Pinocchio (2014)

Una piccola perla

La mia idea di partenza per l’anno nuovo era iniziare con qualcosa di semplice, tipo una classica storia d’amore. Quello che mi sono ritrovata tra le mani è altro. Pinocchio è tutto tranne questo.
Vi siete mai chiesti cosa si cela dietro al lavoro di un giornalista?
Quale potere la figura del reporter esercita sul pubblico?
Cosa succederebbe se dietro ad una notizia ci fosse un favore?
Questo drama vi risponde svelando i retroscena, i sacrifici e le difficoltà di svolgere questo lavoro e allo stesso tempo di rimanere fedeli a se stessi.
Protagonisti di questa storia sono due giovani con uno “strano” rapporto che si ritroveranno a lavorare per due emittenti avversarie: Dal Po non ha mai voluto intraprendere questa strada ma forse sarà l’unica con cui potrà avere tutte le risposte che cerca, mentre In Ha lo sogna fin dalle superiori. Abbiamo anche altri personaggi che ruotano attorno ai protagonisti e che saranno fondamentali, tipo Cap o Beom Jo. La storia d’amore è presente ma non stucchevole, e si sposa bene con il tutto il contesto. Unica cosa non apprezzata, la musica.
Per il resto, veramente una piccola perla nonostante come drama sia vecchiotto.

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Drama intrigante con una bella storia!

Un drama davvero bello con una storia intrigante.Mi è piaciuto in tutto anche se qualche volta un po' lento.La storia racconta il dietro le quinte dei telegiornali,le notizie le esclusive tv e i giornalisti.
Anche se la storia principale riguarda una specie di vendetta che però da la possibilità di redimersi e diventare migliori.
I protagonisti crescono insieme come zio e nipote ma non lo sono e nonostante non dovrebbero si innamoreranno,diventeranno dei giornalisti e vivranno un bel po di peripezie oltre che affrontare grandi dolori.Lui è stato salvato è cresciuto dal nonno di lei come un figlio,la mamma di lei che l'ha praticamente abbandonata e la giornalista che ha distrutto la famiglia di lui.Lei sogna da sempre di diventare giornalista ma soffre di una strana malattia che le impedisce di mentire da qui il nome pinocchio.Lui per vendicarsi della mamma di lei diventa un bravissimo giornalista.
Per fortuna con un po' di strategie e molto aiuto da amici e colleghi le cose andranno bene e finalmente potranno amarsi a cuor leggero.
Mi è mancato un po' di romanticismo in più ma i protagonisti sono belli dolci bravi e buffi perciò il drama scorre piacevolmente.
Comunque lo considero un drama che deve essere visto.

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Pinocchio on the surface is about a bunch of reporters who learn what reporting is truly all about. Or at least, that's what I was expecting until I heard Lee Jong Suk joined the cast. I swear nobody has a knack for good roles the way he does. He just knows how to pick an amazing role and make it even more amazing with his acting skills. And that's what this drama was. Absolutely AMAZING. Every episode took me deeper and deeper into their story and by the time I was done, I was crying like a wild horse (if wild horses cry). Every character, every situation and every decision (made by Dal Po) either turned me into a huge of puddle of emotional mess or brought a huge, shiny grin on my face. Some stuff got me slapping my computer screen so hard (I'll make it up to you babe). There were no in-betweens. Also there were no dull moments.

Coming to characters. Dal Po is amazing. And not just your everyday amazing but amazing amazing. While I was watching I can't even count the number of times I would've made a choice completely different from him. He was so brave and just so right. The kind of path he took, there was no assurance that he would be able to avenge his family at all and as we moved further into the story, we realize that if he hadn't made the choices that he did, he wouldn't even have been able to catch the right culprit. As for Park Shin Hye, I've really only liked her in You're Beautiful. Her characters in Heirs and Flower Boy Next Door were extremely disappointing. But this is her best portrayal. I loved Choi In Ha and her blunt attitude (not that she had a choice considering the Pinocchio Syndrome). I think I'll have a hard time remembering it's not a real syndrome.

