roddib

You write so well and I hope you put this up as a review so that it doesn't get lost in the stream of comments. I also think of writing a review but it's too difficult!

kisskh

Many thanks for commenting! I'm also rather sensitive and also need pacing with calmness and taking breaks when a drama gets too heavy. These dramas are really not everyone's cup of tea but immensely precious to me.

This drama is very sad but very beautiful. A masterpiece in terms of storytelling, writing, acting and cinematography. I didn't find it depressing, because there's so much empathy in the drama for its main characters. When we feel such strong empathy for the characters in a drama and feel their feelings, it's more a purifying experience. I really like dramas that make me feel strongly. I also particularly loved the storytelling techniques (we get a lot of unreliable storytelling). The cinematography is magnificent, cinema-level. A drama not to miss. 9.5/10

All the antagonists are portraying the standard psycho villain expressions. Mad grins and laughter. So boring. For a drama to be good, antagonists must be interesting and not complete psychos. I totally lost my interest when the mother turned up, surprise surprise, another grinning psycho. The downhill slide of the drama keeps accelerating. Too bad. I only really liked the first 2 episodes.

I really liked the last episode of Our Movie and expected this to have the same solution. Then we could have gotten a more complete story arc for the 2nd couple. Instead we got an ending for the story arc of the 3rd couple which weren't even truly there before the last episode.

Too many k-dramas start filming with incomplete scripts these days.

That would have been so much better.

I absolutely loved Run On from the same writer. The dialogues were great. I've watched it twice. This tried to outsmart the dialogues in Run On but just ended up weird. The characters didn't seem consistent. Instead of forming 4 distinct personalities, they all never said what they meant and didn't mean what they said. Adults blowing soap bubbles, adults playing with firecrackers. The quirkiness was too much for my taste. Too many side characters that never were fully developed. I kind of did like this since I watched until the end. But what there was to enjoy was pulled away by the "we never meant anything by this drama" ending. The actors were trying their best but in the last episode were visibly struggling. Nothing here was really irritating but nothing felt completely sincere or emotional either. I'm giving 7.0 for the good try and the actors. They all deserved a better script.

I'll never forget Bubblegum Uncle

Yes and it doesn't get back on track unfortunately

His story arc and character growth was so satisfactory... for a long time I was unsure which way he would turn.

Finally I got the see the finale. Everything in this drama just screams high quality. The writing is magnificent. The acting, especially Zhang Yi Shan as Joseph Lee, unforgettable. There were many many moments when this drama pulled at my heartstrings and brought me near tears. It's suspense filled and not necessarily an easy watch. To have basic knowledge about the historical background and context before watching is a must, imo. 9.5/10

watching at kisskh (has eng subs)

Am at ep 3. I guess it's fair to warn that this is not for the fainthearted. But I'm impressed and invested. Fantastic drama. Raw and realistic.

kisskh

Hae doesn't hold a grudge against his father? In the version of the drama I saw he angrily orders his father to get the hell out of his shop every time he shows up. Hae's character growth means he makes peace with all of his past. We'll likely see that in the last episode.

I agree with everything you said. (Except I do hate the hair lol but I always hate this particular hairstyle). The drama isn't perfect but way better than more popular recent dramas (BAYM, Genie). SJK's dual roles in Arthdal Chronicles I will remember forever, that was really the masterclass of acting. Reborn Rich, Vincenzo, also great roles. SJK is one of the finest actors.

Private lives are private lives and none of our business.

I'm not feeling the main couple's romance. I like the 2nd couple more. Seok Ju is caring and unselfish. In the final episode, Hae needs to let go of his grudges.

she's simply awesome in this drama. (I didn't like her in Our Movie but that was (too) heavy handedly directed)