This great review by Des81022 November 2020 needs to be read when you decide to write a drama or movie review after you've watched it. It's what I call a "Thinking" one when you don't put your brain and your logic abilities at rest, taking everything for granted.
"I finished watching the series last night and I have to say that I only watched it because on the one hand, I wanted to find out what will happen to the secondary characters and the Ha-Joon Wi's character regarding his relationship with the dying writer and on the other hand, I'm a true book lover and I liked watching how things work in a publishing house. Other than that, this TV show failed to allow myself get immersed because of dune flaws that I couldn't shake off:
1. Too much product placement!!! I get it that Tv shows need sponsorship to get them up and running and it is something that you often see in Kdramas but this time it was quite distracting and annoying, especially some close-ups of specific logos and coffee brand!!
2. And let's not forget how often the main male character got in and out of different outfits, some quite outrageous (I'll never forget that awful leafy coat when they went to look at the apartment), that it was more about making fashion statements than adding anything at all to the character!!
3. Having watched Lee Jong-Suk in W and Pinocchio right before watching RIABB, I was really disappointed with his acting in this one. It felt like he was doing it just for the sake of it, like he wasn't very invested in his character, and he looked very fake; maybe because of the clothes he was wearing and the makeup he had; he didn't look like a man who's head over heels with his best friend; to be more precise, he didn't look manly at all!!! And those silly, goofy, trying-to-be-cute antics and declarations of love were so cringy that made me feel uncomfortable to watch!!! In one word, they were ridiculous!
4. NO chemistry whatsoever between the 2 main leads!!! No passion, no longing, no desire, no romantic/sexual tension! Their interactions were very blunt and more sibling like! So, that was a major turnoff!
All in all, if you have nothing better to watch, then go for it... but keep your expectations low."
I have decided to check out what Des81022 had pointed out about this series' flaws anyway. But after patiently watched it, I think that Des81022 gave it a 5/10 rating is still too generous. The leading male actor actually ruined it.
