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dangermousieI confess despite my love for the screenwriter and the cast, I only checked out A Gentleman's Dignity due to boredom. Dramas about 30+/40+ singles interest me about as little as romcoms do, which is not at all. So it was a bit shocking to discover just how much I enjoyed the first two breezy episodes, and how down I felt when I realized I had to wait for the weekend for another dose.
The story is nothing new but the charm is in the execution - the snappy dialogue and the vastly experienced cast turn things that often annoy me into yet another thing to enjoy - I can easily see Jang Dong Gun's and Kim Ha Neul's characters, for example, being grating in other hands. But as it is, Jang Dong Gun is a combo of charming, irritating, and intense in one very alluring package. And Kim Ha Neul takes a trope that normally drives me up the wall, and makes me love her scattered, talks-to-herself, indomitable character. It helps that JDG is smitten at first sight (even if he shows it the way a fifth grader would) while she couldn't care less about the picky weirdo.
Of course, I can understand why not everyone is smitten. What I find quirky and charming, others may find overly precious. But then I've loved everything by this writer so far - Lovers, On Air, City Hall, Secret Garden. I really think the red string scene in episode 1 is a great litmus test.
If you find it contrived and teeth-on-edge, you should skip this drama. If, like me, you find it romantic and funny and cute and off-beat, this is likely to be a drama for you.
I don't know how much my honeymoon with AGD will continue. A lot of times, those breezy light dramas lose me before the halfway mark because I crave drama and angst. But for now, I am fully on board. Bring it on, you smart, snappy, funny darling, you! And I am not just referring to Jang Dong Gun :)
The story is nothing new but the charm is in the execution - the snappy dialogue and the vastly experienced cast turn things that often annoy me into yet another thing to enjoy - I can easily see Jang Dong Gun's and Kim Ha Neul's characters, for example, being grating in other hands. But as it is, Jang Dong Gun is a combo of charming, irritating, and intense in one very alluring package. And Kim Ha Neul takes a trope that normally drives me up the wall, and makes me love her scattered, talks-to-herself, indomitable character. It helps that JDG is smitten at first sight (even if he shows it the way a fifth grader would) while she couldn't care less about the picky weirdo.
Of course, I can understand why not everyone is smitten. What I find quirky and charming, others may find overly precious. But then I've loved everything by this writer so far - Lovers, On Air, City Hall, Secret Garden. I really think the red string scene in episode 1 is a great litmus test.
If you find it contrived and teeth-on-edge, you should skip this drama. If, like me, you find it romantic and funny and cute and off-beat, this is likely to be a drama for you.
I don't know how much my honeymoon with AGD will continue. A lot of times, those breezy light dramas lose me before the halfway mark because I crave drama and angst. But for now, I am fully on board. Bring it on, you smart, snappy, funny darling, you! And I am not just referring to Jang Dong Gun :)
