Fiel ao Amor (2023)

I wished it was better ;)

Epi 1-2.. a little dull as they introduced the characters. Epi3-5- very dramatic and lots of angst as both FL and ML navigate through a tough break up. But they start finding comfort with one another ;) After that the story becomes more interesting and engaging. We get to Epi 11 and it was the best! Very promising with our leads finding love again, romance blooming etc.. then boom! Back to square one? Uncertainty and lack of understanding. Both are pretty matured so there was good communication. Just beating around the bush. Tbh I didn’t really like the so called confession scene by the ML in the final episode. It’s true to his character yes, but come on! We all wanted that big gesture of love and romance!! Was a tad disappointed

Anyhow, some funny funny lol scenes here and there. The married couple were relatable, and the younger couple were a little annoying but still bearable. I wouldn’t say it’s a true blue Rom-Com , but definitely a light hearted nice one to watch. :)

Leia Mais

This drama follows a really bumpy relationship between a dating coach and her editor at a publishing company as she is in the midst of writing another romance / self-help book while dealing with a really harsh breakup. I will say that it did take a two episodes for me to warm up to these characters as they're not initially super likable off the bat. But I get totally got on board with all the characters even the side characters are so fresh, bubbly and funny. Also the fashion is an eye candy and OSTs were sweet.

This series does give you a nostalgic kdrama formula: being a very modern and a breath of fresh air in the way that it depicts a really sad breakup and portrayals of people dealing with heartbreaks in their own ways, One moved on way too quickly, one felt like the world was ending, one didn't even care at all, and one was suffering alone. But the post break up part drags too long. The part when she announced her break up news in public, who viewed her as a dating coach, and made a show was over-the-top. They show so much of her spiralling down and jeopardizing her career and health. Later on, I got so bored and frustrated, when they go back and forth with old relationships. I also wasn't a fan of the second lead romance, they seem to young for this story. I put this drama on hold for months, but after a long pause I finish it to support Yoo In Na. Overall, it has its' flaws but I appreciate them showing that communication and boundaries are important and that though time shall pass.

Leia Mais

Yoo Inna's Acting Elevated a Script Determined to Make You Hate All Female Characters

As a major Yoo Inna fan, I went in ready to love this drama. And the first 3 episodes gave me a lot of hope! Yoo Inna's Bora was a successful radio host and writer who blew up her career after a really bad breakup. The fact that the show spent almost 4 episodes dealing with her devastation and grief without allowing the screenplay to get dull or sad is incredible. I especially loved the final argument between Bora and her ex, because it started out full of pathos and ended with both of them childishly calling each other names and trying to climb into a garbage truck. It was heartbreaking yet hilarious. However that's where all the fun pretty much ended.
After episode 3 the drama decided to put Yoo Inna through every embarrassing situation they could think of, while always having the male lead, Su-hyeok, witness each one of them. It got to a point where I began betting that if Bora is about to do this humiliating thing then Su-hyeok MUST be nearby - and yep, there he was. All great stories show their leads as flawed characters, but by episode 8 Bora! Deborah had proved that the sole focus of the writer and PD was to constantly humiliate the female lead, hurt the male lead, and have both of them make extremely idiotic assumptions about the other.
Even when the show forgets to make the characters cringe-worthy for a second and gives us a romantic kiss, you can be sure that it will be followed by an episode full of such annoying miscommunication that you'll have thrown your shoe at the screen before you know it. And don't even get me started on the portrayal of the other couples on the show, especially Bora's best friend and her husband. I've repeatedly heard this couple's story line described by fans as realistic, but I've yet to see anyone explain what the point of showing this horrible relationship is. There seems to be no arc of introspection or healing happening between the two of them. It's very clear that the show doesn't think the relationship is terrible. After lying and manipulating each other constantly, one fit of jealousy by the husband "affirms the couple's feelings for each other." Those are the show's words not mine. So, they aren't showing a realistic toxic couple, they're showing a married couple the writer seems to think just needs to show more jealousy in their relationship to become more passionate. Like what the-!
*Deep breaths*
Some people don't take issue with kind of storytelling. For those who do, I would suggest maybe watching a different Yoo Inna drama, like Queen In-hyun's Man or the lovely Touch Your Heart!

