Come and Hug Me (2018)

The mature kdrama romance-thriller you've been looking for

Let me make it clear that I am NOT your average kdrama viewer for the following reasons:

1. I FAST FORWARD A LOT because I have little patience for scene fillers where 20+ seconds is spent with the actor(s) gazing wistfully at the distance. I need action to happen FAST...
2. I am always looking for MATURE, STRONG LEADS especially where the female leads are concerned... and
3. I do not watch what everyone else is watching simply because I think I'm looking for different stories: MORE SUBSTANCE, LESS CRINGE. (I really disliked Her Private Life, couldn't stand the FL in Something in the Rain, and for that reason, I will never watch CLOY), and lastly,
4. I think that kdramas take too long to begin and then rush to end -- I mean, hello, what the hell kind of ending was that in Cheese in the Trap??!

Having said that, if you are similar to me, and you like watching kdramas with romance AND suspense, then
WATCH THIS DRAMA NOW.
It's a 16-episode NOT 32 episode story that is solidly written and executed. Enough time is given to the flashbacks and present day so I never felt confused. The actors are so well-cast, they transform into the characters , so much so that I found myself getting more and more invested in them as the story went on. Aside from the ML being exceptional, Heo Joon Ho nailed it as the psychopath; every scene he was in crackled with electricity, as did his accomplice, played by Hong Seung Bum. The FL was strong and compassionate, certainly someone I could root for.

The pace of the story is terrific, and the ending is tied up neatly. I am a chronic kdrama-dropper, but not with this story. I hope i could find more stories like this one.

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A third of the way through this show, I don't really want to comment on the plot, but the acting is genuinely astounding.

So far this show has been very slow paced - it feels like the episodes up until episode 8 or 10 were just the set up; but for this same reason the characters are richly developed, and by the time the present day story kicks off we have well and truly fallen for the characters.

At first we see some clips of the present, but is mostly the backstory, in a slight chronological disarray. Aside from understanding the events that shape the characters lives, we get to know the characters well, even before anything has happened, and later on, (thanks the impressive synchrony of the actors, who not only resemble each other to a great degree physically, but in the mannerisms and expressions of their characters, creating the most uncanny portrayal of characters played by multiple actors I have ever seen) we see how they are effected by their lives, and also those parts of them that have stayed the same. Because of the slow pacing the introduction is very immersive, taking the time to explore details in the environment. There is actually quite a dense amount of information in the show, rather than having episodes full of fluff, but the show is quite thorough, and the character building is a major time consuming factor. Character building is important obviously, and is the key point of this drama, but it doesn't advance the plot much, which is why some may find it slow, especially in airing. I imagine in binging this however you wouldn't even notice the time going by, because as I said before, it's incredibly immersive, so you'll probably be completely absorbed in the flow.
Because the characters act so dependably like themselves in any given moment (rather than being directed by the story, and acting around the next plot point) the things we love about them are reinforced over and over again, and it creates a greater sympathy between the characters and the viewers, because, although in some ways some might say as people they are "too good to be true", with his righteousness and her optimism, they feel so much more real than many characters are written to be. As we know the characters so well, any changes or uncharacteristic actions are extremely apparent, and I look forward to any character development in this show.
A great deal of the credit for these incredible characters must go to the writers, who ensured their steady and reliable nature, but equally this result would not be possible without the collaboration of all four lead actors who work so well together (on that note can we give a hand to the casting dept.)

The story (so far) is relatively simple, unfortunate, and uncommon but believable. It's not revolutionary (boy meets girl, tragedy strikes, a decade later how are they dealing with the consequences when they meet again?), but it's not worn out either (I'm sorry for liking you back, the old man's a _psychopath_, and he might kill you / that's okay, I'll make it big on tv so call me / living life as a badass detective / famous now, but I'm traumatized, also you never called) - but even if it were, the important part is that it's well written enough to be irrelevant. We have the cliche of boy meets girl, but it's a romance, so I'm going to discount that one, as it's kind of like bolognese without tomatoes otherwise; aside from that, the characters are genuinely interesting and likable people from unique families leading everyday lives, and events are largely, if not entirely caused by other people in those lives - there is nothing cliche enough in this to make it predictable, honestly, it's hard to even say how the romance will work out, or if this is destined to end like some kind of greek tragedy. I think more than anything, so far this drama has been about two people living their very hardest, in spite of anything and everything that happens to and around them, and from here will be about how they will struggle to overcome the conflict of their unforgettable past and their unending feelings. There is a crime, and a degree of mystery and suspense, but while people get injured (as of yet) there's nothing particularly graphic.

