Chiamalo Amore (2023)

Oh the angst!

This started out really promising, with a heartrending set up, beautiful direction, and gorgeous cinematography—using empty spaces and silences as effective storytelling devices. However as the drama progressed, this began to wear a bit.

The silences and innumerable silent glances became unbearable and continued long after a relationship between the two leads had been established. And the writers kept montaging the same 4-5 bits of dialogue between the 2 main leads to establish connection. I began wondering in the final act what was really connecting these two so strongly together when they hardly ever talked on screen. (Just talk to each other!)

Yes, one could argue that they had a soulful, unspoken connection, but it was perhaps too unspoken. I just would have like to see more substance between the leads and less needless angst.

Also wasn’t a big fan of how Woojoo just crumbled under the weight of her family’s disapproval in the last few episodes. She could’ve fought for their relationship. She was so headstrong and confident in the beginning and I just did not enjoy the trajectory her character took in the last few episodes.

All that said, I really loved the second lead romance. Sung Joon stole every scene he was in, and that romance was just so sweet. Their communication was adorable and was so fulfilling, and it just served to highlight how unfulfilling the interactions between our two silent leads were.

Anyway, I’m glad I watched it, but probably not one I’ll watch again.

Leggi di Più

Best love story in 2023

Best love story in 2023!

This is slow-burn love story and heart-touching.
I hope they got happy ending :((((((((
Episode 13 & 14 is so heartbreaking & emotional :((((((
Actor is so good at acting and he forgave her immediately after he knew about everything!!!!
Story is build up slowly. there’s so many reasons to part or break-up in relationships, (not because of third party and money).
I like this drama more than (25-21) drama.
I am not (25-21) drama fans and its story is good because of actress, I didn’t watch the whole episodes.

I like “call it love” drama ending, still feel pain for their love !

Leggi di Più

A healing journey through the facial expressions of the leads

After watching My Liberation Notes, Summer Strike and Tell Me That You Love Me, I was looking for a drama that would make me feel a certain way - Melo with warmth. Glad that I came across this drama.

I rarely love a show this much. What attracted me the most was how both FL and ML portrayed emotions simply through their facial expressions. The whole drama is so healing and welcoming. It felt as though I was living there, through them, within them.

Revenge can be taken in various ways. Sometimes, an act of revenge can be simply forgiving and understanding. A point to highlight was the maturity of the FL. Instead of being blinded by revenge, she understood who was at fault and who was not. Eventually, her family also comes to understand that.

Definitely worth watching.

Leggi di Più

An achingly beautiful love story told deliberately

This drama is not for the faint of heart or those looking to quickly get through a story. I sometimes watch dramas that I feel linger too long at a gaze, or rehash the same issues over and over again. This drama is beautiful in its pace. And to appreciate the drama, you have to be at ease with the pace. You have to flow with it. Being in the right mood, right time makes a difference.

The cinematography is like no other. Each composition holds such meaning, done with such deliberateness, that I couldn't bear to skip anything. Every movement, every glance, every flicker was so deliberately and meticulously crafted, that it would be a shame to turn away for a moment dare you miss any of the artistry.

The character development was brilliant. Everyone had growth, everyone had space and room to be a complex human, to learn, to regret, to forgive, to fail, and to grow. It's a talented writer, and a talented cast of characters, every lead, every supporting lead, gives purpose and depth to their part.

I would have given this drama a 10/10 regardless of the ending they had chosen. Everything felt deserved. This tangled story was told with such love and care,

But my empathies lie solely with Shim Woo Joo, brought to life by the wonderful Lee Sung Kyung. Perhaps as a middle child, a pillar of the family, and eldest daughter, any way I look at it, she had my whole heart. I understood her most, rooted for her throughout. For people that say this is a slog or slow burn, I disagree. It is deliberate in its pacing, so you ache as she aches. Also, coming from a culture where honor, family, standing in society means everything, I was heartbroken for her. Like I said, regardless of the ending I would have understood, but I still harbor resentment that Shim Woo Joo doesn't. She reflected my own short comings, showing what a long was I have to go to be understanding and deliberate and honest and hopeful.

Beautiful. Please watch.

