Oh! Young-shim: Episodes 1-2
by Unit
Oh! Young-shim is definitely off to a good start with its old school K-drama vibes, the childhood nemesis turned love interest trope, and lots of humorous moments. It gets bonus points for its broadcast industry setting (which I love), so, ready or not, here we go!
EPISODES 1-2
Hello everyone, meet our eponymous heroine OH YOUNG-SHIM (Song Ha-yoon): a dogged variety show PD who just got her show cancelled. Again. But Young-shim will be damned if she allows a little thing like a show’s cancellation to put her job in jeopardy, so she literally snatches the next best option: the pilot script of a dating reality show no one else is interested in. It’s Young-shim against the network, but at least she’s got earnest hoobae LEE CHAE-DONG (Lee Min-jae) on her side, and he happily agrees to join her in producing the pilot episode of Arrows of Love.
Young-shim might be experienced in the production side of things, but she’s pretty inexperienced when it comes to the “dating” aspect, and she partially blames her inability to find a serious relationship prospect on her dad OH DAE-GWANG (Song Young-jae). Apparently, Dad used to be a cartoonist and she was the muse of his debut work. The Young-shim series was a success, and while the rest of the family was excited about paying off their mortgage, real-life Young-shim didn’t find it funny that embarrassing stories about her adolescence were broadcast throughout the country.
Fame comes at a price, and Young-shim believes that her animated alter ego is why no one takes her seriously even as an adult. But this hasn’t always been the case, as Young-shim had a serious admirer back then in middle school — although she ungraciously turned the poor boy down several times. After receiving a birthday present from him, Young-shim reluctantly agreed to return the favor, but he stood her up. She later learned that he had emigrated without a word to her, and to date, he remains persona non grata to Young-shim. But I’m sure there’s more to his quiet emigration than we know.
Moving on, Arrows of Love finalizes their six-member cast list, and the hottest name on the list is the mysterious billionaire CEO of a popular AI-powered clothing start-up, MARK WANG. Thanks to bribery Young-shim’s younger sister OH SOON-SHIM (Gayoung), a new employee at the startup, Young-shim gets the CEO’s email address and sends the casting offer — even though the team isn’t sure they’ll get a favorable response because Mark Wang is infamous for turning down TV appearances. By the way, who is this mysterious CEO? I’m glad you asked. He is none other than WANG KYUNG-TAE (Donghae), Young-shim’s admirer from back then. Ha!
Sure enough, Kyung-tae recognizes Young-shim’s name from her email, and he agrees to go on the show. And with Mark Wang and her best friend (and popular relationship YouTuber) GOO WOL-SOOK (Jung Woo-yeon) agreeing to star on Arrows of Love, Young-shim is fully confident that the show will be a hit. But even if the three of them were once classmates, is it a good idea for a backstabbing friend — as Soon-shim describes Wol-sook — to get entangled with the female lead’s love interest on a dating show?
Anyway, when Young-shim and Kyung-tae finally meet in person on the day of the shoot, Young-shim can hardly believe that Mark Wang is Wang Kyung-tae. And while her instincts (and Wol-sook) tell her that they’re the same person, she cannot reconcile the “snot-faced midget” she used to know with the successful CEO in front of her. It also doesn’t help that Kyung-tae pretends to not know her. Ouch!
Arrows of Love is clearly off to a rough start for Young-shim, and it gets worse when one of the three female participants gets into an accident on her way to the studio. Unfortunately, there’s no time to cast someone else, so Young-shim has to fill in the spot. The full-day shoot is a rollercoaster of activities that feature the cast going on three different dates with each other. And things go from worse to worse after PD/participant Young-shim — who can’t handle spicy food — polishes off a large bowl of tteokbokki in a bid to extend screen time on her date with the first guy, and then falls into the river on her date with the second one. LMAO! Poor Young-shim, all she wanted to do was throw up.
Her final date is with Kyung-tae, and as I expected, he wins their karaoke contest. The winner gets a wish, and Kyung-tae makes her buy him an older model of headphones. Young-shim wonders why he doesn’t want a newer one, but as Kyung-tae tells her, “A person who doesn’t cherish other people’s feelings won’t understand.”
And via a flashback, we see that Kyung-tae gifted Young-shim the same model of headphones (engraved with her initials) for her birthday back then, only to see the headphones with another boy later on. Aha! I knew there was a reason Kyung-tae emigrated without telling Young-shim. And I can almost bet that there’s an explanation for why the other boy had those headphones.
But Kyung-tae is not the only one holding a grudge from the past, because as Young-shim reminds him, breaking promises without a word is the same as not cherishing other people’s feelings. And with their grudges now out in the open, Kyung-tae confirms to Young-shim that he’s indeed the boy she used to know.
