Não Quero Fazer Nada (2022)

Summer Strike highlight the importance of small daily happiness, beyond the hustle culture

"Summer Strike" follows a young woman who quits her office job and moves to the countryside after her mother's sudden death. Then, she meets a mysterious librarian and develop an interesting relationship.

I was interested on the premise set upon criticizing the hustle culture while highlighting the importance of various types of relationships and daily happiness. However, I would have prefer more discussion touching on the hustle culture and more conclusion on them.

From the production and acting, it was great. Visually, Summer Strike is beautiful, they used the environment they were filming in to its full potential. Kim Seol Hyun improved greatly since her debut, and Yim Si Wan is one of the best idol turned actors. I enjoyed was their romance from their hilarious firsts encounter and the natural and slow-burn development. There was no culminating intimate skinship, but they’re so peaceful to watch.

I wasn’t a fan when the plot became muddled with a mystery murder storyline, even though it did serve a purpose for our lead’s character arc. Who likes a healing show about a timid female lead who moves away from the toxic environment to end up in another toxic environment? Not me. So in the end, the show is not really relaxing and warm, and I can’t feel myself learning anything from it.

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The Beauty of Found Family

Summer Strike is a heart-warming drama that beautifully portrays emotions and captures a realistic approach to how one might feel about life. This drama follows multiple characters on their journey of self-discovery and happiness, but we’re first introduced to the lovely female lead Lee Yeoreum (Kim Seolhyun). Unsatisfied with her life in the city, she seeks comfort in a small town. There, she finds peace within herself, makes friends, and finds love along the way.

Yeoreum’s character was enjoyable. Her gentleness and sincerity were felt in every episode, with every character she encountered, which was nice. The male lead is An Daebeom (Im Siwan), a shy introvert with unresolved childhood trauma. Daebeom and Yeoreum’s relationship was executed nicely, for the most part, because I enjoy slow-paced dramas. I was satisfied with their ending, although a part of me still feels like something was lacking. They have no kiss scenes or anything obviously romantic like a declaration of love, but even without this you can feel how much they care for each other, and that is why I watched until the end.

The side couple Kim Bom (Shin Eunsoo) and Heo Jaehoon (Bang Jaemin) made up for what the main couple lacked. Jaehoon was such a bright light in Bom’s life and exactly what she needed. I wasn’t always happy with the way she treated him but Bom suffered so much, I literally couldn’t stay mad at her. Jaehoon was so expressive with his feelings and cared for Bom despite her complexity. Even with his own issues and eventual growing jealousy, his focus was always on her.

I think this drama would’ve been even better with 14 or 16 episodes instead of 12. I would’ve loved to see more of the relationship between the main leads and less of characters I didn’t care about, like Jo Jiyoung. I would have also liked at least a few scenes from the perspective of Bom’s brother Kim Hanuel (Shin Ki-Joon). Hanuel went through the same family struggles as Bom so I think it would’ve been super interesting to see more of him, but that one might just be me! Also, whatever happened to Yeoreum’s brother? We never heard from him again, which didn’t really matter in regards to the main story, but I thought he would’ve popped up once more.

The found family trope isn’t necessarily a favorite of mine but I grew to love and appreciate it way more because of Summer Strike. It wasn’t perfect but the message it carries leaves a lasting impression, one I won’t forget. The music was pretty, and the actors and actresses did their job wonderfully. I can see myself rewatching again if I ever need comfort. I’ll miss it!

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So Much Potential But No Follow Through

This drama seemed to not know which direction it wanted to go. It set up many different things while never fully expanding on the ideas presented leading to a rather disappointing and underwhelming show.

The first episode had me sobbing and so ready to watch a show about a woman in her 20's dealing with grief and finally finding herself outside of the oppressive society she had been a part of. Then episode 2 happened and all my hopes and dreams for this show were washed away. The grieving and growing process in a small seaside town would be more then enough to fill a show, but this show decided to completely throw away this idea to instead show everyone and their mother being rude to our main character for seemingly no reason, to act like our main characters grief and growing process never existed, and add in an unnecessary murder plot. Sure, there were cute moments, I especially liked the scenes when the four main characters would be hanging out together, like when they went on a trip together or had meals together. I also did like the more "romantic" scenes between the two main couples as well, but these things didn't have much to do with a plot and the plot is what was really lacking in this show.

