This drama made me think a lot about humanity…

This drama made me think a lot about humanity and how our interests ultimately define what we see as right and wrong/just and unjust. It does such a good job of showcasing the characters' lives and motivations in a way that makes it difficult to root for any one person singularly. I'd give it a 10/10 for portraying its characters in such a nuanced way, but a 9/10 on the whole because while I found it well-acted and remarkably written, I did not experience a sense of deep and lasting emotional connection with any of the characters (as I typically would after a 50-episode drama). I did connect with some of the characters at varying points in the drama (Gil Tae Mi in his last moment, Lee Bang Ji in his shame and solitude, Lee Bang Won in his lonely choices, Sambong in his resolve, Moo Hyul in his conflict between self and loyalty); but I just didn't care for any of them throughout the drama. But again, its a testament to great character development that I cared for each of them (hero and villain alike) at different points. I'm now watching Tree with Deep Roots (which is a follow-up of this with a different cast) and can't help but have fond flashbacks of the SFD characters. Only in retrospect have I realised how much I liked SFD. Definitely give it a go!

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