Love Battle (2023)

Classic Romcom done right... with some flaws

I binge-watched this show in one sitting, which is something I hadn't done in a long while (due to lack of time or engagement with a show/some shows I watched while airing, etc.), so it's needless to say that I loved 'Love to Hate You' to bits and was hooked since the very first ep.

I really liked the whole idea and concept, I'm personally a huge fan of the fake dating & enemies to lovers trope, and I am a feminist who advocates for women's rights and speaks up against gender discrimination, and all topics related to it. So you can definitely say that this show catered to me quite well. I don't really have many issues with it because I think the characters were well-built and the plot, although uncomplicated, advanced smoothly and didn't leave any loose ends.

However, there are some things that bothered me throughout the show and I haven't seen anyone mention them. The whole show is built around feminism, gender discrimination, and misogyny presented in different environments and situations, and I think they did a pretty good job at it, but at some points, it felt like the show was trying to give a "not all men" type of narrative. It's very subtle, so it doesn't surprise me that people haven't mentioned it or even noticed it, but there were some dialogues and actions that felt contradictory considering what the drama is essentially about. An example of this is when Miran tells Naeun not to judge handsome men anymore based on her past experiences because some handsome men are actually alright. I'm not saying this is wrong, but it gives this "not all men" vibe that I don't think matches the theme of the show. Wonjun also said something like that at some point and it rubbed me the wrong way as well.

The other thing that bothered me about this show is that the entire plot is based around the concept of "I'm not like other girls." We have a sexist male lead who was attracted to this very odd and particular woman, which is completely fine and I absolutely loved her character, but even after they got together and were already lovey-dovey, he kept saying things like, "you're not like other women, all the women I knew were like this or that, women are usually this or that," etc, etc. Of course, this was his own personal experience with the women that threw themselves at him, but I thought that would be dropped at some point in the show, or that maybe Miran would say something like, "just because I'm not like that doesn't mean I'm better than them, or that they're bad women," or something along those lines. They made Kangoh a victim of the evil women and after a while, it was very overused. Actually, the only women in the show that aren't evil or airheads or gold-diggers, or similar, are the female lead and the actress. Even Miran's friend was first "too soft for her own good," but this is a trait attributed to "weak" or "dumb" women. That Grace girl was shown as only being Wonjun's friend because she wanted to be something more one day. The ex-girlfriend was, well, the main evil. And I could go on and on about the supporting female characters. I just think that pretending to make a show about feminism and anti-sexism, but adding so many stereotypically flawed female characters is, once again, contradictory to what the show attempts to speak against.

Still, I think this is one of those rare romcoms done right that are very scarce today, unfortunately, even despite my criticism. I really loved it and enjoyed every second of it (I literally watched this all night long back to back and I'm writing this review in the morning at a time when I should've already slept and woken up, but alas).

So if you're a sucker for simple shows that will give you butterflies, and make your heart flutter, this is definitely for you. The characters are good-looking, they have great chemistry, and the plot advances fast and doesn't drag out anything. I personally enjoyed it a lot despite my little complaints.

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Speed version Rom Com

Rom Com with all the classic moments but in a less cheesy way

Refreshing Rom Com:
1. FL is a bad ass that apparently can do anything and everything
2. FL runs like an athlete. Fight stunts well choreographed. I laughed so hard they were exaggerating the running awkwardly part.
3. ML speaks English fluently, adds to his sexiness
4. Manager guy reminds me of a Korean Judd Nelson (hair & vibe not actual features of course) <--- Anyone else think so?
5. There's still the classic piggy back ride but not cheesy: She's legit was injured and not like "opps I fell because I didn't know how to tie my shoes right so ML needs to tie shoe lace & carry her"
6. There's still the fish lip kissing scene but at least characters not a middle age still experiencing her 1st kiss story line
7. The shooting of a movie scene was a throw back to 80s Asian Gangster movie. They even got familiar Cantonese Song in the background. Reminds me of "A Better Tomorrow" movie with Leslie Cheung song?
8. The non talking director. His facial expressions cracked me up

What could've been better:
It's only 10 episodes so everything had to be sped up so you if you like more character development then just watch at .5 speed..... Like kissing usually is in ep 7 of your standard 16 ep dramas but got to speed that up.
Her Bestie, I am not sure her character worked for me at all. A good supporting side story had zero time to really develop.

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Started with no expectations, Finished with higher standards

Yes, this is a romance-comedy, but not your typical rom-com.

I started watching this drama because I was in the mood to watch something short and lighthearted on Netflix. To tell you the truth, I have hovered over the drama on Netflix many times in the past and never was able to start it because the synopsis did not entice me. I was completely wrong.

This drama is focused on the female lead who is led by a strong sense of justice against men especially ones that are disrespectful to women. A strong female lead is always a pleasure to watch, but what's different about Yeo Mi Ran (female lead ) is that if she is wrong, she is reasonable and is able to admit that she made a mistake which is what leads to the romance of the main leads. She is not your typical strong woman lead where everything goes her way and is cocky. Her personality is what kept me watching the drama.

