For the subsequent a part of the “Soompi & Viki Staff Talk” collection, our employees members dish on the basic friends-to-lovers trope in Ok-dramas.
Here’s what a few of our employees members need to say on our favourite friends-to-lovers Ok-dramas:
Warning: minor spoilers forward
Sehee: “Reply 1997”
“Reply 1997” delivers a robust story filled with nostalgic heat (even for viewers who haven’t skilled the ’90s). Although the main target of the plot is on the friendship and romance between Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) and Yoon Yoon Jae (Seo In Guk), as a viewer, I used to be additionally enchanted by Shi Won’s life as a fangirl of H.O.T., the rivalries between H.O.T. and SECHSKIES, Kang Joon Hee’s (Hoya) crush on Yoon Jae, Shi Won’s father’s baseball profession, and different aspect tales within the drama. Although the friends-to-lovers cliche is one in all my favourite kinds of storylines, many dramas typically overlook the significance of the friendship facet of the friends-to-lovers trope. “Reply 1997” slowly and successfully builds the stress between Shi Won and Yoon Jae utilizing supporting characters. They make the most of the complicated connections between the primary characters and their household, different pals, faculty, and so on. to construct layers of depth of their friendship which permits the readers to really feel extra enthusiastic and cathartic when the 2 pals lastly change into lovers. It is a drama that has depth and permits viewers to change into simply immersed in not solely the romance of the story but additionally the college life, household life, and different friendships within the drama. (P.S. The OST is simply as spectacular!)
Watch “Reply 1997” under:
Ginny: “Fight My Way”
In “Fight My Way,” Go Dong Man (Park Seo Joon) has all the time dreamed of turning into well-known as a taekwondo athlete however now works as a contract worker in a secular job. His longtime good friend Choi Ae Ra (Kim Ji Won) aspires to change into a tv anchor however works on the data desk of a division retailer. They work to beat varied frustrations and challenges whereas attempting to attain their goals, and alongside the best way, their friendship begins to grow to be one thing extra. What I really like a couple of friends-to-lovers relationship like Dong Man and Ae Ra’s is how naturally they progress to romance. They have so many reminiscences collectively and have a wholesome and supportive relationship, being all the pieces to one another together with lovers, finest pals, and household. Another further facet that provides to the enjoyable of this drama is the adorably hilarious aegyo that went viral and nonetheless stays well-known to today.
Watch “Fight My Way” under:
JJin: “Love is for Suckers”
As somebody who believes that women and men will be “just friends,” I’m not an enormous fan of the friends-to-lovers trope. However, the presently airing drama “Love is for Suckers” has made me take into account that friendship-based love will be further significant due to the real and long-lasting feelings. In this drama, TV producer Goo Yeo Reum (Lee Da Hee) asks Park Jae Hoon (Choi Siwon), who has been her finest good friend for 20 years, to seem on her actuality relationship present. He agrees to assist, however they unexpectedly start to develop emotions for one another whereas filming the present. I feel their relationship is an ideal instance of friendship targets. They continually encourage one another, make one another snicker, and are there for one different when they’re at their lowest. Since Park Jae Hoon discovered how a lot he cherished Goo Yeo Reum simply earlier than her wedding ceremony, he confessed his emotions to her however was friend-zoned as Yeo Reum is afraid of dropping her finest good friend. I’m actually wanting ahead to seeing how their relationship develops additional and what their chemistry is like as each pals and lovers!
