My review of Bad Love (나쁜 사랑 2019)

So, I managed to finish this drama, not because I particularly enjoyed it, but because I tend to be anal about finishing any drama I start, even if I hate it and/or I just skim through each episode just to get through with it.

This drama was a choooooore. The writing was literally repeating itself at points and there were several points in the show where a literal conversation could have resolved any and all future inconveniences that would drag on for 20 episodes right after. And I have lost count of the number of times a conversation was eavesdropped through the walls or behind a closed door. And this happens on SEVERAL occasion. There was even one episode where the plot progressed through multiple conversations being eavesdropped on. I am not kidding when I say that almost everyone in this show had some form of super hearing.

None of the characters were likable. Like, seriously. None. Sowon (the main girl) is the most boring character and she's written SPECIFICALLY to be liked with no notable flaws. Super nice? Check. Good cook? Check. Very optimistic? Check. Somehow VERY competent in her job despite only a high school level education? Check. Heart of gold that lets her adopt the main villain's daughter? Check. The same with the main male lead Jaehyuk. Secretly a rich chaebol? Check. Also super nice and tried to be a do-gooder all on his own? Check. Also very competent for no reason other than you're supposed to support him? Check.

The problem with these two mains is that they're written in a way that they are always being presented as the nicest possible characters, the point where they get walked all over on. And it got really REALLY fucking annoying. Especially when the stupidly chipper theme song starts playing in the background. It's cheesy and cringy to the max.

Then we have the two main villains. Minhyuk and Yunseo.

Minhyuk is a character that has the inferiority complex to his brother, Jaehyuk. And this is presented throughout the story on a regular basis and the plot repeatedly bashes Min over the head with how inferior he is. At a point, I actually felt bad because I knew he was going to come out on the losing end. It's really sad, honestly. He is always easily manipulated.

And then we have Yunseo. She is self-centered and selfish. However, the story, on MULTIPLE occasions, present a side to her that is clearly trying to be nurturing and not in-line with the typical antagonistic character. But, then the next scene, she's doing something completely opposite. Example, when she finds out who her daughter is, she weeps because she had been treating her so poorly. What does she do in the next scene? Treat her worse. When she is presented with the opportunity to embrace her child? Does she do it? No. It's like the writers were dangling an opportunity for her to have SOME redeeming characteristics and instead of having her go through it, they just waste it. And it happens so many times. She's written to be the literal polar opposite of Sowon, who is perfect in everything she does. It is so cringe-worthy.

If I seem like I'm defending the villains, it's because I am. Because the two villains, at least have some depth in their character. Yunseo was treated like utter shit by Sowon's mother, which is why she felt so pissed at life. Granted, she went way over, but honestly, if the mother didn't kick her out of the house in the first episode, a lot of this could have been avoided. The same with Min. His father absolutely favored Jae even when Jae basically ran away from him and didn't do anything beyond being a bum.

Also, the child actress they brought on for this show is utterly devoid of any cuteness. I would have loved it if they got the little girl from Defendant/Legend of the Blue Sea. The girl in this drama tries WAY too hard and it just feels forced. Like I never felt bad for her, no matter how much she cried. Maybe I'm cold. I dunno.

There's the typical overbearing mother of Min, who also is pretty shallow.

There are other supporting characters like the brother and aunt but they actually contribute so little overall to the story.

I could literally write an essay with more, but I'll leave it up for discussion.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

Phew!!

This show gets a 2/10.