Basically I received two kinds of depiction from this drama. On the first half, it was portrayed (may be I’m wrong but it’s totally my perception) love is important but living life is far too important. Love comes gradually. Not necessarily it always have to be “love” at first then “marriage” between two persons, however, “marriage” can happen before as a natural response of fulfilling basic needs between two people and then love can be discovered in the process. Conversely, on the second half, it was portrayed, realizing a person is in love is most important and marriage will come naturally as a result. Love and marriage are two completely different subject. If love fails between a couple, marriages is not possible. Marriage comes with a huge baggage which is not a game, it needs sacrifice, commitment and perseverance. Two different arguable school of thoughts. Former quite old-fashioned and latter quite contemporary. What I think no matter which era we live in or what people say about living in 21st century, marriage-a holy institution- should not be abolished completely. It is imperative for any society and I’m happy at the end the drama focused on marriage.
The story was based on romantic relationship of three couples. Main highlight was three women characters. One was in a living relationship for seven years, who typically like many other girls wants a family of her own by getting married and having a kid. She was all into settled life. Another girl who was smart, beautiful and brave doesn’t believe in love or marriage rather believe more in casual physical relationship. She was audacious, careerist and hardheaded woman. And the third one is the struggling one who was in her 30s but was fighting to make her own way of becoming a screenwriter. She was never into dating or any relationship but falls victim of a contract marriage and ended up falling for the person she married. These were three individual romantic set up. Through the romantic lenses of these three different relationships, different contemporary societal facts and issues of modern world have been highlighted. A crude realistic vision of modern society was embedded in the dialogues and monologues.
Three couples had their own hardships both from personal level and also as a couple. Through the romance of Ho Rang-Won Seok couple a newfangled reality of romance has been executed. They were into living relation for more than seven years when they gradually realized they both are way different than each other. When it comes to marriage various issues forced them to part their ways. Through Sang Goo-Su Ji couple, a more independent and casual romance have been executed. The couple transitioned from friends-with-benefits to a more serious relationship. Su Ji was shown as the epitome of modern careerist women who in the journey of building her own place in the corporate world constantly faced despicable adversities. Where surviving in a harsh patriarchal society in itself difficult, love, marriage, relationship and a settled family were always secondary to her. The tensions created between these two couples, their falling apart from each other and coming back are quite evident in real life couples as well. Nonetheless, in reality not all couples goes back together.
The third and the main romantic couple of the drama was Ji Ho-Se Hee couple. They were due to some circumstances bounded by contract marriage. The concept of contract marriage can be unrealistic but the story depicted through their relationship by emphasizing on multifarious sides of a wedded life is simply marvelous. In love only two people are involved and in marriage number of people are involved. Responsibilities to run a family, responsibilities towards in-law family and to compromise in almost any situation despite against one’s will is what marriage is. The couple realized that they are not only entitled to solely think about their happiness and contentment. Instead they realized, it’s more about fulfilling other people’s (mainly in-laws) needs and wishes rather than their own. Mostly the sufferer is the bride. Ji Ho wanted to break the stereotype. Through her character it was portrayed, love is crucial than marriage. Being married not necessarily means to fulfill other people’s expectations. If they keep on doing that when will they be able to fulfill their own desire? To fall in love, to discover each other, to respect each other, to understand each other should be comprised 90% of marriage. Completing family rituals, doing regular household chores, giving birth, to maintain a good bond with the in-laws are not the essentials in a married life. Those are indeed good things which will come gradually along the course of running the family life. When these extraneous factors become more important, love dies between the couple which shouldn’t be the case.
I fell in love with the concept of the story. Marriage is a wonderful and a very strong institution which is not denied here. Preferably the foreground was to respect each other’s space, to respect each other’s dreams and aspiration and to help let each other’s other half grow as per their wish, as a result a jovial conjugal life is possible. Marriage shouldn’t be strangled with the wishes and dreams of the nearer ones but it should be more about substituting each other’s weakness with each other’s strength.
