This drama is the perfect example of how audiences will sympathize with the main characters because they're the main characters. We spend a lot of time with them, see everything, and naturally that has our investment. We want to forgive them, and pardon them, but you take these same characters, and turn them into second leads or supporting roles, and I guarantee there'd be a lot more venom in their direction. They're simply not good people. Both their intentions and actions are misplaced, and while OHY1 is definitely more likeable than Do-Kyung, they're both just a bunch of assholes ultimately. A lesser actress than Seo Hyun-Jin wouldn't have been able to cover the writing's flaws the way she managed to with her charm so I honestly commend her on a such a good job.

Anyway, I'm going to try to finish this since I invested over ten hours of my time already, but damn if it isn't kind of disappointing after such an interesting start.

So much this. Everything you said. I just couldn't relate to the two of them, and was wondering if I've just lost touch with common sense because everyone else was watching it.

This is slightly difficult to answer.

I wouldn't necessarily say the drama has glossed over the bad actions thus far (I'm up to episode 11), but it has definitely ignored some or tried to make things seem romantic which aren't.

A good example of this would be when Do-Kyung crashes into Tae-Jin's car intentionally. The drama and writing tries to portray this as romantic and emphasizes how angry Do-Kyung is due to the way Tae-Jin broke up with OHY1, but this is exactly why this scene is such a farce. Do-Kyung is responsible for the breakup and the drama trying to earn sympathy for him here falls on flat ears because the fact is he's still being a huge asshole towards Tae-Jin who has no idea as to why.

Tae-Jin's intentions were fine, and while his method was incorrect, he's not the one who sent someone to jail, caused grief a stress for two families, and both Tae-Jin and OHY1. That was Do-Kyung.

Another good example of this would be when Do-Kyung finally breaks down and tells OHY1 that he misses her. This leads to them beginning their relationship in earnest. Again, a huge glaring problem here is that Do-Kyung is intentionally beginning a romance with this woman without having told her what he's done. Beyond that, something that is a glaring issue, is that he only seemingly decides to tell her the truth when OHY1 tells him over the phone that she plans to meet Tae-Jin to end things with him once and for all. It's clear that Do-Kyung feels pressured to let her know first because he doesn't want her to learn the truth accidentally from Tae-Jin.

But then why not tell her this before she's fallen in love with you? It's a huge asshole move, and added to everything else Do-Kyung has done (like being angry at his younger brother for his "embarrassing" writing instead having a conversation like a sensible adult, the whole sending Tae-Jin to jail thing, or his indignant manner towards him even after he's out) it's clear this guy is a huge asshole with little redeeming qualities.

OHY1 is also similarly glossed over. The show initially builds OHY2 as this mystery who has everything going for her, but it flips that on its head when it reveals her upbringing and the fact she's always smiling and trying to please others because she wants someone to love her. Add the fact that other people like Do-Kyung and his sister call her incredibly sweet, and good, that the drama trying to gain sympathy points for OHY1 by showing how OHY2 has unintentionally caused her problems is incredibly superficial.

OHY2 hasn't intentionally harmed her. The closest she comes to that is when she tells Do-Kyung over the phone about her metabolic age, but just minutes earlier, OHY1 was being a complete bitch to her anyway. The show also ignores OHY1's general pettiness and other stupid moves like throwing a rock through Do-Kyung's window or attacking physically because she's frustrated with him.

I like flawed characters, but you need to balance...

Okay, you probably watched a VERY different show. Do Kyung crashing into Tae Jin's car wasn't shown to be romantic. It was shown to be apologetic. "I'm so sorry. I hit you once, just hit me back a hundred times, as many times as you can." From then on, it was consistent, Do Kyung just never fought back, ever.

I don't understand where you get half the nonsense you write here because they're just mostly not true.

And for the record, I think OHY2 is a more sympathetic character than OHY1, so it's not bias that's making me say these. Tae Jin's an a-hole, but not an entirely unsympathetic one, either.

It's shown to be romantic. Of course, it is.

I'm not sure what show you've been watching frankly.

He crashes into his car, then tells him he meant to crash into his car. His words to paraphrase are, "The sending you to jail thing was a mistake, but I meant to do this." He then tells him he's happy to be punched 100 times if only he can punch Tae-Jin once. Why does he want to punch Tae-Jin? Because of the way Tae-Jin broke up with OHY1. That's also why he's such an indignant asshole in that scene by crashing his car into him.

The writer has him accept being punched 100 times because it's supposed to garner sympathy for him as he just loves OHY1 so much that he's willing to be hit for his previous mistake, if only he can punch Tae-Jin once for the way he broke up with OHY1. Then when the fight is being broken up, you get dramatic closeups of him as he's screaming "How could you? How?"

It's clearly displayed in a way to be romantic, and to make us understand how great his love is for OHY1. Except he's the moron who caused all of the issue in the first place, and he's in no position to be that much of an asshole to Tae-Jin considering what he's done.