We wrap up for the week with the Arrows of Love team returning to the studio, where the participants (figuratively) shoot their arrows of love at their preferred dates. Wol-sook and the third lady are struck with an arrow each from the other two guys, while Kyung-tae is pierced with arrows from all three ladies. (It must be nice to be so rich and handsome, heh.) In turn, a sly Kyung-tae shoots his arrow at Wol-sook, leaving Young-shim with zero flesh wounds. Burn! On her own show! Double burn!!
Nah, Kyung-tae is spiteful, but Young-shim definitely had it coming. Don’t get me wrong, I like Young-shim. She’s resilient, doesn’t take no for an answer, and is quick on her feet. But her brand of tenacity most likely developed from her brusque nature as a child, and I wonder how she thought that Kyung-tae was going to play nice and forget how nasty she was to him. She could have been nicer when she turned down his advances, but no. She had to belittle him to the extent that he still has PTSD from everything that reminds him of Young-shim: from spicy pork cutlets to the lyrics of the Young-shim animation theme song. Lol.
Speaking of the Young-shim animation, I don’t know how to feel about Young-shim’s dad using her as a case study without her permission. But whatever her misgivings about the cartoon were, Young-shim maintains a great relationship with her family and if she has come to terms with it, I guess I can, too. The cartoon is probably what got her interested in the broadcasting industry in the first place, and being the “star” of a hit show definitely comes in handy while on the job.
I chuckled when a desperate-for-screen-time Young-shim began to serenade her date with the Young-shim theme song, unprovoked — after complaining to her dad that everyone she meets asks her to sing the song. Lol. Her serenade was an epic fail, obviously, but not to Chae-dong and his admiring eyes behind the camera. He’s totally whipped for her, but in typical female lead fashion, she doesn’t see it.
Chae-dong is such a cutie and I lol-ed so hard when he jumped into the river to save Young-shim and she ended up saving him because the dude and I share something in common: we cannot swim! Heh. Lee Min-jae plays earnest puppy so well, and for someone who almost never allows herself to get caught up in second lead syndrome, I can already see myself marching straight into that trap. Chae-dong-ah, I’m right here. I’m whipped for youuuu!
Overall, the drama gives off pretty basic vibes. There are no high stakes in sight, and that’s not such a bad thing. For this show, I’m not expecting anything too serious. Give me fun and hearty laughter, warm family moments, broadcasting shenanigans, and cheesy romance, and I’ll gladly tune in for the next four weeks.
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Tags: Donghae, first episodes, Jung Woo-yeon, Lee Min-jae, Oh! Young-shim, Song Ha-yoon
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1 OldLawyer
May 18, 2023 at 10:12 AM
Over-all I enjoyed the first two episodes.
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2 Kurama
May 18, 2023 at 10:25 AM
The first 2 episodes were pretty classical for this genre : the girl is a mess, the boy is a cold jerk. So I'm waiting for the real story to take place.
Lee Min-Jae is just a cutie! He doesn't look too young for this role.
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vienibenmio
May 18, 2023 at 10:45 AM
I think it's interesting though that he's cold and a jerk because she used to be that way to him.
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Kurama
May 18, 2023 at 11:33 AM
They're adult now... They can talk about it.
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vienibenmio
May 18, 2023 at 11:41 AM
Right, I mean they are definitely immature, but at least he's being a jerk to her for an understandable reason, as opposed to many other cold MLs
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OldLawyer
May 18, 2023 at 11:49 AM
It really is a very good point that you have made. If this show is going to deliver, then part of the reason it can is because it starts with a firmer foundation in the dramatic sense.
tabong is ironing the crosswalk
May 18, 2023 at 12:56 PM
I like that, especially because she seems to be focusing on him leaving without saying anything (her feelings), instead of everything she did to him too.
3 vienibenmio
May 18, 2023 at 10:44 AM
I was surprised by how much I liked this. It has cute retro vibes and I think it's interesting how the FL used to kinda mean to the ML, so his anger makes sense. I liked how it jumped to the action right away, unlike that OTHER drama about a PD of a reality show that casts her childhood friend. I've been reading about the 90s cartoon and I think that is really important context.
Also everyone on Reddit and MDL seemed to hate it so I'm glad I'm not the only person who likes it!
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vienibenmio
May 18, 2023 at 10:47 AM
Oh, I also think it's hilarious that his trauma wasn't really trauma. But I'm confused why poet guy didn't vote for her. Did he give up after learning about Kyeong-tae or did Kyeong-tae change his vote?
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jerrykuvira
May 18, 2023 at 11:47 AM
Same here. I was so sure that she had the poet's vote until the vote results came out.
