Destined with You (2023)

Was better as horror-romedy than thriller-romance.

I came here to say that I NEVER rewatch a series. Aside from Arang and The Magistrate, not once I have rewatched a show, but after I caught up with the latest episode, I went back and rewatched this show from episode 1 again.

Honestly, just wanted to applaud some key things that I overlooked the first time while being in awe of Rowoon’s height and insane bod (my god he is so delicious but I digress). First, I only love Rowoon in this show as much as I do because Bo Ah’s character made Jang Shin Yu SO much more lovable. Her expressions and little sighs are absolutely adorable. But I can see why she wouldn’t get along with people. She’s dorky AF, in the most adorable but weird and socially awkward kind of manner. I don’t see her doing very well in the basic girl friendship and that’s why I find her loneliness so believable because it also mirror’s Jang Shin Yu’s loneliness and social awkwardness. His halting and holier-than-thou manner of speech is so strange that it would only make sense if Hong Joo was on the same page as him.

I also want to make note of how incredible the soundtrack, the foley and the music design is. I didn’t notice it the first time I watched each episode, but on my re-watch I have to say, this show would not be 50% as effective without the amazing score. Every scene in which Rowoon feels all the feels, I feel it too because of how good the soundtrack is. All the magic in the air is around me too because of how magical the music is.

That being said, also 5000 levels of kudos to director-writer-editor team wow holy crap. They managed to bring out ALL the amazingly weird yet hot-AF-to-watch ticks in Rowoon’s acting. All that teeth gritting, jaw clenching, neck adjusting, close up shots of hands, little eyebrow ticks, hands crawling up his body wow like they really went crazy on making us feel all the sensual and bodily feels while watching Rowoon deal with his curse. I literally felt myself getting hot watching those red hands crawl up his body wtf LOL

ANYWAY, I did not expect this drama to be as good as it is. I know its not done yet, but honestly, I’ve already gotten so much enjoyment out of it, I don’t expect to lower it by many stars, if at all, regardless of how it ends.

Edit//
Okay so it ended. I’m not completely disappointed in the way it went given that this was basically fluff romance but I have to say, the team did a better job with the first half in which it was horror-romance than they did with the second half with a thriller-romance plot because a lot of things unravelled in the last three episodes. For one, MAJOR a disappointment with Shin Yu’s mom’s divorce trajectory. That dad did not deserve the ending they gave him. I did not appreciate that Shin Yu did not once stand up for Hong Joo in front of his dad and in the end Shin Yu resolved it with a shit*y and lame reason that will eventually work against Hong Joo in the long run because his dad will use that reason against her and call it entrapment. His dad is trashy, end of story. I docked a whole star just for how much screen time his dad got in the end. Thriller wise, pretty loosely written but entertaining nonetheless. I came for the horror romance and stayed for the Rowoon visuals ngl. Anyway, 7 stars for keeping me entertained. Would have stayed at 9 had patriarchal bulls**t and useless parental drama not sidelined everything else in the last half of the story.

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Destined or Delivered?

The beginning concept of this series is interesting. Yet, how it is executed is quite touch and go. You can see where the story gains momentum in explaining the links of the past and present closer to the last episodes. However, the spell book and alternate spell book really could have been left out. (or a different link reveal could have worked better) The point of the Shaman explaining the box in retrospect makes the 'destined' feel more 'delivered' to deploy unknown possibilities. Besides that, the comedic parts of this romcom were entertaining and worth the break from all the seriousness of the storyline. The 'crazy' people throughout the series kept you guessing and asking 'why' such angst against the FL (which never was quite explained but just assumed) The overall drama is a solid watch of a unique mix of romance, comedy, mystery and drama.

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Wasted Potential

This show could have been so much better if it weren't for the lazy writing and screenplay.

I was really excited about this series and had no issue for at least the 1st maybe 6 episodes even when the setting was a bit cliché (handsome rich guy falling for an ordinary girl after a casual not so great encounter). The issue I have with the drama is the cheating which is conveniently being downplayed. Sin-yu (who is of sane mind and a brilliant lawyer) is just casually cheating on his to-be wife because apparently a love spell was cast. I mean c'mon, who would believe that, let alone a well learned lawyer. Okay, let's even play the devil's advocate and assume the spell actually works- why on earth would he not just end the engagement and pursue his new love interest? Also, why do they have to try so hard to make Sin-yu's fiancé unlikeable (even giving her a man on the side too) so they can justify the cheating. What's even worse is this FML (who is also of sane mind, and an adult- and not under any spell) suddenly falls out of love with a capable, available man she has been eyeing and even confessed to (and he is also starting to like her back) and knowingly falls in love with a taken man (engaged to an old acquaintance) who is about to get married. Ridiculous and makes no rational sense for me. The plot had so much potential (or so I thought) from one Kdrama fan to another, save your time and don't watch this drama.

