The tvN cable drama "Fool's Love" and the SBS drama "Heard It Through The Grapevine" share many of the same appealing ingredients for success.
Here are five things they have in common:
1. An adorable infant that adults just love to ooh and ah over. In "Heard It Through The Grapevine," the baby gets lots of attention from its teenage parents, played by Lee Joon and Ko Ah Sung, as well as the nanny, the grandparents and the household staff. In "Fool's Love," the baby is cared for by Uee, Choi Woo Sik and his friends, and reluctantly by Im Seulong's character. But every time either baby is on the screen that newborn steals the show.
2. An adorable male lead. Choi Woo Sik may consider himself a fool because his name is Kang Ho Gu but his character has so many things going for him. He's a romantic, a loyal friend and a devoted babysitter. He's so appealing that he even steals Im Seulong's heart.
And Lee Joon as the son of privilege is brave enough to stand up to his pompous parents when he thinks they are wrong. He has a strong sense of justice and he's also a devoted teen dad and husband.
3. Plenty of surprises and plot twists. "Heard It Through The Grapevine" is hard to predict. Odds are justice will be done by the drama's end and the pretentious rich parents will get what they deserve but it's surprisingly hard to figure how that will happen. In "Fool's Love," each episode is full of surprises. Spoiler alert: The baby's father is not Uee's first love. Im Seulong thought he kissed Kang Ho Gu but it was really his twin sister. Im Seulong and Choi Woo Sik's parents think their sons are in love.
4. Great supporting actors. Choi Woo Sik's affectionate parents in "Fool's Love" are so happy in each other's company they let their kids be who they want to be. It's easy to see how Ho Gu became adorable. The staff in "Heard It Through The Grapevine" walks a tightrope between following orders and applauding true love.
5. Both dramas explore the plight of single moms without stereotypes. Ko Ah Sung plays a teen girl who almost has her child out of wedlock. But she's not stupid. In fact, she's smart enough to become a lawyer. Do Do Hee chooses to have her child despite the risk to her career and the circumstances that child was conceived in. And she's also determined to succeed.
Are you watching either of these dramas? What do you think?
