2021

There are some things it did really well and I respect the extent to which it stuck with the themes it was exploring, even when they resulted in outcomes that weren’t necessarily what the audience would have wanted. At the same time, it had several flaws and an inconsistent storyline that severely impacted the overall delivery.

A nice, relaxing drama just about people and relationships. How those relationships grow, twist, intertwine and sometimes unravel, but can always be re-spun. I overall enjoyed it, though I also think it might warrant a re-watch without so much space between episodes as it had when airing.

One of the things I liked best about this drama was all the scenes felt intentional, and almost every action had a subsequent consequence. The drama felt well planned out from the beginning because of this connection between scenes. Also, most of the main characters (with the exception of one of the girls) had complete character arcs that exhibited their character growth as they become mature adults.

This was pretty good. Laugh-out-loud funny at times, surprisingly dark at others, with very strong performances to match. Had some head-scratching moments, but overall a fun, quick watch.

This was a pretty slow-moving drama, and there were some things that I wish had been portrayed differently, especially towards the end, but it did raise some interesting questions about dealing with the choices you make in life and to what extent you should regret, to what extent you should look back, and to what extent you should let go and focus on moving forward.

The execution of the themes, while interesting, was a bit... juvenile. However, the acting was top-notch.

I enjoyed this season much more than the previous one. I thought they did a better job of portraying and exploring the themes in a more natural way and it was a bit more nuanced than the previous season. Also, there was more emphasis on the hospital side of things; as such this one could more be classified as a “medical drama”, while the first one was more of a psychological character study.

It definitely had me tearing up by the end and was overall a beautiful story about the brave souls who confront corruption. I really liked the overall message (Never give up!), and they also did a pretty impressive job of giving equal screen time to its rather large cast of characters.

[A rewatch.]

Just as lovely and heartbreaking as I remember it. A truly remarkable drama with wonderful character growth and an excellent portrayal of the havoc mental illnesses can wreak on our lives, and how much strength it takes to extract ourselves from their unrelenting stronghold.

[rewatch]

A little painful to watch  at times with the excessive breaking up storyline,  but I still enjoy the overall theme of this drama, and how it emphasizesthat everyone is deserving of love no matter how “broken” you are. Also, that mental illness is not a death sentence, but something that can be treated and dealt with if you have the will.

This drama had some interesting ideas and layered plot, but all in all the execution was a bit lacking. It could’ve done with either a more focused plot, or more episodes to devote to its cast of characters and the mysteries at hand. There were some really outstanding performances, though, especially Hsieh Ying Shiuan as Yu Hsiu Chi. The director also used some interesting shots.

This was a lovely drama that I looked forward to watching every week. Not too serious and dramatic but also not too  overly fluffy, it has a good balance and some nice themes and messages it explores. It’s a good one to watch when you just want to relax and soak in some good vibes.

I enjoyed this drama. Though there were some parts that were a bit slow, but the overall message and themes of the drama really touched me and I was already missing all of the characters by the last episode.

There are some things I wish were handled differently, but overall I enjoyed this hyped ride, and it renewed my interest in Song Joong Ki's work.

The chemistry between the characters was undeniable, but the story and character motivations were often head-scratching and could have used a bit more thought and detail put into them.

Almost dropped this at episode one because it was so predictable, but I'm glad I stuck around for the heart-wrenching moments and fabulous payoff.

The first half was pretty unbearable to get through with a thoroughly dislikable male lead who treats the FL like less than dirt, but the last few episodes were so cute, it almost made up for it.

[rewatch]

It was just fluff... pure fluff, and while that seems okay for a short drama like this, I can't help but want something a bit more substantial. Also, everyone was just a bit too... good in this drama. Unrealistically kind and unproblematic. It also rubbed me the wrong way how well that "marriage contract" worked out. It just so happens that two highly attractive people found each other, got married, and fell in love without any issues? Talk about a high fantasy,

It was a good watch. Excellent character growth. A little long, and the bullying scenes could be a bit outrageous, but all in all, I liked it better than My Husband-in-Law.

[rewatch]

Blown away by the cinematography again! What breathtaking shots.

[rewatch]

I still really love the progression of the story and the sense of dread it so masterfully envokes.

Loved the scenery and the actors (Yaya's back must've ACHED from carrying this drama so squarely on her shoulders), but the storyline, plot, and directing fell way short of their potential.

That being said, my favorite part was when they were in the remote village in the mountains. A wonderful combination of natural beauty and really beautiful dialogue.

Epic.

There were some parts I really enjoyed and appreciated - like Hwan-gi's introversion and general shyness as something that didn't need to be erased per se, but rather understood by his employees/friends and worked with - but other parts I really had a hard time swallowing. I felt the climatic parts weren't climatic enough, and in the end, the drama kind of fell into the habit of depicting characters as almost too good, like saying as long as you had good intentions, all the harmful things you put others through can be overlooked. Nobody was ever really called out, or had their quality of life majorly affected by their actions, at least not in the long-term. Basically, all my good feelings in this drama go towards Hwan-gi and his general awkwardness. That boy is a blessing and Yeon Woo Jin played him perfectly.

I wanted to like this, but... the male lead has basically no acting chops, and though the female lead did pretty well with portraying the dual identities, she also fell short of being effective in most scenes. The romance between the two was also handled pretty horribly.

In the end, my favorite characters were Lt. Muadprin (he at least had an interesting background and plotline, though I hated the conclusion of it), and Khaopoon's dad, the ultimate sweetheart father figure.

My least favorite character by far was the sous chef - I absolutely despised every scene he was in, though the other three chefs were pretty good, if overall useless to the story in general. I found it quite funny how they would just up and leave the kitchen - every single one of them - in the middle of the workday when there were clearly still customers present waiting for their food. Like - it's an open kitchen! They can see you all leaving! Or when someone would go out to get an ingredient and get side-tracked for like three hours. Those unintentionally funny scenes kept me sane as I slowly progressed through this mess of a drama.

Finally completed this one, took about three months. Overall, I'd say it's watchable, but nothing to write home about. There were a few storylines I enjoyed that helped me keep watching, but there were also a few filler episodes, and a few episodes where it was obvious how desperately they wanted to make you cry - not organically, more like forced ("Look at me, I'm such a sad scene! I'm layering on the flashbacks! Playing the sad music! Now cry!"). The resolution's a bit rushed, too, despite the rest of the drama feeling so draggy.

My favorite character was Angsty Mo Zhi Bin, though I was less interested in him after he resolved his conflict. I did like how supportive he became.

I really liked the atmosphere of this drama. I love dramas that are set in the winter, as they can give off a warm and cozy feeling that's in direct contrast with the harshness lifelessness of winter. That being said, I enjoyed the story a lot more in the first half compared to the second.

For a drama that was supposedly being a proponent of communication, these characters sure had a hard time being forthright with how they felt. What we ended up getting was just two people being the faux model for "love heals all wounds." It doesn't, and it takes a lot of work to not let small resentments build-up, which they will inevitably do if you don't talk out what led to those frustrations.

All in all, it was a drama that sucked me in and held on with great ferocity for basically its entire run time, thanks to its great atmosphere, wonderful use of flashbacks that were built into the scenes in a unique way, its fabulous OST with very few lyrical songs, and voice-overs, but the story lost me in the end, and I can't help lamenting what a shame that is.

Realistic storylines made wholesome with splotches of relatable slice of life moments and endearing messages and themes that stay with you long after the drama’s ended. Just a good, comfy watch that thankfully doesn’t dwell too deeply on the negative, but rather leaves you with the hope that, as it does for these characters by the end, perhaps it is possible to find contentment with your place in life.