It’s the midway point for K-drama Dinner Mate (Shall We Have Dinner Together) and I’ve been watching intently but haven’t felt the urge to write it about until now. That’s probably because each episode feels like a bite, or perhaps part of a meal, so without the entire meal yet it’s hard to formulate a thoughtful review. It’s the midway point now, 8-episodes in (or 16 based on the half-hour episode format) and I’m quite addicted despite the low key almost languid pace of this story. Leads Song Seung Heon and Seo Ji Hye are wonderful together, visually they are a treat and their characters have such rootable personalities and a genuine connection. Their conversations are really thoughtful, sincere, and mature, though a tad restrained so I have yet to see sharp sparks that convey passion.
The prickly part is the two second leads played by Lee Ji Hoon and Son Na Eun, the latter of which remains a terrible actress and is playing a totally textbook annoying and self-absorbed second female lead. Lee Ji Hoon is the X-factor, he’s been on my radar since playing bad brother to Lee Min Ho in Legend of the Blue Sea, he’s like a baby Kwon Yul and I worry he’s relegated to second leads when he can do so much more. Here I don’t know why he abandoned his love and is back trying to win her back in all the wrong ways like a stalker drunk on love potion. It’s confusing the heck out of me and making what would be a breezy romance feel suddenly fraught with landmines and a backstory I’m more and more curious about.
I love this show and am glad you like it too. The leads have a lot of sweet, warm chemistry.
Episode 16’s riff on “Crash Landing ” was HILARIOUS and so well done. I’m impressed that tvN let them use Yoon Mirae’s song for the parody.
Biggest disappiontment n no matter how good we think n say CLOY was it did not even walk off with 1 award except for that unknown tik tock award
. What a joke . I was hoping for HB to clinche the best actor , best screen play n story too but no . Best actress i predicted that TWOM lead actress would win bcoz somehow i feel SYJ over acted her part in CLOY .
TOTAL DISAPPIONTMENT .
This is my drama along with Oh My Baby. Both are equally entertaining.
Dinner Mate Ep 10 was definitely heart fluttering.
Ratings are so low. Hope it will increase in subsequent episodes. I really love the drama.
I’m not convinced the scenario, so many coincidences… The ex-boyfriend became super creepy. SNE is really bad as a character and as an actress.
But the couple has a great chemistry!
I like this drama- it’s light and relaxing. It also gives the feeling of me, wanting for more- and waiting for the next week’s episode seems too long a wait.
It’s really exciting. Both leads are a good match and they look good together. ???
I love ssh so cool
I love ssh and this is a light but warm romantic drama. M still on Ep 6. Love this.
Ratings are low for this drama. Latest viewership ratings were at 3.0 and 4.2% so i guess the drama is not good
decreasing viewrship rating as well. from.4.8 and 6.1 (Pilot episode) to 3.0 % & 4.2%. what a shame. i thought the leads are popular? no star power?
Joane..here you go again trying to show off that ur fav’s drama going to hit 20pc mark meanwhile looking down on all other dramas.
The preceding drama in its time slot got even worse rating than Dinner Mate. So it is kind of acceptible. Plus summer dramas usually tend to have low ratings than their counterparts. I m just glad this drama script doesn’t have paedophilic angles in its story..
Its acceptable…ratings low across all channels except weekend family shows. Its actually a decent hit.
I love this Drama im looking forward every new episode.
I love SSH
Aiyooo… 3 and 4 werent that bad la. Comparing to big budget with superstar actors and writer nim, got this kind of rating wasnt bad. Last time i heard a big budget drama only got 5%. Rating is important for the production, but this drama isn’t a big budget drama. The producer still can pay the actors and crew’s fee. The product placement in this drama is also acceptable. Not too obvious like some other dramas.
the fact that you equate a TV show’s ratings with it’s quality is just…sad.
Drama is ok. Ratings are the usual norm nowadays. Joane is the Troll who should be banned.
This is the show I most look forward to each week right now. But I agree that the second leads and the mysterious backstory I fear we are about to get are like vomit on a gorgeous dress. I have watched enough Kdramas to know that meddlesome, annoying 2nd leads are like breathing in a romance drama, but, dang! These two might make a top 10 list of the worst ever. It’s looking more and more like the guy is a psychopath (how did Do Hee date him for 6 years without noticing that?) and the girl is just all the worst 2nd lead stereotypes ever wrapped up in some truly awful acting.
I feel like I am watching two dramas where one is this lovely story of healing for two people with off the charts chemistry + their gang of friends and charming side characters. And the other drama is a makjang complete with a psychopath ex-boyfriend who I can totally see kidnapping the female lead at some point. Creepy! I really wish this drama could have been done without making the 2nd leads so reprehensible. It is possible to have 2nd leads who are not evil and still write a story.
Where can I watch this drama in the US? It’s not on Viki.
It’s available on iQiyi app in the US.
The leads makes me smile with each of their encounters. It’s an enjoyable drama SSH is swoon worthy and she’s lovely and funny.
I love watching this drama…I’m an avid fan of soon seung heon …..
I’m so in love with this kdrama also with the characters
I may be in the minority but to me the male lead has more chemistry with the second female lead, especially in those scenes of past love when she was sick and he was caring for her.
I love the drama so much ???❤️I like the lead actress ❤️❤️?the story also amazing ?✌️?I enjoying this drama ? and I wish the part 2 also comes soon in future ??I’m loving it…… ❤️❤️❤️
I suspect that Jae Hyuk broke up with Do Hee because of mental illness. And he used to be the sunbaenim’s patient. More to discover in coming episodes. Cant wait.
just watching this drama for #SongSeungHeon ^ #SeoJiHye really so sweet couple,,
This Drama is so exceptional , its so light and romantic, although the story is not so complicted to merit any award, just remember this two things, it was film and eventually shown during the height of the pandemic of covid19 , it was so brave of the staff and the actors to have continued finishing it despite the health risks , especially the leads SONG SEUNG HEON AND SEO JI HYE, they could have just cancelled it if they wanted it for health precaution. I salute everyone from the show, sending love from ??????