Overall, this was not the worst thing I have ever watched and despite my low rating I don't fully feel like my time was wasted with this show, but what it's advertising and what it actually is, is two very different things and what it actually is, isn't very good.

I guess if I want to watch a show similar to Hometown Cha-cha-cha I should probably just go and watch Hometown Cha-cha-cha again.

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Loved it, Untill Episode 9

Sometimes I wonder if Kdramas have an allergy to happy endings, the element of loss can be very powerful in a drama, however when overused or implemented in a way that creates unnecessary forceful emotions for the audience --I find it frustrating.

What I enjoyed about the drama, up until episode 9, was the balance they had between loss and self-discovery, how loss can lead you to rethink the trajectory of your life and then also to use grief as a measure of satisfaction or dissatisfaction in one’s life.

For me, the main character Yeo Reum was perfect for this depiction of loss and discovery. The drama begins with a loss of a mother, which starts an emotional, but healing journey, for Yeo Reum. This loss leads Yeo Reum to head to the countryside, where we are introduced to a new set of characters that will later influence each other's lives. The townspeople have also experienced loss and are forced to cope with it differently. We have Dae Bom, Dae Bom, and Jae-Hoon who each have a different form of loss within their lives. It's these well-written characters who, without the need for the audience to know immense details, are able to connect with each other on an emotional level.

To me, the cope with loss, and self-healing, began to pick up and continue to help the characters grow through her new friendships (dae bum, Bom, yeo ream, and Jea Hoo) where they found happiness within each other, with their healing at the climax, and the most fun in the show, the death of Bom’s grandma occurs, which I found unnecessary and a plot element that really didn’t need to be there.

The drama did very well to move away from unnecessary drama, giving a fresh outlook on healing and love. There was never any misunderstanding, like you see in many other dramas, between the main relationships. To me, my love for the show stems from each character’s ability to, not forget about their loss but to, live intentionally in the present moment. I enjoyed that, after a major loss from Yeo Reum, the show took a tonal shift towards happiness, especially through friendship. These friendships are central to the show: Yeo-Reum & Bom’s sisterly bond, Bom’s Grandma & Yeo Reum’s motherly bond, and Dae Boms & Yeo Reum’s romantic bond. It’s these friendships that, throughout each episode, increase in strength. As each character opens up to each other as they all begin to heal. That’s why, the death in episode 10 took me by surprise, in a negative sense; all the healing, through bonds of friendship, backtrack because of another loss, therefore, clouding the well-established theme of moving forward.

The drama itself is built upon growth and open communication between characters and yet these established growth patterns seem to disappear in light of Bom’s Grandma’s death. The characters, instead of coming together to heal, begin to separate and lack the open and caring communication that held them together before.

I felt that the show tried to take on too many subplots and got lost within the subplot of the mystery of the billiard hall. I enjoyed this subplot--only in the beginning, as it was an anchor for Dae Beum’s trauma. Initially, it was well-balanced because it didn’t take over the show and set up a means of understanding Dae-Beum’s past and connection to the town. However, with the death of Bom’s Grandma, the mystery takes the spotlight and put the themes of self-discovery and friendship into the shadows. I personally didn’t like this tonal shift and ideally, I would’ve wanted the drama to continue towards a happy tone, where the grandma doesn’t die and the growth of each friendship is delved into further. I decided to stop watching after this point, even though I’m sure the drama does get back on track, later on, about the friendships, however to me the unnecessary death was a frustrating factor that I couldn’t get past.