Acting by the casts were excellent. Decades later I could see Lee Min Ki on small screen which in itself pretty overwhelming. Jung So Min is one of my favourite actresses and my girl crush. She is beautiful and an utterly talented actress. I thoroughly enjoy all her work. The other actors did laudable job. Not even once I felt they were acting. They all felt real and natural.
The OSTs are really nice. With some scenes few OSTs are played accordingly which suited the mood of the scenes perfectly.
Few of the scenes are there in the drama which are my favourites. One was the conversation between Se Hee and his mother-in-law during Se Hee-Ji Ho’s wedding, another between Ji Ho and her mother during the very day and also at their house when they were conversing about Se Hee and some scenes from flashbacks of 80s which were consisted of only Ji Ho’s monologue. Also the comic reliefs of this drama are extraordinary. One moment it will engross you into something grave then immediately it will give you a good amount of laughter dose. Some of those comical moments are also my favourites.
On the whole, it is a great drama which executed the difficult, sensitive and complicated issues of relationship from various perspectives: relationship within marriage, relationship without marriage, living relationship and casual relationship. The concept was not an easy one to write. Full credit should go to the writers for their wonderful creativity of lucidly showing all kinds of romantic relations in one drama. Never seen such realistic and meaningful romcom ever before.
Guys go watch it. No regrets guaranteed.
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NOTE: I'm a Sageuk drama fan but my younger sister isn't.
Alright, I knew I wouldn't listen to her if she told me to not watch this drama because she doesn't even watch the Sageuk dramas I tell her to watch... I did listen to her though when she told me to not watch this drama because a lot of people in the internet said the same thing as her, "This drama is not worth wasting time!" I want my wasted 22 hours back!" This drama sucks..." okay you get my point(I know you all heard the same!)
But I got to say, I quite enjoyed this drama and regret not watching it after it finished airing! It kept me on the edge of my chair(well not really since I watched this drama in the comforts of my bed. Okay, it had me griping my pillow :p ) I wanted to know what will happen to Dr. Jin, if Kyung Tak and Young Hwi will finally fight along each other, if the Prince will be able to reach his goals...
Ah, I don't want to spoil it! Well, all I can say is that I recommend this drama for those who are able to stand a political drama :o It doesn't have any romance between the leads in the past(only care) and just a warning, the drama will have you confused in the end... I would have given this drama a 10 if it wasn't for such confusions >.< I find them minor though so nothing to worry about!
Anyways, I do have to mention this for those who like to see such strong bromance in dramas because this drama has it. Honestly I cheered for them instead of Dr. Jin returning to his time! LOL Kyung Tak and Young Hwi gave me such feels~ hehe :3
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The drama’s setting was about war times in which people were still ignorant about science and turned to believing in myths. The main character Seon Duk or first known as Deokman was born during those times of conquering kingdoms and ignorance. She had to be separated with the royal family right after birth due to the nation’s cruel beliefs . It was then, a prophecy was given that a chosen one will unite the kingdom of Silla. Though, never in their wildest dreams did they think it would be a Queen and a twin nonetheless. Seon Duk’s journey from being a traveler, to a soldier then finally to being a queen was an epic one. During her growth, she had a handful of help from different people she get to meet along the way. Her perseverance, wit and loyalty has touched people’s heart around her and because of this, they become loyal to her in return.
What I liked about the drama was the political conflicts in every aspect. The more problem there is on the top of the ladder, the larger the problem becomes at the bottom. Politics has always been a mar in our society due to the scoundrels who take advantage of their power. It’s sad that if one person tries to be righteous in his ways, a flock would try to bring him down. Solving political problems was never easy to begin with, but this drama even the antagonist had the same thoughts as on how to control the government properly. It was a good idea, only it had the wrong ways on executing it which turns the table to our protagonist. Though the antagonist Mishil is very much witty like Seon Duk, the show got more interesting because two great female minds are going to collide head on with their own tactics.
