Story: When you walk into a story like this it is really thought provoking, that what this story is to me, the main thing you need to get out of this drama I'm not going to tell because it supposed to be in there. Throughout all of that the story I give a 9.5,defintley thought provoking, and it great to give it a try.
Acting/Cast: The cast in this is really great Jo In Sung is someone who I've seen him in That Winter The Wind Blows and I liked his acting in that, Gong Hyo Jin did a fantastic job too (and she been in Jealousy Incarnate). The supporting cast really got into the role and loved them to death. The cast gets a 9.
Music: I have a funny story about one of the songs in this, I was watching a show called American Housewife and one of the songs in this drama came up and I was like wow. overall I'm a sucker for a drama with great music, and this had great music. With this the music gets a 9.
Rewatch/Overall: For a rewatch value I'm giving it a 9, I rewatch this because I think it one that deserve rewatching. Now overall is a 9.5 I debated a 10 but ended up giving it a 9.5.
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The story line of this drama isn't something you'd usually find common as it touches on mental illnesses and is based around the hospital, I feel like this drama would be catered towards more mature aged people but i'd really encourage teenagers who might be wanting to understand the concept of mental disorders to watch this. Not only does this drama show the harsh realities of mental illnesses but it really teaches you a few things from the perspective of a psychiatrist and the people who have these illnesses. It's okay its love is a really complex story as all characters have a series of problems which they all kind of twist together, and even though in the end they do not fix all these problems completely i think thats what makes the drama so good and realistic.
The story is great in how they piece everything together and every character developed greatly in some way. Although the story is already interesting enough in the first few episodes the plot really starts to pick up and intensify towards the end as the reveal more and more information, I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I remember crying for 3 episodes straight because i felt such impact and shock from the events during the end.
The cast and acting for this drama were perfect, the main characters were portrayed well but i have to give props to Lee Kwangsoo and Jo In-Sung for playing their characters so well and to be able to play a mentally disordered person so effortlessly. Kyungsoo's acting was not seen as much throughout the series but really did make a huge impact on me (the reason for me 3 episode straight crying) I felt the need to just hold him and feel pit on him all the time, i really liked his character best in IOIL.
For music there were NO faults, this OST was probably the best i've heard so far. The songs really enhanced the whole experience of this drama, I've listened to all the songs on the OST including the pure instrument ones and i enjoyed it through out the series.
As for a re-watch value 10/10. I can't really give it any less considering it's my second time already watching this 16 hour drama already! Even if you do re-watch this drama the feelings will still remain to hit you!
BOTTOM LINE, The story is something that will really make you laugh, cry, be mad and think a lot. The cast for this was picked perfectly along with the music choices i really think the director should be given an award. This review didn't give this my feelings towards this drama justice i really recommend you watch this yourself, you won't regret it. 10/10!
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Why?
First, the story is good. It's about how to overcome a disorder and to not give up on life. As a psychology major, I can say that they did not exaggerate the symptoms. The writer also wrote a very good script.
Second, my favorite part and I can't wait to give my standing ovation to all the casts. The actings are world class! Both the lead couples show a great chemistry and how I love the Bromance in this kdrama. They really nailed it.
Third, Music? They have the best OST in 2014! I like all the songs, I have them on my playlist and I listen to them everyday. I should say they have the best soundtracks ever!!
Lastly, I guess I have a confession to make: I have watched this drama twice now. In just a month. You read it right, a month and I watched it twice, without skipping a single episode in my second times.
And I will still rewatch and rewatch and rewatch it.
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The family storylines are also highlighted to show how these relationships have affected our OTP and the redemptive quality of both these families journeys is heartwarming and rewarding to observe.
The cast is very well picked. I enjoyed the vibe between Hye Soo, Jae Yeol and their housemates, it was a truly unconditionally supportive environment, and their interactions were great to watch as they also provided some comic relief to a sometimes angsty storyline.
I especially enjoyed Jo In Sung's performance from start to finish, he embodied Jang Jae Yeol and his portrayal of him was at times vulnerable, other times poignant and always courageous and believable. I always understood his struggles, his every action added a rich layer to his character, his brave battle with his life's journey culminated to present us with a fully developed, vulnerable yet strong and hopeful man who is aware of his flaws and is conscious of how hard he has to work to maintain his happiness. Bravo to Jo In Sung
Gong Hyo Jin was competent as usual but I found Hae Soo to be an irritating character on more than one occasion, she has selfish tendencies and even though she is a caring individual, her relationship with her mother was very telling in showing her selfishness, especially when we're presented with the full story. It appears she really had no reason to condemn her mother's affair since at one point she advocated for it for her own selfish reasons. Even in her relationship with Jae Yeol there are times when she should have put his mental well being before anything else, but she shows too much concern about how certain things will affect her; for example when she goes to visit him while he's still recovering, and again when she's unwilling to leave for her sabbatical, not realising that he probably needs time to adjust to his new situation and look after himself by himself for a while.
Despite all this their relationship was beautiful to watch.
Jae Yeol's mother and brother were also very well acted and presented, this family's struggle felt so real and poignant, I was desperately sorry for them and cheered them on as they worked through their problems.
