#kdramas LovetoHateYou

[nycsinglemom]

Just started watching my latest KDrama on Netflix, Love to Hate You. Ths storyline focuses an attorney who despises losing to men and an A-list actor who distrusts women, love means nothing — until they're forced to date each other. I haven’t watched any shows with the two main leads but I  really like Kim Ok-Vin  who plays Yeo Mi-Ran. 

Best of all the series is only 10 episodes! 

[wooseokkies]

연애대전 / love to hate you (2023): ramblings and thoughts

alright, this has been loooong overdue — my thoughts (and screams) on the kdrama, love to hate you (2023), that aired on netflix.

<opinions and thoughts are purely personal>

honestly, I was in a bad kdrama slump after extraordinary attorney woo ended — I only completed a couple of dramas since then (under the queen's umbrella - ahh, another drama I have thoughts about; and curtain call - or at least those were the two that I remember the most). and, I was really itching to watch something lighthearted and fun, and boy,,, love to hate you hit all the right notes from the get go.

it's such a classic romcom with all the classic (read: cliche) tropes — enemies to lovers, fake dating / dating contract, guy and girl who start out not believing in love but fall in love anyway — you name it. they really packed all the favourites into one drama, and I can attest, believe it or not, that it was really the right move.

for starters, the chemistry between the male and female leads is exquisite. to me, romcoms are only as good as the chemistry between the two leads — the push-pull effect needs to be spot on, because the whole drama literally revolves around their love life. and I'm so glad that love to hate you did just that for me (and many others too, as I have read). their ages are compatible, their visuals, their personalities (albeit only surfacing in later episodes), but what really sealed the deal for me was their compatibility on what's beneath the surface — their push factor into their relationship, and their aligned goals/values.

and it may have seemed superficial at first glance — the fact that they both start off rolling their eyes at any hint of romance, because both parties had been so put off by their previous relationships that their views on the opposite sex are far beyond warped. but honestly, I think that it's not unrealistic; I myself have seen people similar to their characters, and it's probably far more common than we think it is. but what I truly liked was that the script didn't unnecessary prolong that hot/cold period between Kangho and Miran, and their progress was pretty satisfying to watch too; they both got over the 'dating contract' bit quite early on and thus, this gave enough airtime for their actual dating phase (which ahhh!! I sooo appreciate as a viewer). on the contrary, I find that many other romcoms drag out the hot/cold phase a lil too long, cutting the exciting dating bits short :(

and since we're on the topic of their relationship dynamics — I thought that as a whole, what kept viewers on their toes were the abundant (hahaha) skinship scenes (I actually feel so shy saying this but well, it is what it is). and they were always fresh and through those scenes, we got to see a lil bit more of their relationship progress as a whole (and more importantly, how Miran's view on men shifts subtly but surely the more time she spent with Kangho).

Another thing I absolutely loved was how soft and caring Kangho was towards Miran, even when their relationship was still under the monetary contract. it was obvious that he had fallen first, and fallen hard, and i appreciated (loved) that he wasn't afraid to show it. those lovely moments at the movie set, their hugs, brief hand touches, the way he makes an effort to take care of her well being — it's kinda a breath of fresh air from the romcom department (for me, at least); I really loved that it was clear that those actions weren't really borne out of the need to spite other parties (ie. his ex-girlfriend). I thought that Kangho's character was genuine and likeable, and a simp on the inside (hehe), which led to Miran's guard being slowly let down.

I squealed (!!!) when she said "I love you" to him,,,, ahhhh T_T

anyway, moving on, I kinda expected there to be that tiny angsty part, as they always have in these genres of shows. that tiny bump in their relationship, which has a sole purpose of allowing them personal space and to feel what it's like to not have the other party by their side. soooo I guess that phase wasn't tooo bad to wait out, for me. their reunion was so adorable though,,, hehe, giggled so bad lol.

lots on Kangho and Miran, but I also loved the second pair's relationship and dynamics. quite different from the first pair, but also unique in its own right. honestly as we reached the later episodes, I thought that they were really done for, but I'm glad to see that they got their happy ending too!!

last but not least, special honorary mention for the Gilmu squad; the bromance between Miran's ex-boyfriend and colleague got me GOOD 😆 we love to see blossoming romance in the workplace, yes!! I love Kim Sungryoung's character too; honestly NOT expecting that act of sacrifice / benevolence from her at the end but :"") such good friendship there. loved her dynamics with Miran too — big LOLs from their scenes together, always cracks me up.

and okay, I'm gonna have to stop myself before this gets unwieldy, but honestly, this drama has got to be one of the best!! (k) romcoms I have seen ever. so do give this a go if you have not already, and I promise you won't regret it!!

(also, Kim Okvin is SOOOO pretty, I really love her kickass vibes and natural visuals — I somehow feel like she's similar to Yeo Miran in real life hehe. as for Yoo Teo... I don't think he needs any explanation 🔥 잘생겼다!!!)

let me know your thoughts on this show!! I'd love to chat :)

[dramaswithasideofkimchi]

February 2023 Teaser Roundup

February's hallyu wave is small but mighty! Come see which #kdramas you'll be adding to your watch list. #OurBloomingYouth #CallItLove #LoveToHateYou

Think you’re gonna get a drama break now that it’s February, drama fans? Think again! February’s drama list is small but mighty. Come see what historical shenanigans and romcom loves you’ll have to choose from in the coming weeks. (more…) “”