Sin Embargo (2021)

Really good, hate totally unnecessary

This was really good, I don't get the hate at all.The ending felt a little rushed but the rest was well acted and well written. Nabi wasn't the tipical main character that makes dumb decisions because she's clueless, instead she seemed mature and I could acutally understand her thinking and relate to her decisions. GL second leads slayed and the other side couples weren't annoying at all, so I genuinely enjoyed their short scenes because they made the whole series a little less angsty.Good production and topic.
(I feel like people might hate on it because it isn't the usual fluffy romance, but I prefer this storyline much more over a total cliché)

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I cant stand the 2 protagonists , the rest of the cast are better

I started watching k dramas 2 weeks ago. This is my 1st series the main characters have annoyed me so much. This is both good and bad cause the acting is amazing since it actually got me mad lmao but I hate those kinds of people. Both of them are full of red flags, I wouldn't want people like that in my life(used to have ppl similar to that).
Im probably mad cause I can relate so much to the beanie guy and the childhood friend.
note: I'm on episode 7 writing this review because no matter the outcome or character development, I wanted to let people know to stay away from people with similar characteristics cause they are literally the definition of toxic its better to let that kind of people be together and away from others for the most part. I could drag this on and on but I don't know how this site works and if people can or will interact with this review. Omw to finish it, hopefully less mad and annoyed that I'm right now.

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Something that I have already seen

Story 7.5
-The straight side couple. The story was classic: two best friends that love each other, the characters were kinda funny so it was a great side couple, also because the relationship was healthy (differently from the main couple).
-The lesbian side couple. The story was still between two best friends that love each other but this time it was between two girls. You know I have rarely seen a lesbian couple so I was well impressed and glad. They were so cute and healthy!
-The main couple. All of you will agree with me saying that at the beginning the relationship was toxic. Jea-eon hasn't wanted a serious relationship with Nabi until episode 7/8 I think. On the contrary, there was the other guy. In my opinion, Na-bi should have acted differently: you can't treat a guy in a special way when you are in love, clearly in love, with someone else!

2- Acting 8
All of the actors did a really good job. I could feel their emotions and the passion of the characters. To make some examples I can think about some scenes:
- The kiss between Bit-na and Kyu Hyun was so good! I could feel that they wanted that kiss although she was drunk. 
- Sol and Seo's confession was also full of emotions. I could feel that both of them didn't want to lose the other.
- In all their scenes I could feel a strong connection between Na-bi and Jea-eon. When Na-bi was with Do Hyuk I couldn't feel the same. It was also thanks to the cameras being so near their faces but it is also the good acting that mattered.

3- Music 8
I enjoyed all the songs, in particular:
- Like a butterfly
- Fall in love

4- RW 6.5
I guess I will rewatch some scenes but not the entire show because of the toxic nature of the main relationship.

P.S. I don't consider the rw while rating

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Good Enough

Korean Drama 'Nevertheless,' gives a new perspective to college dramas.

The drama has a pretty original story, bold and original, about a toxic relationship that is acknowledged by the lead and yet she can't stop it. It has a realistic aspect to it and a more mature mood. However, the ending was pretty cliche and ruined what the drama had built. The personalities of the main characters, especially the male lead, were also a bit vague and they should have been portrayed better. However, the love triangle was interesting and the side characters were pretty entertaining and they added a lot to the story, with a unique flavor and strong stories.

Finally, the performances were enjoyable and the atmosphere that the drama created, along with the OST, quite beautiful.

So, overall, 7 out of 10.

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Needed character depth

It was blatantly obvious alright about what the drama was going to be about from the title. It didn't romanticise "toxic relationships" as some would say (I think people need to stop throwing the word "romanticise"around ) It relayed how people who find themselves in relationships like this think and analyse things. The show didn't hide the fact that that was the direction it was going to ,hence the title . I love slice of life dramas but this one lacked character depth, because that's what I was looking forward too. I understood the characters' mindsets but I was just annoyed there wasn't enough sensibility in the writing of their characters. One of the dramas I felt I wasted my time with,tbh.

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Kinda good, kinda bad

This k-drama is a rollercoaster of emotions and quality of plot.

The first ep was probably the worst in my opinion. The way they meet, the fact that they "fall in love at first sight", the way they become obsessed with each other??? That whole part was very strange, a bit like the typical cliché romance that a lot of k-dramas like to focus on. Their relationship doesn't get any better though, with them always going back and forth between liking and hating, wanting to be together and wanting to be alone, just a mess in general.

I see a lot of people hating on the ending, and I'd have to agree. The whole story was her realizing that he's not good for her and that she's happier when she's not thinking about him, but at the end she just jumps into his arms like nothing happened. Of course I was happy seeing them together, but I would have prefered if there was more learning/apologizing/realizing their feeling before they got together.

Yes, the story is very unrealistic and their relationship is very toxic, but I think there are some positives about this drama:
•The side couples: The fact that they included a queer couple makes me so happy. And the way they portraid them not wanting to ruin their friendship but at the same time wanting to express their feeling toward each other was so beautiful. 10/10 for that

•The cinematography: There were some scenes that were so beautifully shot that it made me want to eep watching. Also the fact that they never showed the ex-boyfriend / ex-girlfriend full frontal face and only shots of parts of their faces was genious, and such a small detail that I think maked a huge difference

•The acting: As bad as the story can be, the actors portraied it so well. It was almost lie you were living the story with them besides them

•SOME parts of their relationship: yes, it was toxic. yes, it was messy. But there were some parts of their story that made me root for them. The more gentle, intimate scenes between them were the refreshing parts of the plot.

