A Fost Odată Într-un Orășel (2022)

A simple, wholesome tale beautifully told

This Show is tropey. There! I said it so let’s move on. :)

There is not a great deal of innovation regarding the setting or the narrative but there is an undeniable charm to this tale. The ensemble cast is well populated by the standard clichés. Hard working farmers, nosy neighbours, cute kids roaming free around the village. Of course, there are dramas within the village and without, but they are mostly storm in a teacup just to add a bit of spice to the proceeding and give us a bit of the backstory.

The main focus of the show is the love line between the city vet who was tricked by his grandfather to take over the rural animal hospital for a few weeks and the young policewoman who is super helpful and the focal point of village life. Needless to say, their interactions and chemistry drives the show.

As I mentioned before, the story is quite simple and tropey, so it was fortuitous that show was only 12x30 mins episodes long. With such a short runtime, it motors along and doesn't drag. Nothing is left to fester for long and resolution is always around the corner. All the swoony moments are turbo charged.

Acting wise, it is more than acceptable. The ML is a bit stiff and reserved, it could be due to his storyline and a lack of acting experience. He does warm up a great deal later on. The FL was just so sweet and wholesome. You really want to give her a hug and make sure she has a happy ending because she deserves it. She also have an infectious smile.

All in all, a lovely watch and perfect for binging. It is very sweet and romantic without being overly artificial. It is swoon worthy and uplifting if you are feeling down. This show is not about manufactured angst, high dramas or convoluted plots so don't expect any. It will bring you moments of simple joy and contentment. That is good enough for me. :)
Highly recommended.

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Short and Sweet Cliché

Honestly Once Upon A Small Town is like a breath of fresh breeze. The last couple of weeks, the dramas that I have been watched/watching are quite heavy and dark and this is the perfect drama to take a moment from those dramas and relax.

It's not a long story which is one of the main reasons I started the drama (Only 12 episodes and each episode is around 35 mins). The story is quite simple with the typical Seoul person trying to adapt to the countryside. (Reminds you of Hometown Cha Cha Cha)

Although I found the SML to be bit too passive aggressive. And at the very beginning I was a bit taken back by the FL as she didn't really seem to do her job as a police officer. In the end I just put aside all logic and just relaxed watched the drama as the other dramas which I am currently watching is making me go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Tbh there are many things that seems not so logical and sometimes a bit cringe but still it's enjoyable. Last two episodes seem to be a bit rushed since they had to put everything in two episodes.

Overall Once Upon A Small Town is a sweet and endearing drama that will make you relax and smile throughout its episodes. Perfect drama to take break from the current heavy and dark kdramas.

Ps. there is ALOT of animals as an animal lover I was very very happy.

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