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Where did the plot GO?

What is it with Netflix and these dumb-down dramas?
Whatever happened to the story? For the first half, it may have been silly but like good silly since it had a PLOT to follow. The spells and the curse were interesting. But then suddenly the plot disappeared and we were left with nothing to support this story other than the romance.
So by the end of it, I am left with nothing but confusion, disappointment, and a lot of questions left unanswered. For example:
Didn’t he like have a degenerative disease? What about the love spell, was that ever a thing? There was supposed to be a curse…what happened to it? The crazy stalker was present in both timelines did that mean something? How did he know how to make spells? Am I just missing something? did I miss a whole ass episode where all of this got explained??

Yeah, they were cute and had a ton of chemistry but by the end, there were 0 explanations. It’s like it was an entirely different drama in the second half.

Also, it felt like they had good actors who were terribly underused. Why have Lee Pilmo and Lee Taeri in your cast when they barely appear? They didn't even get proper storylines they were just there to fill space with some sublevel plotlines. Wasted talent in my opinion.

Other than that the other actors did fine. Jo Boah has a talent for obnoxious characters, she plays them too well really. Rowon we can agree, had that good scene at the beginning of ep 16, the rest he did what any other handsome idol/actor does well: play the perfect, cold, stone-faced character. He did have a lot of smiles and puppy eyes for Jo Boah in the end though. The rest of the cast was nothing but fillers since they did not add much to the story. Well maybe a little bit the second ML, I kinda want to see him do an ML gig soon, I saw him in Bad Prosecutor too and I liked him and his acting.

The OST was fine, the production great, the CGI was passable, and the budget was budgeting.
In conclusion, the drama was a letdown since I quite enjoyed the beginning. I don't know what is going around lately with these rom-coms that show on Netflix. Good-looking, popular leads with a high budget and good production will only get you so far. They need to step up their script game because, CHILD how can you spend so much money on something that's this lacking, underfinished, AND JUST SO BAD?

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You will either love it or hate it no in between. Here's a list of Pros & Cons.

I happen to fall on the side where I loved the series. I understand some of the criticism & where people are coming from but also I don't get some of the hate. For examples some people were hating on the Female Lead for being 'silly' & then praise the Male Lead. Yet if you think about it both are similar.. Male Lead was also 'silly'. Also some people didn't understand the plot so they dropped it.. maybe bc you're supposed to stick around & find out more about the plot? lol how are you supposed to find out more about the story if you just drop it bc you're not getting answers. WHETHER YOU WILL WATCH THIS DRAMA OR NOT I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU WATCH EPISODE 14. The backstory, the acting, the music etc were amazing.. my favorite episode of the whole series by far very well done.

Pros:
• Cute Romcom
• Thrilling/Suspenseful
• ML/FL Great Chemistry
• Interesting backstory
• Good character development
• Great OST

Cons:
• Plot all over the place
• Support Leads sucked/Coworkers super annoying pretty much unbearable
• Dragged out
• The spells could've been done better it kind of lost importance as it went

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Turned out to be an addictive watch

I started the first episode and before I knew it I had finished 6 episodes. This was different from what I expected, I thought it would be too cheesy for me. The first episode with the dark supernatural opening hooked me in even though this show so far is not dark, it is a light comedy romance. The storyline is unique and I think the writing is good. This made me laugh so hard in some parts, the ML being "entranced" by the FL is so over the top. She did a good job with her reactions to his professions of love for her, its to a point she's about to pound her head on the wall out of frustration. It seems there's a bit of be careful what you wish for.

Get a Grip Shin Yu!

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Cinderella meets Dark Magic and some other stuff...

This started off kind off meeh, with an abundance of over the top annoying characters and the some kind of familier vibe that took me back to 100 days my prince (same writer) that had me waiting for Rowoon to start saying Hoho in this kind of awkward I am above you kind of tone... Just that I never got the Hoho...

In this modern and anciant Cinderella meets black magic and stalking drama. Equipped with the evil (highly annoying) step sisters in the form of colleagues, an evil step mother (the second female lead) and yes a prince (our lead). Some may find this drama messy with a lot of subplots and stuff that don't really add anything to the plot. which is kind of true but if you can just ignore that stuff and instead think of it as diversions that are there to make it harder to guess the main plot and have you guessing (done kind of poorly) you may find them ok...

