Intensivão de Amor (2023)

The union of my expectation and reality

This review is going to be different from my usual style. I don’t want to go through and dissect the show point by point because it would be nitpicking. I want a broader approach because the show affects me at a more visceral level.

Fundamentally, my overall emotion after completed this show is disappointment. On paper, this show should be one of the biggest hit of 2023. Indeed, the ratings and the online chatters all points to a buzzworthy show. That is to be expected when you start with an award winning script writer who has penned hits like Once Again, Oh My Ghost and Weightlifting Fairy, then add the power coupling of Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Kyung-ho. Throw in a laundry list of veteran support actors and you have one heady mix. This should yield nothing short of perfection. I should be able to just write QED and adjourn to the Union Bar for some (cough) intellectual discords.

However, by the half way mark, I can’t ignore a growing sense of unease and it only intensified as the story unfolds further. What bothers and concerns me is not the acting, which is solid, nor a bad script but it is just so . . . . underwhelming. It lacks that magical quality I'd expect from our writer-nim. To be brutally honest, this is not her best work. Most plots are tropey, the majority of support roles are one dimensional, the murder mystery is hardly suspenseful and why do we even need one? She pushes the button hard on the exam hell suffered by many senior students but she offered little redress. If anything, the ML is a hypocrite because while fully acknowledging how unfair and stressful the CSAT system is, he also makes an obscene amount of money tutoring and basks in his status as a top star teacher.

Similarly, after all the trials and tribulations relating to the exam system, everyone comes up roses. All the young protagonists gets into college courses of their choice. Even the sport jock who failed the exam is now a hardworking lad who won't give up. Hwaiting! It is not exactly a warts and all exposé, is it?

This spills over into the murder mystery. I was really expecting a tight and suspenseful whodunit but it soon becomes clear that the murderer’s identity and even his raison d’etre are fairly obvious. The only people who are fooled by the numerous red herrings are the local police. Of course this leads to some soul searching by the leads but in the end, the punishment fits the crime and we collectively moved on without a backward glance.

This is a recurring issue. While the show decries certain issues, the message is conflicting and diluted. The murderer was tormented and abused but because he committed heinous crimes, he is the one to blame. Everyone else is a victim. Ditto, the helicopter parents who drove their kids to distraction or worse are mostly given hall passes. The Show concludes with scenes of our long-suffering young cohorts being happy, well-adjusted college students enjoying themselves. Is the Show condemning the system or supporting it?

As a piece of entertainment, it is buzz worthy and very watchable and ticked all the boxes. It gets the Monday morning water cooler seal of approval, but I find it wanting. It pains me to have to write this review. It should have been a celebration of a great script and wonderful acting. To be fair, there is an lovely autumn romance with its fair share of swoon worthy moments. The amount of chemistry is up for debate but I digress. There are tensions and high dramas but they are also weakened by some inelegant story telling.

If I had known nothing about the writer and the ensemble actors then I'd be happy to watch it as a decent k-drama with its fair share of foibles but, alas, I do know better. This makes it all the harder to be placated by the last episode which I can only describe as sugar overload. Everyone is gifted with a HEA ending whether they deserved it or not. I, for one, cannot unsee the scene of the pregnant FL's BFF chatting with one of the gang-of-mums about her marriage. I literally groaned out loud.

One final thought. Whomever is the FL’s stylist needs to be locked away in a dank dark dungeon. It takes a herculean effort to dress the FL in the most frumpy anti-fashion way. That, my friend, is THE true crime.

Peace out.

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A crash plot but directed it well enough to watch

The show is a one time watch at the most. If I am going to talk about the story it is a not an intriguing plot nor has any exciting element. Just a basic plot to watch when you don't have many exciting series going on. But one thing they did well is execution and pace. The director should be credited for this.

The story is highly predictable after first four episodes including who is the serial killer.

I have two biggest complaints, first the final episodes were a wrap fest. So many subplots ending are rushed to wrap too quickly and abusive parents are forgiven just like that and turned into good people at the end. But we all know a parent who is been abusive for many years will never change. And it's not just one parent, almost all of the over bearing parents turned into caring parents in the end.

My other complaint would be although it seemed a romantic series with title and description, most of the time frame education pressure has been a concerned topic in this drama, they showed different sufferings students had to endure yet nonetheless the show never truly focused on the education system of Korea nor it focused properly on the romance development. I mean if they showed that much suffering of students at least education system should be made as focus but the show never went deep.

