Crash Course in Romance

I wasn't really interested in watching this, the title made me think it'd be too cheesy. But the title in Korean would have been something like "Top Scandal" instead of Romance so anyway I decided to watch and I'm glad it wasn't just focused on the romance part. By reading the comments here I see that some people find it weird that the female lead was older and "looked like it". That's insulting in so many levels. And more importantly, it happens in real life that people look their age and sometimes they get in relationships with younger people. Both male and female. So that was refreshing to see.

The whole drama managed to include Sky Castle-ish education issues, a mystery case, murder, suic*de (I never saw a trigger warning, maybe I missed it), and others, in just 16 episodes, so that's quite a feat. And that's why it wasn't boring.

The actors were all great, both young and old, as expected in Korean series. If only they spoke juust a bit faster. Watching it in faster speed helped.

Sometimes I was annoyed by how rude they spoke to the brother with Asperger's but I see no one mentioned it so I guess I'm overreacting.

All in all pretty good, and very unexpectedly so!

Felt compelled to leave my first review ever.

There's something so deeply satisfying about this story and these characters. It makes you want to stay with them long after the episodes are over. You're going to fall head over heels for Nam Haeng-Seon, her cosy side dishes resto, her tightly knit family and her friendship with her best friend. You're also going to get sucked into the drama and competitive attitudes of high school students, their teachers and their parents.

It's also refreshing to see comedy and tender feelings of romance between the lead pair who are in their 40s and 50s respectively. I've watched some UH-MAY-ZING romances before, for some reason this just tops everything, even crash landing on you, something in the rain, hometown cha cha cha. Hometown cha cha cha may be a close second though.

Can't recommend this enough. Had to leave a review because 7 episodes are already out and i can't believe no one's left a review yet.

It's hard to capture what it's like to be falling in love with someone, especially if they are not able to express their love to one another. He believes she's married. She's not exactly a "catch" being a single mom with a difficult uncle in the family. She's had a difficult life. So you can really empathize with her situation, and with the fact that he recognizes what a good person she is. It's a very special program and I'm recommending it to everyone. Maybe it's because they are both such admirable people that you really want them to find the happiness they deserve. And also, the male lead is truly adorable! It's a premium to be tall, even in Korea!

Dear previous reviewer. I haven't yet written a review on this series as I'm waiting for the next episodes to be released in Europe from Netflix ! I can't wait, it has been PERFECT up until now.... In the meantime I would like to add that I'm on my 4th (fourth) South Korean Netflix series. Since having discovered them with Crash Landing On You, I have been overwhelmed at the quality of these ...what could easily be described as sheer unadulterated adorable romcons, but somehow much more...We are treated to eye candy for the soul and the evoking of all sorts of human misgivings AND attributes. Plus GORGEOUS (and extremely talented) actors, fantastic scenery, escapism from our somewhat sometimes dull and/or hectic lives here in Europe. I have noticed an unusual and telling grasp of HUMAN NATURE captured in all the series I've seen so far...without exception. Each and every character has his/her relatable flaws, but also their strengths....it is SO inspiring to watch. And last but not least, I APPLAUD the subtitled translators into English of these series, they are SPOT ON! (despite a lot of « Gosh », which are SO endearing (the Americans would probably use « Gee »!), but no matter, Gosh to this reviewer is more than perfectly acceptable and cute..don't stop.

To conclude, I highly recommend CRASH COURSE IN ROMANCE as a get- away-from-it all, virtual visit to South Korea...it will broaden your mind (don't sue me if it doesn't, but it should do if your mind need's broadening !

As an Australian and an educator, it is difficult to imagine the intense pressure put on high schoolers to do well in exams, especially leading up to college entrance. This series portrays those pressures in a variety of ways; overbearing mothers; competitiveness of trying to get into top academies; the need to study to the point of exhaustion; the extremes some students go to, and more. The 16-episode format allows for in depth explorations of so much and this is one reason why they have become so popular.

Crash Course in Romance also deals with common K-drama romance tropes such as class difference, with the well-off main character falling for a natural, struggling, hard-working woman, rather than the privileged, rich, and in this case, more beautiful counterparts. Upper class female characters are often portrayed quite negatively, and this is no different. It certainly reflects some stifling aspects of Korean society, where those with money seem fixated on appearance and gossip and are ready to judge extremely harshly those who step out of their class boundaries. One shrieking intense mother played by Kim Sun-young does this in consummate style, but then she is such an experienced actor, this is no surprise.

It has a darker element running through it, which adds intrigue and mystery. This certainly helps maintain interest, which is so important over the 16-episode format.

Finally, there is a sensitive portrayal of a character on the spectrum. Oh Eui-shik as Nam Jae-woo is extraordinary in this role, helped by good script writing. The whole family unit of the main players works so well with convincing relationship dynamics. The young Roh Yoon-seo, consolidates her position as a rising star after her award for Our Blues. Her portrayal of Nam Hae-yi was understated, controlled and therefore quite tricky to maintain. She did her character justice. I also liked the evolving relationship between Choi Chi-yeol (Jung Kyung-ho) and Nam Jae-woo, which was done so sensitively and beautifully.

So this series is packed with good acting, believable characters and there is a good deal to recommend it.