Crash Landing on You was another one of these dramas that have been coming every few years and that I consider classic korean dramas. They are highly enjoyable, not too deep but with an innovative script; they have a seemingly impossible love story, some action but most of all, great chemistry between all the characters.

First, I would like to say that before watching it I was slightly apprehensive of the way North Korea was going to be portrayed. I feared it would be too cliché and without nuance. Now that I have finished it I am glad to report that it did not feel that way to me. The inequalities between Pyongyang and the countryside, the instricacies of power in the society and every day life were portrayed in a believable way. Rather than provoking pity for the North Korean it shows them as ordinary humans evolving in a society that is vastly different from what we know.

The appeal of this drama rests on its cast and the characters. Every actor did a great job but especially Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin. I liked Ri Jung Hyuk's subtle expressions of amusement and love throughout the episodes. I felt that Se Ri was really relatable even as she went through improbable situations (that tornado...).
The female characters were also something that I loved, I liked that Se Ri was strong and brave but sometimes unsure. I liked the mothers : often in dramas they are either too nice or absolutely horrible. Here, they feel real : they love their child without smothering them; they want to help them without deciding every details of their lifes.
I loved how the relationship between the second leads evolved and even how it ended (obviously I wasn't super happy but felt that it somehow made it more beautiful and meaningful) and how Seo Dan grew because of it.
I loved the camaraderie between Ri Jung Hyuk, his subordinates and Se Ri but also the friendship between the women in the village. They brought the funny moments.

And finally, I really really liked the ending. I haven't been so moved watching the end of a drama for a long time. The fact that it is not a simple happily ever after is refreshing and keeps it more real.

If you want a drama with heartwarming love stories and frienships, a bit of sadness but lots of laughs, great scenery and acting, this one is for you.