More Than Friends: Episodes 1-2 (Review)
by missvictrix
Friends-to-lovers stories never get tiresome. Or do they? JTBC’s latest romance/youth drama More Than Friends tells an age-old tale with some cable channel frankness, but also leans heavily on all the storytelling elements we might expect.
Note: This is an opening week review only.
EPISODES 1-2 REVIEW
Like many a drama that relies on relationship background, the premiere week of More Than Friends is heavy on its backstory. When we open, we meet our heroine KYUNG WOO-YEON (Shin Ye-eun) in the past during her high school days. She’s adorable and sweet, but a bit persecuted by the cool girl clique. For all the high school angst, though, she also makes two wonderful girl friends, who we’ll also follow through the drama’s storyline — they’re HAN JIN-JOO (Baek Soo-min who I always seem to love), and KIM YOUNG-HEE (Ahn Eun-jin).
But there’s a third character that becomes the centerpiece of her high school years, and that’s the school heartthrob, LEE SOO (Ong Sung-woo). He protects (and yet playfully torments) our heroine like the best of dramaland’s male leads — for all the teasing and mockery, though, Lee Soo is totally charming. It’s easy to see why Woo-yeon falls head over heels for him.
The basic construct of More Than Friends is Woo-yeon’s unrequited love for Soo, and how it’s held her back in more than just her love life. But it’s not like she didn’t try to win him over, either. Our first two episodes chronicle not one, but two, earnest confessions — once in high school, and once when Soo returns from school in the States during their college years. Both times she confesses, or any time she’s honest about her feelings for him, he’s just as frank back: he only sees her as a friend. Pfftt.
Soo often admits that he’s selfish and self-centered — maybe that’s why he has no qualms about being swoony and sweet to Woo-yeon, knowing full well he’s only encouraging her feelings for him? It’s a little cruel, because no matter the time frame we’re talking about (high school, college, twenties), he can make a girl weak in the knees.
Though he denies it, it’s pretty apparent on camera (at least to me!) that there’s some serious chemistry between them. Picturesque laundry washing scene where Woo-yeon trips and Soo has to grab her not once, but twice? Swoony meet-ups and the hints of liking her? Early on, the drama almost gave me Sense and Sensibility vibes, with Marianne waiting-waiting-waiting for a love confession from the rakish Willoughby.
Much like that Jane Austen story, though, the love connection doesn’t happen for Woo-yeon and Soo. And even worse, Woo-yeon spends ten years of her life unable to fit anyone else inside her heart. When we meet her in present day, she’s in her twenties and has racked up more than a dozen ex-boyfriends. She tries to have feelings for them, and dates people she thinks she could grow to like, but it always ends with a dumping: she can’t forget Lee Soo.
Ten years is a long time for a young girl to nurse feelings for someone, but Woo-yeon is totally believable in this circumstance for two reasons: one, that Soo is so flirty and familiar when they’re together that it’s hard not to take it romantically; and two, because Lee Soo is unequivocally melty and appealing.
In fact, I would argue this drama is basically held together by the boyish charm of Ong Seung-woo. If he wasn’t so convincing in this role, I don’t think the drama would be able to carry its construct as far as it does.
But does More Than Friends lean too much on Ong Seung-woo and his boy-next-door appeal? There were times during the premiere week when I thought they did. Even though Soo often gives Woo-yeon good counsel, whether she’s a struggling high school student, or a floundering twenty-something, it’s still not enough to balance all the mayhem he creates in her heart.
And so, by the time we reach our present-day story, and the two are thrown together as young working adults, I’ve pretty much had it with him. Yes, you’re adorable. Yes, you’re charming as hell. But you’re also taking this girl for a ride, and I’m getting tired of it.
It’s then that I started to wonder — is the drama doing this intentionally? Am I feeling this emotional exhaustion when Lee Soo is around because that’s what our heroine is also feeling? While I’m not yet sure if the drama is clever enough to be doing this purposefully, either way, by the end of Episode 2 I was done with him being swoony and ready for Woo-yeon to be done too. And lucky for us, at this point, she’s gotten there too.
Woo-yeon has long been dealing with what she calls the “curse” of Lee Soo — it’s what has rendered her unable to move on after all these years, and it’s what keeps her coming back to him even after he steps on her heart. But, in a perfect little turn of a fairy tale trope, our heroine decides she has to break the curse herself. And what better way to do that than with a kiss?
