The Gray Zone

I have mixed feelings for this one, so bear with me. This is coming from an objective critical stance.

To begin with, the actors and the chemistry between their characters were perfect. Their appearances, moments, height difference, personalities, etc. - spot on. However, what appeared weird at times was the dialogue, the replies, or awkward silences that followed after certain expressions that would require some kind of addition to showing us the other character acknowledged what was being said to them. The sudden topic-changer killed the dynamic of the moment at certain times.
Furthermore, what also made me click through certain parts was the lack of plot beyond their romantic relationships. We got a couple of episodes full of lovey-dovey things, established relationship progress with an abundance of explitic-ish? content but nothing kept happening beside it, except teasing, making out, the classic tension-builder, etc.

Also, the passive-aggressive evil dad had already become an overused trope, and it was kind of a downer to see it happening in this show too.
What's more, the relationships and falling-for-you moments were rushed and nonsensical, feeling like there was an obvious lack in gradual transition that made me feel like: 'Woah? Where did this come from?'
The speed of accepting their 'enemy' as a love interest was very questionable and not really propped by enough scenes to show us how did the character get to that mindset where they have accepted the possibility of seeing themselves as something more with their 'enemies'.
I also feel like an important emphasis was put on Zon and his fiction writing career, so I wonder why and when did that fly out of the window? What was the point of including that at all? Also, the way he made faces in the first couple of episodes at certain times made me feel second-hand embarrassment for him.

What I absolutely loved were the characters of Zon's and Tutor's sisters - absolute angels! Especially the scenes with Tutor's sisters, they were truly precious to me and made me tear up. Her character was very well done, her acting on point as well. Tutor's financial struggle, separation from his family, breaking down under pressure, trying to make the ends meet, and being exhausted - perfectly displayed, and very relatable! He is one of the characters I feel was the closest to the audience and our understanding, as well as our daily issues.

Also, I feel like the story could've been better for the characters who had the potential to participate in a more complex plot. The characters deserved to exist beyond their relationships and their romantic interests, and I believe we deserved to see them more human, independent, doing their own thing, and romance as something just intertwining with their lives. The lack of story beyond the romance/relationship was kind of a mood killer for me because I love multidimensional characters, but the comic scenes made me laugh, the first proper kisses gave me butterflies, and the chemistry between those charming actors kept me engaged.

I would definitely watch it again till the 7th or 8th episode. Not bad, but there was definitely space to improve the quality of the plot or cut down the number of episodes.

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