Hello there!
I just finished binge-watching the drama that's been blowing up search queries lately. Today, I'm excited to share my thoughts on it. So, the drama is 'Marry Me' 2025 - about a girl who initially got the name right but messed up on the person! I'll dive deeper into the drama and my thoughts on it below.
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About the drama
This is a super warm, sweet, and relatable story about how certain life circumstances led to a genuine and mature love. The drama isn't without its flaws, but it has a lot of positives.
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Country: South Korea
Year: 2025
Number of episodes: 12
Episode length: 60-70 minutes
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First impressions
I haven't been this excited about a drama's start in a long time. This one impressed me with its straightforward thoughts expressed by the main character... Thanks for that, writers!
Do you think you have a lot of power? Maybe within these walls, but outside of them, I have more power, because I'm the one paying taxes that make up your salary.
Ha! That's a great point, by the way. It's good to remember that sometimes.
I was also super happy to see Chong So Min again. I first fell in love with her acting in 'Alchemy of Souls,' where I was blown away by her amazing acting skills. And here, she was great too.
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Plot twist in 'Marry Me'
Yu Me Ri is getting married, and although the official wedding ceremony hasn't happened yet, she's already received the official marriage document.
Just before the wedding ceremony in their new shared apartment with 'her husband,' she discovers signs of his infidelity...
Mae Ri exposes the cheater and becomes a 'divorced woman, even before getting married.'
Naturally, after getting drunk with grief, the heroine gets hit by a car driven by a full-blooded lookalike of her cheating ex. Poor guy... He's only going to get an earful for his name 😅 But the real fun begins when Me Ri finds out she's won a lottery for newlyweds, and it's not just any prize - it's a luxurious mansion in a posh neighborhood! All she has to do is marry the guy, Kim Woo Joo.
Ha! She's got one spare, anyway. Lucky her! And since her ex-boyfriend has conveniently disappeared from her life, her new acquaintance, who just so happens to be her ex's friend, comes along just in time.
What happens when their fake relationship turns into something more? I was interested in watching their relationship develop, and that was one of the storylines that kept me engaged and didn't make me want to fast-forward a single moment.
Let's talk about the main characters.
Main heroine Me Ri (Choi So Min)
She's a strong and independent woman, or almost. She's got a lot of expenses and debts. As the owner of a design studio that makes printed products and packaging, she's still struggling to get out of debt and pay off her loans. She threw everything on herself in the relationship with her ex. All the loans, insurance, and mortgage - everything was on her. That's a nightmare! And what did she love about him? Hmm...
Drama 'Get Married', main heroine with her ex The drama doesn't make you feel sorry for the main heroine, and that's great. Even though she's in debt, there are plenty of reasons to feel sorry for her... But I didn't feel that kind of pity (like in this drama) - instead, I felt a warm, human sense of empathy. I think that's the credit of the actress and the production team. \xa0
Main hero Kim Woo Joo (Choi Woo Shik)
He's a sweet, slightly naive, and adorable guy - like a little puppy.
Drama 'Marry Me or Not'I've got to say, the main character's backstory is pretty tragic. He's the grandson of a wealthy baking company owner, and he's been left to navigate the world on his own. It's no wonder he's a bit awkward and reserved at first.
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But what I love about this drama is that the main character isn't your typical 'cool guy' lead. He's more like a nervous, indecisive, and naive guy who's just trying to figure things out. And you know what? It's kind of adorable. As the drama progresses, he reveals a more confident and caring side, and it's hard not to fall for him.
When it comes to the romance, I have to say that I didn't feel the heat. The moments between the main couple are sweet and romantic, but they don't exactly set my heart racing. That being said, their love is more about understanding and comfort with each other, and that's really endearing.
One of the things I appreciate about this drama is that it doesn't rely on over-the-top romance. Instead, it focuses on the characters' personalities and relationships, and that makes it all the more relatable.
Other characters in 'Marry Me or Not'
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• Kim Woo-ju #2 (So Bum-jung) - the main character's ex-girlfriend.
Drama 'Marry Me or Not', Kim Woo-juShe's a bit of a troublemaker, but she's also got a soft spot for the main character. As the drama progresses, she learns to confront her flaws and grow as a person.
