tvN’s newest drama “Love In Contract” has finally premiered to much attention and anticipation. But how good was the premiere? Let us discuss.
Note: this article is a first-impression review, it doesn’t mean this is the writer’s final thoughts on the drama. This is a spoiler review.
As you may already know, I am not quite the biggest fan of rom-coms mainly because I feel they offer very little in terms of plot, and even when they have a chance to take risks or different approaches they settle for the usual, for what we all already have experienced many times before.
At the same time, I know that many people like rom-coms for the exact reasons I don’t like them much, but every once and a while, you see something that can potentially be very promising and I think “Love In Contract” could be that but I think it won’t be easy.
For a premiere, “Love In Contract” was honestly great. I liked the way everything was introduced, it didn’t feel too on the nose which I have become to dislike in kdrama land. The concept itself is not that hard to figure out if you follow along which I think is why it helped the drama a lot.
There weren’t many cheesy moments in “Love In Contract” which helped make it a more enjoyable watching experience in my opinion. The screenwriter behind this drama is an unknown screenwriter which is honestly surprising that they managed to get on board such A-listers as our cast but it could also mean that we’re in for some surprises. The drama is directed by Nam Sung-Woo which is probably also a reason why the actors picked this project. He’s behind many beloved kdramas internationally.
The idea behind the drama reminds me of a YouTube video I’ve seen of a Japanese company that provides similar services but not quite like that and to all people [not to only single men]. They provide mothers, fathers, siblings, boyfriends, and such. You can rent those people’s time. If you’re interested search it on Google.
Since its a drama, “Love In Contract” does it take it a bit far with our main lead actually getting married to the said customers. I hope we can explore that more deeply in future episodes.
I like the way Jung Ji-Ho’s character is structured thus far, however, I am also a bit annoyed at the prospect that a literal stranger can make him jealous when he shows interest in Choi Sang-Eun as if he doesn’t know she’s been also a client to other men besides him all this time.
We have suspense in the drama as well as past motherly and fatherly horrible dynamics which should help pad the run time when it needs to in future episodes. These days, pure rom-coms cannot exist because obviously everything that could be said has been said and done 1000 times already.
I highly doubt Jung Ji-Ho is a serial killer, I think his job is something related to police work, I am guessing maybe a criminal profiler. Seeing he has interest in a way a crime was committed might mean that he was anticipating something to go wrong and couldn’t act on it.
I have a 90% inclination to believe that the screenwriter would NOT make Jung Ji-Ho’s character awful because he’s the end game. I mean if the screenwriter does so then… I will be impressed. It would be actually quite interesting to see how this system Choi Sang-Eun set can be used by some potentially horrible human beings.
Also, I am not too happy about the love triangle already. Choi Sang-Eun is already in love with Jung Ji-Ho whom she shares a connection on a deeper level than she’d like to admit. I worry the screenwriter will pad the run time with useless back and forth between the two characters when we know well where her heart lies. It won’t be fun to watch not unless the screenwriter takes the unconventional direction and actually pairs Choi Sang-Eun and Kang Hae-Jin together or if Kang Hae-Jin turns out to be that serial killer.
My fav character in this drama thus far is Woo Gwang-Nam, he’s so extra and fun to watch. I hope he stays around and doesn’t leave for Canada. It won’t be fun without him.
Other than that, I think all the other characters are the standard of rom-coms so I don’t quite like or hate them.
“Love In Contract” has a chance to impress beyond just being an average rom-com. I think if you like rom-coms you will love this one, however, if you don’t quite like this genre, I don’t know if you’ll enjoy it. I did but I worry as well that it can go downhill in terms of plot. It has potential but it must tread carefully.
So what did you guys think of “Love In Contract” premiere? did you like it?
I love the 2 episodes aired and I think the main cast wouldn’t have picked this script if it wasn’t good. Let’s hope we get a good rom-com
I feel bad for Kim Jae Young! He has to carry the whole drama on his shoulders because of female actress lacking. Here we go again! Park Min Young has a knack in repeated failed delivery and falling emotionally flat to force audience quit watching out of sheer annoyance or boredom. She always has gorgeous male actors who are dynamic, single handedly can bring on the sexy hot guy, the tension, and good acting. Yet she somehow gets to be the main attraction, with the most air time, most lines, most scenes as if these great guys are just prop to her show. Ironically, she manages to bring ratings down and persuade you to give up on the show because of her incompetent delivery, her emotionless presence, her lack of chemistry and the ability to connect with these guys. She somehow manages to look as if she is their grandma forced to awkwardly get intimate or interact with a hot guy. It is kind of creepy. Her attire in every show looks as if it was sitting in someone’s closet for 2 decades. Her pancake bored/tired (not fresh) face, her lifeless/shapeless orange fried hair, her emotionless old looking small eyes and mouth, her stiff body, her robotic delivery of lines, her inability to exhibit sexual chemistry, on and on spells out disastrous results for the drama as usual. Someone needs to say ‘no more, thank you, consider playing mom or another career, certainly not so many scenes or lines or the main female role.’
Hi jasmine, please I want love in contract recaps for all episodes please can you do it.
Thank you for your good work, my name’s yusuf