Mi Compañero De Cuarto Es Un Gumiho (2021)

Side Characters Carried This Boring Drama

I don't like the categories for rating on here. My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I normally don't watch these kinds of dramas - a drama with a fanfic type plot that appeals to teen girls - but I want to see Jang Gi Yong (장기용) in main roles. He was awesome in My Ajusshi playing a scary loan shark, but he had limited screen time. All of the main roles I've seen him in so far after that, he's played the same character type - stoic, no emotion, robotic. I don't know why he seems to be only playing these roles now, after he did so well with his character in My Ajusshi. Maybe he was afraid to be typecasted as a villain?

Acting/Cast: The promising cast is deceiving. Yes, the acting was good and the humor was good, but the story itself was so boring that the cast and their acting couldn't save it. I thought the two leads were the weakest in this area. Maybe it's more of a writing/directing issue though. The male lead was the "stoic" type which a lot of times (in badly written dramas) means that they can't convey emotions well and makes for a boring watch. It's difficult to write and portray a good stoic character, but it's not impossible (Terius Behind Me male lead, My Ajusshi male and female leads). The female lead's character building in the beginning gave me false hope - that she was going to be a distinct and unique female lead. She started out that way but by the end, I was annoyed by how she talks and acts, specifically with the male lead -- It felt too childish. The side characters were great, however, and I really just wanted to watch them. 7/10

Writing: The plot itself is pretty boring. There's not much to it. The fantasy element really didn't add much, since it became a simple cohabitation plot and a college romcom plot. There was this really annoying back and forth regarding the relationship between the two leads that made me want them to just give up on the whole human and fox love story and be with their own kind. They kept stressing how the male lead is "just an animal" as if he is literally a fox and that he's a super old man...so that made me feel weird about the leads being together romantically. He felt more like her guardian rather than a potential love interest. I also love love triangles when they're done right. This is also something that is difficult to do, but not impossible (Cheer Up, True Beauty, The King In Love). This drama had a weak love triangle, so much so that it was completely pointless for it to be included. Literally, it was only used to make the male lead jealous. It was clear that there was no way the female lead would even consider the second male lead. I actually felt bad for the second male lead and thought that he could possibly be a better match for the female lead than the male lead. Also, why make the female lead a history buff and not use it in a meaningful way for the story? So pointless... 1/10

Direction/SFX/Music: I want to blame the acting of the two leads on the direction. The music is nothing special. SFX was ok I guess. There was a stupid scene in a sauna involving ice powers for some reason...That might have been when I started really losing interest. The sauna scene in Episode 9 is a good marker for the beginning of the decline. 1/10

Entertainment Value: It was decent up until episode 9 when it first started going downhill. Then, when the red string was added in at episode 10 and the weak love triangle was created, I was just annoyed. I kept watching hoping that maybe there would be some unexpected twist. I almost dropped this drama at episode 13, but I decided to continue watching to see what would happen with the side characters. I should have dropped it though. 1/10

Overall, it was tough to give this a final rating. I ended up giving this drama a 2.5/10. I can't help but compare it with Tale of the Nine-Tailed, which I gave a 3/10. I didn't like Tale of The Nine-Tailed either, but I never considered dropping it like I did with this drama. The nine-tailed foxes in Tale of The Nine-Tailed were much more interesting characters with a certain kind of charm and with more interesting lore.

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Clichés everywhere. like a cliché bundle. But Lee Hye Ri elevated this to a new level.

Its an OK story, don't expect anything groundbreaking, every episode felt like a copy so many other shows. tropes are very very familiar.

but Lee Dam's character shines without a doubt. The comedy hits home a lot of times, and her reactions are pretty realistic in most scenarios.

What this to enjoy a good Romcom.

Second lead couple also has a fun, quirky and hilarious storyline.

Story and music are not worth mentioning. they are average at best. Acting is also average, only the Female leads shine with great characters and quirks.

If anyone wants to rewatch this, I'd imagine its only to see the comedic genius Lee Dam.

