Marriage Contract (2016) User Reviews

Way too sad...

[hjalsayegh · 8/10 · 18 March 2019]

The summery of this one is deceptive as it tells the story of a poor girl marrying a rich guy.

In actuality this series focuses on the characters misery with lingering shots on each actor as they cry (not the sexy Hollywood cry with just tears, these are full blown wails with chest beating and voice getting choked in your throat cries) throw tantrums and lash out at each other with every ounce of venom they can muster.

The plot is pretty basic and story wise there isn't much beyond what's in the summery however each actor, even minor roles that were given nothing, make their part feel more like a real human than a character on screen.

This drama has the best child actors I've seen in any series Korean or otherwise in the role of Eun-Sung. She was amazing and should be included as a main role herself.

I can't recommend this one easily as it aims to break your heart and is the first korean drama I've seen with a devastatingly sad ending. More so because they got you to care about these characters each and every single one. Watch with a big pint of ice cream and a box of tissues on stand by!

Very well acted, sad but still lovely

[alexandra-42857 · 9/10 · 7 April 2019]

I don't usually watch films that are very sad but this one was different . Make no mistake I cried almost every episode but it was also very heartwarming and so well acted with messages of such selfless love through adversity. The main actress was brilliant so much so that you forgot she was acting and her daughter was just adorable. Loved the character progression and glimpse into life in Korea. Very different to Hollywood programs/films and found myself thinking about it for weeks after watching. Truly touched my heart.

A Very Sad Drama

[nazreena-18099 · 9/10 · 14 January 2019]

First you hate the lead male for being so inhumane. And then you pity him for the way he cares the lead female. This drama is a very sad love story. It tells us about how people try to enjoy life with their loved ones despite all the troubles in life .

A good drama of MBC's

[peterxnxn · 10/10 · 7 November 2016]

I'll not write a consistent summary, this can be found on Asianwiki. I'll write why I rated 10, why I like this, what I found great in the filming technique and acting. There are at least three main characters: Ji Hoon who wants to save his mother by a deadly liver disease; Hye-Soo a single mother who want to be a transplant donor, she herself find to be very ill; Hye-Soo's little daughter Eun-Sung who is truly adorable at only seven years old .

First, I like the pace of film, well balanced. Secondly, in this drama are a few scenes filmed from many angles, I like enormous that is not a lazy filming technique. And so many well framed scenes: bedtime late conversation between mother and daughter, some wonderful hand grips, a few nice hugs, the harsh conversations of the main characters with Ji-Hoon's father, an amazing godfather, literally. Thirdly and the most importance for me is Eun-Sung's acting (actress Shin Rin-Ah): I'm in awe how the filming team managed a child, clever indeed, to perform a lot of brilliant scenes, to sustain long dialogues. She is the cherry on the cake, without her all drama is void. I emphasize again, I'm enchanted how the crew ,director, writer, managed to highlight the girl. I feel and that good chemistry between mother and girl; praises for this to actress Uee.

This is an absolute sob fest

[pagal-tigerniskson · 10/10 · 13 May 2020]

You would cry your heart out and will pour tears in litters. My head aches after so much hours of crying on this show. This evokes the emotion in the deepest ways from episode 10. If you even need a good cry , give this one a try. Join hands with An undying love of a mom and a child who has a seen a world a little with a guy who is ready to lay everything for love.

Promising story but failed to live up to the idea

[ljansen-87682 · 6/10 · 25 July 2023]

Seemed like such a good story line, but had the usual tropes, e.g. Miserable rich old dad trying to control everyone and everything! Also the usual stupid immature brother.

But the killer to the drama was the FL. She was utterly badly cast and insipid with only one emotion on her face throughout the entire series. Big staring eyes - that was it all the time!

The ML was excellent and carried the entire story. His pain and loss when he realises he loves her was well acted (compared to her) and his joy at being in a positive family environment quite genuine.

However the star of this Kdrama is the child actress, who is absolutely brilliant and deserving of every Award for supporting actress!

Not sure if I can recommend this series as there are so many others so much better.

Don't Miss This One!

[Geeta352 · 10/10 · 14 November 2020]

This is by far one of the best KDramas I have ever watched. The lead actors Lee Seo Jin and Uee are to be commended on their convincing portrayal of a couple who initially marry for the wrong reasons, but later fall deeply in love with each other. This series will make you laugh and make you cry. The premise of the story is so realistic that it draws the viewer into its web of life and death. Kudos to all for this unforgettable and wonderful series. It is a masterpiece that I will watch again and again!

My first Korean drama!

[surrinderella · 7/10 · 9 May 2023]

I loved this drama but it was also very frustrating as someone who is not familiar with Korean culture. Lots of deep pauses and politeness and nobody really responded to questions put to them out of politeness/ respect. Imagine the difference if people just communicated directly. I'm not convinced the subtitles were 100% accurate either, which probably didn't help- some of the lines seemed callous but I wasn't sure if this is Korean humour to use insults to deflect their emotions or bad translation.