The music was spot on, I loved the soundtrack, every song was present but never in the way, music for me is a 10.
I'm not one for rewatching shows, so usually I give low rewatch values. I give this one a 5
Overall I give this show an 8. A very solid offering, well worth your time.
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A masterpiece that could have used a better start
First off, disregard any prior predictions or judgements about the nature of this drama, because you’re gonna be wrong. Coming into this, I was expecting a sweet romance between an author and a psychiatrist. Sure, originally that’s exactly what it was, but the last few episodes of this drama took me completely by surprise in the best way possible. I cried buckets of tears and felt so much pain for the characters, especially our male lead. The topics that this drama discusses are so rarely pictured in film, especially Korean, and I really appreciate that a drama can discuss mental health in such an eye opening and heartwarming way. This drama has really taught me that love, not only the love between the leads, can help us overcome our fears and mental obstacles. Watching this drama was a truly beautiful experience. While I would have loved to give this drama a higher rating, I have to admit that my strong feelings for this drama only really appeared after episode 10. Prior to the climax of the drama, I was quite bored and annoyed by the story. It felt like nothing much had happened at all, and the romance between the leads kind of appeared out of nowhere. Despite the drama acknowledging that Hye Soo is a selfish person, I still hated the way she treated the male lead most of the time. It felt like he was constantly tiptoeing around her trying not to make her mad, and I couldn’t really get into that type of relationship dynamic. In contrast to how she was acting, ML’s declarations of love had me questioning if he and I were looking at two different people, because I would have been done with her shit a long time ago. Despite all this, she definitely redeemed herself as a character in the last half of the drama, but I felt it was worth a mention anyway. If you rewatch the drama, you can really pick up on the hints that the show was giving the viewers about what will happen in the later episodes, especially the visit to Hye Soo’s friend’s sick wife. I can still remember the discussions that the characters had about the beauty of love despite a person’s mental illnesses that might make it difficult for their partner. Overall, if you disregard the slow beginning and the infuriating leads in the first half, this drama is truly a gem that I would recommend to anyone.Was this review helpful to you?
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Humanity In All It's Flaws
This drama perfectly displays how messy love and life can be. It deals with so many things like mental illnesses, familial abuse, and ptsd among other issues.This definitely isn't a drama that depicts an unreal perfection between the characters. They fight, and can be nasty to each other, but at the end of they day, they were all there for each other. That's really the beauty of this series. Too often we get first or secondary characters that don't seem to contribute to the plot, but this does not fall victim to that in the least bit. Each and every person was integral to the storyline and were important in another persons own journey.
They did a decent job at portraying different mental illnesses and conditions. Some seemed to be a little downplayed, but everyone's different so I didn't think too much on it. The acting was quite spot on, and I liked the gradual romance and relationships throughout. This drama is full of character development which is lovely. There were times I got frustrated at the way a few characters were acting, but it ultimately made them more relatable. They really stress the importance of communication and a persons love language in here. Every message within was presented wonderfully. The OST is very lovely, and fits the drama really well.
TW for familial abuse (there's a lot of scenes where a Jang Jae Yeol is beaten aggressively).
All in all, a really good and in depth drama. I would recommend if you're looking for something with head-on content and romance.
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Must Watch
A very well made drama and worth watching. The chemistry between Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin is natural, beautiful and captivating. I was drawn to the entire drama from it's first episode to the last with it's intelligent script and mature content. Everyone copes with their own psychological fears and insecurities in their own way. I was very drawn to the characters love, commitment and intensity to cope and overcome their challenges. The casting is good and all characters had a good share of expressing their roles. Enjoyed the drama so much.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
MOST REALISTIC HEART WRENCHING SH**
THE ONLY REASON I'M NOT GIVING A PERFECT SCORE IS THAT I WANTED MORE, I WASN'T READY FOR IT TO BE OVER.The tears I've shed over this drama...I could swim in.
It starts with nice albeit cliche twist, a cocky lead getting a rude awakening from a badass female. At least that's what you'd think but nooo... Zo In Sung...or in this case, JJY is not at all he seems. He stands up for himself, his morals and beliefs, while keeping boundaries already set intact. You don't see that a lot in Rich Alpha male leads.
This man outdid himself acting his role, so much that I was so shocked when I saw he was running alone on the highway, and not with Kang Hoon. I totally believed the guy was real!!!! And his conditions, the OCD...the schizo, this is one of the best portrayals of mental illnesses in dramas.
Anyway, enough about the man, the rest of the cast was fantastic too; a little crazy and dramatic but it made the whole experience wholesome.
The doctors played their roles perfectly and I learned a lot from some of the other patients. Kudos to the writers for creating the masterpiece.
The romance between the leads was painfully relatable and incredibly mature. The kind of romance portrayals you learn from.
Would I watch this again?
Probably, but after I've 'healed' from the emotional rollercoaster it took me on.
Should you watch it though?
DEFINITELY!!!!!!!!!
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The cast is awesome (one cannot imagine someone else in the roles).
A perfect balance was found between lightness and heavyness. The cute romance is depicted quite realistically and the writers succeed in dealing with some touchy issues without bringing down the drama with too much angst.
The music just awesome.
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