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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Fated to Love You" Episode 15

Mi-young and Geon are dancing around each other now, trying to make heads or tails of their ill-defined relationship while everyone else watches and waits for the fated couple to work things out. Words are what trip the couple up along with their messy past.

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Both Mi-young and Geon are in denial about their feelings for each other. Mi-young has the added burden of thinking he doesn't want anything to do with her. The writers don't make her a ditzy damsel, but allow her to deduce from Geon's behavior that he can't let her go. She believes in his feelings, just not in the situation. However, this doesn't make their game of verbal tug-of-war any less fun. The two also have much more chemistry than the Mi-young/Daniel coupling, which is sweet, but stagnant, on screen.

Another strength of this show that has manifested strongly in the past few episodes is its secondary characters. Secretary Tak isn't just a goofy secretary set into place for comic relief. Yes, he is funny and his over-the-top aegyo and ridiculous need for Geon's approval provide endless entertainment. But he also is a strong support for Geon as a hyung, an older brother type. It reflects well on Geon who isn't just a snobby rich man, but a person who cultivates relationships and keeps them, a rare quality for a K-drama lead.

Mi-young's mother and Geon's grandmother continue to prove their worth as parents and as characters. They are the broken couple's emotional foundation. They love without reservation. While Geon is being a fool and lying to Mi-young (and himself)  left and right, twisting himself into an emotional pretzel, he has his grandmother and Mi-young's mother to go to for comfort. It doesn't make the distress he feels any less, but rounds out the story in a satisfying way.

The one quibble I have with the plot is that the tension comes from Geon's idiocy. The subsequent problems are valid and wonderful material to work through, but the instigating noble idiocy still rankles a bit.

Se-ra is still mostly undeveloped and it's a bit late in the story to have a major character remain so woefully useless. There is the subplot that she is Daniel's long lost sister, but there has been no focus on their relationship, only short, chance encounters that do little to foster any connection between the probable siblings.

As the show approaches its last few weeks it continues to be strong despite some obvious foibles. It is the heart of the show that carries it and makes it worth the watch. The heart, and the ridiculously cute coupling.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Fated to Love You" is directed by Kim Hee-won-II, Lee Dong-yoon, written by Jo Jin-gook, Joo Chan-ok and features Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara, Choi Jin-hyuk and Wang Ji-won

 

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