Why "All About My Romance" Is So Great

  Why All About My Romance Is Awesome

      Synopsis

Based on the novel of the same name by Lee Eung-joon, the romantic comedy tells of a man and woman who are legislators from rival political parties. But despite their political and ideological differences, the two fall in love with each other and embark on a secret romance.

   Usually, political based shows don't really interested me. I think it's mainly because I am from the US so nothing really surprises me and I have never had to energy to watch a show based on politics. Crime dramas? Yes, I love Law & Order: SVU and NCIS(Navy Criminal Investigation Service). Comedies? Of course, I watch The Big Bang Theory faithfully. Mystery Drama/Thriller? I have been an avid fan of Pretty Little Liars since it came out in 2010. Political? Eh, no I have yet to see an American tv show on politics that actually catches my attention unless it's making fun of it i.e. Saturday Night Live. I started watching dramas about a year ago when I became a SONE(If you didn't know, that's Girls' Generation's fan club) and I saw YoonA in Love Rain. From then I have branched out and watched dramas that didn't have any of my biases in it. I fell in love with Hyun Bin when I saw Secret Garden and Lee Min Ho when I watched Faith(I have seen Boys Over Flowers and City Hunter as well). Oh, I'm getting off topic again. My point is that political type shows have never really interested me...until now. I am loving SBS's drama All About My Romance starring Shin Ha Kyun(Brain,) and Lee Min Jung(Big, Boys Over Flowers) right now. Let me tell you why. 

      First, it has an amazing cast of talented actors/actresses like Park Hee Soon(The Suspect, movie), Han Chae Ah(Ohlala Couple), and Jang Gwang(Bridal Mask). Each actor is pretty much seasoned and has been around for a while so the viewers know their faces and they're not idols. I have nothing against idol-actors, but I know the general Korean public often has problems with them. The way Lee Min Jung is portraying Noh Min Young is done perfectly and shows why she got the role, her tone and facial expressions are all perfect timing with the dialogue. Shin Ha Kyun is a veteran actor in his own right and is absolutely perfect in this role. Like Min Jung, he knows how to bring Kim Soo Young to life and make us forget that we are watching a drama. Not to mention we have the wonderful Kim Jung Nan(Bridal Mask) playing Rep. Go Dong Sook who is in Noh Min Young's party and is feisty in her own right due to her being the Greater Korea Party's Rep. Moon Bong Sik's(played by Gong Hyung Jin, The Duo) sunbae(Senior), it makes their interactions so much more entertaining. Both have been around a while and it's very obvious when you watch them onscreen. 

     Second, the writing is impeccable. I am watching a few dramas at the moment and this has me hooked. It's a Romantic Comedy that may seem very cliche and have everything a Rom-Com would have in it: 2 people who are complete opposites, but come together after disliking one another and find their true feelings. Though there are always third parties who have one-sided feelings for our leads and attempt to break them up. Well, it does have these very things but it's different in its own way. The main plot is that Min Young and Soo Young come together and have to hide their relationship due to their opposing parties and their love for their jobs, so they have to work at being good politicians while keeping their relationship a secret. While they do have people who are in love with them and who will try to break them up, right now it's about trying to prevent any sparks from happening. Song Joon Ha is Min Young's aide and brother-in-law(He was her sister's husband's younger brother) and Ahn Hee Sun who is a reporter that makes her articles a wee bit too biased due to her not liking Min Young. Both are in love with our OTP(One True Pairing) and will do anything to stop them from being together. But then we have those wo are rooting for them to be a pair like Soo Young's aide Maeng Joo Ho who gives Soo Young dating advice and is currently the only one who is pushing for them to be together. The politics have played a major part in the story so far so we can see why these two should not be together, but as time goes on it will become more of a background to their relationship. 

    Why I like it: Even though politics may be a turn off for a drama, you may want to give this one a chance. It does show you some things about what goes on in political parties that we may not see. I like how it weaves the politics while staying true to showing the evolving relationship between the two main leads. In once scene, we see Soo Young actually catching feelings for Min Young as he can nothing but listen to her words and then he holds his chest, showing us his feelings are changing. Min Young is the same, she becomes flustered whenever she's around him, even in a meeting and has to act tough and pretend not to care. It's not too many extra characters who don't contribute to the story because I have found that everyone is a part of their love story. The political leaders from each party contributes somehow and can make a random twist in this drama. Then we have the family dynamic with Min Young. She has been raising her niece, Bo Ri(Jeon Min Seo) since her sister died and she herself was raised by her aunt, Na Young Sook(Kim Hye Ok). Both add more comedy and color to this already well established drama. 

     This drama has low ratings due to various reasons that I don't wish to get into, but I will say that this show is very worth getting into. It's only going to be 16 episodes and that's a plus for me since I'm not really into long dramas. Not to mention the OST is pretty good and has songs from Girls' Generation's Tiffany and recent K-Pop Star winning sibling duo Akdong Musician. 

"One Step Closer" by Tiffany 

"I Love You" by Akdong Muscian

"Because I Love You" by Baechigi feat. Shin Bo Ra

Also some fellow Fire Aliens(Yes, we call ourselves Fire Aliens) put together a video in support of this drama 

Make sure you go like the Shin Ha Kyun International Fan Page
Like the Lee Min Jung International Fan Page
Don't forget to join the thread at Soompi for updates and great conversations with fellow fans.

So when you get a chance, check this wonderful drama out. I promise you won't regret it :)