Love All Play (2022)

Something between good and bad!!!

The drama love all play depicting the story of badminton players so basically the genre was sports drama but let me clear it for you that this drama is not a sport drama its a romance melo drama with unnecessary plot holes
It started so well first episodes focused on romance and chemistry between the leads and other members and after 9 episodes it became so stretchy and boring and i hate the way they resolve the misunderstandings like it took them 14 episodes to resolve the controversy
At last the romance can't even saved it for me
Now about sports part a sports drama is basically where you show that sport properly but here badminton was a side trope not the main so it was not Sport for me
The leads and second leads chemistry was fine for me i love taejun
At last watch it if you love melo and don't basically care about storyline

Leia Mais

It’s everything and more

Gosh! Did I love this show…
Watching the park twins and their teammates as they navigate the world of badminton, friendship, camaraderie and love is like bathing in sunshine. Dark clouds may cover their sky from time to time, but they have no chance against the endearing warmth of Park Tae Joon’s smile (Chae Jong Hyeop). His acting was so superb in this show, it truly elevated the character.
This show has so much heart, that no matter where the plot line took us, you got your happy dose alongside the angst.
The soundtrack is wonderful too, hearing it immediately made me smile, and the sweet moments the show dished out in generous doses were sweeter than honey without ever being boring or overly clichéd.

Honestly? My only complaint is that we didn’t get more episodes.

Prepare to fall in love!

Leia Mais

Started strong but went downhill

The first ten episodes are interesting and engaging. Love how they put more backstory about a run away renowned badminton athlete which hinder her to play badminton. But after the 10 episodes, it got draggy. The conflict between Taeyang and Junyoung could be resolved in earlier episode without making it repetitive. I was excited to see Taeyang play again and her playing without feeling guilty but instead they give us more drama and less badminton scenes. The only thing that keeps me going is the chemistry between the leads and the other players. Park Juhyun really gives an amazing potrayal as a used to be famous badminton player who now feels guilty to even to play because the conflict she has with her best friend and how she's having this inner problem within herself because her mother left her and she got adopted, and she feels that her adopted parents will abandon her if she fails to play badminton. Chae Jeonghyeop also gives a neat potrayal as Park Taejun, a skilled badminton player living under the shadow of his sister success. I hate how his parents, especially his mother, treats him. He and Taeyang find comfort and love on each other. Both Juhyung and Jeonghyeop have good chemistry with each other. On the other hand, I don't really feel the chemistry between Yook Junghwan and Lee Yoomin. It's too bad that I don't feel the excitement to watch after the 10th episode, really wish it could be better.

Leia Mais

How to Make a Very Solid Breakfast Sandwich

"Love All Play" is like a hearty egg, sausage and cheese sandwich at a neighborhood diner. It doesn't take a culinary school trained chef or a Michelin star restaurant to plate a terrific one. But there are a couple of things that separate an average one from a very good one. First, there's no great sandwich without outstanding bread. It should be freshly baked. None of the spongy, preservative-stuffed, plastic-bagged tasteless kind. The eggs and cheese just have to be fine. But the sausage can't be. It should be spicy and savory with plenty of silky fats.

In "Love All Play", the fresh bread is a bevy of likable, complex and organic characters from the two leads and going deep in to the supporting roster of characters.

The spicy meat is an astonishingly strong cast that has a few recognizable faces, but no high-powered stars.

Is the plot a brilliant, novel one with twists and turns and surprises and reveals and climactic moments? No. It certainly places enough credible obstacles in the way of the happiness of the various characters to keep a modest amount of tension going, but there's nothing here that hasn't been seen dozens of times in other dramas.

Is the production value on that viewers will confuse with Bong Joon Ho? That's a very firm "No.". There's a nice theme song and the editing is fine. But the badminton scenes are nauseatingly repetitive. The wardrobe is mostly athletic warmups. In fact, there's nothing in the production design, makeup, hair, lighting, sound, photography, etc. that's noticeable.

Despite such non-noteworthiness, Chae Jong Hyeop is an unfiltered delight as Tae Joon. It's hard to think of a more warmhearted, selfless, strong and mature male protagonist. In fact, if there's a less than credible moment, it would be where Tae Yang's father has any doubts about his character. Is he too good to be true? Perhaps, but there's enough of a self-destructive, reckless element to him that Tae Joon doesn't seem inhuman.

Park Ju Hyun may not have the natural charisma that Chae Jong Hyeop exhibits, but she's a marvelous complement. Park Ji Hyun is scintillating as her Jun Young has to be very delicately layered with resentments and damages and hopes and dreams. This review could list just about every other member of the cast and try to find some unique and effusive praise for each of them. If there is a weak member, it would be In Gyo Jin as an assistant coach who comes across too erratically from one scene to the next.

Special mention, however, must be made for Choi Seung Yoon and Jo Soo Hyang. They are [chef's kiss] pure, distilled magic in virtually every moment they are together on screen. If there is a spinoff of "Love All Play", it must be featuring these two. Or give them their own new concept.