The supporting cast was amazing, especially Yoon Yoo Rae. Her little love-story towards the end was really cute (I'm trying really hard not to give spoilers here, but I'm so excited I can barely contain it, lol). In Ha's mom, her dad, her grandpa, everyone was great. Both the Caps and OMG the whole staff at YGN. I absolutely loved them. Especially the dude with the creepy grin and the hairband. He was awesome! Ahn Chan Soo was awesome. Kim Hae Sook is one of my favorite actors when it comes to moms and other older roles and the parts she plays always have something great to offer. Same happened here. Her character started out as a sweet and overly-protective mom which reminded me of her roles in Marriage Not Dating and I Hear Your Voice but it grew into so much more. Last (but most definitely not the least) Ki Jae Myung was mesmerizing. You know what he does is wrong, yet all you feel for him is sympathy and make excuses for him, because the emotional turmoil he goes through is simply palpable. He suffered through years of pain and guilt and he suffered all by himself. It was beautiful, the way his character was shaped.

The music is good, though not extremely good. It's melodious, relaxing and not too dramatic. Every Single Day has composed some nice ones for the OST.

Comparisons to I Hear Your voice are inevitable since the lead actor along with supporting cast and the writer-director were same for both dramas. And there is an essence of IHYV here in this drama, which makes it just as great. But nothing is repetitive and Pinocchio easily holds it's own. I would recommend it to everyone now that all the episodes are out and you don't have to live in agony waiting for new episodes.

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I cannot recall the last show that I found so gripping and intelligently written. I feel that this show has raised the bar for me and placed it considerably high. I simply didn't want it to end! A show that had me hooked from the 1st episode to the last one without a single low point or a hitch - it's hard to come across those. I'd like to warn you that this review might be a long one, but such a show deserves nothing but unabridged words from the heart.

The story was simply genius. The twists and turns didn't seem deliberate, the characters were true to life, the sub-plots were all significant as well! Nothing, and I really mean NOTHING was out of place. No side characters seemed forcefully added or hastily exited (Although the finale did seem to exclude an end to a tiny plot the writers were building, but I'm willing to squelch that itch in my brain). The story itself taught so much! I still remember the great things I learned from I Hear Your Voice and the writers haven't failed to teach me several things in this show either. There was such commendable courage, unconditional love, and selflessness shown in this drama, it simplifies many things that have become complicated in our lives these days. The main pivotal element, that brought freshness and brilliancy to the story, was the drama's namesake medical condition - Pinocchio Syndrome. The inability to lie brings such delightful reprieve from all the deceits and hidden truths and misunderstandings that come along with relationships. If only people were usually so honest and open about their emotions, things wouldn't be so complex. There are some of the most beautiful bonds that I saw in this show that I will never forget. I could go on and on about how remarkable the story of this show was, and still not say enough.

I need to take a deep breath before I begin about the actors. Why? Because I need to make coherent sentences from the heap of positive adjectives that are popping in my head. All I can think of, are words such as - Perfect, incredible, incomparable, outstanding, amazing, brilliant, etc. etc. I can certainly say that from the leads to the guest appearances, EVERY single actor, that worked on this show, deserves an applause or a pat on the back at least. I've never seen such a plethora of great performances, all in one show. Each performance of the actors seems to be imprinted in my head. Lee Jong Suk was positively dazzling throughout the series! And Park Shin Hye pleasantly surprised me with her remarkable portrayal of Choi In Ha. I'd never been a fan of hers, but I have to admit, she gave an absolutely stunning performance. The veteran actors, that were part of the cast, need no extra praise, they were great as always. A special mention for Jin Kyung and Kim Hae Sook though, these two ladies gave such captivating performances as the antagonists that I couldn't help but respect and admire their characters even while hating them. Kim Young Kwang and Lee Yoo Bi looked really promising! I've seen other works by these two, but Pinocchio definitely brought out the best of them, as well as every other actor in the cast.

The OSTs in the drama struck a chord in every situation they were played in. The music really brought forth the emotions and conveyed the intensity of the moments spectacularly. There were so many scenes where I simply shed tears because of the perfect harmony of the music and the script.

