Nevertheless, (2021)

Do I not know what "toxic" means?

I said there aren't spoilers, but there might be mild spoilers.

In general, this is a show with a pretty realistic beginning and a storybook ending. I liked the relationships between the side characters. Yoon Sol and Seo Ji-wan are precious.

Now what I really wanted to talk about. Based on the preview for this show, I thought the main relationship was going to be super toxic. After watching it, I felt like, at least for the majority of the show, it was a pretty realistic portrayal of a flawed relationship. She's someone who probably shouldn't be in a fwb situation, while he's someone who only does fwb and doesn't know what to do when he wants something more. He thinks he knows what he wants and what his boundaries are, but as his feeling change and things start to shift, he doesn't act logically. He genuinely cares for her but doesn't know what to do about it. She genuinely cares for him but has no way of knowing how he feels.

I feel like the word "toxic" is too strong and is being overused. Is their relationship great? No. They don't communicate at all. He doesn't understand his own feelings. She can't trust him. Should they stop what they're doing? Probably, unless they can learn to communicate, which I feel like they do at the end. However, I don't think he's a narcissist like some people are saying. I don't think she is either. I think they seem like pretty regular human beings with some baggage. I will say that I binged this show in two days after the finale was released. I might have felt differently if I had watched it week-to-week, but I just don't think it's that bad.

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Their chemistry is the most sparkling and realistic I have ever seen in a kdrama

This kdrama portrays the story of Nabi, an art student who at the beginning of the plot ends a relationship with a man who always puts his interests ahead of our main character. In this story we follow Nabi falling in love again after being in a toxic relationship. This is when Park Jae-eon character is presented to us, a mysterious, charismatic and seductive boy for whom Nabi begins to develop feelings throughout the plot. The extraordinary chemistry that exists between the two main characters is undeniable and I have to say that their chemistry is the most sparkling and realistic I have ever seen in a kdrama. What makes this relationship an incompatible long-term relationship is the fact that each character has a different perspective about romantic relationship however, in my opinion, we can see that in the final episodes there is an inner change in the character of Park Jae-eon, an example of this is the fact that he releases his butterflies, as if he wanted to give himself a new beginning, as if he wanted to give a new narrative to his story (I could be wrong, but this is purely my perspective).

The remaining characters that make up the cast of this kdrama complement and bring more lightness to the development of the story. All the characters portray very well what it is like to be a young person and how complex and confusing it is to have these ages.

The entire atmosphere of the story, the way it’s filmed, the colors, the aesthetics and the soundtrack elevate this kdrama to a whole different level and make it very enjoyable to watch. The feeling this kdrama leaves is bittersweet, but it's really worth to watch.

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Women, are we looking in the mirror?

‘Nevertheless’ is one of the dramas, Asian or otherwise, that makes women take a good look at themselves. You have one job. Just assess if this guy is for real or not. And he just gives you that certain glance, and all common sense goes out of the window. I am viewing ‘Nevertheless’. I am use to siting on the edge of my seat for a Thriller, but for a Romance Drama?

Standing ovation for Song Kang’s performance of the mysterious lady’s man Park Jae-eon, who at this point knows all of the girl lead’s (Nabi) weaknesses. I have seen the main Lead actor, Song Kang, graduate from playing a High School heartthrob in Love Alarm to a bonafide Leading Man in ‘Nevertheless’. Song Kang even has the sense to lower the register of his voice to a sultry level. (Ah Yeah, I am paying attention)

When the series has the entry of the Second Lead, that face off stare down between the First and Second Lead is beyond classic. I feel for you Nabi. The left side of the brain, the logically side, is telling you all the ways this relationship with Park Jae-eon is going to go south. Grab the Second Lead and run with Steady and Ready. Then the right side or creative sensitive side of your brain just tells you . . . Nevertheless.

Female Lead— (Nabi played by Han So Hee)

Male Lead—(Park Jae-eon played by Sang Kang)

Second Lead— (Yang Do-Hyeok, played by Chae Jong-Hyeop)

Great cast, great script, and great acting


Pretty soon, you will look up the word swoon and see as a definition Song Kang.

