It is unfortunately not for me....

Hate to be a wet blanket but whew I have many thoughts and this will be long. The writers of this drama were incredibly confident, to say the least, but the numerous issues presented throughout the show were astounding. You Raise Me Up was something that intrigued me due to the more mature plot. The trailer made it seem like it was quirky and creative and I will say, it most certainly was different, hence the reason why I picked it up to begin with. It’s not every day you see a kdrama discuss sexual topics such as erectile dysfunction, especially in a comedic way. Unfortunately, I did not find myself laughing as much as I had hoped. If anything, I was deeply disturbed by the direction this show went.

Before I immediately jump into the negatives(which will be a lot) I want to at least discuss what I actually did like. The show definitely wasn’t boring and because it was short, it was very easy to get through. I also thought Hani and Yoon Shi Yoon did a great job, especially Shi Yoon. Yong Shik was such a lovely guy, and I really enjoyed how he brought this character to life. The pain he was feeling was real, and his low self-esteem was relatable. Overall, I am a sucker for soft male leads and he definitely fits the bill. I also really REALLY enjoyed the two lead’s chemistry(though there are power dynamics I did not like, which I’ll discuss later) and thought they were great together. It didn’t feel awkward or forced, and I genuinely found myself smiling from here and there during their scenes. The acting for the most part was pretty good so I don't have a single complaint in that department.

Another thing that I did like to an extent was the general idea of YRMU. The show was clearly trying to push some boundaries in the kdrama landscape, and I can appreciate what the writers were attempting to do. It’s not common to see a drama about a young man with erectile dysfunction who also has an obsession with pink and pretty much hates his entire life because of it. Quirky dramas have come out before, obviously, but they’re considered quirky for a reason. I was excited about how this was going to go and how Hani’s character, Ru Da, would fit into all of this, but that’s pretty much when it begins to enter a territory that I am not entirely happy with.

Medical malpractice is huge in this show, and I tried to excuse it at first because it is fiction, and kdramas are known for glamorizing poor work ethics, but for some reason, it really bothered me here. It all starts when Ru Da makes a bet with her boyfriend that she can “fix” Yong Shik in order to get back at said boyfriend for essentially not being a great partner. She wants to show him that she can find someone much better than him, and overall, it makes me feel icky. Bad enough romance is going to take place between a doctor and a patient, but then they also wanted to add in not one, but two, of these very doctors conspiring against our male lead just so they can be petty and spiteful; I say they because Ru Da’s boyfriend, Ji Hyuk, is no angel. He takes Yong Shik as a patient for a short period of time and within that time manages to purposefully humiliate him in front of Ru Da, air out confidential information, and continuously states that he is hopeless and pathetic(this man is supposed to be a therapist by the way).

What really grinds my gears is the fact that neither of them suffers any consequences for their actions. Yong Shik finding out that she was only helping him because of a bet was incredibly anti-climactic. He not only forgives her that very same episode but then he implies at the end of the show that he was only upset because he liked Ru Da and not because they were literally fucking with him and his treatment. Both Ji Hyuk and Ru Da apologize but there was no reason to add in such conflict to begin with if these two characters had nothing to lose and if no consequences were going to take place. I understand that Yong Shik is a forgiving person(and a doormat ahem ahem)but it would have been nice to see Ru Da actually work for forgiveness. I am trying to be more understanding since the show was only 8 episodes, but I can’t help but think about how they could’ve gone about this differently if they felt the need to cram the show with medical malpractice every chance they get.

Personally, all of this is what makes the romance undeserving and incredibly uncomfortable. There is an obvious power dynamic between Yong Shik and Ru Da as she is his doctor and he is her patient. It was hard to ignore this brutal fact considering all she put him through beforehand. Despite the fact that they very much did have chemistry, it was completely shattered by the way YRMU went about telling this story. Yong Shik was not in the best place mentally and was clearly suffering from depression and possibly even anxiety and/or OCD. To see Ru Da use Yong Shik, speak harshly towards him when he isn’t making progress at the pace she’d like, and then get romantically involved with him while still treating him just disgusted me and I couldn’t get past this fact, no matter how strong their chemistry was. Even the way she guilt trips him and calls him pathetic, yet again, to continue receiving treatment from both her and Ji Hyuk(who he felt extremely uncomfortable around)was awful.

