To be clear it is not much of a review but just kind of notes on the drama.

I have always liked Seo In Guk and Jung So Min because I think they give that vibe of being without malice. So this drama was on my watchlist for a long time.

After watching the drama there are many mixed feelings although on the scale, it is still on positive side.

What I liked in this drama?
1. Ending- After that scene in 15th episode, we become pretty sure, the story is going to end with either of the one lead dying. I felt Seo In Guk would be killed at the end for redeeming his arc. So it came as a surprise to watch both the leads killed off. Its been a long time after old kdrama- 'I am sorry, I love you' that I got to watch the pair dying together. I am sucker for those kind of endings. Although the end was fitting but the manner in which it was done was really hurried and irrational. It made no sense for the character of the secretary to be so cold and inhuman and be such a faithful dog nor to pop up at that time at that place.

2. The lead pair- their chemistry was instant and so good. It has been a long time since I got to watch such a genuine chemistry between the couples. I think, one can watch this drama solely for the chemistry between the couple. Seo In Guk as a empty sociopath and Jung So Min as a warmhearted counterpart were perfect and complimented each other nicely. In most of the dramas when the lead couple enter in a relationship, I end up skipping their dating scenes. But not in this one. Strangely, in this one, you could feel their pure-innocent love for each other. You could also feel the healing of Kim Moo Young. And hence I ended up watching those scenes. Rare for me!

3. Start- The start hooks you right up. Seo In Guk's mysterious persoanlity meeting innocent and cute Jing Kang; you can see the impending romance. Although its a meet-cute kind, you can feel its going to be trouble.

4. Pacing - its evenly paced, I felt it kinda of stretched at the end. The scenes of crying and thinking were stretched for too long for me.

5. Music- Music is complimentary. It enhances the mood. It makes the scenes of people crying or sighing watchable.

6. Relatively less cliches- The biggest win for the drama is, the female lead is not stupid. She is not air headed and pretending to be smart. Her warmth and caring nature feels genuine. Jung So Min is a really talented actress.

What I didn't like?
1. The writing of other characters was not on par with that of main leads. The chemistry between Park Sung Woong and Jung Young Nam was terrible. Although I liked Jung Young Nam in other projects, I kind of felt irritated by her as you are irritated when a mosquito buzzes near your ear. Her character really was useless in story telling. She is not meant for light fun kind of roles. She is better in psychotic-dark kind of roles. Kwon Soo Hyun as Uhm Cho Roon was really bad. Even Kim Ji Hyun as Kang Se Ran the self identifying psychopath was really boring and one could see the actor was not up to the task. Seo Eun Soo as Baek Seung Ah was a nice surprise. The role of clueless girl just experiencing the taste of adrenaline rush, suited her nicely.

2. Story choices- use of 'people hiding things' was used too much. It went on till the last episode. Due to this, you feel real irritation for the characters of Park Sung Woong and Jung Young Nam.


After saying all of this, it would make sense if I give it a 7-7.5 star. But why I am giving it 9? Its mostly for the main leads and genuine chemistry they had. Seeing those two people being toyed by fate and misunderstood by others- still able to smile and have such love and understanding for each other was heartbreaking. Add to that the magnetic dark aura Seo In Guk brings to the character keeps you riveted.
Also it reminded me of old school-ill fated kdramas like- I'm sorry, I love you, Stairway to Heaven, Winter Sonata, Beautiful Days etc.

All in all, it felt fulfilling to watch this.