The Eccentric Daughter-in-Law (2015)

If you need a break from intense, serious dramas, I recommend this one. It's cute, funny, and has the potential to melt your heart. Families from polar opposite backgrounds intertwine, giving the viewer a superficial perspective of a Korean traditional family and an urban Korean family.
Our main couple is adorable! I love how they started with almost hating each other. This is my first drama with actress/singer,Kim Da Sum. Honestly, I liked her in this and I think she is a great actress.

When I found out Ryu Soo Young (I first saw him in Ojakgyo Brothers) was going to be in this I was happy. He did an awesome job of portraying the slightly introverted, genius, Cha Myeong Suk.
Our main ladies: The two mother-in-laws, played by Go Doo Shim and Kim Bo Yun respectfully, embody so many flaws that you find yourself hating them at first. However, Yang Chun Ja shows character development that I rarely see for a mother-in-law in a traditional family. One thing I love about this character is her forgiving heart.
The second mother-in-law, Jang Mi Hee, is clingy, selfish, and stubborn. In fact, I sympathize with her daughter-in-law for dealing with her. Her character has no development whatsoever, except maybe halfway through the last episode where she gains some redemption points.

Speaking of her daughter-in-law, Cha Yeong Ha, her overall character annoyed me more than I'd like to admit. Cha Yeong Ha has a really good heart, but she is way too naive. Her husband,Ki Tae Young, is a two-faced character - acts all tough in the workplace but can't even say no to his mom, although he knows she is crossing boundaries. However, "justification" for his behavior is revealed in the end when he finally confronts his mother about her negative behavior. Was it enough?
Kim Se Mi, on the other hand, is too prideful and because of that I see the value of the plot twist she goes through in the drama. Her husband, Cha Dong Seok, is a childish, comic relief who stands out because of his undying optimism. Se Mi and her husband are my favorite side couple, mostly because they aren't a "traditional" family living in a traditional house-hold (an explanatory summary why they got on Yang Chun Ja's nerves 90% of the time).
That is all I'm saying for the characters.

Honestly, I was surprised that this drama was only 12 episodes since a typical family drama can be a min. of 20 episodes till a 100+ episodes. Watching it now, I'm glad they didn't extend it that far. It would have dragged on and become unbearable. Maybe one more episode just to nicely space out the resolutions that piled up in episodes 11 and 12.
Overall, I liked this drama but not enough to watch it again in the near future.

P.S.
I love the music in this. I can't help but dance whenever I hear the theme song.

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The Eccentric Daugther-in-Law is a very basic kdrama that will deliver some laughs and romance in a very condensed package. Sometimes it feels a bit crass and sloppy, but it's okay if you are looking for a short burst of romance, without investing a lot of time.

Story:
Nothing special here. It is a story we've seen many times before. The pacing works from start to finish, but as in all family dramas there are some side character story arcs that you might not be interested in.

Acting/Cast:
I personally like the male lead, Ryo Soo Young, but in this drama I felt like he was the expensive sashimi placed on a plate of cheap fish sticks. The female lead, Kim Da Som, was a refreshing change from the classic kdrama female. She seems like a normal person and that fit her character quite well. The mother-in-law was played by Go Doo Shim who is practically a staple of kdramas. She does an awesome job in this drama as well. There were some side characters who dampen things a bit... making the overall experience a bit cheap.

Music:
I can't remember a single song although I finished the drama yesterday. That means that the music is not going to bother you, but it's not going to deliver any FEELS eiter.

Rewatch Value:
It's so short and basic that I can't see myself ever watching this again.

Overall:
In the end I definitely do not regret watching this drama. There are so many better dramas out there, but I was craving for a bucket of cheesy romance and this drama delivers that. If you are after a few romantic scenes and cheesiness then this is for you. If you instead crave a complicated, challenging plot and high production values stay away.

Edit:
I need to point out that before watching this I had just watched some pretty damn bad dramas, so my review might be a bit lenient. Just watch the first episode, if you hate it then you will hate the entire series.

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