The way suicide was handled also made my skin crawl, especially because so many kdramas are incredibly ignorant when it comes to this topic and how it works. The way Ru Da tried to shame Yong Shik for wanting to take his life and hammering home the very things he already knew was very nasty. Suicide is not selfish, it’s not meant for someone to be pitied and it is a very real and serious issue that is more common than many realize. If YRMU wanted to address mental health, I am not understanding why they couldn’t do actual research and why they wrote the doctors as unprofessional, uneducated, and apathetic. It was beyond frustrating how the entire premise of the show is about Yong Shik overcoming his trauma, seeking help for his mental health, and finding the underlying cause of his erectile dysfunction, and yet, not a single writer knows a single thing about any of these topics.

Also, Yong Shik's character development for an 8 episode drama was almost nonexistent. The show decided to cram almost everything pertaining to him healing into the last 2 episodes, especially in the very last episode. He mainly stays consistent throughout the drama and the constant self-pity and deprecation became incredibly old by the 5th episode. As much as I rooted for him, it was hard to continuously feel bad when he was like this for the entire show. Pacing can be difficult when you only have so many episodes to work with, I get it, but what was the point of writing a drama about a man overcoming mental health in order to help with his erectile dysfunction if we weren't really going to get any of that?

There were a few other issues such as the subtle transphobia thrown in for laughs and the plot being a general mess, but I am not surprised considering the nature of YRMU in its entirety. It was clear that the writers were overly confident and that they wanted to make something that would stand out in an oversaturated industry; it felt as though they were trying to make a less offensive and more palatable version of Backstreet Rookie, which is a very loose comparison(very, very, VERY, loose), but you get the point I’m trying to make. *sigh* A lot of kdramas that follow this specific genre tend to be extremely hit or miss and it is difficult to find a good one. I was just really hoping this wouldn't be one of them.

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Had the most enjoyable miserable time watching this

Let me just start by saying that I went into this expecting it to be an action-comedy that takes place in the military, but as soon as the first episode opened.....boy was I in for a rude awakening. The show was gripping from the start and as each episode passed by it became more disturbing, heart-wrenching, and frustrating. I found myself feeling the pain and anger that our main character was feeling as well as the hopelessness that continued to loom over most of the episodes.

The performances were incredible and it was nice to see Jung Hae-in play a role that was different from the usual sweet, reserved, and mellow character that he has been taking on in a lot of his recent works. Even the least important characters were great to watch and it was hard to peel my eyes away from the screen as no one bored me. No matter how much I disliked a character, I found them interesting and wanted to desperately know their motives, goals, and ambitions(which I will say is the only flaw with the show in my own personal opinion. I wish we knew more about our characters but I will cut them some slack since it was only 6 episodes).

Despite how dark and emotional the content of the show was, I absolutely adored how they were able to not only add comedic bits to it but that they were able to cleverly pick the best times to add in a joke rather than tossing it in at any given moment(this is especially important when it is a show that deals with such heavy topics like abuse, sexual harassment, bullying and so on). I loved Koo Kyo-hwan's performance and was delighted when I saw that he was not only able to create a lighter tone when needed but that he was able to act out serious moments and not have them feel awkward. His character felt complex and real and I loved whenever he came on to my screen.

I thought the pacing was perfect for a 6 episode season and not once did it feel rushed. Every scene went smoothly on to the next and because of that, I felt that watching in one sitting was anything but a chore. I am hoping that we get a second season because I've grown so attached to the characters, but I do wonder if there would be anything to add? Other than that, I recommend that anyone who is able to handle such dark subjects should give D.P. a watch because you will not be disappointed at all.

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It Started Strong...

