A heartwarming family drama

'Once Upon a Small Town' is a sweet short drama that is good for watching when you feel down or just need to watch something in between dramas or when commuting to work.
I rarely write reviews, so I hope you can bare with me. It is not even the best drama I watched but I still think it deserves a review.

The Story:
The story is not super special or new but I liked the setting. A sweet curious police officer living in the countryside and the distant big city vet. It reminded me of those movies my grandmother watches that hold a secret sweet spot in my heart. And that is probably why I wanted to write this review. This story can be watched with the whole family and bears so much sweetness. It radiates warm feelings of home.
At times the pace of the storyline is slow but I think it suited the drama's vibe. Usually, I watch thrillers and action dramas, so 'Once Upon a Small Town' is extremely different from my usual taste. But, again, it is short and just perfect for the daily commute.
Also, I usually dislike dramas that are purely romantic (maybe I am a cold person, idk), but this drama did not annoy me but made me smile.

Acting:
The acting is not superb, but not bad either. It cannot nearly compete with high-production masterpieces but it is a good thing that it does not have to. I would not say it is Joy's best work (though I have only watched 'Tempted' so I do not think I am experienced enough to judge that properly) but it is refreshing and probably fun for the cast to play.
You will be disappointed if you are looking for a masterpiece or an out-of-the-world experience. Cherish the drama as a homely feeling and something that warms your heart. A quick dose of sunshine.

Rewatch value:
I gave it 9 stars for a high rewatch value for the following reasons:
- short drama -> if rewatched, it does not "steal" much time
- predictable plot (in a positive sense as it gives stability which some of us need - especially in uncertain times) -> if you rewatch it, then you know the whole plot, but be honest: when watching this (especially considering its length) are you really surprised about anything happening in there
- heart-warming -> at least for me, it brings back memories from my childhood, staying over at my grandmother's place, watching those movies where a city person moves to the countryside and falls in love with one of the people living there, It warms my heart and I have no problem to rewatch it, especially considering that I watch many thrillers, so I guess I need some warmth lol

Side comment:
'Once Upon a Small Town' reminded me also of the time when I volunteered on a farm in the middle of nowhere three years ago, and even though I only stayed there for two months, I met so many warm and lovely people that I am still in contact with. While watching, I reached out to one of them because I got reminded of how she drove me to the nearest town, helped me shop for gear I needed for the next job and invited me for food. This memory seems so small and insignificant but in hindsight, it meant a lot to me.

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Overall good story with a few lacking aspects

I started watching this show with very high expectations as corruption, action and thriller are exactly what I love in dramas. I watched dramas like Lawless Lawyer and Vagabond, which also deal with corruption and which I absolutely loved. When I saw that Military Prosecutor Doberman includes the military, I knew that I had to watch the drama. However, there are many scenes that may be tough to watch for some viewers as it deals with topics like abuse and rape.

What I liked:
The fighting scenes are fab! I go excited every time Cha Woo In had the red wig on because it promised to be good. I fell in love with her due to those scenes!
I enjoyed that Do Bae Man was not 'good' from the beginning. He showed that people can change but that such change does not mean that they are automatically forgiven for past actions. I saw Do Bae Man as the character that proved that there is not only black and white but also many shades in between. Do Bae Man and Noh Tae Nam both showed character development.
I liked the military theme in general as there are not many kdramas including it.
The aunt was absolutely fabulous! Whenever I saw her on-screen I was happy.
The action was really good as well. Jo Bo Ah, who has not received the best feedback for Tale of the Nine-Tailed, proved that she is a good actress. She also looks absolutely stunning with her short hair.
The plot itself is exciting and thrilling. I won't go into detail there because you can read it in the summary. It was difficult for me to wait for the new episodes. In every episode was a plot twist! And it was so satisfying to see people getting punished!
I also really enjoyed that the focus was not on romance. There were sparks but nothing that would have distracted from the plot itself.
The soundtrack is extremely well done. I immediately downloaded the songs! I absolutely love 'My Zone' by SAAY.

What I disliked:
While the fighting scenes were badass, I think that the kidnapping and how they were kept was very wrong. Of course, they deserve punishment but I think Cha Woo In went too far. She would deserve harsh punishment for that too. Due to the inhuman captivity and the kidnapping, she should be incarcerated for several years.
Also, while Cha Woo In planned everything for years and both Cha Woo In and Do Bae Man are seemingly intelligent and work in the field of criminology/law, their work was neglectful. Throughout the drama, they left evidence of their crimes and the scenes. By leaving fingerprints or being filmed by cameras etc... If someone would have cared to investigate they probably could have arrested Cha Woo In and Do Bae Man.
It is nice that Do Bae Man and Noh Tae Nam had character development but I think Cha Woo In showed no change, which I find a bit unfortunate considering how much action and drama she had throughout the show... Also just because people change for the better and realise that their bad pasts will haunt them, they should not be able to escape punishment. Every character in the show should have been imprisoned. They all committed several tough crimes. I believe regret is a big factor but I don't think that Noh Tae Nam, for example, really regretted his past with rape and drugs. I understand that he has his childhood trauma, which was awful to watch because his mother is a really twisted and horrible person, but that doesn't give him the right to do whatever he wants and not be punished for crimes like intoxicating people and assisting rape. Do Bae Man was corrupt before he joined forces with Cha Woo In and that should be punished too. Yes, she needed him for revenge because his family suffered from Noh Hwa Young's crimes too, but that doesn't change that he was easily agreeing to corruption beforehand. So many people suffered from his unlawful decisions.
Finally, I think that the end was quite rushed. Within the last 2 episodes, so much happened, which doesn't suit the pace of the show. If they would have added 4 more episodes they could have focused on details, which would have given the show a nice ending. The romance between Cha Woo In and Do Bae Man, for example, seemed quite rushed too.

I know that the dislikes seem way more than the things I liked, but let's just say that I am really good in complaining rather than expressing what I like. If I rewatch I can change the review according to my opinion then. Nevertheless, the plot is really good, the same for the acting. I was just extremely focused on the crimes and punishment. Probably because I am studying criminology. So apart from leaving evidence behind and the 'good' people not receiving proper punishment, the drama is really good. The rushed ending is just a bit unfortunate but I would still recommend this drama to everyone liking action, dramas about corruption and military, good fighting scenes and either or both Ahn Bo Hyun and Jo Bo Ah! Maybe I should have given a lower rating but I can't help myself, the fighting scenes got me. I hope you enjoy watching the drama.

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