This cured my drama slump!

I’ve been in a drama slump lately after watching a number of disappointing dramas. Back in 2010 when I started watching Asian dramas there were so many great dramas to choose from that I didn’t know where to start. It was a veritable feast of top notch dramas and I stuffed myself near to bursting. Since then dramas have dramatically changed. Some changes were good and some were bad. But lately it’s been bad, or maybe I’ve just chosen the wrong dramas to watch. But I’ve especially disliked the trend to have ambiguous endings making you scratch your head in confusion wondering what exactly happened. Or having a sweet simple romantic comedy turn into an angst filled melodrama in the last few episodes. So I reluctantly started this drama with low expectations. I’d watched numerous dramas with glowing reviews like this one only to be sorely disappointed so I was prepared to be letdown yet again. So I was quite surprised to find myself binge watching this drama. It’s simply refreshing and quite entertaining.

The storyline:
The storyline has depth with a few unexpected twists and turns. I expected the whole going back in time plot to be predictable and unrealistic. But it was presented in a very interesting way that kept you hooked and coming back for more. There was angst but it wasn’t overdone or annoying. There were no plot holes and no questions were left unanswered either. I liked that each character, even the side characters, were well fleshed out with depth and their own unique backgrounds. I have no complaints about the storyline except that I wish the drama had been longer so they could go into more depth but they did well with just 12 episodes to work with.

The acting:
The acting was above average straight across the board for everyone. There weren’t any stiff actors that seemed unnatural nor were there any actors that overdid it and came across cheesy. I don’t understand why they keep giving Sung Hoon short dramas like this when he has such good acting skills. And his kisses in the romantic scenes were fire, but we’ll get to that later. But overall the acting in this drama was very good.

The Cinematography:
The special effects and camera angles were quite good. The lighting, music, and settings were all well done. The wardrobe and set locations were perfect. I have no complaints here.

The romance:
This drama has a number of good kissing scenes that will make you blush. When Sung Hoon told the female lead that he couldn’t wait any longer then devoured her I blushed. This isn’t a sweet cutesy drama with piggyback rides and princess carrying or anything like that so if that’s your vibe you may be disappointed. It’s more of an adult romance with some sweet moments but mostly a more mature more realistic romantic vibe. The romance was very touching and definitely worth the watch.

In the end I liked everything about this drama and was pleasantly surprised at how well written and how well acted it was. It had angst but not too much, it had an interesting storyline that made sense, there were no plot holes, it had a balanced and even flow, and the romance was swoonworthy. The only reason I took off one point and gave it a 9 was because of its length. More time was needed for such a deep complex storyline. But it’s definitely a drama worth watching so I highly recommend it.

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Sassy FL + funny /clueless ML = touching romance

There’s a lot of things to like about this drama. I like that there’s no evil antagonists creating problems and misunderstandings. There’s no meddling parents getting in the way and creating issues. And even though the ML’s ex wants him back, she’s not evil or underhanded which is nice too. I’m so tired of the overused evil ex that’s obsessed with the main lead and that will do anything to get them back trope. So there was a lot to like about this drama.

I also appreciated how light, funny and refreshing this drama was. It’s a very funny sweet and fluffy romance. The cooking scenes will make your mouth water and the chemistry between the leads as they cook together is a joy to watch. The side characters were well fleshed out and very likable. I really enjoyed seeing so many of them have such great character growth. From the best friend, to the coworkers to even the parents, there was lots of lessons learned and character growth. The underlying theme of not living in the past or letting past events dictate your future decisions was very clear. It also highlighted the importance of enjoying meals with those you love not because you’re hungry or it’s time to eat but because it gives you warm memories and creates a close bond with your loved ones.

The male lead seems very cold at first but then you realize he’s only that way at work. With his close friends he’s very silly, funny, and charming. I like that he wasn’t your stereotypical tsundere CEO that’s cold but has a soft spot for the female lead. So his character seemed unique and very likable. He has a lot to learn though. He has trouble communicating outside of work, even things like small talk around the dinner table is difficult for him. And he’s way too focused on work and doesn’t balance it well with his personal life. He doesn’t know how to get close to or connect with the female lead outside of their work environment. So their whole romance is tied into their work which causes problems for them later on. I did enjoy his character growth as he realized this and worked hard to do better.

The female lead is a super smart competent woman that wins everyone over at work with her amazing skills. She thinks outside of the box and saves them numerous times. She’s also a very skilled cook which melts the male leads heart despite his efforts to not fall in love and get hurt again. She isn’t weak and stands up for herself with some great comebacks to those disrespecting her. I really liked her strength and sassiness. But her weakness is her inability to balance her work life and home life. At first she’s all family oriented and neglects work. Then she becomes hyper focused on work and neglects her family. Then an unfortunate incident occurs and she reacts very badly. But over time she realizes her mistakes and corrects them. She learns how to be more balanced in both her personal life and at work. I really enjoyed her character growth.

So as I’ve said, there’s a lot to like about this drama. But unfortunately, there are several things I didn’t like about this drama. Firstly, there’s a breakup and if you’ve read any of my reviews you’ll know that I hate the overused breakup scenario dramas love to employ. It’s gotten to be a pet peeve of mine. It’s just too predictable and a clear attempt to add angst over some silly misunderstanding or miscommunication. So I deducted a star for that. Secondly, the leads are separated and have zero interactions with one another for over 2 years. So there’s several episodes that have nothing to do with their relationship and we just see them moping around all miserable. That’s no fun to me and makes the drama too sad for too long. So I deducted another star for that reason. They don’t get back together till literally the end of the last episode. Thirdly, after two years we are led to believe that they are suddenly madly in love again and ready to be together forever now. Originally they had only dated a few months after meeting each other. So now despite only having dated a few months, they are ready to skip the whole dating thing and go straight to the alter. Not only is it not fair to not get to see them together with all of their cute moments as they start dating again and reconnecting, but we are expected to believe those 2 years apart wasn’t a big deal and they can pick right back up where they left off as if nothing happened. So I had to deduct another star for this reason.

Now don’t get me wrong, despite the above issues, I liked this drama. And I’m glad I watched it. They have a lot of great characters that I loved and the character growth is really good. The warm family scenes, tasty meals, and camaraderie amongst family and friends was very heartwarming. That’s why it has such good ratings. And the acting is way above average. I also like that it had underlying messages and taught life lessons too. But if you’re a seasoned drama watcher like me, those overused tropes might get to you like they did me. If I’m watching a comedy I want to see lots of funny stuff. If I’m watching a horror show I want to be scared a lot. So if this is a romance, I should expect to see lots of romance, right? So why were they together such a short time before breaking up? And why did they stay apart for several episodes and not get back together till the very end? This is a romance so I want to see lots of romance, not angst. Yes there were lots of kisses and cute scenes in the few episodes they were together. And they kissed and hugged in the final episode too. But I just felt like the whole breakup thing messed up a really good drama. It could have been a 10 easily with such a great cast and such good acting.

In conclusion, it’s worth watching. There’s some great acting, lots of touching moments, and the main leads have great chemistry. But expect a breakup and expect angst and sadness those last few episodes. If you don’t mind those things you’ll love it. It’s a pretty good drama, it’s not amazing but it’s very endearing and worth the watch.

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Perfect romance & sizzling chemistry will make you overlook the cliche’s

Is this some boring drama full of clichés that I’ll regret watching? Or is it a sweet fluffy romcom with a sizzling romance I’ll love? The reviews seem very divided on this one. I put off watching it for a long time due to some of the reviews and comments. After watching it I completely understand where people are coming from. I’ll just say this, if you absolutely live for really romantic dramas with lots of kisses and skinship where the romance is done perfectly, you’ll love this drama. But if you hate clichés, you expect more out of a drama than just romance, and you’re not into laidback slice of life type dramas, then you should skip this one.