Inserted along the way is also a love triangle within the story line. (They just wouldn’t let romance get away in sageuk dramas!) There is the ever loyal Kim Yu Shin from childhood to puberty and then later on comes the feisty Bidam. This part of the story isn’t your average love story, there were so many twist and turns that in the end it just made me pull out my hair and cry out loud for all the things these three people had to go through.
I am recommending this drama, because it is a good watch. An eye opener and you would seriously love Mishil in this show. Love her and hate her all at the same time.
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Omg. This is definitely one of the best historical chinese dramas ever made. I loved it so much. The story was light and cute. More fluffy and easy to watch than other historical dramas. I was surprised. There was no annoying side character and also no disturbing forbidding parents etc. It was just about them and their story. It was so good! And also very funny at times xD. I laughed so hard!
I was so surprised of the main lead. His acting skills are actually very good. And he is so handsome...those dimples! But I also liked the female lead. Actually I loved all characters xD. The acting was really good of all of them. They made the right decision with this cast!
I'm glad I watched it. It was so cute, funny and amazing. Just WOW!
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Exploring Kang Dan Yi’s Tale of Redemption, Love and Resilience...
Written by screenwriter Jung Hyun Jung ( I Need Romance), “ Romance Is A Bonus Book” was a light-hearted love story between a divorcee, single mother Kang Dan Yi ( Lee Na Young) and her younger, successful childhood friend Cha Eun Ho ( Lee Jong Suk). Uplifting and sweet, it was notable that the series did have a couple of lose holes within its overarching completion...
Perhaps the most notable thing to say about the series is that its predominating story plays upon prominent cliches of the “ vulnerable and unemployed” female lead, the “ successful male lead with an obvious crush on the female lead ” and the evident lovelorn second male lead Ji Seo Joon (Wi Ha Joon). There was nothing entirely terrible about these cliches per se in the drama, however, the evident reoccurring presence of the “ male lead’s crush” as well as other dominant tropes of “secret dating” and “ jealousy” did become a little tiresome within the drama.
Nevertheless, it is wrong to bring the drama down entirely from its tropes and praise must be given towards the cast through their fairly brilliant performances as a whole .
Taking centre stage of the series, was undeniably main actress Lee Na Young as the female lead, Kang Dan Yi. Na Young was captivating within channeling the eccentric traits as well as optimism behind Dan Yi’s growth throughout the series.
As a character, Dan Yi was fairly likeable for viewers by her kind-heart, resilience and strength in the face of adversity. As a notably older character than her counterpart lover Eun Ho, it was intriguing to see how the show played upon Dan Yi’s age as a challenge towards work, self-confidence and her love life. Nevertheless, it did feel that there was lot left to explore with Dan Yi as an individual, rather than a merely an asset to the plot. Although the show did explore a little about Dan Yi’s previous relationship and her interactions with her daughter Hong Jae Hee ( Lee Ji Won), after their initial use in the beginning of the series, Dan Yi’s emotional reactions and exploring more about this side of her character as a mother and a divorcee , felt half-baked. It is understandable the show didn’t want to become too bogged down in the unnecessary details of Dan Yi’s past, however, it would have allowed us as viewers to see and understand more about Dan Yi’s current emotions and resilience if we’d learnt and seen more interactions with Dan Yi’s former husband and daughter. ( Not least more reasons why Dan Yi was going to marry him in the first place before having cold feet , as well as the lack of communication between Dan Yi and Jae Hee, besides not living together.)
Parallel to Na Young was Lee Jong Suk as the young male lead Cha Eun Ho. Whilst Jong Suk has undeniably had more captivating performances than his role in “ Romance Is A Bonus Book”, he did bring a certain charm within Eun Ho’s suave attitude and heartfelt affections for the female lead.
