I've no idea what draws Song Seung Heon to dramas with infuriating lead females that don't make sense, but it seems he was playing in them long before "When A Man Loves" aired, which has the same problem of having a leading lady I cannot stand.
This was the first Korean drama I'd ever watched, and for the first handful of episodes (perhaps seven or so) it was interesting, and emotional, and worthwhile, and I was convinced Kdramas were the bees knees. But my goodness, did it drag on! After a while, for each step forward the main couple made, they were taking two or three steps back. I got so fed up that I stopped watching before the 14th episode, and didn't start anymore Kdramas until my manager (and friend) recommended some great ones. (You're Beautiful, Protect the Boss, Boys Over Flowers; those are great starter ones.) I finally sat down to watch the last three episodes this afternoon, and I admit, I skipped through them. I just couldn't handle the endless melancholy.
The most aggravating part was Hye Won's ridiculous excuse-making, and her perpetual need to play the victim. At first, it was understandable, but after a while it just got obnoxious. I don't believe she was being fair to her fiance. I don't care how the writers tried to make him seem like a bad guy; he had every right to be upset with her, and the bit where he flies off the handle and attacks her seemed thrown in to try to give us a better reason for her to behave the way she was. I'm not buying it. All she ever does is apologise, and as Jung Jae (her oppa/fiance) said at one point, "Stop apologising. Just don't do things to make me upset." So simple! This girl just couldn't ever make a decision, always playing the fence with her oppa, her love, and even her life, and once she did make a choice, it was always the WRONG one.
Jung Ah (Jung Jae's sister who's in love with the lead Min Woo) is a manipulative brat through most of the show, and I wanted to slap her. Yet, by the end, I was more infuriated with Hye Won, and how stupid she was. She kept insisting that Min Woo only loved her because he saw her as his first lost love, and she wasn't the warm, cheerful person he loved, so he must not love her, but just a memory of another girl. Whaaaat?! When you have a new heart that gives you a fresh start on life, of COURSE you're going to be different! Your quality of life improves. You're able to do things you've never done before. That would turn anyone from glum to cheerful! Your personality didn't change, stupid! You're ability to BE the happy, cheerful person you were meant to be was finally realised! Why do you WANT to insist that you're a miserable human being? She kept saying she did things to prevent Min Woo from suffering, but just like the most horrible of Kdrama leading ladies, she kept making it worse and worse for all parties involved. Get over yourself, girl. Maybe you're right, and you don't deserve to be happy. But stop making everyone around you miserable in the meantime!
So many slow scenes with close-ups of Min Woo's longing, tearful sighs--usually, I wouldn't complain about any close-ups of Song Seung Heon, but when it's totally unnecessary because of an idiot girl, I have a hard time sympathizing.
This had the least satisfying ending of any drama I've seen so far. Nothing to justify putting the audience through so much slowness and depression.
The music was good, until it became repetitive and I got tired of hearing the same depressing version of Schubert's Serenade over and over. I feel like I could have felt for the characters more if the music had been of a better arrangement.
Please, SSH. Find good dramas. You didn't learn your lesson with Summer Scent, and were the only likeable thing about When A Man Loves. Go back to great ones like My Princess. I want to see you in satisfying endings! Kthnx!
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