The romance in this drama is done perfectly. There’s no insta love. They get to know each other over time and slowly fall in love. They have a healthy relationship and trust each other. And when issues pop up they actually talk to each other instead of making assumptions. Their chemistry is on fire and there’s lots of real kisses and skinship too. I also like that the female lead isn’t your typical shy scared of intimacy type of female like you normally see in dramas. Once they get together neither of them are shy about expressing their feelings physically. Even though this drama is full of clichés the romance had a lot of characteristics that were very unique like the healthy relationship, great communication, no silly misunderstandings and no breakups. I found the romance to be very touching and memorable.

The male lead is more complex than he seems at first glance. He has a really nice dad but his mom was overly strict with him when raising him. She even threw away any toys he got overly attached to saying emotional attachments make us weak. Anytime he really liked something she got rid of it. So the male lead believes that the more you like something the more likely you are to lose it. Therefore he refrains from getting emotionally attached to anyone or anything. He’s become this cold distant CEO whose world revolves around the business he created. So when circumstances call for him to marry the female lead in order to secure a huge partnership his company really needs, he doesn’t hesitate to enter into a contract marriage with her. He’s not a naturally cold person, he was just raised to distrust feelings of any sort. So on one hand you see this smart mature man that is very smooth and confident. Then on the other hand you see this petty jealous man child that doesn’t know how to deal with his feelings because he’s emotionally stunted. I loved his complexity and enjoyed watching his character grow and mature as he eventually accepted his feelings and learned how to deal with them.

The female lead is a very strong feisty woman that doesn’t let anything hold her back. She’s very smart, stands up for herself, and always has a comeback to anyone that harasses her. I like her spunk. And even though the male lead criticizes her intelligence in the beginning, when she helps him solve a crisis at work he finally acknowledges her intellect. I’ve always liked a smart sassy female lead so I definitely liked her character. And even though she was constantly being saved, they never portrayed her as being dumb or helpless. When she was being setup she was smart enough to record the encounter. She always made sure a friend was nearby for help too. So her needing saving had no bearing on her intelligence, it’s just that things don’t always go as planned. But overall I liked her character and was rooting for her the whole time.

So if the drama was so great, why didn’t I give it a perfect 10? Well as you’ve probably heard, it has a ton of clichés. Like a lot. The second female lead has an unrequited love for the male lead and constantly attacks the female lead. Then you have the typical second male lead that is in love with the female lead. There’s also tons of falling into each other’s arms and accidentally kissing between the main leads too. So I had to take a full point off because of the clichés. I took another point off for the storyline, or I guess the lack of one. There’s really not much to this drama except the romance. They really don’t go much into the female leads design business nor the male leads company. There isn’t any past trauma to heal from or evil antagonist out to take over the business or get revenge. It’s just basically a love story about the main leads lives and how they overcome a lot of obstacles to find their happiness together.

But for some reason despite the problems I had with this drama, I really liked it. I liked how perfectly they did the romance. I loved a lot of the characters, especially the male leads grandma. Her shenanigans in trying to push the main leads together was too cute. Her little giggles every time she pulled a fast one on them had me laughing. She really did want them to be together and was their biggest supporter. And even though I hate evil second leads that cause problems and misunderstandings, nothing really bad happened. The second female lead was a bully but she never tried to physically harm the female lead or ruin her. She just did stupid little irritating things. Fortunately, they were all resolved very quickly. And I loved that the male lead saw right through her and confronted her on it. And he made it clear he would never be interested in her romantically. And when the second female lead said she was the better choice because she could help the male lead in his business ventures, I loved his response. He said; “You don’t understand love. Love isn’t like a business deal. It’s not an equal exchange. Even if she does nothing for me and I do everything for her I’m happy to do so because I love her. Love isn’t about what the other person can do for you it’s about doing things for them because you want them to be happy. Because if they are happy then you’re happy. That’s what love is, that’s it.” The drama was so touching that I ended up adding a half point back and giving it an 8.5. And if I rewatch it a lot and it becomes one of those dramas I just can’t forget I may bump up the score even higher. We will just have to see.

In conclusion, it’s a drama you’ll either love or hate depending on your preferences. Some love it because of the epic romance. Others just can’t get past all of the cliches. I say the cliches aren’t that bad because of the main leads superb chemistry and the great acting. I’m a sucker for a romance where the leads have a healthy relationship with good communication, no breakups, amazing chemistry, lots of kisses, and tons of skinship. So if you’re a romance addict like me you’ll love it. If you’re wanting more than romance and hate cliches you might want to skip this one. But as far as I’m concerned this was a great drama. It was far from perfect but I found it very touching.

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One of the better youth sports dramas out there

After watching dozens of youth sports dramas I’ve become a bit jaded but I have to admit that this is one of the better ones out there. It’s not without its flaws, which I’ll talk about later, but overall it’s a pretty good drama. It reminds me a lot of Skate Into Love and Falling Into Your Smile, two of the best out there in my opinion. The romance is done well, it has some great comedy, the characters are well fleshed out, it’s interesting, and there’s lots of character growth.

The female lead is confident, talented, outgoing, and very determined to reach her goals of becoming a world class speed skater. I liked that she was a strong confident person and not one of those weak females that always needs saving. And she has the sweetest cutest father that’s always got her back. Their interactions were pure gold. Her mom isn’t too great at first but her character growth was a joy to watch.

The male lead is a really good guy that’s nice to everyone and very charming. Even when he’s badly injured by someone else’s negligence he never gets angry or blames them. He’s just an overall really sweet person. I liked that even though he’s really laidback and easygoing he always drew the line with any females that got interested in him romantically. And once he’s in a relationship with the female lead, he communicates well and is a really good loyal boyfriend that lets everyone know he’s only interested in her. He becomes such a little puppy around her and it’s so cute. His relationship with his mom is a big focal point of the drama that I really liked. There’s lots of character growth in their relationship and I really enjoyed it.

The romance was very well balanced and didn’t overwhelm the drama nor was it just a side note either. I liked that once the leads got together there wasn’t a bunch of silly misunderstandings, there were no evil second leads scheming against them, there were no breakups, no noble idiocy and no long separations. They had a very healthy relationship, it had its ups and downs but it was more realistic and endearing than most. It’s not a spicy drama with bedroom scenes or anything like that. It’s more of a youthful romance with lots of hugs, handholding, and sweet kisses. You get more of a light sweet fluffy feel from their romance.

So why did I give it an 8 instead of a 10? For two reasons, the storyline and the side romance of the main leads best friends. The storyline had every typical cliche you would expect to see in a youth sports drama. And it was so predictable that I correctly guessed the outcome of every major event or dramatic storyline twist before it happened. So I took off one full point for this reason. The other reason is the secondary romance. First off they put a very average looking girl in the role of the female leads supposedly very pretty bff. Then they took one of the hottest guys in the drama and put him in the role of the not so attractive guy friend that she initially overlooks for someone better looking. But the guy she overlooks him for isn’t anywhere near as hot as he is. And she’s no raving beauty (no insult intended, just being honest.) So just based on that, their storyline isn’t too believable. Then she treats him really badly throughout most of the drama. And when they finally get together she hides it like she’s ashamed of him. The poor guy just can’t catch a break. I really disliked the whole secondary romance and they spent a lot of time on it, especially in the first half of the drama. So I took another point off for this reason. They cast the wrong people to play the characters and then spent way too much time on a couple with no chemistry and an awful storyline.

That being said, I still really liked the drama. Even though the storyline was very predictable, the acting was phenomenal. The characters were very relatable and just about everyone had a lot of character growth. It has the underlying messages that you’d expect of a youth sports drama like “never give up your dreams” and “if you believe in yourself enough you can do anything.” But it also taught some valuable lessons that were not cliche or expected. It teaches us to not judge others too harshly. Sometimes we are quick to blame others because we can’t accept our own shortcomings. So when the truth finally comes out we have to face the harsh reality of our own failings. So it’s best to not be too judgmental or quick to blame.

