For those on the fence after watching a few episodes

If you've watched a few episodes and are wondering why the ratings for this show are so high, take my advice: Stop now. This isn't the show for you. It will not get better enough to feel worth it. The last three episodes are good, but no matter how many lovely pairings of our leads together you give me, it doesn't make up for the side stories taking over this drama.

If you feel like the slapstick humor was pretty good in the first episode and then quickly soured: Stop now or get used to the sour taste continuing. The potty humor goes swirling round in the toilet episode after episode.

If you feel the thriller aspect of the show is discordant and hope it will be a relatively minor element: It won't be minor nor will it feel worth be jarringly pulled away from the sweet moments of romance.

If you feel like the actors are good but you can't quite find enough redeemable in the characters they're playing (especially the male lead and second male lead): It's going to take those boys a loooong time. There are a few cute moments. I fully support fast forwarding to the Min-hyuk eye smoldering. Just skip to watch just the parts with him and Bong-soon together and call it a day. They're really what we came for anyway, right?

The actors are great at acting and are super attractive. But pretty doesn't make this a good story for me.

Also: Domestic violence is not comedy. A wife beating a husband is no different than a husband beating a wife. The violence should not be minimized or pardoned by the viewer.

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Best consumed with a heavy serving of fandom on the side

Additional rating: Fandom: 10/10 stars

If I'd watched this alone, I don't know if I would have made it past the first few episodes because I would have been too focused on trying to figure out the plot. I recommend finding an episode recap online that you like, and don't worry about getting spoiled on the plot. It's actually better to know what's going to happen because it frees you to focus on the unspoken love story and the heart of the fandom. I also recommend a WangXian-focused episode guide (https://trensu.tumblr.com/post/190720141603/wangxiantics-the-unofficial-untamed-episode). This is an express track to understanding the fandom and key moments that would be missed if just watching solo.

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Weak story impedes displaying actors' strengths

There were weaknesses in the plot and the characters' motivation that I initially attributed to a long manhwa being condensed to a short eight episodes. However, after much searching, I found the source manga (Meshiagare Ai wo/Meshi Agare Ai o), and it too is pretty short—only one volume. The plot is pretty thin in the manga and was heavily adapted for the K-drama. (So no help in understanding that confusing bathroom scene.)

Reading the manga helped me see how much the two actors worked to bring to life Doo Hoon's social awkwardness and Yoon Soon's quick, cheery disposition. The difference between Lee Ki Taek playing Yoon Soon and K in Devil Judge is impressive.

It also showed efforts to retain parts of the original story's work environments and character reactions that didn't really match up well when translated to the new story. For example, the drudgery and type of exhaustion from overwork matches better with that of a government employee in the Japanese original than of Doo Hoon's more creative job and closer work teams. So, his colleagues actions and reactions to Doo Hoon are a bit confusing rather than reinforcing the perception that he's an unsocial, distant workaholic.

Additionally, Yoon Soon's easy familiarity and Doo Hoon's reactions to him make more sense in the timeline that plays out in the Japanese story, which has the two living in the same apartment building (thought the MC is oblivious to this fact) with the restaurant on the street level of the building, where the MC eats frequently. The manga begins with the two waking up in bed together after MC gets drunk in the ML's restaurant.

The addition of the description of making the food to the K-drama (which wasn't in the manga), is a lovely touch, and it was done very well.

Manga info: https://www.mangaupdates.com/series/44vmh3j/meshi-agare-ai-o

Note: The manga in English is "Bon Appetit, It's Love," not to be confused with "Bon Appetit, My Love" (also BL manga) or "Bon Appetit" (also a manga from the same general time of publication) or "Bon Appetit!" (a recently completed fantasy manhwa).

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I watched because Xiao Zhan is beautiful

I did finish the show, but felt the storyline was slow, flat, and forced. It didn't give any of the actors an adequate platform to exhibit their skills. Xiao Zhan is beautiful, and the physical chemistry between him and Yang Zi felt so natural. The little vignettes with them at the end of episodes was sweet. There were some incredibly touching moments in the final episodes that had me bawling my eyes out.

The soundtrack features Xiao Zhan and Yang Zi singing. Xiao Zhan's voice is so perfect for ballads. I may not have a desire to rewatch this show, but I will listen to its music again and again.

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Better the second time

I watched this solo the first time and thought it was fine. I'm now rewatching with friends and can better see nuances to the story that give it additional depth. I also didn't fully appreciate the bromance between the ML and 2nd ML the first time through.

The casting and acting is superb. While the FL, ML, and 2nd ML are too pretty for reality, the supporting cast shine in embracing their normality (with their quirks turned up to 11).

The cinematography matches well with the vibrancy of color that evoke the emotion of drinking in the warmth of the small costal town and its people.

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