I was glued to this series immediately. This one was just too fantastical; lots of motion and commotion right from the beginning of the series to the end. I liked the flow of events, and it didn’t feel like anything in particular was dragging on. I can imagine people thinking differently, and you’re entitled to your opinion, but this series to me is just like winning the lottery in drama heaven (and I will detail why). At the risk of gushing about this romcom, I will attempt to keep a review compact. From my point of view, IOTL is a brilliant piece of work, from script writing to directing, acting and music; I just loved it, and I will attempt to convince anyone to give this drama a try because it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
STORY:
Tragic. Hilarious. Endearing. One of a kind. Honestly, I cannot begin to put into words how versatile this story is. What I can say is that is it multifaceted. In those moments, the story becomes an enriching journey for the audience into the lives of those living their day to day life with an impact from mental illness or working within the field of mental health. What I enjoyed the most about this story is that it wasn’t a solely medical drama that pathologized its patients. This series exposed, explored, and discussed the often stigmatization of patients with mental illness. There were lived experiences and individuality in this story, and it made the series wholesome, often challenging social norms. I found myself more connected to it within the “meat” of the story because the characters are involved in the main premise, which is dealing with/coping with/understanding/healing from emotional/psychological pains. Within this drama, the romance and comedy are embedded in ways that the story manages to progress between leads by conveying serious social issues with a serene and genuine feel for caring about those in your life.
CHARACTERS:
Jang Jae Yeol: What a charismatic, multidimensional one. It does help that Jo In Sung gave an award winning performance consistently. But Jae Yeol, as a character, is complex: you love him some moments; question him in others, worry about him, and viscerally his own conflicting emotions with the relationship to his family, in particular, the complicated relationship he has with his brother. The hostility, and painfully evident wounds of his past of violence is something that makes Jae Yeol a person that evokes major ethos on the audience’s minds. I do think Jae Yeol’s unraveling and mysterious past (as it unveils) makes one feel, as Hae Soo would, a part of his world. Sharing a piece of his identity, and understanding how mental health and violence have impacted him; and how the two are linked and unfortunate.
Ji Hae Soo: IOTL had me at Gong Hyo Jin. I am her bias, and the reason why I watched IOTL was because 1) it was her first drama after the Master’s Sun; one of my favourite drama’s, and 2) because GHJ is arguably one of the most talented actresses in South Korea (and I would personally argue from my perspective, much deserving of global recognition). That being said, if you seen her in other drama’s, regardless of your feelings towards her, one of the reasons that drew me to the story line was because her work involves picking series that matter, that have meaning and controversy, or at least from what I know about GHJ is the ingenuity of the role. She, as far as I’m concerned, I knew this was going to be amazing before it started because she only involves herself in projects that are insightful, eye opening, and unique. Hae Soo was such a delight on screen, and GHJ was cast perfectly for this role. She was bright, independent, and not easily swayed by stereotypical male lead romancing. She has a good head on her shoulders, and given the fact that she’s flawed in this series, just like everyone else, I felt like she was quite a humane person.
The secondary characters were in no way “secondary” to this series because they were wonderfully emotionally and psychological a part of this series, and contained a lot of depth. Ohh the feels for these characters, overall just… amazing. A memorable, unforgettable cast. I can’t deny this the reason what makes this series so special, and it’s because everyone has their own story to tell. Each and every actor playing their role fit it perfectly.