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Amazing and light fantasy romcom

Not planning to leave a long review but just to let anyone doubting whether to start it or not, you totally should. This is one of the best romcoms, the leads have great chemistry, the characters are mature, the FL is one of the best FLs ever: she's a strong woman with a great personality, decided, independent, stands for herself, outgoing, true to herself... And she doesn't have the typical "femme fatale" image that kdramas associate this type of woman with, which makes her even more outstanding. All the side characters and stories are very interesting and nice to see, the second romance is super cute and lovable. The drama stays strong till the end, I was personally never bored with it, not even after the MLs get together, which is when dramas usually start dragging the plot. MRIAG managed to stay funny, fun, exciting till the end. Even though it's a fantasy drama and the fantasy is a main part of the show, it's easy to forget it's actually a fantasy drama because of how realistic and relatable all the characters are. The last ep had like 20 minutes of drama but it's not a big deal. I usually like light dramas without villains or unnecessary dark plots and MRIAG is exactly that. If you are looking to watch a light romcom with great romance, characters and plot, this is definitely for you.

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A very cute and sweet story with one of the best and healthiest relationships I have seen

I have never watched a love story like this one before. Most or all of the ones I have watched before had made me really frustrated and sad most of the times so this was really refreshing to watch. I don't even think I cried, not because it was not deep enough to make me feel pain or because the acting was bad but I knew whatever the problems were it'd be solved soon. I had a lot of trust in the main couple's relationship. Even though they did sometimes keep things from each other most of the times they communicated really well that I knew I don't have to worry about them having too many misunderstandings... also they had really good friends to put sense into them when they did make mistakes. The story was deep, but not too complicated. Even if there were problems it gets solved in an episode or two so it never felt like the story was dragging on. The pace was just perfect and I'm glad it ended the way it did, even though I'd have loved to watch more of Dam and human Wooyeo being cute together. It was not just the main couple that I loved, all the characters were really good! I really loved Hyesun and Jaejin's relationship. They were the best and both of them were too cute! Hyesun and Wooyeo's friendship was another thing I loved. I loved watching them fight... they were really like kids when they did😂 Sookyung was so funny as well and I loved how both her and Jaejin really cared about Dam. I really loved their friendship!

Now to talk about the acting, all the actors did a wonderful job and I especially loved Kang Hanna. She was so cute and I have only watched dramas of her where she's a really cold or bad person so it was nice seeing her being all cute and funny. This role really suits her and I hope I'll get to see her playing more characters like this in the future. And Jang Kiyong... I don't know why but he really feels like a different person with different hairstyles. But I'll focus on his acting now, and he is really good! I feel like he can do any kind of roles! He did a great job being both serious and cute. And his smile is the prettiest I feel like I could look at him all day long! Sometimes when he smiles I also felt like he could play the role of a psychopath as well😅 This is the first drama of Lee Hyeri I watched and I'm really impressed with her acting! She did especially well during the emotional scenes and she's really funny as well! Kiyong and Hyeri's chemistry was too good! I definitely want to see them in more dramas together... hopefully romcom. They were too funny together so I'd like to see that than anything too emotional. Kim Dowan was really cute and this is, I think, the third drama of him I'm watching and his acting was good as usual. All the other actors were good as well and I don't think there's anyone I didn't like... except Sunwoo but that was not because of Bae Inhyuk's acting, which was really good and he was really cute as well, but I just hate people like that. And I have to mention this one... Kim Doyeon, I really loved her! She was so cool and funny and I really want to see more of her.

The OSTs were really good and it all fitted perfectly with the scenes. And I especially liked Door(Your Moon) by Jeong Sewoon. I have been listening to it a lot and it's really beautiful!

Overall I loved this drama and I'd actually love to see some special episodes as well. And I'd love to see the cast reuniting for another drama as well! I'm really going to miss this drama which made my Wednesdays and Thursdays brighter... and I know I will be re-watching this soon.