Which reminds me to mention the powerful script that the show had! Such impactful words, such brilliant dialogues! The chemistry between, not just the lead pair, but every actor was evident and impressive. I've run out of adjectives that I usually get to use while describing a show, but I still have many things I haven't been able to mention. The list of things that worked in the favor of the show is too long to post in this already too long review. If anybody has had the patience to read till now, I'd like to request you Dear Reader, do not let anything stop you from watching this show, it'll be one of the best you've ever seen. I can guarantee that. I'm off to place this in the top slot of my favorite dramas.

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Since, there are already a plethora of reviews dedicated to this show, I'm going to keep this short and simple. The best thing about Pinocchio is how unique and original its premise is. This is a show about the dark underbelly of media, how fickle public opinion is and the power that lies with the awareness of things. It shines light on the essence of being a reporter, raising your voice for the right matters and choices that can completely make or break a person.

The first time I ever saw Lee Jong Suk was in Secret Garden and I remember thinking, 'this man has the looks to make it big'. Ofcourse, at that time I wasn't aware that he had already made it pretty damn big. Seeing him in Pinocchio, there's no denying that he has a talent for acting, combine that with his heavenly looks and you get an almost perfect package.

Even though the name of the drama is based on the female lead, it's obvious that Dal Po is the star of the show. The plot revolves around him and despite the fact that the side characters bring their own charisma, they are ultimately in his orbit.

Park-Shin Hye came to be a pleasant surprise. I'm not going to lie, I disliked her in almost every show she appeared in previously and due to my bad experience with her acting, I had developed a sort of negative bias for her. However, it's always amazing when an actor or a show surprises you and surpasses your expectations. PSH somehow managed to make In Ha a sweet and likable character who the viewers constantly rooted for. The fact that she has to hiccup repeatedly came out as adorable instead of annoying and I couldn't believe myself when I started to feel affection for her.

A lot of people were even happy that she finally improved her kissing techniques. That, I think is pushing it a little bit because if you look at it closely, her movements are as non-existent as ever, but due to some skillful camera work, Lee Jong Suk's kissing prowess is incredibly highlighted which makes it somehow appear as if she's a proficient partner too. But oh well- technicalities.

However, for me the biggest flaw of the show was that the protagonists were not on equal footing. Dal Po clearly over-powers In Ha in the relationship and he comes out as far less commited and invested in the love story. Which is why the romance factor didn't do much for me. They do the right things, say the right words, their union makes complete sense and yet, there is no emotional connection whatsoever.
In Ha makes so many sacrifices for Dal Po, her affection is completely genuine and she let's him take the spotlight from her time and time again whereas Dal Po seems almost detached when it comes to her.

Ultimately, this unequality between the leads was something that started to rub me the wrong way. There were moments where I wanted In Ha to shine individually and to be given more credit for everything she does. Essentially, she's such a huge part of the show and if we ponder about it; she's the backbone behind Dal Po's success and yet, she's never valued enough. The moment she does something substantial is followed by Dal-Po countering it with something more and it always manages to downplay her importance. This is the reason why they are both outstanding and lovable personas in their own right but their co-existence is rather stiff and unnatural.

So, in my opinion the best way to watch Pinocchio is to think of romance as just a subplot and focus on the main story. I had so much love for almost every single character in the show and they are so thoroughly well-developed that I could write a lengthy character sketch on all of them. The drama is filled with small, utterly poignant moments that move you. The script is excellently written and the story flows with a smooth efficiency. The antagonists are three-dimensional and I never truly disliked any of them. Pinocchio thrives on the emotional interactions between its characters and it shows exactly how powerful familial love is.

Over-all this drama, with its brilliant acting, consistent story-line and satisfying ending, manages to bring forth a current of continous entertainment from beginning to end.

Indeed, a good watch.

Enjoy!

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I find it impossible to write a review of this drama without comparing it to I Hear Your Voice. After all, like others before me pointed out, Pinocchio comes out of the same pen, same cameras, same musical instruments and even part of the same cast that created I Hear Your Voice. I couldn't get rid of the impression I was watching a remake of this last, just with a different setting and a male protagonist who can't read the mind.

