Foi Amor? (2020)

Promising beginning but then most of the characters devolved especially FL character

7.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020 South Korean romantic drama with 16, 70 minute episodes

First I provide a synopsis then review.

Synopsis
Noh Ae-jung (Song Ji-hyo) dream was to produce films and she passionately studied film at University. Her capable and energetic nature toward all things film related caught the amaros attention of several of her fellow film students two of which went on to become famous. Ae-Jung’s dreams were derailed when she became pregnant and she did not tell the father and instead disappeared from the scene for 14 years while she raised her daughter. She worked a variety of jobs and tried to focus her work in the film industry. She finally gets a break when the CEO of the Production company she is working for promotes her and it looks like she will be able to realize her dream. But the CEO tricked her into signing a shady loan then disappears leaving her with the debt and the sinking company. When Ae-Jung discovers a novel, rights owned by the production company, which is ripe to be convertedd to script she sees a chance to turn the failing company around. The novel, that just happens to be the first work of a now famous author, could not only save the company but launch Ae-Jung’s production career. She just has to get a lot of people onboard and her efforts bring the men from her struggling student days back in her life. Oh Dae-oh (Son Ho-jun) is the famous writer who is seeking revenge on Ae-Jung for breaking his heart. Ryu Jin (Song Jong-ho) made it big as an actor but feels like Ae-Jung is the love who got away. Goo Pa-do (Kim Min-jun) owns the company where Ae-Jung’s CEO took the loan and winds up investing in her current endeavor to recoup his loan. Oh Yeon-woo (Koo Ja-sung) is a younger man who Ae-Jung saved at one point and he wanted to marry Ae-Jung and take on the role of father. Will Ae-Jung be able to make her dream come true with the help of these four very different men? Who is her daughter’s father? Which man will win, or reclaim, her heart?

Review

You may start this and wonder why there are so many negative reviews. The first episodes will pull you in and you may like all the characters and wonder how people could have disliked it so much, But it takes a turn when you find out what is really going on. To its credit this is one of the few with multiple romantic interests where I had no idea who she might end up with until well into the series. She had something special going on with each of the men, they all seemed interested and she treated them all like close friends that could be something more. I also was unsure which one was rhe father of her daughter. It made the first 3/4 of the series interesting as we tried to figure out who it might be. I liked the pre-teen daughter. But the Female Lead (FL) character became so unlivable to me at a point it was hard to continue watching. In the reviews I read some liked it but most that really liked it was more due to the actors than the story. I suppose if you feel the situation justified her actions then you could feel differently.

Spoilers*
I don’t know if it was Netflix influence trying to Americanize the series but I really disliked Ae-Jung’s “I don’t need a man” stance. She was very anti romance to the point of being mean to the men around her. When the misunderstanding that had kept them apart was cleared up she continued to treat him coldly and refused to help him form a relationship with his daughter. The only thing he was guilty of was he did make a bad choice in allowing a young girl that had a thing for him that close, but he apologized for that part, I was also disappointed in other characters I felt sympathy for Ryu having to be the sounding board for his friend when he liked the girl so much himself. But finding out that Ryu Jin deleted her text was a despicable action because it made seem like he would hurt others and cheat to get her. After that him being there for Dae-oh when he was so extremely heart broken took on a different feeling as he largely caused the situation or at least him having no clue why she left. Jo Ah-rin (Kim Da-som) did not care she was coming between a relationship with a child involved and thought it was very selfish and ridiculous to cling to someone who clearly rejected her romantically. Ae-Jung was just mean and the fact that Yoon-woo characterized her as sweet was confusing as I only saw her as very self serving and selfish. She did have her sweet moments with him but she also had other times when it felt like she led him on and other times when she was cold. I thought she was wrong to not tell her daughter the truth. She and the grandmother created an environment where the young girl did not feel she could ask about her dad. Even after Ae-Jung finds out her daughter wanted a father and was looking for him she still refused to let Dae-oh be involved in his daughter’s life. Even if he had cheated on her or ignored her text, he was still the girls father and she was wrong to cut him out of her life. Her daughter wanted to know who her father was but she did not clear up the misunderstanding he abandoned her. It made me not like Ae-Jung in the last few episodes. Keeping the child to herself and not telling her the truth of the situation led to a lot of unnecessary pain for father and daughter.