Despite my gripe with the death of Bom’s Grandma, I still loved the former episodes and wanted to touch on a few other factors that made this drama stand out. The unspoken dialogue between Yeo Reum and Dae Bom is so well written that their relationship is a perfect example of how to efficiently display chemistry without an excess of physical display. They have an unspoken love, that translates into deliberate actions, such as doing hobbies together, and sharing loving glances and smiles; they both know they love each other, without any drama or unnecessary elements to get in the way of their emotions. They both pursue each other in such cute and subtle ways that make their delicate relationship so fun to watch.

I also loved how the drama took a lens that focused on a woman’s perspective, that of Yeo Reom. She didn’t go to the country to find love, rather she begins her adventure for herself and to better understand her present needs. Yeo Reum doesn’t set any expectations, for her self-discovery, but rather allows herself to indulge in her individual happiness. The Yeo Reum in episode one and the Yeo Reum in episode nine are starkly different. In episode one we see how she doesn’t stand up for herself and clings to an emotionally abusive boyfriend. We see a tragic version of Yeo Reum who has sacrificed her “I” to the point of transparency. She can barely distinguish her wants and needs, from that of those around her. In the beginning, she lives for others, rather than living for herself. Yeo Reum, in episode one, is a burnout woman that is a product of her toxic environment,

A part of self-discovery is when a person begins to understand that they no longer need to live as a ‘we’, such as being in a relationship or appeasing a boss, but rather when one lives to uphold and stay true to their ‘I’ while also making room, when needed, for the ‘we’. In this way Yeo Ream discovers herself first, then after she is adamant on focusing on being herself, she naturally attracts friendships along the way. By staying true to herself she is not selfish, but solidifies that whether, her coming to Angok, she finds connections or not, she won’t sacrifice self-discovery and understanding of her desires.

We see Yeo Reum change from a woman who initially lived on the validation of others to one who is able to validate her own self-worth. When she decided that she no longer needed the acceptance of others, and puts herself first, she then lends herself to different forms of love. The drama represents the common motto: for others to love you, you must love yourself. By the end, Yeo Reum has learned to love and accept herself unconditionally. I truly loved Yeo Reum’s character, because, although she is in a relationship with Dae Bum, she makes it clear through her actions that she does not need a romantic relationship to survive and that she is completely capable on her own. The opportunity for a healthy romantic relationship presented itself after Yeo Reum’s acceptance of her self-worth. The relationship was an added bonus, not a crutch.

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Your classic case of a Romcom turned Murder Mystery

So I’m not even gonna lie, I found out about this drama through tiktok edits titled as the most wholesome drama of the season and saw some scenes that literally blew me away with how cute they were. So naturally I pick up the show and start watching.

The first episode is awesome, it’s amazing, it’s everything I wanted and expected. Our FL, weighed down by the harsh daily life of the city decides to move to the country side. Great! Everything is settled and arrangements are made and there she was at the beach of Angok basking in the sun. Watching that scene was the most liberating thing ever and you could literally feel your stress being washed away as she runs towards the water and dives in.

Episode 2 rolls around. Now we’re being introduced to the town and the dynamics of the people living there adding dimensions and depth to the story. We love to see it.

The FL meets the ML and instantly they are hooked on one another. Their feelings slowly develop and in each and every scene between them I could literally feel the butterflies.

And so I was hooked. It didn’t require much and I didn’t expect more. Things are slowly unfolding as they should.

As the FL is staying there, she decides she’ll starts journaling so we are baited with this plot point of her developing an interest in writing and all things are going as expected in this tranquil country side. You got your usual nosy kids, angry locals and small town secrets but nothing that can’t be conquered by the power of love and friendship.

Only problem is, as the story progresses, they decide that complicating the plot is the way to go. First of, they introduce the ML’s “dark past” which is alright. Nothing out of the ordinary. But only they decide that no, that’s not enough we need a convoluted murder case and an unnecessary plot twist and that’s where the show completely lost me.

Dae Bum, the ML, had enough of a “layered” backstory and a lot on his plate in the right-now to worry about. But they decided to bring up the past in the most ridiculous, unnecessarily complicated manner. There was no need for a second murder to happen for the first one to be “solved”. In fact, the first plot they went with was more than good enough. Why keep on adding on more and more plot points?

