This show at times felt like a thriller, at times like a Korean take on Sex and the City, at times like an indie production. It especially got me when it went all poetic and symbolic about FL's inner metamorphosis and conveyed it with imagery (even if as simple as showing her crossing the street on a red light for the first time in her life as symbolic of her committing an act of transgression towards cheating, but also towards a more free, self-oriented life).

Beautifully filmed and masterfully acted by the female lead. In fact, this was the best piece of acting performed by an actress I've ever watched on a kdrama. Other actors also did a good job (kudos especially to the men playing FL's husband, her newly found lover and the lady portraying the female manager at the bank). However, Kim Seo Hyung is just in a class of her own.

She can convey different types of emotions with just a subtle change in her expression. Sure, I appreciate the actors that go all out too, but I feel real mastery shines through when you're able to hit the right emotions, without overstating them. Kim perfected this craft.

This drama has a lot of layers. It functions partially as an unconventional cautionary tale. Showing how easy it is to fall off tracks, committing one transgression after another, even if they're motivated by compassion, kindness, or understandable feelings of wanting to be respected, loved, appreciated, or simply... alive.

It also shows you that even the most appealing form of escapism at the end of the day is still that: escapism (even if you call it an "oasis"). If you don't deal with the source of your problems or emptiness in your life, shopping or a younger lover can only do this much.

It's also a story of a woman who is a bit... strange: very smart and yet super gullible, disillusioned with life and yet hopeful, committing illegal acts yet almost too kind for this world. This duality makes her a really bizarre but admittedly interesting character.

Finally, it can also be read as a social commentary on how people obsessively value material possessions and care about status, labels, and appearances. If there is one shared theme for every character's  story in this drama, it is money.

For me, I absolutely enjoyed every aspect of this show.

The main romance portrayed in this drama is happening between FL and a man younger than her by, I would assume, at least 15 years. It quickly turns into a very weird dynamic, and money is a big part of it. Also, it's an adulterous relationship, to put it bluntly. In that respect, it's no grand love story.

And yet I found myself catching my breath in anticipation when these two appeared on screen, especially at the beginning of their romance. There was something very sensual and almost spiritual about their encounters.

I loved the scene when Yi Hwa and her soon-to-be lover are both walking down the street on its two opposite sides, stealing glances at one another. While they do so, FL does this movement of caressing the wet branches of nearby bushes with her fingers while walking. It's all very sensual.

The beginnings of their romance are filmed in a stunning way. The imagery, coupled with music and the actors' performances make it seem like these two are pulled towards each other by some magnetic force.

If I were to complain about anything, I'd say that the side characters' stories got a rather rushed development towards the end of the drama. Ep. 10 definitely felt like the creators tried to give everyone a life changing event, even if at the risk of it looking unnatural.

Still, I really enjoyed this drama. At times, I almost felt entranced by the acting, soundtrack, and cinematography. Other times, I was pausing the video out of anxiety of what was going to happen. And sometimes, I just felt genuinely sad for the characters (especially Ga Eul whom I'd grown to really like).

This was cross-posted with Viki.