The ending was disappointing. it felt like he gave up his career, sacrificed it for her. After a completely unnecessary separation there is a short scene where they reunite then the end is her walking her daughter down the aisle at her wedding. That skip forward was awkward as it seemed not a lot changed between the couples or between father and daughter although many years had obviously passed. At least from what we could briefly see, All of the men were together sort of standing up for the young woman as a like a dad unit with Dae-oh leading that as a nod to being the biological father. It was weird. So it seems she never acknowledged her father and Ae-Jung was still playing the dual role of mom and dad. The fact that Dae-oh was there showed he was still in their lives but, given the FL wushu washy treatment of him I had no confidence they were together in a meaningful way. We finally get to see the gangster guy and the “bar” owner flirty and also the two actors but years have passed and they only made it that far which was also disappointing. It seemed to set things up for another season but I wouldn’t watch as it was such a train wreck with the dental relationship I have no trust any further stories would be any better..

Let me fix the ending how it should have went: Dae-oh cloisters himself off at his place but only for a few months. He and the FL hold a press conference addressing the rumors. He tells the public that the book he wrote was his truth at the time, but now that he has reunited with his first love he found out the truth.The production company will instead be working on the amended version of the book, and the movie will be released in tandem with the new novel. He goes into seclusion to finish writing the novel how it should be (and the screenplay) to finish as quickly as possible and they reunite when it’s time to film. When the film is released, they go to the opening night with Ha-nee and she learns the full story of her parents. She finally forgives her father and calls him Dad. The end. Had the ending went more like this it could have ended well. But it did not end well in my opinion.

Not one I would rewatch or recommend.

#WasItLove
#SongJiHyo
#SonHojun
#SongJongho
#KimMinjun
#KooJasung
#KimDasom

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Gran potencial pero mala ejecución

El planteamiento es bueno, una mujer tratando de hacerse cabida en una industria complicada como es la cinematográfica y que ha sido estafada pero no pierde la esperanza de cumplir sus sueños y proveer a su familia.

No soy fan de decir que un drama fue malo, pero sinceramente fue decepción. Este drama si me dejó con muchas expectativas porque pudo desarrollarse como un drama de empoderamiento y superación, en donde la protagonista puede salir adelante y dejar a un lado el tema amoroso pero después de la mitad del drama todo se torna un poco forzado con el tema del papá queriendo forzar una relación con su hija y demás.

En fin, un poco de decepción y los únicos que salvan este drama son los niños que muestran más madurez que sus papás JAJAJA.

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Geweldig grappig ;-)

Ik heb genoten van deze serie. Vond het erg komisch en heb hier en daar echt hard gelachen. Ook heb ik soms een traantje weggepinkt. Ik zie dat de serie niet hele goede reviews heeft gekregen, maar laat dat je niet weerhouden om de serie te kijken. Vorm je eigen mening.

Uiteraard waren er wat dingen waar ik, als nuchtere Hollandse, mijn wenkbrauwen bij optrek. Maar ik vond de serie zeker niet slecht. Timing hier en daar (wat de info betreft) had iets beter gekund en op een gegeven moment ben je wel een beetje klaar met de wraakacties, maar het eindigt goed. Voorspelbaar, maar goed...vaak is dat ook wat je graag ziet. Zeker met zo'n dramatisch verhaal als dit. Dan wil je dat het goed komt.

Acteurs en actrices waren prima, vooral de kids vond ik geweldig.

Ik zou de serie niet nog een keer kijken, maar ik kijk zelden iets meerdere keren.

