Driving a narrative momentum that is so binding and relatable for the viewers by giving a peek at a love story that might be once they share a sentiment with, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a highly-addicting series that can make your bad day happy.
Credit the cast for their commitment to this coming-of-age drama, it easily created an international cult following especially in the teens and early twenties.
- Main Leads: Lee Sung Kyung | Nam Joo Hyuk | Lee Jae Yoon |
- Romance/Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Re-watch Value:
- Dramas of Similar Vibe” At Eighteen | Hello, My Twenties | Love Alarm | Heartstrings | A Love So Beautiful | Mental Coach Jegal |
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo Quick Recap
“Everyone spends their youthful years. It’s a time that we are beautiful because we can be immature and yet we shine brightly. We are not afraid because we have nothing to lose and our hearts flutter because we can have anything.”
Kim Bok-joo is a prolific college weightlifter who like any typical girl fell in love with a weight management doctor. Nurturing her one-sided crush she signed up for a weight loss program and suited up for a new identity as a cello player.
Her secret second life bumps into reality when she learned that the doctor is the brother of her grade school classmate, Joon-hyung, whom she recently met again at the Sports University they were both attending.
She is forced to be nice to Joon-hyung to keep her secret going but Joon-hyung’s ex-girlfriend who wants to win him back and is jealous of Bok Joo, discovered her weight loss management appointments and used it to hurt her by letting her coaches know about it.
Bok-joo gets punished and was locked down to keep her weightlifting figure so she was forced to stop coming to the clinic. Joon-hyung and Bok-joo become closer and as her puppy love for his brother faded, he realized he has fallen in love with his sassy friend. She soon returns his affection and they made every girl on the planet envious of the young love they shared.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo Series Highlights
Different Relationship Angles and Resolutions
Despite its seemingly light mood throughout the drama, several relationships were actually tackled within its episodes. Of course, the main highlight of the series was the closeness of Bok Joo with her two friends, Nan Hee and Sun Ok.
The support of the latter for Bok Joo was also remarkable as it did not show any competition. Rather, they inspired and encouraged each other to do their best. Moreover, the young characters were also close to their parents.
At an age where teenage rebellion is common, Bok Joo was uncharacteristically close to her father and uncle. She cared deeply about her father and although she showed a grumpy side of her, the love of a daughter for her father shone through.
Another family that’s worth highlighting is Joon Hyung’s parents and older brother. Despite their real relationship, Joon Hyung not being their real son, they treated him like their own.
Mental Health Issues
It came as a pleasant surprise that the series did not shy away from mental health issues and disorders. Because of her one-sided love and the pressure of being an athlete, Bok Joo spiraled into depression.
This caused her to temporarily leave school to recover. The way that her mental health was valued speaks volumes of how sensitive the series is to the vital issues young students face today. It’s something that must not be overlooked and should even be prioritized.
Additionally, Shi Ho also faced problems of her own in the form of her bulimia. Bok Joo’s roommate went through a lot of pressure from her troubled family life and her career as a gymnast.
Shi Ho turned bulimic and eventually landed in the hospital. She eventually decided to change the course of her life which turned out for the better of her career.
Shi Ho’s storyline was handled responsibly as well. Her realistic portrayal of a young girl struggling on her own reached out to the viewers. They empathized with her struggles and cheered for her as she recovered.
Sweetly Navigated Plot
Albeit everything that went on with all the characters of the drama, it never lost its focus on Bok Joo. Instead, the various storylines tied themselves neatly together, highlighted by the characters’ development and self-realization.
The characters continued on their journeys to find themselves, and the drama provided just the right avenue to keep the ball rolling directly onto its self-appointed path.
The build-up leading to Bok Joo and Joon Hyung’s romance landed neatly and tied up the story nicely. Fans are also provided with ample time for sweet moments between the iconic couple, even a glimpse of an adorable lovers’ quarrel.
Memories That Left An Impact
The basis of a successful soundtrack is its capacity to immediately remind its viewers of the drama within the first few notes of the song. Weightlifting Fairy successfully incorporated a memorable soundtrack to its unforgettable scenes.
Kim Jong Wan’s “You & I”, Standing Egg’s “I’ll Pick You Up” and Kim Min Seung’s “From Now On” are just a few of the drama’s well-loved tunes. The songs successfully evoke happy memories from the drama.
Aside from its soundtrack, Bok Joo’s unique ringtone rose in popularity following the airing of the drama. Additionally, the lines “Do you like Messi?” and “SWAG!” became popular captions and hashtags on different social media platforms.
Jae Yi also cared for Joon Hyung immensely, despite their differences with Bok Joo. Jae Yi was quick to understand his younger brother.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo Series Musings
Inescapably, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo pokes at any person’s buried campus romance sweetly and wistfully. Undeniably, the chemistry between Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk was off the charts and kept the drama engrossing.
However, the overall happy tune that the drama played all throughout keeps me coming back to this. Whenever you need a pick-me-up-moment, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a sure cure that will not disappoint.
Buoyant and feel-good, Bok Joo and the rest of the sports athletes at Haneul University gave us an awesome time with their interactions and side chronicles. It is such a simple story with an almost non-existent conflict, but it was told from a smart perspective hitting the familiar situations we also had at some point in our lives when we were young and unafraid to love.
Jung Joon Hyung is now the prototype for an ideal college boyfriend ever. The #relationshipgoals captured in their friendship-turned-love adventure are mushy and cute and full of life lessons. Sending off the “swag couple” truly satisfies us by making us remember our very own youth.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is one of the best and most heartfelt coming-of-age dramas that beautifully captured the joy and pain and everything in between of being young, building dreams, and falling in love for the first time.
Photos: MBC
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*Words on this review are from abbyinhallyuland and Taehyung’s Noona
