Nelly
Canada
Very good drama that goes to show just how much good acting and chemistry matter in a series. The story and the scripts are not particularly impressive, but trust me, when you start watching, you couldn't care less. Watch if 1) you're looking for a deep love story, 2) you're looking for serious romantic business (aka skinship and cie), 3) you've had an overdose of comedy and want something different, 4) you're ready for a rollercoster ride of emotions. Don't watch if 1) You have low tolerance for relationship conflicts, 2) You have low tolerance for misunderstanding, 3) You don't like kids.
THE STORY
The premise of the show is nothing innovative and does not peak interest. At least, in my case and many others, you hear about how great the show is and then think about watching it. The few initial episodes seduce you like the best player in the world, but the rest of the show drives you insane until you reach the end and feel like your emotions were mercilessly toyed with...except that you loved it. Honestly, the story is frustrating, but it's 'real', something you can't relate to but you can find coherent, and it has characters you can only like, even if you don't always understand them.
THE ACTING
Pretty cool! I'm still new in the realm of Taiwanese dramas. It looks bad to say it, but to be honest, I started with recent romcoms, and they got me thinking that I would never be able to take Taiwanese shows seriously. The acting was almost cartoony, I'm guessing due to the genre. Autumn's Concerto shattered all my prejudice. The acting is superb. There's so much chemistry between all actors but particularly the main couple. I really believe that it's that, more than the story itself, that sucks the viewer in. The little boy is incredibly good too, which is rare for a child actor of his age.
THE MUSIC
Fab. Maybe the main theme song, I love him (Wo ai ta) by Della Ding, will not do it for you, but you'll have to admit it matches perfectly the mood of the show. And there's plenty of other tracks that you'll be able to obsess over. My personal favorite: I thought (Wo yi wei) by Victor Wang.
REWATCH VALUE
It's a matter of mind over heart. Whenever I'm searching for something to watch, my heart begs me to rewatch it, craving for all the intense emotions that it provoked, but my mind tells me not to, because I just can't deal with it. Conclusion is, I'll probably rewatch it again. More than once.
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Good drama. Not great, but still above average. Watch if you're looking for 1) enough action to keep you sticking around, 2) a few laughs, 3) light love stories that recede to the background. Do not watch if you're 1) looking for a detailed, fully-developed love story or 2) expect lots of action (IRIS style).
THE STORY
The show has action and comedy from the beginning to suck you in and centers around the experiences of the maturing detectives, as well as the blossoming friendships and flourishing romances in the police station, which would make for a killer drama...expect that the story starts fading away towards the middle, and loses what was making it great (the focus on the relationships and the growth of the characters as detectives) in favor of what was background action in the first half. Relationships become neglected and all the fun of the initial episodes disappear. It won't make you want to give up on the show, but it's enough to make it lose charm.
THE ACTING
Good, good, good. Nothing else to say...except that I like Lee Seung Gi a lot better playing a cynical loner than the usual prick he likes to play, and it really goes to show that he can be a versatile actor. Go Ara is of course perfect in her role, and Cha Seung Won, there's nothing he doesn't do well - Action, comedy, drama, you name it, he does it - but really, the other ones were good too.
THE MUSIC
It was cool and fitted well the drama. Sometimes different from what you'd expect, but nothing I felt the urge to download afterwards.
REWATCH VALUE
Something I'd rewatch when I don't have anything else to watch. Didn't so far, but who knows.
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