My favorite series in a long, long time!
My updated review-in-progress (also posted on Viki):
Just finished episode 8 and dang I love this show so much.
First, be sure not to miss the epilogues. Most episodes have one and they always add to the experience.
Now on to the fanboying!
In a way this show feels tailor-made to trigger viewers who are tired of kdrama tropes, but for me the tropes are a key part of the charm. Or, more accurately, it's the way they're tweaked or even subverted. There are so many situations I've seen before, and yet they never play out the way I expect.
The show is obviously centered on a love triangle, which will also be a turn-off to some, but this is a stellar example of how to do one properly: by comparing and contrasting both the suitors themselves as well as the romantic interest's reaction to them.
What I especially like here is that Nam Da-reum's intellectual and visceral responses are also contrasted. Basically, there's one person she thinks she likes but always acts awkwardly and uncomfortably around versus another that she has all kinds of misconceptions about and assumes dislikes her, yet she always acts like herself in his presence.
I really, really like stories centered around characters catching up to their own feelings, so this series is perfect for me.
Structurally, I also love that they revisit the same story beats from different perspectives. For example, there are scenes with each male lead being mobbed by fangirls that clearly show how Nam Da-reum sees herself in those relationships.
Also, her grabbing the ML's arm and running away with him gets mirrored later when he grabs her arm and escorts her out of an even more uncomfortable situation. It's exceptionally well done.
One other thing I love is that whenever something unpleasant happens, it gets resolved quickly. The focus is on entertainment, so even though there's some scheming and backstabbing and the stakes are serious, there's only enough suffering to ensure that you feel giddy when things get resolved. It's impressive.
As I wrote in my original draft, the cast is phenomenal, including the supporting actors. I really can't imagine anyone else in these roles.
Just finished episode 8 and dang I love this show so much.
First, be sure not to miss the epilogues. Most episodes have one and they always add to the experience.
Now on to the fanboying!
In a way this show feels tailor-made to trigger viewers who are tired of kdrama tropes, but for me the tropes are a key part of the charm. Or, more accurately, it's the way they're tweaked or even subverted. There are so many situations I've seen before, and yet they never play out the way I expect.
The show is obviously centered on a love triangle, which will also be a turn-off to some, but this is a stellar example of how to do one properly: by comparing and contrasting both the suitors themselves as well as the romantic interest's reaction to them.
What I especially like here is that Nam Da-reum's intellectual and visceral responses are also contrasted. Basically, there's one person she thinks she likes but always acts awkwardly and uncomfortably around versus another that she has all kinds of misconceptions about and assumes dislikes her, yet she always acts like herself in his presence.
I really, really like stories centered around characters catching up to their own feelings, so this series is perfect for me.
Structurally, I also love that they revisit the same story beats from different perspectives. For example, there are scenes with each male lead being mobbed by fangirls that clearly show how Nam Da-reum sees herself in those relationships.
Also, her grabbing the ML's arm and running away with him gets mirrored later when he grabs her arm and escorts her out of an even more uncomfortable situation. It's exceptionally well done.
One other thing I love is that whenever something unpleasant happens, it gets resolved quickly. The focus is on entertainment, so even though there's some scheming and backstabbing and the stakes are serious, there's only enough suffering to ensure that you feel giddy when things get resolved. It's impressive.
As I wrote in my original draft, the cast is phenomenal, including the supporting actors. I really can't imagine anyone else in these roles.
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