Yeonae Malgo Gyeolhon

The lead actors/actresses have an impeccable chemistry between them. I am at a loss for finding a fault in their acting. It's not a light romantic comedy, but it does not contain really sad parts either. It will leave you emotional at times, but happy. From start to finish, this 16-episode drama will have you glued to the screen. Not one minute is boring in this roller-coaster ride of a drama. The music is one of the best features too, being able to enhance special moments of the story. What's more to say without spoiling it for the readers? Watch it, even over and over again, and you will not be disappointed! I sure hope they make season 2 so that I can enjoy my favorite drama once more.

Marriage not dating is one of the classic korean drama with romantic theme. It is infused with the whole 10' trends, but, part from that (though nostalgic packed), the story is okay and entertaining. Sure, the clisse rich mother doesn't want the bride is all over this drama, but it has some fresh notes. Marriage not dating is actually a daring drama, with many themes that usually K dramas don't lay a finger on. Also, the performances were good from all the cast. Now, about the things I didn't like: 1) the chemistry of the leading couple wasn't very intense as it should have been. 2) the girl was a bit off for the her role. Not the actress, who was excellent, but the character was a bit odd and didn't fit the story. She drank a lot ( a few scenes would have been sufficient to understand her, and not make her look like an alchoholic), she jumped from one guy to another (she claimed to be in love with the first guy, and, in episode 2 she wasn't anymore....), she was behaving like a child at times and she was kind of annoying. 3) at some point, the drama had a confusing point. So, 5 out of 10.

Don't be fooled by this show's uninspiring premise: it is a total GEM! It somehow manages to take a number of improbable K-Drama plot features (fake dating, chaebol guy + normal, hardworking girl, complicated love triangles, horrible mother-in-law, etc.) and set them against a psychological backdrop to create a story that feels all too realistic. However, thanks to a liberal dose of comedy and a witty, engaging script, even the heavier moments never get too heavy.

Additionally, despite the familiar K-Drama elements, there was so much that felt new about this show. It was the first time I thought fake dating (in context) seemed reasonable. It was the first time I thought a love triangle was adorable (rather than a source of irritation or angst). It was the first time I thought that a love rival was truly admirable (rather than attractive but shallow). It was the first time I got to see a mother-in-law's ruthless behavior given such human and relatable context. And it was the first time I've seen a K-Drama female lead with not 2, but 3 overlapping romantic entanglements...yet somehow it never crossed my mind to find her annoying or wishy-washy.

While most of the cast aren't among the most popular Korean A-listers, they all played their parts to a T. I particularly have to give props to Han Groo. She was truly amazing in this role! When her character hurt, I could feel the wounds, and when she flipped out, I laughed my head off (and OMG, her spastic dancing is the best)! But most importantly, no matter the scene, she never ceased to be relatable. And that's probably the word I would use to sum up this film: relatable.

In summary, if you are looking for a fresh spin on the usual K-Drama standard, go for stories that are emotional and introspective but still upbeat, and enjoy watching characters discover themselves, I think you'll love this one. Highly Recommended!

ROMANCE RATING: * * * 8.5/10. This wasn't a bad show as far as physical romance goes, but the focus was definitely more on the mental/emotional aspects. HG and YWJ had excellent chemistry together, and there were 5+ kiss scenes, most of which were quite long and had plenty of emotional investment. As with many K-Dramas, the passion did take a bit of a backseat toward the end, however, even without the red-hot sexual tension I myself usually prefer, this show was still extremely rewarding!