The drama doesn't have strong subjective frame of what the storyline it is going to narrate or it's purpose. The only sentence that will describe this drama is "let's make a drama that has thriller, romance, soap, a mix of basic plot that is just enough for people to not dismiss it quickly and direct it well enough so it won't bore them."

the higher ratings would be probably due to fact that both actors are quite famous in Korea and second would be there aren't many light hearted romance kdramas with neat pace like this one these days and lastly student education pressure is always been an accepting drama is korea.

my overall review is if you are okay with ight hearted drama that as quite alright pace, this is good drama to watch. Don't expect a strong plot and great narrative.

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Crash Course is a drama that has everything that you can think of packed into one show. Scandals, crazy moms, romance, school drama, murder mystery... It can seem like a lot, but it is honestly quite an enjoyable watch. I only found myself being really bothered by 3 plot points overall.

Why bring in other plots right at the last 2 episodes? I've always hated this in other dramas as I feel it takes away from the main story you're wanting to see. Especially towards the end of the show. While time could've been spent towards more interesting storylines such as Soo-Ah's illness-stress-thing going on. Even more scenes of Haeng-Seon and Chi-Yeol would've been better than the random plot they threw in for seemingly no reason. Also, one of the main plot points in this drama is that he cannot eat any food without getting sick besides Haeng-Seon's and her mom's, but that's never really explained or given a good explanation entirely other than it's just used as a purpose of him being in the shop all the time + lovers fate trope..

The acting in this show is amazing especially the Male lead, Jung Kyung Ho. I loved watching him and his character in Hospital Playlist and it was nice seeing him play a character that's quite the opposite from that one. He portrays the snobby yet only cute and sweet towards you character really well. The side characters honestly shined the most though, which I always tend to favor them in dramas more anyways. Roh Yoon Seo as Hae-Yi did an incredible job and I was hooked on seeing who she would choose in the end. Lee Bong Ryun always steals the show in any drama that she's in and I loved watching Kim Young-Joo find love. Especially not with someone I was expecting. It was an exciting surprise in the story for me. Oh Eui Shik also did a great job playing Haeng-Seon's younger brother.

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Tough one. Stuck with it - Kinda...

This one was a tough one to watch. In the beginning, some of the characters are so irritating that I was disappointed to find that they would be a love interest or, still in the story 4 episodes later. I thought, casting wise, this group was a bit of a mess. Maybe, closer to reality? But, I just couldn't see the two leads together - at all. She was so mean and so unforgiving. He went out of his way to continue to patronize her business, replace the phone, etc. and she still couldn't let anything go. Who cares if we see a character show regret if they don't follow through? A character should not be rewarded for being a thorn in someone's side.

As usual - some stellar performances - the only reason I watched a portion of every episode. , Ji Dong-hee (Shin Jae-ha) was brilliant. To change his personality on a dime like that - perfect. I could understand why he chose to die in the end. All the actors/actresses for the high school characters were perfect. Lee Chae-Min's breakdown while taking the exam was perfection - you really felt what he was going through.

Jeon Do-yeon's Nam Haeng-soon and Jung Kyung-ho's Choi Chi-yeol - did not work for me. I could not get to the point of accepting that they were suitable for each other as a couple. I could see them helping each other out in their own ways but, it would have been nicer to see them end up with other people. The late addition of the true mother was a waste of time on everyone's part. It wasn't even needed - especially, since she had zero redeeming qualities. Jae-Woo(Oh Eui-Sik) - eh - did not like that his issues all pertained to what the story needed to keep moving. Writer's convenience = lazy.

Also, regardless if it is life-like or, what - just because characters are together in a scene - you don't have to fill every waking moment with their nonstop conversation. I got to the point every time certain characters showed up - I knew I could fast forward through their whole time and not miss a single thing.

Really hated how hard the writers worked at making the whole cast have a happy, fairytale existence in the end. Villain? Takes his own life. Leads? Happy successful life. Teens? Exciting happy college life - not a speck or, mention of therapy or, how they healed anywhere. Parent's - awful to the core - ruined people's lives? All forgiven. Ruined and nearly put your own children in the hospital or, the morgue? All forgiven. Ruined marriages because you focused on all the wrong things? No worries.

Thank goodness for the fast forward button.

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A drama with romance, murder and mayhem.

What's not to like here? This K-drama is amazing the acting is good.