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weak story with not much payoff. good for casual viewing.

i thought that this show was very empty with a weak story. i initially watched it for Jang Ki Young and Hyeri, as well as the cohabitation trope, but there wasn't much angst between them. i mean, i expected there to be more so that might be on me. also, they fell in love pretty quickly, especially the female lead, which doesn't do much for the development of their relationship.

but overall, the story was just uninteresting and the show felt hollow and surface-level. also, their first kiss was so weird that it made me want to turn off the show? lol. i get the reasoning behind it but i thought that it was just uncomfortable. i feel like they should've shown that the ML was having a hard time being intimate with the FL for [redacted] reasons in another intimate kissing scene and not during their first kiss. i don't know, i feel like it kinda ruined it.

but either way, it can be watched as a head-empty drama when you don't feel like doing too much thinking. plus, both Jang Ki Young and Hyeri are very hot in this show so, you know, it's worth it.

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contemporary

A very easy-going fast-paced extremely cute light fantasy rom-com.
Nothing original but very cute and emotionally moving. It showed college life, friendships, immature bullies, family antics,
loneliness, love, insecurities, a sweet protective ML and a VERY headstrong and determined FL.

I liked how the gumiho and Dam had a very honest and cute relationship. They both cared deeply about each other (I awwed every time they smiled/grinned at each other!!) and never gave up on each other.

I liked how it also focused on their lives apart and the other characters. It wasn't anything new (Tale of the nine tailed and Goblin) but it had its own vibe and that's why it can't really be compared to the other two. TotNT and Goblin had a more serious vibe with a fair share of action while this series focused way more on the mc relationship and how funny and cunning Lee Dam is, hence giving it a very contemporary slice of life vibe, but it didn't lack the fantasy aspects.

They had to overcome many problems but him being a supernatural wasn't given the same importance/role as the mc in tale of the nine-tailed. His life is ordinary and he doesn't really have a separate fantasy life. his powers were used for entertainment purposes and him being a gumiho showed how different he is and served as a main obstacle for the couple. But it was never too weird to imagine him being a human, something which was harder to imagine with Goblin and Lee Yeon because they had a whole separate supernatural life that separated them from the human world and being human.

It was great to see how the gumiho changed over time and became a really warm person when in the beginning he had 1 facial expression the whole time. I liked his non-toxic jealousy and protectiveness and I loved the side characters and their little stories.
The ending was great. I liked the pickup lines scene (gumiho and Lee Dam) and how they had a real red thread between them, making it obv that they r soulmates.
I also liked how the girl BFF is soulmates with the class president (been shipping them since the start) and how they showed that by tying a string (wool sweatshirt) to her ring (ADORABLE)
the second lead couple was such a delight to see bc of the cuteness overload and all the misunderstandings between them!!

I give it an 8 bc : while it's very cute and funny and has its fair share of interesting characters, it was nothing new and everything was about the couple and the romance (not much plot).
From the start there was one problem and that 1 problem was solved in the end, but it didn't involve many others or anything IYKWIM. So it was simple, extremely cute but no real suspense/action/heavy plot. But they also never promised more so its just high expectation after the two other similar dramas ;)

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There was laughter, sadness, horror and a lot of feel-good vibes!

I don't remember the last time I laughed out loud so much in the middle of the night! A hilarious take on the tired gumiho/supernatural genre, but so so good.

One of the best things about the drama was the strong-willed FL, which was refreshing to see. She never changed character or personality throughout the show and I was so glad there was no character improvement arc for her, because she was perfect! The leads had awesome chemistry together too.

But my absolute favourite character was Kang Han-na's. She simply stole the show! Her character as someone who lives life fully suited her so well.

I don't have any complaints - the pace was perfect, there were elements of horror, fantasy, history, comedy etc thrown in without too much unnecessary focus on any, all characters were fleshed out well and everything tied up nicely at the end. A must watch for romcom lovers!

