'Crash Course in Romance' explores love struggles in academic pressure and parenthood

'Crash Course in Romance' is a lighthearted romantic drama... until it isn't. Like many current K-dramas, Netflix's latest drama seeks to integrate genres, experimenting with humour, mystery, thriller and suspense, but with mixed results.

Despite its shaky screenplay, especially in the last part, the characters do a good job of overshadowing any flaws in the narrative. The connection between the two characters is evident and keeps the drama feeling fresh and entertaining for the duration of its running period.

There are traces of Weightlifting Fairy, Twenty-five Twenty-one, and Sky Castle and echoes of What's Up with Secretary Kim in the primary romance. These inspirations are evident throughout the entire drama.

There is considerable discussion about the Korean school system, especially its negative effects on children. Haeng-Seon, a retired national athlete who now operates her side dish shop, is the primary character we follow. She does everything she can for her niece Hae-e, whom she has adopted as her own daughter. 

Haeng-Seon eventually encounters the charming and sought-after math instructor, Choi Chi-yeol, as she strives to get Hae-e enrolled in the top academy.

The duo clicks and becomes friends, with hints of romance in the air. Nevertheless, forces combine against them, including prying school mothers, societal expectations for those working in education, and a metal ball murderer.

Crash Course in Romance appears to be on the verge of collapsing as the episodes progress, especially late in the series, when the tone shifts wildly into suspenseful thriller territory. The abrupt tone shift is especially noticeable because it still attempts to incorporate charming romantic and comic moments, which fails miserably.

In fact, this mystery is intertwined with several subplots near the end that feel like filler to extend the drama out to 16 episodes. Another last twist involving Hae-e doesn't work particularly well, while other characters, such as Yeong-joo and Jae-woo, are thrown into an awkward plot with no build-up at all.

The main couple's chemistry and several truly delightful moments sprinkled throughout help to alleviate some of those issues. The show thrives when it pushes into romance and tackles what it means to be older and in love. 

While genre-merging is becoming increasingly popular in K-land, Crash Course in Romance doesn't quite get it off in a pleasing way. The show has its moments, and the romance is good overall, but the unresolved and weak subplots keep it from being excellent. It's not a horrible drama, but it could have been so much more.

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