The story follows a popular middle-aged male teacher and a woman with a restaurant as their romance develops. A town full of kids being pressured to get the highest grade by their parents and if you want to be successful then he is the teacher you need in private school.

While the romance is slowly percolating between adults and of course students. Can't have a school setting without a little romance drama and my favorite unrequited love.

There is some mayhem and murder and other sad events. This drama is full of the crazy pressure these kids face from their parents and peers and some of its effects.

Differently a good watch.

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Started Out Better Than It Ended

I was loving this show up until about ep 10 or 11. It reversed some expectations. It was funny, it was light, it was heartfelt. The cast is brilliant. Jung Kyung Ho knocked it out of the park from start to finish. That being said, I didn't really feel much chemistry between him and Jeon Do Yeon... She's a good actress, but their relationship had "mommy issues" vibes. Anyway, the whole cast was great. The guy who played Jang Hui Jae, for someone who barely had any lines, was stellar.

I was really enjoying the humour, the plot, everything. I was invested in the stupid scandal being solved. I was invested in the education system plot. I LOVED that the "villains" (the mom group) had a strong motive and were believable.

So, what went wrong? Three things. It kind of went off the rails in 3 different directions in the last quarter of the show.

1. I felt the murder plot was unnecessary. That time would have been better spent fleshing out characters like Su-ah. They had so much material that they could have worked with in an engaging way... but they went the murder plot route, which cheapened the storyline.

2. Why bring back the mom for a brief moment? And why did Hae-e need to end up in a coma? This all felt so unnecessary. I would have really enjoyed if they used that time to better flesh out the dynamics of the teen group. That felt hurriedly wrapped up, which brings me to my last point...

3. Not everyone needed to be paired up in the last 10 minutes... that was awkward and unnecessary. Also, Nam Hae-e and Geon-hu had good chemistry, and it would have been sweet to see his hard work in school pay off with a kiss from Hae-e. Conversely, Sun-jae and her never had anything other than friendship vibes. Having Yeon-ju hook up with Jae-woo was just unrealistic. That whole last episode was bizarre and unnatural.

Actually, 4 things.

4. Not everyone needed a redemption arc and a happy ending! I was looking forward to seeing Su-a's mom unmasked for the jerk she was by her friend group. Yes, she had a messy scene and was shamed, but it's not the same. Instead, everyone ends up with their happy little ending, everything neatly packaged and wrapped up and tied in a bow. Su-a's mental/stress issues magically vanish and school is fine. Hui-jae goes into the army, etc. you get it. It just felt very hallmarky and kind of undersold how nuanced the story could have been.

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Well I loved it

I'm in the UK and initially I was put off by the eccentric characters and weird storyline but in 2 or 3 episodes I was finding this series funny and well worth watching. It was a touching romance and a brutal picture of how parents can behave in South Korea. Certainly an eye opener. I appreciated the fact that suicide wasn't shied away from and that sometimes the youngsters were the best people to help. The damage done by teasing, gossiping, and plotting was chilling to watch.
I warmed to all the main characters and thought they were acted with thoughtful evolution through the series. You can still fall in love if you're a bit weird. All the masses of students who did not have speaking parts did seem to represent a real institution. So well done everybody.

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I liked this one.

Crash Course in Romance had K-drama from the 2012-2016 vibes, including all the annoying tropes that I’m not sure work as well in 2023, but it made me happy and nostalgic watching this show so I’m definitely tossing it into the recommendation pile. I’m not sure I will ever understand the competitive nature of college entry in South Korea, and I will certainly never be able to wrap my head around math… but it was cool to learn about these study schools and watch this struggling lady strive to ensure the best possible future for her teenager. The romance between the celebrity math tutor (I know, right? what a weird world) and this hardworking middle aged lady made me kick my feet in the air it was so cute and stupidly adorable. What can I say… late to love stories work for me.

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Math + Food = Love

Crash Course in Romance (2023)

Likes
1. Choi Chi Yeol as best math teacher and boyfriend of 2023! Love Jung Kyung Ho's comedic timing too.
2. I havent really watched a lot of Jeon Do Yeon's works but i hope she stars in more romantic and lighter dramas and movies because i love her smile!! Although her character has many problems she was wonderful as Haeng Seon.
3. I also love Haeyi and her friends. I was rooting for Geonho but Sunjae is not bad too.
4. Best character growth is Sunjae's mom. I was crying when she went on a trip with Hui jae.
5. Chiyeol having his own bestie in Jong Ryeol!
6. The final episode was so warm and happy i really hope everyone will live brighter and less stressed.