Watch “Love is for Suckers” under:
Sala: “Reply 1988”
One of the most effective elements of the friends-to-lovers trope is simply how pure and simple the chemistry between the leads can get. “Reply 1988” is without doubt one of the excellent examples of a Ok-drama with this trope (and one in all my favorites) that depicts the wonderful chemistry between the leads and an enviable story of each friendship and romance. “Reply 1988” follows 5 childhood pals within the late Nineteen Eighties as they expertise the turbulent technique of rising up. Sung Deok Sun (Hyeri) finally finds herself caught in a love triangle between Kim Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol) and Choi Taek (Park Bo Gum). Both Kim Jung Hwan and Choi Taek fall in love with Sung Deok Sun, which solely appears pure after they expertise all the pieces collectively: they’ve seen one another’s most embarrassing moments, celebrated their successes collectively, and they’re there for each other by means of thick and skinny. For me, this was what made both couple attainable for the ending, additionally leaving room for thriller as to who Deok Sun finally ends up with. I used to be actually bought by the eventual romance between Sung Deok Sun and Choi Taek due to their lovely dynamic with Taek unconditionally supporting Deok Sun whereas Deok Sun all the time with the ability to effortlessly make Taek calm down and smile with out restraint. Nevertheless, whether or not you might be Team Jung Hwan or Team Choi Taek, there isn’t a doubt that “Reply 1988” will heat your coronary heart with its portrayal of real relationships.
Watch “Reply 1988” under:
Winnie: “Dear.M”
I really like the friends-to-lovers trope and particularly when in a faculty setting. If you want a friends-to-lovers romance that takes place on campus like I do, “Dear.M” is unquestionably a drama to take a look at. It is a lightweight and easy drama a couple of group of faculty college students and options the glowing chemistry between them. NCT’s Jaehyun performs Cha Min Ho, a pc science pupil who develops emotions for his without end finest good friend Ma Joo Ah (Park Hye Soo). It is a really nice drama to take pleasure in with out feeling dedicated to maintain observe of each single scene, and it’s enjoyable to watch how they slowly notice their true emotions towards one another with small bits of frustration and loads of heart-fluttering moments. The pure performing of the younger solid members make it simple to get immersed within the drama, and it’s a relatable present that may additionally have you ever pondering of your school life.
Watch “Dear.M” under:
Natalie: “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”
We can’t even start to debate the friends-to-lovers trope with out mentioning “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”! The first purpose why this drama is my favourite is the little little bit of love-hate to start with that completes the trope. Portrayed by actress Lee Sung Kyung, Kim Bok Joo is a weightlifting athlete who falls in love with an weight problems clinic physician. But destiny is merciless and life isn’t a fairytale (not like what the drama title suggests), and he or she finds out that her excellent physician is the brother of her childhood arch-nemesis Joon Hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk). The two have a rocky begin repeatedly tormenting one another then slowly notice that what they couldn’t stand wasn’t one another however not being collectively! Another purpose I can’t assist however love this drama is how visually appropriate the lead actors are. They make the performing look so plausible that their characters seem to be actual, residing individuals! And final however not least, the drama’s wonderful soundtrack performs an enormous half within the high quality of this drama. Even once I hearken to the drama’s OST now, I’m reminded of the candy and unforgettable moments from the drama regardless that six years have handed! If you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, you undoubtedly gained’t remorse watching “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo.”
Watch “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”:
Somni: “She Was Pretty”
I can say with confidence that “She Was Pretty” is one in all my favourite dramas with the friends-to-lovers trope. Not to say the nice efficiency of the actors but additionally the intriguing plot and the message that penetrates the drama are among the causes I hold coming again to look at this drama time and again. Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) and Ji Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon) have been childhood pals. At the time, Ji Sung Joon lacked confidence and was bullied resulting from his look, and he had a crush on Kim Hye Jin who was fairly, assured, and guarded Sung Joon. The two naturally misplaced contact when Sung Joon’s household moved to the United States. 15 years later, their positions have switched as Hye Jin has misplaced all confidence in her look whereas Sung Joon has become a well-liked and good-looking man. Hye Jin is afraid to face him, pondering that he can be drastically disillusioned by her present look. Everyone may need a minimum of one reminiscence of a childhood good friend, and even in actuality, there may be most likely an enormous hole between the particular person’s picture in my reminiscence and the particular person I meet after turning into an grownup. This drama conveys the vital message that even when bodily appearances could change utterly, the real reminiscences in addition to the sentiments of caring for one another will stay unchanged and that each one of us are imperfect beings.
Watch “She Was Pretty”:
What is your favourite friends-to-lovers Ok-drama? Let us know within the feedback under!
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