Cha Eun Ho was undeniably a fairly typical male lead within his framing in the show as the “ childhood friend” and the “ successful, younger lover”. Nevertheless, Eun Ho was a character who respectfully learnt to understand more about Eun Ho by rekindling his long-held crush once more.
The relationship between the two characters did feel cliche in parts by the necessity to prolong telling their colleagues that they were dating for a major proportion of the series, however, Eun Ho and Dan Yi had a symbiotically healthy relationship which did not draw out into emotional gaslighting or manipulation, by learning to respect one another over the course of the series making the pairing undeniably heartwarming for viewers.
Sadly, the side characters of the drama often felt slightly underdeveloped particularly with the associated ensemble of the colleagues such as Song Hae Rin ( Jung Yoo Jin) who harboured romantic feelings for Eun Ho as well as the second male lead Seo Joon who reversely had feelings for Dan Yi. Other characters such as Go Yoo Sun ( Kim Yo Min) and Seo Young Ah ( Kim Sun Young) had interesting roles in the storyline, but nevertheless could have been developed slightly more as individuals ( besides their rushed endings). The overall ending did feel completed and was undeniably sweet for the main characters.
In conclusion, ‘ Romance is A Bonus Book’ was slightly underdeveloped with feeding into cliche tropes and slightly half-baked side characters. On the other hand, the main leads were portrayed as individuals with character growth , the show had intriguing messages against ageism and work discrimination in Korea, as well as a heartfelt romance that could engage viewers without toxicity or unhealthy tropes. Definitely worth a watch for fun.
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The Surest Thing is Being Unsure
In contemplating this drama, one is struck by its intrinsic uncertainty; every attempt to foretell an outcome based on personal theories is swiftly invalidated. Amid fervent discussions within the MDL community, the narrative unravels like a colossal jigsaw puzzle, with assumptions and theories constantly evolving, only to be refuted in due course. The plot remains shrouded in secrecy, devoid of any prior references, leaving viewers to speculate and generate their own theories.Performances are commendable, with fight choreography leaving a lasting impression. Tian Jiarui's portrayal of Gong Yuanzhi stands out, his wicked smile sending shivers down one's spine. Zhang Linghe's Gong Ziyu exudes an endearing, love-struck quality akin to a teenager in the throes of first love. Lu Yuxiao's Shangguan Qian strikes a delicate balance between reality and deception, leaving the audience perpetually guessing. Cheng Lei's Gong Shangjue subtly conveys secret satisfaction with a telltale quirk at the corner of his lips. Even Omid's portrayal of the ostensible antagonist, Hanya Si, brims with emotional depth and inner turmoil. The costumes are meticulously crafted, and the makeup work is remarkably convincing. The drama also boasts a collection of poignant ballads, expertly timed to heighten the emotional resonance of each scene.
Although the undertones are somber and shadowed, the narrative interjects moments of levity through humor, wordplay, and irony. An instance arises when Yun Weishan addresses Gong Ziyu as "Yu Gongzi," prompting him to retort, "Call me Gong Ziyu," a clever homophonic quip laden with layered meaning. Above all, the story revolves around the romances of various couples. While the first couple commands ample screen time, the second couple receives comparable attention, their relationship characterized by well-defined characters and an air of suspense and suspicion. Just as the audience anticipates a continuation of playfulness, the mood shifts abruptly, veering into darker, more grave territory as the characters confront their would-be assassins, their lives imperiled by unseen poisons.
"My Journey to You" also serves as a cautionary tale on how not to construct a drama. The beginning is amazingly good. It commences with a dark air of mystery, introducing enigmatic characters each with their own strengths, flaws, and hidden agendas. Discussions abound, speculating on the intricacies of the plot and the ultimate antagonist, as every character harbors ulterior motives. By Episode 22, the grand reveal occurs, divulging the whole plot and the mastermind's identity. However, this revelation falls flat as the element of surprise of who the mastermind is has disappeared; the audience has already figured this out in the prior episodes. On top, the supposedly multi-layered scheme by the protagonists becomes not so perplex anymore as the characters settle into their defined roles of virtue or vice, the earlier allure and intrigue fade.