The drama also has a slight enemies-to-lover trope even though it is based on a misunderstanding between the two. The chemistry between the two main leads is strong, and the romance is very realistic. As you can see, I rated the drama with an 8.5, but I only have great things to say about it. Why, you may ask.

I felt like the drama could have two more episodes and made it a 12 episodes drama because I thought the ending was kinda rushed with the second couple story, and I wouldn't have minded more moments between the leads either. I also did not really care about the second couple's storyline because I was indifferent to the lead's friend, especially with her personality. But it was not enough to make me stop watching the drama since it showed the opposite personalities between the two.

I can't promise you that this drama will become your favorite drama of all time, but I can say that you won't regret watching it. Overall, it was very worth watching and the only thing I regret is not clicking on the drama every time I hovered over it. Even though it was not anything spectacular, I felt very comfortable watching it and hope future dramas can also show us more mature and non-toxic relationships like those shown in this drama.

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i love this kdrama so much.

I love this kdrama so much. Not gonna lie. At first, it was bored a little bit. But it was fun in the middle and at the end of the story. Im begging any producers please make a kdrama for second lead couple. I swear i already having a second lead syndrome right now. I want to watch their own kdrama so much. And please make sure it is a happy ending story just like this one. They are so sweet in this kdrama. Please make it possible. I love them so much and the main lead too! The main lead also play such a good role in this drama. Hoping new kdramas coming for them. Thank you

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Fun, hilarious, none cliche romcom

2nd April 2023
Enjoyed it alot. Unique compared to the rest of kdramas i watched. I loved the main female lead. It was hilarious too especially the first episodes, the chem was soo good. Do wonjun( the 2nd male lead was soo handsome, i am a sucker for long haired dudes. I really liked it, wish it was longer just coz i had a fun time. I finished it in one night except for the last ep coz my phone was broken.

The only negative thing I have to say is the ' i love u' confessions were a bit insta lovey as they kinda of just met.

Anyway, overall a good romcom with no cliches

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A clichéd and entertaining watch for couch time.

She strikes you as a feminist – independent, progressive and she certainly knows what her heart desires. Like everyone else, circumstances sometimes put you in a position where you have to play the rules to get ends meet and that's Yeo Miran as a lawyer. And no, she's not the hotshot kind (at least, not when you first meet her – this is a forgivable spoiler right?) but she's tenacious, observant and fully aware of her capabilities in regards to social relations – both as a colleague and a woman. In no time, you're in her grip. This makes her dangerous, a femme fatale.

Nam Kangho is supremely attractive (cough um cough it's Yeo Teo guys I cannot resist cough cough) and just, an amiable actor who is good at his job so naturally, he becomes fans and staffs' favourite. Behind the curtain? I'd say he's not entirely different except for this one thing. And that's the cue for Yeo Miran. But our ML is similar to FL; he's sort the person who stakes the premise beforehand and throws pebbles to see if they bite the bait. In other words, he's observant too, rather blunt and can be real cute at times. If she's the resident femme fatale, then he's her counterpart – the homme fatale.

Together, the dynamics is straight out hilarious. The editing is top-notch and they probably had fun adding effects here and there. OST is forgettable but well-suited with overall ambiance. Tandem between ML and 2ML was convincing and high-key on bromance. And the acting? As expected. It's Kim Okvin and Yeo Teo. Their names are enough to sell this series. More so when it's rom-com. Some parts you don't necessarily agree (I mean, they're flawed and let's not forget, we're too) and it's a work of fiction – while it's very close on fantasy territory, some things are just meant to be that way, realistically and with these points in mind, it remains binge-worthy.

Another thing, the kiss scenes are SWOON :OO

Okay, okay now it's time to wait patiently for Yeo Teo's recently premiered film on Sundance, called Past Lives!

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A must-watch for fans of rom-coms!

Love to Hate You is a must-watch for fans of romantic comedies and action-packed dramas. The show delivers a perfect mix of positive energy, funny moments, and cool action scenes that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

One of the highlights of the show is its likable characters. The lead actors and actresses are not only beautiful, but they also have great chemistry on-screen. Their interactions will surely make you root for them, even when they are at odds with each other.

The pacing of the drama is fast and dynamic, but not overwhelming. The show's ability to keep the audience engaged without making them feel rushed is commendable. Moreover, the show has a lot of positive vibes that can uplift your mood and make you feel happy.

Another aspect that stands out in Love to Hate You is its OST. Each episode has a different OST at the end, and they're all fantastic.

Overall, Love to Hate You is an enjoyable watch that will make you smile. Its combination of romance, comedy, and action makes for an entertaining and engaging drama that you won't want to miss.

*This review was generated with the help of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

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