Ik geef de serie dan ook een 8,5 ;-)

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A frustrating guilty pleasure

There was a lot I liked and quite a bit I didn't. Plus points are a likeable cast of characters, played by decent actors, with not too many cheesey or clichéd moments and a female lead character that's not a wet weekend. The men that end up gravitating back around her, are all very different. I liked how she didn't see herself as a victim, was independent, yet had her weaknesses. Her mum is played by a favourite actress, whose character was so supportive. The young actress playing the daughter/granddaughter was excellent and it was refreshing to see a mature young character that wasn't selfish and overly needy or full of cuteness and little else.
What I didn't like was the complete lack of communication, which became totally ridiculous. The initial misunderstandings were believable and understandable, but later, there were too many occasions when explanations were interrupted and never forced, even though the facts were crucial. Situations where the plain truth would have been most rational people's first and only response, were instead met with frustratingly weak and ridiculous ones instead, making things worst. This meant any empathy or sympathy with those characters just vanished.
That aside, there were quite moving moments and some funny ones, which are what made me enjoy it overall.
It's not one I would watch again through.

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Nothing Special

As a Running Man fan, the major reason I picked up this drama was because of Song Jihyo. However, the typical trope of the damsel in distress and all these knights in shining armor trying to protect her is so overdone and this drama does not add anything special to it. To add on to the cliche, all these men turn out to be wealthy, or popular bachelors. The drama tries to make Aejong seem more independent by showing her as a diligent producer, which is okay, but it does not make her stand out from the previous female leads that have done this trope. The story also fails to fully address the overarching concept as to who the father is. Aejong has already met the three men from her personal life, yet, how come she doesn't seem to be worried that one of these men will see her daughter and might think it's their child? She spent her whole motherhood trying to hide the father, yet, these men show up and she doesn't seem fazed by it.

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Perda de tempo

O dorama começa muito bom, o visual é muito bem feito e as piadas fazem sentido além da ótima atuação dos atores mas o que estraga ele, é a história.

É realmente patético o fato da protagonista ter simplesmente sumido quando descobriu que tava grávida e nem ao menos contou o próprio pai, ela é extremamente infantil, e enquanto os caras tão lá falando que gostam dela, ela simplesmente ignora ao invés de resolver isso como alguém com o mínimo de maturidade teria (e ela é uma adulta!).

Apesar da história teoricamente girar em torno do 'fazer um filme' a linha se torna apenas 'quem é o pai da Ha nee?' e sinceramente não poderia ser mais previsível.

Salvo o 'mafioso' todos os outros possíveis pretendentes são extremamente problemáticos e infantis, o ator que acha que tem algum direito sobre ela só porque foi o 'primeiro a gostar dela'; o professor possessivo e um babaca, além de forçar num momento que ela obviamente não quer nada com ele e o escritor que trata ela de uma forma péssima por uma coisa de 14 anos atrás (cadê a maturidade?).

A única coisa que ainda me fazia continuar a ver, era saber quem era o pai e sobre a esposa do mafioso mas isso não é mais suficiente para eu continuar um dorama tão ruim.

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Serious disappointment

It’s absolutely ridiculous and self righteous the FL is. Up to Ep 13 she’s still not honest with her daughter. Daughter believes that the father left them once so could leave them again and the lousy mother doesn’t explain than she was the one who left him without letting know she was pregnant.
What I don’t understand is how she still insists on holding on to her grudge as if it justifies all of her lack of honesty. She keeps refusing the ML because she wants to be independent but she’s not an island. Does she not regard her mother and sister at all? Independence does not being alone. Wonder Woman indeed. In Ep12 she supposedly strides off to take the lead by getting the evil Jennifer to pay for posting the rubbish about RyuJjn being her daughter’s father. But she does nothing. Everything was done by everyone else and she just took the credit. The FL’s character got more and more unlikable towards the middle. Just tell the girl who her father is already. And every time someone finds out. She says she will handle it and act like it’s the other person’s fault.
The storyline really wandered off into nowhere like a drunk ant. And yet I am going to try to finish it because I’m hoping the show will resolve somehow.

