Ugggggggggggggggggggggh January. I simply can't. As somebody who would not winter properly, I've this rule the place I restrict myself to a strict leisure food plan of romcoms (plus a wholesome dose of the ever-fantastic Grace and Frankie) from roughly November by way of February. As soon as the solar comes out, I can watch authorized exhibits and melos, however for now, I want mild, cheery Ok-dramas, and loads of them.
That is the place Jugglers and I Am Not a Robotic are available in. Although they've very, very completely different premises, they each billed themselves as fluffy romances good for the dead-of-winter doldrums. Principally, I am basing these opinions on how properly they dragged me by way of January.
Jugglers is not something we've not seen a bazillion instances earlier than. Wealthy boss with a tragic historical past healed by the magic of looooooove when he meets his match in a poor, sassy underling.
Regardless of its cliche beginnings, Jugglers managed to remain afloat with a few charming leads within the type of Choi Daniel and Baek Jin Hee. Their lovely and infrequently hilarious interactions (exhibit A: that questionnaire; exhibit B: their matching slippers) stored me watching, and I used to be extremely happy to see that the drama prevented the plain noble idiocy traps that might often pop up in a collection like this.
And but.
As a lot as I initially loved Jugglers for what it was, I misplaced that need to observe new episodes the second they got here out (and perhaps/undoubtedly made it by way of the final third of the present with a combo of recaps and watching solely the romance scenes). Once I regarded again after the finale, I noticed that looking back, the present was fairly disappointing on a couple of fronts that weren't instantly obvious. Enable me to checklist a couple of complaints:
Why are they in love? No, severely—why? We went from enemies to kinda-trusted colleagues after which leaped straight to courting for your entire second half of the present.
A good friend of mine complained after the primary kiss that she did not get why Chi Gained was so interested in Yoon Yi when she persistently appeared irritated by him. On the time, I argued that she was noticing his wants and caring for him, however I additionally assumed that the attraction would take some further time to construct.
Not so.
They barely realized they preferred one another. Then he kissed her (with out bothering to see if she had any curiosity in him first, which looks like a horrible thought when you're somebody's boss, for the file). Then they had been full-fledged courting and magically cured all of his relationship points and PTSD as a result of loooooooove and could not reside with out one another and had been keen to surrender every thing for one another (once more, as a result of loooooooooove). However the place was the half the place they acquired to that stage? Did I miss it throughout a rest room break?
The ability dynamic. From episode 1, it is clear that the secretary/boss relationship throughout the corporate was fully poisonous, however Yoon Yi purchased into it wholeheartedly. At first, I had excessive hopes that Chi Gained would assist Yoon Yi take down the concept that a secretary is a glorified servant.
After which the place can we find yourself? Certain, they do away with among the horrible bosses, however they depart the underlying boss/secretary construction unquestioned. Yoon Yi and Chi Gained mainly lose their minds at the concept that Yoon Yi won't be capable to sharpen Chi Gained's pencils anymore. As a result of sharpening her boyfriend's pencils (which undoubtedly feels like a euphemism for workplace intercourse) is seemingly her absolute highest aspiration in life.
 |
| However...*sob*...the pencils! |
Let's not even get into the truth that her persevering with to be his secretary is fairly problematic from an HR perspective, particularly when you think about that he already abused his place of energy to take out petty jealousy on certainly one of his subordinates. However they're in loooooove (Why, although?), so positive, it's very high quality and applicable.
The kissing scenes. Had been these speculated to be romantic? A few them labored, however you then get him Quasimodo-hunching over her whereas she's supposedly sick and doubtless snotting throughout his face, and you then begin to marvel if the director has ever kissed anybody in actual life.
Is Jugglers price watching?
If it feels like I hated Jugglers, I actually did not. I completely loved myself for the primary half of the collection, however one cute, bickering couple did not find yourself being sufficient to hold a full 16 episodes for me, and I could not assist however find yourself wishing it packed a bit of extra punch. If you happen to're content material with mild fluff and lots of fast-forwarding although pointless workplace filler, it may very well be simply the ticket for you.
 |
| Simply assume this screenshot is a stand-in for me saying issues about Lee Gained Geun's storyline. |
I Am Not a Robotic Ok-drama Overview
If Jugglers was a typical, cliche Ok-drama plot, I Am Not a Robotic was at the exact opposite finish of the spectrum. Certain, you continue to have a wealthy boss with a tragic historical past and a poor, sassy underling, however that wealthy boss occurs to be allergic to people, and the poor, sassy underling has to faux to be a robotic.
It is wanting like robotic romances would be the subsequent huge development in dramaland, which suggests time journey and authorized dramas would possibly lastly be working out of steam—until there is a drama a few time-traveling android lawyer on the horizon someplace (and if not, do not you dare steal that concept with out paying me royalties, drama producers!).
 |
| It is allllll enjoyable and video games till Aji3 turns into our robotic overlord with that lil Roomba as her second in command. |
Yoo Seung Ho additionally introduced vulnerability and humanity to the character of Kim Min Kyu, who may simply have appeared like a run-of-the-mill controlling Ok-drama jerkface. When Min Kyu cried, I cried. When Min Kyu smiled, I smiled. (It would not harm that Yoo Seung Ho and Chae Soo Bin have among the most stunning eye smiles ever within the historical past of all issues.)
Collectively, the 2 leads had a snug, lived-in chemistry. I somewhat beloved the concept that Ji Ah grew to know and love the true Min Kyu as he dropped all pretenses round his robotic good friend. Now this was a pair I understood and believed (and whereas we're making comparisons, I see the extremely awkward and stiff countertop kiss from Jugglers and lift you the smoking countertop kiss in I Am Not a Robotic).
Downsides to I Am Not a Robotic
That is to not say that I Am Not a Robotic did not have its personal struggles with pacing. The entire company intrigue/shady uncle/murderous American investor storyline was apparent filler that I watched solely lengthy sufficient to comprehend it was boring nonsense. Ditto to the cousin's predictable redemptive arc and every thing involving Ji Ah's "love physician" BFF who someway manages to outlive despite the fact that she actually has zero cafe guests ever. How does she pay for all these equipment?
Is I Am Not a Robotic price watching?
Regardless of some filler storylines and sluggish pacing with the robotic/human reveal, I Am Not a Robotic was a well-acted drama with some poignant moments and candy chemistry. Be ready for a saggy center, nevertheless it's nonetheless a decently good watch.
 |
| Gah. How will you resist that face? You'll be able to't. Until you are a robotic—by which case you can also't, if this present taught us something. |
What did you assume?
Did you watch Jugglers or I Am Not a Robotic? Did winter make me too harsh on these dramas? Share your ideas!
