Story:

Shin Min-a’s Son Hae-yeong does not like losses in her life. She is very materialistic and demands to live life to her money’s worth. When she gets to know that her office provides more benefits to the married couples than a hardworking single woman, Hae-yeong, who has never found the right guy, decides to get married overnight. She puts the proposal in front of her neighbourhood convenience store employee Kim Ji-uk, who happens to hate her because of her way of living. Episode 1 explores the base of that story, and how she dared to propose a deal with a stranger, who is not exactly a stranger to her.

Review:

No Gain No Love, released on Amazon Prime Video, has set the stage for what usually happens with good K-Dramas. There’s romance, there’s comedy, and of course, there’s drama – all in the right proportion.

The story commences with Hae-yeong still in school, fighting her teacher because they do not get all of the playground to themselves. She lives with a mother who is more generous than required, thus ignoring her daughter to take care of other kids.

A grown-up Hae-yeong (Shin Min-a) finally appears and not-so-surprisingly is too materialistic. She is at her ex-boyfriend's wedding, who she dumped six months back. Her appearance leaves a slight mark, for the concept is not new or amazing, and the execution, trying to be funny, isn't yet.

Go Wook as the ex-boyfriend Ahn U-jae has a very small role, which can be easily forgotten. He tries to but can barely leave an impression. The turn their story takes, however, builds a strong base for what is to come in this K-Drama. Revenge is on the platter, and it is indeed too sweet.

Parallelly, we witness Kim Ji-uk (Kim Young-dae)'s story. His first impression is a shabby young man trying to take his first steps in the world of business. His in turn ends up hilarious because of the effects and reactions of everyone around him. Ji-uk leaves a strong impression upon his entry himself.

Yoon Bok-in, in the role of Hye-yeong's mother, is not that new. She is as sweet as all the roles she has played in her dramas so far.

Lee Sang-yi's Bok Gyu-hyun is connected to Ja-yeon, but they have no clue about it so far. Choi Jin-ho's Park Ki-ho is introduced in the same scene, as is Lee Il-Hwa's Sun Jung-a. Gyu-hyun is put in a tough situation, for he is tricked into getting married, courtesy his father. Lee You-jin as his secretary Yeo Ha-joon is hilarious too.

Han Ji-hyun's Nam Ja-yeon is presented as a geek who dreams of love. In that sense, there's nothing new with her. The scene that follows is peak horror-comedy.

Ji-uk and Hae-yeong's spark is noticeable from their first meeting itself. The hate-love story is quite cute and funny, too. Their first romantic moments are sure to make you laugh till your tummy hurts. However, what follows from thereon is absurd to way the least.

Thankfully, the epilogue from the episodes resolves the mystery, and we understand the background of the couple. Thus, the confession is not as absurd as shown. However, it sure is funny because of their sudden enemies-to-lovers transition.

Verdict:

No Gain No Love sets the tone for a good K-Drama. It has revenge, drama, comedy and romance in the right proportions. There isn’t too much over-acting, and where there is, the scene becomes hilarious rather than boring. Thus, this one is off to a good start.

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