It should be a simple formula. Wonderful, multi-dimensional characters with a solid cast and simply put them in a room and let them have at it. Unfortunately, those two ingredients are trickier than they look. Props to this production for accomplishing it with aplomb here.

Recommended and highly.

Leia Mais

Could've been great.

Let's start off with what I liked about the show:

- It looked really good cinematography-wise, I liked the overall atmosphere and aesthetic of it.
- The characters had their charms and sometimes were very comedic.
- They had a bunch of funny moments which I genuinely enjoyed (one being the spoon scene, that was really funny for some reason).
- Yumin and Junghwan were endearing.
- Taejun vs. Junghwan
- Also that golden retriever Yunis junior.

Now, onto what I didn't like about the show: (warning: rant)

- The story was very all over the place. For something that was supposed to be a sports romcom, it was so angsty and Taeyang's and Taejun's growth as athletes weren't even touched on as much. (Honestly, their growth as characters in general wasn't really shown that much).
- The characters' arcs and stories weren't properly showcased. We just suddenly see these developments and I'm always left thinking "when did that happen?" or "where did that come from?" It's like I completely missed the show and I'm just learning about all of these developments secondhand. And because of this, I find myself not caring about their struggles that much and when they get through them, it's like "alright, good for them I guess".
- The conflict was so repetitive and kept going only for it to end just like that? The potential for conflict and resolution could've been really good but it wasn't.
- The show felt like it was focusing on too many stories and conflicts (or too many angles of one conflict? idek) and problems of Taeyang that it couldn't really understand what it wanted to say properly, leading to a very scattered show with no proper growth therefore leaving the characters with so much wasted potential for their arcs (especially Seungwoo's—I would've loved to see him at least want to play before ending his career). Honestly, I wanted to love this because I love sports stuff (2521 and Haikyuu! being some of them) and it started off pretty well! I find it really interesting when the characters have different goals for their athletic careers while also having to balance their personal struggles and how that's interwoven into their stories as athletes. But this was just, too much angst and very all over the place. In the 15th episode, they show flashbacks of Taeyang and Taejun playing badminton together and it's literally only from the first three episodes. That's how little we've seen any of the characters play badminton. Where is their growth as athletes? How is Taejun becoming more passionate about badminton? How is Taeyang coming back from her 3-year break? And why is the Yunis team suddenly accepting her? SHOW MEEEEEEE.
- I genuinely didn't like that Taeyang just kept taking all the bullshit too? It was fine for the first few episodes, but it just kept going to the point that it was annoying. Idk.
- Also why do Taejun and Taeyang hug like that? It feels so stiff, the only exception being the last hug they had during episode 16. Like just HUG! Put your heads together! Nuzzle!!!! Jeez.
- Lastly, I wanted to see more of Taejun's emotional struggles. With his parents practically being very absent when it comes to his badminton career, how he feels being overshadowed by his sister, his relationship with the sport, etc. But nope. I didn't even care when he gave his medal to his mom and said that he was never good enough because they didn't show his struggles. (Also, his mom is the worst).

Anyway, this was disappointing. I really wanted to like this, especially because a lot of people are saying it was good.

Am I missing something? Someone tell me because I would love to love this. Maybe I'll give it another watch during my free time, but for now these are my thoughts.

Leia Mais

Downhill after a great start

I was hooked to this story mainly because of our ML. Their interactions and conversations felt so inviting and you will find yourself rooting for them from the get go. The overall casts are good. The dynamics is chaotic but interesting.

However the premise of Badminton really drops the ball on this. Idk whether its normal for an athlete to have booze once in a while during training, or such controversy has ever really occured in RL , but I do know for a fact that if you want to excell as a great athlete, of any sport, alchohol is a big NO-NO. So the big plot of this story really didn't sink in with me coz I'm a badminton fan myself in RL. So yeah since the big secret was out I keep FF through all the shenanigans. I could not relate to it coz it didnt feel real. Yes, you reap what you sow, but knowingly that it will jeopardize you in the end doesn't really resonates with me especially if you are an athlete.

I enjoy the beginning, happy in the middle, but puzzled towards the end. Wish it would have been better.

As always; Would I watch this whole drama again? No.

Leia Mais

Such a fun watch! Light and breezy

This sort of reminds me of Weightlifting Fairy in tone...light and easy to watch. It's a sports romcom that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's more about a story about forgiveness and falling in love than the journey and growth of becoming the best at badminton.

Likes: For sure, Park Ju Hyun and Chae Jong Hyeop as the leads. Both are entirely charming in their own way. I like that they are not super famous because I feel like you can see their characters more. Park Ju Hyun has a tomboyish athletic look which is not typical in female leads, but I like that. It's more relatable. Also, I can't pinpoint why I feel like this...but she comes off like she may have a bit of a smart ass side to her which immediately makes me like her. hahaha. She was perfect as Tae Yang.
Chae Jong Hyeop reminds me of a smiley cute Labrador. He has this "good guy" boy next door feel. He first caught my attention in Nevertheless and I'm glad to see him in a leading role. He didn't disappoint and I feel like more good roles will come his way after this.