I have so much to say about this show, most of it being bad, but I do give it props for being the first drama to get me this heated in a long time. The concept of Goodbye to Goodbye was lovely: two women find solace in each other while they deal with difficult changes in their life. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed with how they delivered this concept. I will start by saying that the relationship between Junghyo and Yonghee was my favorite part of...well...almost everything this drama had to offer. Their chemistry was beautiful and honestly, the most enjoyable scenes to watch are when they have a heart to heart. I also genuinely enjoyed the fact that although she was unbearable to watch most of the time, they made Seyoung a 3-dimensional character with actual motivations and reasonings for her actions(even if they were irrational). The acting for the most part was good but sometimes a bit gimmicky. They did what they needed to do and even though I never found myself wowed by the performances, they weren't disappointing for the most part.

Outside of those reasons, everything else was completely frustrating. Oftentimes, the characters would make decisions that were either completely random or out of character. The writing was never consistent and a good example of this is Sangjin being adamant about getting divorced, only to suddenly change his mind once Yonghee finally agrees. The characters constantly had developmental changes that came out of nowhere or would make decisions that would never align with who they are and it drove me crazy. The only character whose character development was a long, consistent, and gradual process was Junghyo's father. He was overbearing, aggressive, and overprotective, only to become hostile once he realizes his daughter isn't this perfect angel he pictured in his head. He spends a lot of time reflecting on his relationship with both Junghyo and his ex-wife and soon realizes that no one but him was the problem. It was beautiful, despite me hating him for half of the show. Other than that, characters were rushed into change and it was so random and odd to watch at times. The plot was also rather messy mainly due to pacing. We would either stay on an issue for several episodes, or we would wrap one up within two episodes. I also found myself getting aggravated at the constant filler they shoved in in order to make us care about characters who truly added nothing to the plot(and there are a lot of characters *sigh*). If those scenes were removed, the show could honestly have been cut down in half.

I think my biggest disappointment comes from the fact that I had expectations for the show that weren't met, hence the reason why I gave it 5 stars rather than 1 star. I was hoping to see two women who coincidentally cross paths rely on one another, but instead, the women knew each other because Junghyo gets impregnated by Minsoo, who happens to be Yonghee's son. This dynamic was just strange to watch, especially since Minsoo and Yonghee have a very strained relationship. Realistically, I wouldn't expect someone's girlfriend to seek safety and comfort from a woman who my boyfriend claims were borderline abusive to him. Like I said though, those were my expectations so I can't blame the show for that.

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Beautiful Story About Love, Loss and Friendship

I have been struggling to find the words to accurately describe how much I loved and appreciated this drama. The writing made me laugh, cry and think about the ways I could relate to the lessons being shared in each episode. All the characters were beautifully written, especially our three leading ladies, and I found myself being instantly attached to them since the first episode. I was blown away by how well the writers were able to flesh out almost all the characters(especially considering how large the cast was)without it becoming too overwhelming, and the plot was never convoluted, messy, or predictable. The lack of predictability was something that really shocked me since this tends to be a huge issue in kdramas, specifically melodramas. Towards the end of the episode, I had no idea what was going to happen next and the realization soon hit that going with the flow and letting the story do its thing was the best way to enjoy this drama.

The friendship between Jin Joo, Eun Jung, and Han Joo felt so incredibly realistic and it made me yearn for a friendship as beautiful and lovely as theirs. Eun Jung's brother, Hyo Bong, was also a part of this tight-knit group of friends, and his presence was natural and never felt out of place. These 4 individuals had so much love and respect for one another and you can see that in the way they spoke to one another and supported one another. There was a deep sense of trust amongst the group, and apart from little spats, we never actually see them fight. It felt warm and cozy watching the scenes where they all sat on the sofa at the end of the day watching TV, eating snacks, and just talking about their day or how they're feeling. It felt so natural and I would always get a warm fuzzy feeling. What sealed the deal for me is the way they handled Eun Jung's grief, which was a major theme in the show. The 3 of them never pressured her, never forced her to speak about how she was feeling, and graciously accepted her with open arms once she was ready.