In conclusion, it’s very cliche but the superb acting, likable characters, sweet romance, and great comedy elevate this drama above the rest. My advice would be to use the fast forward button liberally when watching the secondary romance and you’ll like it even better. But even with its flaws it’s still a very sweet touching drama that you’ll enjoy watching. I definitely recommend it.

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A healing romance with some epic comedy

With such glowing reviews and high ratings I was worried that I would be disappointed. But fortunately this drama lived up to its hype for me. It’s not one of those deep, heavy, meaningful dramas. It’s more of a light funny sweet romcom that is so well executed that you don’t mind the clichés. After watching hundreds of Asian dramas I’ve come to the conclusion that cliches are inevitable. And it’s not the cliché storylines that make a drama bad but how they are carried out. Great acting and likable characters can make a cliché story feel fun and interesting. On the other hand, poor acting and bland characters can make a cliché story feel dull and monotonous. This drama was chock full of likable, relatable characters that made you feel like they were a part of your family. Pair that with some top notch acting and you have a great drama like this one.

The acting in this drama is above average. I was invested in every single characters storyline. The second male lead was a bit stiff in the beginning but got much better as the drama progressed. I was surprised by that because I’ve seen him in lots of other dramas and he’s a great actor. But overall the actors did a great job of getting me invested in the drama. And it didn’t hurt that the whole cast was gorgeous and very easy on the eyes.

The romance was done just right. It wasn’t insta love for the main leads but it wasn’t a slow burn either. I liked the pacing and chemistry of their romance too. The second leads had a cute romance that was a fun watch and added to the likability of the drama. Be prepared for lots of kisses, piggyback rides, hugs, and some sexy scenes. Both the main male lead and the second male lead go shirtless which is always a plus for me. And just let me say, the second male lead must live in a gym because he is one of the most muscular actors I’ve ever seen in an Asian drama. But as far as romance goes it was really very romantic with lots of sweet moments. And I liked that this was a healing romance. Both leads help heal each other’s emotional wounds. Watching their journey as they help heal one another and become better versions of themselves was a joy.

The female lead is a very likable character that’s talented, respected at work, confident, outgoing, and charming. She has a great family you’ll love, a touching sismance with her best friend and is a pretty balanced person. There’s only one area she’s lacking in and that’s in the romance department. Even though she’s very pretty, she’s had an unrequited crush on the same guy for 7 years. And it’s taken a toll on her confidence and self esteem.

The male lead is a practical no nonsense guy that is hyper focused on his job. He’s not mean or a bully at work he’s just a workaholic. Due to a trauma in his past he shuns intimate relationships with people other than his grandfather and his best friend (the second male lead). His interactions with the second male lead are so cute and endearing. I really enjoyed their bromance.

It was also quite refreshing to see the main leads have a healthy relationship where they communicate well and trust one another. I’m liking this trend lately where the main leads don’t have lots of silly misunderstandings but instead respect and have faith in one another. The lack of breakups, misunderstandings and noble idiocy made this drama so much better. And there weren’t any evil meddling second leads obsessed with the main leads either. I’m so done with that trend. So even though there are several clichés in this drama the lack of annoying second leads and unnecessary breakups more than makes up for it.

Now let’s talk about what I didn’t like. There’s not a lot to dislike about this drama. But there were a couple of things that kept it from getting a perfect rating from me. There was a lengthy separation at the end which was quite unnecessary (they didn’t breakup but were separated because one of them had to go overseas). I hate the old cliché ‘I have to go overseas for an extended period of time but I still love you’ trope. I never liked it and never will understand the overuse of this scenario in dramas. So I took off a full point for this. The other thing I didn’t like was the last episode of this drama. It wasn’t as bad as many have claimed in the comment section. The main characters are all addressed and have satisfying endings. I was happy with how everything turned out for everyone. But my main complaint (and everyone else’s) is that a lot of time is spent on some unnecessary angst that’s thrown in at the last minute for no apparent reason. It’s the last episode so you want some sweet moments, to see how everything turns out for everyone, even the minor characters. You want all of the loose ends tied up in a pretty little bow. You want to have some meaningful touching moments, not unnecessary angst just to hype things up. The angst would have been okay if there had been another episode or two. The fact that it happened in the last episode taking time away from those last sweet touching moments between your favorite characters is what I have a problem with. It wasn’t super bad just annoying , so I took a half point off for this.

In conclusion I’d say this is a very good drama that I’d highly recommend. It’s not for those who are looking for a deep drama that sends a message or teaches a lesson. But if you like super romantic romcoms that are full of gorgeous actors that make you laugh your butt off then this dramas for you. It’s short, sweet, sexy and funny. Seriously just go watch it!

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It’s never too late to start over

How many times have we watched dramas where the second male lead wishes he had met the female lead first? Or had confessed first? They always lament “if I had met her first or had made my move on her first then she would be with me now. I know I would have made her happy.” Well this drama starts out with that unique idea. The second male lead meets the female lead first then confesses and becomes her boyfriend right before the male lead is about to confess. But does meeting someone first or confessing first really make a difference? Is it all up to chance based on who meets who first or is there more involved? And if you meet the wrong person first and miss out on being with your ideal mate, can you go back and change things? Can it be fixed? I love the journey this drama takes us on as it explores the answers to these questions.

One thing that is important to take note of before you watch this drama is that you will be very confused as to what timeline the female lead is in during her coma if you don’t pay close attention. It switches between present events and past memories frequently. And since it’s all happening in the same college setting, her clothing and appearance is almost identical. The best way to tell the difference is in her appearance. During current events she has much shorter hair and her ponytail barely goes past her shirt collar. But in her memories of her past she has much longer hair and her ponytail trails down the middle of her back. So watch for her hair length. Shorter hair is current events and longer hair is memories of her past.

The storyline for this drama is very unique and interesting. In college the female lead is so focused on competing academically with the male lead that she never thinks of him as anything but a rival. Unfortunately this leads her to being in a long term relationship with the second male lead who is all wrong for her. He’s a nice guy but they don’t have the same goals or dreams in life. She ends up getting sidetracked by him and puts him and his needs above her own. Her grades, academic achievements, and career choices suffer because of it. So the drama starts out in the present time which is 10 years after the female lead met the male lead and the second male lead. She’s still in a relationship with the second male lead but is miserable and her life is a wreck. She’s regretting a lot of her life’s choices and wishes fervently that she could go back and do it all over again. It’s at this time that she is injured and goes into a coma. And during the coma she finds herself back in college. Her wish comes true and she gets to go back and correct all of the mistakes she made in the past.

I like the female leads personality. She’s not a pushover nor is she one of those cheerful happy little airheads either. She’s a very hardworking goal oriented person with very high moral standards. She has a very strong sense of justice and fights intensely for those in need. I like how it’s her life’s goal to make a difference in this world for the poor and the needy. Her biggest problem though is that she got sidetracked by love and made some very poor choices that had a huge negative impact on her life. To make matters worse, she doesn’t correct those mistakes so her life continues to go nowhere. But she finally realizes that it’s never too late to start over. She makes some tough choices but it’s for the best. Seeing her character grow and mature was a joy to watch.

The male lead was unique. He wasn’t some cold domineering CEO like you usually see in office romances which was refreshing. He’s been in love with the female lead for 10 years protecting her and taking care of her the best he can. But his pride and fear of losing her keeps him from ever confessing to her. On the outside he’s proud and confident. Yet on the inside he’s in constant turmoil as he worries over her and deals with his unrequited love. He’s a tortured soul that you can’t help but root for. So when he finally finds the courage to open his heart to her, I was very touched.

I like the the underlying theme this drama had. We often wish we could go back and correct all of our past mistakes. But that’s just a pipe dream, an impossibility. Dwelling on past mistakes that can’t be changed will only bring us down. Wiping the slate clean so to speak and starting over is a really tough choice, especially after investing 10 years into a relationship like in the female leads situation. But starting over romance and career wise was the best choice for her. Many others in the drama had to make similar choices and do what’s right which meant letting everything go and starting over. But in the end it was the best choice they had ever made. We often think it’s too late to start over but its never too late. So don’t dwell on the past but work on making a better future for yourself, even if it means having to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.

