Marriage, Not Dating (2014)

Watching Marriage, Not Dating is the definition of having your cake and getting to eat it too. It's a heart warming drama about love, life, food and family.

The serial shows two people, who couldn't be more different from each other fall in love and experience all the complications that come with an unexpected romance.

Jang Mi is a full of life woman whose empathy is her fatal flaw. She's considerate to a fault and her idealistic approach to everything combined with a tendency to always speak her mind, often gets her into a mess. Gi Tae is a huge cynic when it comes to commitment. He's rude, practical and prefers solitude. Due to unfavorable circumstances both of these find themselves bound to each other under the facade of marriage and from then on, utter hilarity ensues.

The love story between the characters is a very authentic and real slow-burn. They grow independently as individuals and then together as a couple. They have doubts, fights, laughs and ultimately, a deep understanding that comes with being aware and accepting of each other's flaws.

The drama showcases how the decisions made my the children are always heavily influenced by those made my the parents. It highlights what it means to be a family and above all it gives a message; that even when things could take a turn for the worse, it's okay to take chances in life.

With a sweet and bubbly OST, adorable laugh-out-loud moments, delicious food and a lovable cast, 'Marriage, Not Dating' is truly one of the best feel-good romantic comedies out there.

Enjoy!

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I don't know about this. There were certain parts I definitely liked and appreciated (like the alcoholic heroine, heuheu), the opposites-attract / bring the best out of each other tone, the reverse-taming of the shrew vibe i got from it.. All of the ingredients seemed to be there, but it didn't get me as hooked as some other similar dramas in the genre.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it - it was a nice 16 hrs or so of solid entertainment. I just don't think I'll be watching it again, and mostly I think it's because I didn't really feel the chemistry between the leads as much, it didn't jump out of the screen for me. Even though I understood him and he did soften towards the end - especially when you get to the reasons behind why he'd been living the way he had - I just couldn't get into Gi-tae as much as I'd have liked, which for a rom-com is pretty important.. Also, although the surrounding family drama sometimes really hit the feels and provided poignant moments to balance the over-the-top-silliness (which I loved), the tone just changed so abruptly at times that I was taken out of the story and just felt depressed.. but Gi-tae's mom was definitely, for me, the best executed, layered character and I loved the part of her story a lot.

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Holy CRAP has it been a while since I've written something like this! I can't believe it's taken me this long to finish a drama I wanted to review. It feels good to be back!


Marriage, Not Dating follows the story of Joo Jang Mi (Han Groo), a woman who has been unlucky in love despite her intense desire to get married. On the night she plans to propose to her boyfriend Lee Hoon Dong (Huh Jung Min), Hoon Dong calls in the help of his best friend Gong Gi Tae (Yun Woo Jin) to sabotage the proposal and get him out of the relationship. Obviously Gi Tae and Jang Mi don't get along from the start, but when Gi Tae's mother accidentally overhears them talking about a "proposal" and assumes Gi Tae has rebuffed Jang Mi, Gi Tae gets an idea--turn Jang Mi into the worst daughter-in-law ever, so that his mother finally stops trying to set him up with women and allows him to live alone forever.


If you're looking for a kdrama without the angst, this is definitely the drama for you. Most of Marriage, Not Dating is hijinks - Jang Mi and Gi Tae pretending to be in a relationship despite not liking each other at all. Jang Mi even gets a crush on Hoon Dong's employee Han Yeo Reum (2AM's Jinwoon), and has to hide that relationship from Gi Tae's family and her own. It's silly, ridiculous, and all over the place. But angsty it is not.


I love the slow burn of this series in terms of the relationship between Jang Mi and Gi Tae. They really do become friends first - because they're not really dating and don't care what the other thinks of them, they find themselves being totally and completely honest with each other in ways they can't be with anyone else. It's adorable to see them basically become best friends before realizing they would also, maybe, kinda, like to make out.