Leggi di Più

bated breath, lump in throat and shining eyes

Against all expectations, 9.5 stars for keep me the breaths, for the touching musics, the slow acting to underline sads moments. I was a little scared by the slow pace but to my surprise it didn't bother me.
Don't expect an overwhelming and passionate story but rather a soft and touching story like a flower that blooms.

The character of the main woman lead was direct talking, altruistic and protective person. Meanwhile, the main man lead character was a sad person, lonely, pathetic, heavily hurts in feelings and betrayed by everyone.
Shy people who need time to grow their relationship. When the heart says one thing and the head says another.

I apreciated small gestures and I remember certain scenes:
When she wants to talk but he doesn't want to hear and vice versa. Him opening up and smiling again. He's not used to her direct ways but then he appreciates them. The gesture of sewing the button. She who protects him, comforts him and takes care of him. Being torn between what the heart feels and what the head says. Their looks. The fact that his ex dumped him at his favorite place (camping) and ruined it for him and never went back. Knowing that they love each other but give up everything for the family...

I spent half the time with wet eyes and a lump in my throat.

The last two episodes were a little too pathetic and heavy. Why did they waste more than a year to meet theirs? They love each other, the mother agrees, she and her brother have the telephone number? What did they expect, destiny?
My happy ending would be that they worked together at his uncle's campsite and the whole family gathered there, with his brother playing the guitar...

Leggi di Più

Call it BEAUTIFUL

A slow burn romance to top most slow burn romances. You got 2 incredibly complex characters with incredibly traumatizing histories and they come together to create a beautiful love story.

It starts out with our no non-sense badass but impulsive FL. She’s got revenge on her mind and she won’t stop at anything to achieve it.. until she meets our kind hearted and greenest of the green flags ML. However, she’s supposed to wreak havoc on his life as part of her revenge. So, what is a girl supposed to do? She fell in love.

It’s not a typical girl and guy fall in love kind of rom com. It’s about growing past your trauma, pain, internal conflicts, and allowing yourself to heal. I love that we get a no bullshit FL who’s not afraid to love, not afraid to protect those she loves and not afraid to love even her supposed enemy. Then, you get an incredibly warm and kind ML who’s slumped shoulders show a man carrying the weight of the world on him. What he needs is the love of a good woman. Here, enters our FL crashing into his world and coloring his blank pages. He also helps to bring colors into her black and white world. 10/10

Leggi di Più

I enjoyed the silent moments

Slowburns really are the best. It's all about the long stares full of pining, hand gestures, and simply being in each other's presence. These type of dramas don't even need a kiss scene, but when they did kiss? Priceless. I felt so many emotions inside me.

If I tell you I couldn't stop watching a drama you should trust me. That's because I tend to drop a lot of series I'm not interested in anymore. I like character-driven stories; this was EVERYTHING I've wanted in a while. The actress for the fl did such a good job with portraying her character. She absolutely shined in this drama.
Her temper, her somewhat cold attitude while also being warm, her maturity and her character development were all things I LOVED and was interested in. While getting to know the ml she slowly began to show her sweet side. I found it natural the way her loathing turning to pity and then finally love. I also liked her approach to dealing with that woman (I forgot her name). She realized that she turned her hate towards that woman when she should've hated her father, too. Although, she still doesn't forgive her, and rightfully so. They had a crucial talk at the end, and the fl communicated her thoughts well. I know some people would want to let that woman suffer in prison, but that's the point of this drama because the message it gives us is that life is not all about revenge. That's how I interpreted it, anyway.
The gentle, calm nature of the ml was a refreshing change from the usual teasing, charming love interests. We need more of that. He never snapped words out of anger to someone. The one time he did lose his mind was when the fl got hurt.
They're the exact opposite, yet that's why they complement each other so nicely. The fl needed someone who would be patient, accepting and kind. The ml needed someone who would be honest, straightforward and compassionate.

You know it's bad when I was flabbergasted at this drama not having an unnecessary second lead. That's rare, you know? The fl's best friend didn't have a secret crush on her. Instead, he fell for her sister.

The thing I'm disappointed with is the last episode. I didn't really understand their third-act breakup. It didn't make sense. And once they got back together at the final scene I wished for more. We were barely showed cute moments between them. They had great chemistry. I was able to feel their love from miles away. However, it wasn't enough imo. Also, I dislike that the younger brother was being treated like a 15-years old kid. He. Is. A. Grown. Man! I'm glad they focused a bit on the older sister, though.

