daydreamer

Full transparency: I was initially planning not to watch this drama because of the decision to cast a minor as the FL. That was my biggest hesitation. However, after thinking about it more, I decided to give it a chance because I’ve followed HMH and Aimi for years and have always respected their professionalism and dedication to their work.

And I’m genuinely happy I did.

Because purely as a drama? This is really well done so far.

The visuals are gorgeous, the styling is excellent, the characters are memorable, and the story actually moves. There is no endless waiting around for something to happen — things happen, conflicts develop, characters grow, and the pacing keeps you engaged.

The biggest surprise for me was how much fun I’m having watching the leads together. Their bickering is hilarious, their dynamic feels natural, and their relationship is built on something more than just romance. They become people who trust, admire, and understand each other.

And honestly, I appreciate that.

Romance does not always need to be portrayed through physical intimacy. Sometimes the strongest part of a relationship is the emotional connection, the friendship, the respect, and the feeling that two people genuinely enjoy being around each other.

The ML is probably my favorite character. At first glance, he seems like someone who would scare everyone in the room without even trying. But underneath that intimidating image, he is actually incredibly kind. What makes him even more interesting is that he doesn’t really seek recognition for his good actions. He almost assumes people will never understand his side anyway, which is honestly a little sad.

The FL is also such a fun character. The mischievous, chaotic engineer mechanic girl energy is absolutely perfect. She brings so much life into every scene, and I have laughed so much because of her.

Also, the ML’s “harem” deserves appreciation. The fact that he has this whole group of loyal, dramatic, completely non-romantic “wives” had me crying. The wholesome chaos of that group is genuinely one of the best parts of the drama. 😂

So yes, my main personality is thriving. I am entertained. I am invested. I am enjoying this journey.

Unfortunately, my overthinking brain refuses to leave me alone.

Every time we get romantic tension, every time the ML starts yearning, my internal warning system activates like a security alarm in 4K.

And I hate admitting it, but those moments are where I struggle the most. Not because of the acting or the characters, but because the situation surrounding the drama keeps coming back into my mind.

I’m only on episode 14, and the leads haven’t even reached that stage yet. Honestly, I have no idea how my brain is going to handle the later episodes. 😭

At the end of the day, the production choices have already been made. I know the drama will not include explicit romantic content, and I understand why many people have decided not to watch because of this issue. I completely respect that choice.

At the same time, I also cannot deny that the drama itself is enjoyable and that the cast and crew clearly created something with a lot of effort and care.
My biggest hope is that this controversy does not unfairly impact the cast, especially HMH, who has received backlash over a situation he had no control over.

So here I am:

Enjoying the story.
Laughing at the chaos.
Loving the characters.
While my brain sits in the corner holding an emergency ethics meeting.

A truly confusing viewing experience. 😂 My brain right now:
- Prosecutor: “Objection! This casting choice!”
- Defense attorney: “Counterpoint! The drama itself is well made!”
- Judge: “Both arguments are valid. Court is adjourned until episode 28.”

Currently standing in the middle of the battlefield with a tiny flag, reporting live. Final conclusions will be issued after the remaining episodes. 💀

✨UPDATE ✨

Now that I’ve finished the drama, I can say that it really was a wonderful drama from beginning to end. The pacing remained strong, the story kept moving, and I genuinely enjoyed the entire journey. The characters were memorable, the plot stayed engaging, and I never felt like the drama was dragging.

I also really enjoyed watching the leads' relationship develop. They support each other, trust each other, and ultimately become very much ride-or-die for one another. Both are great characters individually, and I liked that their relationship was built around mutual support and respect rather than unnecessary misunderstandings. And yes, we got a happy, perfect ending for my leads, which I deeply appreciate. 😂

Now, all of that being said...

I still couldn't completely unsee the fact that the FL was a minor. I tried. 😂 But that initial concern never fully went away for me. HMH, as usual, was amazing, and Aimi was wonderful as well. I really loved her in this role, and I will most definitely support both of them in their future projects.

For me, Aimi still looks very much like a child next to HMH. HMH already looks young for his age, but the age difference was still very noticeable to me, so I couldn't entirely separate the story from the circumstances surrounding the casting.

I do think the drama handled the romance appropriately. There was nothing inappropriate in the way their relationship was portrayed, and as a couple, they are actually very green-flag. They support and respect each other, genuinely want the best for one another, and become each other's biggest allies - which I thought was really lovely.

So, ultimately, my feelings remain complicated. I still have reservations about the casting choice, but I can't deny that the drama itself was genuinely well made and that I had a great time watching it.

Very enjoyable. Very well made. Very complicated viewing experience. And ultimately, I'm glad I watched it.😂