Things that Come After Love (2024)

Melancholy at its finest !!!!

If you're into melancholic dramas with too much angst, this one is for you. This story revolves around a Korean girl named Hong who travels to Japan and rebelliously starts to live and study alone there, even without notifying her parents. There, she meets Jungo, a Japanese boy around her age. Their encounter blossoms into a passionate love soon. The plot revolves around them after their breakup. The cinematography of this drama is top-notch. The acting is also good . This drama is the first drama I've watched with leads from two countries. I enjoyed it, was a good watch.

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trying to please people with happy ending isn't always a good thing

when i started watching this series, i thought that they would make their break up make sense, and they would properly solve their issues. it didn't happen. instead, we got two episodes of fluff, and three episodes of present. i feel like the writer was just pushing CH and AJ's differences aside until the final scene was taking place for the viewers. CH felt random quilt over the break up in last episode for some reason. AJ neglected her until she packed her bags and left. It makes you wonder if they're going to fall into the same rabbit hole.
despite the writing flaws, this drama has definitely an excellent cast, and cinematography.

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masterclass performances

What Comes After Love is based on a 2005 novel co-written by Korean & Japanese authors, Gong Ji-young & Tsuji Hitonari. Likewise this short, 6 episode drama series is a K/J joint project, filmed in both countries with K/J leads & spoken in 2 languages as the settings alternate.

I've seen Lee SeYoung in a few shows now & she is absolutely amazing. Lee has impressively mastered her character's fluency in Japanese, showing no sign of awkwardness in delivering her lines, & allowing the emotion of her character to fully flow through. I'm less familiar with J-dramas but Sakaguchi Kentaro easily matched intensity with his portrayal. These two basically gave a masterclass & their performances carried the entire show.

The drama weaves back & forth through time but never feels choppy. It very smoothly tells the very simple story of Hong & Jungo in a relaxed pace, revealing events as they lead to the main conflict which is their reunion, 5 years after a very difficult break up. Do they come to a reconciliation? I couldn't really guess what would happen, so I only hoped it would end satisfactorily either way, and it does so as Jungo learns to run by Hong's side, both figuratively and literally, & they each come to understand one another.

The show is also beautifully shot, with the spring blossoms & stark winter cold perfectly setting the stage of the characters' relationship at different times. Each scene is a work of art.

One final detail which I can't ignore because I'm a pet owner - I still find it disturbing that Asian dramas treat house pets as decorations & portray them in situations bordering on neglect. A dog confined to an outdoor courtyard, alone, & in near freezing temperatures is not humane. There are no scenes of anyone in the household providing any care for the animal or interacting with it in any meaningful way. As Hong is an avid runner, why not take the dog running with her?

Doggy aside, the show was otherwise a delight to watch because of the two powerful performances.

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Adorável

Simplesmente amei assistir esse drama, me emocionou do inicio ao fim. Eu não tinha vontade nehuma de desligar a tv por mim via direto até terminar , só não fiz pois tinha meus afazeres.

Romance entre o casal é lindo, o carinho, a troca de olhar entre eles, o amor é quase palpavel aqui do outro lado da tela.
a forma como ela narra me fez sentir parte de algo, me senti como se tivesse lendo um livro de tanta riquesa de detalhes de sentimento,consegui sentir a história.

O amor entre os dois realmente foi lindo, internso, e foi bacana de ver o amadurecimento dos dois com os anos.

Tenho que enaltecer o trabalho dos protagonistas principais que foi ótimo. Me surpreendi posivivamente com a protagonista feminina, já tinha visto outros dramas com ela mais ainda não tinha me chamado atenção seus trabalhos até agora ;Ela entregou tudo de si neste drama.

Uma ótima obra, direta sem enrolação focada apenas no romance dos protagonistas, um romance adulto, sério que realmente me cativou. espero porder mais dramas assim daqui pra frente.

Em fim recomendo esse drama para você.

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Is it just me, or was this just kind of okay?

Second-chance romances are not something I'm terribly familiar with, so I wanted to give this one a shot. Plus, I liked the general premise of a cross-country romance.
The actors' chemistry is undeniable, particularly in the flashbacks when they met in Japan. The drama sets up their relationship very well, and also does a good job of showing why they didn't work out. Tbh I am on the FL's side here... idk why he couldn't be bothered to text or call to tell her he was busy, but whatever. Anyway, what ultimately ended up not working for me was the present-day stuff. I think there was too much avoidance on the FL's part of the ML; not that that's unrealistic, but it was difficult to see their chemistry re-ignite in the present. They both were just kind of sad around each other and didn't have any meaningful conversations until the last episode. Maybe this drama could've benefited from more episodes? The ending was a tad underwhelming, as other reviewers have noted.
I'll give a shout out to the OST because it was truly very good. Normally I don't notice the music all that much, but it really worked here. The cinematography was kind of mixed, as it had a lot of scenes that were very dark and it was hard to see what was going on. On the other hand, there were some very pretty scenes.
Overall, it wasn't bad, but I wasn't blown away by it. I think it kind of has unfulfilled potential. I don't know if I'm just missing something, because other people seem to really like it, but it was just kind of okay to me.

