Take me to your heart....
Heartbreak is the beginning of the healing process. Finding Love is a chance event that happens only a few times in one lifetime. Boyfriend on demand offers a temptation, selling an artificial dream, a maybe perhaps a ladder to discover oneself when you have lost meaning in attachment, forgotten what love and desire feels like in a healthy relationship.At a time when women have to constantly stay vigilant , consider personal and collective safety before needs, worry about privacy and trust, I understand why the prospect of dating in a virtual world can be so tempting - you don't have to worry about being judged, harassed or assaulted, the algorithm is there to serve you and your happiness. You are not hurting anyone, and no one is dehumanizing you! It is an escape from our high cortisol realities. And once you are in a safe space, you can finally think and feel more clearly, the clouds lift and you can finally accept the care and admiration that has been directed at you which you could never notice before because you have been in a self preserving daze!
Keeping this deeper story in mind, I am very generous with the rating despite the dystopian unethical addictive nature of the dating software trope, especially considering AI's inherently destructive tendency against humanity.
This drama dives into FL's state of mind and her journey towards accepting and loving herself more intentionally, after a breakup lay heavy on her insecurities causing her to bundle her emotions into a box. This makes her gullible and prone to falling for the virtual boyfriend offering. She fails to notice subtle signs from the ML (seo in guk) when we all know he has deeply fallen for her but keeps a respectful distance taking slow hesitant steps forward.
Every virtual boyfriend she meets helps her understand what she appreciates in a partner, her emotions open up and she can finally express what the ideal type is for her, it is a Seo in guk lookalike of course!
I think this is where the story gets tricky for the fl and the viewers. We now have two endearing avatars of the ML. One hot perfection, the other a comforting warmth. The office ML, Seo in Guk, really was so comforting to watch, his loving in silence and waiting for her to acknowledge him, his taking that chance eventually to let her know how he feels, all of it is so cathartic to watch. On the other hand fl's doubts about love keep holding her back so much so that she keeps escaping into the VR to talk to the virtual version of seo in guk.
Towards the end it was a matter of finding the courage and building that trust in reality to let go of the safety of an algorithm which promises only happiness and consistency when life is not like that at all. I liked that the drama manages to refocus on accepting Life as a forever changing journey and where true love can really exist despite strifes.
My favourite scene - They are standing on the snowy pavement, fl gently holds ml's face with her hand, tears start falling from his eyes.
I love seo in guk in this drama, he's a worthy romance lead I would like to see him again in a similar role. I kept thinking fl was Hye Ri initially and wondered why she was looking so different lol! Ji Soo brought a casual lightness to the drama. Overall, I felt the story itself was larger than the characters and was fed to us in a palatable mild dose instead of going full on black mirror. Love needs to win - Every. Single. Time.
Felt the Love 💟
Seo In Guk's deep eyes 🩷
Impressive guest cast 🌶️
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Thanks for handling our hearts with so much care
This drama was like a warm balm healing a bad cold , cure to a hearbroken fever, one day at a time. First of all, lead pair are beautiful together, both playful, both adorable, both hardworking and focused, both pretty clear-headed and both supported with just the right little nudge by their immediate families (her parents/ his grand pa!) to help keep them going on their paths.Secondly, The Best Thing is visually quite an aesthetic production, prettiness decorating every scene; there are flowers and pastel hues and smiling faces even during adversity, it's all so comforting! It leaves you with a calm countenance, a pleasant awareness of the drama and of yourself, a soothing happiness, a subtle smile. I would like to be at peace like this often quite frankly! This is the lasting impression of the drama even months later!
Thirdly, overall it's a really good cast, the main couple are gorgeous, they have a palpable emotional connection, the parents/ grandpa are simply adorable, showing some rare dynamics like only the husband knows how to cook! The friends on both sides, at the hotel and the restaurant, are well written as well, they have their own arcs without imposing too much on the main storyline.
Lastly comes the story ! Traditional Chinese Medicine is a winning theme, it surprises me that many people still don't realise how our body stores emotions in ways that it may eventually start manifesting as an illness. I really appreciate how the drama focuses on healing, the research put on natural medicinal decoctions as well as foods that can support the healing process! It is also commendable that unlike portraying blind bias for only one medical approach, western medicine is used as an intervention during a complication. It is not a fight, but a respect given to both traditional and modern medicine, recognising their unique importance.
My only complaint is that Music could have been better. TBT deserves all the love it gets for handling our hearts so gently.
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