Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Hello another Korean romance series with very good looking leads and a forgettable plot. Lee Jun works at a production company and doesn’t believe in ‘true love’. He is constantly going on speed dates, with a ‘meet, eat and scoot’ strategy. But when a handsome junior at work starts pursuing him, Lee’s cold heart shows signs on melting.
Titled “Love Mate”, the eight episode long series is directed by So Joon Moon, who had also directed “My Sweet Dear”, another show with gorgeous lead actors but not much of a script. Cho Hyun Min plays Lee Jun, the who isn’t interested in a serious relationship due to the terrible way his last partner treated him. Lee is perceived as a cold aloof senior at work, so he isn’t thrilled when a newbie called Jeong Ha Ram (Cho Han Geol) criticizes his proposal for a anti-romance reality show. To make things worse, Ha Ram also starts pestering him for a date.
The cinematography in the series is bright and sunny, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a summer romance. However, the portrayal of the relationship between the two leads didn’t always match the sweetness of the aesthetics. Ha Ram’s approach to wooing Lee Jun borders on bullying, often making Lee uncomfortable. For instance, during an after-work dinner with colleagues, Ha Ram apologizes for his actions and asks for a favor in return. He then proceeds to force Lee to participate in a “love shot” in front of everyone, despite Lee’s lack of interest. In Korea, a “love shot” involves linking arms and sharing a drink, symbolizing a couple-like interaction. If Ha Ram didn’t look like the lead singer of a K-pop band, his behavior would likely have been reported as harassment. Surprisingly, the relationship between the lead protagonists escalates rather quickly. From being bickering colleagues, they swiftly transition into being “love mates.”
Lee gives Ha Ram a one-month trial period to date and states that he will make a decision about pursuing a real relationship only after this trial period. While this premise could have led to a straightforward, cute and comedic romance, the writers introduce an “evil ex-boyfriend” to complicate matters between the two. Unfortunately, the sub-plot lacks depth and the second half of the series falls flat.
Regardless, despite the half-baked script, Cho Hyun Min and Cho Han Geol are absolutely adorable as the lead pair and make the series watchable.
It’s a 5 on 10 from me.
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