The romance in this drama was pretty good. There were lots of very realistic kisses, hugs, and cuddles. You could also feel the emotional connection the leads had together. The analogy of how the right person is like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly into the right spot in your heart was so true. With the wrong person your life can go downhill really fast. But with the right person things flow so smoothly and you’re so much happier. Choosing the perfect mate for yourself makes a big difference in your overall happiness in life. This wasn’t a spicy drama romance wise but it was very sweet, cute, and endearing.

My only complaints would be that this is advertised as an office romance but two thirds of the drama is spent in a college setting. I felt like I was watching a college romcom, not an office romance, so the title and description are a bit misleading. So for that reason I took off a point. The other issue I had with this drama was the confusing jump from present time to the past. In both situations the female lead is wearing similar clothes and hairstyles and it’s in the same college setting. So I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out where she was, past or present, and what was going on. A drama shouldn’t confuse it’s audience like that. So for this reason I deducted another point.

Overall I’d definitely recommend this drama. It has a very unique setting, it teaches a lesson, the romance is sweet, and the acting is superb. Just be aware that it’s a college romance the majority of the time and keep an eye on the female leads hair so you don’t get confused when she has flashbacks of her memories and you’ll be fine.

Spoilers ahead
(Was it all really just a dream?)

How do we know it was a dream and not a parallel universe or time traveling as some suggest? When the female lead comes out of her coma in episode 23 the title of the episode is “You And I Were In A Dream.” And from then on they consistently refer to it as her dreams. They never say she time traveled or was in a parallel universe. The doctor said it was normal to have very realistic dreams while in a coma. And when the female lead wakes up from her coma, she even says it was nothing but a sweet dream. Then episode 24 is entitled “The Gap Between Dreams and Reality.” She asked the doctor why she had dreams of stuff she had no knowledge of. The doctor said the nerve damage from her fall injured her brain. So while she was in the coma he told her family and friends to remind her of the past. This would help to trigger and activate the damaged neurons in her brain. They most likely told her of things that she didn’t know about or wasn’t aware had happened since they were speaking from their own personal experiences. Then these new tidbits of information were incorporated into her dreams. Which in turn drastically changed the choices she had previously made. Realizing that the male lead had been her protector, not her rival, made her choose him instead. Knowing that the second male lead would choose his career over love made her reject him. All of this helps her to realize that she needs to make some big changes in her life moving forward. Even though she can’t change the bad choices she made in the past she can make better choices for her future. So her comatose dreams were very helpful and helped her to grow as a person.

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Love makes us do crazy things but without it we are nothing

In the beginning we are introduced to a male lead that isn’t very likable. He harshly criticizes every mistake the people around him makes. He’s always pushing his employees really hard then yelling and losing his temper when they don’t live up to his expectations. But upon finding out about his upbringing and what transpired later when he was an adult we begin to understand him a little better. When he was a toddler his parents died in a tragic accident and his grandmother raised him by herself. Then she died when he was in grade school making him an orphan. Since he was orphaned at a young age, he lived in poverty and had to make his own way by himself living a very harsh life. But he’s a mathematical genius and his talents take him from being a janitor to being the CEO of his own huge company. But along the way he’s badly hurt again when his girlfriend abandons him and marries another man. Having been abandoned by every person he’s ever loved, he shuts down all emotions and becomes very cold and unfeeling. When the people around him fail to meet his expectations he immediately cuts them from his life. There is never any kindness or forgiveness , just harsh consequences.

Fortunately, when circumstances force him and the female lead to be together all the time, he slowly begins to be touched by her kindness. Going to her hometown reminds him of his home growing up. Simple things like being offered a freshly peeled apple or potato straight from the garden brought back warm childhood memories of his beloved grandmother. The female leads family are very warm and loving people that genuinely like him and welcome him. He slowly starts to regain his humanity and genuinely care about people and show kindness.

The character growth of the male lead was done wonderfully and is some of the best I’ve seen. There’s lots of character growth all around for the entire cast which makes it a really enjoyable drama. And the acting is way above average too. I’m not one to notice music in a drama and rarely address it. But the music in this drama was very good and fit every mood perfectly.

The female lead is a very likable character. She’s kind, forgiving, and an overall very sweet person. She’s strong minded, confident, and hardworking too. Her biggest flaw though, is her mindset regarding work. She puts up with a lot of harassment and mistreatment at work believing that if she just perseveres things will get better. Her father raised her to believe that you have to endure a lot of hardship in order to further your career. But what she goes through at work is awful and hard to watch. She’s mistreated badly. Fortunately it doesn’t last long and she finally stands up for herself and gets some backbone. Seeing her learn to navigate the workplace and excel in her career was fun to watch. She had great character growth too.

The storyline was a bit cliché but the acting was flawless. This drama balanced the mystery, romance, and melodrama quite well. Usually a drama will fixate on the romance so much that the mystery and workplace drama suffers. Or it will focus so much on the mystery and workplace stuff that the romance is lacking. This drama balanced it all very well. I liked that all of the characters were well developed and the storyline had a lot of depth and was very interesting. But the romance was really sweet too.

So why didn’t I give it a perfect 10? This is billed as a romcom but I was a bit disappointed with the romance aspect of it. Its not that it didn’t have romance in it, it had a sweet romance along with some great comedy. There were several nice kisses, lots of back hugs, and cuddles too. But the romance gave off the sweet cute vibes of a youthful couple rather than the more passionate vibes of a mature couple. For a number of years now asian dramas with mature couples have been showing a lot more passion, skinship and steamy kisses. So I felt letdown. I’m not against sweet cute fluffy romcoms by any means. I’ve watched lots of them and I really enjoyed them too. But in the past few years we’ve been seeing that the sweet cute romances are usually in college or school dramas with young actors. But in the mature dramas with older actors (that are experienced in dating) the trend has been to show a more realistic relationship that is more passionate and intimate. And I’ve really embraced this trend because it’s much more true to life and realistic. So there’s sort of an expectation nowadays in regards to the more mature dramas that the romance will be more appropriate to their age. So when this drama had the fluffy sweet youthful romance I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. Seeing mature actors acting all sweet, innocent and shy around one another felt very unrealistic, (especially since they had previously dated other people and weren’t innocent in the dating arena). It just didn’t reflect the progress asian dramas have made in the last few years in terms of physical affection.

Overall I’d say this is a really good drama that I’ll probably rewatch at some point. The comedy is very good, the acting is superb, the mystery is fun to figure out, and the actors have a sweet romance. If you go into it not minding that some of the storyline is cliche and that even though the actors are mature the romance is a bit young sweet and fluffy, you’ll love it. It wasn’t perfect but it was one of those rare dramas I didn’t fast forward through and instead binge watched. I liked the message it’s trying to get across and how it makes us analyze love. Every person in the drama did crazy things for love. Some did it for romantic love, some did it for sibling love, some did it for parental love but they all did crazy things for love. Love makes us so crazy we might want to give up on it and all other emotions like the male lead did. But without love are we really even human? Is there even any quality to life without it? I love the wonderful journey this drama takes us on to answer these questions.

For Clarification:
I am aware that Asian dramas are known for being chaste and pure and I personally love that about them. When I watched my first drama, Boys Over Flowers 13 years ago, there was zero physical affection and the kisses were mere pecks and I absolutely adored the drama. But the industry has had tremendous growth since then and I’m loving it. Yes the youth dramas are still innocent and sweet. But the mature dramas are having a lot more physical affection, skinship, and steamy kisses. In my opinion this makes the drama much more realistic and easier to relate to. With dramas like Oh My Venus (2015), Another Miss Oh (2017), and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2019), we’ve seen a a lot of progress in this area. Kisses aren’t little pecks or fish lips anymore and there’s lots more bedroom scenes. And I like that it’s not vulgar sexually like western dramas and is done very tastefully. So when I say I was disappointed in the innocent youthful type of romance this drama had, I’m not saying I don’t like the sweet pure romances Asian dramas depict or that I’m unaware of how these dramas are romance wise. I’m just saying that in this particular drama with mature leads in their 30’s that have admitted to having dated and been in previous relationships, their romance seemed a bit too innocent, shy and pure. Now if they had no dating or relationship experience despite their age I would have been okay with the shy sweet innocent romance because it would have been realistic. But considering their dating past their relationship just wasn’t realistic to me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved their romance, it was super sweet. But any drama that doesn’t keep up with the progress the industry has made and in doing so portrays things in an unrealistic manner, that effects how I feel about the drama and I’m going to say something. Hopefully you will understand where I’m coming from in my critique of this dramas romance.

