A melodrama done right.

The weakest point of Chocolate is the first few episodes which make the show seem like the run-of-the-mill melodrama, with plenty of classic sibling rivalry and serendipitous meeting between the romantic leads. The quick transition of time and space, in addition to the contrived missed opportunity of the romance, is a drag to get through.
The show takes off towards the middle when the story transitions from the hectic ER drama to the calming environment of a hospice. The slice-of-life quality of middle episodes gives the world and characters room to breathe. Each side characters fulfill their arcs as the main characters grow with them. The sibling rivalry also transforms as the brothers become more introspective about their place in the world.
The show reaches a crescendo when the romantic leads tie up their intertwined history together towards the later episode. While predictable, the chemistry between the leads blossoms into a rewarding experience.
To conclude, while this is a melodrama with no regards to realistic plot, the characters really find a place they belong in a power-hungry world that reflects the one we live in.

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