Difference between revisions of "Romance (MBC)"
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==Details== | ==Details== | ||
| + | *'''Title:''' 로?스 / Romangseu | ||
*'''Episodes:''' 16 | *'''Episodes:''' 16 | ||
*'''Broadcast network:''' MBC | *'''Broadcast network:''' MBC | ||
*'''Broadcast year:''' 2002 | *'''Broadcast year:''' 2002 | ||
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==Casts & Credits== | ==Casts & Credits== | ||
===Directed by=== | ===Directed by=== | ||
Revision as of 05:00, 8 July 2005
Contents
Details
- Title: 로?스 / Romangseu
- Episodes: 16
- Broadcast network: MBC
- Broadcast year: 2002
Casts & Credits
Directed by
Executive Producer
Script Writer
Cast
- Kim Jae Won as Kwan-woo
- Kim Ha Neul as Kim Chae-won
- Kim Yoo Mi as Choi Yun-hee
- Jung Sung Hwan as Lee Eun-suk
Synopsis
Kim Chae-won (Kim Ha Neul) is a bright young teacher in her mid 20s, but she still has a hard time adapting to her profession. She accidentally meets young singer and high school senior Choi Kwan-woo (Kim Jae Won), and they instantly form a bond. Of course, they're lying about each other's age: Kwan-woo says he's a college senior, and Chae-won doesn't reveal she's actually a teacher, and considerably older than him. When Kwan-woo is forced to move to Seoul because of a family problem, their lies start to produce consequences. Kwan-woo has to enroll in Chae-won's school, and she'll be one of his teachers!
The setup is familiar, and even if a little controversial, it's well played out. The series thankfully doesn't rely excessively on the typical themes of 'impossible romances.' Parents are kept at a distance until the main characters are developed enough to let us care about them, and it's not until their relationship becomes serious that the usual obstacles are put on their way. The first part of Romance is very good TV: the chemistry between Kim Jae Won and Kim Ha Neul is excellent; the supporting characters, while certainly stereotypical, are fun to watch. Also, with the exception of Kim Hae Sook's predictable typecasting as the troubled ajumma, the parents are actually a little more colorful than expected. Chae-won's mother runs a jeans company, and is a bit of a nut, shouting 'Oh My God' at random and sporting wild haircuts. Her father is obsessed with the formalities of the father-daughter relationship, such as insistence on deferential tone. He will later play a big part in Kwan-woo and Chae-won's future as a couple, and is a well developed character.
What helps the series in its first part is the fact there's very little urgency. The writers feel no need to reveal a major plot development every week, which usually forces viewers to keep tuning in to understand. The drama is introduced slowly, and doesn't completely upstage the comedy, which makes for better viewing. Characterization, at least by TV drama standards, is quite good, although a few missteps along the line don't allow this drama to reach the depths of shows like Ruler of Your Own World. For example, the 'bad girl/guy' character isn't played out like a constant obstacle to the main characters' romance. The writers try to make a case for those characters as well, and most of the time - at least for the first half - they succeed.
Then, things suddenly change when the series moves 3 years ahead. It's clear they couldn't go anywhere with Chae-won and Kwan-woo anymore, without becoming repetitive. While the focus on secondary characters is understandable given the main couples' forced division, their complete takeover of the show ruins the pace and atmosphere. Kwan-woo's sister (Kim Yoo Mi), and Chae-won's former love affair and soon-to-be husband (Jung Sung Hwan) become centerpiece, and the parents' importance grows exponentially. The relationship between the main characters is updated slowly, every week building to the big finale. In theory, it's good writing, but when acting isn't there, the series is likely to become dull.
Kim Yoo Mi is pretty good, given her character's development and the way her problems come into play. But Jung Sung Hwan is terrible. He's not able to go beyond the same facial expression, no matter how important his reaction is to make the scene compelling. As a result, even if his character is not played out as a caricature, he doesn't allow it to come alive, and hurts the series' middle portion. Also, the constant use of fatalist, ultra-emotive mothers who faint at every sign of difficulty feels out of place for a breezy, lighthearted series like Romance. Kim Hae Sook is a good actress, and has become reliable in portraying this type of character, but she disappoints here.
Source: Endless_love4ever