This early-in-the-drama kiss was a fun inversion for our premiere week. Not only did it bring in the idea of a kiss to break (instead of build) unrequited love, but there’s also the fact that it was our heroine that made the decision, and the first move. I don’t imagine this will go exactly as she intended, but for now, it works for me.
During the first two episodes of More Than Friends I kept trying to like Woo-yeon more than I did. There’s nothing particularly unlikeable about her, and she’s easy to root for and to understand. I also like the story of her early dream to be a writer and calligrapher and how she’s given them up in order to scrape together a living. But at the same time, there’s a little something missing from her character that I’m hoping turns up in subsequent episodes.
I know Shin Ye-eun can be great (she was totally magical in That Psychometric Guy and I’ve been a fan since then), but I’m waiting to see that same spark in her role as Woo-yeon. Maybe a little love triangle will help?
Before our premiere week closes, we meet our other hero, OHN JOON-SU (Kim Dong-joon). He’s a young and successful publisher, and his storyline is quickly connected to Lee Soo (who’s now a highly sought after photographer) and Woo-yeon (who’s now a struggling calligrapher and part-timer).
Woo-yeon’s calligraphy work catches Joon-su’s finely tuned editor’s eye — but that’s not the only thing that catches him. As if we needed confirmation that he’s a possible love interest, when the two first meet, there’s not only a trip/catch scene, but Woo-yeon’s hair gets caught on his suit jacket button.
It’s actually quite a cute scene, and tells us something about his character and manners, but there are so many falls, trips, and catches in the first two hours of this drama! I’m not exactly complaining, because I really do get a kick out of this trope, but there’s a point where it starts to feel like the only way to show interest and attraction between two characters.
There were things I really liked, and things that disappointed me, but it’s a bit early to judge More Than Friends just based off of the first two episodes. After all, they were full of important set-up, because in order for the rest of the drama to unfold, we need a heroine who’s ready to break her own spell, and change her course.
The love triangle will certainly be at the center of our action, but I’m also interested in the professional side of things, and I hope we’ll get to explore the more artistic side of our characters, and their respective artistic endeavors. Who knows, there might even be a book collaboration in the future, if the hints that have been dropped come to fruition.
While I wouldn’t argue with a little more substance and a little less lovesick heroine in the follow-up episodes of our drama, I also probably won’t complain if what we get is flirty and/or jealous meetings between the three when their paths (and careers) start to converge.
RELATED POSTS
Tags: featured2, first episodes, Kim Dong-joon, More Than Friends, Ong Sung-woo, Shin Ye-eun
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 callie
September 29, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Yikes... I was initially excited for this. But all I've seen is negative reactions towards the male lead. Which makes me less gung ho to actually take the plunge and start it. I'm not about to willingly sign myself up for a case of SLS!
Required fields are marked *
mschoiyu
September 29, 2020 at 11:21 PM
What is SLS?
Required fields are marked *
blissfulennaira
September 29, 2020 at 11:26 PM
Second lead syndrome
Required fields are marked *
Lynd
September 30, 2020 at 12:02 AM
#MoreThanFriends caught my heart unexpectedly just by one episode. you know the school romance & slice of life lines that all in all makes the drama a heartwarming one.
I really loved the 2st i really enjoyed it much more than i expected!! it was like a roller-coaster of emotions;
one scene is cute and happy and then it suddenly turn emotional and sad which i ended up loving it lol i cant wait to start ep 3💖🤍💖🤍💖
Required fields are marked *
Hanna
September 30, 2020 at 12:10 AM
The male lead, Lee Soo - he’s scarred, broken even. He basically grew up hearing his parents yelling at each other and it’s only after they divorced that his parents got closer like really good friends. Probably the reason why he is adamant to take his relationship with his best friend, female lead Wooyeon, to the next level. Though it’s really apparent that she is the most important person in his life. Actually, all the characters in the drama have personal struggles preventing them from doing what their hearts truly want them to do. It’s just the first two episodes and there’ll be character developments for sure. And Ong Seongwu as the male lead is very convincing. This is just his second drama but props to his acting. Hope you’ll give it a try.
Required fields are marked *
alasecond
October 2, 2020 at 7:10 AM
agree.. this character is pretty cliched and yet OS is doing wonders with it.. very good..
the FL not so good..
