I love dark comedies, and stories that present difficult subjects in unique and intriguing ways. Suicide and depression are topics that are difficult to appropriately address without going heavy on the melodrama but this drama succeeds in a refreshing way. This is also a super easy drama to binge since the 8 episodes are under 30 mins and that is exactly what I did one Sunday evening, ironically when a famous suicide in my area was just making the headlines. This drama made me laugh and empathize and reflect without being preachy or corny. It isn't perfect, but after watching so many disappointing dramas recently it was the best I have seen in quite a while. If this is what CDrama's are like, count me in!

It stars baby-faced Connor Leong as Mi Chong, a depressed almost 30 yr old who has plans for the perfect suicide that keep getting ruined by Vivienne Tien as the bold and unpredictable Zhi Liao. I won't say too much more about how they meet and what happens next, but the suicide attempts are worth mentioning just in case that's too much for some viewers. They have great chemistry from the very beginning, less in a cheesy romcom way (which I do love too) but more as just two quirky characters who influence each other. One of my favorite movies is "Fight Club", and they definitely gave me similar vibes to the narrator and Marla. "Definitely Not Today" also relies on narration much like "Fight Club", with some super creative visuals and animation that add to the uniqueness of the storytelling. Their relationship carries the whole drama, with only a few side characters of any importance, and I never grew tired of watching them together on screen. The story only slowed down for me when too many other characters, like the officer and brother, were introduced. The two main leads were all I cared about and a good example of being strong characters individually but even stronger together. Both balanced being hilarious and heartbreaking masterfully.

The rest of the cast is pretty forgetable or too generic... even the funny ones. Figaro Tseng was convincingly cast as her brother, but still forgettable because it's a relatively short appearance.

Would I watch this again? Definitely. In fact I definitely started watching it again... (wait for it)... today lol. It's so short and well-paced that it's easy to watch in one sitting. Where this story goes and how it ends is less impressive than how it starts. The ending does feel rushed and the villains just weren't as interesting as the leads, but just watching them face all the random (VERY random) things that came their way, and each other, was enough to keep me entertained throughout, along with the clever visuals. I can see myself wanting to watch this if I'm in a 'woe is me' mood. There's something oddly comforting and heartfelt about watching these messy characters and all the hijinx that ensues.

I have to thank AnQuat for this brilliant suggestion! I feel like I have a favorite CDrama now, even if it's only my first. (too soon? lol) Dark comedies may not be for everyone, but I love how that style of storytelling allows more freedom to not take even serious matters too seriously. I'm impressed by how much storytelling they packed into these short episodes too. There are some poetic reflections, maybe a tad too much diary entry style narration, and a few possibly triggering scenes, so it isn't only about laughs but it always stays true to its unique style even when somber, which makes me definitely recommend "Definitely Not Today". I wasn't moved enough to tear up but the writing, directing, and acting all impressed me. It was the perfect cure for my recent drama slump. I hope for more dramas like this!