At the end of the story, Gong Ziyu, though growing stronger and less naïve, retains moments of folly. Perhaps most notably, the once wicked Gong Yuanzhi transforms into an endearing figure, affectionately addressing most of his older comrades as "ge ge." The drama concludes with numerous unresolved mysteries, chief among them being the true leader of Wu Feng and the fate of Yun Weishang. These loose ends leave the narrative feeling somewhat deflated, ending with a sense of anticlimax. While a potential sequel is hinted at, it remains unconfirmed.
My Verdict
Despite the drama’s less-than-stellar development, it is redeemed by a cast of strikingly handsome men, from Zhang Linghe to Zuo Ye. Even the juvenile Lester Lin is amazingly good looking. Each one possesses a distinct charm. It is regrettable that Zeng Shunxi makes only a belated appearance with limited screen time.
Though a missed opportunity for a more compelling conclusion, this drama comes highly recommended for its rich entertainment value and the presence of exceptionally charismatic actors.
Bravo! Strongly recommended! Don't miss it!
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I thought Park Shin Hye was good as Go MiNam. She's just very likable. I didn't quite understand what she was doing towards the end but that's the writer's. The members of A.N.Jell were great. I LOVED Jeremy! His character was so happy and energetic all the time. And ShinWoo reminded me so much of JiHoo from BOF, it's not even funny. They are basically the same character and even look very similar (in my opinion). I was definitely rooting for him through the whole drama. TaeKyung was also a good character and Jang Geun Seok did a good job playing him. Yoo He Yi was a very good actress but I HATED everything about her character, Uee. She played her well, which is probably why I hated her so much.
I'll admit, I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending but despite that, it was definitely a good watch. I would probably rewatch this over time. I really liked it.
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The cast was perfect for this drama there was a huge chemistry between the two leads and also for the second leads and So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin their acting was perfect and when Gong Hyo Jin cried my heart broke, I watched many dramas for so ji sub and all of them was melodrama so I was excited to watch him in a comedy but he really surprised me his acting was super I felt like you can act comedy movies why always melodramas that make me cry!!!!! he must repeat this experience again because it was great.
I loved the music very much it was very beautiful and expressed all the feelings in the drama,this music become one of my favorite
I think that I can re-watch this drama of course it was very beautiful and i enjoyed it very much
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Dramatic at times but meh
I went into watching Little Women blind with only the idea that it's based on a book that I hadn't read but had heard was quite good. I don't find this Korean adaptation to be special. It left me questioning many things that didn't quite make sense.Yes, Little Women has wonderful cinematography and the director knows how to build suspense and anxiety but at times I felt like the motivation behind everything lacked any kind of logic and the end folded so neatly, it was actually both a relief and disappointing.
I wish I could make sense of why the society functioned the way it did. Felt meaningless and unbelievable that no one questioned a thing.
Although the Oh sisters irked me in many instances, I was genuinely rooting for In Joo and In Kyung. Oh In Hye will go down as 2022's most annoying main character. So selfish and ungrateful! I prefer any of the villains over her because at least you understand them to a degree.
Loved the mysterious Choi Do Il and it was fun reading viewers speculate. It's unfortunate that the other male character is nothing to write home about.
If you enjoy suspense, then you might enjoy the rollercoaster ride this show takes you on. However, the ending is not very dramatic. If romance draws you in then you might want to give this one a skip.
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want the actors in something with a better script
Overall: I really want to rate this higher (and I think I'm being gracious with a 7), but the writing/plot is nonsensical and jumpy. Watched on Viki.Content Warnings: none
What I Liked
- the OST/music
- the kiss
- a few cute moments
- Tommy's outfits
Room For Improvement
- the plot was really lacking, there were too many characters and plot threads that didn't tie together. Scenes sometimes jumped randomly and did not feel well connected to one another. Episode 7 had a major event that happened off screen?! Cliche plot point in the 7th episode, bleh! A 1 year time jump in the final episode?!