But overall show is interesting.. captures attention
Required fields are marked *
Yonjuu
September 30, 2020 at 12:56 AM
All i see was positive tho. One or two people complained about the cliche storyline or lack of chemistry. But that's it. You should give it a try. I was not interested at first (only watched cause of PO) but then i can enjoy this drama and can't wait for next eps
Required fields are marked *
Mike
September 30, 2020 at 4:50 PM
Near-universal K-drama trope: Make the male lead an ass in the first 2 episodes so he can have 'character growth' in the next 14,
Required fields are marked *
callie
September 30, 2020 at 8:52 PM
Ah yes, "character growth"... aka becoming marginally less of an asshole and still "getting the girl" anyway! 😂
Required fields are marked *
2 dramafan100
September 29, 2020 at 11:10 PM
I hope it is not just first week review but we will get weekly review on this one. This drama has potential to become that drama that makes you feel happy.
Lee Soo is all thorny but becomes all warm when it comes to one person in his life. To her, he is just supporting, encouraging and life coacher. He is a through and through tsundere that is easy to love.
Yeeun is so beautiful and such a fun actress that it is a joy to watch her. They have perfect chemistry.
Lee Soo has the best lines in the drama. There is no way, you will not fall in love with that dude.
But for now, I need him to start chasing our girl and get over his friend zone.
Can't wait to see that because it is exciting.
Required fields are marked *
3 Dewi Gemini
September 29, 2020 at 11:48 PM
The simple one is the best. I think Ong Seong Wu really good on represent his role as Lee Soo. Without many dialogue between lead role, but we can feel their chemistry. Yes there's still lack of some part, but for rookie, they really build good team & make this drama so adorable. I believe the writer will make good and interesting story. So, pls keep watching till the end 😊🙏🤗😉
Required fields are marked *
4 wandering spot
September 29, 2020 at 11:49 PM
It is so early to judge judge this drama. The first two episodes were not interesting enough in fact there were portions I was damn bored. Will watch few more episodes to see if I should drop it or continue
Required fields are marked *
5 Orihime
September 29, 2020 at 11:54 PM
I love this drama. I hope the audience not only focus on the “rejection”. It’s way more than that if you pay closer attention. Love the beautiful cinematography and OST
Required fields are marked *
6 Cantika
September 29, 2020 at 11:56 PM
I can smile everyday after watching this drama. :)
The chemistry from all cast is good.
Required fields are marked *
7 dongteuk
September 30, 2020 at 12:00 AM
I think viewers need to understand Lee Soo's point of view. He was traumatised by his parents and therefore not willing to start in a relationship seeing how his parent's marriage fell apart but only when they remained as friends did they not fought.
Even tho I'm a ong fan as well personally felt it was a bit boring but its too early to judge for now I think we should see how the soo will be to slowly get over his trauma and be willing to get into a relationship
Required fields are marked *
8 Doyoulikemessi4
September 30, 2020 at 12:02 AM
It's ONG SEONGWU (옹성우)
Not Ong Seungwoo (옹승우)
Please edit it..
Thankyou
Required fields are marked *
9 Rainy
September 30, 2020 at 12:09 AM
I hope Next episode will showing more lee soo’s point of view so the audience will understand why he became like that. Even though actually it’s already shown in first 2 eps at a glimpse. But i think many audiences didn’t pay attention on that part. They judge lee soo easily.
Required fields are marked *
10 Christyindream
September 30, 2020 at 12:14 AM
Thank you for your review on the drama and the roles. His name is actually Ong Seong Wu. He is a new actor and hope more many can know him through your website. Hope you can continue to see how the drama develop. Thanks😊
Required fields are marked *
11 Kurama
September 30, 2020 at 12:14 AM
I think I got tired by the plot when the FL is in love with the ML during years and being miserable and suffering alone... Because the ML always loves the FL back, it's just he can't express it because of a stupid reason (past trauma, family, etc.). It's only when a nice guy is falling for the FL, that the ML realizes he could lost her and fight for her...
So I'm rooting for Kim Dong-Joon's character!
Required fields are marked *
stargazer
September 30, 2020 at 12:32 PM
I second that! Go Kim Dong Joon! Win the girl for all the second leads in the k-drama world.
Required fields are marked *
12 Hanna
September 30, 2020 at 12:15 AM
The male lead, Lee Soo - he’s scarred, broken even. He basically grew up hearing his parents yelling at each other and it’s only after they divorced that his parents got closer like really good friends. Probably the reason why he is adamant to take his relationship with his best friend, female lead Wooyeon, to the next level. Though it’s really apparent that she is the most important person in his life. Actually, all the characters in the drama have personal struggles preventing them from doing what their hearts truly want them to do. It’s just the first two episodes and there’ll be character developments for sure. And Ong Seongwu as the male lead is very convincing. This is just his second drama but props to his acting. Hope you’ll give it a try.
