“No Gain, No Love” Episodes 1 And 2 Review- There Is Potential
Shin Min Ah’s newest series is finally here! Let us talk about it!
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.
Lets get right into it talking about my fav aspect of the premiere, the character design of Hae young.
This time, Min Ah plays a difficult character who is self-aware enough to know she’s not ‘loveable,’ which I think is admirable. We usually see female lead characters always designed as saints who power through all the BS even when it mostly makes 0 sense so this was definitely a pleasant surprise.
I always talk about how unrealistic many of the Kdrama female lead characters tend to be and I thought Hae-Young was a breathe of fresh air with her honesty with herself and those around her. She’s not a terrible person per se but she’s not great/easy either.
She doesn’t like feeling like losing out in relationships due to societal pressures and I respect that. She’s a bit abrasive in her approach but honesty, with how horrible some people tend to be, its not far-fetched to understand why she’s like that, doesn’t make some of her actions ok, but you understand.
I like the work on her character so far,. We get a very good introduction of who she is. I sympathized a lot with her struggles as her mother focused on providing love for fosters but not her own daughter.
So far, we know only one part of the story, not the full truth, but honestly, in my opinion, if you’re not nice and caring for your family but other strangers, you’re not a good person no matter how hard you try to convince yourself you are.
I get that less fortunate people need love, money and attention, but the focus should be on the one you brought into this world. I really dislike such characters who make their families go through trouble helping others. I am not saying you should treat strangers like crap but please focus on the people you know, your family who needs you.
Thus, the entire design of her character and the way she hates the feeling of losing out makes a lot of sense. I absolutely loved the characterization here.
Meanwhile, we have our perfect man, an orphan who is too kind for his own good but not particularly towards one woman because he sees all sides of herself even when she’s not aware he’s watching.
I think he sympathizes with her but finds her approach to life to be terrible in some cases. So, from his perspective, its understandable why he doesn’t like her much. Especially as he sees her berating the men she’s been with.
One thing is for sure, she couldn’t have gotten a better man to pretend to be her husband if she tried because he’s a saint and won’t use or abuse her.
I really like the extended and supporting cast members. I am aware the characters of Han Ji Hyun and Lee Sang Yi are set to have their own spin-off which I thought was an interesting decision on tvN and TVING’s part. I think it can supplement the story rather well if done correctly, especially if we get sprinkles of Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae’s characters as ‘side characters’ in Han Ji Hyun and Lee Sang Yi story. If done correctly, I can see even more K-dramas in the future following a similar path.
As for performances, everyone did a great job, and then we have Young Dae… who is… fine… I don’t know remember where I read the comment, but one person said it looks like he’s in pain… and once I read that, I couldn’t stop seeing it, I was like ‘yes, this is the expression I was looking for.’
I think its because he wants to convey that the character is deeply annoyed by Hae Young’s ways of life but the way he uses his face to convey that isn’t correct so it comes off as if he looks like he’s in pain while acting.
I haven’t noticed a drastic improvement in his acting despite him getting huge 1st leading roles for a while now so beating that bush would be odd at this point. My opinion does not change.
I don’t see chemistry between their characters yet and some will say its the age gap but Min Ah had good chemistry with her male co-stars and Young Dae had good chemistry with his other co-stars. The gap this time is huge, in real life, its 12 years, so it’ll be interesting if they try to match it or reduce it in the drama setting. They acknowledge it, but brush over it quickly.
The screenwriter of this drama worked on “Her Private Life” which I thought was average in terms of script writing but cute and I expect this drama to follow a similar expected path. BUT… Min Ah does pick interesting project so there could be something great hidden that we’re yet to see.
I also highly doubt Young Dae’s character won’t end up being either a secret hidden chaebol or a rich guy even if his character does not know it yet. It’ll be odd if the male character actually ends up being just an average dude. It would make this drama at least 10 times more interesting, for sure if the screenwriter explores that, and explores how his good deeds hold him back from advancing in life and how it’ll end up affecting his budding relationship with Hae Young down the line.
I saw hints of Lee Sang Yi’s character’s mother being angry with his father and possibly hinting at a past affair he’s had so I am assuming they could be half-brothers and he’ll realize it as the drama progresses.
Either way, it was fun. It was light and for the most part an enjoyable premiere.
So, have you guys seen it yet? Thoughts?