Marriage, Not Dating is one of the few kdrama where the Second Male Lead and Second Female Lead aren't unbearable, either. Yeo Reum has an adorable smile, and is completely aware of what's going on the whole time. He knows when to step back and when to push, and the fact that he has a mancrush on Gi Tae and ends up living with him for a good part of the show just makes for more and more hilarious hijinks. The Second Female Lead, Kang Se Ah (Han Sun Hwa), could've been terrible if it weren't for the fact that she knows exactly what she wants and is the only realist of the bunch. She and Gi Tae used to be engaged, but when she tried to push her worldviews onto Gi Tae, he pushed back and they broke up. She's exactly what Gi Tae's parents want in a daughter-in-law, which is exactly why they can never be together. It's simple, straightforward, and by the way - Gi Tae and Se Ah are actually great friends, too. They're both doctors, they're wickedly smart, and would be terrible together.


I like that the show is also heavily about family. Gi Tae's family appears great on the outside, but is actually a mess behind closed doors. For Jang Mi, her parents fight constantly, but really, truly love each other. The reason Jang Mi agrees to the outrageous fake-dating plan in the first place is because revealing the relationship to her parents makes them get along for the first time in years. And while at first Gi Tae wants his family to disapprove of Jang Mi, he finds himself getting defensive of her actions (often stuff HE told her to do) and finally capable of speaking up about all the fake family business he's had to deal with his whole life.


Marriage, Not Dating is just a breath of fresh air. The main couple is ADORABLE and you can actually see why they're so good together. Their friends are actual friends, not just plot devices in a love quadrangle, and their families aren't two-dimensional Romeo-and-Juliet-style enemies.


Plus, no angst!


(Well, a little angst. But not much!)


Definitely a must-watch.

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Shows that can make me laugh all by myself in my bedroom is always a win. A show that is silly and yet is able to catch those "awwwww" moments is just right. So yes Marriage, Not Dating is just the right win series.
And why?

Firstly, the story;
The story, tho not all that original, is fascinating and capturing. It is not all that serious either but it really has no need to be. All this show needs is the right cast and the right touch to become awesome. I must say that i really do like the setting of the show, The whole "pretend-lovers" puts on a really funny show and also makes the characters themselves grow and develop. Sure I had a problem with the love triangle (square??) going on because, just as the show rocked the other things, the love triangle really was not needed in this show at all. But to be honest I would say the love triangle became less interesting because of the second lead, but that's really just my own opinion on it.

Secondly, the cast:
The cast for this one is AWESOME, and i really mean it. Sure, Joo Jang Mi seem to be a really annoying, over the top and also overly attached, but as the show go on, you really see how strong and independent she is. The beginning will trick you into feeling hesitant about watching, but as soon as episode 2 starts, that's the best moment in history.
The First male lead is by far my favorite, and he's also the one that I feel develops the most from start to finish. Also he is adorable. It's my first Kdrama with Yun Woo Jin and I'm just saying he sold it! He was the one that made the show as great as it is both with the funny aspects but also because of his romantic inputs. I also felt that both he and Han Groo had really great chemistry, but that you have to decide on your own.

The chink in the chain however, and I just know that people will hate me for saying this, is Jin Woons character Yeo Reum. Yes I just said that... But its the truth and why? Because I didn't really feel his acting working here, and I totally fell in love with him in Dream High 2 (until that whole show just F up), but his character here has to be more mature, he's no longer suppose to be a teen/ young adult. And the thing about his character is just that he has to reflect that emotional and left alone parts of the character, and that's where Jin Woon fails. (MY OPINION) However charming he is and however good actor, this was not the best role for him.
The side characters was rather meh, but even among them their could be a gem or two. Personally I really came to like the actor playing Joo Jang Mi's ex, Heo Jeong Min.

The music for me is not that memorable, there is a few I do recognize but non is that, you know awesome sounding. But the thing that was truly awesome was by far the sound effects! They used it alot and just at the right moments too, It made the scenes so much funnier also, in the scenes that didn't have any dialogue still had that glimmer because the sound effects brought light to every funny scene, whether or not it had dialogues. Points to that by far!

I put a rather high Rewatch value on this one and it's a simply reason to why. Its funny and light- hearted, and if you ask me I would say that it can be extremly hard to find a Kdrama that don't use a lot of drama in it and instead just go the easy breezy and light way. This show has its drama, don't be mistaken, but it also keeps the audience laughing and enjoyed.

Overall and lastly I would say that this show is by far one of the most funny and likable Kdrama that 2014 had to give. I know there were a lot of good ones, but this kept me happy, laughing and just in "Aww" - mode all the way thru and I wouldn't mind watching this a couple of times more.
I really recommend this one to you all!