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So good except the end

Nov. 26, 2024

What Comes After Love could have been that drama of the year as it is a collaboration between the Korean and Japanese entertainment. Needless to say, the potential was so good. The first half was so good, starting from the flashbacks and storyline progression. BUT they had to pull that lame as ending. By episode 6, I was skipping so much. I was gonna give this show a 7 but because they did so well in the beginning, I pushed for an 8.

So all in all, it is actually not as bad, and I dropped so many dramas for the last quarter of this year as they have all been snoozefest, and boring.

The casts are amazing, Jungo and Beni, they portrayed their role well. Feel so mf bad for the second lead, but I guess it is what it is.

The mom of Beni, could have honestly been more developed but I guess given the short time frame with 6 episode maybe thats why it felt short.

Speaking of short, this drama could have been easily a 10 episode series but why on Earth did they choose the 6 epi format. So many routes they could have dealt with. And expanded. Even the back stories, and their time in Japan. I like to think that there was so much potential and the foundation was there to execute it. So why didn't the directors do it then 😭

Anyway, I genuinely think Ill only ever rewatch this is because the love they had in Japan was cute and lovely and the leads too. Their chemistry is just overall chef's kiss!

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Not a popular opinion, but I did not like it.

This series tell the story of a couple, that were madly in love, and life happened to them. I might say this is why we do not watch what comes after love. I've been married, for quite some time I must add, I'm pretty aware that the honeymoon phase is not that long, just like anyone who's married or in a long term commited relationship. The problem of this series is the story is told in a very boring way. The only thing one's looking to see is if they're going to get back together, but as of episode 4, I'm not curious even about that. Would have been better if it was a movie. If you've liked this, you might like Now We're Breaking Up. If you're wondering what comes after love AND don't want to be bored I would recommend Between Him and Her.

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Love Is Its Own Reward

What comes after love? - a pensive title for a nostalgic story. What indeed comes after love? In asking, it is already considered that the love has ended. Now, questions arise. Why did it have to end? Was there no way to fix it? How heartbroken will I get?

Such were my questions when I encountered this title. I was hesitant to venture, however, seeing the trailer, I knew I needed the poetics that came with it. Like I predicted, I fell for it right away... but like love, it's easy to fall, it's a struggle to stay. And these are why.

What I Love:
1. As a romantic, my need for a poetic storytelling was fulfilled: a) The use of flashbacks and symbolism (Beni's hair being curly in her in-love phase and being straight in her moved-on phase), b) The use of quotations from Dongju Yun's Counting the Stars at Nights to introduce and conclude the story, c) The use of snow and sakura adds much-needed drama, and d) a soulful melody to sing the melody your heart wants to play. So much love.
2. Lovable casting. I guess they're one of the pairs you would watch even if, theoretically, the plot is a flop. Seyoung is so yeppeoda. I love her in all her phases, even when she's angry. Kentaro plays as his character requires on top of being striking of course.

What Are Lacking:
1. Story Pace.
I said I loved the poetic storytelling with the flashbacks, but hey, too much flashbacks is annoying. This could have been done in one movie - 2 hours only. Show the past, show the present, then show the ending. Use in-medias-res, sure. Use flashbacks too, just not too much. There are a lot of poetic movies that executed excellently - The Lake House or August Rush. This took an unnecessary 6 episodes and weeks. I go whaaaatttt happpeeeennneeddddd? did the story progress? at episodes 3 to 5. Move!

2. Characters. Ugghhhh!
Jungo. I can't believe it. I went to the point of hating how timid he was. I have high expectations from him because he was supposed to love her which meant fight for her. But, he didn't. I guess he didn't love her enough to pack the bag and bring it to Korea. She basically gave him a chance by giving him her address. Also, yes, I have the same question as Beni, why did he just let her go? And the most annoying part about him is, he can learn English and be so fluent at it, but how come he did not consider to learn Hangul????? If he ever considered reconnecting with her, he could have tried to find a way to talk to her, so then, he could be the one to try to understand her like she understood him? I'm so annnnnooooooyyyyyyeeeeeeddddddd!

Secondly, fate gave him a plenty of chances to talk to her, but, he mostly just ended up riding the taxi away or her driving away. Then, when given the chance during his last night, he just had to flunk it. Why can't he just tell her that he loves her still? He should have held her hand and begged her to stay.

Lastly, I wondered if he ever planned to find her. What if the publisher of his book wasn't her father? What was the goal of him writing the book at all? Just to reminisce? If he ever thought the book would get to her, why did he not prepare? If this were real, I hope he truly learned to keep her.

Beni. Alright! So, maybe I was a too harsh on Jungo, but he deserved it. I am naturally on Beni's side, not because we're both women, but because, she was very giving without getting back what she deserves. She was in a foreign country. Initially, she was happy because she's hyped up by all the excitement and that her friend was there. However, loneliness soon got to her because, well, she was technically alone. It could be depressing to a lively character such as herself. Some call her needy, but not without reasons.