Leia Mais

The joke wore thin

This started off as bright breezy romocom, but sadly degenerated. In the end, the FL was exactly what she always 'dared' the ML to call her - pathetic. That's a shame, as Yoo In Na was the main reason I started the show.

I also UTTERLY LOATHED Joo Sang Wook's character. He was, I assume, supposed to be amusingly out of touch. Instead he came across as completely self-absorbed, to the point of delusion. The 'office partitions' scene was a great example of his unwillingness to even acknowledge that others were capable of possessing opinions. I ended up FFing through every scene he was in, which was just as well because another major flaw in the Drama was its length. Starting aff at 65 minutes and ending up at 79 was absurd.

The whiny, desperate Deborah, and excessively detached Su Hyeok were of no real interest to me. The reasons I scored this as "high" as 5.5 were the young couple, and the married couple. The 2 young lovebirds were cute, and as someone who feels safe in saying that I've been married for longer than most MDL users have been alive, I found the story of the longtime married couple to be a real strength. Their experiences and their expressions all rang true. Their difficulties, and the resolution, were the high point of the show for me, easing the disappointment and saving it from being dropped.

Leia Mais

This show needs a scripting coach. Not a dating coach

What impressed me about this show is not the plot, which feels tropey and bloated, but the acting of our leads, especially our FL.

Allow me to explain. I knew the FL has great visuals especially her eyes. They are so expressive. She certainly looks glam from her first scenes, but her role soon required her to pull all her carefully curated facade down. We are talking total demolition. So much ugly crying, drunken antics, and serious faux pas. This is not unheard of in k-dramas where excessive drinking seems to be a national sport but most rom-coms would not take things too far and will let the leads down gently before buoying them up with a new lease on life and love. It is rare for a show to drop their FL in a pit of despair like this. So, hats off to Yoo In-na for her dedication to her craft.

Now, the plot was running reasonably well up to the halfway mark and you'd think that we are on course for an easy jog to the finish line. Unfortunately, we are hit by a relationship tsunami;
a) Both leads have had a nasty breakup, and both are hurting. Their growing feelings for each other is helping them to heal but their burgeoning romance begins to founder after their first passionate kiss. Add a couple of clingy ex's and it is a party. Hey, maybe we should start a drinking game. We take a shot after each cliche plot device. (Shot #1/2/3)
b) The marriage of the 2CP (FL's BFF) threatens total meltdown. It is also the usual growing apart/you changed trope (shot #4). I’m not saying that it can’t happen in RL, but it feels scripted and the resolution swings their relationship in the completely opposite direction without much preamble. It does make you wonder if it is sustainable.
c) The 3CP failed to launch when the older boss rejects the young pretty part-timer. It is the classic ahjussi-sonyeo setup (shot #5). The boss was burnt by a messy divorce, so he pushed back hard initially. This is not helped by a lack of chemistry between those two. Does the 3ML loves the 3FL at all or his took the path of least resistance once his male ego was suitably stroked. I see troubles ahead.
d) The 4CP's (FL's sister) romance is a textbook "love at first sight" trope. (shot #6) It is cute and sweet enough but it gets complicated real fast. Which resulted in another tropey situation. (shot #9? I'm too drunk to count)

When you consider there are only 14 eps rather than the usual 16, we have a petri dish of woes. This creates a lot of interference and left little room for our OTP.

This is a serious issue as it is the chemistry and connection of the OTP that captivated us in the first place but then it hits a wall while the ML tries to overcome a speech impediment anytime he needs to confess. All the while, the FL is suffering from terminal frustration. The extra 3 CP's and sundry ex's are fillers and they take the wind out of the OTP’s sails. Who’s show is this anyway?