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Unique storyline, very sweet, but all over the place

This drama had a refreshing and unique storyline. The main leads weren’t childhood friends that reunited nor were they coworkers, classmates, or strangers forced into cohabiting or pretending they are lovers. They were two people whose lives intersected one another at a time when they were both facing some really difficult obstacles. And they found in each other the perfect person to help them overcome their difficulties and they bonded over that. I really liked how unique their story was.

I also really liked the female leads personality, she wasn’t one of those weak helpless types you often see. She didn’t let the second female lead walk all over her and when the male lead screwed up she stood up to him and held him accountable for his actions. She was well educated, smart, confident, and she never gave up despite the many setbacks she faced. I wasn’t crazy about her very conservative and old fashioned wardrobe but it fit her characters situation. Having an extremely over protective, strict, overbearing father with very old fashioned values, it would be very difficult to wear anything even slightly revealing or form fitting. Her biggest problem is that she lacks confidence in her musical abilities and it really pulls her down.

The male lead isn’t your typical rich chaebol with a cold demeanor. He’s a very studious and hardworking doctor that is obsessed with germs and cleanliness. But he’s also very sweet and cares a lot for his patients. Even when they don’t appreciate his efforts or make baseless accusations against him when things don’t go right, he still puts the well being of the patient first. His biggest problem is that he internalizes everything and tries to fix everything himself without asking for help. And when he fails he withdraws from everyone both emotionally and physically.

The character growth is really good in this drama. The main leads really help each other to grow and learn. When the male lead, who never fails and isn’t used to facing obstacles, shuts down and withdraws from everyone, I like how the female lead helps him. She confronts him letting him know how much he hurt his family, his friends, his coworkers, his job, and her by running off to “sort things out.” She gives him some stern words saying that he failed as a boyfriend. It was the wake-up call he needed and it forced him to mature. And when the female lead lacks confidence in her musical abilities, the male lead boosts her confidence and helps her find direction in her life. He’s also a huge comfort to her when her fathers illness becomes severe. I also liked the female leads fathers character growth. He really became a much better father in the end.

The romance was perfect. The main leads had great chemistry. And there’s were lots of kisses, hugs, and cuddles. They didn’t take forever to get together which was refreshing. And I liked that they faced lots of situations normal dating couples face. There’s a slight breakup (if you would even call it that) but it’s resolved pretty quickly and it happened for a good reason. Someone needed a wake up call. But overall the romance was done very well and was the highlight of the drama.

I have to address the acting because it was some of the best I’ve seen. I loved the female lead in Go Go Squid but in this drama she outdid herself. Her crying scenes were so touching they made me tear up and I never cry. And the male lead just stole my heart with his facial expressions when he was hurt or sad. He was a very convincing actor. In fact all of the actors in this drama were way above average. I really liked them all.

So if the drama was so great why didn’t I give it a perfect 10?

1.) The first reason is because even though the storyline was very unique and it started out great, after a while it got slow. The first 8-10 episodes are good then it gets a little slow and I started losing interest. If they had delved more into the music world it might have been more interesting. But the female lead only played a handful of times and we never get to know anything about her school or classmates or teachers. I just didn’t feel her passion for music. Or if they’d dwelt more on the hospital and the medical part of the drama that might have peaked my interest. But the hospital drama was only about how the male lead dealt with the obstacles in his life. I didn’t feel vested in the hospital and what was going on with him and his coworkers. So I took a point off for how slow the middle of the drama was. It got really slow for a good while and almost lost me.

2.) The second reason is because I felt like the drama didn’t know what direction it was going in. Is it a romance? Is it a tearjerker? Is it a melodrama? Or is it a slice of life drama? In the beginning I was sure that it was a slice of life drama. We followed the leads daily lives so religiously, there was very little angst, and there seemed a lot of life lessons being taught. And this went on for long time. Then it suddenly went into full melodrama with a terminally ill character, all 3 couples breakup and someone is suspended from their job. It went from easygoing to full on melodrama. Then things settled down and it was super romantic. But that too didn’t last long because it suddenly became very emotional all the way to the end. Expect to cry buckets because it’s very sad but also really touching. So I took off a full point because the drama was all over the place and the pacing wasn’t consistent. It started out normal, then got super slow for a long stretch, then there was a ton of angst, then it was a tearjerker, then it ended with a lot of sweetness and touching moments.

Overall I’m glad I watched this drama. It’s not an amazing drama but it’s got a lot of sweet touching moments, the acting is superb, and the romance is very good. There are 2 other couples in the drama but their stories aren’t given much time and you’re left hanging as to how they end up. So if you’re really into dramas with multiple couples you might not like this one. I liked it and I would recommend it because of the sweet romance, the acting and the character growth.

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The race to save Dali & the art museum

From the title and comments I was expecting a very lighthearted romcom. And this drama did have a lot of lighthearted moments that made me laugh a lot. But what I wasn’t expecting was the numerous sad yet poignant moments as the female leads life was turned upside down. Every time things are starting to look better for her she faces bitter setbacks. I couldn’t help but root for her. I went from disliking her tough no nonsense character to being touched seeing her grow and mature. I liked how multifaceted the female lead was. She was scared and vulnerable yet brave and stood up for herself when she needed to. For example, when she was headed to the police station to face the man who had attacked her she was visibly shaking. Yet once she came face to face with him she bravely faced him without flinching even though he was threatening to kill her. Her character was very relatable.

In the beginning the male lead comes off as a shallow money obsessed jerk. But as the drama progresses you start to see more and more of the sweet little puppy that he truly is deep inside. And you learn more about what lead him to become that way. His character becomes more and more charming and endearing as the drama progresses. I was especially touched by his character growth.

The acting was very good, way above average. And you’ll see some familiar faces like the male leads dad or the male leads secretary (loved her in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim). The superb acting is what really stands out in this drama.

So if the characters were so great, the acting was superb, and it has high ratings, why did I not give it a 9 or 10? Well my headline at the top sums it up well. The entire drama consists of watching the female lead being attacked in every way possible, even physically as she struggles to keep her families beloved art museum afloat. And this all happens immediately after her fathers sudden death so she’s still grieving. It was difficult to watch sometimes. But her angst wasn’t the problem. It was because her getting attacked over and over again got a bit too repetitive. At first I found it very interesting but after a while I found myself sighing and groaning when she faced setback after setback. It became predictable. So I deducted one star for the overly repetitive and predictable storyline.

The drama did introduce some side stories to spice things up a bit. There was a bit of a love triangle as the female leads ex fiancé relentlessly pursues her. Then there was the drug dealing business going on behind the scenes at the art museum. I found the issue of how people in Asia view those who are adopted quite interesting and wish it were explored a little better. There was also the whole murder mystery whodunnit scenario as we keep seeing someone confront the female leads father then leave him to die, but the culprits face is never shown. So there were a lot of other side stories going on. But instead of making it more interesting it made the drama more confusing as if it didn’t know where it was heading or what point it was trying to make. If this was a longer drama and more time was spent exploring each issue it would have been perfect. But with only 16 episodes they tried to cram too much into this drama. For this reason I deducted another point.

