I came to watch Welcome to Samdal-ri mainly to see my favorites, Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye Sun. I almost titled this review "Maybe I expected too much" only to be reminded I came to watch with that single motive. I was happy to see their antics and their playfulness both on display on plenty occasions. However when Episode 16 wrapped up I just sat there wanting but unable to identify where the series fell short. I keep on having nagging feelings of uneasiness throughout the show like either the original story started out with less cast or production started before the script was even complete. Did the production budget get cut? There seems to be hastily added storylines which are unnecessary and did not drive the plot.

The characters were not fleshed out well either.
I need to see Sang-tae's devastation. What was shows was just not enough that I can feel for him too. Instead he just comes across as a petty father who arrogantly holds his grief over and above everybody else.
Sang-do was not believable. I mean it takes a bit more personality under the hood to drive a yellow convertible. But Sang-do was made so dry he is like toast with no butter. In love for decades and he doesn't behave like a moth to a flame 24/7?
Eun-hye devolved into a shadow of her self from Episode 1 so fast I got whiplash.
Pan-sik was so comically written that his character only worked on the first few episodes. Unfortunately, when things got serious you could say he can be edited out so easily. Shame that the writers did not even attempt to keep him relevant to the story.

To be honest, the actors I felt did well with the lackluster material they had. Not sure what made such stars sign on this project but I would love to be the fly on the wall each time this was pitched.

Sadly, I do not think I will be watching this ever again.