Especially when they dismissed and quickly went over his current present problems. Glossing over everything and quickly resolving it.

As for Yeo Reum who ran away from the toxic city life only to be chucked into this mysterious village of horrors. People complained about how much of a doormat she was but I thought to myself nothing wrong with a meek FL. Not everyone in life is a fighter. But nothing developed at all.

Everything they prepared us for regarding her character “arc” never unfolded. She did a magazine interview and that went nowhere I don’t even know why they bothered adding that in. In the end they teased how she’ll start writing a webtoon. Like, why couldn’t this just be the plot? Why did she have to be this detective Conan all of a sudden?

Her morals were questionable at times, and while I tried giving her the benefit of the doubt, her inconsistency at times confused me. E.g. yelling at Kim Bom for not wanting to be associated with her abusive alcoholic father and then getting annoyed at that mom for wanting to protect her DISABLED son who was falsely convicted for murder?! Make it make sense. All whilst completely forgetting about her brother who was unreasonably villainized and then completely erased from existence never to be mentioned again.

I tried to brush some things off as being part of the “culture” and nature of a small town village but I couldn’t at times. Especially when she, as the main lead, was supposed to represent the opposite of those traditional expectations.

Many of the plot points were left undiscovered. Kim Bom’s childhood friend, her father and his alcoholism (and apparently gambling addiction, too now). Speaking of Kim Bom, she had the most tragic and dramatic plot out of everyone in that show which was poorly executed.

Whenever the writer was at loss on how to mobilize the plot, boom! they threw a tragedy at Kim Bom and that’s how it went. And DON’T get me started on how simply Jae Hun just went and came back from The States. Ridiculous!

Sung Min being a single dad. Like, where’s the mom? In this gossipy small town no mention of her at all?
Ji Young absolutely hating the country side only to decide on a whim that, no! She actually doesn’t. Like, what?

The billiards club and how Sung Min’s dad became the owner. Dae Bum’s family position in Angok and just Dae Bum in general. How he grew up without his parents and what actually happened between him and that professor. He remained an enigma to the very last moment.

And the god damn pacing. How much time went by? Between the multiple time leaps and Yeo Reum packing her bags to leave every other day it was impossible to discern. At times it felt like days other times it felt like months.

And the romance! Where did it go? We never went past the awkward infatuation stage which was cute until the show approached its end and I grew frustrated. The most we got was some hand holding UGH! On the other hand, Kim Bom got a dramatic passionate kiss under the rain. Absolute clownery.

And the beach! You’d think now that she lives by it she’ll be there every other day but, no! I mean, I can’t blame her she was too busy solving crimes.

I was never set up for this amount of disappointment in my life. The last thing I expected was for this to turn into a murder mystery show. Other than the cute moments between the two leads, their chemistry and endearing conversations, everything else seemed to go wrong. It was a shame to see this go to waste especially with how exceptional everyone’s performance was.

I’m convinced something went wrong with either the budget, ratings or writers because to have this easy of a plot then f’ it up this bad made zero sense.

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Solid but not without its share of problems

Pros

- overall soothing atmosphere
- focus on self-care and healing
- focus on shy, introverted characters (after Liberation Notes and others this seems a recent trend in K-Dramas, which I love)
- found family theme
- the character of Dae Beom (Im Si Wan has such a knack for creating unique, weird, intriguing characters from scratch who truly come to life)
- many characters I instantly disliked have grown on me, e.g. Ji Young, Sung Min
- chemistry between ML & FL which is great without even so much as a kiss
- acting for the most part (Kim Seol Hyun managed a lengthy drunk scene without ever being over the top, annoying or silly, you can't take your eyes off of her, great physical acting)


Cons

- Yeo Reum falling back into her little-girl-routine gets tedious and feels insincere after some time, it is a way of denying responsibility (which is understandable, she is there to overcome trauma and not find more trauma, but being there and living her life and being part of ongoing issues is still a responsibility she can not possibly escape)
- Yeo Reum being a little self-righteous at times, which would be fine, except I gather we are supposed to root for her
- toxicity here and there (how dare you scream at your family/grandma), a recurring feature of this director, familiar from Coffee Prince and Cheese in the Trap
- cramming a crime plot into the last episodes that is resolved as fast as it pops up, which is laughable

A solid 4/5.