About the poet changing his vote, I'm expecting some childhood back story. He seemed to recoil the moment he learnt of the too-way-back childhood connection so I'm guessing while he might not have recognized Mark Wang, he knows Wang Kyung-tae very well or knows Youngshim and Kyung-tae were an item-in-trial-period back in their childhood. I'm guessing he knows Youngshim beyond Arrow of Love. Not the stalker kind of know, just the same childhood connection kind of know.
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tabong is ironing the crosswalk
May 18, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Thanks for the tip about the cartoon!
And yeah, I totally agree, I like this one way better than that other drama about the PD that casts her childhood friend on her dating show.
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Kathryn51
May 18, 2023 at 7:33 PM
I spend most of my k-drama forum time on MDL and reviews are mixed, just like here at Dramabeans.
Assuming this is standard (mid-2010's) k-drama rom-com, I'm enjoying it and will probably get a 8+⭐ from me.
But Lee Min Jae ! He was familiar but I had to look him up why. Quite a difference between Crash Course in Romance, but I like him better here. I hope he is able to get beyond the usual SML trap but the other main characters are all much older.
Only 10 episodes so this is fluffy, sweet couple of hours each week.
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4 nerdy
May 18, 2023 at 11:02 AM
Imagine being 30 something and still obsessing over the relationship you had for a week when you were 12...
I am hate watching this show purely because the leads look pretty together. It was also strangely entertaining that Song Ha Yoon is apperantly a better singer than a literal kpop idol, Lee Dong Hae.
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vienibenmio
May 18, 2023 at 11:45 AM
I don't think that he thinks about her a lot because he loved her or anything, more just that she really hurt his feelings and probably made him feel really insecure. And it didn't seem like she thought about him THAT often unless people brought him up.
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nerdy
May 18, 2023 at 1:37 PM
From what I got, she has not dated since her last relationship when she was 12 and even now, she often looks back feeling bad for that broken promise.
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vienibenmio
May 19, 2023 at 6:03 AM
I kinda got the impression that she isn't very popular with men--aside from the 2ML, but she doesn't have feelings for him.
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5 Nefret
May 18, 2023 at 11:33 AM
Malicious tongues could claim that the first two episodes would have been the result if my former teenage self had tried to write a script. The result would have been characters who are supposed to be in the midst of their professional lives, but who have the maturity of teenagers and behave like them.
On top of that, the two main characters are not particularly likeable. She is a hyperactive brat and the way she treated him when he was a child, I wonder why she would even think of him choosing her in the dating show.
He comes across as very one dimensional and conceited, his bragging on the dates was rather embarrassing.
But at least I will still watch the next two episodes. Because I haven't given up hope yet, also I'm a big fan of the friends to lovers and enemy to lovers tropes.
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6 Kafiyah Bello
May 18, 2023 at 11:34 AM
I understand him being cold to her because people remember bullying. Her reaction is absurd, girl, it has been at least 20 years. Move on, smh. Hmmmm
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7 jerrykuvira
May 18, 2023 at 11:39 AM
But even if the three of them were once classmates, is it a good idea for a backstabbing friend — as Soon-shim describes Wol-sook — to get entangled with the female lead’s love interest on a dating show?
No. I can already think about what mess she'll bring, cause, orchestrate...name it.
There's something I do that Youngshim does as well. I skipped the peripheral salutations after hello, hi, and go straight to the point of business as to why I called someone. The same thing reflects in my texts. It was kinda cool to see that in dramaland.
Please not Chae-dong. I do not want a SLS here at all so I'm gonna be the typical female lead who doesn't see it. But gosh! The guy has it already. And for all the acrobatic way he dived into the sea, he doesn't even know how to swim🤣🤣.
Truth be told and to be fair, Youngshim traumatized Kyung-tae in several ways worse than Kyung-tae's one standing up did her. But to see her hate the sound of the name Kyung-tae and it being a forbidden word in the Oh house, it sent me back to Tale of the Nine Tailed's forbidden word 'Ah-eum' and especially Hong-joo's table breaking. On the serious side, it's a bit equal but not even that they're both traumatized by the other.
Damn! Kyung-tae was sly. I didn't expect Youngshim drying out on her own show at all not after that line she deliver before they took their votes.
I like the dynamic she has with her father. It was something very admirable. He might be someone who never loses an opportunity to tease the hell outta her but damn I loved their rapport when they were talking outside the house in episode after the forbidden name Kyung-tae situation.
I wasn't exactly ready to dig into this one. I tried watching this in random scenes and none of the random scenes I mindlessly played were hooking me in. I guess I had to go to the very beginning to enjoy it. Plus, it afforded me the chance to enjoy that animation song/sequence. I hope it remains the intro sequence for episodes to come.
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8 tabong is ironing the crosswalk
May 18, 2023 at 1:20 PM
I knew I was going to like this show because of Song Ha Yoon unnie, but I actually enjoyed everything about it.