By now, I'm hanging on with grim determination. There is no reason for the show to go dark on us and commit hara-kiri but there are moments of self-doubt. It is with a collective sigh of relief that the final episode delivered a sugar overdose. It is pretty much pure fan service. Not that I’m complaining but it really highlighted how the show took some serious detours before arriving at the designated spot. Honestly, I can pinpoint scenes where the ML could have said the magic words to the FL and we are home and hosed.

Acting wise, the FL is the star of the show, but the ML is very charismatic. His chemistry with the FL is undeniable. I loved his ability to portrait his inner thoughts, but I hated that aspect as well because his indecision has a major impact on the flow of the plot. However, this is a script problem.

Speaking of acting, the support cast is ok but most of the roles are tropey and one dimensional. For a shortened run, there are too many side plots/characters. It is hard for us to sort the wheat from the chaff. This is where the show lost points with me. Focus! Writer-nim focus!

In hindsight, I can see why the show wants to push the idea of loving someone for their real/imperfect self, rather than someone who is roleplaying the perfect partner. It is particularly true in this age of unrealistic expectations created by overheated social media. However, is that message consistent across all our CP's? I'm not so sure.

The show is entertaining, and I enjoyed watching our leads falling in love and healing each other. There are some skinship and a decent amount of swoon worthy moments. The rest is a bit of a crapshoot, and your mileage will differ. I do think that a better script with more clarity, fewer side plots and a smaller cast can take this show to the next level. Peace out.

Leia Mais

You know what's coming

When you watch this drama you know what comes next. You never say ''Ooo I didn't expect this''. Everything is cliche and basic in the scenario.

I know FL loves her boyfriend, but her action is lame. She tries every problem to act cute. Like women, if act cute they can solve their problems and also they need a man, a new man, or an ex-man to rescue them. Also, they persist that women should beauty. So all doors open for them. Did they finish this kind of drama ten years ago?

Bora's sister and her boyfriend's story also feel like watching something ten years ago. Their happy ending can't suit this era. Irresponsible and childish.


In the end, everyone is married and happy. Yeeah good for you. In the beginning, they show social pressure about marriage on women. She can handle all this pressure, but in the end, they have to show this ring. Because everyone knows happiness just comes a ring. -_- They still can't be happy without a ring.

Acting isn't a problem but I really don't like characters. Also, all of them are my favorite actors, I feel a little bit sad for them.

Leia Mais

Pleasant surprise !!!

Surprisingly i found the annoying Debora adorable and reliable towards the end. At first i hated how she clinged to her ex despite all that he has done to her. She portrayed all the emotions thay anyone would go through after breakup so perfectly that it annoyed me .
Ofcourse world seems to collapse if all that you have dreamt about just flew into thin air without any traces yet i am s proud abput how Debora picked herself up depicting "life must go on no matter what" . She came back, came back with grace.

I would give a 10/10 to how well each character in this drama was designed. Nothing felt like a gap filler and absolutely fascinated by every actors screen presence.
I was not annoyed nor despised any character all of them were lovable

Deborag-soo hyuk :- Taught me that Happiness can be pursuied by killed petty pride
YuJeong - Jinwo :- Made me want to believe in marriage

I just love DeBora does self-talk and yet deliver such beautiful and meaningfull message to every soul who has went through pain. The dialogues were note-worthy. Memorable oen of all - Now that you have fallen to the ground all that you can do from here is RISEUP!! It is a perfect mix of friendship, comedy and romance

NOTE:- Not everyone will find someone like JinHo who takes responsibility . This is drama for a reason . So choose people wisely and HAPPY LIVING!!!

Leia Mais

A Fun Rom-com

This show was such a fun watch! This really played out a classic rom-com trope in 14 episodes. If you take it as it is suppose to be which is silly, but also can get serious at times it is such a fun watch. I thought it was also interesting how relationships were discussed.

