Okay, unfortunately... this wasn't a drama I could finish watching. So this review is going to go over exactly why I couldn't finish, and what I got from the few episodes I did watch. After all, with the length of dramas, not every drama is worth watching, even if it is a tearjerker.
To be perfectly honest - this drama should be renamed Uncomfortably Fond. The story started off in a somewhat refreshing way (though, really, is any archetype that refreshing these days? We find out, episode 1, that Kim Woo Bin's character Shin Joon Young, is diagnosed with cancer and won't live for very long. Very heartbreaking, especially when you toss in his relationship with his mother, whom he doesn't tell about the illness (he was so frustrating and pitiful... Woo Bin did such a good job with this. If only it wasn't poorly written).
Suzy... now she's a renowned actress, and I did enjoy her portrayal of her character, No Eul- sassy, bold. But since this is the only work I've seen her in, I'm not so impressed. 😓 The real problem, then, might have been her character. Erratic and ridiculous at time, she was a representation of a broken human who hides her feelings with a "lol I'm a bad person" persona. Did it make sense? Not really, no. (At least not till she develops and becomes her true self, which does not come in for a while- and for me, was not worth the wait). Did I like it? Not really, no.
The other principle characters were also a little ridiculous and shocking, and nobody in the show was a stereotypical "good-guy", which I enjoyed. Everybody was forced to face the consequences of their actions, which is not necessarily how real life works. But this is a drama, so to balance the story, of course that's how it works (thank goodness).
The story, long-winded and a little sudden, does not really pull the audience in enough in the beginning for us to watch it all, and the conflict seems stale. Regardless, it weaves in a plethora of pitiful characters with flaws and grudges (though we aren't sure how they all tie in for a bit). And when we are aware of how these grudges tie in, and how people have wronged each other, we're... bored. But also it all just seems like such an unresolved mess that I just didn't have the heart to watch it all play out, not to mention the multitude of factors that complicated and confused the story a little. Simplicity might have done the story some good.
Character development does indeed take place, especially Woo Bin and his, um, kin. But the stereotypical conflicts still exist in the sphere - and the relationships between family members are as complicated as they are expected. Not much of an element of surprise in the show, mainly because of its slow pace. But I am glad that the characters weren't completely fake and unbelievably good or bad. It set the tone for the drama rather well, since it does deal with a more serious atmosphere that doesn't have a traditional love story and magical happenings.
If there's another element that's so often used in a way I don't like (except Secret Garden. They did phenomenal), it would be the god damn ties to the past. The show trailers advertised a pair of classmates who meet after growing up. Great. But their past love story was just a little forced. I think the way they did finally get separated, and the way they meet again was super fresh. I really liked it. But, their sudden reawakening of love, and this undying love that has been festering for years? So random. There are flashbacks to the past in other parts of the drama that I think were well executed, as well as our main character's regression in memory (spoiler? But well done).
The point of the story? Of course, since it's got the terminal illness trope, it's got to do with appreciating life. Our main character decides to set into motion his "bucket list" before he dies so that he can do what he always wanted to do (confess to his old love, make up with his mother, etc.). But at the end he appreciates what he had done in his life, and ended on a peaceful and happy note. It's kind of heartbreaking. But the story does delve into much more than that - which redeems to the extent that at least our characters and their connections were thought out. The drama explores how different characters deal with consequences to their actions, and whether or not people can be truly good or bad. We see themes of family develop, and how small actions can ruin everything. There is a call to a moral being inside us all to do what is right.
So why didn't I like it? Well... it was boring and slow. Not to mention, the plot seemed all over the place, and while the ideas that were brought out in the drama were deep and fresh, their execution was poor. I could not form a bond with No Eul despite her sad backstory, mainly because of how strangely she was portrayed. Perhaps it was on purpose, to show her as a broken creature. But how this love story persisted despite all that? That's what made me stop. If you can overlook the improbability of their feelings and actions in any situation in the drama, you probably won't dislike the show as much as I did.
