KDrama to Maybe Watch: Revolutionary Love (2017)

 Revolutionary Love (2017)

Grade: B-

16 Episodes, 60 minutes each

Viewing Platform: Netflix

Byun Hyuk, the playboy second son of the Gangsu group conglomerate, is just drifting through life, in and out of minor legal trouble and romantic relationships. His closest friend, Kwon Jae-hun, secretly hates Hyuk, for constantly having to clean up after the spoiled, clueless rich kid. Baek Jun accidentally crosses paths with Hyuk during one of her many part-time jobs and ends up assisting him, thinking he's just some cute guy down on his luck. If she knew Hyuk was Gangsu group's heir, she would have never helped him. What happens when Hyuk is kicked out for yet another scandal and starts to understand how most people live in the world? Will he appreciate the struggle and grind, or will he side with his father and older brother, in a cutthroat corporate world? How will Jae-hun deal with the growing attraction between his longtime friend Jun and his employer's son? And what will Jun do once she realizes Hyuk's connection with Gangsu group?

*This drama started off strong – cute sound effects, 4^th wall breaks, and even some “meta” type awareness with characters talking out loud to themselves and then the characters around them actually looking at them oddly, reacting to the crazy self-talk. The MA rating is because of 2 F-bombs, out of 16 hours of material, and there is some violence, but I wouldn't consider it more than a PG-13 rating. The main serious theme song was slightly distracting, as it contains the first 6 notes of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” (I'm guessing that song isn't well-known in Korea). Choi Si-won's character is reminiscent of a giant, clumsy puppy – not very smart, but enthusiastic and energetic – and he is SO fun to watch. But then the romance cools off, and Jun's character smacks of modern-day feminism because *spoiler alert* she “chooses herself” in the end, which also doesn't show any growth on her part since that's what she did all along. Then there isn't a clear “winner” between the two male leads until the last 5 minutes of the series, and it just feels unsatisfying. So while I probably won't watch this again, the first half is definitely fun.*