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It's alright, but not a fave

I just finished Summer Strike and I'm not sure how to feel.
I feel like just when I was starting to really like and get to know many characters the series is already over. I'm left wishing I could see more, especially with some of the side characters.


When I first discovered this drama it was via a tik tok video and I was interested after hearing a summary of the first episode.
I found the story engaging and pleasant up until when the grandmother died, that's when it went to a not so peaceful vibe.
I haven't read the webtoon so I didn't have expectations/ an idea that it would turn into a murder and mystery case, but the shift felt sudden. I know there were some hints with the graffiti and such, but I was mainly here for the happy vibes :P

The acting was done great by everyone, I especially liked the male lead, Dae-Beom. He felt very refreshing and it was nice to see a fellow introvert. The female lead, Yeo-Reum was nice too, though she was frustrating during the first few episodes.

It took 3-4 episodes for me to like the other side characters and they really became my faves, Bom's brother especially.


All in all I think it was an okay series, nothing to right home about tbh. I enjoyed it while it was airing, catching episodes every Tuesday, but I wish they didn't end it at 12 episodes. It felt like it needed more time, the little time skip didn't feel as satisfying as it should be.
I don't see myself going in for a rewatch, I think experiencing it this time is good enough ^_^

I wouldn't say it's a waste of time, it's alright, just not a fave.


Bonus points for having a westie lol

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Happy that this drama existed, frustrated with the same plot though

My review has story spoilers so if you are planning to watch this spoiler free then maybe skip my review for now and get back after completing it. It is more of a rant on my end to express how I felt. I would recommend watching it from ep 1-9 only. Rest is just avoidable.

The drama had two segments to it. One segment from Ep 1-9 which was about healing and slice of life elements, then second Ep 10-12 which felt like written by a high school kid. Thankfully its short and manageable.

Imagine a story with all possible k-drama cliches you know and put into one, the result will be summer strike. To quote the cliches:

> A Seoul working class person, tired and bullied by manager. BASICALLY EACH AND EVERY CORPORATE WORKER IN A K-DRAMA
> Let all the parents of the main characters be either irresponsible or dead. HOW WILL THEY ADD TRAUMA TO THE CHARACTERS OTHERWISE RIGHT?
> The dreaded friend of one of the leads who had a gazillion years to confess their feelings yet become bitchy and whiny when main leads fell for each other..... because they expected the lead to magically know their feelings. THIS ONE IS PLAIN LAME.
> Kids bullying each other and the so called good kid gets jailed and cursed. [I am referring to Dae Ho and Bom's scenes of bullying. The teacher/aunt despite of knowing the kids were bullying Bom blamed her for existing. Oh and the aunt's English bf random scene.] DESPERATE MOVE TO CREATE UNFAIR SITUTAION IN A DRAMA 101.
> If there is a kind, amiable and happy halmonie [grandmother] in a show, kill her. Why you may think? Just because an old person dying out of nowhere is sad and tear jerker.
> And here comes the best one- Think about one possible "good" reason for a breakup in k-drama. Answer- Going to US for further studies. Yes millions of people in the continent having breakups and apparently all the Korean production units have mutually decided to use this reason. STOP USING GOING ABROAD AS A BREAKUP PLOT DEVICE...CHEABAL!!! MY SCARS FROM 2521 IS STILL NOT HEALED OKAY.
> With Im Si Wan as the actor, it sometimes became Run On Season 2. I mean most of his scenes in the first half were of running around randomly lol JUST WHY?

Even with its flaws, I enjoyed the scenes in the first segment and never felt bored. Both the actors did a commendable job. ISW was just so good, like there were two scenes when Yeo Reum dressed up and I could literally feel Dae Bom being attracted to her. Such micro expressions from him but so well done. And Kim Seol Hyun , her style was kept plain yet she was sooo beautiful. Even as a woman, I fell for her!