Regardless of whether or not the show pained you (I mean mentally and emotionally - this was one sad show), the soundtrack is worth listening to. If there's one song I fell in love with, it would be A Little Braver by New Empire. Sweet, and well-timed within the drama. Would recommend it.
So in conclusion, watch it if you're desperate for a slow story and a good cry with little catharsis. Or, don't watch it. Appreciate your life and love freely regardless. Be grateful and show it to those around you, and oh, always do what you believe in your heart to be right. Be happy. Haha 😊
Suzy... now she's a renowned actress, and I did enjoy her portrayal of her character, No Eul- sassy, bold. But since this is the only work I've seen her in, I'm not so impressed. 😓 The real problem, then, might have been her character. Erratic and ridiculous at time, she was a representation of a broken human who hides her feelings with a "lol I'm a bad person" persona. Did it make sense? Not really, no. (At least not till she develops and becomes her true self, which does not come in for a while- and for me, was not worth the wait). Did I like it? Not really, no.
The other principle characters were also a little ridiculous and shocking, and nobody in the show was a stereotypical "good-guy", which I enjoyed. Everybody was forced to face the consequences of their actions, which is not necessarily how real life works. But this is a drama, so to balance the story, of course that's how it works (thank goodness).
 |
| She's so pretty though... wow |
Character development does indeed take place, especially Woo Bin and his, um, kin. But the stereotypical conflicts still exist in the sphere - and the relationships between family members are as complicated as they are expected. Not much of an element of surprise in the show, mainly because of its slow pace. But I am glad that the characters weren't completely fake and unbelievably good or bad. It set the tone for the drama rather well, since it does deal with a more serious atmosphere that doesn't have a traditional love story and magical happenings.
If there's another element that's so often used in a way I don't like (except Secret Garden. They did phenomenal), it would be the god damn ties to the past. The show trailers advertised a pair of classmates who meet after growing up. Great. But their past love story was just a little forced. I think the way they did finally get separated, and the way they meet again was super fresh. I really liked it. But, their sudden reawakening of love, and this undying love that has been festering for years? So random. There are flashbacks to the past in other parts of the drama that I think were well executed, as well as our main character's regression in memory (spoiler? But well done). The point of the story? Of course, since it's got the terminal illness trope, it's got to do with appreciating life. Our main character decides to set into motion his "bucket list" before he dies so that he can do what he always wanted to do (confess to his old love, make up with his mother, etc.). But at the end he appreciates what he had done in his life, and ended on a peaceful and happy note. It's kind of heartbreaking. But the story does delve into much more than that - which redeems to the extent that at least our characters and their connections were thought out. The drama explores how different characters deal with consequences to their actions, and whether or not people can be truly good or bad. We see themes of family develop, and how small actions can ruin everything. There is a call to a moral being inside us all to do what is right.
So why didn't I like it? Well... it was boring and slow. Not to mention, the plot seemed all over the place, and while the ideas that were brought out in the drama were deep and fresh, their execution was poor. I could not form a bond with No Eul despite her sad backstory, mainly because of how strangely she was portrayed. Perhaps it was on purpose, to show her as a broken creature. But how this love story persisted despite all that? That's what made me stop. If you can overlook the improbability of their feelings and actions in any situation in the drama, you probably won't dislike the show as much as I did. Regardless of whether or not the show pained you (I mean mentally and emotionally - this was one sad show), the soundtrack is worth listening to. If there's one song I fell in love with, it would be A Little Braver by New Empire. Sweet, and well-timed within the drama. Would recommend it.
So in conclusion, watch it if you're desperate for a slow story and a good cry with little catharsis. Or, don't watch it. Appreciate your life and love freely regardless. Be grateful and show it to those around you, and oh, always do what you believe in your heart to be right. Be happy. Haha 😊
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