“Destined with You”: A sweet journey through all things cute ends

So, for the past several weeks, my little joy has been tuning into “Destined with You” every week. It was an ongoing drama, and I got into the habit of catching two episodes a week. It sort of became a small but sweet part of my routine.

“Destined with You” gives us a heartwarming tale of love transcending time and fate. Set against a modern urban backdrop mingled with whimsical elements of traditional Korean folklore, the drama delves into the lives of two main characters—a diligent lawyer beset by a family curse and a spirited civil servant who holds the key to breaking this curse.

As destiny entwines their paths, they travel through waves of emotions, love triangles, and societal expectations, all while tackling personal and professional issues (like most Korean dramas do). So yes, it’s a love, destiny, and indomitable human spirit wrapped in modern-day fairy tale magic (we’ve seen this a lot, though).

Yesterday, the final episode aired, and I found myself feeling a mix of relief and, well, a bit of sadness because all the cute, lovey-dovey moments are now over. This drama was like a cozy little spot in the middle of everyday chaos, a sweet escape that felt comforting amidst the daily grind.

Mixed bag of genres

Destined with You tried to juggle a lot—romance, comedy, law, crime drama, social issues like bullying, and workplace dynamics. It’s like the creators wanted to pack in a bit of everything [🎵🎶cue MYMP, I’m a little bit of crazy, I’m a little it of a fool!🎵🎶].

While it was ambitious, the execution felt scattered—the attempt to cover various themes seemed like a stretch at times, and the narrative could have benefited from a more focused approach.

So, while it was definitely a fun watch,, it didn’t leave a lasting imprint. It’s like having a meal that’s good while it lasts but doesn’t leave you craving for more. It was enjoyable but lacked a lasting taste.

Love triangles galore

Oh, the whimsy of love triangles! It was almost like a soap opera at times with all the romantic entanglements. The drama had its fair share of love triangles that sometimes felt like a whole geometry class was brought to life.

The central players in this romantic geometry include Kwon Jae Kyung, Lee Hong Jo, and Jang Shin Yu, whose entangled affections form the core of the romantic entanglement. Yet, the drama doesn’t stop there. There’s also Gong Seo Gu, Ma Eun Young, and Cha Seung Yeon, whose tangled affections added another layer to the romantic complexity. And just when you thought that was the end of it, the drama throws in a family affair with Jang Se Hun (Shin Yu’s father), Song Yoon Joo (Shin Yu’s mother), and Kim Wook (Shin Yu’s best friend). Fine, this last one is an exaggeration.

But why stop at a love triangle when you can have a love polygon? Yep, we’re talking Kwon Jae Kyung, Lee Hong Jo, Jang Shin Yu, Yoon Na Yeon, Lee Hyun Seo, the Haum Construction CEO, and let’s not forget Na Joong Beom! Watch it and make a diagram, a flowchart; it’s fun! (the making of the chart, that is).

Well, the love triangles did showcase a playful poke at the transient nature of relationships while reflecting on the dramatic device to keep the audience hooked. The central theme of destiny and love that transcends time was a sweet touch amidst the chaos. It was cute to see the main leads’ love story unfold. However, we could have toned down the love geometry.

Breaking norms—this I like

There were moments in the drama that felt real and relatable. Like when Gong Seo Gu proposed to Ma Eun Young in a cafeteria, and she ran away embarrassed. Wouldn’t you feel the same when someone proposed to you at the caferia of your workplace, complete with roses and a radio box playing a love song? This scene seems more realistic than what we often see, where the lead would be so touched and would say “yes!”

Then there was Lee Hong Jo and Jang Shin Yu’s practical stance on marriage amidst the shaman’s pregnancy prediction. While most of the time (old notion, that is), what comes after premarital pregnancy is naturally marriage, these two leads admitted to not being ready yet. That’s a breath of fresh air, showing that love and relationships aren’t always picture-perfect. They hinted at a deeper understanding of modern relationships, which was refreshing to see in a drama filled with idealistic scenarios. (but hey, the shaman is wrong—oops, spoiler!)

Ma Eun Young running away from proposal, super embarassed. (Screen capture from Netflix)

The sweet side of romance

The love between Lee Hong Jo and Jang Shin Yu is perhaps the highlight for me. The drama was filled with sweet, tender moments that felt natural and not forced (WARNING: lots of hugs and kisses, not just once in an episode—super cute, though).

The cuddles, the playful banter, the soft whispers of love—they were comforting and heartwarming. It was like watching two new lovebirds just enjoying their time (and then you wonder how long before they finally get tired of each other hahaha). But the sweet love story would make your heart flutter. The chemistry between the actors was palpable, making the romance feel genuine (and again, cute!).

Slow ride

Unfortunately, the slow pace of the drama was a bit of a downer. At times, it felt like the story wasn’t moving forward at all. But the cuteness of the couple kept me hooked.

Imagine a slow, gentle ride along a scenic route. You enjoy the view, but you wish it moved a little faster. That’s how it felt like watching this drama. The pace often dragged, making the narrative feel like a long, leisurely stroll when a brisk walk might have been more engaging.

Still, the cuteness (again!) and charm of the lead actors kept the momentum going, making each episode worth the wait. Also, like Behind Your Touch, the supporting characters here are fun to watch.

Bye-bye, Cutie Pies

Like what I would always say, sometimes we watch a show because the small things seem to justify making the big things slide. In this case, the cuteness overload overshadows the dragged storytelling.

As I bid goodbye to the drama, it leaves behind a sweet little narrative that brought smiles. The journey with Destined with You was comforting, but as the curtain falls, the narrative feels like a fleeting whisper, a gentle tune that fades away gently into the night.

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