You’d be surprised how you’ll feel good watching So I Married The Anti-Fan.
Albeit its typical story, the committed portrayals of the characters made the series such an engaging treat.
Moving to chronicle a top celebrity whose life got intertwined with a woman deemed to be her anti-fan, the drama also touches on life and love regrets.
abbyinhallyuland watches So I Married The Anti-Fan on iQiyi
So I Married The Anti-Fan Episodes 1 – 8 Key Moments
“They have the right to know. The painful words you shoot out of your mouth may seem like a callus to their heart that will protect them from the world. But in the end, it will be thrown out like dead skin cells.”
Carrying the bulk of the series’ upbeat mood is Lee Geun-young, stellarly portrayed by Choi Sooyoung. Working at a magazine company as a reporter, she is used to “say yes” to errands. When she was given the opportunity for her first solo coverage, she ends up at a party attended by popular artists.
There, she accidentally witnessed top star Hoo Joon who appeared to be hurting a woman. Thinking she was a stalker because of their encounter earlier when she was lurking around his van, he madly threw the camera she was holding. Heightening Geun-young’s fury, he belittled her job as a trashy reporter, but her intoxicated self can barely express her frustration.
Chasing after him, she marked their connection by throwing her stiletto at Hoo Joon. The next day, she is officially recognized as Hoo Joon’s anti-fan.
Why can’t I do it if you can? All of you show up trying to knock me out! Do I seem like a pushover?
The aftermath of her front-page worthy angry heel moment with Ho Joon caused Geun-young to lose her job. Hoo Joon’s fan club also marked her as their enemy # 1.
Her life can get any better as the apartment she’s renting cut the electricity because of payment failure so she was forced to crash at her friend’s place.
Fortunately, a variety show team saw the uniqueness of her situation and conceived a show with her as inspiration. She was offered an entertainment show as an anti-fan living together with a famous celebrity, who is none other than Hoo Joon.
Barely convincing Hoo Joon to take the role, she resolves her jobless status, but not her homeless state. Left with not much option to settle, she decides to crash at Ho Joon’s place ahead of the filming schedule. When he finds out about her situation, he out of character relents as well.
“I don’t want to be a two-faced person who deceives an entertainer for information. I guess I’m not yet prepared for such a big exclusive.”
Ho Joon’s world star label was achieved not without a sad story. It involves her former friend, Jae Joon, and lover In Hyung. While he was groomed actively in the same entertainment agency, the two were not given the same treatment. Coming from a rich household, Jae Joon decided to leave the agency and set up a new one getting In Hyung who eventually became his lover.
Through the years, Jae Joon harbored jealousy toward Ho Joon, but acknowledges him as a friend. He constantly keeps tabs on him plotting ways for him to face his downfall.
He purposely befriends Geun-young to assess his evil plans to work out. When the crew filmed in Japan to coincide with his ad filming, she received an offer to work as a reporter.
Realizing the work would involve backstabbing Hoo Joon, she politely declined.
“Where have you been? I looked back thinking you were there, but I was really startled when I didn’t see anybody there.”
Unaware that her connection with Hoo Joon has run deeper, Geun Young has learned to vocally express her feelings to him. She has also relied on him a lot.
When she lost her way while filming in Japan, Hoo Joon also found himself worried about her like he’s the most precious thing he wants to protect.
Geun Young has also figured out Hoo Joon and In Hyung’s previous involvement.
“How long will you do this? How long will you lurk around him? If you left him for a jerk like that then it’s over. He only had you in his heart but you broke it. The least you can do is let it mend? Why do you keep coming back to break it?”
In Hyung whose career has not taken off decided to participate in the ad campaign to ride on Hoo Joon’s popularity. It infuriates her boyfriend Jae Joon who belatedly learned that she set forth to Japan without telling him. As she is the only thing he thought he’d won over Hoo Joon, his jealousy skyrocket.
Thankfully, Hoo Joon’s manager is there to protect him and blurted out the truth at In Hyung who seems oblivious that her being selfish is the very reason why her career is not going anywhere.
“Geun-young, were you in need of money to pay the rent? I mean, what are parents for? That’s when you come to us whining for help. Why did you let people criticize you and say awful things to you? Quit everything and come back home. You love to read books and write, right? Come back and do that.”
Unknown to Hoo Joon and Geun Young, PD Han sensationalized the pilot episode by showing Geun Young’s inadvertent spiking of Hoo Joon’s drink. That made the show a hot topic but it also made Hoo Joon’s legion of fans unhappy.
At the very least, she has her closest friends and family who want to protect her. Behaving to be extra caring to Geun Young, Ho Joon also lets her stay in his house.
“Why would you forget your birthday? Life is hard so it’s a way of commending yourself for holding out well.”
A few chill chats and drinking sessions have made Hoo Joon and Geun Young closer to each other without them realizing it. That Hoo Joon even threw a birthday party for her. It would have been smooth sailing, but Jae Joon coming together with In Hyung spoiled the mood.
When Hoo Joon received a tip from his reporter friend about Geun Young’s interview with a news outlet specializing in digging celebrity dirt, Hoo Joon made a plan to humiliate Geun Young not knowing she turned down the offer.
It was too late for him to turn back time as he confirmed it to be untrue after she got mobbed at an event he asked her to come along. Rushing to where she is, he finds her drinking the wine from the event.
Whining at how people are quick to judge and never empathized with her, she directs her frustration at Hoo Joon, who deserves it for also doing the same thing. How he would be nice then completely ignore her, but she remained to be understanding.
“I don’t know why I’m so concerned and worried about you. So, let’s check it tonight.”
Refusing her decision to leave his house, she asked him why he keeps confusing her and gets a reply that he wants her to stay where he can see him.
He forces a kiss which she denied. But he goes for another one and pours every care he has for her in that kiss, which she gladly received.
So I Married The Anti-Fan Mid-Series Musings
I pulled an all-nighter to finish the last eight episodes of this series, and I appreciate the genuine and hilarious bickering. While going to the same mold of Korean rom-com stories, Sooyoung and Tae-joon are really doing a great job to reel us into their enemies-turned-lovers story.
Hwang Chan Sung’s portrayal of JJ giving us a love-hate relationship makes the series even more engrossing. Now, that Geun-young and Hoo Joon became sincere with their feelings, the second stretch of the series promises more development for their characters.
What I really appreciate in this series are those doses of life, love, and career messages drawn in the perspectives of the characters. And they are not the types that are out of place in the scene. In fact, those resonating lines add depth to the narrative.
Ultimately, I want to see Geun-young succeed as a reporter the same way I want Hoo Joon to differentiate that the love he felt for In Hyung has long expired. He owes it to himself to be in a happy relationship since In Hyung never considered him in her choices.
So I Married The Anti-Fan almost did not make my coverage plate. But the moment I started it, I ended up on a binge. If you are looking for a zesty rom-com story, look no further!
Catch up on the latest episodes on iQiyi! The series airs every Friday and Saturday at 5 PM SGT/PHT.