Happy Watching!
Mivaaa

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An extremely decent romcom. I was swept into addiction after finishing the first few episodes and my excitement lasted until the last 4-5 episodes, the two last episodes bored me to death but were necessary to wrap up the story.

This drama was really well written, acting was nice and music effects interesting. The chemistry between the main couple was good and Jang Mi was a fun, surprisingly sane heroine. There was a lot to laugh about and many lovable characters.

It's hard to find much to complain about but if there is something I must mention is how one dimensional the side characters appeared. Too much time was given to boring pasta making, Jang Mi eating and Ki Tae's mom.

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This charming rom-com had me hooked with its great mix of standard tropes and unconventional approaches.

My Rating: 9.0

In Short: I really liked the cold open structure of this show, along with its fun and realistic characters. This drama made me wish Han Groo was the female lead in all dramas.

Pros: I often have trouble relating/sympathizing with female leads in dramas, but Jang Mi completely won me over. The pacing of the drama was also positive aspect for me. I also really liked the complexity of the parents.

Cons: I would have liked a little more depth to our secondary characters. Especially Kang Se Ah lacked depth, because I sincerely doubt that she was meant to be that malicious and nonsensical.

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I finished this drama last night and I've got to say I'm glad I started watching it. I don't think this drama was as advertised as the other dramas that started the same time with it. I watched it because the teaser trailers looked funny. And I've never regretted it. Ok. On to the review.

Story - The story line is good. Watching the end of an episode then backtracking towards the beginning might take awhile to get used to. I do like the way the story moved. Not too fast and the end wasn't rushed either. The beginning made me cringe a bit but I got to hand it to the writers. They made me ride the emotional rollercoaster in each episode. One minute I'm laughing, then I'm crying then mad then there's an "awww" moment. I tell you, anyone who was in the same room as me would have probably thought I had lost my mind. But it was a great ride. Great kissing scenes too. There was chemistry between the leads. Has one of my favorite kisses of all time.

Acting/Cast - I don't think I've ever seen the younger cast except for the girl Yoon So Hee. I believe this was the first time I've watched Yun Woo Jin, Han Groo, Jin Woon, Han Sun Hwa and Heo Jeong Min and they just all played their part so well.

Yun Woo Jin who plays Gong Ki Tae was so adorable and he just made the list of leading men I want for my own. I just love him.
Han Groo who plays Joo Jang Mi, she was just no matter what kind of crazy stunt she pulls, her heart was in the right place.
Jin Woon who plays Han Yeo Reum, was such a cutie pie. And in episode 9? Thank you, I'm dead.
Han Sun Hwa who plays Kang Se Ah is my bias in the girl group Secret. She played her part so well, I almost took her off my bias list XD.
Heo Jeong Min who plays Lee Hoon Dong. Hated him in the beginning but he kinda grew on me.
Yoon So Hee who plays Nam Hyun Hee. I watched her in Let's Eat and she was ok there. Here she was annoying most times.

A lot of the characters were developed so well that even if you hated them in the beginning, you end up liking them later.
Most of the time in k-dramas, there's at least one set of parents you hate. But in this one, I only hated one. And before I close this part, I just want to say, I love halmeoni. :).

Music - The songs are great. I had the song "Love Lane" by Mamamoo stuck in my head so many times. But now that the drama is over, I have "One Day" by Ho Young Son & Danny Ahn stuck on replay. Harumaaaaaaaaaannn...

Rewatch Value: Most definitely. I love the emotional rollercoaster ride this drama has given me.

Overall: 10 out of 10. Actually it's an 11. I love this drama.

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Story: Good storyline that revolves around the theme of family, friendship and marriage. An easy watch that teaches the audience a couple of simple truths that young couples nowadays can learn from:- "There is no such thing as an eternal true love." and "Marriage is not about true love but family." The strengths of the story lies on its realistic theme on marriage and divorce and how each character grew from the ups and downs in their relationships with others. Another strength of the story telling is on the comedic scenes that were told in a "mature" way; although there were many "childish" outbursts here and there. This again, is the realistic nature of adult women and men in relationships - we all have our childish sides that we only show to the ones we love.

