I really do want to preface this by saying 7 isn't a *bad* score. If Crash Landing wasn't such a hyped show, I might've bumped it up by a 0.5 star, but considering how everyone and their mothers have told me its the best thing to happen to K-drama since Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye, it's exactly that: a personal opinion that some very, very strongly believe and the rest...not so much.

To start of, I will say that the first few episodes of this drama? Innovative. Brilliant. Iconic. Never-been-done-before. I jest (sort of), but I truly loved the pacing and character-driven arcs of the first few episodes- yes, there was drama. Yes, it was a little unrealistic.

Scratch that, the whole drama was extremely unrealistic, as one would expect from a plot like this. Unlike many other viewers, though, I didn't really care about how...um...gentle...the writer was about North Korea and North Korean life. At the end of the day, I'm willing to suspend a bit of my disbelief because its a K-drama and I want a happy ending for everyone involved. The writer was very gentle in their portrayal of, well, everything- from North Korean politics, to military, to imprisonment, to daily village and city life, and hell, even made the South Korean NIS (National Intelligence Services) be kindly government employees who treat their North Korean inmates (special forces and probably SPY inmates) well and send them back to North Korea with a pat on the back and a lollipop to suck on. Realistic, this drama is not. But yeah, I really didn't give a rat's ass.

What I *did* give a rat's ass about, though, was how terribly they dealt with Gu Seung Jun (SML?). Can't say much or it'd be a spoiler, but my god, they NEVER gave him a goddamn break. Seo Dan, too. Though I admit, I can't say I cared much for the either of the romance lines (the main one or the secondary one), which is incredibly annoying in what is literally a romance drama first and comedy/action second, but I still became very, very reasonably pissed when the writer made very out of pocket writing decisions for the SML. I mean, to put him through all that and give him THAT ending? Damn.

Can't say I cared much about the acting either by the main leads. For some reason, I found the main actors (minus Kim Jung Hyun (SML), who I have seen and enjoyed before) really wooden in some scenes and wish they emoted more- especially Hyun Bin (ML). It's not my first drama of his, so I'm really disappointed- he can do so much better. Did he just not connect with this character? Because his chemistry with Se-Ri (FML) was so forced. Son Ye Jin did pretty okay around everyone except Hyun Bin, too, and then her acting seemed to become so monotonic I found myself skipping all the scenes where they just gaze lovingly at each other with tears in their eyes and talk about how much they care about each other (which happened a lot...).

You know, not to be crass (much), but for 30-something year olds who obviously love each other and see each other for only 2 weeks once a year, they act more G-rated around each than I did with my crush from kindergarten. You're telling me they go to damn picnics when they meet once a year? Yeah, I have two words for you: bull and shit. Also, that's such a weird HFN (happy for now) ending to me, because I'm sure its all magical for like, another 2 years, but imagine meeting your SO once a year for a few days for the rest of your life and not even getting to talk to them every now and then. They live happily ever after? 3 words. Bull, freaking, and shit.

This drama isn't without its redemption, though, because if there is one thing I never skipped and watched gleefully is the the ML's bromantic group of hilarious North Korean soldiers who singlehandedly save this drama from boredom. Watching their antics and their obvious camaraderie is such a good break from watching Mr. and Mrs. Tortured Love kill themselves (and the audience) over their mutual inability to so much as hold hands.

Also, I have a genuine question: did we EVER get any insight about Se Ri's past? It's implied and redeemed SO many times in the drama, but its literally like the author forgot to explain why Se Ri has such a terrible childhood at all. Every character has hint-hint-nudge-nudged at it to death and yet, NO ONE has bothered giving any explanation to the viewers what exactly happened. Is this a writing oversight? Or an editing mistake? Because these episodes are 1.5 hours long, so there was more than enough time to explain.

All in all, I would pass, unless you're a huge Hyun Bin or Son Ye Jin fan.