Can an imperfect show still get a 10/10? It can with me!

I have some issues with things, I wish some areas were fleshed out more, I wish the conclusion would have had more time to breathe.

However, I loved every second I watched this. I enjoyed the characters, the acting, and while I wish the plot had been... longer I guess is the right word, I still enjoyed the plot too.

I've always felt that these dramas, K and C, have amazing setups and usually pretty good middle story as well but almost always they drop the ball at the end. Endings are hard, I get that, but the frequency with which I get engrossed in a series only for it to end and disappoint me is too much. That's why, even though I don't think they knocked the ending out of the park, they at least did well enough that I can say its far in front of most other drama endings I have seen.

Overall I highly recommend this series if you enjoy good characters with depth, good action, and an overall decent ending! My favorite episodes were definitely the first batch of about 7, but I have to admit the parent's backstory episodes, 8 through 15 were incredibly well done and stand alone as great romance story's by themselves. The last 5 episodes, while not my favorite due to feeling rushed or just lacking in some ways, are still as I mentioned well above the norm of K-Drama endings quality, so even those episodes get a thumbs up from me.

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For the most part it feels really realistic, and IMO worth the watch!

I won't elaborate too much because most of the other reviews have covered it.

I'll say that I agree with others that it's an overall happy ending if you pay attention to certain things, it is implied they do end up together. My issue with that is... I'm not entirely sure it had to be made a secret to the viewers. I see the "art" in making it a bit of a secret for the viewers. I get that since the couple themselves have picked to be in a relationship in secret, whether because her agency won't let her or simply to avoid the drama of openly dating, they've chosen to also make it a bit of a hidden relationship to the viewers. It's neat... but sometimes you just want to be able to enjoy the "post-story" happy moments of a relationship and we didn't get to see that.

I had major second FL syndrome, Jin Ju is adorable and I can't help but wish they had leaned into the soulmates bit and gone with that twist. I would have been content with the story being about our ML helping our FL past her demons and helping her towards a positive path in her life but them not ending up together as he reconnects with Jin Ju.

I've read some comments about there being toxicity and that really feels like a stretch. If you want a "nothing but perfect people making perfect choices" and dealing with their pasts in the absolute healthiest way possible, the dramas are out there for you. However I reserve a word like toxic for genuinely and consistently shitty relationships marred by people who abuse the love they are given and convince themselves or their partners that they've done nothing wrong or that the person deserved it. That doesn't happen here, there are choices made that hurt someone but there is reason behind it as well as genuine remorse, not followed by repeatedly making the same choices.

This is not a great review I must admit, I'm kind of throwing things at the wall and saying random things, to get back on point:
The drama had a sense of realism, with people making real if not ideal choices in certain moments, and with some good chemistry and acting. I don't think too many will watch this and feel they've wasted their time, but I also don't think it's a "must not miss" watch. It was good, it was entertaining, and although I would have liked a bit more substance at the end in terms of elaborating on the couples final standing, it was a good ending overall.

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