Dylan Wang's 'Guardians of the Dafeng' premieres amidst high buzz and mixed reviews
Reasons why the latest tvN release should be on your watch list.
Crash Course In Romance has been getting a lot of eyeballs. Fans are drooling over the latest tvN release because it's just 'that' rom-com we all need.
Here are the reasons why this K-drama should be on your must-watch list.
1. Charming characters
Choi Chi Yeol (Jung Kyung Ho)
Despite being a narcissist, our Trillion Won Man (a nickname given to him because he generates revenue of 1 trillion won a year) has his own charms. He is a celebrity in the private education field and parents line up to enroll their children in his courses.
But Chi Yeol isn't one of those boring and strict instructors who go around with a stick thrashing his students to study; or a result-obsessive maniac, like Kim Joo Young (Kim Seo Hyung) from SKY Castle, who will leak exam questions to wealthy students.
He is a cool Math teacher whose dazzling charisma, contagious positive energy, and fun way of teaching turn students into his raving fans. But all that success and his scintillating public image make him a self-conceited man. He has an annoying way of putting people off, has no regard for his subordinates or even superiors at times, and has a nasty temper when he gets stressed.
And behind all the spotlight, he leads a pitiful life. His taxing profession is costing his health and peace. Moreover, in between the scenes, the show also throws in flashes of scenes that shed light on the context of Chi Yeol's traumatic past. All that stress is giving him sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and an eating disorder that makes him throw up whatever he eats. Until one day, he tastes Haeng Seon's banchan (side dishes) which addicts him to their heavenly taste. He finally finds the food that he can stomach.
Nam Haeng Seon (Jeon Do Yeon)
Nam Haeng Seon is a former national athlete and a banchan shop owner. She shares a tangled relationship with her daughter (Nam Hae Yi) - or to be more accurate - her niece, who she adopted after her sister left the little girl on her doorstep. She may not have given birth to her, but she always tries her best to shower Hae Yi (Roh Yoon Seo) with an equal amount of love and care as she would have given to her biological daughter. Haeng Seon is also a guardian to her mentally-disabled little brother. The circumstances and her family condition make her the breadwinner of her family.
But despite leading a tough life, Nam Haeng Seon is no damsel in distress. Her training from her athlete days not only made her physically strong and gave her high stamina, but also instilled in her an iron will that never allows her to give up when she sets her mind on something.
Supporting Characters
It's not only the main leads who shine in this show but also the supporting characters who add a lot of fun to the mix.
Oh Eui Shik plays a cute disabled brother of Haeng Seon, Lee Bong Ryun is the bubbly Kim Young Joo who has a crush on Chi Yeol's secretary Ji Dong Hee (Shin Jae Ha), Jang Young Nam plays the obsessive Jang Seo Jin who is a working mother of two, and Kim Sun Young is the ambitious but condescending Cho Soo Hee who is willing to pull others down for her daughter's good. The high-school students in the drama also have their own story that contributes to the extensive plot.
Every cast member does a splendid job playing their respective roles. What really makes it an entertaining watch is the actors' sublime performances and nuanced acting that accentuates the dynamic personality of the characters.
2. Amusing Chaotic Dynamics
Apart from the likeable characters, the chaotic dynamics will hook you to this rom-com. Choi Chi Yeol and Nam Haeng Seon get off on the wrong foot and eventually get tangled in unexpected circumstances. This gives a bitter start to their relationship and what follows is hilarious bickering that will have you laughing non-stop.
From bittersweet relationships to the 'sistaffection' between Nam Haeng Seon (Jeon Do Yeon) and Kim Young Joo (Lee Bong Ryun) to love triangles between high-school students in the drama, this show has plenty more elements to keep you entertained throughout the series.
3. Insight Into South Korea's Education System
Though Crash Course in Romance is not primarily an intense satirical drama like Beholder; the show touches on the hyper-competitive South Korean schooling system. It portrays the grinding mental labour high-school kids go through every day to crack tough exams, and how fierce competition - not only among the students but also among their mothers - can lead to scheming and plotting to secure success even if it comes at the cost of others' loss.
4. A Multi-Genre Drama
Despite romance and comedy being the main genres, Crash Course in Romance is more than just a straightforward light-hearted love story. The drama also incorporates mystery and even melodrama to a certain extent. Parents' sky-high expectations from their children, the mystery of the disappearing students, Chi Yeol's traumatic past that involves one of his student's death, etc., occasionally give a serious mood to the light-hearted rom-com.
5. Stress Buster
One of the many reasons why K-dramas are so addictive is because they are magic stress busters. A spin of the Hallyu wand and you will be unable to resist taking your eyes off the screen. And a dynamic K-drama like Crash Course in Romance does a great job of hooking you to it, so much so that you wouldn't want to miss a single scene. Though the drama incorporates mystery and suspense, it's not the cliffhangers that increase our anticipation but the ever-changing and refreshing plot that surprises us at the most unexpected times. The unique storyline, the blend of numerous genres, the likeable characters, etc., make the drama compelling and leave us craving for more.