Now let’s talk about the romance. This is a romcom so the romance is a big part of the show. In the beginning I found myself getting butterflies and feeling very touched. But in the end I felt let down and disappointed. The kissing scenes are great and the main leads had great chemistry. And their little flirtations and cute interactions are adorable but it just doesn’t go much further than that. There were no back hugs, no piggyback rides and not a lot of skinship either. If the drama is a romcom and they put the main leads names together in the title, you expect an epic romance that’s very focused on them, right? And even though the romance was cute, it wasn’t what I would call a passionate romance. It was more of a cute light romance like what you would see in a school drama. Therefore yet another star was taken off.

Overall I would say this is a good drama worth watching. If you’re looking for a great romance with lots of skinship then this isn’t the drama for you. If you’re looking for a riveting storyline that keeps you guessing then this isn’t for you either. But if you want something that’s a short easy watch with lots of cuteness this is definitely your type of drama. Im glad I watched it but I have no interest in rewatching it.

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Dig deeper & you’ll see the depth

At first glance this seems like a light fluffy romance drama without a lot of substance. And for many viewers that’s all they will see. But for veteran drama lovers that like to dig beneath the surface and reveal all of the subtle nuances and underlying themes of a drama, you’ll enjoy this. Because there are lots of layers that you get to peel away in this drama if you’re paying close attention. You’ll find that it deals with some very real modern day problems like gaslighting, manipulation, and misogyny. It also tackles the preconceived notions many people make about one another based on a persons appearance, their social status, or their income level.

Listed below are the various social issues this drama tackles.

Gaslighting: The female leads ex fiancé cheats on her but makes her feel like the bad guy for not forgiving him. He says everyone makes mistakes and if she truly loved him she wouldn’t throw away the 10 years they had together. He insinuates that her feelings for him aren’t genuine if she leaves him. This is just one example but he gaslights her a lot.

Misogyny: Despite the female leads desire to continue working, the ex fiancé continually pushes her to quit her job. He expects his wife to stay at home and take care of the kids. He also gets involved in her personal life making big decisions for her without even consulting her because he feels that he knows what’s best for her like she’s a child. He brags about molding her into the ideal wife for himself as if she’s an object to be conformed to his needs.

Manipulation: The ex fiancé uses sympathy and guilt to manipulate the female lead. He convinces the female lead to take family photos with his mom (even though she’s already broken up with him) because she’s very ill and it’s her dying wish before her surgery. He constantly reminds her of how devastated both families will be if they don’t marry.

Preconceived notion’s: Most of the people surrounding the female lead (including her father) have preconceived notions about her fiancé. Like, since he’s very handsome he must be nice. Or he’s wealthy so he deserves our respect. Or he’s powerful so we should look up to him and admire him. Society as a whole tends to treat attractive or powerful people better. They just assume they’re superior to others whereas a less attractive or poor person is often looked down upon. These preconceived notions blind the female leads family and friends to her plight. They only make things worse by pushing her to stay with him. They don’t see her misery as the ex fiancé throws her into confusion and self doubt in order to manipulate her into marrying him. Fortunately her best friend and the male lead aren’t fooled. They see the fiancé for what he really is and endeavor to help her.

The ex fiancé’s actions are all classic tactics used by a narcissist. He’s always either gaslighting her, guilt tripping her, or using shady tactics behind the scenes to manipulate the situation. He never goes too far to where the angst and melodrama overwhelms things and makes it an emotional roller coaster. But his character did make the drama more interesting. And I especially enjoyed seeing the female lead learn how to handle him.

I also like that the female lead is strong, confident, and knows her worth. She never lets her personal life effect her job and she’s really good at what she does. She dresses superbly too. (I know that sounds very superficial but modern Chinese dramas tend to dress their female leads terribly which I find very annoying.) It’s difficult seeing her ex fiancé manipulate her but seeing her grow and learn from it and eventually stand up for herself is so worth it. I loved her character growth.

Some have said the male lead is overly aggressive with the female lead and is disrespectful by disregarding her personal space. I disagree. They are very attracted to each other and there’s obvious sexual tension between them. But she won’t acknowledge it and pretends there’s nothing there. This prods him to prove to her that there is definitely something sizzling between them by getting up close and personal. Plus he sees her ex fiancé’s true colors and wants to help her break free from him. It pains him to see her treated so badly. That’s why he’s always getting up close to her. It’s to get her to acknowledge and face her attraction to him. He knows they could be really happy together. He’s not being overly aggressive or overbearing, he’s trying to help her. What I really like about the male lead is his strength, self confidence, and unwavering loyalty. His character is very endearing.

Another thing I really liked about this drama was the main leads healthy relationship and sizzling romance. Once they get together they have a few issues pop up but like normal real life couples, they talk things over and work it out. It was so refreshing to see that because it’s a rarity in Asian dramas. And surprisingly I wasn’t bored after they got together even though it was midway through the drama. I think that’s because their relationship had such great chemistry. If you like romance dramas with lots of realistic kisses and skinship then you’ll love this drama because they kiss and cuddle a lot.

That being said, I have to address the mistakes this drama made. The biggest mistake was the amount of screen time they gave to the very boring secondary romance. Their characters lacked depth, their storyline wasn’t interesting, and they had zero chemistry. And they were given a lot of screen time too. So I was constantly hitting the forward button through their scenes.

The other big mistake was that there wasn’t much else going for this drama other than the romance. They didn’t give you enough information or background to make the office politics interesting. I know the male lead was an executive at a high end investment firm investing in the female leads company. But I’m still not sure what the female leads company actually did, I know she was a director with a team under her but they never gave a lot of details about the job itself. And you never really get to know the employees there either. So the office politics weren’t that interesting and added little to the story.

Therefore because they gave way too much screen time to a boring secondary romance and the only interesting thing in the drama was the main leads romance, I took 2 stars off in my rating. Since I love a good romance with chemistry I gave it an 8. It could have been perfect if they hadn’t given so much time to the second couple or if they had spent more time making the office politics more interesting. But the way they dealt with the misogyny, gaslighting, and manipulation by the ex fiancé did add a lot to the story. I enjoyed how they handled it. So overall it’s not the best drama ever but it’s cute, very romantic, it deals with some interesting social issues, and the acting is really good. I would recommend it for those that are into romance dramas.

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Phenomenal acting saved this drama

After reading so many conflicting reviews I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it touching and sweet? Yes. Was the acting good? I was blown away by the acting skills of this entire cast. Did the main leads have chemistry? Absolutely! So why didn’t I give it a perfect 10? Two reasons: the pacing of the drama and the storyline. (Don’t worry, I’ll be addressing a lot of good stuff about this drama later. But let’s get the bad out of the way first).

First, let’s talk about the pacing. Yes, I know it’s a slice of life drama which is typically slow paced, which I expected. I love slice of life dramas and adored You Are My Glory (my all time favorite slice of life drama). But it wasn’t the slow pacing of the drama that bothered me. It was how the drama started out a little slower than normal, then continued at a very relaxed laidback pace, then suddenly out of nowhere it had major drama and angst in the last few episodes. I felt like I was watching a melodrama. I’m not talking about small misunderstandings or love triangles. It got much deeper and darker. Not only does a beloved character die but someone almost committed suicide. It was such a light, fluffy, relaxing drama that I never expected death and suicide to be the main topics of discussion in those last few episodes. If they had paced things better it would have been a far better drama. It was very slow for a good deal of the drama with very little excitement. Then there was too much excitement and angst crammed into the last few episodes. If the excitement and angst had been sprinkled throughout the drama in little bits it would have been perfect. I appreciated all of the various topics that were touched upon. Like death, mental health issues, the effects of divorce on both parents & children, and alternative lifestyles. But most of these issues were hinted at and slowly built up throughout the drama but didn’t really come to light till the last few episodes. So it seemed like everything happened all at once near the end. If each issue had been dealt with separately throughout the drama it would have been more interesting and more evenly paced.