- did not feel chemistry between the leads or a good development of their romantic relationship
- really dumb rescue breathing, he didn't check to see if he wasn't breathing (i.e. was rescue breathing required???) or a pulse first, this seemed like a stupid plot device and there are many other fun ways that the two could have met
- the worst business plan ever, Ba Da makes really awful/stupid decisions all the way to the end of the series
- I like more realistic make up, but the actors needed some eyeliner and lip color, they looked ill
- too many drone shots
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Realistic but genuinely boring!
I looked forward to this one but was kinda disappointed.PLOT
Relationships should never be too sweet nor too sour. Because if you're too "sweet" you can be taken granted and if too "sour" misunderstandings and all that stuff. The focus of the movie was "modern relationships" but I don't think the movie could do much justice to it. This story is kinda realistic but boring the start of the movie was good and hilarious but rest of the plot felt empty and boring till the very end. There was nothing surprising or wow except that plot twist lol it really got me but that made the characters even MORE pathetic!
ACTING
As always Chae Soo Bin did a great job. Jang Ki Yong was pretty much good too. Krsytal 's acting kinda felt exaggerated in a scene or two. Rest all sub cast members were good to HAHA. Tho they couldn't save this messy drama they did good job! BUT IT'S WASTED POTENTIAL DEFINITELY.
MUSIC? Did they actually had any lol.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
I think some parts were really shoot well.
OVERALL. Will I watch this AGAIN? DEFINITELY NOT i watched this first time itself in 2x speed lol. This is one time watch. This ain't a must watch but it has some good moments.
If you have free time then watch something good rather than this!
END ~
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This review may contain spoilers
wasted potential; crashed and burned with the same old lame tropes and plot holes
Let me preface this by saying that I'm not usually one to watch romcoms, but the premise drew me in. The first few eps were hilarious too so I decided to give it a shot. Alas! it was downhill from there. Like many other reviews here mentioned, the premise is interesting and refreshing. A genderbent version of the typical "cold rich CEO" and "long suffering wife" trope seemed intriguing to me, and it was until the villains were revealed.The villains' (Moh Seul Hee, Eun Sung, Grace (??) and Da Hye) plans and machinations were portrayed so confusingly and nonsensically I had to turn my brain off in order to understand how they were intending to takeover the company. After the villains were revealed, the IQ levels of the Hong family immediately dropped several notches and they were bested. Does this even make logical sense?? This is a 3rd generation chaebol family and yet they were behaving like idiots. This does not fit the supposed backstory of Chairman Hong who supposedly went from shining shoes to building this empire. Would an astute businessman fall prey to such schemes so easily? I would think not. Of course, thankfully we have Baek Hyun Woo who still retains his superior intellect and rescues his ex(??) in laws almost singlehandedly.
I felt sympathetic to Baek Hyun Woo at the start. He was portrayed as a long-suffering son in law who in constantly undermined at home and work by Hae In and her family. I felt for him really; he is supposed to be the male version of the typical korean daughters in law being mistreated by their in-laws and ignored by their husbands. Unlike most viewers, I found the writing and portrayal of his character genuine and hilarious when realizing that he would soon be released from his predicament by Hae In's timely (or not?) death. To me, those were the most hilarious parts of the drama. Part of it is due to how hard it is to like Hae In as a person. She is portrayed as a cold and stoic CEO who almost constantly masks her emotions. She seemingly cares for Hyun Woo but rarely expresses it. She is blunt and puts him down at work publicly. It honestly is a miracle their marriage lasted 3 years. I was curious to see what made him fall in love with her in the beginning but we never really get that. We never really get any scenes on how they mended their marriage either; sure her cancer diagnosis was the catalyst but it felt like the foundation they were trying to rebuild their relationship on was never shown. Instead we get makjang tropes of multiple car crashes, MULTIPLE childhood connection tropes and ridiculous random car chase scenes.