Do I recommend? If you like cliché romance, yes. If you hate clichés, don't bother watching it

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I don't get the reason why people hate this

I saw some reviews and I must say that based on my expectations it was better than I thought. Not only it got a message but it inspired me. I've always been into art and stuff like that but I never got the motivation to for example draw. But as soon as I started watching it came through me. I started drawing people in school or finishing my old drawings. But let's not talk about my current hobby. This k-drama felt short and I liked it, there was a love triangle that I wanted for some reason. I feel like this drama is rewatchable but maybe it's just because I finished it like half an hour ago and I am thinking about it a lot. This drama is a good option for taking a break from detective or crime dramas because it's pure I would say. Anyway, I am going to prepare for school just to zone out every second so have a good day.

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I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one honestly.
At times, I loved the main character and the beginning back story of her got me hooked, but it didn't really have much of a payoff in the long run. I feel like the story goes no-where and just staggers, all while the characters do all the wrong things.
The actors that they chose to play them were okay at times, I did enjoy the narration of the main character a lot to give a more inside look of what her thoughts were. It helps make it feel more relatable like I'm also experiencing those emotions and feelings with her. The guy was okay, he's definitely good looking but I feel like they gave him no back story at all and just used him for the romantic part of the story.
As always, I loved the side characters and the way they were all styled. Bit-na's style was so eccentric and different than what I was used to seeing in the k-dramas that I've watched and it was really nice. Sol's story I wish got more screen-time and looking into because I love having the LGBTQ+ representation and story. I feel like a lot of people can relate to them on that and I just wanted more.
Overall, I feel like I wouldn't re-watch at all. I loved the art school setting and the potential, but the payoff was eh. I wanted to like it more, but it just dropped off at some point and became super predictable.

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A K-Drama Examining Unhealthy Relationships and Going against the Grain?

There's something to be said about a series that seems to be angling to be a critique of what is all too common in K-Dramas, or the romantic genre period. Rewarding the asshole, and sweeping their behavior under the rug, because that's what you do or expect.

"Nevertheless" is a fairly frustrating series to watch. The indecisiveness of the lead, and the manipulation of the love interest, made me want to throw objects at my television and computer screen. It was enough that I stopped watching the series in 2021 or so before deciding to resume in 2023.

In one instance, the writing appears self-aware enough not to play into the common cliches of K-Dramas, while at the same time playing right into them. By that I mean, Na-Bi's indecisiveness, or emotional vulnerability, and allowing herself to be strung along by Jae-Eon, while at the same time knowing that none of what's going on between them is sincere in the least (but she wants it to be real).

With Jae-Eon, it's clear that the script wants to play heavily into the "sympathy for the devil" angle with his character. That his reasons for being flighty, mean-spirited, and typically dishonest with the women he's with, is some act of self-protection. But it's hard to feel any empathy for his character when so much of what comes out of his mouth is dishonest or a half-truth. As the series progresses, his poessiveness and minimization of Na-Bi's feelings, and her relationships with other people (other men, really) don't do anything but want me to see her far, far away from him.

The supporting cast all appear to be sounding boards for Na-Bi's conscious and critical thinking skills that she's not using. They all see her going down a real self-destructive path by remaining with Jae-Eon, but they can only tell her how they feel about it, and ask her, "Do you really think this person is being honest with you?" And of course, Na-Bi remains indecisive and chooses not to listen to her instincts, even as Jae-Eon begins to mirror her ex-boyfriend (who made a sculpture of her in a sex position, for public viewing, without her consent) more and more.

The end of the show really seems to bring all the emotional turmoil together in the ninth and tenth episodes, where, after being emotionally yanked around by Jae-Eon, Na-Bi finally snaps and lays down the law. She won't allow this dude to manipulate her anymore, even if he decides to be honest and tell her that he has genuine feelings for her. And, for me, that would've been enough to give this series high markings, a 10/10. A K-Drama that doesn't feed into the bad feedback loop of "asshole gets the girl".

But, the show dismantles itself by pairing Na-Bi and Jae-Eon together in the end. And all because of a plot thread that would make it seem like their relationship is the stuff of "Star-crossed lovers". The show even appears to know that it's absolutely bonkers for Na-Bi to be with Jae-Eon. A line by the way of "I'll worry about that later" only seems to exist to dismiss arguments.

Overall, despite some stellar performances, the writing lets down what might've been a pretty solid drama. It's fairly reflective of the idea that something in the culture of South Korea really doesn't want to hold assholes like Jae-Eon accountable, because, not unlike the United States, so many of those types are the ones that get idolized as the ideal person.

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Irresistible Compulsion

Have you ever had an obsession, a craving or an addiction where you know, logically, this is not good for me but the impulse over rides the thought? This drama explores, from the FL point of view, how she becomes ensnared by the handsome ML. The attraction is intense, illogical and all consuming - when she is with him. There is a comment she makes about missing his smell that leads me to think pheromones are in play here.

On the surface Yoo Na Bi, played ably by Han So Hee , is attracted to handsome fellow artist Park Jae Eon (Song Kang whom I loved in Navillera) and he gives the impression he is interested too.

Where the drama gets interesting, for me, is in the psychological disparity between the actors intentions and actions. We learn very little about the motivations of the ML and are privy to the turmoil generated in the FL by her accepting the relationship limits.

Lots of good secondary relationships keep the story padded out in a good way. The 'hot' scenes are passionate and for their age context very realistic. There is some bad behaviour but then these are typical, flawed humans.

I found the drama mesmerising and even agree with the ending.

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