Acting/Cast: Love the lead couple. Excellent chemistry! The rest of the cast were brilliant as well and their stories were given adequate weighting.

Music: There is only one song that I liked from this drama. The rest were ok but not outstanding.

Rewatch value: Watching it as it aired was the way to go. If you haven't watch it, you'll appreciate this drama. It is a worthy entertainment. However, I will not be re-watching this soon due to work commitments. It is a drama that you'll like to the point of wanting to finish watching it on one seating but not one that you will be addicted to for months to come.

Overall: I give it a 8.5/10, mainly for its well-written story and excellent cast. Well done! I was definitely entertained!

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I can't decide whether to laugh or cry after finishing this drama. This show is full of angst, and after watching it I am wound up tighter than a spring. However, I love the characters to death and can't bring myself to find fault in the show.

The story: I'm a sucker for cliches, so this plot line was right up my alley—the love-hate relationship between Jang Mi and Gi Tae was addicting (if not predictable), and the plot twists in their relationship were endlessly amusing. I really loved how the drama also focused on the other characters as well—the plot included a redemption arch for Gi Tae's mom, a happy ending for Hyun Hee and Hoon Dong, and a tidy ending for Se Ah and Yeo Reum. I'll admit that my hatred for a character reached new heights with Se Ah, but I also found myself pitying her and crying with her throughout her character development. That's the thing about 'Marriage, Not Dating': each (if not most) of the characters are complex with both a good and a bad side. On one hand, this makes them excruciatingly frustrating. But on the other hand, it makes them human and so much more relatable and lovable.

Acting: Han Groo (Jang Mi) and Woo Jin (Gi Tae) were absolutely amazing together! My heart soared when they smiled at each other, and I couldn't help but squeal (more than once) when they were finally a couple—they seemed genuinely comfortable together, and both their cute scenes and their intense fighting scenes (and everything in between) were very believable. The other actors/actresses did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life, each with their own personality and style.

Music: The soundtrack was classic love-song pop, sometimes upbeat and sometimes sappy. The instrumental music was great—the drama used a variety of sound effects to highlight the characters' actions and emphasize the element of comedy throughout the show.

Rewatch: This show would be a great rewatch, simply because the characters are so enjoyable. The storyline is full of drama but not necessarily suspenseful, making it the perfect angsty rewatch.

Overall: This drama hit great points about the value of love + the work that is required in maintaining a relationship. While the drama is full of cliches, the story takes a realistic approach to love—love (and any successful relationship) takes work and perseverance. A couple can live happily together, but the magical "happily ever after" doesn't really exist (as evident by the multiple 'plot twists' throughout the show). I would definitely recommend this drama for any romance lovers—if you're looking for a romantic melodrama, romantic comedy, or something wonderfully in between, then this is the show for you :)

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I enjoyed this romantic comedy quite a bit. It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but I enjoyed it and was entertained despite the flaws. They gave the characters some good motivations for their actions with the backstories, so you could at least understand what was driving them.
There are a few things I think that I could be critical of, and they mostly revolve around the side characters. The first thing that I wasn't happy about is that I felt like the 2nd male lead, Yeo Reum, was led on for far too long before being cut loose. They also didn't follow through with his back-story. I would have liked to have seen less of him overall. The 2nd thing I felt was stepping on the lines of good taste was Hyeon Hee dating Jang Mi's ex-boyfriend. She knew what Hoon Dong put her friend through, and yet she still went after him and manipulated him into a relationship with her. I didn't understand the motives for Se-Ah's character at all either. The side characters were just not well done in this show compared to the leads.
I enjoyed the antics of Jang Mi and Gi Tae while keeping the secret of their fake relationship, but I also thought that, in the end, it wasn't a very nice thing to do to their parents. These two were a roller coaster couple, and kept you on your toes. I enjoyed the little teasers at the beginning of each episode that showed you one thing, but only showed the full aspect of the scene towards the end of the show. It was enough to hook you good and proper. Jang Mi was my favorite character throughout the show and the glue that held the others together.
I thought the family characters were well-done. They were all very flawed in realistic ways, and were the catalyst for the way the leads behaved and their thought processes.

The music was enjoyable and fit the scenes.

I don't think I would re-watch this, but I am glad I gave it a shot and finished it. I was entertained and enjoyed it for what it was.

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