Per amore e per destino (2023)

It's good.

I think fans who have been watching kdramas for a while will be able to find familiar elements in what makes Destined with You: Candy female lead, Chaebol male lead, aloof but cool second lead, unhinged girlfriend, past lives and spells. It honestly feels like describing a kdrama from the 2010s, like My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.

My issue is the script. The way the story is structured makes the situations feel repetitive, with no proper development in some of the gaps within the logic of the kdrama.

The kdrama mostly works because of the undeniable chemistry between Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon. They both give really good performances, full of charm and heartfelt moments. I have been following both actors since the star of their respective careers and I am delighted to see them grow in their craft.

The secondary characters were entertaining enough but, honestly, forgetful. Yura and Ha Joon being the standouts, along side some veteran actors that overstayed their welcome in my opinion.

The production quality of Destined with You is solid, and it really shows when it "flashbacks" to the Joseon period, the transitions between dream, reality and memory it's amazing and so pretty to look at.

Overall, I think this is an entertaining watch with some issues that can be ignored if you are looking to have a good time with a fantasy rom-com.

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Betterr than what I expected, worse than what it could be.

Frankly this drama could have been better if it wasn't for the unnecessarily things that happened in the middle of the drama and some plot holes. I think the author could have explained better. Also, sometimes less is more. I feel like the author tried to put a lot of things and at the end of the day he didn't know what to do with it.

Saying that, I don't think the drama was bad. I had fun watching it and the couple was entertained enough to watch. Also, I did like some episodes and I was very interested in their backstory and such. It wasn't bad to the point of not sticking to it until the end. At least this drama is entertaining and not just a copy and paste from some American show or something pushy. It was okay.

The OSTs were okay to good. I think I would've liked them more if the drama played them more in a better way. Besides the one with Park Won and one from Lyn, I don't think the other catched my attention to the point of even commenting about it.

The actors were good as well, nothing to complain about it. Their characters were okay. Could they have been better? Oh yeah! Especially the FL. But as someone who is used to old FL style, this one didn't sound so bad. Again, it is a okay drama. Something you would watch because you have nothing else to. However, since almost the dramas nowadays are very bad. This one is quite fair.

I still reconmend it to the ones who have watched a lot and need some k-drama.

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Love this drama, and the acting was fantastic. It is funny, edgy, and tear-jerky.

Destined with You is a funny and enjoyable Kdrama. I normally don't watch too much Kdrama because I don't like to read subtitles, but this one is quite funny, and I like Rowoon the actor. I first like him in the King's Affection.

The Synopsis: Lee Hong Jo is the lowest-grade civil servant. She always does her best at work, even though she suffers from many civil complaints. In her personal life, she is used to being alone. One day, she becomes the owner of an old wooden chest and the key to lift a curse from Jang Shin Yu.

Jang Shin Yu is a competent lawyer who is smart and good-looking. He is usually in the spotlight wherever he goes but suffers from an unexplained disease. His condition gets progressively worse. He is desperate to lift the curse that has run through his family for generations. A lawyer bound by a centuries-old curse becomes entangled with a civil servant who holds the key to his freedom — igniting an unexpected romance.

I love and enjoy this drama a lot, and Jo Bo Ah did a great job playing Lee Hong Jo, and her onscreen chemistry with Rowoon is also good. They did a phenomenal job, especially Rowoon. I gave it an 8.5 rating. Highly recommended, and the ending leaves a cliffhanger for possible season 2. The

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Watch this for Rowoon

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0 for Rowoon

This is a show about Rowoon. I started watching “Destined with You” for him and I stayed for him. His visuals are without a doubt great. But his acting has also improved. It’s nice seeing him play a more mature and serious lawyer, instead of a young rom-com fluffy cute loverboy. Granted, he is very smitten with FL and is a loverboy for some episodes and some scenes, but for the most part, he plays a sensible and not over-the-top lawyer. He was absolutely hilarious when he’s under the spell.