Now let’s address the main problem of this drama, the storyline. I think the reason it felt slower than normal for so long was because of the basic setting of the story. The female lead is a dentist, which is not a very exciting job. Then the male lead doesn’t really have a career, he just fills in wherever he’s needed all around town. Most of his jobs are uninteresting like waiting tables or making coffee at the local coffee shop. And since slice of life dramas mainly focus on the lead characters daily lives, I found it a bit slow and uninteresting at times, especially when it involved their jobs. And since it was set in a laidback quiet little town in the countryside, there wasn’t much excitement. I normally enjoy a laidback drama, I find them relaxing. But this one was just too calm and sedate for my tastes. If the main leads had more interesting careers or had it been set in a more exciting location, the drama would have been much better.

Now for the good stuff: the acting. The acting of the entire cast was far above average. I’ve watched hundreds of dramas and it’s extremely rare for me to like the entire cast. But they acted their butts off. I think that’s why this drama has such great ratings. These amazing actors took a drama with pacing and storyline issues and elevated it to one of the top dramas of the year. I don’t expect it to get drama of the year, but to have everyone talking about the possibility is a testament to their fine acting.

One of the things I always look for in a drama is character growth. And I was thrilled to see lots of that in this drama. All across the board each and every character grew and changed. They learned from their past mistakes and became better people. I enjoyed watching them become better versions of themselves.

With a romance drama the chemistry between the leads is essential and these leads oozed chemistry. They are both gorgeous and seemed very attracted to each other. There’s lots of kisses, flirting, and hand holding. But I wish there had been a little more skinship. And the kisses were too light and delicate. The sweet delicate kisses are more appropriate for youth dramas. When the actors are more mature then steamy kisses are expected and much more realistic. That being said, I still loved their romance and looked forward to their romantic moments. Just don’t expect a real life romance between the two. The female lead is already taken. (Shout out to Kim Woo Bin.)

My favorite thing about this drama and what I think makes everyone like it so much is that it has some deep underlying messages, such as:

First: don’t judge a book by its cover, the image people portray may not be who they really are.

Second: Burying a pain deep inside will only make the pain worse. Just like an impacted wisdom tooth, if you don’t pull it out it will just hurt more.

Third: No occupation or lifestyle is superior to another.

Fourth: Appreciate the small things in life, they are what brings true happiness, not money or fancy careers.

In conclusion, I now understand why the reviews are so varied. Slice of life dramas are not everyone’s cup of tea. You will only like this if you’re into slice of life dramas that are slower paced. Yes this is slower paced than most slice of life dramas but the acting is phenomenal, the leads have chemistry, the side characters are interesting, there’s lots of character growth, and it teaches some valuable lessons. I probably won’t watch it again because it’s a bit too calm and sedate to bring me back a second time. But I loved how fuzzy and warm it made me feel. The ending is so touching and sweet and not cheesy at all. I would definitely recommend it but only for those who like slower paced slice of life type of dramas.

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Touching and memorable

This is a drama that touched my heart. Were there a lot of cliches? Yes. Were some scenarios predictable? Yes. So why did I like it so much? The characters! There are so many great characters in this drama that are so endearing and have great character growth. I know everyone talks about the male leads son (yes I know it’s really his orphaned nephew) and how adorable he is. And I loved watching him push the main leads together, he was very cute and funny. But I found the main leads best friends quite interesting too. The way the female leads best friend has her friends back no matter what and always has a sassy comeback to anyone challenging her just made me love her. And the male leads best friend has tremendous character growth which I just loved. I also loved the female leads parents and how supportive they were of her. I know most of these characters are very cliche and typical in this type of drama. But there was just something about them that drew me in.

Even though the storyline wasn’t unique with amnesia, a cold CEO with a past trauma, a warm hearted female lead that heals him, an opposing family member and a rival female that causes misunderstandings, I still found myself binge watching it. The pacing and flow are impeccable with just enough angst, romance, and intrigue. And it was just so well acted too! The characters were very likable and the angst was pretty balanced. It wasn’t full of so much angst that I wanted to scream and pull my hair out. But it wasn’t so light and fluffy that it was boring either. It was just right. There are misunderstandings but they don’t last overly long. It stays interesting with a kidnapping, some car chases, hidden pasts are revealed, memories are restored, and there are several cute couples.

If it’s a romcom then we HAVE to address the romance. I hate it when reviews barely touch on this when romance is the main focus of the drama. The main leads (and even the second couple) had great chemistry with passionate kisses. There’s princess carrying, back hugs, piggyback rides, and lots of very realistic kisses. The romance in this drama was done very well. It’s not super spicy and steamy but it’s not one of those shows with just a slight romance either. I’d say it’s right in the middle.

So why didn’t I rate it a perfect 10? I took off a point for the excessive amount of cliches in this drama. It wasn’t very original or unique. I also took off another point because the whole drama builds up towards the moment we all find out what really happened during the car accident that caused the male leads amnesia, then they let us down. He wrecks his car and wakes up to the female lead explaining everything that happened to him in the past. Then it’s over, there’s no confrontation with the villain, we never even see their faces. Those responsible for the tragedy are never seen or heard of throughout the drama. And their demise is never brought up either. The buildup throughout the drama was huge so I really felt let down. So why do I have a score of 8.5 when I took off 2 points? I had to give back half a point because of the great ending and how they gave us a lot of time with the leads as a couple. I despise those dramas where they get together at the last minute then it’s over. Thankfully this isn’t one of those dramas. Even though it’s a bit cliche it has a lot of memorable characters that will touch your heart.

I would definitely recommend this drama to anyone that likes a sweet romance, lovable side characters, an adorable kid that will steal your heart, low angst, and doesn’t mind a cliche storyline as long as it’s well acted. If you’re looking for lots of angst or something that will make you cry or something that is full of action and suspense then this is not the drama for you. It’s light, fluffy, and cute with just enough angst to make it interesting. It’s no masterpiece by any means but I found it quite endearing and was touched by it. I would definitely recommend watching it.

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Cute sci-fi romcom geared towards youths

I love sci-fi’s and romcoms so the synopsis of this drama really appealed to me. It’s a cute light feel good drama aimed towards a younger audience. I think if I were younger I would have liked it better. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. But the characters were so innocent and naive that they reminded me of high school students in the way they interacted with one another.

I both loved and disliked the storyline. I loved its depth and twists and turns. Nothing pleases me more than a drama that’s unique and unpredictable. But I disliked how far fetched the stories premise was. We are expected to believe that you can just put in some contact lenses and suddenly see and interact with a handsome man wherever you go during the day. No one else can see him but you. And he’s the perfect boyfriend to hang out with. There’s also AI robots and people trapped in a virtual world. So if you can turn off your brain and not overthink things you’ll love it. But if you’re a thinker like me it may bother you.

The romance was very light and innocent in keeping with characters that have never been socialized with the outside world. There are numerous kisses but a good deal of them are kisses on the cheek. There’s not any skinship beyond handholding or hugs. So the romance was very light sweet and fluffy. It felt like the romance was a side dish but definitely not the main course. The drama is more focused on the lives of the four young men being held captive and their fight for freedom.

What really stood out in this drama was the acting. The whole cast did a great job. I loved every character and was invested in each of their stories. I also loved how much character growth there was too.

If you’re looking for a really touching romantic drama with lots of skinship then look elsewhere. If you don’t mind a romcom that has a lighter romance as long as the story has depth and is interesting then you might like this drama as long as you don’t expect it to be very believable. I’m torn on this drama. There’s a lot I liked like the acting, the characters, and the interesting twists and turns the story took. But I was disappointed in how very unrealistic the storyline was and the lack of chemistry and skinship in the romance. And since these four men being held captive hadn’t ever been outside of their home, they were very immature, naive, and innocent. So their interactions came across a a bit juvenile. I felt like I was watching a high school romcom with a touch of sci-fi. Im glad I watched it. It was cute and a fun way to pass time. But I wouldn’t watch it again.