Required fields are marked *
13 profoundlysad
September 30, 2020 at 12:16 AM
i unexpectedly love this drama for two ep so far. When I read the plot I was hesitant to watch due to the cliché there is.
Ong Seongwu and Shin Yeeun have good chemistry so far. I wish they will also built up the plot for Dongjun character naturally and more screentime for the other friends story later on. Lowkey wanna see Junsoo and Leesoo together more.
Especially love their Jeju encounter, the scenery makes me wish I could book a ticket there.
Definitely gonna keep watching.
Required fields are marked *
14 vaish
September 30, 2020 at 12:21 AM
The drama is beautiful in all it’s form. What I found amazing was the fact that OngSeongWu was able to dissect a character who well that he indeed made us hate the character so much, just like how the makers wanted us to feel and what’s amusing me is, yes we are annoyed at him for rejecting our girl’s feelings but what we fail to realise is that, he’s had a reason for it, he’s been through a traumatic experience in his life and maybe that is a reason good enough for him to be afraid to open up to someone so dear to him because the thought of him loosing her is stronger than that of love at the moment? Hoping the following episodes really unfold his storyline and what led to him being what he is today.. his acting skills just get better with every scene. Yeeun is the cute bubbly character we all love to see in a female lead. As far as the second lead is concerned, I’m not sure if Wooyeon will like him, like how she likes LeeSoo, again because of the curse or what not, but she’s going to consider him to get her mind off leesoo maybe
Required fields are marked *
15 frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
September 30, 2020 at 12:22 AM
My experience with the premiere week was very mixed. On one hand, this show is beautifully shot. I like the story it's trying to tell. The supporting characters are seriously charming (especially Ahn Eun-jin's character, I hope we get to see more of her long-term relationship with her boyfriend). But I don't like the heroine yet, and I hate to be that person again after Was It Love, but she is enough to really tarnish the experience for me. What makes this different from Was It Love is that I can't see anything wrong with how she's written, it's Shin Ye-eun's performance that I'm not a fan of. I don't like anything she's doing with this character so far. And this is going to sound harsh, but I think she's a pretty unremarkable actress who isn't bringing the kind of unique charisma to her role that Ong Seong-woo is. But anyway, I can overlook this for now because I want to know where this story will go and I'm genuinely excited for the next episodes.
Required fields are marked *
AngieMu
October 1, 2020 at 7:02 AM
Agreed about SYE performance. She's a mediocre actress. Her acting wasn't particularly bad but nothing stands out either. Personally, I think she's not ready for taking any lead roles yet. She's the kind of actress that needs more experience (not lead role) to nurture her acting skill
Required fields are marked *
frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
October 1, 2020 at 12:48 PM
I think if she tried more dynamic roles - maybe a villain, or a second lead, or part of an ensemble - it would better prime her for roles like this!
Required fields are marked *
alasecond
October 1, 2020 at 7:16 AM
totally agree
Required fields are marked *
16 Mia
September 30, 2020 at 12:26 AM
I hope people will understand that trauma and family matter is not just a stupid reason that shape lee soo’s character. For some people, it’s a big deal. Trauma is serius matter, regardless what kind of trauma. We are not allowed to judge someone’s trauma. Coz everyone handle it differently.
Required fields are marked *
17 lananana
September 30, 2020 at 12:28 AM
it's too early to judge the whole drama only based on 2 episodes. Aside from the love story I can learn a lot of meaningful dialogue about life in the drama. I think it will be good if audience can also get Lee Soo's side story, so the whole plot will be much interesting. Need to check on the next ep.
Required fields are marked *
18 Fifi
September 30, 2020 at 12:32 AM
When i first watched More Than Friends i'll always asked why Lee Soo always rejecting Wooyeon? In ep 1 we see this parents already divorced but they act like friends, and in ep 2 Lee Soo needs to take sleeping pills every night because he in the past he always hear his parents fight. Lee Soo is not a jerk, he's just afraid that if Wooyeon becomes his girlfriend it could happen in their relationship. So why does he always make Wooyeon as a friend because he wants to see Wooyeon wherever he is. seongwu is really match well with his role as lee soo
Required fields are marked *
19 ongsongs
September 30, 2020 at 12:34 AM
I miss this kind of drama because nowadays too many dramas that makes our brain work harder...
