Lovestruck in the City Review: A Good Cast And Different Concept Make This Drama Watchable

After reading some rave reviews for ‘Lovestruck In The City’, I got super excited to watch my favorite Ji Chang Wook’s drama. I re-subscribed to Netflix especially to watch this show. And I did enjoy the first few episodes. But post-episode 4 or 5, I could feel my interest slowly wane and by episode 11, I could no longer make myself watch the show.

I liked the plot, the characters, and even the cast. And so I tried…I really really tried to like the show in its entirety but somehow I couldn’t do it. After a point, the storyline just kept dragging for a little too long, and eventually, I got weary of waiting for something interesting to happen. Hence, I decided to drop the show. I may love JCW but the fact remains that his choice of projects seriously needs some reviewing.

This review is only for whatever I watched up to episode 11 so keep reading as I tell you what went wrong with this web-series for me. 

Lovestruck in the City (2020) (16 + 1 Episodes)

Image Source: Netflix.com

Six people living in Seoul are selected for a documentary where they discuss their past relationships. Park Jae Won (Ji Chang Wook) is an architect who has been deserted by his girlfriend of two months and still nurses a broken heart as he cannot get over her. Lee Eun Oh (Kim Ji Won) is the girlfriend who left Jae Won without any good explanation. She is a marketing professional struggling to make ends meet while running her own business. Choi Gyung Joon (Kim Min Suk) works with Jae Won in his company and is dating Rin Yi (So Ju Yeon) who works at a café. Kang Gun (Ryu Kyung Soo) is a struggling writer and Eun Oh’s roommate. He is also a childhood friend of Eun Oh and Rin Yi. He was in a relationship with Oh Sun Young (Han Ji Eun) who hated his closeness to Eun Ho and Rin Yi.

As these six people divulge details regarding their lives we slowly see how they are all connected to each other and how their love life develops over the period that this documentary is shot.

The web series is of 16 episodes and the +1 episode is for Choi Min Ho who was supposed to make a special appearance but on popular demand had an episode added to give his character a happy ending.

I enjoyed watching ‘Lovestruck in the City’ because…

…I finally got to see Ji Chang Wook in his true element. In an interview, JCW revealed that of all the characters he has played until now, he identifies the most with Park Jae Won. And seeing how absolutely adorable Park Jae Won is, JCW was indeed the best choice for the role.

Wander around this blog a little longer and you might figure out that I absolutely love JCW. But, when it comes to watching his dramas, I have always been a little hesitant. The reason being that I find his choice of dramas a tad bit questionable. I read somewhere that JCW is a workaholic so he takes up as many projects as he can. But I wish he was a little more selective with his projects. His last two dramas were so bad I could not bear even a few minutes of it.

‘Lovestruck in the City’ is not a bad drama. In fact, it starts so well that I was happy to finally like a JCW drama after ‘Healer’. JCW nailed it as the whiny, cranky Jae Won. His pain and anger over being ghosted by the girl he thought he would really marry someday, is justified and JCW does a great job at portraying the character. In one of the scenes, Jae Won is drunk and sees Eun Oh sitting before him. Thinking it is the alcohol acting up, he pours his heart out complaining and crying over her betrayal.

Similarly, in a drunken state, he repeatedly goes to the police station to complain about Sun Ah who stole his camera. Even as he slurs his complaint, you can see he does not really intend to have the police capture her but he only wants them to find her for him. JCW has always been good in emotional scenes and you can clearly see his expertise in these scenes.

Image Source: Netflix.com

His childlike complaints throughout the drama is fun to watch. As the male lead, he has done his job well and if this drama is worth watching then it is mostly because of him.

Image Source: Netflix.com

…I liked the basic concept of a documentary. This show had all characters speaking about their past love life in a candid interview. Each person shares their experiences and the other characters can comment on them. I found the concept refreshing as it was a first for me, not sure if it has been done for any other show. The interesting bit was when the characters cross each other’s path while giving their interview, some would notice some wouldn’t. It was a way to depict how the interconnection of the character’s storylines may seem too convenient but is not entirely impossible.    

I did NOT LIKE ‘Lovestruck in the City’ because…

…I have never seen a character as exasperating as Eun Oh/Sun Ah. I know she had her reasons to turn her back on Jae Won but none of the reasons justify her behavior towards him. For instance, she could have broken up by giving some decent fake reason but she chooses to talk to him on the phone to tell him ‘it’s over’ and then disappears with his cameras. Denying him closure then silently seeing him suffer while hurting herself too, made no sense to me. Seeing both the leads suffer incessantly pained me immensely. I know dramas are driven by complications in the lives of the leads but the complications shown in this drama were feeble to be carried on and on over multiple episodes. Sadly, even if each episode was only 30-35 minutes long, I found myself skimming through most of it. I felt very disconnected from the characters.

However, actress Kim Ji Won was in no way lacking for this role. I think she did a tremendous job as both the free-spirited Sun Ah and the struggling and determined Eun Oh. It was her character that frustrated me and not her.

…even if the presentation of the web-series was good, the script was bland for my taste. I have no complaints with the cast or acting. For me, the story was not engaging enough to watch it dedicatedly. I could understand the motivation behind the character’s actions but I felt their reactions or behavior were not reasonable on several occasions. I felt the characters complicated things a little too much than required.

For instance, Seo Rin Yi and Gyung Joo happen to meet someone who was bad to Eun Oh (there is more to it but I do not want to give spoilers) in the past which affected the girl deeply. They lose it when they learn about the real reason why he was mean to Eun Ho and attack him physically. I get where their anger stems from but their reaction was slightly over the top. Of course, that person did deserve some thrashing but not the way these two do it in an office space.

 

I feel like a disloyal fan when I do not like JCW’s dramas. He is so cute in this show, especially with that middle hair parting. Sadly, the show did not appeal to me and I gave up a little more than mid-way.

I give ‘Lovestruck In The City’ 2 out of 5 rating. A decent web-series, not my cuppa tea but certainly worth a try. You never know it might just click for you.  

 

Feature Image Courtesy: Instagram, jichangwook

 

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