'Nevertheless'...it didn't do well, a Series Review & Analysis

Two university students with two different perspectives of relationships. Park Jae-eon (Song Kang) dislikes attachment, while Yu Na-bi (Han So Hee) doesn't believe in love. Nevertheless is a story of the two engaging in a relationship with no clear strings attached. Friends with benefits. As they continue to enwrap in each other's lives, Na-bi starts to wonder where their relationship will end up in.

Based on a webtoon, this romantic k-drama series is not the usual kind. It's the type that hitches your breath each time Jae-eon gazes at Na-bi. It slowly burns your chest as Na-bi looks longingly back at Jae-eon. With each passing episode, you wonder how it'll end, and is their relationship worth it or not?

FLUTTERS

Viewers talk about how it is different from the usual friends with benefits movies and series. When those movies and series can be tense, wrong, and heated, Nevertheless is different. The director, Ms. Kim Ga-ram, did a good job in telling it from a female perspective. The scenes are soft, gentle even in intimate scenes.

They have proper use of voiceovers and flashbacks to get into the heads and feelings of the characters. It's almost like watching a novel unfold.

Despite the breathless closeups and intense, stomach-flipping stares, with what at first seems to be a romantic kind of friends with benefits story, it turns out to be a journey of a toxic unlabeled relationship.

Nabi and Jae-eon struggle to develop and change as characters until their wants and pent-up feelings finally conflict with one another. Throughout their journey together, there are a lot of ups and downs, opportunities for one of them to change, and chances for them to sit back and think about their choices and their situation. It's hard to predict what will happen to their relationship in the end.

FALLS

There was so much talk and hope for the series during the beginning, but it starts to fall short by the middle of it. It becomes frustrating and displeasing. With what we first thought to be dragging, the characters actually have no plans in changing who they are and what they want.

As mentioned before, there were so many opportunities for the characters to develop and change, to see their mistakes and make a decision for themselves and for their relationships, but decided not to. There were moments that may seem that things will change for the better, but soon, we watch them fall back to temptation and bad habits. Because of this, the ending was a huge surprise for a lot of viewers. 

Most especially for Jae-eon's character. One episode is not enough for him to change. It was not enough for Nabi to choose what she thinks is right or what the writers and director think is right. It's either they're blind or the writers didn't think so much of the progress of their relationship. I'd like to warn you that this series is wrongly teaching young audiences about toxic relationships.

A viewer actually mentioned that Nabi and Jae-eon's friends, the characters surrounding their bubble and who have actually no clear insight of what's going in their relationship, are apparently supporting and pushing the two to be together. "I actually thought you guys will end up together" "You guys look good together"

Looking good together doesn't mean it's a good, healthy relationship. In fact, not once did they ask Nabi's feelings or what's going on in their relationship. There was no concern at all. They judge by what's happening outside the box. It was also pretty obvious that their actions and dialogues are an excuse to push Nabi and/or Jae-eon to the direction the production wants the story to go.

The only decent friend who's concern about their relationship is Gyu-hun. He actually gave some advice to Jae-eon on considering Nabi's feelings. That's it.

---SPOILERS AHEAD---

TORN

It was hard to decide whether to spoil it or not, but it was difficult to talk about what's necessary without explaining the details of the series. If you're reading this and you don't want any spoilers, then don't read any further. What's mentioned before is hopefully enough to inform you of how jarring the series is.

At the end of the ninth episode, the second to the last episode of the series, it didn't look good for Jae-eon. He showed his true colors. He was doing well at first, struggling within himself with what he wants. We start to think that perhaps Jae-eon realizes what he needs to do to be better in order to get Nabi. There were so many of these moments where the playboy shows interest in changing, but in the end, he turns out to be a truly toxic character. He just likes to play this game with Nabi, to play with her feelings.

No change has ever occurred except Jae-eon realizing his feelings for Nabi. That is not enough to justify his behavior nor how the series ended.

This is a serious matter and it's great that many viewers see how frustrating and toxic the relationship is. This is important to talk about because it's not fun to show that a toxic relationship is okay to be in or to get back in.

This may turn out to be a lesson about toxic relationships but it is necessary for those young viewers who may be in one. Jae-eon was manipulative. He never considers Nabi's feelings. The fact when Nabi broke it off with him and he came to pick up his stuff, he mentioned how sad he was that she didn't even give him a birthday gift. He was making her feel bad.

The fact this was going on throughout the series doesn't justify the ending. It didn't sell that Nabi is willing to go back to him after going through so much emotional turmoil. Yes, she can't stop thinking about the good sweet moments, but that should not be enough on how he treated her negatively.

Many truly thought it was going to end where Nabi thinks about herself and her worth, while Jae-eon will either reflect on his actions or continue his playboy ways. And yet, the series decided to show that it's okay to go back right away to someone who played and hurt you emotionally and mentally.

Rate: 🦋🦋🦋/5

It was enjoyable to watch from the beginning. It was a soft, slow burn, longing, and romantic kind of series, but the underlying message they're playing is quite sensitive. It's a hidden conflict that shouldn't be placed in a positive light with a positive ending. It seems okay when it's truly not. The series could've improved in that aspect.