Pinocchio's story is intriguing, very captivating, well written and highly thought-provoking. It's also very well executed, in terms of acting, camera work and plot development. I enjoyed all episodes and was eager to watch the next.
So why have I given I Hear Your Voice a full 10, and bestowed this one a "mere" 8,5?
In rating a drama I always try to be as objective as I can be - try being the key word. A show that awakens the intellect deserves high scores, but it's the emotional share which earns it a perfect score. I was intellectually very engaged by Pinocchio, but I felt slightly detached when it came to the heart. Among other things, the romance didn't make my heart flutter, not even once. Honestly, I can't even pinpoint a reason for this: Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk are both beautiful, very sweet in a puppy-like way, their respective characters lovable and their love story believable. And yet, it seems to me it lacked romantic tension, it was like watching two cute people in a commercial for shoes, or coats.
The moment they stopped being on screen, in my mind they also stopped being a couple.
On the contrary, I think Hye Song and Soo Ha are still dating, overcoming their differences and being happy together. I could mention many other drama couples that, to me, are still a reality somewhere in that evanescent world created by fantasy and therefore linger in my heart. Dal Po and In Ha are not among them.

Nobody's fault, mind you. The acting of all was above average and I was positively impressed by Park Shin Hye's performance. It must not be easy to interrupt every other sentence with a hiccup and make it sound believable. Her character isn't a champion of resolution, but she's very sweet and I liked her a lot. Lee Jong Suk is clearly a rising star in the drama world and can play this kind of role better and better. I loved the supporting cast, villain(s) included.

The music didn't make much of an impact on me either.

To explain my re-watch score, I'm going to confess a weak spot of mine: when a particular scene has a strong impact on me, I can't help but watch it again as soon as the episode is over. I haven't done so with any of Pinocchio's scenes. I may re-watch the entire show one day, but for now this ride, as much as it was enjoyable, is over.

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With over 90 reviews on this 3 year old drama, I'm sure that mine will be lost at the bottom, but I want to take the time anyway to do this. Pinocchio was a drama that I put off for a LONG time. I thought that the plot just sounded kind of "meh". Then I learned a little about Park Shin Hye, who apparently drama fans either adore and think rainbows shine out of her rear end or they hate her and think she is the worst actress ever and avoid her like the plague. I am one of those rare drama fans that was just neutral, didn't see what the big deal over her was, but was somewhat reluctant to watch her. I am happy to report that she did a really nice job in this show. However, if you hate her, you are probably always going to hate her. I actually really enjoyed her, and think this might be one of the best shows I've watched her in. If this had been my first PSH show, I may have become a fan. Who knows? This was my first Lee Jong Suk drama though. He did a great job in this also.

But the story in Pinocchio was very intelligent and was not boring at all. I was worried about halfway through, wondering how they would pull 20 episodes of story out of this plot, but somehow they not only managed to do so, but did so very well. There were lots of thought provoking decisions and choices made by the characters and the show is set up around a topic that is very relevant today, especially in the era of accusations of "fake news" and misleading headlines- truth in media and how news stories are presented to the public.

I enjoyed all the characters and was consistently surprised at the decisions that Choi Dal Po/ Gi Ha Myeong made. The side characters were all utilized well, and were interesting. I most loved both Yoon Yoo Rae and Seo Beom Jo. Yoo Rae was adorable and funny. I look forward to seeing more of the actress, Lee Yoo Bi. Kim Young Kwang is always a favorite and did not disappoint! His character really surprised me several times as well. The YGN Cap, Hwang Gyo Dong, played by Lee Pil Mo, was another favorite. In fact, there was not one badly done character in the show. I'd feel a little silly listing all the characters and what I loved about each one, so I will stop there. :)

I don't really re-watch many shows, but I think this show has a decent rewatch value. The story would hold up well to repeated viewing.

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Hi, this is my first review so I hope to do well.

This is one of the best dramas I've seen, I enjoyed all the ride without getting bored for a single moment, the story in this drama is constant: Ethic versus impact, how a reporter should give news.

The characters are very likeable, Lee Jong suk makes a great job as Choi Dal Po/ Ki Ha Myeong always wondering how to act should he surrender at the revenge or on the contrary keep on with his life and act according to his principles.