The soundtrack is good, although the tracks are already recognisable; it reminds me of films like Black Beauty, A Place Among the Pines or A Series of Unfortunate Events. As for the rewatch value, I can't wait until next week to see our beloved Na Moo and Nak Won again, so I'm about to rewatch what's presently released again right now! (Look, just watch it already, 10/10 you won't regret it, and there's nothing else quite like it.)

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I don't normally write a review (especially this early in the series - with only 8 episodes out so far...) however they really got me hooked, I just wanna scream every time the episode is about to end!

Some may hate this type of story but I totally love this, probably because of how they have executed it and the great acting by the young protagonists then the adult protagonists. I also like the pace of the story and how it emotionally squeezes my heart during every episodes.

At first I opted to watch this because the premise kind'a sounds like Just Between Lovers - and I super love JBL!!! But after watching the first few episodes I know that they are different but also kind'a the same (especially the young male protagonist as it was both played by Nam Da-Reum who also played the young Lee Jung Suk in While Your Were Sleeping).

I like how the character develops and how the friendship blossoms between the 2 young actors. The chemistry is quite unexplainable - I can't put into words the feeling this series brought me. It makes me wanna cry, wanna love, wanna sad and wanna smile.

I hope everyone gives this series an opportunity...

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Strong start but falls flat

I expected the drama to be a story of overcoming past trauma and finding forgiveness. Instead, I got an angsty melodrama with repetitive plotlines and bland characters. The first 12 episodes are engaging with a solid plot and story telling. The flashbacks are on point giving a background of Namu and Nakwon's unusual love story and their inability to forget each other. It is touching, compelling, and heartbreaking. The childhood actors give dynamic performances and show fundamental differences between happy and care-free Nakwon and disturbed and introverted Namu. I also liked how the flashbacks did not give a play-by-play of every childhood interaction and only showed relevant moments leading up to the murder.

Adult Namu and Nakwon are entirely different from their childhood selves. Neither of them have any spark, personality, or agency. Nakwon is a made up doll living a life guided by anyone other than herself, including her agent and brother. Namu's entire existence is reduced to pining after Nakwon and staring at her pictures. They simply exist to run circles around each other and create angst. When they do meet, their scenes are repetitive with the same prolonged staring and recycled lines. It's completely frustrating to watch two people who still have lingering feelings for each other unable to sit down and have an adult conversation about where they are in life and how they feel. Jang Ki Yong has one facial expression in every scene devoid of any emotion. Jin Ki Joo is a little bit more versatile but her performance is nothing special either.

At the beginning, the plot is interesting and runs at a comfortable pace, but it falls completely flat later on with repetitive scenes, conversations, and the recycled serial killer/stalker trope. The acting is subpar, the pacing is draggy, and the plot development is as exciting as watching the paint dry.

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è una storia molto potente, lo scontro tra l'inferno, rappresentata da un padre satanico che, come il diavolo, è «scimmia di Dio», mentitore e omicida fin dal principio, e i due figli che vuole plasmare a sua immagine e somiglianza.
I figli carnali dovranno lottare per difendere la loro libertà e la loro scelta di diventare altro da lui.
Mentre lui trascinerà con sé persone fragili, il cui punto di accesso al male è rappresentato dalla brama di essere in qualche modo al centro del mondo, dei media, avere un ruolo - potere - denaro (giornalisti, pubblica opinione, persone psichicamente inconsistenti o malate).
Si contrappone a questo tentativo di distruzione dell'umano, una ragazza, che similmente alla Beatrice Dantesca, è il punto di visione del Paradiso e della quale si innamora il figlio minore (che pur essendo in potenza simile al padre) desidera con tutta la sua libertà di aderire al bene.
Bellissima la figura della matrigna di questi sfortunati ragazzi e del poliziotto senior, che prendono sulle loro spalle il dolore e il disorientamento di questi due figli e li sostengono fino alla loro completa riuscita o catarsi.
La frase chiave della matrigna al figlio non biologico è che lo ha considerato un DONO INESTIMABILE, mai un fardello, e lo vuole difendere anche da sé stesso.
Tolgo una stella perché mi ha molto infastidito/annoiato la continua riproposizione tramite flash-back di scene viste e riviste almeno 10/15 volte nell'arco delle 32 puntate, alla fine meglio chiudere con 2 o 3 episodi di meno che annoiare con continue rivisitazioni di cose già viste e capite .... cmq notevole, lo consiglio.

