First Impressions: "Crushology 101" Is A K-Drama Filled With The Best Of Youth And Romance

College life should be all about enjoying yourself, meeting up with friends, getting to know new people, and falling deeply in love. Or so Ban Hee Jin (Roh Jeong Eui) thinks, but things take a turn for her in the first episodes of “Crushology 101.” This new K-drama promises not only to bring a sparkling romantic comedy but also a refreshing show that’s perfect for this spring! 

Warning: spoilers from episodes 1-2 ahead! 

Ban Hee Jin, known as “Bunny” to her friends, is an optimistic, easygoing young woman who has been a sucker for good looks since childhood. So much so, that her ability for aesthetic appreciation has driven her to choose a sculpture major in college. Despite her weakness for beauty, her boyfriend is far from being a stunner. Nonetheless, she seems content with her relationship as he is devoted to her to a fault until he blows his cover. He shows his true colors not only to Bunny but to the entire school when he accidentally goes live while talking on the phone in the broadcast studio, revealing his plans of getting her drunk on a trip just to sleep with her. 

Humiliated and ashamed that she had ever dated someone like him, Bunny vows to date only good-looking men from now on. And the heavens hear her plea because soon enough she meets and charms not one or two, but three dashing young men, although in very different ways. In the beginning, the pace and chemistry in this show is a little odd, but after a few minutes, you can’t help but start giggling and stomping your feet at the giddy feeling each encounter brings.

The very first man Bunny meets is Cha Ji Won (Cho Jun Young), a returnee senior student that happens to witness her public breakup and gets very impressed at her cool character. However, what really impresses him is her artistic abilities as a sculptor. Later on, they meet again by chance and quickly start an easygoing friendship. But it is hard to have hopes for him since he has every characteristic of the typical second or even third male lead. Ji Won is practically perfect in every aspect: he is incredibly handsome, filthy rich, and has a nice personality, which pretty much rules him out as the future endgame for our female lead. 

The second prince charming Bunny meets is Hwang Jae Yeol (Lee Chae Min), although he quickly becomes anything but a prince to her. To say they get off on the wrong foot would be an understatement. In an attempt to prevent an absurd accident, Ban Hee Jin ends up indebted to him when Jae Yeol’s tablet gets broken, but their incidents barely begin at that moment. In a series of misunderstandings and comical encounters—which even includes Jae Yeol chasing Hee Jin across the entire campus—they start to meet up a couple of times. And it’s enough for Hee Jin to be fed up with him and for Jae Yeol to get more than interested in her, even if he won’t admit it at first. 

Even if it is a bit of a slow burn, their cat-and-mouse-like relationship is exactly what makes you stay through the first couple of episodes, especially because Jae Yeol and Ji Won are completely different. Ji Won is kind and sweet to everybody around him, whereas Jae Yeol is cold and has a sharp tongue that could slice you to pieces with just a few words. But this is what gives Jae Yeol a more impactful presence and even more chances to ultimately win Ban Hee Jin’s heart. It is clear that he is the kind of character who finds it hard to express his feelings, but once he opens up his heart, he gives it unconditionally. 

But after having experienced Jae Yeol’s ruthless personality, Hee Jin looks for a part-time job at the famous sculptor Jay’s exhibition to make some money to pay Jae Yeol back for his tablet. That leads her to a fateful encounter with Cho A Rang (Kim Hyun Jin). He is mysterious, strikingly handsome, and immediately shows his interest in her after she displays her vast knowledge of the artist she admires. And since this isn’t an overly complicated story, soon enough we learn Ah Rang is none other than the artist Jay, and he is ready to conquer Ban Hee Jin’s heart as well. 

Just as Bunny meets this trio, they also get to meet each other. If multiple love lines aren’t enough to entice us, the potential bromance that starts to brew between Jae Yeol and Ji Won sure will. Their first encounter is also a bit awkward to say the least, leaving a bad first impression on each other. So we can also expect a lot of chemistry going on between these men, who, despite their different personalities and backgrounds, get intertwined with Ban Hee Jin by the same natural attraction. And things are sure to spice up the moment Ah Rang enters the equation.

The story has a lot of common places and clichés, for example, having a clearly beautiful and capable female lead who is too clueless to catch on to her own appeal until she has a full pack of heartthrobs fighting for her. Also, the comedic timing can be a little cringy in some moments, but overall it stays true to its genre: a simple yet enjoyable show to watch. And above all, there’s that youthful feeling that comes along with the cast. From main to supportive characters, their high spirits, refreshing faces, and gorgeous looks make you want to root for them all the way. 

If you are looking for a show that can perfectly mix up the silliness, passion, and romance of the early twenties during college life, then this is definitely the one for you. You also can expect a fourth and last romantic interest for our female lead, who surely will make an impactful appearance. Can we expect the victory of first love for Bunny? Or will the enemies-to-lovers trope conquer this story? Let’s find out together in the upcoming episodes of “Crushology 101”! 

Watch the first episodes of “Crushology 101”: 

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Hey Soompiers! Did you enjoy the first episodes of  “Crushology 101”? What are your thoughts on this K-drama? Let us know in the comments below! 

Andy zar is an avid drama watcher, from K-dramas to C-dramas, she believes any weekend is a good weekend to enjoy 12 hours of binge-watching dramas. She loves romance, web comics, and K-pop. She is a declared “Subeom” and “Hyeppyending.” Her favorite groups are EXO, TWICE, and BOL4.

Currently watching: “Way Back Love,” “Crushology 101”
Plans to watch: “Filter“