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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Fated to Love You" Episode 2

From hijinx to understanding, "Fated to Love You has worked it's way across the emotional spectrum to bring the main couple into a commiserative friendship. Both of them have been hurt by love, and both of them find comfort in sharing that hurt.

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In order to make the couple sleep together, all sorts of things go wrong. President Park and his sidekick, Mi-young's brother-in-law, drug Geon with an aphrodisiac, accidentally turn the number nine on his hotel door so that it looks like a six, Mi-young mistakes Geon's room for hers and voila, instant formula for baby-making. It's a goofy progression, but it was fun nonetheless, especially with the clever rice-cake making visuals the show used instead of showing the couple in bed.

As for the reactions for the very much unintended one night stand, Geon freaks out, making a loud show of his displeasure while quiet Mi-young attempts to absorb what has happened. They both follow similar paths: trying to understand, then finding out that their respective lovers have left them, and then struggle to cope with it. Geon's ballerina girlfriend has flown back to New York to accept the principal role in Swan Lake while Mi-young's laywer Min is a skeezy womanizer. When Min scolds her for taking his transgression personally, Geon overhears and seeks justice for her hurts so that he can experience that justice vicariously. It shows that he's not just a crazy, cackling, chaebol son, but someone with empathy.

There is the requisite makeover and Geon trumping Min viciously in the casino. What comes of it isn't so much the battle of the male egos, but the reaction of Mi-young. She enjoys being gussied up, but revenge doesn't make her feel any better. Watching Min grovel makes her uncomfortable, which is telling of her character. It also affects Geon who is touched by her genuine kindness. The situations are exaggerated and make use of K-drama tropes, but the interactions that stem from them, especially between Geon and Mi-young, are worth their weight in gold.

Jang Nara in particular fills the entire screen when she cries, or emotes pain, or smiles with joy. She's a visceral actor who makes everyone she works with better for the partnership. She quietly reacted to everything that Lawyer Min and Geon put her through, and her reactions garnered more attention than the men's boisterous fighting. That is powerful acting.

As for the second leads, we had moments of Se-ra regretting leaving Geon behind (even though she does it anyway) and Daniel visiting an orphanage. Each of them has a story. Se-ra wants to fulfill her dream that was almost stolen from her, and Daniel may have had a tough childhood. I'm fine with the fact that these two haven't been more developed because the main couple is so endearing.

The verdict on "Fated to Love You" is that it's adorable, fast paced, full of humor, and doesn't take itself too seriously. At the same time, it has some good things to say about human dilemmas and emotions. I am a fan.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Fated to Love You" is directed by Kim Hee-won-II, Lee Dong-yoon, written by Jo Jin-gook, Joo Chan-ok and features Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara, Choi Jin-hyuk and Wang Ji-won.

 

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