SOUND/OST: It had a charming flare to it; the opening jazzy but fun opening; it made the series feel fun and intuitive. The music in the series, especially the “I don’t wanna be a hero” themed song really tied into the metaphoric element into the series. Overall, the music was conveyed well by the ocean of emotions in this series. Indefinitely, it’s heart wrenching. I do think the OST reflects the overall feel and mood of the characters, and I respect the fact that the series wasn’t overwhelmed by music; it was a nice addition to it.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: It’s just such a story that is so open minded to the point where you feel welcomed into the story. You’re invited into these people’s lives which are far from being perfect, but that’s what makes it worthwhile. This drama offers such a refreshing feel to it in the sense that the plot development is often quirky and fun, yet it can be serious and heart breaking. All the same, I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys great script writing. Because what you get in IOTL is the whole package. Well articulated thoughts and ideas, and the strong sentimentality behind the screen of what we view socially and culturally as mental health, which I think is truly important. Aside from the gorgeous camera work; the skinship in this series and romance just oozed appeal. Fireworks and screen chemistry galore between the two main leads; it was, dare I say, sometimes just too sexy (if that’s even possible), yet also very beautiful in others. Needless to say, the leads connection was not only convincing but it was definitely heated. I loved that this series has characters close and engaged with one another; there were many life lessons to learn and understand from the simplistic ways in which the world spins. In particular, how easy it is to judge as much as it is easy to accept, how much courage it takes to love or try to love, and how much will one forgive a person or the world for such pains they/it cause you. Therein lies the ability and question of forgiveness, and forgiving yourself and others. Yes, you don't want to miss this one folks!
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Characters: Jang Jae Yul and Hae Soo are both such beautiful characters and it's impossible to not love their relationship from the beginning of the drama to the end. The actors had great chemistry together and it was so enjoyable to watch their interactions. Even with the supporting roles the character plot and development was amazing, and I can honestly say that I loved every character.
Plot: I found the plot of this drama to be so interesting. The mix of romance and drama was perfect and all of the psychological aspects made the show so much more interesting. Everything was blended together perfectly and unlike in many dramas I have seen, the plot wasn't slow. Things weren't dragged out at all and the progression of events was very natural and timely. Also, it was nice watching a more adult romance rather than a high school one where after 7 episodes they finally kiss and even then it's a peck on the lips for 2 seconds -_-
Sometimes it's hard for me to connect to certain shows or get into them, but with It's Okay, That's Love I was immediately intrigued and hooked. Definitely one of my favorite dramas I've seen so far, it is so worth investing time into!!!
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(i'm sorry for such a huge review, but i tried to be very thorough about it, it is worth it)
STORY
The show basically says that every person has some kind of psycological problem, and the main premise of the show is that no matter how bad you feel, or what problem you have, LOVE will make them go away if you let it. And not romantic love necessarilly but any kind of love, family, friendship ect.
This is probably the first thing i'll need to praise about this show. Usually in dramas we see only one side of someone's life. The family, or the marriage/romantic relationship or the friends. Here we see them all. The characters are so real because of it. We see the family and how important they are, how many problems they may cause to us, but no matter the problems family is always there, and just as they caused them, they can as easily take them away if we let them (i appreciated this because i face something similar in my life). The drama also shows how important friendship is. In most dramas, the main character has 1 best friend (if any at all), who sometimes is related to (a sibling or something). Here we have many interactions, the drama showcases how friends can help get over things, can help us heal, be there for us (i appreciated this because i do believe friendship is the MOST important part of someone's life). And lastly, love, true unconditional love, can set you free of anything, no matter how severely damaged you may be, love can heal you completely.
Next thing i have to praise is the backstory here, and most importantly the way the story is told. In most Kdramas we have the love story get unfolded in the first 10 episodes and some hints of the backstory, and then in episodes 13-15 we get huge revealings or a past event. I've been saying again and again in my other reviews how the plot is underdeveloped because of this simpre problem. It's okay, that's love sets itself apart from the other dramas. The backstory gets revealed a little at a time in every episode. We get enough to keep us wanting more, but also they don't spoil anything huge. Congrats to the writers for finally making what i was asking for so long happen. Amazing plot writing!
Another thing to praise here, and something that most dramas fail to do is to make me/us care about ALL the characters. It usually is the main couple/triangle that dramas make us care about. It's okay, that's love, firstly doesn't have a love triangle, and that's a good thing because the main couple has such AMAZING chemistry, a 2nd man/woman wouldn't have a chance in getting between them. Secondly, the cast here is kinda big, but i seriously wanted to know more about everyone! Everyone has some kind of problem, everyone wants help, everyone tries their best, and i really enjoyed all of the stories. Also the show made me feel like i was silently sitting there with them, as a member of their pack having fun and sharing my life. It felt wonderful. Not many shows have the ability to make you feel so close to the characters just by watching the show, and just in 16 episodes!! All the characters were amazing. Once again, TOP NOTCH writing, BRAVO!
