Mutual efforts to keep the love burning amidst uncertainties echo all throughout the engaging love tale in Destined With You.
Albeit running a familiar tune, the series did not have the obvious down and circling moments that often plague fantasy rom-com.
- Main Leads: Jo Bo Ah | Rowoon | Ha Jun
- Romance/Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Rewatch Value:
- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: See You In My 19th Life | Goblin | Tale of the Nine Tailed | Bulgasal: The Immortal Souls |
abbyinhallyuland watches Destined With You on Netflix
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 | 13 & 14 | Final Week + Series Review |
Destined With You Final Week Recap
Assuring Hong-jo that they can make their relationship work, Shin-yu showed her that he no longer flinches if her hand touches his face. Going back to work after the scary attack of the gardener, her relationship with Shin-yu continues to blossom.
Meeting his parents, she has to win Shin-yu’s father’s heart and she promises to do so well. Hong-jo also meets with her high school friends to confront Na-yeon and record evidence of her ill attitude. It turns out that Na-yeon staged the whole accusation of Hong-jo stealing her boyfriend.
Making up for the bad deed he caused Hong-jo, Na-yeon’s ex-boyfriend recorded her conversation with Hong-jo and posted it online Jae-kyung also reports the mayor’s corruption in a development project.
Over lunch, Shin-yu and Hong-jo learn that the conception dream was for Shin-yu’s parents. Going back to the beach where Hong-jo’s father rests, Shin-yu makes a formal marriage proposal to Hong-jo.
Destined With You Quick Series Recap
Time is running out for Jang Shin-yu who was alerted by his doctor about his rare disease. Advised to leave his job as his medical condition will only get worse, he hangs on to another hope that would free him from a family curse.
Enter Lee Hong-jo who is said to be the person holding the key to a book of spells that can break Shin-yu free from the “bloody red hand monster” that continuously haunts him.
Shin-yu, who used to work for a top law firm, decides to work at Onju City Hall where Hong-jo has also recently got transferred, too.
Meeting again in a few encounters, he presents an old wooden box that only she can open. When it finally opened, it held a book of spells written by a shaman. Shin-yu asks her to give one spell from the books.
When Hong-jo becomes a hot topic after a viral video of her being dumped got caught, she performs a love spell ritual from the book. However, she missed her target and the spell got directed to Shin-yu.
Inevitably, from being under a love spell, Shin-yu found himself falling in love with Hong-jo for real. Along with that, they discover their heartbreaking past that started the curse.
Destined With You Series Highlights
A Sweet Curse-Defying Love Tale
Early on Destined With You established the unique connection of its lead pair. At the same time, there’s a strong description of how their characters were pictured and how their goals are set to align in the future.
From the accidental love spell cast on the wrong person, the engrossing point of the series hit high with Shin-yu’s brave and mushy showcase of affection. Shin-yu’s struggle with the love-spell-generated attraction was such a delightful watch.
Shifting from fantasy-driven love to real love needed a more solid conviction which the series delivered when the final conflict involving the gardener was mounted.
Conveying how romantic relationships can face problems, it is important that couples communicate well and not decide the best solution without consulting the other. There was a moment of indecisiveness on Hong-jo’s part that she cannot verbalize but Shin-yu is aware of. He takes charge and reassures her that together, they can make the relationship work and no curse can stop it.
Simple Yet Hooking Narrative and Characters
While a bit messy with its storytelling, Destined With You keeps its hooking charm owing to the initial cryptic baits set in the story. The back stories eventually link together the origin of the curse and the heartbreaking love story of Shin-yu and Hong-jo in their past lives.
True, it is hard to understand how the past and present connection matters, but the series’ pitched idea of how the curse that started it all seemingly is a way for a broken love to be fulfilled again. It was a beautiful and romantic idea that made us viewers under the drama’s spell.
Lively characters are so far one of the best merits of the series. In particular, the four lead stars show commitment to making each of their roles distinctly gravitating. While the bulk of the story was powered by the main love pairing, Ha Jun and Yura as support did a good job.
Ha Jun was initially pictured to be the second lead whose heart will be broken. Strangely, we love how his story panned out to become a genuine supporter of the two. Likewise, Yura’s spiteful character made an impression. Hopefully though, she rests on this type of role.
Destined With You Series Musings
Destined With You is consistently delightful in that the visible gaps and cliches are easy to forgive. Just like its theme of casting spells, the hooking factor of this series is baffling.
For instance, there are some spells cast by Hong-jo that were not elaborated to have served their purpose. It can also be said that this aspect of the series was not utilized fully.
It did not specifically elaborate on how the fulfillment of Hong-jo and Shin-yu’s love cured the curse but we can assume so.
There are obvious opportunities to improve the narrative of this series. But some of its wobbly movements tend to be forgivable because of the story’s unexplained charm. From a viewer’s perspective, it’s just easy to overlook these inconsistencies.
Hanging out with the people in this series is fun in every episode. Honestly, the fillers and side stories do not have a strong impact but the continuity of the story makes it worth engaging.
All episodes of Destined With You are streaming on Netflix.
Photos: JTBC Drama
