Crash Course in Romance, a drama I didn't have much expectation but got me hooked. It played well with my emotions as I laughed, fell in love with the characters, cried with some touching scenes, exasperated over some issues and conflicts presented and got thrilled with its's underlying mystery subplot.
But before getting into the details, how I came to watch this drama was quite a drama in itself. It's a result of, in my own terms, romcom kdrama sepanx (separation anxiety). I don't know how to label that feeling when you can't move on to watch another romcom drama because you were too hooked to the previous one. Like how a breakup feels like. You don't want to move on with another drama, hahah! I think I am a weird one.
It was quite a hard choice for me to watch this drama when I didn't know what to expect and just rely on watching the first episode if it will have a lasting impression. It wasn't a trending drama in the country and I believe it is not something a romcom lover will pick as top watch list. But after scrolling through netflix and trying other romcoms which I was not able to finish, finally this drama got me.
Why it's not on y̶o̶u̶r̶ my top watch list?
First, the male and female lead are not the the typical young, handsome, oozing with sex appeal male lead with six pack abs and not your typical young, pretty face, sexy and fashionable female lead.
Second, the lead casts, didn't ring a bell. In my case, I don't know anything about the lead casts. I only seen the male lead in another drama as a supporting cast once and the female lead, I think I haven't seen her before in another drama. The casts were just too unfamiliar to me.
Third, it was not a talked about drama even in kdrama fan pages I followed on facebook or maybe I just missed it.
Story Time!
Choi Chi Yeol is a celebrity Math teacher who works in a prestigious private academy. Parents would line up to secure a slot in his class. His success rate of getting his students to pass in the CSAT is really high. But behind his success he suffers from an eating disorder giving him a hard time taking in food into his stomach. And an incident in the past with his student gives him nightmares and insomia.
On the other hand, Nam Haeng-son is a restaurant owner who navigates the world of private education for the sake of her n̶i̶e̶c̶e̶ daughter. She enrolled her to the celebrity Math teacher's class, Choi Chi Yeol.
Food and education binds Choi Chi Yeol and Nam Hae-son's destinies. Chi Yeol needs Hae-son's food as it's the only food he can eat while Hae-son needs him for the education of her n̶i̶e̶c̶e̶ daughter. And when their paths crossed, a relationship bloomed which most people deemed unacceptable and it has raised suspicions among parents of the academy.
Why enrol in this Crash Course?
The Characters...
I love how the characters are portrayed in this story. I specially love Nam Hae-son's character having a heart of gold. She is a strong independent woman who sacrificed her life and career as an athlete to raise her niece Nam-Hae-yi who was abandoned by her mother (Hae-son sister) and raised her as her own child. She then took on managing her mother's restaurant who died in an accident the same day Hae-yi was abandoned. The reason why she stayed single. She had to much in her hand.
Her personality is very engaging and her beauty is unconventional. At first glance, she's not your typical female lead but she has this charming aura and a sweet smile. The more you look at her, she becomes more beautiful.
Each of the characters in the story were meticulously portrayed to make you either love, hate or pity them.
The Romance
I have a bias with love-hate relationships. The reason I enjoyed this drama because for me romance that starts with a love-hate encounters creates more comedy and kilig.
I also did not expect to feel kilig with the lead casts since they played "mature" people taking on love later in their life. But I was wrong, their romantic scenes and their chemistry give me the same feel when I watch the much younger lead casts in other romcoms.
The subplots will make you sob
The storyline doesn't focus only in the romance of Chi Yeol and Hae-son. There were more engaging subplots that made me sob, such as the mother and child relationship story of Hae-son and Hae-yi. Their sacrifices and the love that defines what is real motherhood.
The drama also touches on mental health issues and suicide as a result to abuse and too much pressure in relation to education. There were more scenes that are heart-wrenching as the characters resolve this parent-child-education issues among them.
The Mystery and Thrill
A serial metal ball killer provides mystery and thrill atmosphere to the drama. The clues presented in each episode will keep you guessing who the culprit is and make you play detective.
In conclusion, the drama provides more than just romance and comedy. It is a lightheartening romcom with a touch of drama, mystery and thrill. It has all the right ingredients of a good watch. Besides that, it will teach you lessons about love, life and second chances.