Furthermore, the main character is a psychiatrist, so there are some cases about psycological problems coming and going through the episodes, and we see them through the female protagonist's work. All of them are amazing, but what i loved was that they didn't pay too much attention to them (a problem i had with other dramas), they show them enough to make each episode more interesting, and to make a point sometimes, but the show focuses on the characters and the relationships. I mean the main premise of the show doesn't get compromised by these separate cases. Yes, i will say it again, AMAZING WRITING!
Seriously, i have nothing bad to say about the plot here. It is simple, don't expect anything super extraordinary, even the backstory has been done before. What makes everything amazing is the reality of the characters, the way they react in front of their problems, and probably this is the most amazing part of the show!
ACTING
Seriously, EXQUISITE!
Jo In Sung, was wonderful, i could see the pain in his eyes through the show. He was funny when he was supposed to be, he was heartbreaking when he was supposed to be. He made me feel what he was feeling completely. Wonderful actor.
Gong Hyo Jin. This is my 2nd drama with her as the lead (the first was Master's sun where she didn't amaze me THAT much). I was amazed by her acting here, she was amazing, i loved her character a lot, she portrayed her problems very nicely. One thing i can say is that she needs to work on her crying, i had the same problem in Master's sun. Other than that, she was wonderful.
I won't say something about the whole cast, i will never finish writing this review. Everyone was very good, i have nothing bad to say, all the supporting cast did their best, and delivered in the best way possible, Song Dong Il and Lee Kwand Soo were hilarious and cute. Yank Ik Jun and Jin Kyung were heartbreaking. D.O's acting was top notch for an idol, congrats everyone.
RECOMMENT/REWATCH
If everything that i've written thus far haven't sold the show to you, then nothing will. 10/10 recommend, must watch. It isn't heavy as a show, it is easy to watch, funny, but still emotional and it has to be and truthful. Really great, a must watch.
I would easily rewatch this, mostly to see the amazing love story development, since we don't see the usual "i love you but we can't be together, because i have a past, and i like someone else, oh and life is messy, and lets have 5835775074543753 conversations about how we love each other and then break each other's hearts". Here we talk about love and we go straight to it!!
EPISODES
About the episodes, i feel the need to say the first episode is kinda confusing, or at least it was for me. I didn't understand much of what was happening in the first episode, if that happens to you don't let that stop you, the 2nd one sets everything straight. The first episode introduces many characters and situations all at once and it kind of ends up confusing.
Episodes 2-6 are AMAZING. Funny, light hearted, easy to watch, but still shocking because of the back story revealings i told you earlier, yes you won't expect what happens believe me!
Episodes 7-11 are a bit slower, but they go straight ahead to the love relationship part. Something not seen in other dramas (again) we get to see their relationship as a couple. How they work with each other, and get to know each other, and learn to ignore the bad things, and love them instead. Usually dramas end up with the main couple being together, but this drama starts with that!
Episodes 12-16. Get ready to cry especially in 13-14-15. Here's my favourite part of the show, the story picks up again here, it goes faster. The end was great, in the final episode some unnecessary things happen but it is still fun and the i finished it with a HUGE smile on my face and some wonderful messages that i will treasure forever.
OVERALL
Sorry that this was too long, but seriously it is worth it. The 2nd best kdrama i have ever watched. Amazing in every way. Not so much because of plot, but because of all the amazing little things that ended up making this show THIS perfect! What i appreciated probably the most was that its structure was different than the usual kdramas (you know how kdramas have some certain points you expect to always watch, like a love triangle, and 2nd characters being kind of ignored), it was refreshing watching something that has a different development. This show taught me a lot, and the most important thing i was taught was TO LOVE MYSELF and accept him no matter what! I'll treasure that! The writers deserve awards! I will miss it greatly, it needs an american remake!
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Story: The story summary may sound kinda simple or typical at first. But the thing is...the story is quite different from what it shows. The story starts typical but quickly changes to something deeper. It shows so many elements and feelings and I think this makes the drama more...hm...realistic? It gives you sadness and joy in things people may actually really experience in real life...of course still with a hint of TVdrama ;D
The drama also has the perfect pace...I can't think of any scene where the story was too slow or too fast.
