Romance is heart-warming, but the rest of the story might tank this show (Temperature of Love E9–E12)
So, the previous 8 (4) episodes, they set up the back story with the 4 main characters: Lee Hyun Soo (female lead), On Jung Sun (male lead), Ji Hong Ah (female second), and Park Jung Woo (male second). Hyun Soo and Jung Sun had a budding romance that ended due to misunderstandings, when he left to study in France.
These episodes pick up 5 years later, when Jung Sun comes back and now they’re living their post-success life: he’s opened up a restaurant (investor: Jung Woo) and she’s become a drama writer (with a contract @ Jung Woo’s firm).
I thought that Episode 9/10 (5) was setting up another courting period. She confesses to him, but he rejects her, though not outright. But Episode 11/12 (6) ends with their relationship seemingly re-kindling. Though, the cliffhanger they left off on could hold off on it re-kindling at that moment, but it’s obvious that they’re still into each other.
The two leads are having all the best moments so far, with the actress who plays Hyun Soo (Seo Hyun Jin) really holding up her end. The romance between the two leads is really well developed and it’s what is holding the drama up right now. The supporting cast feels like they’re playing bit roles and solely there to drive the main storyline along.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but their characters just aren’t developed anywhere as much as the two mains. Hong Ah seems so one-dimensional: someone who’s grown up rich and hence has an attitude of taking what she wants no matter what. Jung Woo is the great guy who is unknowingly crushing on the same girl as his friend.
Usually, dramas will have a major change in the middle (so at the 20/10 episode mark for this 40/20 episode drama). They alluded to it in these episodes, with that “turning point” being potentially Jung Woo finding out that the two people he cherishes are in a relationship and then breaking everything up since he’s the one who finances both of their livelihoods.
So far, it is still okay, but I’m just really wondering where they’re going to take this for another 28 (14) episodes! If this were a shorter 32 (16) episode drama, it might be easier to bring all this to a close, but right now, I don’t see it. The one potential avenue I saw was that they could continue spending more time with the cooking & script writing drama outside of the romantic drama.
I’ll likely be satisfied until the halfway point, but depending on how they handle things there, I might drop this drama at that point. Man, but I really want to try out “While You Were Sleeping”…it’s got pretty high ratings so far. Hopefully I can start that soon! :).
Oh, one more quick note…I really liked this moment where they used visual elements to trick the viewer:
- They show her closing the door to the walk-in fridge making the viewer think, “Are they going to get stuck in here?”. But then he explicitly asks, “Did you think we were going to get stuck in here?” and proceeds to open it up and leave.
OVERALL: 7/10
- STORY: 7/10
- DIRECTING: 7.5/10
- LEAD Actors: 8/10
- SUPPORTING Cast: 5.5/10
- CINEMATOGRAPHY: 7.5/10
- MUSIC: okay, not distracting
