Episode Guide
Episode 1– | Review Score –3.5/5 Episode 2 – | Review Score – 4/5 Episode 3 – | Review Score – 4/5 Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 6 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 7 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 8 – | Review Score – 4.5/5 Episode 9 – | Review Score – 4/5 Episode 10 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 11 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 12 – | Review Score – 4/5 Episode 13 – | Review Score –3.5/5 Episode 14 – | Review Score – 3.5/5 Episode 15 – | Review Score – 4/5 Episode 16 – | Review Score – 4/5 Our Beloved Summer is a story about romance, regret and repressed emotions. The crux of this falls to a school romance that goes horribly awry, leading two characters on different paths in life that eventually entwine together thanks to fate. It’s a pretty simple set-up and Our Beloved Summer doesn’t shy away from that. Instead, it embraces its own clichés and molds that into a sweet tale that does well to keep things engaging across the 16 episodes. However, with flailing subplots and some inconsequential characters, this k-drama is not without its faults. The story centers on Choi-Ung, a clumsy school student with bad grades. He’s teamed up with Yeon-Su, a bright, no-nonsense girl who certainly won’t stand for Choi-Ung’s shenanigans. So naturally, a documentary crew see it as the perfect drama bait and opportunity to film two students in their natural habitat. As fate would have it, their hate turns to friendship and then in turn a blossoming high school romance. Unfortunately a bad break-up tarnishes them both and they carry the weight of this over the years. Fast forward to the present and Yeon-Su is thrust into Choi-Ung’s world when she discovers he’s an artist and going by the alias of Ko-O. She needs him to sign on to a big work convention, but he still has ill-feelings about their break-up and isn’t exactly happy to see her. But will she manage to make amends for what happened between them? Choi-Ung’s friend and makeshift brother Ji-Ung seems to think so, and he organizes for another documentary to take place. The plot itself is pretty straightforward and there are definitely some nice moments in here. The supporting characters are lovely on their own and certainly have depth but almost feel wasted with the paper-thin material they’re given to work with. There’s K-Pop artist NJ who takes a fancy to Choi-Ung but he doesn’t reciprocate, Choi-Ung’s best friend Ji-Ung has his own secrets and feelings regarding Yeon-Su and Yeon-Su’s best friend owns a flailing restaurant. All of these characters just sorta show up and keep the plot moving but are utterly forgettable in the grand scheme of things. Take Ji-Ung for example, he doesn’t do very much and mostly mopes around, bemoaning not taking his chances when they arose in the past. But yet, it takes us almost 13 episodes before we get some much-needed backstory over why he is the way that he is. Despite its faults, Our Beloved Summer is an enjoyable romantic drama and easy to sink into. It’s not as lovable and funny as Hometown Cha Cha Cha, nor is it as thematically deep or engrossing as Run On. Instead, this one comes up short when it matters but is a fun ride nonetheless, helped along by some great acting and some gorgeous cinematography.
