Rating: Overall 6.5 | Story 5.0 | Acting/Cast 7.0 | Music 7.0 | Rewatch Value 3.0
Review: (Contains Spoilers)
“Nice, but not quite great. I’m hoping that things will get better in the upcoming episodes.”
Episode 1:
The leads’ first meeting establishes a tone that is anything but romantic. Inspired by dramas such as “Love with Flaws” and “Mad for Each Other,” the female lead’s decision to call the male lead “poopy pants” brings up memories of an awkward elevator incident. Although some people thought this scenario was funny in parts, it went too close to being a kid prank and took away from the drama’s potential. The plot is further complicated by the strange emphasis on holding the male lead responsible for a coworker’s infidelity.
Nonetheless, the show redeems itself in the last fifteen minutes by preserving audience interest with intriguing comedic moments. Even with its flaws, these humorous moments give hope that future episodes would be better.
Episode 2: Keeping up the slow pace, this episode doesn’t make any progress toward the plot. The rhythm feels more appropriate for a longer daily series, even though the drama is very brief. There’s a faint sense of engagement from the leaders’ exchanges, but the emotional resonance is noticeably absent.
Even with misgivings, there’s a residual interest in the series that keeps it from being completely discounted. However, as it is, viewers are not moved to a deep emotional level by the story as it is developing.
Final Thoughts:
“Frankly Speaking” has potential, but in its first few episodes, it has trouble getting traction. Although there are moments of comic relief, the general tempo and narrative coherence are far from satisfactory. As viewers, we’re left cautiously dubious but optimistic about the show’s ability to get better in later episodes.
(Reviewer’s Note: The opinions expressed in this review are the author’s own and may not necessarily reflect those of other viewers.)