This line managed to capture hearts and smiles across the world as the saga of Kim Bok Joo and Jeong Joon Hyung ended in January this year (I know, I know, I'm late).
And we learned last month that their onscreen chemistry materialized into something more off-screen as well (congrats my lovelies), which is partially what led me to finish this series and realize that yes, their chemistry and relationship was so natural and enviable that this show was bound to be a hit - and not to mention but the portrayal of friendships and families painted Bok Joo's life with vibrancy without neglecting our male lead.
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| Two Straws One Cup (I'm bad sorry) |
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| My favorite 13th Prince and Seohyun as his lover |
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| An antagonist from Doctors |
From the start, I was incredibly surprised when I learned that Lee Sung Kyung would be playing such a bubbly character considering her previous roles, and similarly that Nam Joo Hyuk, a previously silent, strong, hot guy would be playing an equally bubbly immature guy role, but I was excited, and not disappointed. If you've watched them in other dramas (Doctors and Scarlet Heart: Ryeo for me), throw any ideas you might have of typecasting away, because these two are convincing and good, fresh upcoming actors.
First things first, Bok Joo is a 21 year old (in Korean age) weightlifting ace whose main goal in life is to consume chicken, hang out with her friends, and do well at the sports university she attends. Her life gets a little more than a little twisted up when she meets an old classmate at the university, swimmer Jeong Joon Hyung. The pair do not quite get along, as his favorite way to pass time is teasing her publicly (this character coined the nickname Chubs - or Fatty in the Viki translation, amusingly enough). The characters were well-developed, as we watch Bok Joo grow up and see herself as a woman who believes she can and deserves love, as she hilariously falls for someone she can't be with. Her eventual shift in romance is both a little gloomy and pitiful yet also anticipated and supremely cute. On the flip side of this coin, we see Bok Joo's eventual love interest (come on, that's not a spoiler; it's obvious) developed as a childish and immature character who hides part of his truth behind his always happy facade. With Joon Hyung, we begin to see a theme of mental health emerge as well, which I believe was aptly handled by the show's writers. But, more on that later.
The friendships between the characters was portrayed very purely and aroused a sense of nostalgia, mainly because of how trusting and loyal they were to each other. Jo Hye Jung stole the show as Nan Hee, in my opinion, as she stood out as the most animated and with the most screen-time among minor characters. Joon Hyung's loyal friend and comic relief, Tae Kwon, did a good job as well despite his low screen time, even though I found his hinted romantic interest a little questionable... (who? You'll find out, but it's not very stressed). That might be another one of my qualms in this drama. The relationships between the main characters' friends felt a little forced and thrown away when the drama went into its second half, which made me a little sad, considering that they played quite a role in the two main characters' development. The development of these minor characters was explored, but perhaps not as deep as it could have been, but there was no sense of incompleteness in their story lines (except perhaps Nan Hee's aspirations), which was a merit in this show that is not often reflected in many dramas.
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| Bok Chicken: The best hangout |
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| Song Si Ho |
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| Jeong Jae Yi |
With Jae Yi, I'll discuss the themes of family in the show. Jae Yi represented not only a desire to grow up and be loved by Bok Joo, but also the bond that Joon Hyung held with his family (no spoilers, good luck folks 😜). Joon Hyung has a seemingly sweet relationship with his family, who support him through his hidden traumas that hinder his success. Similarly, Bok Joo overcomes her trials through support from her father and uncle, who hilariously adore her while constantly berating her. On the other hand, the characters with less support from their family, such as Si Ho and Soon Ok (Bok Joo's other friend), have a tougher time finding what they want, and Si Ho serves as Bok Joo's foil as someone who is living their parent's dreams. Except in Bok Joo's case, when it comes down to it, her father is willing to support her in her dreams, rather than viciously living through her vicariously while sacrificing her happiness and health. That is why Si Ho's cathartic moment of self-realization is so impressive in her character development.
This perhaps leads to a different problem: one of the actual plot and antagonist. Sure, there was no person that served as the conflict during the last few episodes of the show, but to be honest, there was very little. I am sure that only die hard fans interested in seeing more of the two main characters' relationships watched all 16 episodes without skipping the last few, because of how lacking they were in any action: in a word, they were rather boring. With its plot, I believe the show could have been 12 episodes instead of a full 16, but at least fans of the relationship got to see uninterrupted fluff in the last few episodes.
Now, to the last point I'm going to make: the importance of mental health, and finding yourself. Of course, as an art piece about growing up, our characters are faced with dilemmas that force them to decide who they want to be and what they want to do in life, which sometimes end positively, and other times completely contradictory to others' expectations, but never without hope. In this journey, our characters are met with obstacles that mark the psyche of so many in the real world that ask themselves these questions, such as signs of trauma, depression, and other disorders that are behind the veneer of comedy that Weightlifting Fairy is. The story is one of growing up and struggling in the process to find out what you truly want in life. Bok Joo, Joon Hyung, Si Ho, Jae Yi, and a couple of their friends find out this truth by the end of the show, without any loose ends or neglected characters. This may be a bit of a stylistic choice that I disagree with, since I do believe that the audience ought to stay guessing in some situations. I also perhaps disagree with the execution that ends the show on a note that is so full of sunshine and happiness, that it overshadows (hah, oxymoronic) certain themes developed in the show.
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| Cuties <3 |
Yet, stylistic choices apart, this show was truly funny, and the very definition of feel-good, due to its light treatment of many issues, and the quick resolution of conflicts. The show had me thinking and sighing (with adoration) and nostalgic, and was well-executed. Not to mention, the cameos pleasantly surprised us all and were very anticipated as well (Seohyun, Jisoo, Lee Jong Suk) and are placed very comically. I would rate this show an 8.5/10, and recommend it if you're in the mood for some enviable romance and a belly full of laughs to go with it.
I look forward to watching Lee Sung Kyung's next drama, as she was proven herself a versatile actress (perhaps in a very different role, to see her shine in a multitude of variety in roles), and am so excited to see Bride of the Water God (a manhwa I did not unfortunately like) with Nam Joo Hyuk in a seemingly much more silent, hot guy role (back to that, eh?). I applaud the show for being so sweet and cute, and recommend it if you're up for some light-hearted romance! Good job, Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk. You've solidified on my list of most liked and anticipated young actors.
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Any comments? Questions? Concerns? Comment and let us know!
This has been and continues to be,
Ritz 💕
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