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Let me review this title after 4 years
This was my first ever drama back in 2019, I rewatched it recently for the second time. Of all dramas I’ve watched, this is the most realistic. Actors play their roles perfectly, the plot is creative, the storyline is simple, yet with a lot of conflicts that are realistic and really tugs at your heart. Everything is flowing at a perfect pace. This drama deserves an endless amount of awards. This drama really holds a unique charm like no other. In terms of cinematography I can confidently say I have never, in my years of watching k- dramas, seen anything quite like it. Every shot has an amazing authenticity to it and the palette for each frame is stunning, it feels just like a movie. It’s good at focusing on the details that create a view of life seen through the eyes of those living it. It strays from the widespread use of commercial lighting and taking one shot from 20+ angles and instead focuses on the brilliant visual storytelling and the raw emotion between characters.Was this review helpful to you?
An Emotional Rollercoaster
What the Heck! I’m sitting here in the dark sobbing my axx off! I went into this drama completely unaware of anything about it. I heard it was a good show about how all the characters are connected with their past and their present. And I recognized the lead female and was like okay, let’s do it….When I get ahold of the girl that recommended this show to me….. MANNNN This show put me through it! I was not prepared to be this invested into it, I was looking for a filler, something different and calm,, No. THE TEARS IVE CRIED!!!!!! But it was so dang good! This Story is heartbreaking and it will absolutely have you in a chokehold. This male lead makes you feel, he did such a wonderful job with his character. This was my first time watching a drama with him, He’s not your typical male lead. This guy works his azz off and tries so hard to keep everything together and to look out for everyone dear to him. He is grouchy, with a heart of gold, I was hook line and sinker for him. My heart absolutely broke for him and everything he has had to endure, but through it all he never broke or gave up. Our Female lead was another beautifully written character, you got to see inside the brokenness of the aftermath from the tragedy. You feel her pain and her family’s, all the families. Gosh the emotional is so raw and real. The Love ties are all so well played out and you can’t help but root for each relationship. The only reason I didn’t give this a 10 was because I just kinda felt like we needed more the ending with the tragedy was quickly over shadowed with Kang-Do and kinda just wrapped up too nicely. I was so busy feeling the grief and then the relief of the ending that once it ended I realized it was done too quickly and easily. I highly recommend it! But definitely be ready with the tissue!Was this review helpful to you?
The drama is not too long. All events are accumulated in one dose, which makes it difficult to break away from the screen. I myself admit that I watched this series in one go. No interruptions, no dissipation. My attention was focused only on the events played on the screen.
I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with this drama. She will surely become a friend of every girl.
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It's very different then any drama i recently watched, the psychological stuff is really well handled and feels real not like its tacked on in certain other dramas.
The romance takes a bit to take off but when it does it does a good job at lifting the heavyness of the trauma that some of the characters while not making it all peachy.
The cast and subcast do a good job of portraying the different sides of the coin of the tragedy when the drama starts and when it ends you may feel differently about some of its characters
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A well-constructed delight
This show's synopsis drew me in and it didn't disappoint. The story juggled some heavy themes whilst balancing with a degree of humour that didn't turn the show into a queasy mesh of comedy and grief-laden moments. I liked how the tragedy wasn't the actual focus, and that rather the story centred around how those who either survived or lost loved ones were forced to move on. Often with stories focusing on fatal incidents, it's the aftermath that is the most interesting. So it proved with this show.The two characters, Gang-Dun and Mun-Su were exceptionally well-written. Both characters are hurting but repressing it through very different ways of living. One is in a state of gradual self-destruction seeing life through nihilism while the other lives but without much hope and a lot of guilt. The show expertly navigates the issue of guilt of surviving a loved one, of feeling like you are cheating their memory whether you cope well or don't. I give this show a lot of credit for how it handled grief and guilt, showing how things like self-imposed isolation, alcohol abuse, seeking violence and self-harm were reactions to trauma.
I also really liked that while the mall's collapse wasn't the focal point of the show, it was the focal point of the lead characters. This is good storytelling. The music complemented the show's tunes throughout. I liked that as we delved more into the show, characters gave very nuanced and complex responses to situations, new relationships formed organically and felt authentic and meaningful. We were given time to care about characters and their attachments and bonds, given time to understand that these people were suffering.
There were only two things I didn't really like: Gang-Dun's sister, the doctor, struck me as oddly cold and indifferent. Whether that was by design or bad acting, she often came across as unsympathetic to what her brother was experiencing, bereft of even any gratitude or guilt that she lives well because he suffers greatly.
