Manyeoeui Yeonae

Let's Brew Laughs & Some Abraca〰Boom〰Shakalaka.

Herein is a cauldron of romcom excellence. Is it a bit silly? Absolutely, but there's enough good directing, acting, & writing to balance it out. (Just look at the team!). Poof! This is a potion of loves, laughs, & crackling sparks of electricity far exceeding my low expectations. It all makes AW💘 fly.

There's no boil, boil, trouble or toil about it. If a viewer doesn't like AW💘, then that viewer doesn't like simple romcoms that are a happy lift to life's drudgery. If you don't like rom-coms, why are you even watching this? I can't make sense of its rating, particularly in comparison to worse shows that are rated higher. This show just does it for me; AW💘 Is under appreciated. On paper it's mostly standard stuff, but the execution is well above average. I attribute it to the 2 leads; it's not something I can argue out w/ words, it's more the way they make me feel, but we'll give it a go anyway.

"Are you sure it's an exclusive?" They both put on school uniforms, even though they are each over 30. Ban's coworker looks concerned, "What's my nickname?" She's practically carefree. "The Witch!" She gives him an evil look as she corrects: "Gwanghwamun Antenna!" Her target today is an actor (soon-to-be politician). He looks like the perfect man, but he's got a side piece & an illegitimate dtr. He's at the school for an appearance, but he's also there to see his 2nd family. Ban is a reporter - school uniform & all. She & her assistant end up being chased by school security - & he was paying attention during the morning's self-defense class put on by the police. He's gaining on them. She's desperate.

In the meantime, our ML is a saint. He's spending his day in a Santa outfit handing out toys to disadvantaged kids.

How would these 2 ever meet? She steals one of the kid's bikes. That's how. He chases her... for miles. He's tenacious that way. There they go, on one of Seoul's 16-lane thruways; her pedaling, him running.

AW💘 has pithy repertoire. Screenwriter Ban Ki Ri also wrote the excellent Missing: The Other Side-8.3, & director, Lee Jeong Hyo, gave us a string of hits including Romance Is a Bonus Book-7.9 & Crash Landing on You-9.1. Our FL, "Ban" Ji Yun is ruthless & w/o empathy. She tells the children who our ML gathered in her employer's lobby that there is NO SANTA! (The sooner they learn about the big, cold world, the better.) Our delish ML, "Ha", responds: "If Santa's not real, how about witches?" Her response is emphatic: "What's wrong w/ a witch? It's better than Snow White who only depends on others... an independent witch is 💯×s better." So Ban declares, while standing under the 'Trouble Maker Magazine' sign designating her place of employment.

Naturally, these 2 loathe e/o from the start. But these two will connect. They connect like a giant puzzle made out of hot water bottles. Everything fits snug & cozy & warm. The heat just radiates.

After the 🎅 Incident, she overhears her coworkers snickering about her. "A witch like that can never get married!" Well, she's 39 & no one's nibbling. They could have a point. Her mother tells her to get married -daily- but it's had nil effect. She could die alone in her apartment & it could be weeks before anyone knows! Her fish would die! The subject of marriage takes her to a dark place. She almost got married... Her fiance, No Shi Hoon (Han Jae Suk of Should My Tears Show), disappeared. Now, Oma is near panicked: "You're almost too old to have a baby!" So mom's a regular at the Shaman's. Officially, the shaman says that Ban lacks yang energy, but unofficially: "Your dtr is "a dirty witch w/ the energy of a viper!" - This shaman is on point!.

One might expect that when she took that elevator away from him, the kids, & the lobby, that they wouldn't see e/o again anytime soon. Fate intervened later that /very/ night, though. She's at a company dinner & he was invited out by a friend. He sees her get embarrassed 〰 very publicly 〰 & he, the 🎅-soul that he is, takes pity. It's a kissing contest. They share a doozie.

Next day: Mom drags Ban, under protest, to the shaman's. Handyman Ha happens to be in another room working on some repairs. He hears it all, particularly mom's sobbing over her daughter's lonely existence. After the literal beat down at the shaman's, Ban goes & gets drunk.

The one friend Ban has (Ra Mi Ran of Reply 1988-8.6 is Na Rae) married a guy she hates. It is so weird to see Ms Ra playing a giggly woman! She's usually authoritative. She even acts cute w/ her husband. It made me chuckle, & it made me uncomfortable at the same time. They have a wonderful time together, the 4 of them, at Na-Raes' restaurant. "All of her relationships started when she was drunk," we hear from Na-Rae. Ha is /already/ headed out to help her 〰 a bad habit he formed rather quickly. He finds & helps her. She helps herself to /him/. Then she sees his resident card... And his DOB. She is 1.4 decades older than he. 😱

OUT! GET OUT!

What she doesn't know is that he's moved in w/ his friend, right next door to her. He also ends up in a dispute w/ her company which lands him as her assistant as part of the settlement. They won't be able to avoid e/o. At the same time, she's made an enemy. The actor she exposed is ambitious & he sued her over her story. Things like that don't work against Ban, so he's resorted to more drastic (violent) measures. Ban's boss has charged her new assistant w/ keeping her safe. She can't shake this kid.

That balance of the show is them drawing closer, her being in bigtime denial, & the fiance popping back up making a mess of things. There's a couple of cute 2ndary couples & there's lots of hanging at Na-Rae's place.

