Main Cast: Seo Kang Joon, Park Min Young, Lee Jae Wook
Genre: Drama, slice of life, romance
Fashion: Cosy knits, puffers and long skirts
Swoondar: 7.5/10
Where I watched it: Rakuten Viki
As the cold winter days melt into the uplifting spring, we change our lifestyle patterns and live with warmer dreams in our hearts. We follow these changes from winter to spring with Park Min Young and Seo Kang Joon in their 2020 drama.
Sometimes we need to take a step back and appreciate life from afar to understand true happiness. I'll Go To You When The Weather Is Nice (aka When the Weather is Fine) is a beautiful hidden gem amongst the glistening go-to fluffy romcom dramas South Korea is well known for dishing out.
The drama stars Seo Kang Joon as Im Eun Seob (who I fell in love with as Baek In Ho in Cheese in the Trap *hello soft second lead syndrome*) and Park Min Young as Mok Hae Won (notably, Park Seo Joon's perfect right hand woman in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim). This romantic pairing was effortlessly believable and beautiful, just unfortunate it took the main leads until they're 30-something to realise their deep love for one another, despite being in the same class at school.
General storyline:
Mok Hae Won returns to her hometown in the countryside after falling out of love of her teaching job and the big city lights. When returning to Bukhyeon village, Hae Won stays with her imo (aunt), renovating the family guesthouse and reconnects with her old high school friends who still live in the village. Former classmate, Eun Seob, works in the village book shop, the Goodnight Bookstore, despite not having (or wanting) many customers. After the two meet, Eun Seob and Hae Won's lives begin to change.
On the surface, this drama may seem a slow burner, with it's lonesome gazes, picturesque still focuses and tweeting background birds. But it's well developed, gipping, romantic and it's somewhat dark, storyline is the massive attraction, joint in hands with the variety of characters which make up this cosy cuppa on a winter's day of a series. As I like to say, never judge a series by it's first episode, it is very rare for a pilot ep to be as outstanding and gripping as the latter episodes!!
The side-stories and supporting character's - especially those who attend Eun Seob's evening book club (speaking of, where is the sign up sheet please!) - are a big fat bonus and appeal of the drama. Eun Seob's little sister, Hwi (Kim Hwan Hee), is the opposite of her oppa, instead she is hyperactive, outspoken and openly wears her heart on her sleeve for her school crush - until she meets her next victim! Hwi is like the spring air for me, a fresh change with an uplifting, positive and fun attitude we can all learn something from. Shim Myung Yeo, Hae Won's imo, is that cool aunt, with great style and streaks of savage she coldly dishes out. All the villagers know of her, but are banned from addressing her as ajumma (middle aged woman), instead she prefers just being called imo (aunt). Despite her coldness, Myung Yeo expresses her love and care for Hae Won through tough love.
The Good Night book club, for me, was a staple part of the story, encapsulating the main theme and take-away of the drama, which is disconnecting from the fast-paced rush and virtual normalities of modern life and, instead connecting with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, establishing a close community drawing the ideal of togetherness. Very rarely did we see a social media scroll, but in it's place calls on landlines (woah there, I didn't think I'd be writing that for a 2020 drama review!), market stalls and coffee house catch-ups. Additionally, the book club was a narrative within itself, as members shared with each other books, poetry and extracts, which neatly tied reflective parallels with Eun Seob and Hae Won's personalities, emotions and lives.
The Good Night book club, especially, homed humble, unique and memorable characters of all ages and personalities, bound together with coffee, books and snacks!
A character who really struck gold for me in this drama was Lee Jang Woo (played by Lee Jae Wook, aka Extraordinary You's Baek Gyeong), a lovable goofball who's extroverted, bubbly charisma entitles him to get along with anyone and everyone. Despite being a blushing and stumbling wreck around his crush, his natural charms and eternal passion for his work is as beautiful as his winter style.
I was in awe of his character whenever he came on screen, and fell in love the more he appeared throughout the series, having me longing for more Jang Woo scenes (starts petition for Jang Woo spin off series!)
This is a great comparison to when Lee Jae Wook played Seuli High School's top *smart, attractive... and wealthy* student, Baek Gyeong in Extraordinary You - for me, he was a really unlikeable character in EY, despite his good looks and top swoon status, that didn't mean anything as I couldn't see past his cold-unchanging attitude towards our lovely, strong-willed Dan Oh to squeeze a drip of liking for him. So, it was really nice to see Jae Wook in such a friendly and goofy role, which thanks to I'll Go To You When The Weather Is Nice, has made him fly up my fave K-actors list!!
I'll Go To You When The Weather Is Nice is a sweet 16-part drama, which shows a slice of life, removing itself from modern day, fast-past, tech relying normalities. However romantic the series is between Eun Seob and Hae Won, and the side-characters relationships, it also had an underlying darkness with murder entwined, giving the viewer a different dynamic break between the main storylines. It is definitely not your typical romance drama, but it is one I would recommend, with it's thought-provoking messages, subtle humour, well developed relatable characters and picturesque scenery.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
M x
Ps...
Memorable Quote
"Wishes are heard when candles are lit and blown among darkness. If you make a wish at the moment of darkness, maybe your wishes will come true when the lights are back on."
- Lee Jang Woo, when hosting the high school alumni reunion party
Please note, this review is all based from personal opinions, if you find statements which you disagree with, that is completely fine as well, all opinions and thoughts are regarded equally.
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