Omg this drama ended with Dokgo Jin breaking the fourth wall and saying "you should be honored to have met such a drama" and I really felt that. :two_hearts:
I recently finished watching City Hall and started The Greatest Love out of desperation for a similar high since they're both Cha Seung-won dramas, and this didn't disappoint! Most romcom dramas have this issue where they begin to bore me to death about half way through because the relationship between the lead characters is borne solely through tropes and jokes rather than genuine emotion, but this drama had it all! Romance, comedy, MATURE EMOTIONS...everything (so does City Hall if you're looking for a recommendation). There wasn't a single boring episode - I loved them all - and the chemistry and romance between Dokgo Jin and Gu Ae-jung was achingly beautiful. This is a new favorite drama!
I once saw a comment online saying that Cha Seung-won is the king of romcoms, and I couldn't agree more. He has brilliant taste in dramas and his acting is truly a delight to behold.
The last 3 or 4 episodes of this series are stellar, truly some of the best ending of a kdrama that I have ever seen! I loved the final episode - no flaws. Some of the times the show got heavy for such a fluffy fun show. I didn't hate this but it made it harder to get into some episodes. I really learned a lot about image in Korea and why they mention the netzines all the time in other shows. Truly I will miss Doko Jin! While I love Aejung I fell early and hard for him and his over the top antics. His loyalty was just the cherry on top.
Review by chillikunBlockedParent2020-11-20T08:37:14Z
I was looking for a light-hearted rom-com that has a love-triangle , hate-to-love relationship and the awkwardness that come with it ; this is very similar to Jealousy Incarnate and Contract Marriage with just the perfect ending
PLOT
This story is set in the entertainment world and probably sheds a glaring spotlight on the trappings and "traps" of fame. Each character is fame's satellite planet spinning in orbit around it's shiny tempting sun.
Dokko Jin is a man with a lot of hits under his belt. His image is stellar and it wins him the best CF's and shields him from getting laid low when a movie release isn't quite up to par. He can play the press like a finely tuned piano. He understands his world and he's comfortable there...on top. Everything is image...even love.
Gu Ae Jung is a woman who had a taste of fleeting fame in her young 20's and knows exactly what it feels like when you are knocked from that pedestal. She has learned how to work her bad reputation to make a living. She knows what to do, how to act and dress and she's comfortable at the bottom so long as she can keep working.
When they meet it throws their perspective worlds into chaos. It is a chaos neither of them are ready for.Dokko Jin doesn't know what to do with the feelings he has outside of and in spite of, the image he has cultivated. He has lived so long in his fame bubble he is emotionally stunted. Gu Ae Jung doesn't know how to handle this mess of a man; who invades her life, pulls her into his bubble and goes after her with all the grace and finesse of a bull in a china shop. ...and yet when the heart starts beating of its own accord and the petals strewn across the path lead to someone you can't stop loving, you have to be brave and make choices.
CAST
Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin: They are both amazing actors. They are perfectly cast and it shows through every goofy moment and every scene that pulls at your heart. Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin's chemistry was palpable. I loved the hilariously charming arrogance of Dokko Jin, and that Gu Ae Jung was a secure female lead.
I have not seen a drama with Cha Seung Won as male lead but seen several recent shows as a support lead ; While Hyo jin's character is very similar to her other show ; it does show us that even a decade before she still has it as a Rom-Com Queen.
Yoon Pil Joo (aka "Mr. Perfect"), I never cared for Second Lead but he is decent ; My only complaint is that Dr. Perfect started to seem a little too repetitive towards the end. It seemed like the hong sisters just didn't know what to do with him after a while.
The second leads and side characters are written smartly as well. They aren't just comic relief or one dimensional characters built as foils for the OTP. They have good reasons to be in our main character's lives. Best friends, brothers, agents and managers etc... They serve the narrative of the story rather than break us apart from it as if we need some sort of forced breather from the action or story filler. Smart Hong Sisters!
I also have to mention little "Ding Dong" who was so cute. The bromance between him & Dokko Jin were some of my favorite moments.
VERDICT
Although it sometimes reminded me of other dramas (and not just because of the shiny tracksuits), I think "The Greatest Love" still holds it's own. I certainly never expected to love "The Greatest Love" as much as I did. Add me to the bunch of people who highly recommend this Rom-Com. If the romance in this one doesn't get to you at all, you might want to check to see if you still have a pulse.
I also loved the way the ending was done. I'm a fan of epilogue moments, and I feel like this story was wrapped up very well with a very satisfying ending. If we were in the Dokko-Jin and Ae-Jung world we would be elated it was a happy ending too.