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I enjoyed it but a lot could of been better. The writer likes creating trouble. Quite a few good dialogues. Character development.
Main leads chemistry was good. Sad that we didn't get much of it onscreen.
Sad that Aejeong didn't explain the situation well herself. Writernim obviously male biased. But guess it's realistic, most people wouldn't.
Actors saved it. I usually skip 2nd leads. I hate triangles etc. But most of the characters were likeable in their own right. Music on point. Would rewatch certain scenes. Despite the constant troubles, something obviously kept me watching and rewatching eps while waiting. I drop dramas like skin cells usually. Hope the main couple reunite in another drama. Honestly want the female lead with each of the guys in the future. Goo Pado.

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Watch this after you've watched a complex drama.

Watch this after you've watched a complex drama. This drama does not require you to think too much! It's basically a cool off drama that you watch in between thrillers or historical dramas lol.

It started off good, but by episode 6 it becomes decent (bearable to watch). Thus far, there's absolutely nothing good about the male lead character (the writer/director). Btw, I am on episode 8. He is arrogant, he is passive aggressive, and he is overbearing. In the beginning of the drama, he planned to get revenge on the female lead character after 14 years of breaking up. REALLY? Basically, his revenge was to be mean and childish. BTW, I wonder if he's the same guy from Love Alarm? I am not sure whether or not I will drop this drama, but I do like the school teacher, and the famous actor. The very attractive gangsta has to go or rather, should have never been in the story. It would have been better for the writers to have made his character a competitive film agency (who wants to steal the female lead character, clients, movies, and talent), instead of a gangsta.

Things that make this drama weird or unrealistic are:
1. Attractive gangsta (the character, not the actor).
2. The fact that there are four attractive (some famous, some normal) men, all liking one middle aged woman at the same time.
3. If one of the four guys is her child's father (which I think it's the writer/director). It's weird that there was no emotion shown by the female lead character when dad and daughter were together for the first time ever.
4. The hot younger teacher living with his student mom (conflict of interest).

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the FL's intention behind her actions baffles me...

i simply do not understand why the main character is making it such a big deal not telling her daughter about the dad and the choices she had to make.. it doesn't make logical sense...after watching ep 9 and reading through the reviews, this drama does not seem to be worth continuing, the storyline/conflict really doesn't make much sense. why is she against telling her pre-teen daughter about the father. The line where she's like "i thought i was doing a good job as a single mom" really took me about when she found out her daughter had been looking for the dad.. like being curious about your birth father is so normal and it doesn't reflect on the parenting of the single parent... so it was frustrating to watch as i did not understand the motivation behind the FL's actions.

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BREAK AFTER EPISODE 8

There is a trade off of having to wait for new episodes. The negative of course is having to waiting for it. The positive, especially for this drama is try to guess what will happen!.....i wanted to write one after the episode when Dao first came clean to Ae. I guessed that she would blow the whole thing off, and she did. Now for this one after episode 8. Will they kiss?...and will they get together? Based on what has happened so far, plus from watching a number of A-dramas is that i think she will pull away at the last moment. Could be wrong, but that is my guess. I loved when she said he is stirring up her heart again, she became vulnerable, something that i did not see in her before...but i am still thinking she will pull away and the conflict will continue.
As for the story- I love it...i am rooting for Dao to win An back. Don't know why. I don't particularly like the other guys so i guess it is by default. but i do believe his love is the most intense, at least at this stage. I am sure there will be more to come with subsequent episode to change my mind.
As with all my dramas, my favorite is the female lead- and this one does not disappoint. Although i did think, as someone else mentioned, that she over did it a couple of time in the beginning, as episodes have progressed, i think she has really become a very strong lead. I can't wait to see what comes next for her, especially for how things between her and Dao turn out.
My next favorite plot is the child. Thought for sure early on that the actor was the father..now not so sure. maybe by the next break I'll have a better guess, but as of right now, i'd have to guess it is Dao's.
Can't wait for episode 9. I plan to write another review after the next break.

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