The chemistry between Ong Seongwu and Shin Ye Eun are so goooood. All i can say is More Than Friends makes me smile a lot. Also i love the cinematography and ost too <3
Cant wait for eps 3 :"""
Required fields are marked *
20 ongsongs
September 30, 2020 at 12:41 AM
I forgot to include that Lee Soo's gaze was so ASJADSJDAJKSAKLSJ. It makes me flutter <3
Required fields are marked *
21 Ddeongddeongz
September 30, 2020 at 12:45 AM
I really enjoyed watching it. This is the drama that I waited Seongwu to act which is rom-com. All lead casts are good. Can't wait for the next episodes. I don't care for the hate comments on the drama LOL.
Required fields are marked *
22 Stars3
September 30, 2020 at 12:50 AM
If U hate lee soo character, didn’t it means that ONG SEONGWU successfully delivering the role?
Required fields are marked *
23 van
September 30, 2020 at 1:36 AM
i really enjoyed the first two episodes of this drama. i was looking forward to it and it definitely didn’t disappoint me. lee soo has a totally wrong view on love because of his parents divorce that caused him trauma so for him, staying friends with someone he treasures is the right way and he doesn’t realize his true feelings. i think ong seongwu delivered lee soo‘s feelings very well because he had that selfish and arrogant attitude but towards wooyeon, he can be charming and caring. i also really like the chemistry between the two leads, wooyeon is absolutely adorable! i‘m excited to see where the story is going!
Required fields are marked *
24 mandy
September 30, 2020 at 2:00 AM
*Potential spoiler alert*
Yes, Lee Soo is selfish in wanting to stay as friends because he didn't understand the feelings and pain of Wooyeon's one-sided crush on him. However this is also due to his inexperience and ignorance.
It's most likely that he has difficulties in differentiating between love and friendship due to his parents. They were unhappy during their marriage but managed to get on fine as friends. Maybe he thought it'd be a better idea to stay as friends to avoid all sorts of complications later on.
This drama is very interesting because there were many parts written so subtly that some might not notice it. The dialogues between male and female lead are very important because they showed the difference in their thinking. For ex. the part where they talked about flowery wind at the end of ep 2. Wooyeon thinks the wind is mean for passing by just to knock over the flower petals and leave just like that. The wind and flower is a metaphor for both of them, Lee Soo as the wind who passes every now and then to shake Wooyeon's heart (the flower), yet leaving later on. But Lee Soo on the other hand, thought differently. He said, the wind didn't mean to knock over the petals, he just wanted to see the flower (Wooyeon).
Although the show didn't portray him in the most favourable light, there are some parts which showed his consideration for Wooyeon. For ex. when Wooyeon cried after the 2nd rejection, he faltered and respected her wishes to stay out of her way for 3 years (despite him still wanting to see her) and even changed his phone number so that she couldn't reach him in her drunken state. They only reunited by accident in Jeju island where Lee Soo resided there in isolation.
Due to his selfish nature, he didn't have much friends other than Wooyeon so when he saw her again, he was really happy. It's obvious that he tried to spend as much time as possible together with her, asking her to take a ride in his car, accompanying her to deliver postcards, creating all sorts of opportunities. But what he didn't realise was how he made her heart flutter again, and it was tiring for her to know that he wouldn't be able to give her what she wants.
But anyway, if the curse is really broken like what Wooyeon claims, wouldn't it mean Lee Soo is now free to see her whenever he wants? :)))
Required fields are marked *
25 mandy
September 30, 2020 at 2:20 AM
Was my comment too long? The previous one didn't show up lol.
This drama is very interesting because there were many parts written so subtly that some might not notice it. The dialogues between male and female lead are very important because they showed the difference in their thinking. For ex. the part where they talked about flowery wind at the end of ep 2. Wooyeon thinks the wind is mean for passing by just to knock over the flower petals and leave just like that. The wind and flower is a metaphor for both of them, Lee Soo as the wind who passes every now and then to shake Wooyeon's heart (the flower), yet leaving later on. But Lee Soo on the other hand, thought differently. He said, the wind didn't mean to knock over the petals, he just wanted to see the flower (Wooyeon).
Required fields are marked *
mandy
September 30, 2020 at 2:22 AM
++adding on
Yes, Lee Soo is selfish in wanting to stay as friends because he didn't understand the feelings and pain of Wooyeon's one-sided crush on him. However this is also due to his inexperience and ignorance.
It's most likely that he has difficulties in differentiating between love and friendship due to his parents. They were unhappy during their marriage but managed to get on fine as friends. Maybe he thought it'd be a better idea to stay as friends to avoid all sorts of complications later on.
Required fields are marked *