"I hate her, she's unreasonable and annoying me to death, I don't care if the writer put any redemption arc, I'm sure I'm not gonna like her at all"

*few episodes later*

~I'm sobbing, bawling for the very same her.

Caution: My essay has unhealthy amount of length.

Friendly suggestion: You can assume it's ending is at 13th episode, for your own satisfaction.

Heck yes, this drama destroyed me... made me miserable, I loved every aspect of it... it was near perfection, I couldn't see any flaws (you see love is blind) and even if there are I'm happy to ignore them with my all heart (the whole 9/11 arc)... but then it messed up, hence my ratings came from 10 to 8.5. You know when creative writer try to be overcreative, and ends up creating mess. Ignoring that big mess (not exactly ignorable) everything is all mess.

Although I'm not fond of grown up's posing as teens much... I'm sold for 31 yrs KTR as 18 yrs NHD, she's the one, perfect match! the energy, confidence, optimism, and playfulness of NHD, a little immature yet very mature character... it's been ages I've seen such a wonderful, very well-written female character... who's the hero of her own story.. not only but she brings light to other people's lives too! the bright sun, ready to shine with her amazing light and infinite energy. The way she looks at the world, ready to face challenges with her capabilities, fight for her dreams with her full might.. her journey of becoming more wonderful from an already wonderful person is remarkable.

The casting is excellent, apart from the adult Hee Do, she just doesn't give the young Hee Do vibes... you know the energy, and enthusiasm, while other casting choices are remarkable she comes off comparing.

You see her as a little childish but cute person collecting stickers, in some of her silly deeds, then her being strong skating whatever she has to reach her goals, encouraging other people, being a healthy competitor, a loyal fan. I can write an essay about her character... this much sophistication her character offers. In short, she's the best, period.

I was a little worried about NJH.. see I like him but not his acting very much, then it blew me up. The way he portrayed BYJ I legit see him as a real person... BYJ's character is complex, layered, you see him going through a lot throughout the whole journey, very different phases of his life, career.. and the way NJH can make BYJ alive through his acting, you can feel when he's happy, he's being an adorable dork, when he's sad, depressed, going through something... confused, jealous, uncertain as well as determined, mature and confident. BYJ is not a perfect kdrama male lead... just an amazing real person who deserves the world.

What Hee Do and Yi Jin had together was the most beautiful, pure relationship I've seen ever... maybe acquaintances, friendship, more than friendship, rainbow, scissors, love. Nothing was forced, fast forward of a slow burn but with perfect pace, taking enough time.. the relationship that doesn't need to be intimate physically to prove it to be intimate, they were light to each other, who brought the best out of them, soulmates! I don't freaking care if NJH and KTR don't have off-screen chemistry but from what I see on screen.. fire! I mean me who loves realistic, sad, bitter-sweet endings.. never wished for a happy ending to this extent, whatever they have is the most precious thing.
But there's another me who thinks... is ending really everything? No. The journey that was filled with all emotions, heart touching, fluttering, breaking moments... the time they spent together, the encouragement they brought to each other is most important... that's why the journey is more important than the outcome.

KYR, here comes she... the one *I hated* have to admit, at some point, I was almost done with her, none of her excuses enough to endure her non-sense, her being double-faced, then she grew upon me.... well a lot, that I even forgot that I hated her that much. Now this is an advantage of watching when it's airing Viewers, can say the same thing for binge-watchers whether they would be able to digest sudden 180-degree change in dynamics between KYR and NHD relationship (sometimes almost absolute cringe)
But I love her family, it kinda shows when you lack something (money), you've given something more amazing... her family dynamics.

Just if... if Yu Rim was a boy she and Hee Do make a perfect love story (you see gls are SK thing), enemies to lovers, then we've got obstacles with typical separation.. and Yi Jin being the third wheel, oops I shouldn't let my overimaginative mind wander, I love BYJ very much.

Seung Wan..*standing ovation* she should be a role model, I know I'm overusing this word, but she's amazing! she's super smart, she's best diaper buddy, bestest hoobae and she stands for herself, for wrong things... she's not afraid of letting her hard work go in vain for her principles as she has not learned to bend (yet)... then we see her little silly side, who just desperately want to go college (cute), on the side not I love her mom too, like daughters like a mother or vice versa.

I wanna applaud the writer for not messing diaper buddies by adding any sort of romanticism between, best friends just being best friends.

Ji Woong... our little stupid (not so stupid) entertainment pack. He is cool and a very committed lover, he's not any side character who's just there for timepass or just as a love interest. Though he's not given a big story arc as others he completes the group.. the last missing piece. And damn he's very us (or just me) praising the beauty of NJH lol xD

Now, these were the main characters... one special thing (among many) of this drama is none of the side/supporting roles are insignificant or filers, they hold an important position in the story.. and are well explored in a timely. Hee Do's mom could have been an evil mother figure, cold, aloof, and caring for her daughter, and very cliche: stay away from my daughter, but the writer has every intention of being unorthodox, which made me struggle (I actually have a similar experience with my mom) rationally, professionally mom's right, but then it makes my point of view wrong... damn gotta say I love writing when it legit challenges me on a personal level.

Then we have our coolest coach ever, who may come a little obnoxious in the starting but trust me, she's the best. Yi Jin's sunbae at work could have been any other typical egoistic senior, then a supportive confidant/friend. Even the bad (should I say more annoying) persons were reasonable and not over the top. And yeah Min Chae was representative of us viewers.

Within the same drama, we see 5 different relationships between daughter-mother, and son-mother, totally different (bitter/sweet/sour) from each other but still precious as they should be. Not just that but every relationship dynamic is awesome... whether friendship, relationship, family. not-really related still related, being friends with friends... the embrace of mother to the person who defeated her daughter in the match. Ji Woong's sudden change in attitude after learning his club senior... damn I have a long list of the unconventional but beautiful dynamics between all the characters.

Can just one episode give you absolute pleasure and satisfaction? Yes, yes, yes. Almost every episode was a roller coaster ride with all emotions and sentiments, many times I found myself crying, sobbing... then laughing loud at the end. When the whole gold medal drama made me super sad, miserable then the encouraging words of those grandpas brought me comfort, and yes river of tears.

The story amazed me with the depth of characters, their journey of growth becoming a better person, overcoming hurdles... it had that ounce of unpredictableness that threw cliches and stereotypes out of the window (then forgot it in very last episode). Making it a unique and one of the kind drama. It's the best youth drama I've seen in recent years, it's heartbreaking, thought-provoking, a slice of life, coming to age, heart-touching, rom-com with the most beautiful love story, and the best comic timing. Well it's a mystery, (damn I've seen fewer "theories" in the crime thrillers), it's suspense drama with its unpredictable plot... and maybe it's much more than this, it brings comfort to me.

Nonetheless... I still need answers, I need closure lol