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Emotions can make you overlook untouched potential
I rated this drama higher than it deserved if you look at facts only. It had a way of understanding disabilities and everything that comes with it that it sometimes was able to pick me up right from where I stand.
But it didn't lead me far in that regard. Because all those messages lacked soil to grow roots into and a sky to rise up to. All it was was a fresh summer breeze in rustling green leaves, the sweet smell of ice cream and the sound of nostalgia wrapping you in a blanket that's oddly heavy to wear.
I feel like this drama doesn't have a pacing problem that so many critical voices mentioned. I'm fine with all nostalgia vibes and taking it slow because I liked them.
I just feel they placed a spotlight and turned it brighter and brighter when there shouldn't be any spotlights to begin with. I wanted this to be a story about all the characters, not just the mains. Instead of setting background and depth in the beginning and stumbling from event to event in the romance plot later, I wish they were interwoven more skillfully. With so much screentime available and such a great foundation, they didn't make use of everything they set up for it.
ML and 2FL were the most interesting characters by far, not only in background but also in their relationship dynamics. ML and his family's dynamics in general were a huge selling point along with the disability for me. And it all had to take a step back for FL, whose story, in comparison, felt rather mid. It feels like she was only put into the story because they needed a romantic interest for ML when there was never really space for her to begin with. Now, don't get me wrong, I also liked that the disabilities weren't the sole focus in this drama because, well, life goes on, and while disabilities shape a lot of our paths, they don't define who we are as a person entirely. But even without FL there would have been plenty to tell.
The whole plot got wrapped up in the typical Kdrama way: rushed, glossed over and with a ton of open questions. That ending just proves that they would have needed screentime to wrap up their strings and messages nicely but wasted it elsewhere instead and it is leaving an aftertaste I am not sure ruins the drama or is mild enough to overlook.
That being said, I binged this drama whenever I had a chance to. The nostalgia, the music, the friendships, the happy moments together, seeing them all deal with hardships differently were addicting. I was happy for the characters when they were and cried when they did. Despite the focus still not being exactly where I would have wanted it, I liked that the romance didn't have the main role here either. I love that I didn't like Han I Chan yet still was able to care about him deeply. Because you can't like everyone, not even if they're the "good" main characters. But you can feel for them.
It's a mood-based drama that lives off the atmosphere it creates and the hopes and dreams it dangles in front of you. I'm fine with dramas like that. It was a fun and emotional ride. But it also could have been so much more. Instead of serving the typical clichés, I wish the drama had dared to stay a bit more unique. Because whenever it did, it did so well.
But it didn't lead me far in that regard. Because all those messages lacked soil to grow roots into and a sky to rise up to. All it was was a fresh summer breeze in rustling green leaves, the sweet smell of ice cream and the sound of nostalgia wrapping you in a blanket that's oddly heavy to wear.
I feel like this drama doesn't have a pacing problem that so many critical voices mentioned. I'm fine with all nostalgia vibes and taking it slow because I liked them.
I just feel they placed a spotlight and turned it brighter and brighter when there shouldn't be any spotlights to begin with. I wanted this to be a story about all the characters, not just the mains. Instead of setting background and depth in the beginning and stumbling from event to event in the romance plot later, I wish they were interwoven more skillfully. With so much screentime available and such a great foundation, they didn't make use of everything they set up for it.
ML and 2FL were the most interesting characters by far, not only in background but also in their relationship dynamics. ML and his family's dynamics in general were a huge selling point along with the disability for me. And it all had to take a step back for FL, whose story, in comparison, felt rather mid. It feels like she was only put into the story because they needed a romantic interest for ML when there was never really space for her to begin with. Now, don't get me wrong, I also liked that the disabilities weren't the sole focus in this drama because, well, life goes on, and while disabilities shape a lot of our paths, they don't define who we are as a person entirely. But even without FL there would have been plenty to tell.
The whole plot got wrapped up in the typical Kdrama way: rushed, glossed over and with a ton of open questions. That ending just proves that they would have needed screentime to wrap up their strings and messages nicely but wasted it elsewhere instead and it is leaving an aftertaste I am not sure ruins the drama or is mild enough to overlook.
That being said, I binged this drama whenever I had a chance to. The nostalgia, the music, the friendships, the happy moments together, seeing them all deal with hardships differently were addicting. I was happy for the characters when they were and cried when they did. Despite the focus still not being exactly where I would have wanted it, I liked that the romance didn't have the main role here either. I love that I didn't like Han I Chan yet still was able to care about him deeply. Because you can't like everyone, not even if they're the "good" main characters. But you can feel for them.
It's a mood-based drama that lives off the atmosphere it creates and the hopes and dreams it dangles in front of you. I'm fine with dramas like that. It was a fun and emotional ride. But it also could have been so much more. Instead of serving the typical clichés, I wish the drama had dared to stay a bit more unique. Because whenever it did, it did so well.
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