Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
K-drama offers romance, humor, and alleged secrets.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Romance in the House
What's the Story?
ROMANCE IN THE HOUSE is a South Korean dramatic comedy about a mother and two adult children negotiating their relationships with their estranged husband and father. Geum Ae-yeon (Kim Ji-soo) was once married to Byeon Moo-jin (Ji Jin-hee), a dreamer and gambler who ultimately forced her to declare bankruptcy, and their teenage daughter Byeon Mi-rae (Son Na-eun) to renounce him. Years after the divorce, the family assumes that he is dead, and the now adult Mi-rae is successfully supporting her mother and younger brother, Byeon Hyeon-jae (Yoon San-ha). But when a mysterious fire breaks out in their building and kills the landlord, they discover not only that Moo-jin is alive, but that he's now wealthy and has plans to woo his ex-wife back.
Is It Any Good?
The entertaining K-drama combines drama with mystery and comedy to construct a good story. With the help of flashbacks, Romance in the House reveals details about what led up to Byeon Moo-jin's exile from his immediate family, and what they had to do to survive. These moments are often offered from multiple points of view. Meanwhile, despite the secrets Moo-jin is keeping, you can't help root for him or Nam Tae-pyeong (Choi Min-ho), the company security guard who is quietly looking out for Byeon Mi-rae.
For those unfamiliar with South Korean humor, the sound effects that accompany the funny moments may seem a bit over-the-top given the use of universal narratives like redemption and romance. But once you understand some of the show's cultural nuances, it's easy to get caught up in its story world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways TV shows produced in other countries appeal to U.S. viewers (and vice versa). Is it the incorporation of universal themes? Or do they simply offer something entertainingly different than what locally produced content offers?
What does Romance in the House assert about the value of love and romance over being financially stable?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 10, 2024
- Cast : Ji Jin-hee , Kim Ji-soo , Son Na-eun
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 10, 2025
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