This show was unbelievably good. I’ll be honest, it started out really slow and I’m not known for my patience. It wasn’t until about episode five when I felt completely invested, and then I had to go back and start it over, to give it the consideration it deserved. I’m not going to reiterate the storyline, but the writers have many, many reasons to be proud of their work here. This show moved effortlessly between the timelines of 1930’s Korea and present-day Korea, and it all made sense. One of the things I was most impressed with was that the mysteries in the show were revealed to us at the same time as the characters, so I felt like I was discovering the answers right along with them. The writing was excellent and managed to take me on a journey that seamlessly moved from drama, to comedy, to tragedy, to mystery, to fantasy, and all the while there was no need to suspend disbelief, because it all made perfect sense. I also appreciated the factual information that was given about the freedom fighters and what happened to Koreans in WWII.
Cast: Yoo Ah In as writer Han Se Ju was wonderful. He started out cold, self-absorbed and isolated. To be honest, I wondered if he was supposed to be the male lead, because he was not likeable at all. As we moved further into the story, his reactions, whether serious or funny, were spot on. And it doesn’t hurt that he is stunning to look at. Im Soo Jung as fangirl Jeon Seol played her part with the perfect degree of wonder and awe for Han Se Ju, without ever becoming stalker-ish or irritating. She had a positive outlook on life, even considering her somewhat dark past. Go Kyung Pyo as the mysterious Yoo Jin Oh was excellent. His part, more than any other, had the potential to become farcical, but he imbued the perfect amount seriousness into the role. I also have to mention Kwak Si Yan as Han Se Ju’s competition (both personally and literarily). Early on, he owned this role, giving it just a touch of possible sinisterness. Were you supposed to like him or hate him? As time went on and everything started being revealed, he literally made my skin crawl.
Cinematography and sets: Beautifully filmed! There was a clear delineation between 1930 and present. The close ups allowed you to really see and feel the emotions that the characters were feeling, whereas the far shots really gave a feeling of space and grandeur of the things that you were looking at. The play of light and shadow was used well to give a feel for danger in the 30’s and the positivity of present day. I loved how every place had different ways of showcasing books. His home, the other writer’s work room, bookstores, etc. Every place was very creatively put together, always reminding us that he was a writer. The set for his home was amazing!
Skinship: Two amazing kisses and some hand holding.
Camaraderie: This is where this show shone the brightest. The friendships of the past affected the friendships of the present and the writers/actors did a wonderful job of the slow, seamless progression of their relationships. They communicated well, they were honest with one another, and their experiences in both times cemented how they felt about one another. I love a show with a good bromance, and this was definitely one for the books!
Costumes: The clothing for both eras was perfect. Especially the clothes that Yoo Ah In wore – his clothes were classy, loose and fit him well.
OST: Hauntingly beautiful. There were times that just the music would shift your emotions before a word was even said.
I’m so glad I gave the time and attention to everything about this show that it deserved. It was amazing!