Not crazy about this one. It has potential but I think the story was a little too rushed. And it ends in a trope that I've now seen in at least 4 dramas or movies so I'm kinda tired of it. Don't read on if you are completely opposed to vague spoilers that don't go into detail.









Sigh. We get it already. Forbidden love = tragic ending. Can we at least have a different kind of tragic ending? This is probably meant to be a tear-jerker but when you can see the ending coming a mile away it's not as effective.

I found the relationship between the two rivals more interesting than the forbidden love angle. It's obvious they used to be friends (you don't fight in tandem with someone like that unless you've done it before and have a rhythm and communication with them, right?), now they're not. Seems like there was more story there that could have been explored.

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This is one of my new favorites. There are some you watch and walk away from quite content to never relive, but if you're a romantic at heart - this one has a few moments you'll find yourself rewinding. I think the main reason I like it so much is that the lead male is a genuinely nice, respectable man (if a bit stoic), not the typical jerk that females seem to fall for in Kdramas. Maybe that's just a Kdrama thing - I haven't watched enough Jdramas yet to know if that trope is as rampant in them, but it was refreshing to watch one where the lead is very likable from the get-go. He gets up to give an old lady his seat on the bus in the first episode, cooks for his girlfriend, and has a great relationship with his mom. What more can I say? Yeah, I'm majorly crushing on Naoki after finishing this.

Others have posted better summaries than I am capable of, but this is about two people who meet each other, both of whom are at low points in their lives because they see their dreams of professional success fading before their eyes. They meet, become friends and support and encourage each other not to give up on those dreams, even while others around them are discouraging, if not openly interfering with their fight to achieve those dreams. Somewhere along the way...they fall in love, but of course circumstances conspire to keep them apart. Even if you're not a sports fan, this drama is good, lighthearted, romantic fun interspersed with just enough angst.

The only caveat I have to offer for this drama is that the theme song is so damn catchy it will be stuck in your head for days after you've finished watching. Which is ok because I really like it, but if you don't really want to wander around with some Jdrama theme song stuck in your head - you were warned.

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