Season 2?

Kim Ji Woong, I just hope the writer made him a bit friendlier even only with Choi Ung. I feel like he secretly (even if he doesn’t want to) hates Ung. He envies him for having good parents and for having Yeonsu. But Ung treated him so well. So I just wished him to be friendlier with Ung. If you know what I mean. I just feel like he should have treated Ung better as Ung treated him the best he could!

NJ - I thought I'm gonna hate her BUT I JUST CAN'T. She is such a sweetheart. Even if Ung ends up with her I'm not gonna be mad. (Though it is obviously not possible as both Ung and Yeonsu are obsessed with each other. Haha.)

Ung's Parents- I love them! Their the best parents. Although I think they could have been more honest to Ung. I think they’re also the reason why Ung is kinda aloof with other people.

Eun ho and Sol i are both so cute. They’re the ones that bring comedic scenes here! Love them! I am already shipping them on their first encounter.

The OST is the BEST!!! Gonna add them on my playlist.

The ending? I am definitely satisfied! I expected a lot. I expected it to be sad so I won’t be too heart broken if eve but also hoping to have a happy ending. And they ended it so well!!!

I have so many positive things to say but it will be too long of a review so I’m gonna end it here! Season 2, please!

Leggi di Più

Yes, totally worth it..

I kept seeing this drama recommendation by everybody… so decided to check it out.

It lived to the hype… caught me since ep1.

Their relationship is so natural, and both charismatic in their way.
Ung is so cool, relaxed… life pass in front of him without any hinder, Thats how he appears to be… except for her.

Yeon Soo is so relatable… excellent student, struggling to become excellent professional… she is accomplished and responsible, tough on the outside, but so soft inside, constantly faking her personality so no one can see how vulnerable she really is,.. not even Ung.

The break up scene was so horrible, detached, I hated her but later understood life was too much… and she underestimated her feelings for Ung, and eventually regretted pushing him away.

That happens so often in real life…. People simply makes mistakes because they take others for granted.. like YS did…

These 2 persons get together through a documentary film in high school…. Which lead them to become a couple.
Life happens and Yeon Soo broke up with no real explanation, leaving Ung heart broken and confused.

I spent 12 episodes crossing my fingers for them to get back together…. Both were miserable apart, but stubborn to get back together…. However, when they finally did, it was a bit anticlimactic… but ey… at least we had 4 episodes of them together.

I loved that both evolved in their own way… and once back together, they learned from the past and try to be better for each other, not taking their love for granted like they did in the past.

This is one of the dramas with much better development Inhad seeen so far….
Their relationship is very real, normal… they complement each other so good, there is no mistake… they belong together.

The onky annoying character was the friend /2ML… the producer…. Somehow he did not win my simpathy, even with his sad story.

Everybody else are adorable.

Do I recommend this serie? Absolutely Yes
Would I watch it again? I think Yes
Would I love a second season….. absolutely yes!

Leggi di Più

Dont watch the first episode if you have to work the next day.

Story: 9/10
A heartwarming, funny yet sad story about a man and a womam (kinda) in love. (what a suprise?)
The romance is a clear 10/10 for me. Kim Da Mis acting is superb and Choi Woo Shik also plays his role to perfection. The dialogues are very well written and not once did it feel like the characters words and actions were incoherent. Why a 9 then? More below.

Music & Audio: 9/10
Theres nearly nothing to criticize here. All songs perfectly fit and push the emotions to another level. It does sometimes feel like the mixing is not perfect, but I believe that is a personal preference. The only minor problem with the music is that all the songs resemble each other, and theres never a big style deviation. While its understandable, at one point in the series they couldve used a change in the musics pace as a stylistic element.
Kinda sad they didnt.

Acting: 10/10: just perfect

Camera&Editing: 10/10
The emotions the series intends to deliver are perfectly delivered through flawless camerawork and impressive but subtle editing.

