Melloga Chejil

This unheralded show deserves a full measure of praise. I am not sure why I started watching it but it's really terrific.

No major name brand actors and an utterly conventional set-up featuring three heroines who are hitting 30 and angsting about their middle class single lives. So far, so what? Well, for one thing, this has a wonderful literate and inventive script, peppered with wit, sly (and sometimes laugh out loud) humor, and wisdom and insight. There are a host of well-acted supporting characters who engage our attention, no out and out villains but rather so many people striving to do well and occasionally to do right, stumbling as they go. The entertainment industry setting has a certain self conscious sense of ironic navel gazing, but it really doesn't matter. You yearn for our heroines' success, in work, in love, in life, and you follow their adventures with a mixture of anxious anticipation, sympathy and a wide smile on your face. A producer once told me that the reason people watch a television series, as opposed to a movie, is that the characters are being invited into the viewers' homes. In this series, please, extend the invitation.

Before acknowledging the actors and writer in more detail, I want to offer particular thanks to the subtitle team at Viki, where I watched the series. Since this show is set around the genesis and pre-production of a drama series, it has many references to other Korean shows, including impish allusions to the very popular Reply 1988 in which the male lead, Ahn Jae-hong (here playing a successful but put upon drama director called Son Beom-Soo) also appeared. The subtitlers added translator notes to these and many other cultural allusions. In addition, despite the complexity and rapidity of some of the dialog, the translations were literate and almost error-free. A superb job.

Now to the actors: The three lead actresses give wonderful, nuanced performances. None of them are Hallyu royalty, although Jeon Yeo-been, her career launched by her standout performance in After My Death and now (2021) starring in the Netflix series Vincenzo, seems on her way. She plays Lee Eun-jeong, a documentary film maker whose career is on the rise but who continues to be traumatized by the early death of her fiancé from cancer. Chun Woo-hee, previously perhaps the most prominent of the three, leads the way as Im Jin-joo, the scriptwriter who is getting her first shot at having her pilot script, "When You're 30, It Will Be OK", turned into a 16-episode drama. Finally, Han Ji-eun delivers a strong turn as Hwang Han-joo, the single mother whose stock in the marketing company she works for is rising. The three (as well as Han-joo's son) live comfortably with Lee Hyo-bong, Eun-jeong's gay younger brother, sympathetically played by Yoon Ji-on. The scenes among the four, as they confide in and comfort each other, are warm and often hilarious. I especially liked the scene where Han-joo, just to see their reactions, teasingly implies, to her roommates' horror, that she is considering going back to live with her good for nothing ex and the father of her son.

Surrounding them are a substantial cast of other actors and actresses who infuse their characters with depth and substance. It seems unfair to single anyone out, but I feel bound to give it up for Baek Ji-won, playing Jeong Hye-jeong, as Jin-joo's former boss and herself a famous screen writer, whose tough exterior gradually collapses in the face of romance.

This drama was underrated. I can't think why. For a refreshing peak inside the world of KDramas, with a stellar cast at every level and a truly witty script, go for it.

Korean dramas are known for their stereotypes. The overarching story may change, the genders might be revered (figuratively but in some cases literally), the girl might be rich instead of the guy, the witch may get the man instead of the princess, but the major beats are always the same; guy and girl are meant to be, blah blah gets in their way, they get together in the end. True that some of the recent entries have tried to shatter major stereotypes (take Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo for example) but no kdrama breaks stereotypes the way Be Melodramatic does. Most kdramas start off funny and light hearted, then quickly shift to the same gear that every other kdrama does with over the top melodrama and sadness, oh so much sadness. Be Melodramatic has surprisingly managed to balance the tears-in-your-eyes comedy, heart throbbing romance and poignant melodrama that never goes over the top in such an effective manner that I doubt any other kdrama comes even close. The fact that this is such an outlier in the cookie cutter world of kdrama might be the reason behind it's low ratings. In being so different, it may have alienated some of the typical audience members for this type of media. But if people aren't hyping this kdrama up to the max, they are making a mistake. This drama is awesome. To those who are skeptical of this show, just watch episode 1 till the end. You won't regret it.

I didn't really have high expectations from this drama. It has a strange title (it makes scense once you watch it) and the synopsis didn't make me want to watch it at first. But I have to admit, that it's very good. It's literally the first kdrama, from the many I've watched so far, that did everything right. I know that most kdrama fans will disagree with this statement but let me explain. Good acting, good music (and most importantly not overused), good scenario, nice humor, nice dramatic scenes (but not to the point you want to cry all night long). I like many kdramas, but even my favourites lack on something. For example, "Something In The Rain" is one of my favourite dramas (not ony kdrams), but I have to admit that I grew tired of listening to "Stand by your man". Believe it or not I rated "Something In The Rain" with 8 stars instead of 9 because of that.

To be honest this is not one my favourites. It's not the type of dramas I like to watch and it was hard for me to watch more than 2 episodes at once, unlike other kdramas. But I really enjoyed it. The only thing I didn't like, is some parts of the fast conversations, but only because I've watched its with subtitles and I didn't have time to properly read, so sometimes I had to pause or rewind. And some conversations were a bit weird, but this could be probably poor translation. This is,unfortunately, a problem,when watching a drama or a movie in a language you can't understand.

By the way, it's not really so close to reality as some people wrote in their reviews, but it's ok. This is actually for the best because it's humor works better this way. There are so many things I could write about this drama (social critisism, witty humor, making fun of product placement etc), but I think I wrote what I needed to write.

Edit: I forgot to mention that although it's supposed to be a romantic comedy, it focuses mainly on the everyday life of the characters (worklife, life decisions etc) and if anything it's mostly a comedy.

This drama is one of the best k-drama i've ever watch.The acting is good.The story good.The joke is amazing.Alot of value.Good writing.Good and memorable dialog. Character development is good enough.

This one should go in the modern classic section. That's how good the show is.

The characters in the show are really well fleshed out. Their dynamic with each other is fantastic.

The show is funny when it wants and has a very fresh take on comedy compared to other k dramas. The show displays pathos In such heartful manner that you deeply root for each character.

It's really a very funny show

It's literally a show with no bad characters. Not one! There are no black or white textbook characters, They are human and have their flaws and even the stupidest character in this show make some sense in terms of their motivation towards their actions. And they all give a sense of comfort and security.

Generally the female centric shows kind of repel people a little cuz it can lean into being preachy. But this one's a breath of fresh air when it comes to dealing with those tropes.

Acting was great too. Han Ji Eun gives life to the amazing character Han Joo with her innocent caring and yet strong n competant mother.

Jeon Yeo been playing the stoic Lee Eun jung is witty and poignant.

Lastly Chun Woo hee was the most relatable as the writer Lim Jin Joo with her trivial struggles in Daily life.

This one. For sure. Will stay with you.