kdmd

I am insanely IN LOVE with this show. I also loved the Korean version of "Nevertheless" for the same reasons that I love this show. They both have:
--Incredible, vulnerable actors giving it their all in every performance.
--A very realistic love story with fallible people.
--Crying scenes where the tears actually come out of the leads' tear ducts.
--Excellent and realistic sets and locations and beautiful cinematography across the board.
--Heart warming secondary characters who are also wonderful actors acting like adults.
--An exciting, logical script within a fairly average plot that doesn't try to do too much, so we can focus on the relationship.
--A GREAT OST.
--Beautiful warm, modern, normal, adult, SENSUAL love scenes (no nudity of course) in bed and other places where people actually get sexy and the leads actually rumple their pajamas.
--The sexy scenes are sprinkled throughout, so you don't have to wait until the very end for any romance.
--Off the map chemistry and cinematography that doesn't rely on pretend kissing.
--Proactive ML who is dominant, but respects the FL's boundaries and asks permission.
--Realistic chemistry that gives hugs, hand holding, and snuggling their rightful place and doesn't just go for one sexy kiss as the single symbol of the close relationship.

In the story, neither party shares their insecurities or concerns fully, which is very much like real life. (Yes, IRL after so much time together, you would have thought that they would have shared more sooner. That said, I was in a similar relationship and really, you have less time together than one would think, so you maximize happiness and don't spend time revisiting old wounds.)

The story also shows each character's personal insecurities and pressures equally. Many people in reviews call this a toxic relationship, but I disagree. The FL was the one who rightly wanted to keep the relationship secret. In such a situation, this is the right thing to do, but men IRL and in this show don't like it, so they were both put in difficult situations. The ML was verbally cynical, non-trusting, and not gentle (not abusive) when he was hurt and angry, not at any other time, and he was rarely hurt and angry. I know many people who lash out when hurt, especially those who need to learn how to communicate. The FL also did not do enough to assure the ML that she loved him, but this is NOT my definition of true abuse and toxicity, just an opportunity for characters to grow. (Maybe other viewers would rather the ML's problem to overcome be lack of hygiene or alcoholism and the FL's problem be kleptomania and lying.) I think that the problem issues to overcome here are appropriate because they can be overcome by honesty and more expressive love.

The female lead has very low-key facial responses, but still emotes like crazy. She is a WONDERFUL actress and a perfect foil for the ML's character who is also hiding behind a shell, but doing so in a somewhat more expressive manner. I am not familiar with Jing Bo Ran's prior work, but I looked him up on MDL and I now see how prolific he is in both dramas and movies. I can see why. He is PHENOMENAL, my new favorite.

Even with a few episodes devoted to mandatory State-sponsored tourism advertisements and social issues (here, workplace harassment), the rewatch factor is OFF THE CHARTS. I want to see these two leads together in other shows.