The same cannot be said for the female lead, Lee Hong Jo, played by Jo Bo Ah. I liked her ok in the beginning though I did not like her being a doormat at work. But I can sympathize with the work culture and it’s not easy. However, I dislike her the most and the main critique of “Destine with You” is her constantly making dumb decisions, disregarding her safety, thus putting others and herself in danger. Once or twice, I can understand. But after you were being stalked, harassed multiple times and assaulted, you gotta act smarter. Just because your boyfriend bought you pepper spray, doesn’t mean you are invincible. How about using your brain and not opening the door to strangers after being stalked/harassed? Or call the cops for help and backup, before walking into danger thinking you are smarter than everyone? Additionally, why would you tell your boyfriend’s secret illness to others without his permission? He didn’t even tell his mom!! Lee Hong Jo also keeps on believing 2FL’s lies even when she knew what an evil mean girl 2FL was in high school.

I actually quite like the setup with destiny and spells and all the flashbacks. But I don’t think the storytelling was smooth enough to keep me engaged. It would be nice to tie the stalker plot with what happened 300 years ago. It’s not convincing enough that all the stalker did was because of possible mental illness, when he was trying to place a curse on someone.

The romance is pretty good but frustrating at times. Jang Shin Yu (ML) is definitely two-timing for a while and the lack of communication frustrates me. Rowwon and Jo Bo Ah have decent chemistry in some of the cute scenes. The kisses are good but I would have liked to see a few more passionate ones. But because I disliked how the dumb the female lead is, it affects my liking of the romance as well.

Moreover, I find all the coworkers annoying. Those men-obsessed girls are especially worse and super loud. The older couple is a little cringe. Second male lead is fine. He’s now showing a lot of personality and when standing next to a fine specimen like Rowoon, Ha Joon pales in comparison.

Overall, I would recommend this drama if you are a fan of Rowoon or the fantasy element. The female characters in this show annoy me. But the male characters aren’t bad (except for the FL’s boss). I am giving this a round-up 8.0 all because of Rowoon and his very kissable, puckered up lips.



Completed: 11/24/2023 - Review #380

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This wasn't what i was expecting

First of all i like jo bo-ah so started this series. But it gave me whole disappointment. Yes the last was somehow fine but the start is irritating and nonsense. Man who wants a fake love? Love by some nonsense potion?
I just want to ask the fl character, r u crazy? U were so lonely that u turned into a obsessed physco? If the person you like doesn't love you and u use some potion then like does that even call love? Jow could she randomly just use some kind of potion to make someone fall for you? That's not real love that's call forced love . Many of You guys liked it because it was the fl who did this. Just think if it was the villainess who did that to ml would you like it? No.

And the ml character also wasn't that nice. He just randomly judging a person, bro you don't know her past nor her well how could you just randomly judge? I hate this type of ml character the most. Whatever, i thought it would be something like he cursed and she would be the key and in the process they will fall for each other for real. But nah, the ml was like forced to like the fl and then you know the typical.

I'm really disappointed

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the story ages well through the episodes

I didn't really want to continue after the first episode but a few days later I was bored and decided to give it a go. it's not bad if you want to watch a drama that's not really serious plus has got good comic moments between the leads. the spells and curses genre kinda doesn't fit me so I skip over those scenes but otherwise not bad. the FL's co-workers are mad annoying I try my best not to yell when they appear lol. sometimes jo bo ah's cutesy tone of talking also gets too much.
rowoon's doing a good job so far. I'm waiting to know more of Jang Shin Yu and Lee Hong Jo's past life story.
some scenes like them going on a vacation when they barely know e/o and her randomly letting him into her house at the beginning don't seem believable; she trusts him too much for being a stranger lol.

edit: 10 eps in, the story keeps getting better every episode. definitely worth a try for some good comic relief. though I'm kinda tired of the SFL.

to summerise, if you're looking for some light plotted drama with some nice comedy you can watch it in between a heavy drama for a change. if you feel like, you can skip over some scenes (as you'll still understand the story) instead of dropping it!

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Updated Review, Not the best drama personally.