What I love about Beni is her spontaneity. She jumps on the plane to escape her family. She falls in love. She doesn't hold anything back. However, because of this, she jumps back to the plane, buries everything, and acts like she moved on already. I don't even know where she left her shame to make Jungo pack all her belongings and send them to her. Lol. I wonder if she left some cash for the transport. Haha. Kidding aside, she has indded changed a lot, but her love for him never changed.

Comment on the Ending:
So, I was seething about the ending of Episode 5 because hey, where are we headed? The last episode is almost here. Halfway through Episode 6, I was like, ok, I think this will end in mutual and happy separation (60%) and Jungo will stay (40%). Although, in my heart, I was hoping he will stay, because hey, love could also be what comes after love. My mind was made when she started running. I just know (hope actually) Jungo got down from that taxi and would soon come running with (not after) with her. And he did. And my poetic heart understood. That was worth all the frustration.

Overall:
If put on a scale, the lacking will surely outweigh the loves. However, this is still recommendable. To all poetic authors - for inspiration. To all who experienced the same - for a deeper appreciation of what comes after every failed journey. To all romantics - to feed your hearts.

Theme:
Love is its own reward. Love is what comes after love. It's the consolation prize, but, it is also the ultimate prize. A consolation for a love that is lost. Ultimate for a love that was treasured whether it was lost or kept. For a love as pure and true as they both have experienced, there are no regrets. That love will be a part of them. For that, their life is worthwhile.

One star for memory.
One star for love.
One star for sorrow.
One star for longing.

What comes after love is all of the above. Now, I see, the lines that open, close.

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10 OUT OF 10!!!!!!

This drama is EVERYTHING. I usually watch kdramas so I'm familiar with the Fl and i love her acting, however I'm new to the ml and didn't know what to expect but he blew me away with his acting.

Less than 2 minutes into the drama where the main leads meet i knew i was going to be hooked. The Chemistry between them just staring at each other is off the charts. I love the gentle nature of the ml and how the fl balances him out. They sort of give calm bf and hyper but reserved gf energy.
Gosh their love is so apparent even in the way the look at each other and even the way their dialogues are written. Very much giving soft love
The Angst too is another level. Like i can cut through the tension between them that's how good it is. The actors just go together and it's obvious that they do not have to do too much to establish the emotions between them.
Also the directing of this drama is chef's kiss. The progression of scenes, the colour grading is well thought of and does a good job potraying the central idea & emotion of each scene.

I don't want to go into too much details but if you're reading this, you have to go watch What Comes After Love. Rooting for Juno and Beni and i hope the story unravels in their favour😭

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The story telling is slow. However plot twist make the episode special. Obviously it is gonna catch the viewers.
Another special matter of this drama is the collaboration of south korea and japan. The drama delves into themes of fate, love, and the idea of whether relationships have an expiration date. The drama's central theme revolves around the aftermath of a passionate relationship. It portrays the raw emotions individuals experience when their romantic connections dissolve—sadness, confusion, and a search for closure. The film is introspective, with a focus on character development and emotional depth. Its storytelling is intimate, often using flashbacks to provide context for the characters’ pasts and how those pasts shape their present.

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The current rating isn't set and is subject to change so could go up or down.

So far it is good to see Japan and real Japanese actors plus the language not being sabotaged.

In saying that, this drama is all about a Japanese man and Korean woman and their relationship followed by a break up then meeting again in Korea 5 years later which is in the synopsis.

So...

What hasn't been good to see in just the first 10 minutes is all the luggage the main female character is carrying every step of the way from Narita airport when it could have easily been delivered directly from airport to door. Hassle free!!!!.

Unless of course that has changed...

Wonderful memories have been brought back with the bridge scene and what could have been a drone shot of Shibuya, Shinjuku or Akihabara.

Looked more like Shinjuku or Shibuya.

Winner so far just for giving me a walk down memory lane.

The story line isn't original when it comes to man meeting woman or woman meeting man, but what is refreshing is seeing more of a backbone when it comes to speaking ones mind or standing ones ground rather than apologising for everything whether the person is right or wrong.

Don't think there is any excessive bowing either...not yet anyhow.

Just so you know it does go back and forth between the past and present which for some will probably teeter on annoying whereas others won't mind. It has only been two episodes so this could change, of course.

I reckon the chemistry is a bit better between "Beni" and the Korean guy rather than her and the Japanese guy, "Yun Oh", although both act their parts well.

It is slow and not upbeat like some yet has it's light moments and own story to tell.

One thing I wish would change is all the drinking and getting drunk because in the first 30 minutes there is a number of scenes with drinking going on - maybe 2 or 3 so I hope this isn't going to be in every episode.

I think AA is needed in Korea and Japan like yesterday.

The piano music at the very start reminds me of that famous composer who composed Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The piano has been pleasant to listen to throughout and I would buy it if it is ever made available to buy.

Am crossing my fingers that there will be one or two hit songs that will be good as Butterflies or Stay With Me. Even just one!

Early days yet so will be back to write more as only two episodes have been released so far.

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