Drama 'Marry Me or Not'• Yeon Jin-yeong (Shin Pyeong-gi) - the main character's childhood friend and his grandmother's doctor.
Drama 'Marry Me or Not', Yeon Jin-yeongShe's got feelings for Kim Woo-ju, the main character's ex, but she's also a good friend to him. As the drama unfolds, she discovers the truth about the lottery scam and must decide whether to expose it or keep quiet.• Park Sang-hun (Park Na-ra) - the director of the shopping center where the lottery was held.
Director Pak from 'Marriage Not Dating'He lives right across from that fancy townhouse that was given away in a lottery. At first, this fact caused some trouble for the main characters, especially since the director has a keen eye for them and is always on their case.
'Marriage Not Dating'Plus, he often has to deal with that pesky doctor, Ahn Ji Hyun. She should probably wear a jacket over her tank top before giving a heart massage. I mean, come on.
Director Pak from 'Marriage Not Dating''Marriage Not Dating'Hyun Min's uncle
'Marriage Not Dating'I was blown away by the extent of human greed and lack of empathy when it comes to money, looking at him.
My favorite moments from the drama
♥ The first wedding photo shoot
'Marriage Not Dating''Marriage Not Dating'♥ When the main heroine's friend gives her a cactus, and the main hero says 'don't sit on it' - you know, because she did that once before...
The main hero occasionally teases Ahn Ji Hyun about that incident.
This is a pineapple, not a cactus, don't sit on it...
♥ When the main hero tells the heroine that he likes her, and she's shocked, and their conversation is just so sweet and real, without any pretenses or melodrama;
♥ All the moments when the ex tries to win Ahn Ji Hyun back;
♥ When Kim Woo Jin is texting Ahn Ji Hyun during a meeting ⚕;
♥ When Kim Woo Jin and Ahn Ji Hyun talk about infidelity, and... the second one says to the first, 'you're a man, you should understand me', and the first one says 'I don't understand'... Yeah, good boy, Kim Woo Jin!
I'd like to highlight some of the drama's strengths:
• The plot is very unique and interesting, the concept is 5+;
• It's not a typical Korean story where the main characters are young and inexperienced, they both have baggage and experience from past relationships - just like in real life;
• The main character, Kim Woo-Jin, is a lovable oddball. He's got a clumsy, awkward charm that's both endearing and masculine, but behind that tough exterior, he's got a heart of gold.
• It's a pleasure watching the chemistry between Kim Woo-Jin and Yoo Mi-Rae. They have a really great dynamic.
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What didn't I like:
• The plot has some inconsistencies - I'm still not sure where Kim Woo-Jin went to school, the US or South Korea.
• I felt like the relationship between the main characters lacked authenticity. My benchmark for this kind of thing is still this couple.
• Some of the supporting character storylines were a bit dull, and I found myself skipping through them. Maybe it's because I saw some of the plot twists coming a mile away.
• I think the drama would have been better without the subplot about their childhood friendship.
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The ending
The ending was optimistic and fitting for this drama. I wouldn't have expected it to be any other way. I think the finale was well-done, but... the wedding scene between the main characters looked a bit weird. I mean, three and a half people, a bunch of empty chairs... it was just a bit strange. I guess they wanted to keep it intimate, but inviting all those colleagues from the office seemed a bit over the top.
In general, this drama was pretty good. I wouldn't rewatch it, but I don't regret watching it in the first place.
Verdict
I'd recommend this drama to people who are new to K-dramas or haven't watched many. Experienced fans like myself might find it a bit dull.
Should you watch this drama? It's up to you! I hope my review helps you make a decision.
Drama 'Marriage Not Dating'I'm giving it three hearts out of five.
That's it for now!
Thanks for reading this review all the way to the end!
Until next time!
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If you liked and found this review helpful, please give it a heart 🩵 - it's the best way to show your appreciation!
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More interesting dramas:
The Queen's Classroom - about a queen from the Joseon era who teams up with a time-traveling chef to take down her rival.
• When Life Gives You Lemons - the best new release of 2025: a drama about love, life, and what lies beyond the fairy tale happily-ever-after.
• Everything Will Happen - a fantasy drama from 2025 about the love between a psychopath and a genie (from a lamp, not the drink).
Business Proposal - a story about the love between a CEO and his deceitful assistant.