Also, I liked the MC characters. Both YR and DB had this self control to not lash back when people tend to misbehave around them. They had a powerful stance that no matter what happens they will not stoop like others and I actually admire that in them. It may seem they were weak but I think it was just the opposite, Their interactions and chemistry was soothing. I tend to fall for relationships where the two people are comfortable in silence. Too bad there was no romantic moments between them.

One scene from the drama which made home to me was when Jae Hoon was telling YR how him leaving would drift his and Bom's relationship apart and that he is scared. To which YR replies "let those who are drifting apart get drifted, who are hating you hates you. I will remember you as a good person and embrace you with a hug when we meet next" The line was so beautiful. We try so hard to control things which are beyond our control to maintain our "image". But those who are your true friends will wish good things for you and even you meet after them ages, they will happily embrace you with a hug and tell you how much they missed you. This was my fav moment from the drama.

To conclude, the first segment was good yet the last 3 episodes took an absurd turn. The mystery element was lame and was a forced plot device. DB finding out the actual killer only to realize he sent his dad to prison for no reason and losing his mom was totally dark and not addressed properly in the drama. Instead they spent time on one sided crush, breakups, random bullying scenes etc. which was a total waste of time and actors talent.

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Amazing healing small-town romance

This drama is perfect for you if you enjoyed watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha. A story about a girl who, after many misfortunes, decides to leave Seoul and start a new quieter life in a small town by the sea. This drama also features the residents of the small town and shows a bit of their points of view on living there. This is also perfect for the fans of a slow burn romance.

The drama focuses on the friendships the female lead makes on the countryside. The friends she makes come in all different ages and it's wonderful to see that there's no age barrier for friends. I think a lot of dramas have only friendships with characters of same age and that's why this drama is a good change to that. Overall it's one of the best dramas I've ever watched this far.

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Si Wan and Seol Hyun's chemistry make Summer Strike worth watching

Summer Strike is worth watching for Dae Beom and Yeo Reum and their relationship. Yim Si Wan and Seol Hyun have a very sweet and natural chemistry and are a joy to watch. More time should've been spent on their relationship. Their individual performances are excellent too.

The supporting characters and storylines aren’t particularly strong with some that are downright unpleasant to watch. Summer Strike has the obligatory murder plot most kdramas have these days which really drags down the drama. The drama was darker than I expected and I wouldn't call it a healing watch.

Honestly, I would recommend fast-forwarding or skipping scenes without the leads. They aren’t very interesting or likeable.

If you aren’t interested in watching two awkward introverts fall in love, Summer Strike is not for you.


https://dramatoast.com/summer-strike-kdrama/

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Sometimes you have to take a break to move forward...

Series "life lesson" more than romantic, but interpreted by great actors.

A young woman, dumped by her boyfriend, unhappy with her job, dumps everything after her mother's death and goes "on a long vacation" to a village. She will gradually make friends, find a lover (math genius with big trauma), solve a 20-years-old murder, ...

We quickly get attached to the characters, who are well developed, moving, full of humanity. The series deals with the themes of grief, alcoholism, harassment, disabilities, etc.

12 episodes are enough, well paced, with enjoyable OSTs. However, I would have appreciated more romance!!!!

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Série "leçon de vie" plus que romantique, mais interprétée par de super acteurs.

Une jeune femme, larguée par son boyfriend, pas heureuse dans son travail, largue tout après la mort de sa mère et part "en longues vacances" dans un village. Elle va peu à peu se faire des amis, trouver un amoureux (génie des maths avec gros trauma), résoudre un meurtre vieux de 20 ans, ...

On s'attache très vite aux personnages, qui sont bien développés, émouvants, plein d'humanité. La série aborde les thèmes du deuil, de l'alcoolisme, du harcèlement, du handicap, etc.

12 épisodes sont suffisants, bien rythmés, avec des OST agréables. J'aurai cependant apprécié que la romance ne soit pas qu'effleurée !!

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