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This drama was a bit of a disappointment with, at first, the promising story and then it turning into a big letdown. Crime and thriller dramas are not my cup of tea, but I chose to continue watching this because of the first couple of episodes. The cruel but cute love story of the main characters reminded me of a drama that I adore. Mainly, this series focuses on a serial killer and his psychopathic ways, the people who were disturbed and touched by his violent crimes. I do think that this drama would've been more amazing if there was more brutality (after all, it's a major killer we're talking about) and more romantic scenes incorporated. However, as a fan of romance shows, I did focus on the love story most of the time. It seemed to draggy for me: their reunion after 12 years, their "weird" relationship, the first kiss and so on. Nevertheless, it is a crime drama so I can't complain too much, it's my fault for hoping to see more cutesy scenes. On a more positive note, I really adored the side characters, both good and the evil, their development. It just goes to show how one cruel person and his deeds could influence this vast majority of people around him. So if you're looking for something dark and intriguing to watch, this might be it.

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What's there to not like?

I feel so great when I am introduced to the MLs like Yoo Na Moo. He made the entire drama worth the watch. Once before, I wasn't interested in watching this because I read someone's comment that the actor who portrayed the ML wasn't expressive. And having seen him in "Now, We Are Breaking Up" I kinda agreed so I thought I wouldn't miss anything if I skipped this one. Was it wrong!

When you go into a drama with that kinda of negative opinion about the actor, you can't help but nitpick everything they do. But I couldn't find fault with his acting in here. He was the perfectly cast for the role and now it makes me want to see more of his dramas. (I dropped both "Now, We Are Breakign Up" & "My Roomate is a Gumiho" halfwa, so I'm gonna go watch them now) The young actor portraying the ML (Nam Da Reum) was another perfect cast.

The whole cast was just amazing to be honest, including the reporter who got on our nerves and her death seemed justified. The serial killer father, the victim parents, the brother, all of them were just too good.

While both the actress playing the FL did a good job, I'm more impressed with the younger actress (Ryu Han Bi).

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What a journey! The plot captivated me since the first episode,i really didn't know i liked thrillers so much. But i do!
And kudos to the cast,i was amazed by their acting. The main leads weren't actually my fav but the rest of the cast,oh my god! The kids were absolutely flawless,i was impressed by the fact that they were almost identical to the adults. And i can't wait to see them in further dramas.

My only complain about this is that the main leads had some pretty cringy moments. And some scenes were dragged too much. The pacing is important to keep the audience's attention and halfway through the drama,i felt a little bit bored. BUT that phase only lasted a couple of episodes and i managed to finish it with a high rating. I know many people complained about the "brutality" but i honestly loved it. It's what made this drama interesting and intense till the end.

Overall,it was a beautiful and poignant drama,and i would definitely recommend it even if thrillers aren't your thing.

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Just A Gem

When i was watching this i wish i had an account but to cut it short this is just one of a kind i wished i could watch it back for the first time Hall Of Fame List

when i was watching this drama i didn't expect anything but after the story started to pick after realizing what generally love someone looks like this drama just started to hit different there is no their is no savior complex or syndrome is basically am not gonna be like my father and am not gonna judge him base on what his father did even the family on both ends was so understanding and it was like damn who wrote this script the love story to me was well balanced the story never got boring to be honest i just wanted these two to be together at the end no other couple in any drama i had watched so far i wanted to be together but am happy i watched it

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This is my first time writing a review. This story actually got me shooked! When I first watched this I kinda thought at first "Ooh it kinda gives that 'Missing You' vibes" but I was wrong. Seriously after I watched those 2 first episodes. It gives me chills every night and I even got nightmares about that. The acting was really accurate. The expressions and all, they give you the vibe that you're actually there. Experiencing what they're experiencing even though you're just watching it. Nam Da Reum and Ryu Han Bi did a good job on acting! I would love them to see together on another project as the Main Leads, they make a perfect match. Also, I seriously would recommend this drama.

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