I finally came around to watching this wonderful drama that's been recommended by so many people on this website. So, was it great? Absolutely! This is definitely one of the greatest Jdramas ever made and that makes it a classic. Story: The starting was great and the story's narrative never fell weak. However, as is the case with most dramas this one also dragged on a little bit. Plus there were a few sub-plots, especially among the last few episodes that I didn't particularly like so that rounds out to an 8 for me. This is the only con. The romance was great and there are hardly any cliches when it came to Halu and Aki's relationship. It was not just a story where two people fall in love. It's a complex story involving great amounts of character growth and all the complicated issues the characters have to deal with. Honestly, I was exhausted by the end of this drama because it was more complex than what I usually watch. Characters: It definitely has one of the best characterizations I have come across in a drama. Halu's character is very well written. I think I liked every character in this drama except Aki who I had a few issues with. It was a demand of the story so I am going to overlook it. For me, Halu is a very interesting person. He is a great pile of complications hidden underneath that cool demeanor. He is utterly messed up with a sad past and hides his pain by his sarcasm and dark humour. He can be terribly honest and has an impulsive personality. Plus that bad-boy persona does wonders to his character. I loved him a lot because he was like a puzzle that I enjoyed putting together while watching. I had a great time contemplating his actions and trying to reason with his behaviour. He is deeply flawed, but complex and wins you over from the first episode itself- kudos to Kimura's flawless acting. (Why didn't I discover this man before?!) As for other characters, I liked how each of them interacted with the other and opened up nicely. It's rare to see so many characters having such meaningful conversations in a drama. Most of the story actually involves talking and less of actions. That's surely a sign of good writing. Acting: I have no complaints when it comes to the acting department. They had a wonderful cast and there wasn't anyone on there who I thought couldn't act. They were all great but the star is obviously Kimura-san! :D Direction, Editing and other technicalities: This drama had pretty good direction. The hockey part seemed so real. I liked how they filmed it. I am not a hockey fan, but this one made it seem interesting. The editing part was alright. Nothing too great and they didn't focus on making it look pretty. The camera work was clean and they made it out to be plain. You could say it didn't require anything extraordinary to make it appealing to the eyes because they had such a good cast. Music: I have to mention this! Queen is definitely one of my old favourite bands. I love the music of the 80's and the track 'Born to Love You' is great, in my opinion. I am so happy they chose such a good theme song! Rewatch value: This is a drama I would want to watch it again. Because I am sure I would have a different experience and different opinions then. Definitely worth rewatching! So- great drama! Go ahead and watch it because you won't regret it. :)