On that note, the way Be Melodramatic handled the topic of grief and mental health was so well done. Oftentimes, kdrama's tend to fail horribly when it comes to addressing those themes, but BM was certainly not one of them. Despite the fact that 2 years have passed, Eun Jung has yet to address the pain from losing her boyfriend, Joon Woo. Because of that, she's found a way of coping by tricking her brain into thinking that he is there with her and even carrying full-on conversations with him. She pretends that she is fine but once she realizes what she has been doing, she is hit with the harsh reality that Joon Woo is gone and that he isn't coming back. It's a poignant scene that reminds the viewers that Eun Jung is still in a great deal of pain but hasn't learned to deal with it. What was great is seeing how Eun Jung willingly sought therapy after her brother urged her to and how these scenes were taken seriously. The therapist genuinely cared about her wellbeing and what it is she had to say, and Eun Jung genuinely made an effort to answer the therapist's questions to the best of her abilities. It was nice to see her go back to the same therapist a few episodes later to show that she was still actively receiving help. Mental health and grief are usually not taken seriously in dramas and tend to be solved easily, but BM handles these topics with care and presents Eun Jung's journey of healing as realistically as possible. By the last episode, she still sees and speaks to him, but it is clear that she's in a much better place and is beginning to learn how to live her life without him. There is no clean-cut conclusion because grief and healing are not easy and it was such a beautiful open ending to her story.

God, I have so much more to say about this show. The way the comedy fit so well with the quirky atmosphere, the way both romantic and platonic relationships were written so nicely, the way the plot was clever and nicely paced, the way every single character, pairing, and group had immense chemistry, and especially the way the actors did an incredible job portraying their characters. My one and only complaint is the way the plot twist is thrown in the last episode where it is revealed that Han Joo was actually dating someone the entire time. We were never given any indication that she was in a relationship and it felt like a cheap way to let the viewers know that Han Joo and Jae Hoon were strictly platonic. It was genuinely frustrating considering the fact that the show had led us to believe that there were romantic feelings present, but since they wanted to show that they were just friends, I wish they had done a better job at revealing this fact. Because it is such a small issue within a sea of perfection, that one flaw isn't enough to bump down my 10-star rating and I highly, highly, HIGHLY, recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy and heartwarming drama to binge.

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One Of My All Time Favorites

Melodramas are my absolute favorite, but it is very easy to mess up if it is not done right, especially since you need to understand how to pace it to where it is not too slow, and how to write your characters to where they're not too boring. One Spring Night is not one of those dramas at all, in fact, it is one of my favorite dramas of all time and I rewatch it multiple times a year. This show was my introduction to the gift that is Jung Hae-in and for that, I am also forever grateful to the show for introducing me to one of my favorite actors. Now on to the actual review...

The pacing of One Spring Night was done so well in that, the conflicts the characters were facing were never rushed, and even while I was impatiently waiting for Ji-ho and Jeong-in to begin their relationship, the will-they won't-they trope actually made sense and wasn't written to be frustrating, but rather heartbreaking. You can see how they struggled to maintain the lives they already had in place while desperately wanting to fit the other in it, and so you just couldn't be annoyed even if you wanted to.

Every character was fully fleshed out, from the leads to Jeong-in's sisters all the way down to her parents. Arguably, I wish we had seen Ji-ho's parents more, but that is just a personal preference due to being attached to the characters and wanting to know everything about them. Anyways, every character had a story to tell and I was never bored with any of them. The writers did an incredible job of giving all the important characters a story all while making sure that our lead characters got most of the spotlight. Every person in this show felt so real, which brings me to my next point.

The actors on here did such a wonderful job portraying their characters, and Han Jimin and Jung Hae-in were so lovely to watch. Their pain, frustration, motivation, and happiness felt so convincing and the characters never strayed away from who they are, even as they grew together. Jeong-in is a headstrong librarian who doesn't believe in Korea's standard of what a household should look like, and she makes that a point by consistently defending Ji-ho as others judge him for being a single father. Ji-ho is a shy pharmacist who struggles with opening up and speaking his mind but has the heart of gold, just like Jeong-in, and has so much love to give. Seeing the way their personalities mesh well together as well as the way they clash was truly the highlight of One Spring Night.

