Noh Jung-ui and Lee Chae-min are delivering passionate performances depicting the love and struggles of youth.
In the MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Crushology 101' (directed by Kim Ji-hoon, written by Seong So-eun and Lee Seul, produced by Kakao Entertainment), Barney (played by Noh Jung-ui) and Hwang Jae-yeol (played by Lee Chae-min), who were entangled due to a debt relationship, are now showing growth as they experience happiness through love and pain because of love.
The relationship between Barney and Hwang Jae-yeol became more intertwined due to the tablet incident, which started when Barney accidentally broke Hwang Jae-yeol's tablet. Even though Barney sincerely apologized, Hwang Jae-yeol was cold, which annoyed Barney, leading to an awkward incident where she acted out during a drunken moment. However, through taking notes and participating in school events, she cleared their debt relationship. Until that point, Hwang Jae-yeol was just a prickly senior to Barney, while Barney was always an intriguing junior to Hwang Jae-yeol.
Just when it seemed like the relationship between Barney and Hwang Jae-yeol would end, it rekindled through activities in the arts department student council. The two got locked in the prop room while cleaning up, and importantly, Hwang Jae-yeol protected Barney, who was hurt from a crush on Jo Ah-rang (played by Kim Hyun-jin), leading to subtle changes in their feelings. Barney started to pay attention to Hwang Jae-yeol's kindness, and Hwang Jae-yeol realized that his gaze towards Barney stemmed from affectionate feelings.
However, the appearance of Hwang Jae-yeol's ex-girlfriend Han Yeoreum (played by Jeon So-young) caused a moment where their frequencies collided. Due to Han Yeoreum's inability to let go of past ties, they suffered through misunderstandings and lingering feelings. Nevertheless, Hwang Jae-yeol, who did not want to let go of Barney, and Barney, who could not ignore her growing feelings for Hwang Jae-yeol, eventually became lovers, sealed with a kiss full of excitement.
As they spent sweet time together, fond memories accumulated, and they grew accustomed to physical closeness, another problem arose before Barney and Hwang Jae-yeol. Barney faced the issue of missing out on a scholarship and the upcoming semester's tuition fees, but an opportunity to go abroad for study arose. Hwang Jae-yeol understood rationally that he should willingly wait for Barney, but he internally faced intense conflict because Cha Ji-won (played by Jo Jun-young), who had feelings for Barney beyond mere friendship, was also heading to New York, where Barney was leaving.
For Barney, the future was as important as Hwang Jae-yeol, so she hoped he would trust and understand her, but until the moment she reached the departure gate, Hwang Jae-yeol did not show himself. He rushed to the airport too late, having to shed tears of regret and sadness without seeing his beloved girlfriend. The separation of Barney and Hwang Jae-yeol, which followed a tumultuous path, evoked a lament, and attention is now focused on the fate they will face.
Thus, Barney and Hwang Jae-yeol navigate the ups and downs of emotions and the changes in their relationship, portraying a slice of youth through conflicts between love and the future. With Noh Jung-ui (as Barney) and Lee Chae-min (as Hwang Jae-yeol) displaying stable emotional acting and a vibrant chemistry, they are forming deep empathy. This week, anticipation grows for the final chapter of the youth story that Noh Jung-ui and Lee Chae-min will present.
The MBC Friday-Saturday drama 'Crushology 101,' in which Noh Jung-ui and Lee Chae-min develop from a debt relationship to lovers, will air its 11th episode on the night of the 16th (Friday) at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] MBC 'Crushology 101'
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