~A missed opportunity turns into a regret. If there are no more opportunities to miss, I'll make sure to create some myself.~
~In a world of misunderstandings, it's dangerous to make assumptions about others. So you should ask the question yourself. You should hear the answer directly.~
~Love has to touch someone's inner confidence. Then love won't be dragged down by the other, but will draw the other to you.~

As usual, JTBC romances are my favorites. I'd recommend it to you if you're looking for a romance that's not necessarily simple and cute, for some it'll be more a source of annoyance and boredom than anything else (it's a slow burn and it's far from being a frustration-free drama), or even depressing because yes, it's sad, but in my case I found it more interesting and I was totally hooked.

I really liked the atmosphere, the meaningful and thought-provoking dialogues, the quotes, the narration, the literature, the calligraphy and photography, the cinematography and music, the tense moments and camera movements, the way they end the episodes, the many well-placed metaphors related to fairy tales (I even read an entire analysis to understand one in episode 8, Lee Soo compared to the Little Mermaid at that very moment surprisingly makes so much sense), even the episode titles, there are so many details I can't list them all.

I'd like to add that never before has a drama made me want to visit South Korea, and Seoul in particular, so much. I felt like I was discovering the city as I watched. They did a great job of blending photography with calligraphy. It's rare that I'm so captivated or even amazed by the work aspect of a drama, but this was more than successful. Just like in "Now, We Are Breaking Up", where the male lead is also a photographer while the female lead is a stylist. So in the end, the match-up was really different. Knowing that here we have a very different male lead, he's cold, withdrawn and solitary whereas the one in NWABU is warm and sociable.

I started the drama during my stay in Brittany (region in France), so I might as well tell you that I've stayed in the travel mood with this drama.

Lee Soo was my favorite character, he's quite a sad and annoying character at first, he has a lot of flaws but that's what makes him the most interesting character in the drama and he has a beautiful evolution. He was even the first one to make me cry. Anyway, I can't even describe how much I loved and understood him, I was bubbling over in his place on several occasions. Even when he couldn't control his emotions and was at fault, I couldn't blame him. Finally, I really liked the fact that they played on the negativity of the two main characters and the fact that they fit well together, they're more or less immature when it comes to love, but their feelings are understandable. I still found them cute despite everything, even in the middle of a confrontation where I often found myself putting up with arguments from both sides.

This is the kind of drama that's best watched from the perspective of trying to understand the characters, or even empathize with them. We can't control our feelings, and not everything goes our way, and this drama shows that very well. Like it or not, the way the characters behave was very human. More than just a love story, it's a drama about relationships, be they family, friends, lovers, the misunderstandings we can have about ourselves and others, the difficulties we go through, the mistakes we make and the regrets that go with them, ... Simply put : life. You have to be patient and not judge the characters too quickly to fully appreciate this drama, because we're all different and nobody is perfect. Of course, it's also a beautiful love story and a drama that warmed my heart, with beautiful morals. It's just not what I'd recommend if that's all you're looking for, the drama shows how complicated love can be etc. If you like slow burn and bittersweet romances with complex characters, this is the drama for you.

Some of the topics covered are very relevant, such as:
- Ex-couple becoming friends
- The impact of divorce and neglect on children
- A child's emotional development and view of relationships (keep in mind that our first example of a relationship is that of our parents)
- And many more, but I won't go any further - you'll have to watch the drama to find out!

OST: The lyrics have a real emotional impact and make so much sense in relation to the story and the characters' feelings, especially as they were really well placed in the scenes.

Side note: Yes, the story is frustrating and one could say it goes in circles, but no, it doesn't drag unnecessarily. Yes, Joon Soo deserves better. No, I do not put all the blame on Woo Yeon, and no, he wasn't innocent. He will find someone, he's a good person. And in the end, the journey was meaningful for everyone.

In conclusion, this is the kind of romance that is clichéd but still stands out from the rest because everything seems so realistic and different from other dramas, right up to the very end. Besides, the way they separated the two halves of the drama is brilliant. The expression "the tables have turned" suits this drama perfectly. No matter how much opinions may have differed on this drama as it's not to everyone's taste, you can't ignore how well thought out, acted, written and directed it is, so it deserves respect for the people who worked on it. More Than Friends is not a slick, superficial romantic comedy with a trite love triangle.

That's why I wanted to review this drama, I think it's interesting to watch dramas that are a little less popular or appreciated by the general public from time to time, because despite the negative reviews, it's often in these dramas that we find our own gems, and this one more than deserves to be defended.

The opening to discover as it does not appear on Viki : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U24puJ9PF9U