The old review notes I had after 11 episodes have been deleted. Update after completion >

A major issue I have with the series is the characters. There was a tendency for the characters to use romance as a foundation for their being, their presence. Yes, they had jobs, but that isn't really a complete picture of their character. There were 16 episodes supposed to tell me everything I needed to know about them in relation to the story, and it didn't. It was primarily due to the story structure that failed them. The story seemed to revolve around a romance triangle centered on indecision for 30% of the time. Then there was the boss' office romance? Everything was a mess. And by the time episode 13 -15 came along and tried to make a bit more sense out of things it was far too late. Anyhow...

It took me about 16 days to complete the last 5 episodes. The story improved a little bit. Personally, I have no problems with the actors. Their characters didn't appeal to me. In the end, it's art and its own story, so who am I to change it? With that said, if I could change some things, I would be able to come up with a million ideas. In order to keep my review as brief as possible, I will just say I would have started the story in the past, built up a strong foundation between the lovers while showing critical elements such as the Shaman aspect, the box, curse, etc. They promise to meet in the next life in order to fulfill the destiny for xyz reasons.

(continuing with my ideas) >Despite similarities or differences in appearance, there may be some similarities between the present and the past leads. In the past, they died together. Present day -- They use the next 4-5 episodes to build the main character's bio as well as the plot and struggles that ultimately connect to the past. Each of them has a unique personal history, which gives them deep character traits that make you fall in love with them. Events and circumstances eventually bring them together by fate. They discover their destiny from the past together as they struggle through a better story. As you would have fallen in love with them far before they officially reunited, their chemistry is stronger and authentic because you would have fallen in love with them even before they reconnected.

In my opinion, it is a much better story than Oh no you drank the spell by accident! Now you love me? Wait a minute, you're engaged. Wait a minute, come back! Wait, are you pure? Let's stay away from each other. Let's kiss, but stay away! WT*^*?


There are a lot of ideas I have for this story, but it would be a waste of time to go into it further. While I tried to like this series, after watching so many great dramas in the past I have to admit that this one isn't very entertaining for me. Yes, chemistry is all they talk about, but the story itself is rarely discussed. (what does that tell ya?) My favorite chemistry comes from liking the main characters FIRST and their struggles throughout a riveting story, nothing forced, and they naturally come together as the story dictates.

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Is it a curse or just tragic love willing itself into happiness?

Destined with You begins intriguing, fun, cute, and a bit mysterious. It draws you in and a gives you a great cast. The directing has some great cinematography and approaches to scenes. The comedy is on-point and the chemistry of the 3 main leads is explosive.

However, it couldn't keep this going. The middle dragged, the plot became repetitive, and the characters became stale.

Our ML kept being thrown in a grey area of being a good man, a selfish egotistical elitist, and a philanderer. In some scenes you loved him, others you were annoyed, and some repulsed. Rowoon does a great job in his portrayal but the plot will not let us simply like him nor hate him. So you keep waiting for the truth of it all to unfold so you can choose a side. To do this the plot shows you what he does and his actions only to an episode or 2 later, completely reconstruct the events with new or more information. Thus, over and over again he comes off as a pretty terrible guy only to be told no wait there was a reason for his actions or this happened and you didn't know, or sometimes just simply forgive him he's not perfect. But the sheer amount of times we are forced to go through this cycle over and over again becomes grating and exhausting.

Our FL is a mouse who isn't a mouse. Carefree, fun loving, off beat, cute, funny and lonely, you love her. But again, the plot needs to make her a damsel, thus when anything important transpires, or true slights happen against her, she becomes a mouse who can't speak, fend for herself, think logically, and spends half of her screen time apologizing and taking blame with her head hung low. Again, this happens so much over and over again that she literally apologizes at least once to every other character on screen, even just there for 1 episode characters, let alone multiple times to main roles. And again, it becomes exhausting to watch.

When the end finally puts the stakes on high, with lives in the balance, we finally get the truths of the hundred of years past that lead us here, but it comes off as flimsy as the paper used to cover the windows and doors of the Joseon era. You can poke holes in it to no end, and though when you first watch it you are drawn in, by the time the episode ends you start to think, huh what? And since I watched this while airing, by the time the following week showed up, I expected more because the mess that was given didn't make all that came before it work or worth it. Logically, how did one of the cast survive to have a lineage of wealth and power considering the events that transpired? Also, was the love of the main leads in the past that impressive? Especially considering that for us to be here in the now of today, our ML went on to marry and father lineage and live a life of privileged, ultimately doing what had been asked of him before all the tragedy.