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Classic Tale with a Twist

I have seen several Kdramas based on folklore (stories about Gumiho), by far I enjoyed this comparatively. I like how the author explicitly showed the essence of the story. It was done very smoothly without disrupting the flow of the plot. The episodes were aptly planned. Although it seemed monotonous halfway through, where the scenes were mostly of Jang Ki-Yong's struggle to be human, the essence of the struggle served as a cohesive piece -- like an aha moment. Unlike other story of the same theme, this Kdrama revealed it all at once. It was a good element in the plot -- added fun, romance, magic, etc.

I have seen most of Jang Ki-Yong's dramas and movies and his acting in this Kdrama is impeccable. I didn't see him for his previous character or roles. But he got me focused on this character. He was able to portray the mature, witty, withdrawn, mystical role. As his character evolved in succeeding episodes, he never fails to show a spontaneous and natural acting especially when sweeping a girl off her feet. He makes audience put themselves in that scene. The chemistry between Jang Ki-Yong and Lee Hye ri is notable. They complement on how they look in screen and acting.

Episode 15 was very moving for me. The scene, lines and acting evoked the right emotions. It was so real that I could really feel the pain of the characters. It seemed predictable that he will be a human but when he disappeared, my thoughts aligned with the story too. Even though there's a part that expects a certain ending, the storyline was able to captivate my attention in the moment. So when he came back as a human, it truly was a surprise too!

Other elements that gave color, appeal and flavor to the drama were the theme on friendship, love, relationships, humanity, and misconceptions. The secondary characters were played well too. The actors gave justice to their roles. I enjoyed the comic relief in between.

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Perfect for your romcom sweet tooth, featuring eye candy!

When I first saw this drama I thought it would be a reversed version of "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho", which is one of my favorite old-school Kdramas. Although the plot of "My Roommate Is a Gumiho" is definitely different the main elements are similar. Like the former, this is also a fun Interspecies romcom about an extremely attractive Gumiho whose fox bead ends up inside of an unsuspecting college student who must move in with the Gumiho for the sake of the bead. The Gumiho lore in this drama is pretty interesting, but what I liked about this drama is that it never tried to be much more than a light and often silly romance... no major melodrama, no taking itself too seriously. Sure, it is definitely full of tropes, but I was entertained. Yes, the sweetness sometimes goes to type 2 Diabetes levels, and the storyline isn't always the most logical or original, but great characters kept me excited about watching each episode.

I'll start with Jang Ki Yong who is perfect as the male lead Gumiho Shin Woo Yeo. Even when I don't necessarily like the drama he is in, I am usually impressed with his performance, but I feel like he comes into his own as a leading man in this drama. He can easily play mature so he is totally believable as someone centuries old. He is funny, charming, major eye candy, and has a mysterious sexiness that makes a very convincing Gumiho. I loved his cool, composed, soft-spoken, and unbothered style, with just a hint of danger to it, and would love to see him play a true villain one day. He is matched with Lee Hye Ri as Lee Dam who is the exact opposite. She is bubbly, immature, messy, drinks too much, eats EVERYTHING, shows ALL of her feelings on her face, and unapologetically says exactly what she feels. This character could have easily been annoying but her honesty made her relatable and funny and I also really liked that she was proactive instead of passive and didn't just wait to be saved or have everything solved for her. Together these two have great chemistry, although romantically they are more cute than sexy. I loved watching him subtly flirt with her, although I wished she would react less wide-eyed and innocent sometimes. I even appreciated that they could pull off the big age gap in the story while actually being close in age so it never felt too inappropriate. Still, if the story was just about them I could see it getting redundant after a while so the supporting characters were a huge part of what kept me watching.

Most of the supporting characters are great. Not only did they make me laugh, but I cared about many of them as much as the leads. I loved the Hermione-esque Soo Kyung and the adorably sensitive Jae Jin as Lee Dam's BFFs. They are definitely friendship goals and I was glad to see that supportive friend dynamic including a guy. I also couldn't resist developing a drama crush on Jae Jin and I was glad he turned into more of a lead character. Then there’s Kang Han Na who was such a great frenemy as Yang Hye Sun. I really expected to not like her character that much, but she became one of my favorite characters in the whole drama. Lee Dam's brother Lee Dan was very funny too, and they hilariously seemed like real siblings, although he does have less screen time than the others he stood out too.

