Drama Review: Oh My Baby~ I loved it but....

Jang Ha-ri is single, workaholic...and her biological clock to have a baby is ticking. She may have potential baby daddies: someone she hated, someone she grew up with and someone too young for her. 

My first impression was off to a great start. (See "First Impression: Oh My Baby kdrama ~ Eps 1-4 ~ An Early Favorite for 2020 reverse harem dramas"). I was quick to judge that it will be the same boat of other reverse harem dramas, Three Dads and a Mom and Happy 300 Days. And oh boy I was totally wrong. The end goal was to have a baby but it's not as simple as that. The very first hurdle is the father and she's not dating anyone. The story is about going the most realistic but non-conformist way or commit herself to a risky relationship and lose her small window of being a mom. And the complication doesn't stop there.

It continues to be great. Jang Ha-Ri is getting desperate that it blew up and affected her work as magazine editor as well. It just warms my heart when the trio all tried to protect her. Even though it's about a relationship, it' not your typical, giddy romantic drama. It was evident from the start that it's not gonna be like that. There are dramas in non-reverse harem that we watch for the overall story and ensemble and not necessarily because of the romance of the main leads. This is the first time I feel this way for a reverse harem drama. I love the other supporting characters and the office setting. It made me miss working. Or rather I miss having colleagues and not the work itself even if I'm such a workaholic.  It's safe to say the writer is around or near my age as their problems and worries really hit close to home. The show also seamlessly covered different perspectives of other families/relationships. Choosing to get married and not to have a baby. Choosing baby over career or vice versa. Being a father too. Ha Ri's bond with her mom. The series had the perfect balance of fun and drama. I enjoyed the humor even though some of the antics can be corny at times. There are times it's heartbreaking too.

But as it near its end I was disappointed with how it turned out for the other two characters. Since I have no favorite guy  I wished something bigger came out of the other two. I find the excuse to stir the plot very weak. I wanted more conflict.

The last episodes were so bleak that for that moment it overshadowed all my happy memories of it. This drama usually gives spins to the cliches but the final conflict is so predictable. Even though my interest waned with the last few episodes I feel satisfied with the final scene.

In a rare instance, the heroine sets up her reverse harem. But technically, she just lists her prospective candidates in an unromantic way as possible. Our heroines usually do not acknowledge the reverse harem set up. The only other reverse harem that I can remember where the girl is literally aware of reverse harem is from manga, Chiyahoya Shite Yo! Another variation is when the female lead seeks out the guys like Twelve Men in a Year or dates them at the same time in the case of I have 3 Boyfriends. I haven't finished the former, while the latter is still on my backlog review.

The series is free on Iqiyi. Yay, new reverse harem enabler! It also has cdramas like Unique Lady (Lascivious Lady), upcoming In a Class of Her Own (Sungkyunkwan Scandal remake) and more! TVN network is also a big proponent of reverse harem and flower boy dramas. We can now add Oh My Baby to its catalog of Twelve Men in a Year (2012), Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (2013), Flower Boy Next Door (2013), Reply 1994 (2013) and Cinderella and Four Knights (2016 also on backlog review). If you're wondering my favorite is Reply 1994.

And to cap it off with Ha Ri's line which I feel speaks to whatever stage of life you are at right now, "It may seem like we haven't achieved anything but were taking small steps forward all this time". And on the same note, achievement unlocked! I have finished four flowers for Spring 2020 and posted first impressions...and posted reviews sooner and not forever. Okay, it's just two titles but this is the first time I'm so current. :)  How did you find the drama? I'd love to hear your thoughts.