Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016)

Photo source: https://www.viki.com/tv/32634c-weightlifting-fairy-kim-bok-joo

Growing up I've always had a soft spot for sport themes. I had just finished watching season 3 of Haikyuu (a volleyball anime) which had me crying like a little bitch during most of the episodes. I find stories that revolve around sport to be very moving and motivating. You get to see the struggle of the players and understand how much success means to them. I stumbled upon Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (WFKBJ) while searching for sport tagged dramas/movies. I remember I was tossing up between this drama and a volleyball one at the time. I can't remember my motivation for choosing this one though, I think it was due to the comments.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo centers around Bok Joo (Lee Sung-Kyoung), a girl who has dreamed of becoming a professional weightlifter since her elementary school days. Now she attends a sports university and specializes in weightlifting. Here she has a few bad run-ins with the very handsome swimming star Jung Joon-Hyung (Nam Joo-Hyuk). These bad run-ins become the start of a very beautiful friendship. 

I'm going to put my rating here before the spoilers so that people who have not seen this show can go and see it. I give this drama 10 out of 10 stars. Hands down my favourite drama I have ever watched. I don't really think I could come up with any flaws. I loved the show, it is so heartwarming and every episode leaves you with a smile.

SPOILER ALERT BELOW!!

I don't know where to begin pouring out my love for this show. Do I start with the themes? Do I start with the acting? The characters? Please please PLEASE watch this show! I don't know if you've noticed it but I am all for non-cliche story lines. WFKBJ might have maybe one or two thrown in there but I suppose without it it couldn't be classified a 'drama.'

At the start we have Bok Joo who is a woman that knows what she wants and works hard to achieve it. She's great as a person because she is so caring toward her friends and can act like a complete idiot and not give a damn about what people think (well actually she kinda does but more in a "how dare you insult me" way rather than a "you're words have hurt my insecurities" way). Bok Joo acts like a real goof, she stuffs her face all the time and she walks like a hobbling man. I also love how she didn't need to undergo some 'beauty' makeover to get the guy/felt that she needed a makeover in the first place. I find this so realistic. In life if you like someone then you will probably change things up like wear cute accessories or something but nothing to the extremes that you see in other shows. (I do love a good makeover scene though). 

Joon Hyung is such an amazing guy. He's like the perfect man. It's great to see how much he supports Bok Joo and how he never acts in the typical chaebol mean fashion. Oh my god a guy who's nice actually finds love in a kdrama? WHAT! Anyway he's such a sweetheart. The first half of the show is just about Bok Joo and Joon Hyung's friendship and it's lovely because they honestly only view each other as friends. No hidden agendas or anything. They are so comfortable around each other. 

Later when Joon Hyung realises he actually likes Bok Joo it was such a good scene. Then he has to try and woo Bok Joo! I like how she didn't just say yes to him straight away because of his looks or anything. The feelings have to be there first. Once these two get togther they are the most adorable couple. Wow I honestly got cavities watching them and I loved every scene! I re-watched every scene! I told my friends about the scenes! 

The supporting characters are all amazing as well. Hell even the antagonist ex-girlfriend I liked. You pity her for the first half and then you're like, yeah she's cool I'd chill with her. Bok Joo's 2 besites are so cute. When the 3 of them go out to eat or hang out in the dorm and how they say 'swag' as their catchphrase is so cute. 

The communication between the lead characters was fantastic. They had a few misunderstandings here and there but it was nothing that spanned over a few episodes. If Bok Joo was pissed she would tell Joon Hyung. When Joon Hyung liked Bok Joo he told her quickly. When Bok Joo liked Joon Hyung she just came out and said it. Joon Hyung openly cries in front of Bok Joo and nobody is uncomfortable or embarrassed. Bok Joo cries multiple times in front of Joon Hyung even when they're just friends and he just supports her. 

The kisses! Yes thank you! These two kissed convincingly. They gave each other cute pecks on the cheek or lips here and there. When they went to smooch they SMOOCHED! It was so realistic! The kisses were fulfilling. I hope all dramas start doing this now. Oh my goodness it was so wonderful to NOT see any crying kisses, dramatic open eye kisses, 1 person is asleep kisses. Wow so nice.  

As a sports drama to be honest this was nothing like what I had expected. It was definitely a rom/com in a sports university setting but you didn't really see them struggle towards their sports goals the way you would in Attack No.1 (Japanese drama) or something. 

I'll just give a mention to this, I know that Joon Hyung being abandoned by his mother was the reason he couldn't swim well in competitions and I suppose they tried to make that a big theme...but when she came back he forgave her instantly without kicking up a fuss. When he found out why she came back he was angry for 2 days maybe? Which meant about 20minutes in drama episode time. Then he just sends her off at the airport and is fine again. Also Bok Joo understanding his mother's feelings. Hell no! She abandoned him in Korea to get remarried. Then only comes back like 10 years later to ask the family for money to save her new child. Like...lady... Okay that was more than a mention haha but I'm happy it only went on for 20 minutes. That was the biggest drama that happened in the show and it was messing with the good vibes! 

Sung-Kyoung plays her part perfectly. She always puts on amazing expressions and does so well at making you laugh! Or feel her pain. Joo-Hyuk is also an amazing actor and his little facial expressions or hand gestures made Joo Hyung the person he was. It's the small things that create a complete character and really gets you to connect with them. Also the two leads are so good together. So natural and comfortable. 

Okay so in conclusion watch this show. It is amazing. Seeing the leads together as friends first is wonderful and then seeing them develop into a couple just makes you feel complete. These two characters belong together and are perfect for each other. They never try to change each other because they are completely in love. I think I particularly loved this show because there were so many relatable parts and made me remember past crushes and relationships.

10 out of 10 stars! Have you watched it yet? Talk to me about it in the comments!

Until next time my drama queens and kings,

Sarah

(How can I watch another drama now? Will anything compare to my love for Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo? I've been tainted!)