The chemistry between Hae-in and Jimin was so beautiful, it truly brought Jeong-in and Ji-ho's relationship to life, and it is the main reason why I keep coming back to it. The way the characters love one another, support one another, and grow together was so lovely to see and they made each other a better person. Ji-ho showed Jeong-in that she deserves to be loved for who she is and that if she ever feels frustrated or upset with something he does, she can always go to him because she knows he'll listen. Jeong-in shows Ji-ho that he should be confident in himself and not worry about the opinions of others because he is a great man and a great father who deserves all the love in the world. Even when they clash, they're able to come back and talk about their issues, unlike before when they had to keep their love a secret. Now I will say that although their relationship had toxic tendencies in the beginning, the toxicity isn't consistent and they are able to fix that issue once they're able to be open and honest with each other, themselves, and those around them.

If you love melodramas, warm and cozy characters, and a realistic and beautiful storyline, One Spring Night is the perfect show for you. I will always recommend it to those who love the genre and those who want to kick back after a long day and watch something peaceful.

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So Bland

When I saw news of this drama I was incredibly excited. I had enjoyed Rowoon in Extraordinary You and I had always heard of Won Jin-ah but never really watched her in anything, so of course I had to tune in for this show. Unfortunately, I never finished it and ended up dropping right towards the end.

The first few episodes really took me by surprise when I found myself hating Hyun Seung whenever he was around Song Ah. The two barely knew each other, yet Hyun Seung felt entitled to her space and her personal life all because he had a crush on her, which is incredibly creepy when you view it from her perspective. It is something I can not stand in dramas, but I stuck with it anyway as I assumed there would be some character development. I began to enjoy it a bit around episode 4 when the two started working together and as their friendship bloomed, but that is where another issue comes in.

The two of them didn't have any chemistry, and it was unbearable to watch. As Song Ah began developing feelings for Hyun Seung, I honestly couldn't tell she was until she said the words right out of her mouth, but I didn't feel any excitement or relief. The two of them were dry together and I honestly felt as though Won Jin-ah was awkward around Rowoon(I had watched behind-the-scenes clips). I recently started Just Between Lovers so I already knew that she wasn't the issue. Rowoon wasn't either, I just don't think these two were all that compatible with each other. They were better as friends and I enjoyed watching them together when there wasn't any romance involved.

Another issue I had was the characters. Although the acting was okay(minus Lee Joo Bin. I felt she was a bit over the top and incredibly cartoonish compared to the actual tone of the show), the characters were awfully boring. They didn't feel real and it was like watching paint dry. The storyline itself was just as bland as the characters, and the will-they won't-they schtick became incredibly repetitive. I don't want to be too harsh on the actors because I know their capabilities and I am sure that their blandness was mainly because the material they were given to work with, or lack thereof, was dry.

It really sucks that I feel this way because I was incredibly excited to watch this and I know Rowoon and Won Jin-ah could have done so much more, but their chemistry was lacking, the story was lacking and the characters were lacking. It was just a very boring show that didn't have much to offer. The only reason why I am giving this 3 stars instead of 1 is that, even if I didn't like it, I also didn't hate it and there was a small point in time where I was genuinely enjoying it. If the two leads were to ever be in a drama again, I hope it is only as friends or acquaintances.

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Something Was Missing

Even though I would like to, I feel as though I can't write an actual in-depth review considering the fact that I had only watched 10 episodes before dropping it. Here's the thing, the show isn't bad at all. In fact, the characters are great and it has a really promising storyline. The problem for me is that I felt like something was missing, and it is frustrating because I don't know what that something is.

The cast is great, and I was especially excited because Im Siwan is an incredible actor, on top of the fact that I am a huge fan of Sooyoung because of SNSD so of course I would automatically watch anything she's in. The biggest issue is that I don't know what the issue is and it drove me crazy. I found myself getting bored and distracted even though this drama has everything I would enjoy. The two leads were so sweet and the second leads were just as entertaining but yet, I still kept pausing the show, going on my phone, or even walking away while it played(and then I would have to rewind because I was confused).

Maybe one day I'll revisit the show, especially since so many people loved it and because the characters were all so lovely, but for now, I will give it a low rating and keep it pushing.

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