Dislikes
1. This drama could have been even better if there were no serial killer storylines. And even how they resolved it was bad and felt rushed.
2. Didnt like the pairing of Jae Woo and Yeong Joo, or even Su A and Geun Ho. Almost everyone had to pair off with one another for a "happy ending".
3. I'm so done with Kdrama mommies being too toxic to fellow mommies and their kids.
4. Haeyi's mom didnt need to come back and create unnecessary drama in the last eps.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Fun, heart-flattering and unique

I really loved it. The first time i liked a kdrama i watched as it aired till the end.

I wanted more romantic scenes between the leads and sunjae and haeso i think they should have shortened the storyline of the murder and the aunt( the birth mom storyline shouldn't have been there) .

Also i am confused how fast some characters changed ( sua and sunjae's mom mainly) and what the hell was up with sua storyline ( where she freaked out implying she had something to do with missing hae) they just left it.
Other than that, i really enjoyed my Saturdays and sundays.

Editing me( mar 21 2023)
I think i enjoyed the first have way more than the second coz of that, i am reducing the rating to 8.5 or 8.75 instead of 9).

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A slice of life romcom laced with the harsh reality of the korean academic rat race..

I hadn't heard of this drama before it first started airing if I'm being entirely honest. I had one of my close friends watch the first ep and tell me that it was nothing like they've ever seen before, and I was thoroughly intrigued. Now that it has ended.. It doesn't feel real.. Waiting every weekend for a double episode only to have to wait another week to see what happens next, and having continued that until today has been a very memorable experience. This drama did that for me.

The title "Crash Course in Romance" obviously suggests a very kdrama-esque romcom but I was very pleasantly surprised to see the evident elements of the academic competition in Korea and how serious it can get, including our group of helicopter mothers and very stressed and emotionally unstable students driven to the edge because of this life of grades and success. Nam Haengseon, our lovely FL is presented as someone who would never enforce decisions on anyone, not even her niece Hae-yi. We can see how Hae-yi has organically become better at studying based on her own motivations and receiving almost no pressure from her family; and that starks in comparison to some of the other kids we see in the show (*cough* SUA *cough*)

The whole history with Chiyeol's former student and her brother was very striking personally. Like I'm not an emotional person, but knowing how Suhyeon said that he was one of the only adults she trusted made me feel so bad for them, especially because of their mother (her daughter fell to her death but she wants her son to study harder because he's "now her only hope"????? That's messed up.) I felt so bad for Sua until the very end and I knew that the shit she was going through isn't entirely her fault but the show made me hate her so much and I hated that so much - speaking of which, the geonhuXsua pairing is lowkey SO underrated I really really really wanted to see more of them they're SO CUTE

Ji Donghui (or rather, Jeong Seonghyeon) really scared me since the BEGINNING yeah at the start the pairing was lowkey cute and I had NO clue it was going to be him but I had a HUNCH... I'm also confused about how everything just died out at the end when he died? like okay yeah it was sad for a bit but I love how everyone forgot about it soon after?

The whole plot was played out very well, in fact. Recently I've been having quite the blackout with kdramas and I seem to get bored REALLY easily. The spacing of this one was incredibly even and I think that's a major factor is the longevity of a drama for me! Portraying every single aspect of the plot from almost every single character's perspective is an important feature of a good drama and this one definitely did it for me!

The ending was incredibly satisfactory thankfully! - I was so afraid we were going to get a Hae-yi and Haengseon separation moment BUT HER MOTHER DID SOMETHING RIGHT FOR ONCE! - I loved Sunjae's mother's redemption arc! The picture she sent Sunjae of her and Huijae made me tear up:"( and when huijae came back on leave from the military:"((((( I really love happy endings! - The Sunjae and Hae-yi moment:"( It was too late for me like I would have appreciated a whole episode with them together - and the same for Geonhu and Sua!! When he went to pick her up saying that he was going to enrol in her university:"( Underrated AND unexpected pairing but I loved it! - and lastly, our main couple!! As if them proposing together wasn't cute enough, him rooting for her throughout her examination preparation process was the most wholesome thing ever :"(

As if I haven't spoiled the entirety of this show in my review already, If you still made it to the end and you HAVEN'T watched it, I suggest you do!!! I know I will definitely be rewatching this in a few months!!! <33

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