The two of them have a fun chemistry, the sole reason why I enjoyed this drama so much. I enjoy teasing banter so the first half had me hooked. The second half did get a little more weighed down with oppression. The problem here is that it felt like they were really stretching for these obstacles. Also, I think they should have paid a little more attention to the growth and struggles of being in sports. It felt very downplayed which I wouldn't say I minded that much, but I think a little more personal growth would have fared better. As for the rest of the cast, they felt like caricatures at best. Sometimes funny, sometimes overkill.

Overall, the tone was pretty light imo, even when it got weighed down a little in the second half. It's because the show doesn't really delve down and explore the deeper emotions the characters have. It just barely touches the surface. Some may not like that, but it was fine for me as I just wanted to watch something easy breezy and the chemistry carried the show for me.

Leia Mais

ML's Smile is What Kept Me Watching!

When they were happy and together, it made me smile a lot. They were such a sweet and supportive team but that was only at the beginning and the end. I really understood when people were saying FL cried a lot, it bothered me a few times but it wasn't that bad. She was having a really hard time. It went down hill as soon as he found out it was his sister that she had the accident. The relationship became all twisty and hard to watch, so much so that I considered dropping it at ep 10. I wish they made that storyline shorter, it was SO hard to watch. They should have gotten them back together before the end of the last episode.

The ML was a real one all the way through, he's the greenest flag. The leads really went through it. I would of liked to see more games, we only saw them play together a few times. It would have been nice to have a flashforward at the end, showing them with medals and trophies. Can't believe they didn't show who won the match at the end, like what was the point!? I really wanted to see then win gold together.

Leia Mais

Amazing Chemistry

The best part of this drama is, without question, the chemistry between the two leads. From the very start they had the best kind of relationship — playful bickering, but with the added fact that they were two people who each had their own trauma, who had somehow found each other and the emotional support they hadn't been able to get anywhere else. There was something so beautiful and heart-breaking about every scene with the two of them just being together, something so intimate about the conversations they had whether or not there was any skinship (which we did get, satisfyingly).

Other than that, the second and side ships were also fun to watch and had their unique dynamics that added to the story. Even as independent characters, I really liked all the side characters.

The main plot of this drama surrounds Taeyang's past catching up with her, and this really takes center stage in the second half of the show. It was a decent plotline, but I definitely wish that it was resolved sooner because as much as I loved the angst we got between the leads because of it (those super emotionally packed scenes were where I cried BUCKETS), but I felt like the badminton part of the drama started to taper off — there was less about the risks that athletes take and their motivations and goals, but it was more about forgiveness and guilt. I have nothing against this drama veering into melodrama territory but I definitely think it lasted a little too long and we barely got to see any badminton matches, whereas the first half was a lot about the characters training and trying to improve.

With that being said, the ending did feel a little rushed too. I disagree with some of the main themes that the plot ended up seeming to say and wish our two leads had been given more agency; it felt like some plot development either happened out of convenience or they were waiting for other characters to change so that they could make decisions. While I understand that our main leads are simply two very selfless and patient (perhaps to a fault) characters and that Asian culture is very family-centered, if you're more confrontational and about self-interest/self-love (as I am) you might find it frustrating and plot-convenient.

Overall, still a really fun watch for me. Taejun is hands down the best male lead I've watched this year and will go down as one of my permanent favorites. This entire drama is just full of green flag male leads.

Leia Mais

it is a nice and refreshing drama with the spirit of youth at its core. even though it deviates from the topic of sports in the middle for a bit, the ending really pulled it together.
I really enjoyed the character development of some of the characters, especially the ML's sisters.
the drama showed a very natural process of healing and dealing with trauma.
all the characters had a very hopeful ending.
the drama showed us the stories of joining, quitting, rejoining, and retiring from the world of sports in the most realistic way possible.
shout out to the Yunis team for having the most lovable side characters!!

Leia Mais

go for this already, why are you still reading?

I'm not into sports honestly but this drama is just so good. I can't even explain it in words rn how I am feeling. This is just so good. Park Taejun is a walking Green Flag and Park Taeyang (Juhyun) one of my fav actress since "extracurricular" did not disappoint. The chem was so good. I don't usually write an entire paragraph about how I am feeling for a drama but this is just different. I will not be mentioning any other actresses/actors bcs if i would, the review would be very long. So for Soohyang unnie, she's so good at acting. She made me hate her in school 2015 and she was so good at acting there and it still the same as now. Like bruh are you really her? TT TT love this drama sm 100/10 would rewatch it after a year! Hoping i would kind of forget some part so he next time i watch this i would be surprised again.

Leia Mais