The show does go beneath the surface a few inches to examine how society views older women & younger men. Society is actually like cat fur. It stands on end when we see something too unfamiliar. A fundamental problem, beyond the darkness that inhabits the human heart, is a lack of exposure. The biggest obstacle to a couple who doesn't fit into the everyday mold is the pressure put on them by everybody else. If you're about to go into an atypical relationship, be willing to leave family & friends behind. You'll likely be able to reconcile, in time. Iif not, then your F&F are entirely too controlling, & leaving was the right move anyway. These issues are for the couple to work out. Why do the rest of us need to have any opinion on it? As w/ every relationship, it depends on the two individuals. People born on the same day at the same time might be the worst couple ever. With all that being said, a big age gap is nothing compared to looks or weight disparity. If a good looking guy marries a woman who doesn't seem his physical equal (or visa-versa) there'll be no end of damaged people making damaging comments.

There are many quality touches in AW💘. Over a misunderstanding, Ban gets into a fight w/ a woman in a hotel lobby. They don't show the fight. They show a scant second before, & then how everybody's disheveled & miserable at the police station later. I like the way they did it. "Cut out the scar & the flower will blossom again": The mostly dead plant is a metaphor for their love lives. There's numerous scenes of them in the iconic & comforting courtyard of her apartment complex. It creates a cozy feeling.

Speaking of cat hair, early on Ban's hair looks awful. Cat lovers know that, depending on a cat's mood or current state of mind, their coats can change instantly. Her hair seems to do that. In the beginning of the show it looks dry w/ split ends & severely parted in the middle. It's unattractive. As time goes on it gets softer & silkier looking. 2 weddings are canceled. The 1st time ruins her, the 2nd brings her back to life. When she's back to work after the wedding is canceled, she's alive again, but her hair is back to matted down & straight, w/ no personality. It's a severe look. It starts softening back up again when she & Ha slowly start to get together again. She's definitely a cat

She looks pretty amazing most days. Some of her outfits are dreadful ~ in any culture. But most of them are artful & many of them are sexy. AW💘 is also shoe p0rn. She's got a set of black spike heeled platforms w/ a hot pink platform bottom. Oh, I L😍VE them.

The office could have been better. Her coworkers are cartoonish. Apparently, in Korea, they love corporate shucking & jiving - more accurately shucking, tucking & ducking. They opted for something simple-minded. The storyline w/ her ex is almost boring, but that might be by design. Her interaction w/ Ha is exciting & the contrast is palpable. It's quite sad, though. Especially for her ex. He got a bad deal. His own passiveness, more than anything else, is what caused his misery.

It's the romance that makes AW💘 worth watching, though. Mr. Park went on to super-stardom b/c he is adorable. Ms Uhm's laugh is fantastic. Their kissing is hot. The way he holds her face in his hands is sexy & intimate. They feel intimate. For a plant or hyacinth metaphor, the viewer can feel roots growing between them.

Don't watch the show & go on your merry way, b/c there's a few "don'ts" to be gleaned from these 16 episodes. Don't stare. Don't lose control of your facial expressions. Don't forget to be kind & considerate. Don't try to control anyone. Don't ask the obvious questions that this person(s) has fielded 1000 times already. Don't point the finger at them, even if they're different. Don't be another @$$hole. Mind your own business.

Stay Sexy, Seoul!

QUOTES🗣

She must have saved the country in her prior life

Regardless of east or west, clothes are your wings.

Actually, I was mad at myself, not you.

The important thing is not the proposal but your heart.

〰🖍 IMHO

🎬8 🖊〰7.7 🎭8.3 💓 8.3 🦋8.7 🌞 8 🎨7.6 ⚡4 🎵6.5 😅8.4 🤔4.8 🔚8.4

Shazams: Hello, by Joohee

Age. 15+

I really enjoyed it. The story was very well written and it was funny, cute, heartfelt... everything you need. Park was gorgeous, hot and cute in this one. I recommend it.

What can I say anything that Jung Hwa is in I can get into for some reason. She does not put you to sleep. Add Mi-Ran to this and you have one good drama. I know that all the females rant about PSJ, but us males like Jung Hwa at least I do. It's very hard to describe this so here goes . Jung Hwa stars as a reporter who doesn't date and is very strict where she works with the people that work for her. One day the PSJ guy enters her life and develops a huge crush on her and even gets a job where she is at to get closer to her, like who wouldn't want to get closer to Jung Hwa. Anyway the usual sparks fly and then enter her ex boyfriend to try and ruin things but the ending I am sure you can probably guess it. I really recommend this series and would definitely watch it again. Solid acting on all parts and makes you kind of feel like you are in their as well.

This is a surprisingly engaging and well constructed series. There is a realistic but not painful love triangle then the dating after that which keeps things interesting to the complete ending. The characters are likeable even the mother who is a refreshing change. No contrived villains. The age is the main obstacle but I like the way they dealt with the issues in a funny but not heavy way. Uhm Jung Hwa makes her character a sympathetic feisty and likeable career woman. It could easily have been cringeworthy if she overdid it but she doesn't. And although she is actually 20 years older than PSJ it didn't feel icky or wrong. Park Seo Joon displays a range of acting talent here from good comedic timing to passionate love. Fight for My Way is still PSJ;s best show but among the rom coms A Witch's Love is the most engaging. She Was Pretty was painful and Secretary Kim was simplistic. One of the few faults is some of the acting cute and in love was borderline painful but these parts are brief. The director of this show did Crash Landing so you are in good hands. Worth a watch.

This is a good Rom-Com about a younger man in love with an older woman. I liked the way they handled this sensitive subject matter. Park Seo Joon, as usual, was excellent and carried the series. You will laugh and you may cry, but one thing you will definitely do as a result of this series is THINK! It is a very good series ; give it a try!