I also didn't like Mun-su's boss. He was unprofessional in his conduct towards her, his behaviour often creepy and inappropriate and she even called it out. I thought that was a really unnecessary angle the show didn't need, especially as it was clear from the first episode who the love story had to be about. This show was about Mun-Su and Gang-Dun healing together by finding each other, falling in love and letting go of their shared trauma.
Overall, I massively enjoyed this show.
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You should definitely give it a try. I'm sure of it, you are going to love it.
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Wow! Sweet and tender love story that caught me off-guard.
A moving K-drama about a young architect and a street urchin dealing with their grief and guilt after having been dug out of the rubble of a collapsed department store 10 years earlier. It is at times tinder and sweet; melancholy without being too maudlin. Except for the very end when things get wrapped up a little too neatly, this wonderful story explores love and loss from a variety perspectives, all of which feel very real. The cast is fantastic, starting with the two first-time leads. Won Jin Ah plays the young architect Ha Moon Soo, who has become adept at assuaging others pain and tamping down conflict while burying her own pain and anguish. Lee Jun Ho plays the street urchin Lee Kang Doo, haunted by his experience and forced to live by his wits while attempting to take care of a motley group of downtrodden friends. The supporting cast is terrific. I especially liked Yoon Se Ah as the madam Ma Ri and one of Korea's national treasures, Na Moon Hee, as Grandmother. Finally, this maybe the best OST ever. The music and lyrics supported the moods and dialog flawlessly. Great story, well told.Was this review helpful to you?
Tissues…you will need a lot of them
This drama is near perfect. It is a roller coaster of emotions. The first half has many sad moments and emotions, and keeps you guessing what direction it’s going. The second half, when the story really starts to develop, has moments when I actually had to stop it because I was getting too emotional. The last two episodes really got me good, and kept me guessing how it would end, right up to the last minute. Only watch this if you want your heart ripped out of your chest while you use mountains of tissues. The acting was excellent, but at times the female lead seemed a little awkward during romantic scenes. If you want a drama that is on the serious side, keeps you guessing, and leaves you feeling sad and happy all at once, I highly recommend this one.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
THE MOST PRECIOUS ROMANCE <3
If you are looking for a drama where the leads are in love with each other without anyone coming in between them, then this drama is perfect for you. The things I liked in this drama:i. The leads: Their chemistry and acting is very real that you'll really think that you are watching a real story. The FL is soft and very strong mentally, doesn't break off easily and is very understanding to the ML. The ML is rough but behaves so calmly in front of FL and never has he disrespected her in any ways. No misunderstandings and no evil characters will break them off. They totally believe in each other and they only have eyes for each other throughout the series.
ii. The story progression: The story flows naturally from the time they both had gotten into the accident and then they fall in love with each other.
iii. The casts: Not only the main leads but the support casts are also exceptional in their roles especially the grandmother, the ML's Noona ,his brother and sister, the CEO and his ex gf and the director.
iv. Music: The music was perfect for the drama with right emotions at the right time.
v. The melo portion of the drama: The emotions were just right and you'll cry a lot in this drama especially the acting will make you fell the pain in real.
Lastly, I would like to say that do not miss this gem as it is one of a kind with perfect emotion and execution. I wish, in some world or some dimension there is Kang Doo and Man Soo continuing their story, living happily with each other as well as the other supporting casts, growing old together and loving each other unconditionally.
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The story was good. Childhood accident follows into adult life. They find each other by pure coincidence, romance ensues then follows their hardship. I was a bit lost as to what i supposed to be engaged in .. the romance or the story.
Acting - another stellar performance by Lee Jun Ho, For a relatively amateur actor, he plays his parts very convincingly. I did think though that his acting was brought down by a rookie actress. Nothing against the girl, she did her best ... she can cry but i didn't feel her feelings. Too much push and pull for totally ridiculous reasons and unfortunately she can't kiss .. which for a romance, is quite important. Seo Joo Won i also thought was a weak character. Wasn't enthralled with any of his story line. a few contradictions and .. well he did absolutely nothing to try and woo Moon Soo despite him saying that he liked her. All other parts were played really well especially the grandma. total thumbs up.
Music - a good OST. All ballads. Well used but same few songs over and over. You tend to not listen to the songs in the end as 'you've heard them all before'.
Re-watch - I'm not sure i would re-watch it again. Objectively, there isn't anything wrong with the show, i just personally, don't re-watch dramas unless i find them exceptional.
Overall - not a bad watch. I wouldn't watch because of the romance aspect as it's overshadowed by the story. I rate it as a 8.5
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