The thing about Uncontrollably Fond is that it taps into those memories of lost and depressing love that people don’t want to look back anymore in their lives.
It is not a happy-ever-after kind of romance that appeals typically to almost anyone, instead, Uncontrollably Fond delves to the most shameful, most regretful and most painful things anyone can do because of love.
Emotionally invested is not a big enough word to describe how this angsty melodrama affected my thoughts, like how I deal with life decisions. Kim Woo Bin and Bae Suzy really did a great job in this series.
Main Cast: Kim Woo Bin | Bae Suzy | Im Ju Hwan | Im Ju Eun
Network & Episode Count: KBS2 | 20 Episodes
Official Website: Uncontrollably Fond KBS2
Quick Review
- Plot Trajectory: Consistently engrossing but some plot/with minor hiccups along the way
- Plot Pace: Slow but knows when to speed up
- Character Portrayal: Main Cast overwhelmed the supporting cast
- Writing: Writer in a mood-swing alert
- Watch on a binge or intervals?: Either Choice Apply
- Crowning Moments: Heartfelt Portrayals | Ruminative Love Lessons
- Romance/Weepfest Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: Five Fingers | Scent of a Woman | That Winter The Wind Blows | Mask | Missing You
Uncontrollably Fond Quick Plot Summary
Joon Young’s One Great Love
At the height of his career, debonair top actor Shin Joon Young (Kim Woo Bin) receive the news of his terminal illness. To make his fate worse, he meets again the only woman he ever loved – Noh Eul (Bae Suzy), whom he lost a few years ago.
Their tragic love goes way back to when both of them were still in school. Joon Young was raised by his mother to become a prosecutor to follow the footsteps of his famous prosecutor father, who didn’t know he existed.
Noh Eul’s father was a victim of hit and run by the daughter of a famous politician – Yoon Jung Eun (Im Ju Eun). Jung Eun’s father tasked Joon Young’s father to take care of the matter and closed the case accordingly, but his son Choi Ji Tae (Im Ju Hwan) caught up on the evil act his father succumbed to.
Noh Eul’s Heartfelt Dream
When Noh Eul secured the evidence that will bring out the justice she was fighting for, Joon Young chose to be a filial son to his father causing Noh Eul to almost losing her life.
Years later, Ji Tae, who was burdened by the wrong-doings caused by his parents, played Noh Eul’s daddy-long-legs in shabby clothes alongside Jung Eun’s betrothed, when he suits up to his CEO persona.
Ji Tae and Joon Young work separately in shielding Noh Eul from the evil claws of their father villains. In his dying days, Joon Young decides on a ploy to get a confession that will pin Jung Eun to her sin. Ultimately, giving Noh Eul his great act of love before he faces death.
Peak Points
Interestingly Addicting Weep Story
Uncontrollably Fond has put me on all the level of frustrating emotions I can ever have as a k-dramafan. When almost all k-drama addicts have given up and turned their backs on it, I remained faithful, hopeful of some miracle that might salvage its disappointing run.
Down to its finale week, I have long accepted that there will be no happy ending. At some point, I even begged k-dramagods to stop the writer from her ludicrously hurtful storytelling or to just kill Joon Young and insert an “it has all been a dream” plot because I have never felt bad for k-drama characters before until I spent time with this story.
That being said except for the temperamental second lead girl who was sketched annoyingly without room for a redeeming dimension, I have praises on the main leads’ heartfelt portrayals even if it drained me emotionally with and without tears.
Ruminative Love Lessons
Limited by its pragmatic approach, the writing did not swerve to a feel-good direction to appease the agonizing dying-man-all-willing-to-protect-his-woman setting. And that’s the reason why my forbearance was put to a test in Joon Young and Eul’s love journey.
It highlights contemplative love lessons about how we act irrationally when we can’t get the amount of love we think we deserve… how the pain we felt to fight for our love does not mean less to the love we gave to stay in a relationship… and how loving at the moment is a lot more times better than worrying about your future together when love might not be there anymore.
Less the handful amount of heartbreaks I got from Uncontrollably Fond, the rope that tied me to the series involves the crippled yet ardent characters who got doses of realities that true love is not always a happy thing.
True, I got to that point when I questioned why the characters seemed to be either masochist or lunatic. But the erring and awry cast made the ugly tone premise of the painful narrative sealed the lingering after-effect – when it finally concluded to a saddening and yet gratifying closure.
Heartfelt Portrayals
At the back of my mind, hopeless romantic me was optimistic that the death premise involved will conclude at a bright ending. However, it closed to its original path.
Joon Young made me cry big time at the finale episodes that I forgot the dreary side stories because I was crying like an ajumma gloomy and muttering “I waited and I prayed but you still died Joon Young-a!” *chuckles
Nevertheless, it was a pretty ending, especially that Joon Young video scene. It was encouraging and beautiful that I forego all the disappointments I had with this drama.
I applaud Kim Woo Bin in his portrayal. I hated him with his choices, but I cried big time when I was sending him off. His relationship with the people he loved was shaky and quirky but displayed very well his endearing facets as a character good or bad.
Suzy suited up to her character fitting in her sass and stubbornness to Joon Young’s adorable ego. Her indecisiveness to stand up to the bullies and her payback in the culmination of the story eventually went to show how she picked her battles wisely.
Im Ju Hwan, who was the only lucid character in the main cast, did a great job convincing me that his presence will bring some hope to the table against his power-hungry parents and deranged bride-to-be. Because hell if our dying hero won’t at least get any help, I don’t know what to do anymore.
No matter how effective Im Ju Eun’s character was in getting to my nerves, I hated how she was used in the story to make it more even damaged. Yet, I can’t help but acknowledge that she’s a key piece that set the main connecting conflict in motion.
Series Afterthoughts
Uncontrollably Fond won’t appeal to those who crave light and sweet type of romantic stories. You can indulge to this narrative, but be aware that you will be put on a tormenting spot most of the time.
Though deemed to have been badly written, there’s a convincing thread that held the loyal viewers to the series. That is the dying scenario of the male lead.
I stayed until the end because I believe that not all love stories are wrapped in kisses and sweet memories. There are those that are melancholic and yet live on as someone’s one great love.
Photos: KBS2
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