Neoege Ganeun Sokdo 493km

I actually started watching this because I like the ML, and the first and only reviewer (so far) here said they didn't expect to love it this much so I was intrigued. And I totally agree. Unexpectedly great, well written, all round great acting especially from the main leads, seriously talented. Not to mention their amazing chemistry.

It's great to see the plot develop at a good pace as well so it's not frustrating to watch thus far.

For me easily one of the best K series I've seen this year, where other newer have had lots of popularity and viewership but didn't shine in my eyes, this is a brilliant little gem and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Park Ju-hyun plays Park Tae Yang who was a rising star in the Badminton world until she disappeared following a bribery scandal. She returns after a three year absence to a business team and ends up being paired with Park Tae-joon (Chae Jong Hyeop) in a mixed double partnership. Even though events in the past will put pressure on their budding relationship on and off the court their unconditional love and support for each other will hopefully win the day. It is a believable romance between the leads and has an entertaining group of side characters all putting in a good shift. My main issue was with the slow pace and little depth given to the individuals backstories, a little less badminton with more character development would have improved it.

He chemistry between the leads was off the charts. Chae jeong hyeop absolutely killed it - his presence on screen was undeniable, and i couldn't take my eyes off him. The emotional connection between the characters was strong too. It wasn't just about the romance, but how their personal growth and their bond developed over time.

I had so much fun watching this. It's lighthearted, but also had those deep emotional moments that made you feel connected to the characters. A perfect mix of excitement, heart, and chemistry. I was hooked from start to finish! Plus, the sports aspect was a fun backdrop to everything, adding excitement to each episode. You could really feel how much each character cared for their passion and each other. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a drama with heart, fun, and chemistry.

I really love the show and can't wait to see the rest of it because it has three of my favourite elements that I love to see in a show which are love, sport's and change in character development.

I have a love-hate relationship with this series. The acting itself is phenomenal; both Park Ju-Hyun and Chae Jong-Hyeop do an excellent job as the main leads and have surprisingly good chemistry. Park Ji-Hyun also does well in portraying a dislikeable Joon-Young.

The subplots and character development do the series justice. Furthermore, the secondary couple Jung-Hwan/Yoo-Min completely steal the show with all their scenes.

My main issue with the series since the very beginning has been the amount of emotional abuse that Tae-Yang is being put through. This is being further exacerbated as most characters take it as normal and nobody steps in (whether this relates to the fictional or true reason behind Tae-Yang's bedminton break). I found this seriously disturbing to the point of making me question the realism that they're trying to portray.

Overall, it's definitely worth a watch but unfortunately I can at most give it 8/10 at a stretch.