I love how old school/cliche it is.
I'm so excited for our typical enemies to lovers trope, and I'm ready for the love triangle! That's super weird coming from me, I don't usually like love triangles, but this one seems harmless, fun, light.
And I'm just waiting for the "friend" to be mean/betray the FL, because I know that will only get the leads closer together. 😆
I just know that there will be no major drama in this show and I love that. It doesn't take itself seriously and I love that. It makes old kpop references and I love that (we already danced Candy, so I'll wait for a SUJU song next. 😉).
So far, I like all the characters. The leads are perfect for each other (that karaoke scene proved it), YS' family is hilarious and the second lead/hoobae is cute as hell (the river scene was awesome).
I'm gonna have fun with this show till the end, I can feel it!
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vienibenmio
May 18, 2023 at 3:38 PM
Yeah, it admittedly feels dated but I thought that was part of its charm! Of people really do miss old school romcom dramas, this will scratch that itch imo
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9 Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
May 18, 2023 at 2:11 PM
Show definitely has some good points:
- Lee Min-jae is cute and has impressive diving form for a guy who can't swim.
- Short episodes make for little time wasted before dropping.
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10 LaurenSophie
May 18, 2023 at 5:12 PM
Like others, I am charmed by Lee Min Jae here, and it's nice to see him go from playing a high schooler to an adult character. He has a lot of presence, even in a flimsy role like this one.
I also like that the show isn't trying too hard to make any profound statements. It's silly and shallow, but that's also what makes it fun.
The only thing that bothered me--because it would have been so simple to fix--is that the backstory between Young-sim and Kyung-tae should have happened when they were teens. That would have made the lingering resentment/feelings much more believable.
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vienibenmio
May 19, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Yeah, they were teens in the comic too so I don't quite get that choice.
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11 MikeyD signed up
May 18, 2023 at 6:04 PM
I was going to start watching but when I read the Viki synopsis I physically recoiled. It read like 65% 'Love Is For Suckers' with the remaining 35% lifted from three other recent series. I really really want to get away from my current diet of bad C-dramas and get back into watchable K-dramas again. Please let this series be watchable... at least more watchable than what I'm currently watching.
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
May 18, 2023 at 6:28 PM
It isn't, at least for me.
To be fair, it has very little resemblance to LIfS despite the similar synopsis. The tone is completely different. Maybe try the first episode and see what you think? It's only 45 minutes long and the second episode does not improve on the first, so it won't take much time investment to decide.
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vienibenmio
May 19, 2023 at 6:01 AM
It's a lot more to the point than Love is for Suckers, and so far I like it more (the main story, anyway, because very few dramas will ever beat John/ji-wan's story for me).
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MikeyD signed up
May 19, 2023 at 8:34 AM
Back after the first episode. You're right, this series at least knows its a comedy, something 'Love Is For Suckers' failed to understand much of the time. I think I'll keep watching.
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12 Mrs Buckwheat
May 18, 2023 at 11:43 PM
I watched the first episode and think I will wait until the end of its run to see what beanies think of it overall and if it is worth the time. Like many, I was burned by Love is for Suckers and don't want to go there again. Lee Min Jae is a stand out for me, he is very charismatic and has the 'it' factor.
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13 Toodlepip
May 19, 2023 at 12:35 AM
I'm really not a fan of the FL. It's like her personality stopped at 12. Will give it the requisite 4 episodes so hoping it'll pick up next week.
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14 Misky
May 20, 2023 at 8:44 AM
I have yet to like Oh Youngshim the character. Her child self was downright mean to Kyungtae and she remembers nothing of it, instead focusing on his "betrayal" of leaving without saying goodbye. Rich coming from the girl who clearly didn't want to meet him for his Bday, did you all see that face she made when he asked her to,ugh. As an adult such things should be understandable, he probably goy into a situation which him as a child had no control over, but that's the only thing she has on him so the show will Milk it.
Also why is she the waý she is? She functions somewhat normally at work and home but on those dates she was a mess. I get she's supposed to be clutzy but some of her actions are a bit much. Can't she just have a regular conversation ?
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haveninmuse
May 20, 2023 at 2:55 PM
I lost any interest in her character when she , the PD, decides to join her OWN dating show in the last minute. How does she expect to do both? How much belief do we have to suspend?
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Misky
May 22, 2023 at 1:46 PM
I would have bought into it if maybe the head producer wanted to stir up drama knowing the two's history but nope, that wasn't the case. They already had a young female PD in their team why not use her instead ? Let me hold on for this weeks episodes
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15 djf
May 25, 2023 at 6:17 AM
I enjoyed the first two episodes.
I'm only familiar w/ Lee Min Jae from Crash Course in Romance which I thought he was very good, so I'm truly looking forward to the acting from the fresh new faces.
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