Looking for a Comfort Show? You've Found It

Welcome to Samdal-ri is a show that I couldn't help to look forward to every week. The story didn't have grappling cliff hangers or an intense conflict, but it was a drama that I could sit down, watch, and feel healed.

Story:
Welcome to Samdal-ri's storyline was nothing I haven't seen before. City girl goes back to small town and reunites with first love. Family conflict provides tension and drama. Side character storylines are short, but relevant. Did I think that all the conflict was necessary? No. However, I understand the need to drag things out to fit the 16 episode time frame. Overall, everything felt natural and concluded nicely.

Acting/Cast:
This drama has two of my favorite actors in it, so I am a little biased. Firstly, Ji Changwook did a great job. He's an especially emotive actor and really draws me into the story and world that he creates. Shin Hyesun continuously does a terrific job at making any character relatable and charismatic. Her performance is no less than what I thought it would be. I was not a fan of Yoo Ohsung's acting, but that could be blamed on his role.

Music:
My opinions for a soundtrack is that if you notice it, it's either terrible or terrific. Welcome to Samdal-ri's sountrack was for the most part unnoticeable, so I would consider it pretty good. The intro was so cute and cheerful, and the music in the last episode especially was a fantastic choice. If I ever rewatch this show, the music would be the number one thing to bring nostalgia.

Rewatch Value:
As a light and fluffy show, Welcome to Samdal-ri has a very high rewatch value for me. Nothing about this show stressed me out, if anything it did the opposite. It's the perfect drama to watch when you're feeling down. I'll definitely come back and watch this again.

Overall, I would suggest this drama to anyone who needs a little bit of happiness and bliss.

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A Working 30 Year Old's Trials and Tribulations with Love and Marriage

Going into Anego, I didn't have very high expectations. It's reviews and ratings are not the best, and its rank and popularity are low too. However, I gave it a go, and I was pleasantly surprised.

What moved me in this drama was not any of the romances, but Anego's relationship with the people around her, especially her female coworkers. In every episode, Anego would go out of her way to advise a female colleague, friend, or even stranger on romantic or work related problems. She constantly proved to be someone that women could easily confide in and trust. She had no ulterior movie or any plans to use the people that sought out her advice. Both the men and women in the office respected her and knew her presence was vital for their company.

Although Anego was struggling to maintain romantic relationships throughout the entire drama, her steadfast determination in her work and career was nothing but admirable. Anego showed that while she was lacking in some ways (like being single), she excelled in others (such as interpersonal relationships, leadership roles, and problem solving).

Anego is a "woman's woman." And I personally would be so grateful to have someone like her in my life to help guide me in my decision making and inspire me as a role model in my everyday life. So while Anego isn't for everyone, I will cherish this show as I grow and learn in my career, in my relationships, and in my life.

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My Thoughts After 11 Weeks...

My 11 week journey with this drama has finally ended, and I don't think it'll feel finished without a proper review. From the beginning, I was already excited about this show. I could anticipate the heartbreak and joy I would experience, and let me tell you, this show did not disappoint.

The emotional connections between the characters is truly the star of the show. It feels illegal not to point that out. The writing was rich in expression and love. Every scene tugs at your heart. Yes, I do feel like some scenes could have been taken out and some conflicts could have been resolved quicker, but this show is slow. It was made to be paced slowly, and as you watch it, you know it will be paced slowly. It was perfect to watch spread out through 11 weeks. I would not recommend binging it. I think there will be something missing if you do.

The cast was phenomenal. Kawaguchi Haruna had my heart in the palm of her hands the entire time. Her eyes are so expressive. Every time she smiled, I smiled. Every time she cried, I cried. Her performance was my highlight of every week, and I know others feel the same. Meguro Ren is also an amazing actor. His facial expressions spoke volumes, and I don't even need to mention when he cried...

Subtitle, the song they always play at the end of the episodes, will now spark memories of the time I watched Silent. It is so nostalgic; I can't imagine how I will feel playing it in the future. All the other music and audio was spectacular as well. My rule of thumb to know how something is great is that you don't notice it until after, and that's exactly what happened with this show.

I know it sounds like I would rewatch this show any chance I would get, but I think it's better to let sit and rest for a while. Just like the main characters, I think that I should watch this show again when I'm more mature to look back at my life now and reminisce.

I love this show, and I hope you do too.

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