What a let down!

You’re obviously here because of that terrible cliffhanger a while ago. (To me, it felt that the first season ended quite abruptly, I honestly thought the producers gave up and that should have been my clue for season 2.)
Anyway, you will watch it no matter what I tell you.

But fair warning:
Little or no character development, with a few exceptions. The majority of these young people have no assertion, as if they have given up on life and depend on the love alarm - unless that’s the morale of the story.
Spineless and eternally pain enduring characters which is a non sensical approach, given that all of them fight for their education/work/peace of mind and do quite well no matter the background they grew up in…. It makes everyone quite unrelatable in that sense.

Then, the choices some characters make are more realistic in the end (but NOT at all coherent with their character).
Personally, I did not want to emerge in reality by watching this drama, rather than escape it. So make of that what you will.
4/10

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It's a trap!!!

Cheese in the trap.
Don’t fall for it, it’s not just lactose-free cheese, it’s actually a bad, vegan imitation. (Please, excuse the wordplay but it definitely boils down my disdain).

How is it possible that so many deeply problematic people are gathered in one drama, is beyond me. Like, not your average behavioural issues or mistakes - to even help the plot move forward and create suspense - we’re talking about eerily disturbed people.

Warning: If you are a first-time Kdrama watcher, skip it and watch something else instead. Otherwise, give it a shot only if you’ve reached your limit and have nothing else to watch.

The questionable morals, principles and good/bad deeds will be very much intertwined throughout. It is a weird drama, that you will keep watching in hopes that all this will lead to some type of catharsis or deeper meaning or….somewhere, at least for the protagonists.

Certainly, it is a drama where second ML syndrome is unavoidable.. Seo Kang Joon is praise worthy for his acting skills, apart from the fact that he is extremely good-looking and a very likeable character, who has his flaws but surely, he is not disturbing.

Other than that, over the top acting from some actors or just plain boring from others. Was it the acting itself, the fact that the characters were so unlikable or the scenario/direction combo?
Bottom line, no-one really shines.

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The epitome of a toxic relationship.

I thought by 2016, kdramaland would have evolved from the Boys over flowers’ abusive behaviour depictions. Here, we have a clearly toxic and controlling ML that could be potentially even dangerous. (Fast forward in your mind how a controlling bf turns into an abusive husband.)
It is unfathomable to me how this thing was written and accepted as a scenario of a rom com (and how so many people gave it such good reviews).

Young watchers beware. What is passed as tsundere but overly smitten ML is actually a character fraught with abusive actions towards the FL. Needless to say, actions which no woman should accept or even face. We are not talking about a consensual S/M relationship. We are not talking about fiction vs reality but about a very bad example of what falling in love is or is supposed to be and what is deemed as “passionate” or “cute and loving” behaviour.
E.g. Several grabbing, dragging and pushing moments where the FL looks actually scared and/or uncomfortable, controlling what one wears, not allowing FL to have other male friends, disregarding FL’s needs/emotions, the list can go on for ever.

Do not get me wrong, I do enjoy the occasional kabedon (and its variations) when it actually is an expression of passion and NOT dominance. This is not about that. This is not raw passion or love but rather, disrespect, apathy, manipulation and abuse.

Have I deterred you enough? I have more!
Subpar acting paired with mid 2000s fashion and restaurant scene choices. (No korean food restaurants whatsoever for some reason.)
I honestly cannot see how this thing even managed to air without an audience outcry.

1/10

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Be tempted.

It is a drama to be appreciated by a bit older audiences imo - meaning, people that have digested the sh** that have gone through.

Although the layout is a cross between Dangerous Liaisons (1988) or the more contemporary Cruel Intentions (1999), both inspired by the 1782 novel, as well as Gossip Girl (without the gossip), it becomes so much more than that.

There will be scenes/characters that will make you wonder about the position and portrayal of women in general, the obsession and struggle with control and highlight issues of a modern caste system and how hard is to maintain/elevate to a position.

Then it gets deeper. People are not black or white, they make mistakes, have deep wounds, are selfish and strive for the welfare of the ones they love and care about, have secrets, are scared and feel lonely. They carry heavy burdens and fight battles.
There are no two dimensional characters. Even the secondary/tertiary ones are as complex as the protagonists and in a very discreet and unexpected way, you end up caring for every single one of them.
That is what great writing and direction is all about.

Impressive cast and acting, showing the complexity and depth of each character which elevates the story as it can faintly lose its originality (no-one is perfect, I’m reminded).
Great OST too!

Only real con: All is well in the Tempted kingdom, until the rushed last episodes..It’s as if the creators realised they run out of time and needed to wrap things up, no questions asked. Shame, to ruin such great potential as there was surely enough material for more episodes/development and the right kind of closure.

Note: Having previously dropped this drama after thinking it’s getting darker and at the time wanting something lighter, I decided to give it one more chance for Woo Do-Hwan. I mean, the man can act. So, if you have no reasons to watch it after reading this, watch it for him. Perhaps, just gazing at his face/listening to his voice could be reason enough for some.

8.5/10

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I would never know...and it's ok.

I’ll be very honest and straightforward. If you dig Rowoon (and who can blame you?), watch it for him whilst switching off your brain and not paying attention to the story or the bad acting that surrounds him.

Nothing extraordinary or original. Unnecessary filler scenes that were they absent, they wouldn’t alter the plot or deprive the viewer of vital info (but serve as a cf, so I guess they make sense?).
The drama is a cacophony of cliches. E.g. why, oh why, is the FL always gullible when it comes to bad relationships but assertive in her job? (I’ll take a hard guess and say due to severe insecurity?) Such poor representation of women all round.

Oh, did I mention bad acting? Won Jin Ah plays so stiffly the role of the senior (sunbae) and is generally.. old. Then she has a partial lobotomy and warms up a bit but still, she’s an old maid trapped in a body of a supposedly 30 yr old. Naturally, not much chemistry going on, therefore, making it very hard to root for the OTP.
No character stands out apart from the fact that they’re all pretty weird. Even Rowoon’s niece. It’s hard to feel the emotional bonds between any of them.

Just small examples of bad writing, directing and shall I say unfortunate costumier choices too? Were they all deliberate in order to make a point?
To finish it would be a Herculean task. Need I say more?

3/10

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