This drama gets numerous justified complaints: awful directing, infuriating music, two actresses overacting like there’s no tomorrow. But putting all of that aside, the script is dazzling. It took me on a journey of character study and genre-blending frenzy. The drama starts as slapstick comedy with one-dimensional characters, and thus pretty hard to sit through. That’s both unintentional (did I mention awful directing) and intentional (the writer plays with viewers’ perceptions). Over time, it adds layers of complexity to all characters including minor ones, with a mix of romance, comedy and mystery. Towards the end, it evolves full force into a psychological thriller that explores the depth of jealousy and obsession. On Friday, I had to pause in the middle of an episode to laugh hysterically while on Saturday I paused to avoid dying of tension.

This rollercoaster ride works marvelously because nuanced characterization and strong messages are always at the core of the show. At least for me, it is a story about how flawed our perception of others can be, about the blurred line between dream and obsession, about letting go and moving on. No matter what elements are on screen, comedy or mystery, they all add to my understanding of the characters and the themes. It’s a marvel to see a script so tight that almost every detail serves a purpose, or sometimes multiple purposes. Like the same thing can be used for laughter in ep 4, reap its emotional impact in ep 8 and become a key clue for the mystery in ep 12. I don’t know how that is possible, but as with other Park Yeon Seon’s dramas, there’s only one lesson. Pay attention, and you will be rewarded!