What ups the score is the character development of our leads, the mom, the grandma and the fact that I love my messy clichefests. And I do feel that I have to warn you that even though Rowoon did a good job and looks like he was created to look to perfect, there is a high probability for SLS as Ha Joon plays his character to perfection and makes a damn good second male lead.

So this is not for those who need the plot to actually make sense or have some kind of consistency.I would be lying if I said this did have any of that. This is more of a watch for those who can appreciate turning off their brain for a while. Just watch some pretty scenery, one of dramalands most beautifully filmed bloody death scenes as well as a bunch very good looking leads. In a place where those who are evil are really evil and you can never be fully sure about those who are supposed to be good.

And as you can see this works perfectly for me in my current mood, but is defiantly not for everyone.

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A drama with potential, let down by lack of finesse.

The writer, Noh Ji Sul, penned the full-on, tear-stained melo, Scent of a Woman and also 100 Days My Prince (which I haven’t seen). Here we have out and out romcom for the first half and melo-drama for the last part. It’s worth noting that the genre tags are romance and drama, not romcom. It seems she likes extremes and she mixes them here in line with the current trend of fudging genres.

Being used to fixed genres it can sit uncomfortably when they are blended. A great deal of viewer enjoyment comes from having expectations fulfilled. When they are not the viewer is pulled out of the world of the story to deal with their own reactions. You can see it reflected in the comments section for this show. However, in the constant search for something new and different I can see this trend continuing and no doubt we will all adjust our expectations accordingly.

This story is set in two different time periods but the movement between them is somewhat random. Sometimes there are links via dreams, other times were are just catapulted back, which felt disjointed. Some visual/cinematic clues would have gone a long way to smooth the jumps and wouldn’t have been hard to implement. Just part of the overall lack of finesse I mentioned in the subject line.

Even in the present, the timeline was repeatedly twisted up. Once or twice will have the desired effect of increasing tension, but when used too much, you know you are being manipulated and it becomes annoying.

The plot in the past could have occupied a whole drama in itself but was rushed through. I felt the balance in the overall story was off, particularly as I spent the first five episodes twiddling my thumbs in the present time waiting for something to happen. If the writer, and later, the director/editor had decided on a more even weight and distribution throughout between past and present it would have woven a better and more compelling story.

I was puzzled in the first two thirds of the show why they should like each other at all. There were very few interactions that could build attraction and yet all of a sudden there was undying love. Later on the chemistry really worked and drew me in, becoming much more believable. But the viewer needed more ground to stand on early in the piece to give it credibility and a more clever weaving in of the backstory would have solved the problem.

The opening episodes are really at a romcom level, and the action is highly exaggerated to suit that type of presentation. But it does tend to undermine the credibility of the emotions to the point that I felt character integrity was being sacrificed for the sake of a joke. Whereas at the end credibility was sacrificed for a somewhat ridiculous stalker plot.

Rowoon has been very busy in some top-rated dramas in the last few years and he’s not stopping. Is he more than a pretty face? Well he does a decent job here, although his perfect good looks need to be ruffled a little more to really convince. I liked Jo Bo Ah’s performance better, and she is also an actor on the rise with some noteworthy performances on her CV.

In supporting roles, Park Kyung Hye gave a brilliant comedic performance as the desperate Son Sae Byeol, deliciously contorting her face like a slapped arse for most of the time. And Hyun Bong Sik oozed as the slightly sleazy manager Gong Seo Gu.

The cinematography in the historical section is beautifully done, with great use of colour and contrast. There’s some traditional fireworks and those scenes were very beautiful. I’d really love to see those myself - one for the bucket list…

What’s the line between accepted notation and cliché? Is it a matter of viewer perception? For me the accepted notations, such as flickering lights meaning spooky etc, were just too frequent not to fall into tired cliché. There was a distinct lack of imagination and freshness in dealing with the supernatural aspects which really should be laid at the door of the director. As far as the script goes, there’s not a lot of subtlety. It gets the job done rather than looking for novelty. You won’t have to read between any lines here.

Finally, it really isn’t hard to decide what season a drama takes place in. And here it was all over the place. People wearing shorts at Christmas, everything full green and verdant in the depths of winter. Talking about being cold and then hanging out outside. Just unnecessary, sloppy production.

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Better read the reviews first and then decide for yourself

In my opinion this was a nice story that actually had a lot of potential but was kind of done wrong by the writer/director.

I really enjoyed the acting, the cast was nice, especially the leads Jo Bo AH, Rowoon and Ha Joon.
I must say their scenes together were so funny and I'm actually glad I got to "meet" FL and 2ML for the first time in this drama (I will make sure to check their other projects as well). As per Rowoon, I wasn't expecting him to pull off such funny scenes. He was something else. And let's not mention his visuals... <3 I heard he lost some pounds in purpose to fit the character's description and that's to be appreciated actually.

