Mary Wise
What a performance
In one word: Park Eun Bin. What an incredible actress and what an outstanding performance. The interpersonal relationships between the characters is the usp of the show. The legal cases don't do much for the series, some of them are dragged far too long and are mind numbingly boring, but the characters do not let you down. The chemistry between the lead pair is super cute and will bring a tear or two at times. It does follow most of the tropes and does not dive too deep, but both the actors make it so believable that you do not mind. What stands out is that the series does not have a black and white villain. Most characters are grey which is quite well done. Must watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Go watch it - it's one of the best shows of 2023
This series is the kind that stays with you a long time after you have finished because the main characters and their stories connect with you at a deeper level. While the plot might not be the most original, its presentation is novel. The acting of the entire star cast is outstanding. Special mention to Park Hyung Sik - the Crown Prince - who looks more royal than the royals themselves and has given one of the finest Prince/King performances out there. It's a complex character, and he has brought out each layer beautifully (the actor's facial expressions are so good that you can make out what he is thinking without him saying a word). It's great to see a Prince who looks and acts like one, but he can empathise and work on his weaknesses. His shy and reserved nature adds to his relationship with FL who is unconventional and fiesty, giving us a very old fashioned romance which is like a breath of fresh air. It's a character-driven story. Even when the PD lets the story slack, the actors pick up and keep you glued. There are no boring episodes. The humour is A+, and some episodes will get your adrenaline soaring. Full marks to the team for the correct period feel, costumes, and mannerisms. While violence is minimal, some scenes can be disturbing. Romance has a Jane Austen feel to it, which is beautiful. Go watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
It's the cutest short drama out there
I gave it a 10. Why? Even though it's not the greatest drama ever written, as it has an FL who does not quite look comfortable in her skin, with the music being quite bland for a music-driven series, the show does three things that elevate it to one of the best shows I have watched: It's short timing, smooth narrative and believable chemistry between the leads. You feel for both of them and get invested in their story early on. As the show is short, the distractions are almost negligible. As the boy next door, Park Hyung Sik is warm and giving but never demanding, which is the antithesis of his Hwarang /High Society/Strong Woman Do Bong Soon persona. He is almost unrecognizable (he is such a great actor). Han So nee looks pretty. However, she is a little out of depth on her own, but her scenes with PHS are crackling with energy, and it reels you in. As the show is all about them, her deficiencies do not distract. Her last finishing act, though, is outstanding. And they make a beautiful couple (PHS is portrayed so simply in this series that you tend to forget how incredibly handsome this man is, but then there are moments when it hits you, bam!). Watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