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Rough but Addictive

So I started this for Song Kang, I've been on a binge for this actor. Let me just say I had heard bits about this drama before and I started this knowing there was lots of controversy and that he was a player. 4 eps in and This Incredibly Beautiful Man is Wrecking me!! He is a walking RED Flag, all the signs are there! I'm still hypnotized by his ridiculously good looks and those bedroom eyes! I'm just as captivated as poor Na-Bi. There's no doubt he is the definition of a F*Boy... I'm trying to remember why that's a problem! My heart be dammed! This actor does such a phenomenal job in all the rolls I've seen him in. He is so versatile and it never fails to shock me how he can go from innocent/sweet/nerd to Sex on a stick in point 2 seconds!... Now that I've completed it I can say that was rough! The beginning was so hard to watch, anyone who has every been uncertain in a relationship will definitely feel the hits that drama just continues to deliver. It gives you anxiety and the unbearable heartache it brings out for all those who have gone through something similar. Jae-eon (Kang) is the guy that every girl has a crush on, the one everyone secretly steals glances at and loves to gossip about once he's gone. He's ridiculously attractive, he always knows just what to say to make your heart flutter. You KNOW, YOU KNOW he's a BAD idea, but you don't care. He a gets around, he's mysterious and seductive. He's dealing with his own issues and his release comes in the form of playing the game with his "Butterflies". Na-Bi went through a horrible toxic relationship with her ex-boyfriend, she was venerable and she definitely fell prey to him. I think Jae-eon was unprepared for Na-bi tho, You can see the struggles he goes though to draw the line, you know he's into her, but fights to admit it or to open up and communicate with her. He also fails to clear up any misunderstandings, which drives me absolutely batshit! He's doing way more than just friends w/benefits. Na-Bi grows a lot from the person she was in the first ep. That was very satisfying, after she decided to succumb to her desire for Him and worry about the consequences later, she really comes out of her shell. She still has hope, that whatever it is they are it will be something, that he won't hurt her. And once SeolA comes in the picture to throw a kink into everything, you get to see Na-bi make a stand and let her feelings/anger known. It was thrilling to see Jae-eon get a taste of his own medicine when Do-Hyeok comes into the picture. Do-Hyeok was such a wholesome character, you fall for him immediately, he's the sweet and adorable. You know he's sincere with his feelings and he's obviously the safe choice. And while Na-bi enjoys spending time with him, he doesn't make her heart-pound, there's no rush, that Spark isn't there. Jae-eon was a very passionate person, (just my opinion) but for someone who doesn't know love, I think he craves it, not necessarily love. Because I don't think he knows what love is till Na-bi but his idea of love or being loved. I think their connection started out very much sensual and intoxicating and soon became all consuming for him. Here he was trying to seduce this Beautiful sweet, shy, innocent girl and soon I think he was the one lost in his own game. She made him feel, and he fought it, she was very confused and I was addicted! I also enjoyed the other couples, seeing them go through and experience their own love and struggles. I actually really enjoyed this show. I gave it an Eight out of Ten because I feel like that last episode was rushed, they definitely could have given us another 2 eps to give us a better ending. There was still a lot left open with the characters. I'm happy but wanted something more,

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centering the female gaze and POV... with a disappointing ending

DISCLAIMER: this is a review written with retrospect, after watching each episode on an week-by-week basis in 2021 on netflix (last year). so, details may be fuzzy.

- first half was amazing, well-paced, and eerily realistic. honestly, i still sometimes think about the cinematography and aesthetics of this drama even a year later. i also listen to the OSTs often--either when i'm feeling sad, heartbroken, or need to feel more grounded after being dramatic lol (i lowkey picture nabi needing to calm down, basically).

- second half with the love triangle and with family backgrounds not being explored with enough detail, it definitely felt redundant and draggy in terms of the leads back-and-forth with one another. stakes just stopped feeling high and exciting; everything became more predictable. after episode 5, it's just disappointing, if i'm being honest.

- could have ended this story as a cautionary tale of choosing one's self, dreams, and ambitions over a charming, yet mysterious f*ckboy, but oh well. i can't say i'm 100% mad at the ending either, though, because of the leads' chemistry (and i like them as individual actors as well LOL).

- overall, i had to give this drama an 8.5/10 because you can definitely see how this was directed by women, with a young female audience in mind going through similar life experiences. centering the female gaze, overall, is something i can distinctly register and appreciate, because it validates in a way, these exact experiences we may go through (and i say this, biased as a young woman, after attempting to watch so hee's soundtrack drama which seems to largely focus on the male lead's POV of cringey, disillusioned unrequited love lol).

RECOMMENDED FOR:
- girls and women in their mid-teens and twenties, who have had experience dating charismatic jerks like song kang's character
- for people looking for dramas with young people in university (and not just high school for a change!)
- people who like watching pretty people with great chemistry act like they're in love <3

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