A disappointment but not for the reason that most might think...

I actually don't mind Hyeyoung and Jojo ending up together despite being a Sunoh and Jojo shipper from season 1. I like Sunoh more in season 1 because he has history with Jojo. He was there for her when no one else was. He may be a cold character to others but when it comes to Jojo, he was so warm towards her. People may not like Sunoh because they think he's arrogant but the thing is that he was never mean or arrogant towards Jojo though. He was surprisingly very sweet when it comes to her. & I guess that's the reason why I initially shipped him with Jojo more.

On the other hand, I grew to like Hyeyoung in the last half of season 1. He was super passive in the first half so the change in his character in the second half was great. I find that change very welcoming because it was also the reason why I like Sunoh more than him initially because Sunoh was so much more proactive. So the more confident and proactive Hyeyoung definitely won me over. Hyeyoung is a nice guy and he treats Jojo well and I think that's enough for Jojo. & also feelings can change with time so it's definitely plausible that she would move on.

Not saying Sunoh deserves Jojo less though because he was actually an incredibly sweet boyfriend to her but Jojo unfortunately ruined the relationship herself. I say that, in this context, she actually does not deserve Sunoh so it's better this way. Sunoh deserves someone who loves him unconditionally and who won't break his heart without giving any reasons like Jojo did. He's way better with Yukjo and all that's left is for him to finally open his heart up to her and forget about the past.

However, I do have to say that season 2 was a bit of a let down. & I'm saying this as someone who supports the end game. People assumed that some don't like season 2 because of the end game. While that is true for some, but I'm pretty sure there are a lot more who share the same sentiments as me.

Season 1 was full of tension, fast-paced and actually has an interesting plot. There was also a sense of suspense in some scenes that incites curiosity. Season 2, however, felt rather meaningless and easy? The pacing was super slow and the plot was quite non-existent. It almost felt like a completely different drama from season 1 because the pacing and even the directing and vibes felt so different this time round.

All in all, it just feels like a super long music video to me.
6 episodes of just endless wistful staring with a few 'romantic' moments between the leads with music playing in the background...

Story-wise... it was just super bland.
The actors and OST were great though!

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My thoughts on the show

I think the show started off well with a lot of promise at the beginning, but sadly, it lost its steam somewhere in the middle for me when they dragged out the 'revenge' plot for as long as they could, and it probably got even worse towards the end when they unnecessarily introduced a last-minute villain in the form of Yura. The acting was great, though, especially the main antagonists, Park Minhwan and Jung Soomin. To be honest, in some ways, I felt like I continued watching just for them. The romance was so-so. It's a situation where, on paper, it would've been cute, but watching it, it just felt bland. It's the type of romance where I wouldn't care if they get together or not. But it could just be due to poor execution. They do have some chemistry, but I find Jihyuk (the male lead) to be a pretty bland character overall. But at least it has a satisfactory ending, with all ends tied up nicely for the main leads.

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My review of the show

I love this show. It stays true to what it promises and remained lighthearted all the way. It may not be much plot-wise but the writing for all the characters makes up for it. So for people who like fast-paced plot with tons of action, unfortunately this isn't for you because you might find it too slow or boring for your tastes. But for people who like well-written characters, lighthearted stories about the regular lives of people living in Joseon and are into great cinematography, you should definitely give it a try. One thing I would love to compliment about this show is its use of background music. I love that its pretty much just instrumentals. It complements the scenes really well and doesn't feel overwhelming. Oftentimes pop songs with vocals and lyrics can be so overused in dramas so this is such a breath of fresh air.

The acting is great too. Especially Rowoon who manages to show his comedic range without stepping into the line of overacting. I feel like a lot of actors especially the new ones have a tendency to overact when they have to do comedy but he did such a great job with this. The side characters were great! Cho Yihyun's acting was so-so in the first half, which is understandable since this is her first main lead in a historical, but I think she did improved in the later half.

I guess one slight disappointment would be the chemistry. I think Rowoon did the most he could, to be honest.He made his character being 'in love' quite believable but Cho Yihyun, on the other hand, will need to work on it a little bit more. It's probably due to her lack of experience in the romance genre. But she's still young and probably once she gets more experience in romantic roles, she'll learn how to generate some chemistry with her co-stars. Also contrary to what most think (because I know that she has a lot of shippers from her prev work), I don't think she has chemistry with Lomon either lol. Even in School 2021, I do not think she has chemistry with her co-star as well. I think she needs to work on that the most if she wishes to transition to roles in the romance genre.

Overall, it's an enjoyable drama with interesting side couples as well.

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