I absolutely loved this drama, up to the point where Joon left Ra Ra. Things then proceeded to get ridiculously out of hand. What on earth were the writers thinking?!
The bulk of this strangely inviting drama's episodes, were quirky, amusing, wonderfully cheesy and entertaining. The kind of silly-in-a-good-way drama that many of us crave at times.
I'm not a huge fan of Go Ara's work; not because she isn't a good actress, but because many of her roles put her in either frumpy, gaumless, or just plain irritating characters.
For me, this was one of her best roles, besides Ms Hammurabi, which I LOVED! (although she seemed to live in her coat in it).
Totally cosseted by her father and piano teacher, it's like she grew up in a bubble. When that bubble is burst, we are left with a character that has a child-like innocence and outlook ~ though by no means stupid, she is naive, coupled with amazing determination and an incredibly optimistic outlook. Although she is more ga-ga than Ra-Ra, I found her very likeable through her outlook and how she said what she thought, without filtering it.
Supporting characters were mixed ~ wealthy, controlling parents; an idyllic community with gossipy, good hearted middle-aged women; childhood love/hate friends; a villain; inept though menacing private investigators; suave doctor; slow police; and a sweetie of a grandpa figure.
There was lots of comedy, some very touching scenes, romance, lots of cheesy bike rides, piggy backs etc. and a mysterious element of threat for good measure.
It was also a welcome change to have a younger male, older female couple that weren't unnatural. Lee Jae Wook and Go Ara worked well together.
However, the last few episodes descended into the worst kind of melodramatic chaos, which left me feeling so disappointed in the script writing and, to a certain extent, the direction.
First there's the very nasty breakup... why? Then that's simply brushed to one side as Jun apologises via his excuse for it, of leaving the country to 'study'!
We soon find out why, whilst Ra-Ra is kept in the dark. Yet she seems to forgive him, as he leaves, even though she's told his going abroad to 'study' may lead to him settling there. What?!
Eventually, he's due back, only for Ra-Ra to be told he's passed away. Very moving and sad.
The writers should have had him cured instead, or left it at that, but no....
A whopping 5 YEARS later, he turns up fully cured, out of the blue.
What woman, after having her heart broken twice already (3 times if his departure is included), could forgive that?! Yet she welcomes him and comically punches him multiple times on the arms for deceiving her.
I'd have punched his lights out. Yes, I'd be so happy he was alive, but that would quickly be replaced by sheer anger at being allowed to suffer in grief. What if she'd married someone else?
There was also the bizarre giving of couples rings ~ Jun gifted matching rings, which for all intense and purposes were made to look like couples or wedding rings. Then Ra-Ra buys wedding rings with the intention of proposing to him, but that never happens. Bizarre.
Jun's overbearing father simply disappears from the entire story and his mother has a change of heart.
I am SO disappointed in this terribly lazy, badly written conclusion. What could have been a witty, charming rom-com, got mashed up with a dreadful melodramatic climax that ruined it.
I still think that apart from the latter episodes, it's an otherwise enjoyable watch, hence my rating not being 2/10.
However the end of it was its ruin. The writers should be fined and made to apologise for treating the viewing public like idiots!!!