Falls below its potential

This drama would have done better if it was shorter. The writers had a brilliant cast to work with that gelled really well together. They had such interesting material for the 2nd love story between Pyung Hwa and Rowoon. I loved the sisters character because she wasn't devilishly evil, she wasn't trying to kill her brother or anything insane. So much potential was wasted. The writers/directors/producers were so obsessed with the visuals they forgot to bring any substance.

Lack of character development - For any of the side characters I would have loved to have seen some development.

What happened to Hwa Ran's mother? Why did they make it seem like she wasn't her father's daughter? Does she love her husband? How did they meet?

Pyung Hwa had the most interesting background and as a throw away we learn the pilot was her ex? Why did he register the marriage? How did she confront him then? I would have loved more of Rowoon's background, how did he become to be such a great person?

Da Eul's ending was wasted too. Get her together with someone better. Being single is better than that loser of a husband. He didn't learn anything at all.

Unclear ambitions for the main leads. Won wants to own everything but settles for the hotel? Why doesn't she open a hotel with her name Sa-Rang that means love in Korean, rather than Amore? WHY? Won is busy building an empire, why can't she do it at his side? The resort hotel could have been the starting place? She worked hard to get to the top of her field and what? She starts over? She earned a position at King Hotels. She would have earned that promotion!

It was just too long for no reason. But the parts I didn't fast forward through were nice.

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An achingly beautiful love story told deliberately

This drama is not for the faint of heart or those looking to quickly get through a story. I sometimes watch dramas that I feel linger too long at a gaze, or rehash the same issues over and over again. This drama is beautiful in its pace. And to appreciate the drama, you have to be at ease with the pace. You have to flow with it. Being in the right mood, right time makes a difference.

The cinematography is like no other. Each composition holds such meaning, done with such deliberateness, that I couldn't bear to skip anything. Every movement, every glance, every flicker was so deliberately and meticulously crafted, that it would be a shame to turn away for a moment dare you miss any of the artistry.

The character development was brilliant. Everyone had growth, everyone had space and room to be a complex human, to learn, to regret, to forgive, to fail, and to grow. It's a talented writer, and a talented cast of characters, every lead, every supporting lead, gives purpose and depth to their part.

I would have given this drama a 10/10 regardless of the ending they had chosen. Everything felt deserved. This tangled story was told with such love and care,

But my empathies lie solely with Shim Woo Joo, brought to life by the wonderful Lee Sung Kyung. Perhaps as a middle child, a pillar of the family, and eldest daughter, any way I look at it, she had my whole heart. I understood her most, rooted for her throughout. For people that say this is a slog or slow burn, I disagree. It is deliberate in its pacing, so you ache as she aches. Also, coming from a culture where honor, family, standing in society means everything, I was heartbroken for her. Like I said, regardless of the ending I would have understood, but I still harbor resentment that Shim Woo Joo doesn't. She reflected my own short comings, showing what a long was I have to go to be understanding and deliberate and honest and hopeful.

Beautiful. Please watch.

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This wonderful drama suffers from poor writing and poor chemistry

I wanted to love this drama so much. I do love major parts of it. The historical part of this story is fantastic. The slow burn, the looks, the evil dad, it's beautifully done. Kim Dae Young is a standout in this drama. He has such range. I don't know whether it was his choice or the director's choice to talk so slowly when he's Do Ha, but that choice aside, I loved him in this drama and I hope he gets a chance for another lead.

Pyo Ye Jin is a fantastic actress, but her character is so poorly written. She's so inconsistency written and made stupid or weak as a plot device, and that really bothers me. But also, I've seen Kim Dae Young in Sh**ting Stars, so I know he can have great chemistry with his leads, and kiss well. This drama's slow burn was amazing from his end, but I didn't quite believe Ye Jin's modern character. Also, the kiss scenes gave me major ick.

Honestly, it's a brilliant story, but I blame the directors and writers and editors for mangling it. There was no need for it to be so incredibly complicated, or for the multiple jumps back and forth. I think this would have done well as an 8 episode drama, with a tighter script it might have been better.

But I just loved the actual story and plot hidden underneath it all, and if you can manage it (I did by fast forwarding where they were just rehashing the same thing over and over again), there's a really great drama somewhere underneath the garbage piled on by the directors.

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I want to recommend this to literally everyone.

I got into K-dramas recently, just in the last year or two, and every time I watch one there is always that drama that plays within the drama (a la Business Proposal) that makes fun of dramas like this. All the tropes are there, but the way they magnificently lean into some and break others is masterful. This is definitely a typically structured melodrama, but the earnestness in which it was created shines through, making this one of my all time favorites.

As for rewatch value, I started this drama as 10 episodes had dropped, and in anticipation of the last two, watched and rewatched this for a week.

Cons:
1 - In my opinion, the costuming/fashion choices do not lend to this drama. I don't know whether they had to make this on a budget, or they didn't have many sponsors, but it doesn't strike me as elegant styling. Perhaps there was a reasoning for it, but I found the ML suits to be Ill-fitting or not made from the best materials, they did nothing for his figure. I compare it to Park Yeon-jin's outfits in The Glory. When you look up most dramas, there are blog dedicated to their styling, there isn't much for this drama.

2 - It can sometimes be just a tad cringey. Specially the male lead. But I forgive it, because I find him also to be terribly endearing throughout the drama.

Pros:

1 - Pacing - Because it's only 12 episodes, this flies past. And unlike other dramas, the obstacles shift throughout episodes. There is no handwringing about the same things throughout the story. I really enjoyed that.

2 - Chemistry - the two main leads do an amazing job of carrying the entire show, especially the female lead. She is so outstanding in her performance. She is sincere and funny. Her range is incredible. And the male lead doesn't AT ALL try to skate by on his looks. He doesn't mind looking foolish at times, using his whole face to act (I love Lee Soo Hyuk, and maybe the directors force him to do so, but he always just has a "model face" on.)

3 - Supporting characters - I love almost all of them (except for her father but I shan't spoil it) they were brilliant and almost everyone got their just desserts.

4 - Trope breaking

Damsel in distress - this is my favorite broken trope. She is in distress in the first episode (which is most people's least favorite) but that last act shows her thorough shift. She carries herself so well throughout the rest of drama and it is around her that people gravitate. She is the general and conductor for the revenge, and knows what is happening most of the time.

Amnesia - Not in the "oh I lost my memory" but in the "you've shown me a million times who you are, but I'll conveniently forget every time you give me new information." There is NONE of this. The two leads make the decision early on to completely trust each other. And they absolutely do. It's delicious and SO satisfying to watch as they deftly handle everyone that tries to manipulate them

Terrible in-laws - this is another great broken trope, and the sister-in-law especially (especially in contrast to the ex-SIL). (Just as an aside, her face during the scene at the department store gave me major j-hope vibes, and she was my favorite from then on)

5 - Proper ending - This one is my absolute favorite in terms of endings. It is so simple and perfectly packaged Probably because the story is rather straight-forward but when things get complicated in fantasy-style drams (like The King Eternal Monarch) or difficult relationships (like CLOY), the writers feel their endings cannot be simple. I don't think those two have happy endings at all, they are so depressing to me, but this one was perfect.

I hope everyone watches this drama giving it a bit of grace because clearly they weren't expecting it to do well, but this a sneaky good drama and I wish they had more of a budget to play with. But perhaps we wouldn't have gotten my favorite new actress as a leading lady out of it!

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