Wok do Amor (2018)

Uma boa surpresa

Quantas vezes nos pegamos à procura de uma boa série para assistir, sendo atraídos pelo título, pelo cartaz ou pelos atores que compõem o elenco? Para aqueles mais curiosos e seletivos, como eu, é comum ir além: buscar informações, ler sinopses e conferir comentários. No entanto, com esse drama, a escolha aconteceu de uma forma um pouco diferente. Ou melhor, talvez nem tanto. Foi sim por causa do ator, pois eu queria assistir mais trabalhos dele, já que até então só tinha visto um, justamente o que o consagrou. E assim, acabei escolhendo o K-Drama Wok do Amor – também conhecido como Greasy Melo, Gireumjin Mello ou Wok of Love. Cada streaming nomeia como acha melhor, desde que não fuja do conteúdo do roteiro. E o nome desse ator é o Lee Jun Ho.

Lançado em 2018, esse drama não é tão antigo, mas também não é dos mais recentes. Considerando que o ator protagonista, Lee Jun Ho, tem hoje 35 anos, na época ele tinha 28 e já acumulava uma trajetória consolidada, sendo esta sua sexta produção. A história tem um toque nostálgico e nos leva para o fascinante universo da gastronomia. Uma das coisas mais interessantes sobre assistir K-Dramas é justamente essa oportunidade de conhecer um pouco mais sobre a cultura e os costumes do país.

O roteiro de Wok do Amor é leve, divertido e até um pouco fantasioso, mas extremamente envolvente. Ele fala sobre amor sem barreiras sociais, amizade e lealdade. A maior parte da trama se desenrola dentro de uma cozinha, onde tudo acontece – ou pode acontecer. E se nossas telas tivessem o poder de transmitir cheiros, tenho certeza de que sentiríamos aromas irresistíveis, nos fazendo salivar com cada prato preparado.

Uma das coisas que mais me cativou na história foi a relação de amizade entre dois personagens que, a princípio, eram completos desconhecidos. Com o tempo, essa relação se transforma em uma amizade genuína, tão forte que nem mesmo o fato de ambos se apaixonarem pela mesma mulher foi capaz de abalar. Não houve rivalidade, nem brigas – apenas respeito mútuo. Foi bonito de ver essa dinâmica diferente do que geralmente se espera em triângulos amorosos.

Pode até ser considerado clichê para alguns, mas eu adorei assistir e recomendo para quem deseja se divertir e, de quebra, se deliciar – ainda que apenas com os olhos – com os pratos incríveis que aparecem ao longo da série. Sem dúvidas, deviam estar maravilhosos!

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PLOT: Successful, but it floundered
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To say the writers had the story planned out from the beginning might be a lie. I wouldn't be surprised if we learned that they were plotting the story out as they went along because it's far from perfect. Though at the beginning it leaned into melodrama, it found its ground and settled for humor (which was a good call).

That's not to say the transition wasn't entertaining to watch. To simplify it, the show is so much fun you'll ended up willing to overlook some of its glaring flaws. Most of which include entire plot points abandoned halfway without an explanation, only to introduced more plot-points that were later forgotten. If this show could be edited, I would've taken most of those out... especially the one that introduced a pretty dark subject only to brush over it and shelve it...

At any rate, despite its flaws, this is a lighthearted story that's very digestible and, more importantly, enjoyable.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Lovable
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The three charismatic main leads were given a good balance of strengths and weaknesses. And though they weren't always held accountable for their actions, they still showed some measure of growth and change as the story progressed.

Seo Poong (male lead): His character was probably the most relatable. His growth comes from falling to his lowest point and having to claw his way back up. He's equal amounts fearful and arrogant, which makes him a refreshing male lead. The fact that he shows moments of vulnerability and self-doubt goes to show that a strong character can be built through struggles. If one takes a look at his character from the first episode and compares him to who he becomes during the last episode, you'll see he was properly developed.

Dan Sae Woo (female lead): Jung Ryeo Won did a wonderful job of portraying Sae Woo's sassy attitude. Every smile and chuckle felt natural and contagious. She was also a well-rounded character, with moments of strengths balanced by moments of vulnerability. As fun as she was, out of the three main leads, I'd argue she had the least growth. As the episodes rolled by, it became increasingly obvious that she lacked self-reflection. This meant that she wasn't always held accountable for her actions. This in turn resulted in little change to her character when comparing the first episode to the last. The opportunities to develop her were there for the taking, but the writers missed every single one.

Doo Chil Seong (second male lead and the character who stole the show): Chil Seong was so charming, kind and lovable, that he out-shined and out-staged the other leads. And I don't mean as in he gave me second lead syndrome (though he did), but more like his character became the heart of the show. And how could he not? Chil Seong existed outside of the love triangle and was developed far more than the rest. He had the most interesting backstory and he was at the center of the most powerful moments of the series. Chil Seong was a magnet who -- through his charisma and selflessness-- ended up pulling the rest of the cast into his orbit. If you were hesitant to watch this because he's not the main lead, perish the thought! I have a feeling that if you watch this series, you won't regret it.

ANTAGONISTS: Unremarkable
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There's a number of antagonists, each showing a different degree of hostility towards our leads, but honestly, none of them stood out. Their purpose was to progress the story and support the narrative by adding obstacles to force our protagonists (mostly Poong) to grow. So even if they were rather superficial in their development (or lack thereof), they were a useful addition.

SUPPORT CHARACTERS: shallow
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Just like with the antagonists, the support characters served a specific function within the main story and, therefore, didn't get any proper development. However, given their role, I think it was a good call to keep the story focused on the leads. Especially since not all of the support characters were likable.

PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Sweet, nurturing & healthy
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The romance between our leads was great. Lee Jun Ho & Jung Ryeo Won had great chemistry on screen, which made the development of the relationship feel organic. The characters' personalities also meshed pretty well, allowing them both to be equally active in the development of their relationship rather than have one character pursuing the other. In a way, it felt like they were both walking towards one another and met right in the middle.

PORTRAYAL OF BROMANCE: Heartfelt & nurturing
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The relationship between Poong and Chil Seong was a highlight of the show. Although they started on the wrong foot, Poong and Chil Seong built a strong foundation of understanding, loyalty, devotion, and support that culminated in a familial bond. The fact that Lee Jun Ho and Jang Hyuk also had great chemistry, helped sell how quickly they transitioned from friends to "bros".

OVERALL:
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This is a feel-good series. It's not a perfect by far, but it's undoubtedly entertaining and light enough to binge-watch. It's also a series that doesn't ask too much of its audience, which makes it a perfect show to watch after coming home from a hard/stressful day.

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