Acting/Cast: I don't really have anything to say for this...the acting was perfect, by the end I had totally forgotten that these people were actors and actresses. Also I think the producers got the perfect cast for the show. All of them really gave life to their character.
Music: This is one of the dramas where you really notice the music and without any hesitation I can say, I looked up nearly every song from the soundtrack because I love it so much XD
I don't know if I will rewatch the whole drama but I will definitely rewatch some episodes, just because it's so great and I love it so much.
Overall, I repeat myself, this drama is a masterpiece. It has a touching storyline, a perfect cast with convincing acting, incredible music, a nice atmosphere and with 16 episodes the perfect length!
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The story line doesn't fall into the A-typical Korean Drama. You know Rich boy falls in love with poor girl, Cinderella story, followed by a disapproving parents and some guy or girl who plots evil against them. Thank goodness this one had a story line about psychiatry work and patients. It had wonderful romantic story no just with the main characters but also with the supporting characters too.
I can't get over how the music was pair perfectly with the drama. From the theme song intro to the songs that match the special scenes the song selection is KEY to any drama. It made the drama more meaningful and intense and light-hearted when it needed to be. I would recommend this drama to everyone looking for something new in a Korean Drama and wants to laugh and cry through it all. I don't want to give away too much which is why my reviews leave so many whole in it so people should desire to watch it.
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Gong Hyo Jin and Jo In Sung are romcom MVPs. Hyo Jin is one of my favorites, and has had the good fortune of starring with some truly amazing male leads (including my kdrama baes So Ji Sub & Gong Yoo), but this match manages to rank high even on that list. In the beginning their banter went over my head, but I instantly loved watching them together. The way Jo In Sung would look and smile at her, to their tit for tat moments, made me swoon and cheer them on! Their chemistry was palpable, and their love story felt so real. Their flirting, their irrational fights, their struggle with their personal demons, their struggle to figure out how they fit in each other's lives... This drama manages to take a situation that would probably be a true mess in real life, and turn it into one of my favorite KDrama couples. It's also a mature adult relationship, which gave it an intimacy that many other KDrama romances lack. Yes, this story is primarily a love story, but there's also some suspense, a little melodrama, and a hilarious supporting cast.
Sung Dong Il and Lee Kwang Soo, at least to me, should be considered main characters. That's how important they are to the story. Watching the four of them in that house was awesome. I love the idea of friends who are like family, and who choose to live supporting each other. It's probably not ethical, but you have to throw all ethics away to enjoy this kind of drama... Hey, "It's ok, it's kdrama".
All of the minor characters are also multidimensional, no one is completely good or bad, which makes them feel more realistic and interesting.
I also have to mention Do Kyung Soo, who was so good that he broke my heart a few times as Kang Woo. He had his own great chemistry with Jo In Sung, which really made the character work well.
Even though I thought the main story was excellent, there were a few things that I didn't love, which stopped me from giving it a perfect score.
First, I understood the purpose of the patient stories, and introducing different disorders, but I didn't find them all that interesting. I think some of that is cultural. Some of what triggers the minor (and main) characters just didn't seem like a big deal to me. I could empathize, because the acting was good, but the story line itself still wasn't interesting to me. I did like the overall idea of introducing the disorders specifically, normalizing them like any sickness, and removing the stigma associated with them. It was also not done heavy handedly, which makes it more effective.
The other weak spot for me was Soo Kwang and Oh So Nyeo's relationship. They were great in their roles, but I just didn't like their relationship at all. Even though he was adorkable, he kept giving me dirty older dude vibes. Eventually they grew on me enough for me not to not be annoyed by their scenes, but I still never quite rooted for them. Part of the beauty of the show is that all the love relationships are messy, so it still worked, and that is a large part of the shows appeal.
The direction, I think, was perfect. There are certain scenes that are so well done visually that they were haunting. It's the same writer director team as "Padam Padam..." , and the "That Winter, the Wind Blows", so I am definitely a fan.
The music was great, and not your normal kdrama ost, but worked really well to enhance the story telling.
