Drama: Love Alarm (좋아하면 울리는)
Network: Netflix
Episodes: 8
Release Date: August 22, 2019
A new cellphone app is causing a frenzy among the people. If someone likes you and they are within 10 meters of you, the Joalarm for the app rings. The app also shows how many people like you, but the app doesn’t reveal specific details on who likes you. Kim JoJo is a pretty, smart but poor high school student who tries to leave a simple life just working hard to earn a living for herself. On the other hand, Hwang Sun-O is a popular handsome student at the same high school where Kim Jo-Jo attends. He is the son of a wealthy family, but he is not loved by his parents. His best friend Lee Hye-Young also attends the same high school. Hwang Sun-O notices that his best friend Lee Hye-Young likes Kim Jo-Jo. Hwang Sun-O wants to know if his friend really likes her, so he kisses her.
Kim So-hyun – Kim Jojo
Song Kang – Hwang Sun-O
Jung Ga-ram – Lee Hye-young
I watched this way back in August when this first came out in Netflix and i was as addicted and hooked as everyone else! I haven’t watched a kdrama about high schoolers for so long cause I find them juvenile now, but this was just so much fun and angsty to watch? You dont need to ask me if I’m Team Sun Oh or Team Hye Young! Of course I’m Team Sun Oh! I know some are saying he was such a jerk for “stealing” Jo Jo away from Hye Young when he knows how much his best friend likes her, but (i’m not defending him) he asked Hye Young several times if he liked her and he always said no, and i thought it was love at first sight, not just for him but for JoJo as well. They obviously like each other so why can’t they be together? Jojo never liked Hye Young (mostly dont even know him) so no one was stealing anyone. All’s fair in love and war right? And Hye Young is a creepy stalker!! Followed her around without her knowing and was too shy and coward to talk to her and tell her how he feels. Sun Oh made his intentions known and wasn’t afraid to go all out for her.But what about the boyfriend? it was quite obvious that Jojo and the boyfriend was so over and it didn’t take long for them to break up. I didn’t like Jojo’s best friend- trying to be all nice but was actually backstabbing Jojo because she liked Jojo’s boyfriend! I’m glad the boyfriend turned her down- serves her right for being an awful friend.I could understand why Jojo broke up with Sun Oh after the accident – she must really feel terrible that she seems to be putting Sun Oh in danger and getting him in all sorts of trouble. and Jojo is sensible enough to break up before her feelings gets even deeper. They’re in high school – they will get over this and move on. Right?
But poor Sun Oh. he never got over her. and i think it’s mostly because he never got closure. Years later, they finally meet again but Sun Oh is icy cold and angry.. but still ringing Jojo’s love alarm (what a sad puppy). I’m sure Jojo is really resisting to fall in love with him again. Now Hye Young is back too and this time is older and has finally found the courage to go after Jojo. Who will Jojo choose? Her first love that made her feel alive or this nice comfortable guy who has been there for her all this time?
Aside from the love triangle, the drama also explores the impact of the Joalarm to the society. How sad and lonely people feel when no one rings their alarm and they resort to suicide. It’s scary to think how much people feels pressure to be liked and loved. Why can’t we go back to the old time when life was simple? Do we really have to complicate things and set this standards that are so high and is becoming toxic?
I can’t wait for season 2! I know Jojo ended up with Hye Young in the comic book but with the way the first season was written, there was no indication that Jojo ever liked Hye Young so i hope she either ends up with Sun Oh or the writer better give us the reason why she should be with Hye Young. (Sun Oh is hard to beat though – he is rich, handsome and actually a nice guy).
KDrama Dreaming 
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