Jo Bo Ah on the other hand seems like a more experienced actress to me and I think she can be greater than this, given a proper script. She can do wonders with her eyes only and oh ma gawd Bo Ah in dark long hair is so so pretty and attractive.

Ha Joon...Ha Joon.. Ha Joon! I'm invested in this guy now. :p So handsome and I think his character turned out great because of him. So funny, yet so manly and responsible/helpful towards the leads although he wanted Hong Jo to like him instead. And that stirr he caused in the City Hall for exposing the Major... just what I expected from such a man :p

But back to the drama :p
I would've preferred they got into more depth with the characters' back stories. Given all the dramas I've watched, the ones with detailed back stories are the ones I like the most. There was this scene Hong Jo holds her father's death anniversary where Shin Yu accompanies her and they get to share some vulnerable moments that I really liked. She had no family, lived alone, ate alone, had no friends whatsoever. They could've at least had Shin Yu move in with her. But no... instead they made us wait 5 decades for a kiss or so. And those romantic moments weren't always a hit for me. Even Mr. Kong and Ms. Ma shared a kiss or got intimate with each other faster than the leads :p

I liked how all three leads got to somehow improve themselves. how their story together changed all three of them (do not ask me to consider Yoon Na Yeon a lead. Just don't!)

So yeah, all in all I say it needed a better script/directing with the repetitive lines, the depth of the characters, the development of the backstories, the conjunction of the horror/romantic elements. Can't say I plan on rewatching it. Not soon at least.

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the acting is crazy

first i’d like to say i just started this because of rowoon. i wasn’t expecting anything from it but it’s actually so good. i watch it really fast like in 2 days or something. the storyline is good but not great. the thing i love the most about it is the acting. both rowoon and bo ah shows the emotions really well. i feel like it’s happening right in front of me when im watching it. especially the scenes in the past, like when aeng cho died i literally cried for 2 hours and it wasnt even that emotional, but the acting was top notch so i cried a lot. it was funny too. i laughed so hard sometimes.
the mist memorable scene was the octopus scene i think. it was so funny and cute, i watched it like 19 times.
the chemistry between them is also amazing they look like an actual couple.
overall it’s really good and you should definitely give it a shot!

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A Captivating Blend of Romance, Fantasy, and Law. Give it a try.

"Destined with You" is a mesmerizing Korean drama that effortlessly weaves together elements of romance, fantasy, drama, and law to create a truly unique and engaging viewing experience. While some may dismiss it as boring, this series offers a refreshing departure from conventional K-drama narratives, making it a must-watch for those looking for something different.

One of the most striking aspects of "Destined with You" is its ability to merge seemingly unrelated themes - the mundane life of a civil servant and a centuries-old curse - into a captivating storyline. Lee Hong Jo, portrayed brilliantly by Jo Bo Ah, is a character who embodies the strength and resilience of an ordinary person faced with extraordinary circumstances. Her journey from a lonely, low-grade civil servant to the possessor of a mysterious wooden chest key is both heartwarming and relatable. Jo Bo Ah's performance brings a genuine and endearing quality to her character, making viewers empathize with her struggles and root for her success.

On the other hand, Rowoon's portrayal of Jang Shin Yu, a charismatic and talented lawyer plagued by an unexplained family curse, is equally captivating. Rowoon effortlessly brings out the layers of complexity in Shin Yu's character, from his outwardly successful persona to his inner turmoil. His chemistry with Jo Bo Ah is undeniable and adds a layer of authenticity to their budding romance.

The fantasy element in "Destined with You" is a breath of fresh air, adding a unique twist to the story. The curse that binds Shin Yu's family for generations adds a layer of intrigue and mystery, making each episode a revelation. As the characters work together to uncover the secrets of the curse, the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

Moreover, the legal backdrop of the drama adds depth and complexity to the storyline. It provides a glimpse into the challenges and dilemmas faced by lawyers while offering a realistic portrayal of the legal world. The legal cases in the series are not just a backdrop but are intricately woven into the narrative, creating a seamless blend of law and romance.

In summary, "Destined with You" is far from boring; it's a hidden gem in the world of Korean dramas. It boasts strong performances from its lead actors, a unique and captivating storyline, and a perfect balance of romance, fantasy, drama, and law. So, ignore the haters and give this series a chance. It's a fantastic and definitely worth watching drama that will leave you eagerly awaiting each new episode.

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