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If you liked Boss & Me you’ll love this

Watching this drama brought back so many memories of Boss & Me. It’s like an upgraded modern version of it. I like that the female lead is a lot smarter and more confident in this one. She’s not shy or unsure of herself. And the romance has a lot more spice to it. The male lead is very similar to his character in Boss & Me which is fine with me because I loved him in that drama. It’s very similar in that it had your typical cliche second leads that were obsessed with the main leads and caused a lot of problems. And there was a big gap in the leads ages and social status which caused problems for them. So, just like Boss & Me, the basic setting of the drama isn’t fresh or new. But the dialogue and how they interacted with each other was very touching. I also appreciated that there were no tripping into the male leads arms, no drunk confessions, no noble sacrifice, no unnecessary breakups, and no accidental kisses. There was some angst and tension but it was never overboard or too much. And most conflicts were resolved pretty quickly which I prefer.

The romance was refreshing because it grew slowly over time and seemed very realistic. It was surprisingly mature and had a natural feel to it too. There’s lots of steamy kisses and skinship. If you haven’t seen this male lead kiss before you’re in for a treat. He is very passionate and tends to dive right in enthusiastically, especially after she gives him a brief peck on the lips which he always claims isn’t enough. I really liked the romance in this drama. The leads were very comfortable and flirty together and had amazing chemistry.

I loved the female leads character. Not only is she smart, confident, and talented, but she is also a gifted clothing designer. Her clever creations fusing Eastern and Western styles catches the fashion industry’s attention. But her goal of getting Chinese embroidery and fabrics into mainstream fashion throughout Europe is a lofty one most consider unattainable. She has an uphill battle ahead of her in the fashion industry. Unfortunately, at the same time she also has to deal with several jealous females that constantly cause problems for her. One is jealous of her successful career, another is jealous of her boyfriend, and the other is jealous of her popularity. I see a lot of this at my job so I could definitely relate to it. There’s way too many women being jealous of each other instead of empowering each other nowadays. But the way the female lead stands up for herself and shuts down her haters with clever responses made me admire her so much. I really enjoyed watching her character learn and grow.

The male lead reminded me a lot of the character he portrayed in Boss & Me. He’s rich, smart, talented, and a super romantic boyfriend. He is put into a difficult situation by the second female lead. Despite his clear lack of interest in her romantically, she sacrifices everything to be by his side and help him. She gives up her dreams of being an artist and switches to his college to learn business management. Then she becomes a constant and indispensable fixture in both his family’s business and in his families personal lives. Her actions puts tremendous pressure on him to be with her. Everyone, especially his mother, thinks that he is obligated to marry her despite his lack of romantic feelings for her. Since she’s sacrificed so much it seems like the most honorable thing to do. So many look down on him when he rejects the second female lead. He ends up having to fight for his right to choose who he dates and marries. I admired him for never wavering in his firm stance to be with the woman he loved. He made it clear he would marry her or not marry at all. Yet he was still honorable and respectful to his family. You just can’t help but love him.

For the most part this drama was way above average. The acting was phenomenal which is not surprising since the leads are well known veteran actors. And the set design and wardrobe were gorgeous. It was obviously a big budget drama. The biggest negative about it was the very cliche setting of the drama. And there were a lot of annoying jealous females that go a bit too far. The other negative is the female leads hairstyle. Why do Chinese dramas make the young female leads have childish hairstyles? Seeing the female lead run around in braided pigtails or a braided ponytail for the first half of the drama was annoying. Then in the second half she often has the “Apple hair” where a small portion of her hair is pulled up into a small ponytail on top of her head. It isn’t attractive and looks far too childish for a graduating college student in her mid 20’s starting a career as a designer. Fortunately she is very pretty and her wardrobe was gorgeous so the pigtails and Apple hair didn’t look too bad. It’s just sad that we didn’t get to see her long beautiful hair down in a more mature hairstyle very much.

In conclusion, if you can get past the cliche setting of this drama you’ll love it. It’s cliche but cliche done right. I don’t mind a cliche drama if the acting is good, the leads are likable, and the chemistry is on fire. And this drama has all of that and more. These talented actors bring their characters to life and make you love and admire them. I loved all of the characters, even the trouble makers (well except for maybe one of them). There’s also a couple of side romances that were cute and fun to watch too. This is a very sweet light fluffy romance drama with just the right amount of angst and tension. If you’re looking for a riveting action packed thriller or a melodrama with lots of angst then this isn’t for you. But if you like sweet romantic dramas where the leads communicate well, have great chemistry, and have a healthy relationship, then you should watch this drama. Personally I loved it and will definitely watch again in the future.

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Gu Man gives us another amazing drama & Yang Yang & Reba bring it to life

Novelist Gu Man has written yet another novel (You Are My Glory) that was turned into an amazing drama. If you haven’t watched her dramas or read her novels you’re missing out. Two of her dramas, Boss & Me and Love o2o will forever be in my top ten all time favorite cdramas. I love how endearing and touching her novels are. This drama is deep and very emotional so most actors would struggle with it. But not Yang Yang and Reba. Their acting blew me away and made this drama what it is.

I expected this to be a cute romcom but was pleasantly surprised to find a rather deep drama with a unique story to tell. Even though it had a few cute and funny moments, it wasn’t something that made me laugh a lot. The drama mainly focuses on the leads and their struggles to achieve success in both their careers and in their private lives. In keeping with her other stellar dramas, Gu Man gives us a mature drama about adults working together to build a healthy relationship without all of the noble idiocy, stupid misunderstandings, love triangles, and unnecessary breakups. There are no second leads causing trouble nor is there anyone plotting against the leads at their workplace. This is more of a slice of life drama that has an underlying message and a lesson to teach.

I appreciate how much effort went into this drama. This is definitely a big budget drama. The set designs were elaborate, the wardrobe was gorgeous and many scenes were filmed in exotic locations. I especially loved the beautiful desert area they filmed in several times. The CGI for the games was really good too. They obviously went all out for this drama.

Some will say that this drama is not unique since the designer and gamer storylines have been done a lot lately. What makes this drama unique is not the setting the characters are put in. It’s how Gu Man wrote their characters and how those characters interact with others. This is a unique drama where the leads actually have a healthy relationship and communicate. And yet it’s not boring at all. She proves that you don’t have to have ridiculous misunderstandings, breakups, or obsessed second leads to make a drama interesting. That’s why this drama is so unique. And it’s why I like Gu Mans dramas so much.

There are no tripping and falling into the male leads arms, no accidental kisses, or drunk confessions. Everything is very normal and realistic so the drama was very relatable. The leads gradually fall in love over time and the issues they face aren’t silly misunderstandings but normal things many couples face in the real world. Their romance is very realistic and their chemistry is some of the best I’ve seen. If you prefer your romance dramas to have lots of kisses and skinship then you won’t be disappointed here. There’s lots of kisses, hugs, princess carrying, and cuddling. But it’s not cheesy at all, it’s very mature and realistic. The romance is what truly shines in this drama.

If I had a complaint, it would be that I wished there was a bit more tension and action in the drama. But slice of life dramas like this one don’t rely on evil antagonists or fast paced action scenes to move the plot along. They rely on well developed characters and the emotional journey they take to move us and get us invested in the drama. And this drama does that extremely well. Seeing the male lead work hard his whole life to achieve a dream he had since high school then reluctantly decide to give it up was heart wrenching. So when he decides to make one last effort to pursue his dreams, I won’t lie, I was out of my seat and cheering him on. And seeing both leads grow and mature in both their personal and professional lives was very satisfying. Their journey in life was quite endearing.

I’ve enjoyed watching Yang Yang and Reba mature and grow as actors over the years. I’ve watched many of their movies and dramas but this was probably the best I’ve seen from both of them. Their acting was amazing and their facial expressions blew me away. The whole cast did well but the main leads were spectacular.

Overall I’d say this was an amazing drama. It’s not cliche nor is it cheesy and the acting is incredible. The storyline is interesting as it delves into the world of online gaming, then we learn about aerospace engineering, and then we see what professional actors have to deal with. So it’s never boring or uninteresting. It’s one of the best slice of life dramas I’ve ever watched. If you don’t watch this drama then you’re missing out, I highly recommend it.

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