Cho In Ha /Park Shin Hye, she is an adorable character, always sincere, good hearted, and of course strong, very strong. I really love that she is not a clumsy and crybaby girl as we usually see in other dramas, if she has to criticize you, she'll do it, if she has to ask forgiveness, she'll do it too.

Seo Bum Yoo/ Kim Young Kwang: The second male, I love this character, If you think that he is the typical rich and evil jerk who wants to destroy the main couple, well think again, not this time, he is not an ornament, he has his own battle to fight.

The music was awesome too, it reflects perfectly the emotions in this drama, love, sadness, anguish, comedy and best of all, they don't abuse the music to provoke tears.

Overall Imression: Another great work of Jo Soo-Won and Park Hye-Ryun (director and writer), I expected no less from the creators of "I Hear your voice" (another masterpiece).
If you want to see a realistic drama this has to be your choice, the development of the characters is brutal and when you think you know how this story will end, bumm another plot twist.
REPEAT: IT'S A MUST SEE

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I rate dramas on how I felt while watching the drama and if I was emotionally involved with the characters. All dramas are going to have flaws, but if the story and acting can overcome them, then I give it a high score. I felt great watching Pinocchio each and every week. The writer did an excellent job with the flow of the story, well written dialog and excellent character development. I could not find any holes in the story line and nothing seemed contrived even with all of the coincidental meetings. I loved that the characters are flawed. I usually hate a lot of extra characters, but all of the characters in this drama add to the story and quite a few of them are daebak.

The cast is great. I'm not sure where to start so I will begin with Park Shin Hye. I'm not a big fan of hers although I have pretty much seen every drama she has been in. I constantly remark that she must have saved a country in her past life due to working with excellent male leads. Finally Lee Jong Suk taught her how to kiss. Apparently she has taken some acting lessons, because she did In Ha proud. Lee Jong Suk to me is perfection. He is good looking, can act, and has moved away from those stupid high school rolls in his last 3 dramas. Dal Po will be with me for a while. Where did Yoon Gyun Sang come from and why hasn't he been in more dramas? Seriously. As Ki Jae Myung he isn't even in the drama very much, but his scenes have an impact and I was truly moved by his character. I believe I have seen almost everything that Kim Young Kwang has been in. Although I don't think that he is the best actor out there, he really showed what he can do as Seo Bum Jo. That one part where he is talking to Dal Po and he is half crying and half laughing was so well done that I cried with him. A rare occurrence for me. I have see Lee Joo Seung in several dramas and I have always thought he is so adorable and a good actor. He adds so much to this drama as Ahn Chan Soo. He is basically the catalyst to the entire drama. Now to the two extra characters that made this show worth watching if for nothing else but to see their quirky and adorable selves, Lee Yoo Bi as Yoon Yoo Rae and Lee Pil Mo as Hwang Gyo Dong. I loved all of their scenes. There are other extra characters that are fun to watch also, but those two stand out. There are also some guest rolls that are funny and appropriate like Yoon Sang Hyun as Lawyer Cha from IHYV in Ep.12 and Lee Joon in Ep. 19. Last but certainly not least is Jin Kyung as Song Cha Ok. She makes for an excellent cold-hearted woman. SPOILERISH >>> At first I thought her character change toward the end would be a mistake, but the writer gave an outstanding explanation and developed her character to where it made since. <<<SPOILERISH Kim Hae Sook knows how to play crazy better than most people and she delivered as Oh Mal Su. Gotta love to hate her.

The music is good and appropriate.

I will rewatch this some day for sure.

I know this was a long review, but I hope it makes you want to watch this drama. I highly recommend it to everyone.

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In summary: a very entertaining show that kept me thrilled and excited, and also moved me at times.

This show has pretty much everything - a compelling romance, exciting mysteries and action scenes. In a way the story felt very similar to I Hear Your Voice, probably because they share the same writer-director team.

I love that the central relationship is strong - Choi In Ha and Choi Dal Po, and there isn't too much unnecessary angst as is too often the case in Korean dramas, and it gave us so many scenes of cuteness.

Well it certainly seems like everything Lee Jong Suk touches on TV turns to gold. While his character in this show really reminds me of his character in I Hear Your Voice, I didn't feel there was any baggage in his portrayal of the character. I was compelled and won over to his side, and rooting for him and his relationships and journalistic career. Can I also say Lee Jong Suk is a damn good crier?

