This drama has some nice elements but overall not for me.

Like other critical reviews of this drama say, it's not a bad drama, and I really wanted to like it and went into it blind like I typically do when I watch dramas, but... after finishing all 16 episodes, it wasn't ever really for me and I feel like I should have dropped it after 4 or 5 episodes.

I'm definitely missing something in this drama. Everyone has been praising this drama as being heartfelt, mature, relaxing, and realistic in its portrayal of relationships and how they develop. I disagree, and I'm not sure if it's due to my age (older than the leads) but I couldn't find the maturity and realism that others seem to talk about over and over again. Maybe it's because I feel like I would have communicated differently than the couples portrayed, but I didn't understand how either couple either discussed their issues with each other. Nothing made any sense to me. There were times when they were straightforward with each other, yes, but I mostly found the dialogue either dull or puzzling.

I did like some things about it. The characters themselves were nice. I loved the playful humor in the banter, it was pretty clever and sharp but those moments were few and far between. I also loved the movie references and I wish they would have put a little more time into Seon-Gyeom's finding of himself, building up of his new career and being an agent for Woo-Sik - I felt like it was clumsily done and could have been tightened and would have added a lot to his overall character development. It seemed like it was squished into the episodes as a sidenote.

I would have also liked more meaningful interaction between Seon-Gyeom and Mi Joo earlier on. I didn't feel their attraction to each other at all. Individually, they were great and in theory they seemed like they would be really cute, but for some reason the pairing felt forced to me. I think maybe the whole beginning scenario of the track team scandal, the translation job that allowed them to spend time together, and the father's interference could have been done better for me personally, and because I didn't like the way it developed and set up the drama, I think it set the tone for the rest of the drama as well. Some of the scenes felt cut awkwardly and mixed together all over the place.

I also didn't understand the second couple very much. Both were very cute and had such interesting personalities but again... I wasn't sure how they came to love each other, and then break up, and then get back together. It looked like it started to develop well, and midway through I became very confused by the conflict, the resolution, the conflict again, and then all of a sudden they're together again at the end? Maybe this is a realistic depiction of a relationship for other people, but for me personally, it didn't work, and the way they communicated their feelings to each other never felt clear to me. It seemed like they would say one thing to each other and do something that conflicted with what they said.

The addition of the best friend coming out also seemed out of place to me. While I loved Young-Hwa's heartfelt reaction to the confession and it portraying the type of kind, gentle, sensitive soul he is, and I'm all about LGBTQ representation in media, this element seemed sort of random and unnecessary. I would have liked either more development of this side story or none at all. To have it as just a blip in the drama feels like an afterthought.

Again, it doesn't seem like a bad drama but I had a really hard time enjoying it and I just don't think it was for me. It's so great that so many enjoyed it and got a lot out of it but unfortunately I wasn't one of them. Soundtrack was nice and the drama was very nicely produced. Some of the humor in the dialogue was very smart and I wished there was more of it sprinkled generously throughout each episode. I think I understand the overall message of the drama and the tone it means to convey but it never quite struck a chord with me like I wanted it to. I think viewers still learning to find themselves and their place in the world and with each other might find more meaning and poignancy in this drama than someone who is at a different point in life.

Leggi di Più

Beautiful, realistic and heartfelt depiction of developing relationships and family

Wow, I was completely surprised by how much I loved this drama. I didn't expect to feel as attached to the characters and story as I did when I finished the drama, and I didn't expect it to leave such a mark on me and feel so much in my heart. Maybe I was just in the mood for it, but this drama absolutely left a great impression on me and stirred so many emotions. I am going to miss this drama and will probably watch it again someday for the feels and the comfort and for the reminder that there is sunshine after the rain.

Upon finishing it, I realized that the main characters and several of the side and background characters come from less-than-perfect family backgrounds, and despite having some hardships and tragedies they have been able to make and find their own type of support network and happiness among themselves. I don't think I realized this as I was watching it but towards the end I found a lot of beauty in this and the way it was illustrated. They don't focus on this during the drama, it's not until the end that it became apparent to me.

The romance itself and the chemistry between the leads is so natural and feels so real. I felt like I was an observer watching everyone's lives unfold in front of me and the blossoming of the relationship. The writing for all of the characters is really consistent and real, and everyone just behaves like normal, imperfect human beings. The way all of the relationships are depicted just feel very... ordinary. The dramatic moments and the characters' reactions to things feel very true to life. I felt like I was living through these characters and I felt like I have experienced some of their emotions before in my own life experiences. These are "older" than typical kdrama characters and are established in their careers, family, and social lives so I felt like I could relate to them a little more also.

I like also that the concept of a family is different for everyone and isn't limited to just blood, and that blood relationship families can still be flawed but still have its own importance as well. This is so important and I think this drama did such a beautiful job portraying this in different ways - through friendships, through found families and even through coworkers. I have a great family, but I also have found family through the support of friendships and coworkers as well.

Lee Dong Wook and Jung Ryeo Won are so likable as the characters they portray and they have amazing chemistry. They're both in their 30s but they retain the playfulness in their friendship that makes you really believe they grew up together and are the best of friends, and their interactions together gave me so many feelings and reminded me of my own friends-to-lovers experience. They're both charming and kind people and I loved seeing their journey together as well as their interactions with other people. They're not over the top, but it's clear they are both emotionally sensitive characters with good hearts.

There are some tough episodes to get through but it plays out like a real life event - having to struggle and work through the emotions and feelings to get through them and come to a place of peace. Overall, it was such a lovely watch and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a mellow, beautiful true-to-life style drama with not a lot of conflict.

Leggi di Più