There is only one character that I did not like at all and that’s Bae In Hyuk as Sun Woo. To be such a major character in a comedy I found him to be extremely boring and uninteresting. It didn’t help that they kept presenting him as a super attractive playboy, which was not convincing. To be fair, it’s hard to be compared to Jang Ki Yong’s level of eye candy, but I would have appreciated a personality that matched the rest of the cast or at least had way less screen time. The love triangle is a major part of the story, and I did like that concept behind it, but he gave me less 2nd lead who you can sympathize with feels and gave more entitled stalker you may need a restraining order for vibes. Other characters that could have had less screen time were some of the bigger cameos. Jung So Min’s and Go Kyung Pyo’s characters both felt like their guest roles were much smaller than their talent, and their scenes added more confusion than mystery to the story, seemingly to fill in time. The whole mystery/thriller element of this story felt like a waste of time so it's definitely skippable.

Would I watch this again? Probably. There are enough cute and humorous moments that would be entertaining to watch again, and I liked the drama’s theme of figuring out what makes us human and what makes life worth living. I think I may still be tempted to skip a lot of scenes, but I'd be just as tempted to rewind a few others. I would definitely have to be in the mood to binge watch wrist grabs, falling into people’s arms, strategic glamour lighting, stalking, stares, and so many other kdrama romance clichés… but sometimes that’s exactly what I am in the mood for.

Overall this is the kind of drama you enjoy for what it is. I didn’t shed any tears. There were no mind blowing plot twists. The story is pretty standard, a little predictable, and isn’t too deep, but it does explore empathy in a way that made me think without feeling preached to. The ending is ridiculous but satisfying. If you know nothing about the webtoon it’s based on, like me, I would think of it as a classic style kdrama that is "basic" but in the best way possible… plus eye candy! Delicious eye candy! I don’t think I can mention enough how "risk it all" attractive Ki Yong is in this. That still wasn’t enough to make this drama a new favorite of mine, but I do recommend it to all who have a romcom sweet tooth.

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New romcom fave but could've been better

This was so hilarious that I ended up rewatching the whole show shortly after finishing it for the first time. It was funny, had an equally unique and cliche plot which had a lot of my favorite romcom tropes (living together, contract relationships, serious guy and laid back girl, etc.) but also fresh in its own way, swoon-worthy, and just perfect. The OST was slightly lackluster to me, and I think it was around Episode 9/10 when things started going slower than before and I felt like it lost tension and conflict, but all in all, I loved it. It was funny and definitely something I'm running back to when I'm looking for something to cheer me up.

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This drama is funny and quite interesting. Not with a new story because stories about gumiho have been filmed quite often. I watched it for the first time because I really like Jang Ki Yong, the ML, I liked his acting in his previous dramas. He is very handsome and his acting is good. And it turns out that the FL is Hyeri, making me even more curious.

I thought this drama would be more serious and talk a lot about the story of the gumiho, but it turns out that after watching until the end, this drama is more about the love story of gumiho and FL, which is actually not a problem but becomes too cliché and is quite bored in the middle. The conflict is also not too serious and not dragging, but because the cast is funny, it makes this drama quite interesting.

Besides the love story of ML and FL, I like the story of the supporting players, Hye Sun and Jae Jin. They are both so adorable. Hye Sun, who used to be a gumiho, still has to learn how to be a normal human. And the innocent and whiny Jae Jin, too attached to his partner, makes this couple learn slowly until they finally realize they like each other.

At first, I didn't like SML, moreover Mount Spirit connected the red thread between him and FL, so he likes to force his feelings on FL, making me annoyed. After a while he finally realized his position and accepted the reality, and went to study abroad, making me feel sorry for him. Another adorable character is FL's brother, he's so cute, handsome, caring, and reliable. I wish I had a younger brother like him.

This drama is quite interesting, but it will be more if the story is made deeper, not just a love story between two worlds.

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