Bottom line: two sad people falling in love is just my thing

Leggi di Più

Call it… why, a biggo WHY

WHY would you cast the handsome Kim Young Kwang if you´re gonna use that UGLY pink filter throughout the drama?

WHY would you cast the handsome Kim Young Kwang if you are not going to exploit his charismatic smile and just have him play a one dimensional depressed character? It was interesting and engaging in the early episodes, but it soon got old… to the point where I grew exasperated with him and that´s criminal. I watched the entire The Secret Life Of My Secretary with a big smile, even though it was a stupid romcom with a questionable premise I loved watching Kim Young Kwang. With him alone and his killer smile was so worth it!

WHY would you waste some potentially interesting cinematography with that UGLY pink?

WHY would you introduce great initial characters and midway just let them go to shit?

WHY in the second half of the series everyone took forever to get the words out of their mouths? Especially the leads in the last 4 episodes… my God what the hell happened, were they on Valium or something? Did I miss the part where they visited their psychiatrist and were prescribed a speech impairment drug?

WHY would you turn such a potentially strong, endearing and adorable FL into a wimpy FL?

If writers knew that they had 16 episodes to fill WHY did it feel like they ran out of material and they just went on circles the second half of the series?

WHY the pretentious and repetitive shots? Actors taking turns to eat side by side, actors taking turns to walk side by side, actors taking turns to look at each other from a few meters away, actors taking turns to look at the camera with a solemn face…. You get the point… repetition that made no freaking sense in a non beautiful way because of that UGLY pink filter.

WHY the bland ending?
I read some comments where viewers say that they were satisfied with the ¨happy ending¨ Frankly speaking I didn´t get it or by that time i was too jaded to appreciate it.


And then it got me thinking were they trying to emulate the ending in LOST or were they trying to emulate LOST the entire time? If so, they failed miserably. Actors take note: check out Ryu Joon Yeol and Jeon Do Yeon because that´s how you play a depressed person on the brink of despair. It does´t have to be boring!! In Lost the ending made perfect sense after the things that they had been through. In Call It Love, the ending looks like two slow and dumb people looking at each other, very stupid in my book.

So WHY did I watch this? Because I LOVE Kim Young Kwang and I liked the first half of the series to the point where I was willing to overlook the ugly pink filters.

Please Kim Young Kwang stay away from complex characters they are not for you or work with directors that can really use your strengths to build characters like in Mission Possible, Hello Me, The Secret Life Of My Secretary, The Guardians… playing those characters you were fantastic!!!


P.S. The OST, Flowers by Kim Roy was the true STAR of the series. Stunning!!!!!

Leggi di Più

Healing, .love, and perfect chemistry

There are many characters in Korean dramas that I would aspire to be because of their fundamental goodness, compassion, empathy, and kindness. Han Dong-Jin, in 'Call it Love' might go to the top of that last. His steadfast love turned desire for vengeance in the female lead, Shim Woo-Joo, brilliantly acted by Lee Sung Kung, into love, forgiveness and understanding. This healing is transformative across all the characters, grudgingly perhaps by the villainess, but even she is able to wish Shim Woo-Joo a good life. It's rare enough for chemistry this perfect to exist among the male and female lead but here is carries over to all the couples. The transformation and healing wrought by love permeates this quiet but powerful drama, one that will melt your heart. The cinematography is rather special as well, highlighting the moods of the characters and I appreciate that the OST is not just a play-list of popular songs but uses orchestra and piano to help create and sustain the moods. Call It Love is one of the most soulful dramas I have seen and it will linger with me for a long time.

Leggi di Più

Great Watch!

I just finished watching it, and even though in the beginning I thought I wasn't going to like this drama because of the serious undertone, I was wrong. It was a great journey that I didn't want to end. The characters grew on me at the end I loved the main cast so much. The relationship with the main leads was a real one built on authenticity and genuine care/love for each other. Many touching moments are great lines in this series defiantly has my mister vibe but with a more satisfying ending, in my opinion. Great watch for a nighttime drama think everyone should stick with it for 3 episodes it is not boring!

Leggi di Più