This next paragraph will be dedicated to all the plot holes that I seriously couldn't stand. First of all, Hae In's illness is just so...fake. She has a couple of symptoms that only flare up at the most convenient times and looks in the pink of health despite being literally at death's door. Like seriously, whenever she is at the hospital for checks or whatever, she is always sashaying around like she's walking down a runway. I get that its a drama and that it would be impossible to really look THAT sick, but its hard to feel sympathy for someone supposedly going to die when they are still strutting around in the pink of health! Her brain surgery thing was the most fake thing too. Going in with full face of makeup and HAIR and somehow "losing" her memory but still retaining the ability to walk/talk/eat and returning to work after 1 month... I know I'm nitpicking when this isn't a medical drama but this is a major plot point which the show hinges heavily on so some realism would be good here. I'm not even going to talk about the car accident tropes because yeesh. Lastly, those darn childhood connection tropes, which I honestly HATE the most because it adds NOTHING to the plot. In fact, I feel it demeans the love between the characters. I want the characters to be in a relationship because they CHOSE each other and would go through heaven and hell to make that choice, not because fate ordained them to and the choice is already made for them. That is such a cop out. So if they are fated to be together forever why even bother with anything? Why bother with treatment? Why bother with saving the marriage? if it's meant to be it's meant to be you know what I mean? Since they are fated to be lovers they wouldn't need to save their marriage because they would be together till the end anyway. Lame.
The story is honestly the weakest point of the show. Acting, music, cinematography are all top notch and I'm not going into it because all the other reviews are already singing their praises. The last thing I need to get off my chest is the ending. If I were the scripwriter, I would write that Hae In dies in the end. I seriously cannot believe that she lives. And I always think back to this quote from a western medical drama: dying changes everything, almost dying changes nothing. After the surgery, Hae In loses her memory but somehow reverts back to her old personality (partly due to Eun Sung?). Almost dying wouldn't change anything about the relationship; Hae In is an ambitious person and would probably get over the health scare and return to chasing her trillion dollar club goal, leaving Hyun Woo by the wayside again. The fundamental issues that broke their marriage down were never addressed (miscarriage, communication issues etc) and Hae In can't remember it anyway. The whole treatment thing felt like just pure fanservice to appease the fans and to keep viewership numbers up. If Hae In dies, it would be more impactful in the grand scheme of reflecting on her relationship with Hyun Woo and also her family. I feel like it could have tied in with the scene at her grandfather's funeral quite nicely. And of course realistically, with a 3 month death sentence no treatment would usually be available. But that's just me lol, I just wanted to get this off my chest because this premise had a lot of wasted potential.
In summary, watch for the acting. The plot just goes downhill after ep 6? If you like makjang you would like this. Hand to heart, i was entertained by this but I was hate-watching the last few eps.
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The beginning of the first episode was a little sloppy and the characters were not at all endearing or interesting so I actually stopped watching this a long time ago then recently gave it another chance. I'm glad I did. Just push through... the story is worth it.
As many others have written... The child and teen actors REALLY nailed it! The casting for the most important adult roles was quite disappointing with the exception of Kim Min-Seo and Yoon Seung-Ah. I also felt that the chemistry that was SO present in the teen characters was lacking in the adults. Try not to be too disappointed. I wish they could have just tried to age the teens as they were amazing. I feel that Yoon Seung-Ah would have been a better choice for the adult female lead and Lee Min Ho would have ROCKED as the adult male lead. Their looks are also closer to the teen leads.
So all in all great story but because of the lack of careful casting I felt that this drama could have been better. This is the MAIN reason for the lower score. The soundtrack was also not as good as most dramas I have seen. Not HORRIBLE, just lacking passion.
I would definitely consider it better than most, but SHOULD have been GREAT. Keeping my first sentence in mind ... hopefully you'll enjoy!
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