Park Shin Hye finally was given the opportunities to show her abilities in dramatic and comedic acting which seem to have been buried somewhere after You're Beautiful.

I am a fan of Roy Kim and was pleasantly surprised at Tiger JK's inclusion in a drama soundtrack, so I quite enjoyed this soundtrack.

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Well, so it's over. And let's review it! (I feel orphan.)

The story is well built, the characters are well articulated and portrayed - every single one of them, even the supporting roles, the music goes along with the scene, just adding more emotion to it, and the way the episodes were developed was magnificent! I don't find myself so amazed by a drama since Reply 1997!

Generally k-dramas have this thing for making you scream of anger while watching them, but in this one, the screeches were of agony, because the feelings - especially pain, of course - were being so nicely portrayed that it wasn't possible to not feel along with the characters.

I like how the characters are human. I mean, none of them are completely perfect or completely awful, all of them have good and bad feelings - the want to do the good and the bad thing. Even the villains - you can't call them that, seriously, but let's go with it - have genuine emotions and actions, and everything is substantial and explicable.

Things in this drama happen like you would see happening in real life, the plot twists aren't something you would laugh about because they are so ridiculous (seriously, some dramas are impossible to be serious about). And for me, it's so good to see believable acts and events, especially because the plot is all about something that is inherently present in our everyday lives. There was only this or that scenes that probably wouldn't be possible to see (hello, Yoon Yu Rae, I'm talking to you), but they were made for the comic relief, so I just laughed and moved on.

Overall, Pinocchio is a great choice if you want to see a realistic drama. Kudos for Park Shin Hye for not making me want to kill her because of her acting and character - the first one is her fault, but the second I know it's not, I'm just glad she finally chose a character that wasn't developed by the screenwriters so... ugh. (Go Minam... Eun Sang... just no.)

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Okay, so let me break this down for you.
I just completed this drama half an hour back and I'm already missing it. Believe me when I say that one of the things I avoid doing the most is touching any currently airing drama. Suspense and waiting for the next week is like taking multiple gun shots! Initially, I did that with Pinocchio, until the 7th or 8th episode. When suddenly saw netizens storming on about Pinocchio, I couldn't run away from the temptation! And ended up making stupid promises to myself such as ' I'll just watch the first episode, see how it is, and give it a full run from the 2nd episode onwards until it ends'.
But boy oh boy, I watched all the 7/8 episodes aired by then, in one day and took a stab for realizing that now I had to start waiting for another damn week. Hard times! (if you're a drama addict, you know what I mean :P)

I'll go by the rating table. Story? Here let me ask you this, what do you think would come out of the drama written by the same team of writers who gave us &amp;amp;quot;I Hear Your Voice&amp;amp;quot;, teaming up again with Lee Jong Suk? Yes, a great story with all the elements one expects after watching the trailer. Actors? Honestly, I had few concerns about Park Shin Hye but I'm glad she lived up well to her character of Choi In Ha, a character outline I liked when I read about it on various websites. Lee Jong Suk was awesome as always. I liked Lee Yoo Bin since &amp;amp;quot;Innocent Man&amp;amp;quot; and liked her even more in this drama especially, her character's story with Hwang Gyo Dong (Lee Pil Mo). It was very cute and I think it was a good idea to add such light comedy to the drama. I liked everyone's acting from both MSC and YGN news company. Kim Young Kwang moved me in the last few episodes, trust me. Special mention to Kim Hae Sook as Park Ro Sa (Seo Bum Jo's mom) who portrayed the character of a villain pretty well.

Soundtrack? Instead of doing an online search on the OST list, I waited for all the tracks to play in the drama which made me like them even more. &amp;amp;quot;Non-fiction&amp;amp;quot; by Echo is my favorite track. (:
What more should I do to actually/ literally tell you that this drama is worth watching for its story, cast and music because I rated it a 10, both for Rewatch Value (I don't rewatch much) and this drama as an Overall?
If you're into stories such as this one, it'll be worth it. Enjoy! :)

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