So would I watch this again? Duh! I knew what would happen, but I was still just as excited watching. Watching this again, like it was the first time, was like knowing a joke's punchline and still finding it completely hilarious. There are psychological elements, and a some twists, but knowing them doesn't ruin the show. I also totally missed the characters at the end, so that's enough of a reason alone to rewatch.
Overall, I think this is a must see drama. It's about how beautiful love can be in spite of major complications, and I loved it from the intriguing first episode to the awesome last episode. If you are in a difficult relationship, it may trigger some feelings, which may trigger some Dramnesia... (which I now suspect was what caused mine lol), but in the end, it's a really inspiring and entertaining story about trying to make relationships with each other work (whether romantic or platonic). If you normally find KDrama romance too cheesy, I think this drama is perfect for you. If you love to squeel at cutesy KDrama romcom moments, I think this drama is perfect for you. If you don't like romance at all, I think this may not be the perfect drama for you, but you should totally watch it anyway. There's a reason why the reviews are so high.
I will be adding it to my favorites list now, so I won't be able to forget it again.
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It's Okay, That's Love would be a very basic, romantic kdrama, but the story centers around mental health issues and that is something pretty new in kdramas. Good Doctor touched upon autism, but this kdrama delves a bit into all sorts of mental illnesses. All in all I would recommend this kdrama to anyone who loves polished, really top of the line production values, great acting, comedy, tragedy, a multifaceted story and romance all merged together.
STORY:
This drama has one of the best stories I've seen. There are no huge plot holes that lessen the enjoyment and the characters also seem deep and realistic. The story will keep you in it's grip until the end. My only complaint would be the way the story portrays mental illnesses. They do show you the despair and fear of people having mental health issues, but still it all seems rather simplified and naive. That is totally understandable though - who would want to sit through a kdrama where the problems in life remain unsolved and everyone just suffer endlessly?
ACTING/CAST:
This drama also had great casting. Needless to say both of the main actors (Jo In Sung & Gong Hyo Jin) were perfect. They were both believable and had to work hard for their salaries... crying, laughing, joking, going through almost every emotion in existence. Also their chemistry was magical.
The supporting characters were wonderful. Sung Dong Il and Lee Kwang Soo were responsible for almost every comedic scene in the series and they pulled it off really nicely.
MUSIC:
The OST was quite heavy in songs with english lyrics. It went pretty well with the overall mood of the drama, but there were maybe 3-4 songs that were used VERY often. The songs were good though and didn't ruin anything, but I still wish that kdramas would use more than just a handful of songs. It seems like it's an industry standard to play the same ballad every time when there is something romantic or otherwise notable thing going on in the drama, but maybe someone should break that rule.
REWATCH VALUE:
I can see myself watching this drama again maybe in 5-10 years, but it's not like Coffee Prince or Queen In Hyun's Man which you can watch multiple times, because It's Okay, That's Love is sort of painful and more tragic.
ps. In case you are wondering why I only gave this series an 8.5 rating - it all comes down to personal preference. I just prefer kdramas that are maybe a bit lighter and even more romantic. I watch western tv series for heavier content and when I watch kdramas I'm pretty much just searching for something with A LOT of romance, cheesiness, cuteness and maybe a bit of action, but not really for content that is emotionally draining.
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WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT!
PLEASE READ BEFORE WATCHINGAs a warning to women that have trauma or problems with it like me, around episode 3/4, the main male lead assaults the female lead. He kisses her without permission and pins her against the wall, knowing she has trauma and an emotional disorder, then laughed at her fear and anxiety. Up until this point, the story had been quite good, but this was definitely a deal breaker for me, especially since they were actually talking about the importance of consent earlier in episode 3. The acting was incredible though, and it was a very high quality drama, which I'm sure many people would enjoy.
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Jo in sung- my boo, apart from good looks this guy is a serious actor. He owned the character and i felt his emotions.
Ji hae soo- she has an inner beauty and the more u watch her the more u realise. Since pasta i like her and roles. She was a great doc, girlfriend and a flirt
Kwang soo- giraffe is a promising actor and this role was just perfect for him. He researched tourets syndrome and gave a great performance. His bromance with sung dong il was my favorite of 2014 following lee gun and tak gwanlija from "fated to love you" they were crazy esp when playing games sometimes i would burst out laughing and choke on my drink.
