'Snowdrop', I was one of those who had anticipated this drama for Jung Haein and ofcourse, one who got caught by the trailer that was almost fairytale-like, but was it ever? The answer is a straight NO. It wasn't a fairytale where the prince and princess would dance romantically on the middle of the dance floor wearing a suit and a pink dress, it was rather a tragic and cruel tale of two people who fell in love with each other when their hands briefly brushed against one another, meeting eye to eye, all to save a tower of matchsticks from falling. How innocent and pure their love could, would, should have been if they were just living as ordinary people who fell in love at first sight. But no, their love just had to be out of the ordinary, a welcoming door for tragedy to knock on. Their love was never given any chances, or perhaps, their cruel fate deemed them undeserving of any since the beginning. Maybe, all this time it was just the two of them against the world or it is because of how much they genuinely love each other so they bravely fought against their cruel fate all for the love they both dreamed to achieve, to the point they were willing to become human shields for one another. Nope, they weren't the Romeo and Juliet of Korea's 1987, but just simply Lim Sooho and Eun Youngro of Korea's 1987. The love between the both of them wasn't like the Titanic where even before Jack died in order to save Rose, they still got a shot at love. Sooho and Youngro's love was a different case, their love was like a snowdrop flower that bloomed through the coldness of late winter, but their love never made it to the warmth of early spring. It ended in coldness and its warmth could only be a memory. They had loved the right person but at the wrong time. So, in the end they were separated by life and death. Although, their end was so heart wrenching and sad, I still found beauty behind all their sufferings, as what lies behind is true love that tried to fight through until the end. It was tragically cruel but it was beautiful and worthy. Love is really powerful, Sooho and Youngro's love for each other is.

I'm not really fond of politics nor one who has complete knowledge about korean history. I have only managed to pick up some ideas here and there after being an avid k-drama fan for years, watching dramas after dramas, though at times I did my own little research as what has been depicted on dramas were far from the real reality or truth after all. I started to become interested in 'Snowdrop' not only for the star-studded line-up of cast it had, but with its plot which I found interesting and felt quite familiar with, i'm actually very fond of 'Youth Of May'. Yes, I felt a bit of familiarity but I don't find them completely similar in a sense. Both dramas were set around the 1980's time in Korea, a time where a lot of innocent people had greatly suffered under the hands of people who were greedy for power and they both involved romance. It was just the vibe that got me. So, I dived deeply into 'Snowdrop' and is one of those who would excitedly anticipate each episodes. The first half of 'Snowdrop' really heightened my interest in the drama, from seeing an innocent, kind, and lovely Youngro who fell in love at first sight during a group date, to when she bravely helped hide Sooho who was being chased by the ANSP agents, and to the beginning of the hostage scene. Then the second half of the drama came and I know most found it so draggy in which I don't quite agree with, I only found the second half slow-paced as every thing had been continuously revolving around the hostage scene at the dorm, like literally 90% of the drama is centered there. Regardless of that, I never felt it was boring or draggy instead i've only been frustrated. Frustrated because of all the hardships and suffering they each had to go through because of the ill-intentions of majority of the characters and those who had such hidden under their sleeves. It got heavy like a baggage with so many things happening that are out of favor for the main leads. Still, I never felt the urge to drop it, I continued and honestly enjoyed even if it became mainly about politics. I won't get into discussing about the politics part but just write based on the feelings this drama had made me felt.

I'm in the minority who never felt that the romance between the leads was lacking. I was fine with it and found it enough given the situation that they were in. Their romance wasn't little and it wasn't bold in words but rather in actions. The actions which I was referring to is not the usual lovey-dovey we see on other romance dramas, it is the actions in terms of the things they were willing to do for each other. How despite all the things that had happened between them from the revelation of Sooho being an NK spy and him pointing a gun over Youngro's head to Youngro deceiving him in order to snatch the detonator away from him or the time she made herself a bait in order for them to be able to escape, the love they had felt for each other since the first time that they had met remained in their hearts and they knew themselves they fell. Many may argue how such a thing as love at first sight might be ridiculous or not completely realistic to the point one would be willing to go through so much for the other, like the fact that Youngro and Sooho's relationship had never even started, they were never a couple. I thought differently about that. Despite how Youngro and Sooho never really became a couple like what they both had wanted to be, they truly loved each other, their love was evident with how they held one another through the look in their eyes, how they comforted with words or hugs and protected one another. Just how they had constantly been there for each other, I felt their romance. Our views about love are very vast and different, my view about it is as long as they truly love one another and is willing to go through so much for the person they cherish regardless of how long they have known each other or if they were a couple or not, love is love and it conquers all, the strong love both Youngro and Sooho had for each other conquered all. So, it was not lacking, for me at least.

Then came the ending of the drama which I had actually expected even before 'Snowdrop' officially began to air, and there were scenes that had foreshadowed what will come. I never had hopes for a happy ending as I was certain it will be a sad one. Even if I had already expected it, I still cried a bucket because of the pain, seeing how brutally Sooho died. Adding to that pain is the fact that he died at the dorms rooftop attic, which was once their safe haven, a door to their other world where it was only the two of them, where they could open their hearts to each other as just Eun Youngro and Lim Sooho, away from all the sufferings, and that exact same place also hold their beautiful memories. It was torturing to see and think that the last moment they would ever share together and the last memory that they would ever have at that attic, that very place that was once their own is now a place filled with blood, pain and tears. As if those weren't enough, Sooho's last words to Youngro, how he told her to continue living even if it is hard and his sincere confession which he recorded on a cassette tape as he knew he would never get a chance to confess. It was all too painful and cruel. Lim Sooho didn't lie when he said he was superman and the sad thing about it is that he can't fly to be free. His life has always been cold, he was an abandoned son to his mother, a sharpened weapon for his adoptive father. He had never received love, he was betrayed, and constantly used. It was only through Youngro did he finally receive the love he deserves and he protected that love until his last breath. That was the last straw for me. He was so self-less and so was Youngro. And as I had written on the first paragraph, their love is truly like a snowdrop.

Lastly, in terms of the acting, i'm not being biased although it may seem so, but there were just so many scenes where Jung Haein left me completely speechless and gave me a thousand of emotions with how amazing he had brought not only life but color into his role as Lim Sooho. His insane micro expressions, especially his eye acting that completely awed the whole of me. His eye acting is one of the things that could be considered rare, there are not many korean actors who could hold a thousand emotions in their eyes alone, in like a split second, yet be able to deliver them to the audience and make them completely immersed and connected to those emotions like he does. Jung Haein is truly a commendable actor, he is a great actor who is not only talented but skilled as well. He is an actor who doesn't act for the sake of acting but acts his roles to life. I have watched many of his dramas before and I must say that among all the roles he had played, Lim Sooho is his role which I loved most and I think is his best performance as it completely showcased his ability and range as an Actor. As for Jisoo, I do think she had done a great job considering this is her first drama and debut as an actress. The rest of the other actors, Kim Hyeyoon, Yoo Inna and the others did a great job too and deserved praises for their hard work. I honestly, found no problems with how each actors and actresses acted their characters. I'm glad they were casted to play their roles, all of them were very suitable for those roles. I hope to see the future projects of each of the cast, most especially Jung Haein. I probably won't be rewatching this drama, it will take years for me to do so. Also, I can't say it is the best drama out there or a perfect 10/10 for me, but it was worthwhile.

"Lim Sooho"
"as in 'protecting my love'?"

and so, he lived up to his name.

p.s Lim Sooho's confession to Youngro will always be touching and beautiful, "you bloomed flowers inside me who was so cold".