Title: 연애 말고 결혼 | Yeonae Malgo Gyeolhon | Marriage Not Dating
Genre:Romance, Comedy, Melodrama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: July 4 to August 23, 2014
Synopsis:
It is basically a story when Gong Gi-Tae convinced Joo Jang-Mi to pretend they are engaged because his mother, Shin Bong-Hyang, forces to him the issue of getting married. Gong Gi-Tae is a loner and a successful plastic surgeon. He enjoys his freedom and quite an OCD when it comes to being organized and clean. He also lives in the flat owned by his mother that he loves because it reminds him of the happiest moments of his life when he was still young. So, when this was used as a leverage by his mother to get married, then, he ends up finding and doing even the most unorthodox means. While Joo Jang-Mi came from an ordinary family with parents who have nothing to do except fight. She grew up with them, who are so concentrated with their issues to the point that when she was 5 she was left alone in their house for 3 days and almost died. So, she’s scared of being alone and works hard to find acknowledgement from the people she cares about. Her engagement with Gong Gi-Tae fuelled her parents to talk and work their differences, thus, she went along with the plan. It would have worked until their secret got discovered and they fell for each other against all odds.
Characters:
- Yeon Woo-Jin as Gong Gi-Tae
- Han Groo as Joo Jang-Mi
- Jeong Jinwoon as Han Yeo-Reum
- Han Sun-Hwa as Kang Se-Ah
- Heo Jung-Min as Lee Hoon-Dong
- Yoon So-Hee as Nam Hyun-Hee
- Kim Hae-Sook as Shin Bong-Hyang
- Kim Kap-Soo as Gong Soo-Hwan
- Im Ye-Jin as Na So-Nyeo
- Park Jun-Gyu as Joo Kyung-Pyo
- Park Hee-Jin as Gong Mi-Jung
- Kim Young-Ok as Noh Geum-Soon
- Lee Bo-Hee as Hoon-Dong’s Mother
- Choi Hyun as Chef Uhm
- Lee Yeon-Kyung as Soo-Hwan’s Mistress
- Lee Han-Wi
- Nam Ji-Hyun as Ki-Tae’s Blind Date
- Choi Dae-Chul
- Heo Jun
- Ahn Hae-Sook
- Kim Jung-Min as Power Blogger with a Plastic Surgery Addiction On Episode 13
- Julian Kang as Richard Bernstein on Episode 14
My Review:
I don’t know the actors here but I completely had fun watching it before and now for this review. I believe it is one of the best romcoms I’ve watched. There’s really nothing different with the premise and if you are a K-Drama addict you know as well as I do that this storyline has been used quite often but I think the difference and what make this one stands out from the rest is the lightness of the treatment of this K-Drama was presented as a whole while tackling some real and serious issues in a marriage and even in a relationship. You will be laughing while watching it because there are quite some interesting characters that provide comic relief in what can be an otherwise serious topic.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) I like that there’s truly real kissing and it is done when it is truly necessary. This is what I’ve been saying, it can be conservative but when the scene requires it and the topic is for adults, then, there’s nothing wrong of having a real or a simulation of one kiss or two.
(2) I like the consistency of the characters to remain true to who they are. They evolve but they don’t do 380 degrees change just to satisfy a happy ending. This is most apparent especially with the characters of Kong Soo-Hwan and Lee Hoon-Dong.
(3) I like the lightness of delivery of some serious or major problems married couples normally encounter in their lives such as money, in-laws, career, communication, gender differences in how we look at things, etc. It gives perspective without getting too heavy.
(4) I like the message of this K-Drama that forever or eternal love doesn’t really exists and each couples maybe different but when there’s trust, respect, giving time to be together and right communication are there, love can do flourish until death indeed do us part.
(5) I like the OST. It blends well with the lightness of the delivery of this K-Drama.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
The one thing I always complain about K-Dramas’ executions is that the directors in K-Dramas, most of the time, ignore the finer details of their end product. They should focus more on the accuracy and consistency of these details. Sometimes they are into so much on the major things but they forget the smaller details but critical to make the story at least have a sense of reality. For example, when Joo Jang-Mi was slapped and got a cut on her face, the next scenes should still have this cut even if at least a light trace of it. It seems improbable that she will have an unblemished skin AFTER the scene where she was talking to her mother-in-law in the bench. It is as if it didn’t exist at all. If the next scene happened after awhile from that scene, then, there should be a subtle indication/s of it like a part of a dialogue or something. I always say I like chic flick or even fantasy stuff for entertainment sake but not to the point of making me feel stupid believing in it. Anyway, these details may irritate me at best but they made up for it when the 2 actors tried very hard to speak in English as the scene asks for it and their role as supposedly well educated plastic surgeons who had training abroad requires it. Kudos to Yeon Woo-Jin and Han Sun-Hwa for at least trying which is more than I can say of other K-actors who don’t even try. And, of course, my love for this K-Drama superseded my irritation for these finer details. All in all, it was totally entertaining and engaging to watch.
Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes, of course.
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
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OST:
01. Love Lane – Mamamoo (마마무)
Play Me:
02. Hope and Hope (바라고 바라고) – Kim Na Young (김나영)
Play Me:
03. One Day | Just One Day (하루만) – Son Ho Young and Danny Ahn
Play Me:
04. Will You Marry Me – Lee Seung Gi Feat. Bizniz
Play Me:
05. Stop the Love Now (연애는 이제 그만) – Ben
06. Stop the Love Now (연애는 이제 그만){Rock Ver.} – Han Groo feat. 2morro (투모로)
07. Call My Name – Han Byul (한별) of LEDApple (레드애플)
08. One Day | Just One Day (하루만) {Solo Ver.} – Son Ho Young
09. Hope and Hope (바라고 바라고) {Guitar Ver.}– Various Artists
10. Love Lane (Instrimental)– Various Artists
11. Sugar Sugar – Various Artists
12. Ro-Comic – Various Artists
13. What’s Up? – Various Artists
14. Hoon-Dong’s Theme – Various Artists
15. 이별얘기 – Various Artists
16. Love Knots – Various Artists