I enjoyed the way in which this drama brought me on an exploration of internal human struggles in a mature way. From office politics to abusive relationships to just hanging on through daily struggles, it handled these issues with a quiet, understated, and thoughtful approach.

Lee Sun Kyun plays his upright but anxious white collar character with depth, and IU plays the struggling young secretary in a way that resists manipulating our heartstrings just for the sake of easy sympathy. I appreciate the writing and directing to this end, making it more realistic and a true exploration of the characters for their own sakes, not for the audience's sake. Some would call the execution of this show boring because of the lack of overt emotional manipulation, but if you watch closely, you get absorbed into the quiet struggles of each character. So you need to be in the mood for the pace and details in order to enjoy it.

One thing I loved about the show was the element of the supporting characters who meet at the community bar to drink together. Their collective nostalgia and comradery is used as a blanket to support each other, and they warmly adopt IU's Lee Ji Ahn into their circle. Despite their hardships, they care for each other with unspoken kindness.

This was a slower paced, detailed, and satisfying show. There is rewatch value here in which you could do detailed character studies and notice the way in which the dialogue shows character growth and personal insights.