This masterpiece by writer Noh Hee Kung is a heart wrenching and hopeful look at moments of multilayered joy, tragedy, love, regret, and life through the eyes of a young woman as she captures the experiences of a group of elderly friends.

Don't be fooled by the cutesy poster for this drama. It is not roses and nostalgia. You cannot watch this to fawn over "cute old people" as objects that are used to bring a smile. Instead, you will be absorbed into a cascade of real life struggles, emotions, and deep relationships spanning decades and generations. I strongly believe this show should actually come with a trigger warning. The hardships depicted include family violence, suicide, emotional abuse, intergenerational trauma, and plenty of tragedy. It looks at how the past connects to the present and the future, and shapes the way we move in the world. When life gets heavy, you draw upon your personal experiences, and try to overcome obstacles any way you can. And you help your friends because you understand them the way no one else does. The show captures layered lifetimes of memories, relationships, and moments, as the cast bring their characters to life expertly. The actors deliver quality like no ensemble I have ever seen. When you reflect on the superb performances, it becomes clear that hundreds of years of life experience (not to mention acting talent) comes together to leave you breathless and in awe.

The script is phenomenal. The direction by Hong Jong Chan is confident and classy. The actors are incredible, nuanced, and detailed. Everything in this show exudes experience as it tells a both tragic and beautiful story.

The cast is the obvious highlight, including: Kim Hye Ja as the dazed Hee Ja, Na Moon Hee as the determined and kind Jung Ah, Youn Yuh Jung as the always-learning spinster Choong Nam, Park Won Sook as the kind-all-over Young Won, Go Doo Shim as the sassy business woman Nan Hee, and Kim Young Ok as Nan Hee's mother who understands so much more than she lets on. These women embody resilience and sisterhood in the most wise and willing ways. They accept and understand each other with the subtlety and depth that only decades-long relationships can foster. Then there are the men: Shin Goo as Suk Gyun, Jung Ah's ignorant husband, and Joo Hyun as Sung Jae, the learned retired lawyer. The men are smaller players in the story, supporting the women as they shine.

The supporting cast is just as amazing. I think their performances are a reflection of the show's writing and direction. My favorites include Yeom Hye Ran as Jung Ah's adopted daughter, Lee Kwang Soo as Hee Ja's son, and Jang Hyun Sung as the handsome guitar man. They occupy only a little screen time and yet they have dimension and help to show us so much about the main group of women.

Finally, Go Hyun Jung as Park Won, the young woman who tells the story, is just fantastic. She exudes naïve passion, love, and longing as she observes and participates as both a part of the group and an outsider. Her character experiences rich moments of understanding as she plays her part on the borrowed wisdom of her elders.

I only have two small complaints. First, the younger people in the story needed more dimension. They get a big chance to reflect on their relationships with their parents when Park Won invites them to talk about it for her book but they don't use it. Secondly, the very last bit of the show lost some steam. Maybe it's because it's impossible to sum up the loose ends in 9 interconnected lifetimes.

If you are looking for something with depth that just keeps digging deeper, and an appreciation for what life experience and wisdom can teach us, this is the show for you. It is anything but boring and cutesy. It is everything you want to watch when you need a break from unbelievable teenage love triangles and fantasy. You don't swoon over this one; you grow.