Lastly the music was great. Best of luck by Chen (exo), crush by punch, love fiction by ulala
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I have never felt this way to a drama before because most dramas seem like it would just belong in la la land. But, this is different. There is enough reality, enough humour, enough love (obviously), enough knowledge about the world of psychology between the characters, enough chemistry between the actors and it is one perfect love story filled with pain and the understanding between the characters and of course, sincere love.
I started to watch this drama because of Gong Hyo Jin. She's a talented actress, getting to know her through Master's Sun. Then when I watched her acting with Jo In Sung, they are perfect, talented actors. I ship Jae Yul and Hae Soo so much!
To those who have doubts about watching this drama, I highly recommend you this drama if you want something new (psychology) to learn, with bits of love and humour here and there. They are funny! Honestly, it has opened up my mind more about psychology and what can I say? I understand enough to empathise. So, I'll end here, and Happy Watching!^^ :D
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So close
This one took me REALLY long to get through, and I'm not sure why. On paper it has everything I love — a strong female character, mental health, tragic backstories.But I really just couldn't connect to the female lead. Insecurity is something I understand, but when every other line out of her mouth was "did you do this with all your girlfriends?" or "are you breaking up with me?" or "are we even dating?" it just made her very overbearing and unlikable.
I really liked the main plot about JJY dealing with his abusive childhood, but it really could have come earlier. There were some subplots that I felt didn't really add much to the story, and more time could've also been dedicated to Hae-soo's sexual fears, which I thought was never addressed as much as I wanted it to. The second ship was also kind of out of nowhere for me and didn't make much sense.
Because of all those criticisms, I was pretty much stuck on episode 8 for months and just never felt the urge to watch. Once I did, it was the last few episodes where we really fleshed out JY's plot that really had me buy into the drama.
Ultimately, this was still a pretty good watch, though I'm surprised it's rated so highly. My favorite part is undoubtedly the OST.
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True Love Prevails Through All Obstacles
I struggled to watch this show because of the raw and difficult emotions that touched me in ways I didn’t even think possible. As I watched the story unfold I was left with a feeling of being lost. I’ve always felt my life was complex. I’ve made decisions that took me down difficult paths. I learned early in life that decisions have consequences. After watching this unique story my life felt less complicated. I don’t know if that’s good or bad but I know I just watched something that had an impact on me. Very few writers can accomplish that in sixteen hours.I’ll be honest, I don’t usually watch shows like this. It would probably be on my hold list by episode four but one of my friends liked it enough to rate it all 10s. I don’t think I’ve run up against a show that had so many ratings of 10 before. I had to see why. I’m also a self-professed romance junkie so I also watched it thinking there just might be something there for me to watch. Boy was I surprised.
The characters were well thought out even though I wasn’t always fond of them. In many cases, their stories were distinctive and intertwined with each other. The mental illnesses often manifested into violence that kept you wondering what was next. As I watched I really didn’t care who committed what crime or who was rejected by some romantic advance. I just watched trying not to let any of it bother me. As the reality of what these characters face in their everyday existence displayed on the screen I became immersed into a world I’d never seen before.
Their house had a unique living environment that I didn’t understand at first but that’s the beauty of a well-written script. As personalities, illnesses, and family issues came to life I began to understand. The story is gently tied together at times and mashed together when it was needed. Every character and every side story was well done and fun to watch. I finally understand why this show received so many 10s.
The romance I was hoping for, went beyond my expectations. I watch a romance that prevailed through the most difficult obstacle a couple can face, mental illness. I watched a man confess his love and maintain that love even when it wasn’t being returned. A love that saved his life. I watched a woman in love, who didn’t understand how to deal with it, give in to a beautiful passion. I watched two souls come together bound by a deep love for each other. They tested their love and never gave up on each other. I watched the blossoming of true love.
Thanks to all of you that encouraged me to watch this beautiful story with your ratings. The music was perfect and the subtitles were handled with care.
Watch this story and you will understand.
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