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The only gripe I have with the Series is one of the Subplots. Feels a bit like Perrin from AWoT. It could have been a bit less, but its still okay.
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Highly Recommended: 9.5/10

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Drama that will make you feel all sorts of emotions

This kdrama is so good. And I MEANT IT WHEN I SAY IT'S GOOD.
The character's story is so wholesome and the drama itself shows everyone's side of story which makes it 10000% better. You can also see that their acting was good because on ho they portrayed their roles which gave me butterflies T_T. This drama doesn't have the word 'boring' in its dictionary cuz I enjoyed everything. The slow burn romance was really good. Throughout the drama, I was constantly crying or laughing and I was also blushing cuz of the scenes. I can also relate so much to Yeon soo because she is the type of person who gets misunderstand every single time and all she needs was love and care and she always takes care of his grandma because she value her which is super cute. AND the male lead was such a standard. Like, I always wanted a man like him. Someone who will try to understand you and accept you all the time. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS SO DAMN GOOD T_T. I tear up every time there's like a flashback of them. Also the side characters was so sad too. They also have their own story which made me cry a lot. I really love this drama and I hope you watch it too
^ ^

Leggi di Più

Beautiful OST and Cinematography

First of all, very beautiful OSTs. The OSTs definitely carried the drama to a higher place. It is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in K-dramas.
The story of this drama revolves around the good parts and hard parts of being in a relationship. I think there were some relatable moments to it which makes you think back and ponder over them. The story was overall good. There were a lot of thing happening and they did a good job wrapping everything up in the end. I would say the story falls off a bit in the middle and the main characters literally switch their personality which was a bummer as I would've loved to see the female lead as she was in the first half of the drama, tough and strong. But it was still good and the change made sense. The side characters were good but they didn't have any character buildup to them, they were just there because they had to and for some comedy relief. Except for NJ. I loved NJ.
The cast and acting was good.
The Cinematography was good and made the drama that much more enjoyable.

This drama is not perfect but it did everything right and it paid off. This drama was overall a great experience and I would definitely recommend people to give it a watch.

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Finding own self and How to be loved by our loved ones...........

OMG ! Like OMG ! Okay lets start from the start. I was eagerly waiting for this drama since it was rumored that choi woo sik and kim da mi would be starring in it together. I personally loved their chemistry in the witch so I really wanted to see them together in a rom-com. And santa gifted me 'Our beloved summer'.
The story is FANTASTIC. im not saying there are a lot of plot twists and stuff but it keeps you engaged so well. The directing and writing is FANTASTIC. it is always a difficult job when you are story telling the past and the present.
You can either show the past first and then tell the audience abt the present or you show the present and the past together which is not an easy job at all. I got to see flashbacks from the story whenever I needed. The balance between both those timelines was really good according to me the dramas pace was perfect. Not too slow nor too fast. Whenever I had a question while watching the drama it got answered the next moment. So I was never zoned out or it never happened that Idk why this is happening.
I love the character design for yeon su and choi ung. They were unique yet relatable. I could relate better with yeon su. The drama involves us so much with the characters that you slowly start to understand their point of views, decisions and habits etc. You start to live the characters through yeon su and ung. The conflict between these two is so great its like the saying 'opposites attract'. They both are extremely different but its really heartwarming to see them keeping their differences aside and embracing and loving each other as they are.
I really liked the documenatry that played a big role in helping viewers differentiate between the past and present. Also the documentary helped me understand how two people can have different memories and perspective of the same moment.
Dont even ask me about the second lead ji ung I really felt bad for him. He was suffering a lot be had a harsh childhood and craved for love, family but all's well that ends well. I really like how they ended it. With all the pieces of the art together.
Our beloved summer is full of romance, heartbreaks, patch ups, tension, humor. The new love story will give you butterflies while the sad moments will make you bawl your eyes. At the end it was a really fun journey for me ! And I would highly recommend this drama I had to write more but i'll only end up spoiling stuff for you. And if all those above paragraphs weren't enough for me to persuade you to watch it (it has a ost that was sung by V of BTS)👀🤫.
See im so helpful now go and watch it ! Im sure you'll love it

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Kinda watchable

The drama had a nice concept but the story was too thin for a full run drama even with the added side stories. It's also why they sneaked in a useless love pentagon that didn't get anywhere. Although you may find the FL's behavior passable as a teen but that wasn't the case as an adult, it was increasingly challenging to endure watching her. It simply didn't serve the narrative. After seeing her character in action I had a strong hunch to why they broke up. Such a reason may be valid when written adequately but, in this case, it came off as a shallow excuse to progress the plot. Even if we were to over glance that, they ended up giving a half-assed resolution to their underlying problems and opted to supplement the rest with an overdose of mindless lovey-dovey scenes while eliminating any opportunity for the drama to delve deeper into the emotional package they threw at us earlier on. Another prime example of the bait and switch technique the Kdrama industry have been going through recently and it doesn't look like this will change. One last thing, there were some obvious amateur editing mistakes sprinkled in the drama. One singular scene may have multiple camera angles but 2 different color grading, even for the same consecutive face shot.

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