I like that ultimately it doesn't let you know if the spells in the show or real or not. While reincarnation is used as solid truth, all the mythos around spells and books comes down to the viewer, and also the characters in the show. Was this just tortured souls haunted by their past lives coming back together to try and find love? Or is it a curse that has persisted for hundreds of years and will now meet fruition? Even our shaman in the show keeps getting things wrong. Some argue that the spells and curses are real in the comments, while I side that they were not, too many holes exist in both the past and present of the story to say they were real. People die from believed curses, that are claimed to have never been cast. People are and aren't affected by the main curse at random. The spells we watch cast seem to have had no effect, except one. BUT IF THAT ONE SPELL WAS REAL, then do we really have a story of love at all? Especially when thinking about the credit scene of the end.

The last scene of the show, as title cards fly and we say goodbye to everyone, is a blaring question mark, especially if the box from the beginning that sparked the entire series can only be opened by its true owner, which was the law that had been given. With all the holes that already exist in the plot, why does it end with such a large one? Because here someone seems to have access to what was inside the fateful vessel, when everything else told us, they should not. You also are left to question what does this say about this character and what was their ultimate goal in the story?

Remember in a dying breath one of our character's asks, "Did you fool me, where you only here for the spell book?"

That is up to you to decide, and if the spells are real, then this isn't a story of love at all.

7.0 = B-, 3 1/2-Stars. Flawed and imperfect, but still worthy of a watch.

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Average But Watchable

I really liked the first six episodes of the show, surprisingly enough because of the male lead's cringe-y lines, and hoped it kept its momentum. However, like most dramas of this genre, it hit a speed bump and it felt draggy and boring after the sixth episode. This is not to say it did not have highlights afterwards. Episodes 13 and 14 were amazing, with episode 14 being my favorite in the whole series. After this episode, I wished the drama had taken place in the Joseon era setting and that it would have the same tragic ending that their characters had in that time. I felt the acting in the past life segments was great and the story was more compelling than the one taking place in the contemporary world. The last two episodes were mostly boring and the ending was lackluster. I found the characters to be neither special nor unique. They were pretty much the basic characters you can find in most dramas. The story had a lot of potential, but it was wasted. It's a watchable drama, but a very forgettable one that I will not be watching again.

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Doormat of an FL

After watching this have to say that the character of the FL is written to be a doormat with no spine and no brains too. Imagine going to meet a psychopath by yourself with no fighting skills or any strategy because she wants to catch him….oh lord and what’s with the childish high pitched voice and infantile mannerisms can’t believe that Netflix picked up this garbage of a script and is planning to increase monthly subscriptions too so that we can watch such incoherent stories ! The script was all over the place and most of the characters like the vile bitchy co workers and the ML’s father were so infuriating that I ended up forwarding anytime they appeared onscreen. Only saving grace was the hunky ML for his visuals . Car crash of a series! Watch at your own risk.

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Maintaining the chemistry

First things first, despite the fact that this series is as formulaic as they come, it wasn't inherently awful because it was, for the most part, enjoyable. The male lead is the key justification. Both the serious and humorous portions of his performance were good, making the watch enjoyable. But how long can you hold something with just one thread?
Because there are no other compelling characters, watching each episode of the show eventually becomes tedious.

I'm going to talk about something that I've recently seen in a number of shows. when the man and woman finally start dating. The chemistry we had felt up until then fully changes into cringe. I felt uncomfortable as I saw the leads' interactions.
The awkwardness I experienced while watching the protagonists interact once they started dating is not unique to this program, but it does continuing the trend. This is very definitely caused by the lack of proper writing . I cut out a good number of shows as a result of this.(Hometown cha cha being one).
Why bother finishing the story when the sole element that was keeping you interested is no longer there?

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