Despite the frustrations, got absolutely hooked and very attached to the characters especially the little girl, who deserves all the awards possible. In fact all the actors were brilliant and their roles were very genuine. Was expecting more from the ending, it kind of just finished.

A heart warming drama

[nofitatjam · 10/10 · 9 June 2020]

Took me long enough to watch this drama bcause i initially didnt like the title and the plot. Somehow i watched it and after 1st episode, i just couldnt stop watching it. First of all, all the players are amazing. Especially the main actors who played naturally and have a very great chemistry. The plot is flowing nicely. Sometimes without words, just glance of eyes and body language, they told the story. Good job director and kru. It supposed to be a sad drama but somehow it made a heart warming feeling. This is a must see drama. I am watching it again just to see the acting of lead characters 💛. They are amazing.

Feel sad drama

[venusray-31451 · 9/10 · 3 August 2020]

A terminally ill patient desperate to provide a better life for her daughter enters into a contract marriage with her employer who later falls in love with her. This is the essence of the story. It has heartbreakingly beautiful romance and focuses on two things. One the mother's love for her child and secondly, the true meaning of love. There is nothing special about the marriage contract theme that you see in kdramas or other books. But this one is different. What stands out in this drama is the amazing cast. Even the little girl was really good at her acting. And the layers in the plot. Like it will provide you an actual reasons for entering into marriage contract. If in reality someone enters into a marriage contract this will actually be the scenario. You will get a vibe like that. It's a slow burn. However this show has it's own flaws. Like a predictable plot and sometimes you will feel that it's a bit of a drag. So I will suggest you if you are ready for a slow drama that is good you can go for this. Why fee sad? Because throughout the show you will get this vibe. The more the episode progress more you will connect with the charecters & more you will feel bad for them. I agree that there is nothing striking about the male lead's looks but you will fall in love with his acting. The personality of the character will stand out. Give this a try. This show won't disappoint you.

Horrible, abysmal

[thompsongeorge-867-583710 · 1/10 · 29 September 2023]

I approached this series with high hopes due to its IMDb rating, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a truly disappointing experience. The acting in this show was consistently subpar, to say the least. It's been a long time since I've witnessed such poor performances across the board. It's as if the entire cast had only one setting: overacting. This over-the-top approach made it impossible to connect with any of the characters or take the storyline seriously. Even as background entertainment, it failed to hold my interest. In summary, while I had hoped for a worthwhile viewing experience, this series proved to be abysmal in its execution, leaving me thoroughly unimpressed.

Contract Marriage

[sadacena · 10/10 · 21 November 2018]

Ive seen this drama a couple of times. this drama makes u laugh and cry a lot, mostly cry a lot. Both lee seo jin and Uee and eun sung have emoted superbly. id give this drama a shot any day.

Rare in kdrama - sad ending

[madbird-61243 · 9/10 · 14 September 2018]

It is not so sad in term of a sad ending. Female lead has serious illness, under treatment, but are together with the male lead. Male lead is in fact quite old. But as i went on with the drama i came to be in love with his acting. And it is also rare for female lead to be a single mother to have a child. Given all these background, my expectation is not high at all.

But it happens to be a quite a romantic drama. Female lead's daughter is very cute. Lead couple successfully create a chemistry. The only kiss at the end of the drama is sweet. I feel relieved that they finally stay together, in spite of the serious illness the female lead has contracted. This is not a typical kdrama, but i am sure you will like it.

Don't miss this drama, so good, this is why...

[casey8818 · 10/10 · 27 March 2021]

Here's the deal. If you don't want to be stepped on, abused, wiped by shoes...don't act like a doormat. Having said that, the casting for this series is spot on. Every actor was perfectly cast from the dispicable, disgusting, obnoxious, jerk of a domineering father to the goofy eyed, weepy, tragically pathetic victim figure, everyone had meaty roles. All excellent in their characters. Praise to the Casting Director.

I like the script development. Each episode leads smoothly to the next, makes you want to catch the next episode and the next. You're gripped to the edge of your seat, you want to know what happen next and next. It's well paced with a good mix of happiness and misery so get a box of tissue close by.

Trust me, you won't want to miss this if you're into family drama, good against evil etc. If you expect to see flying heroes, robots, red capes... don't even come close. Enjoy.

Heart warming but Sad

[ashanthi · 10/10 · 8 February 2021]

Don't be fooled by the synopsis, this is not your typical contract marriage drama. I have watched more than 100 K dramas I guess. But non made me cry so much with such heart ache. It didn't feel like I was watching a drama. It felt like I was living along side the characters and seeing their plight first hand. And the marriage contract made so much sense due to the circumstances the characters were in. Main leads, the little daughter of the main female lead and all the other characters were so well acted. They look so natural, they make you feel real emotions and makes you really care for them. Ending was not conclusive, but you can feel the sadness of their situation.

