Calling this drama just a melodrama or a romance would be unfair and nonsense.
This is an unbelievably beautiful story, compelling and captivating based on a tragedy, which explores the way to redemption of the survivors, of the guilty ones, and of the people who are part of their lives, and who share with them the pain, the sadness, as well as the will to go further and overcome a loss, a trauma, or both of them.
Through the two leads (who were simply awesome), the story deals with the theme of the collective tragedy experienced by the survivors after a disaster that broke almost 50 lives. As a sort of background throughout the show is the path towards the processing of mourning and loss , which is symbolized by the construction of the memorial that forces the survivors to tell their heartbreaking stories and face the tragedy once again.
The two main leads are the personification of that collective tragedy and while they take care of the construction of the memorial, actually they become the symbols through whom that way to redemption take form, through their story so tragic and at the same time so sweetly romantic.
The plot is written well, constantly credible, and consistent, not giving room to holes and flaws. Some scenes are brutally and cruelly heartbreaking, but it could not be different. Watching them you could feel moved, compelled, involved till even cry your eyes out.
The cast, was top. I liked a lot the women of the story: female characters who show up strong and at the same time sensible. Won Jin Ah / Moon Soo was perfect: I didn't know her so far, and I was well impressed not only by her beauty (stunning: the combo of her eyes and of her smile can kill), but also by her talent, and the ability to render her character without flaws. Kang Han Na / Yoo Jin perfect too: she made her role credible and strong, without falling into the stereotypes, which sometimes impact negatively on a character and on the story itself. Maybe the strongest and at the same time the most fragile woman in this story, for sure a very beautiful character. Na Moon Hee / halmeoni, who impersonated the grandmother of all the derelicts, was simply awesome, literally filling the scenes where she appeared with her presence. Na Moon Hee / Ma Ri deserves being mentioned too, while rendering a not easy character, showing the humanity where not expected, and able to try till the end to redeem on of the shabby villain. And so on... All the actresses did well in performing roles which sometimes were not easy at all. The actors and the men of the story were unmatched too. Lee Jun Ho / Kang Doo among all was sublime, and able to render his character so unlucky and so painful in a perfect way. And I wish to mention Kim Kang Hyun / Sang Man, because he was unmatchable in playing a character like this, making him credible and intense.
Direction and photography were very nice.
The OST is one of the best I found so far: complete and well sorted.
A masterpiece who shall be watched, absolutely.