Crash Course in Romance: Some random thoughts after Episode 4

Instead of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl female lead, I’ll say the ice hockey player fits the ex-athlete character mould better. Too bad the writer couldn’t capitalise on the potential of a good quarter-crisis arc: I just know he’s going to be wasted by having a crush on the female lead’s daughter. And we already know how it’s going to turn out with the other girl within the friendship trio being his consolation prize. It would’ve been so much more interesting if he made amends with himself and the regret over what could’ve been a professional career by striving to study hard in order to become a physiotherapist (aiming to help others avoid the same injuries that derailed him). The conflict could happen because maths is required for entering medical school and he finds himself at an impasse between his goals and the journey to get there. And not some trite nonsense over fighting another boy for a girl’s approval. I always think that a show can be dramatic without being dramatic by having well-crafted internal battles and struggles, especially in a show which wasn’t supposed to be a thriller.

I guess I might be projecting a bit too much since nothing has really happened yet within the high school arc (although we really could’ve done without the nonsense that was the inferiority complex and the backstabbing) but all signs point to a protracted battle to win over the female lead’s daughter, from the introduction to the pointed looks when he helps her handle a nosebleed, to the overly contrived spilling of chocolate milk on his table (coincidentally, I kid you not), to his very public declaration to interact with her more (cue more jealous squinting from the other male contender). I’ll honestly be impressed if this has all been a red herring because the writing for the main leads’ arcs is so terrible (metal ball shooter, yuck, upcoming scandal, yuckier) that it’ll be a miracle that the supporting characters get more thought placed into their development. But then we had Love is for Suckers with John/Ji Wan and you never know what might just happen! We can all dream of having a talented cast (all those experienced actresses are wasted!) meet an equally great narrative.

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    I agree on the high school arc. I can see the love triangle coming from miles away and despise it. Although the kids are cute, teenage angst/jealously are not what I signed up for.

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