First Take: Discovery of Love

Just when you think I'm talking way too much about romcoms, well, think again. Here's another one to shove into your lovely faces: KBS's Discovery of Love. 2014 is the year of love (and scandals) so why not bring in a new one?

Tae-ha (Eric Mun) and Yeo-reum (Jung Yu-mi) have been dating for five years when they suddenly break up. Fast forward five years later, Yeo-reum is now with a lovely plastic surgeon in the form of Ha-jin (Sung Joon). An unexpected event happen and Yeo-reum and Tae-ha find each other getting involved with one another once again.

I... don't... know how I feel about Discovery of Love. It's not terrible. It's just not... great. Not as great as how other people seem to be responding to it. It just didn't wow me, and I think It's Okay That's Love and Marriage Not Dating has a lot to do with it. Those two are just extremely charming right off the bat that anything less will fall short. It's hard to follow up to those two in my eyes.

One thing you see right away is the look of the drama. It's very, for lack of better word, cable. The subdued pastel colors, the cute little pop-ups and split screens, the indie sound BGMs, it's a common feature in cable romcoms of tvN and jTBC. I guess this type of presentation is no longer exclusive to cable. It's not bad so I'm not complaining.

But the thing about Discovery of Love is that I don't really know what it wants to do. It keeps going back and forth between quirky romance to slice of life but the transition feels awkward and sloppy. Also I don't really understand the whole interview aspect that they're trying to do. At first I thought ooh that's cool, they're trying the mockumentary style. But it doesn't really make sense since two characters can have conversations with each other during these interviews even though they're in different locations. How does that even work? Don't deal with conflict off screen, please. That's what makes dramas, or movies, good.

On top of that, don't get me started on the characters. They're not really trying to be likable at all. I'm not asking for saints here, but so far there's really nothing I like about the main three characters. I can see the good parts: Yeo-reum is (supposed to come across as) passionate and puts her heart on her sleeve, Ha-jin is caring and sweet, and Tae-ha is just damn hot. But there's an underbelly that just leaves a bitter after taste. Like how Yeo-reum and Ha-jin's relationship feels manipulative (she secretly follows him to a date he's having behind her back, he electronically follows her when she blacks out in a place she often goes to but he doesn't bother looking), or the fact that Tae-ha is still clinging to the bits of memories of a relationship that ended five years ago. It's like you're not even trying to get over her. Basically I'm not convinced I should root for any of them.

If anything, I am looking forward to the camaraderie between Yeo-reum, Sol (Kim Seul-gi), and Joon-ho (Yoon Hyun-min), although that might go down the gutter since Sol and Joon-ho have a possible love line. But I love both Kim Seul-gi and Yoon Hyun-min in the previous times I've seen them, and so far their characters are cute and not the least annoying. I'm also looking forward to Yoon Jin-yi who I've only seen in brief cameo roles in Reply 1994 and It's Okay That's Love but I get excited every time I see her. Hopefully her character will be as charming as she is.

I seem to be part of a minor few having lukewarm feelings for it. Damn you It's Okay That's Love! No drama can trump you. Sorry y'all. Maybe Secret Door, but we'll see. I'll be looking forward to Lee Je-hoon and Han Suk-gyu screaming their heads off at each other. That'll be fantastic. It's literally the one scene I want to see. And maybe some sweet hugs before their ultimate demise. Muhaha. (I'm seriously looking forward to that drama jeez, come soon...)

I'll probably end up watching next week's episodes since I want to know about Yoon Jin-yi's character and maybe give hope that this drama may get better. But I don't know man. First impressions are important, and so far this drama is giving me nothin'.