Flower Boys' Ramyun Shop - through ep 10

[dangermousie]

Wow, that was some kiss.

I had some time today, but not much brain-power or ability to watch without interruption. So, it was FBRS time as I caught up on eps 7-10.

It's clear Lee Chung Ah and Jung Il Woo are having a blast and their chemistry is burning hot, however, somewhere between the start and now, I lost any emotional connection to this drama. It's fun but I have no investment in these people. I think it's because I prefer my romcoms to start out zany but slowly move into emotionally gripping, much deeper territory (like e.g., My Girl or Coffee Prince). There is nothing wrong with a romcom that doesn't do that, but my preferences are what they are. FBRS started out as a piece of fluff and that is what it will remain.

Also, as of 10 eps in, I am not sold on the fact that they couldn't be happy if they didn't get together with each other. They are both immature so that might have something to do with that.

If it seems I am bashing the drama, I am not. I had a very fun time watching these 4 eps and I would never say no to the amount of pretty it produces for our delectation on a regular basis. It's just my disappointment that it's a fluffy, well-made trifle and I was hoping that, like Hello Teacher, it could have been something more.

Comments

[sodahands.livejournal.com]

They are both immature so that might have something to do with that.
This was my biggest problem with the drama. I could buy Chi Soo being immature because he's in high school and his father spoils him and I was expecting him to do a lot of growing up in the episodes but I could never understand why Eun Bi acted like a 15 year old. That annoyed me so much!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I thought they'd both grow up but nope.

[timescout.livejournal.com]

Well, I had problems with Eun Bin's immaturity from the get go and couldn't stand Chi Soo to begin with. In the end there was nothing to keep me interested enough to care so I dropped it. I've been reading recaps, which is quite enough to me.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I was fine with them when I thought they were going to develop and have character arcs but it seems it's not going to be so.

[quaggy]

It's fun but I have no investment in these people.

I can see that. From the recaps alone, I get the impression that this is a series that relies more on the charm and charisma of its cast than on engaging the audience on a deeper mental or emotional level. And I say this, knowing that we both look for slightly different things in our romcoms.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup - it's a lively and lovely cast but it has all the emotional depth of a soap bubble. Nothing wrong with that (it never advertised itself as anything more) but if I can't get emotionally invested, I am out.

[spunspider.livejournal.com]

i've lost that emotional kick too, and it's aggravating because i feel like until ep 6 it was there and it meant the show had the potential to be the full shebang. it's going out on a low note and it's such a damn shame. ;\

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was very involved in the beginning and now...nothing.

[hamster428.livejournal.com]

I didn't buy in from the get go. I gave up when my vids lag behind my subtitles no matter how I retime the damn thing and now I take it as God's way of telling me to stop wasting my time. I expected fluffy and have no problem w it staying fluffy but Korea's fixation on man-child is taking an extreme dive lately.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I had to manually adjust the subs every few minutes, too.

I have never liked immature guys (or gals) and sadly, recent obsession with noona romances leads to a lot of that.

That is why I am so enjoying Padam Padam and Tree with Deep Roots (and also MTF and The Empress) - the heroes are all grown up, whatever issues they may or may not have. The same goes for the heroine. I want to watch adults, not the kiddie hour.

[iheartkleenex.livejournal.com]

I am so happy kdramas seemed to have allowed more kissing. Compared to dramas in the early 2000s or so, I say this is progress.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

So very true.

[joonni.livejournal.com]

I have also lost interest in the drama. It's fine and fluffy but it has become one where I will skim-finish because I started watching it, but I don't really care about it.

For me, it's not about the immaturity, even though Chi-soo's immaturity is not something I enjoy. For me, it's more about the actor in general. Unlike so many fans, Jung Il Woo is one of those actors that does nothing for me. I can objectively see that he would be appealing to many people, but his looks or acting just doesn't pull me in. I don't see him as hot or particularly engaging as an actor.

And I am one of those people who enjoy cliches as long as they are fun, and this drama fits the bill. But it's sooooo predictable.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

See, I love JIW - I thought he did a great job in Return of Iljimae and was the best thing about 49 Days. I like his acting fine here. It's his role and lack of character development for anyone in this that doesn't grab me.

[joonni.livejournal.com]

I think I am missing something about Jung Il Woo because I haven't watched Return of Iljimae. I know I need to watch it but my list of dramas to watch is out of control and it just keeps falling lower and lower on the list.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Maybe the below MV will motivate ya