Obessed with Koran's now

[thespira · 9/10 · 17 March 2019]

This was my first Korean drama and I binged it in one weekend. Although it's quite lengthy sometimes you get quickly attached to the 2 main characters and how the cold hearted playboy falls for those 2 ladies. I was so eager to see how things were going to unfold given the fact that we learn the leading lady had a terminal illness from the get go. Lovely story and the little girl gives an awesome performance.

Obnoxious male lead

[svgcryq · 3/10 · 29 March 2022]

Male lead's character is so unpleasant, the rest of his family are equally obnoxious. He's a terrible bully and has little to recommend him. Stuck with it to episode 10 and then decided life is too short...

This is head and shoulders above most K Dramas

[barrytookas · 10/10 · 17 January 2021]

I love K dramas and they are now pretty much all my wife and I watch on TV, but I have been so disappointed with some of the series we have watched lately that I have left reviews attacking the poor and lazy writing that have made them almost unwatchable.

This is far from the case with Marriage contract. The name and plot description are not really inviting, but we were pleasantly surprised by how well this series was put together. Firstly, the acting was excellent with the lead character and her 7 year old daughter being totally believable in every scene and all the other actors well cast and played. The thing that set this apart from the typical K drama was that although it was 16 episodes, it was well paced with no artificial scenarios thrown in for the sake of stretching the story unnecessarily. Even though there were characters who were highly dis-likable, they were believable in their actions and responses. The ending was not the desired outcome for the viewer but was still handled well and it seamed real and left the viewer with acceptable closure. Everyone involved with this should be proud.

Pleasantly surprised

[shareen_shany · 9/10 · 26 December 2021]

From the start I was hesitant to watch not because of the title but after reading some reviews, started to watch & .can't help but fall in love with the kid. She is clever, sweet & thoughtful for her age! She was my main attraction of the show. Lots of moments where you feel sad & to tears when she pours out her feelings!

It's a romantic drama with full of obstacles, misunderstandings, abuse of power & betrayal.

With each episode you may not like the leading man who is arrogant, mean & demeaning but you end up liking him who turns to be a considerate, loving & caring man & especially his relationship with the kid, so genuine so sweet!

Excellent storyline

[mnazlia · 10/10 · 11 January 2021]

I loved watching this series. It heartwarming, sad, alot of emotions portrayed well by the excellent actors. Well done and thank you very entertaining.I hope there will be a season 2 soon🤗

Love is what matters

[pleyadestar · 10/10 · 22 December 2021]

A series truly made for people who love Kdrama with an impressive intensity of feelings and with a magnificent performance by all the people who take part in it from the main to the supporting roles. The characters already seem part of one's own family.

You live with it is a reality that is sometimes very hard and very sad but it is very well expressed.

It also allows you to know a lot of customs about life in Korea and its social differences, especially since the series is from many years ago.

And it is less filtered by what is now trying to be projected in this type of series. It is a very emotional and very sad but very real experience.

It is living a life of truly a family. I recommend her for her depth and honesty feelings.

The wonderful baby girl actress is upstanding.

Incredible Ensemble Cast with lots of hidden messages

[playeveryday-50557 · 10/10 · 26 July 2023]

I've watched this several times. I think Lee Seo Jin always brings such depth to his characters even when the script and director aren't that good. This director was top notch and after the first time I watch it just to find the hidden messages. The director does a Hitchcock moment playing the cook on the island. From the fishes in the terrace pond to the flowers he carries (there i a language of flowers). Every time I watch I catch something new. The mother, uncles, friends of the principles, even the loan collector all do a great job of being absolutely complex and natural all at the same time.

It's worth watching twice or when you just want to veg out without the violence and a heartwarming story. I highly recommend it.

A great watch...

[allanm-45113 · 10/10 · 28 April 2021]

This was my first K Drama, so glad i picked it (random decision). Super love story... just didn't want it to get over. The characters so real.. believable and loveable. Haven't felt such an attachment to any character in any series as for Hye-Soo... The series does make you cry, but for all the positive, uplifting moments so well captured allowing one to absorb every tear drop, every smile, every lil glance. Great job team Marriage contract.

Awesome work, Hye-soo, Ji Hoon, Eun-Seong and the rest of the team...(everyone was awesome) learnt a new Korean word ... Abuji!!

How much time we have left

[alaningle7 · 9/10 · 1 June 2021]

A women left in debt by her deceased husband struggles to evade her creditors with her young daughter. A successful business man desperately needs a kidney for his ill mother and through circumstances they end up in a contract marriage where her debt is payed off in exchange for her kidney. Initially they have contempt for each other but through various circumstances their relationship begins to change. But just when you think life is sweet for all of them tragedy strikes.

Well paced drama with convincing relationships and friendships from all the cast particularly the leads and outstanding acting from the young actress playing the daughter Shin Rin-Ah.

the name doesn't give justice to this drama

[sumitdhruv4199 · 8/10 · 25 April 2022]

The name may decieve you into thinking that it is one of those cutesy k melodrama. It most aspect it is but it goes much much deeper than that. I wasn't really into it early on the show but got rather interested as it progressed and became reflective in the later episodes.