Did I think the portrayal of relationships was realistic? No. But personally I find that is what makes this type of show so fun! I would highly recommend for Rom-com lovers.

Also side note the female mc’s acting is just - chefs kiss! She can play a fun character like this but also add micro expressions that portray a further depth into the character

Leia Mais

We wanted more!

I started this drama mainly because Yoo In Na was in it and because the drama's synopsis reminded me of 2010s romcoms. The story was off for a very promising start, but they kept on dragging it. We only got the genuine confession in the final episode, and a short scene of Bora and Suhyeok being lovey-dovey at the very end of the last episode. There should be a special episode dedicated just for them, because I think that the other couples (Bomi/Jinho, Yujeong/Jinwoo, even the divorced couple) had a more interesting story. There was a lot of tension between our main couple, but that was it. If they wanted it to be slowburnish, it should've gone smoothlier, not make them mistakenly kiss at episode 8 and then make them beat around the bush during the following episodes. Still, I'm happy Suhyeok mustered up his courage at the end and said it literally that he loved Bora. This drama was a nice watch, but has a poor rewatch value. I also really enjoyed the comedy and the acting of the cast, I wish them the best for their upcoming projects!

Leia Mais

Peaks. Valleys. More peaks. Lots of valleys.

"Bo Ra! Deborah" has many characteristics of a dyed in the wool, stock set up rom-com. But it's oddly light on the romance between the leads, erratic with the comedy and with a narrative that is stretched extraordinarily thin across its run. Despite it's negatives, Yoo In Na is terrific as the titular lead once she is allowed to play to her strengths. Her presence makes this a show worth investing the time (at least most of it) to watch.

The rest of the cast? Park So Jin is marvelous but is paired with Lee Sang Woon who plays an exceptionally unlikable husband in a particularly dismal manner. June is a refreshing and likable and energetic presence but Kim Ye Ji's character is so inconsistently written that until a late arc adds some heft to their relationship, it's a disappointing subplot. Hwang Chan Sung works as a loathsome ex to Bo Ra, but it's a one-dimensional caricature which naturally raises significant credibility issues about how she ever would have considered him a desirable match in any respect.

Yoon Hyun Min somehow is getting lead roles despite being the epitome of bland. The writing doesn't do him a lot of favors as his character has an arc but he is asked almost universally to not emote in the slightest. Even in the big moments, it's a character that seems to only exercise restraint, caution and detachment.

What would have aided "Bo Ra! Deborah" more than anything else would have been to axe a good chunk of episode 2 and almost the entirety of 3 & 4. What could have been accomplished with a handful of scenes and a brief musical montage is brutally trod through nearly 200 minutes of excruciating run time. It gets better, much better, at the halfway point and continues almost through to the end with some strong episodes.

Memorable? No. Enjoyable? Ok sure.

Leia Mais

True to Uniqueness

Food analogy: A whole plate of tasty dimsums, juicy and spicy with tasty dipping sauce, but you didn't eat the last few pieces with the sauce, so it tasted a little bland.

This series was like playing pieces of puzzles, healing in a few, breaking down in the next, again some heart-warming bits in the others.

Story was nice, not the worst and certainly not the best, it tries to put other side stories in parallel which doesn't pack as much power.
I get the show tried to show different points and perspectives of relationship but it lost focus from the best and the main one, deborah's arc.

But nevertheless, it is filled with many good and unique moments, and has produced some nice laughs. A great show for a one time watch

The cast was amazing. FL has been one of my favs since Goblin and she never fails to be amazing, and it's my first time seeing the ML but i would definitely follow him from now on.

Give it a go. Overall not bad at all.

Also, it is my first time identifying the attachment styles of a character as "oh, he is an avoidant, and is in a relationship with the anxious" haha, growth.

Leia Mais