Reviews

Best drama I've ever watched

Explanation for the Rewatch Value: rewatch value is 1 star because I don't usually rewatch dramas.

For me, this is the best drama I have ever watched. It's a complete package, it has suspense, thriller, comedy, tragedy, etc... No scene was wasted, I think, Everything had a purpose. The setup for the plot points, I think, all paid off in the end. I also want to appreciate the OST, besides the songs, the ambient music we hear during scenes were very good. It sometimes makes you think "Woah, why is the music like this? Is something going to happen or not?". I just want to appreciate the subtlety of it, because it greatly adds to the tension or suspense. The acting, I don't know what else to say, was phenomenal! Everyone did so well. Extra shout out to the antagonists, especially Eunseong. I hated him so much LOL.

*Contains spoilers*
The ending I think was perfect. They were still together, even after death. Atleast, that's what I thought it meant. The scene where the old Hyunwoo was visiting Haein's grave was extra special because of the scene where haein thought she saw an old man bringing flowers to a grave. Well, apparently it was hers. Such a nice callback to that earlier scene.

What a rollercoaster of a drama. It made my cry (many many times lol), laugh and sometimes at the edge of my seat. I'm kinda sad now that it's finished. I guess I'll go check out Soohyun and Jiwon's other dramas for now to comfort myself.

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Angsty, Murderous and Twisty

This is definitely a dark, short length cdrama. I’ve written the trigger warnings below. The drama is about the female lead who discovers she is a novel character assigned the role of the villain who dies at the end of the story. With the help of the “Book of Fate” (a book that has the future story written down), she begins to fight against fate to change her tragic ending.

POSITIVE:
- Villainous/cunning female lead.
- Heartless/morally grey male lead.
- 100% angst. The plot, the romance, everything is angsty.
- Murderous vibes.
- Lots of twists and turns.
- A pinch of sweet moments. Yes, there are sweet romantic moments but they are very sparse.
- Non cliche path. The writers really went to places that not a lot of dramas dare to do.

NEGATIVE:
- Too dark at times. Some scenes were very disturbing to watch and very emotionally heavy.
- The male lead was great but at the same time I felt something was missing. Not sure if it was the fact that he has a baby face when his character is ruthless or maybe that he needed to have more scenes at certain plot points that were important for his character.

OVERALL:
If you want a villainous female lead with 100% angsty plot, romance and murder vibes, watch this drama.

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Multiple attempts of r**e, as well as suicide, abuse and murdering.
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READ THE BELOW ONLY IF YOU’VE FINISHED THE DRAMA!!!!!!!
I saw some comments from people saying that there are plot holes (not true) in the drama and some people being confused about the ending. Here are my explanations about the ending and Book of Fate.

How did the Book of Fate fall into the FL’s hands?
FL began to have desires that were different from what the Book of Fate had written. That’s why in the end FL says to the Fortune Writer “You want to control everything. I’m your worst ending”. In the very final scene, we have a little boy that opens another Book of Fate and the new Fortune Writer says “as long as there are desires, I’m here”

How did ML break out of Fortune Writer’s hold?
Just like the FL, he had strong desires that were different from what the Fortune Writer had written. He was always supposed to kill FL, not protect her. As his desire to love and protect her grew, the hold the Fortune Writer had on him lessened.

How does ML regain his memories?
We see the ML getting glimpses of his memories before he kills himself to protect FL. After FL defeats the Fortune Writer, we see all characters forging their own path. Since ML’s desire is to be with FL, he regains his full memories to fulfil his desired path. In the drama it’s mentioned that 3 months have passed, that is more than enough time for him to regain his memories.

Who is the ultimate Fortune Writer?
In the final scene, a little boy gets the book and thus a new cycle begins. The boy is just like the FL that will start fighting with the new Fortune Writer. The point is that everyone in this drama is a book character, so as long as they are book characters there will always be a Fortune Writer that they will fight against. The characters and the Fortune Writer are interconnected. Every story needs a writer. And every writer needs its characters.

The drama also mentions “Zhuangzi's dream of a butterfly”. Fortune Writer also says that in the drama “Am I dreaming or are you dreaming” “Are you real or am I real”. The dream of a butterfly tells the change in consciousness between reality and illusion. To me this shows that FL “awakens” from the novel and becomes her own real self. So from another perspective we can see the Fortune Writer is another part of the FL. Both are playing their respective roles. When you think about it, even though Fortune Writer seems like the enemy, he actually pushes FL to awaken and break free. Otherwise why would FL gain the ability to see the plot before it happens. It's all connected.

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Refreshing (SPOILER MARKED)

I never planned on watching this drama because I thought it wouldn't be something I'd enjoy, but I was so wrong. I really didn't expect to like this drama this much.

I loved Lee Se Young (Choi Woo) and Yoon Shi Yoon (Hyun Jae) in this one a lot. The first drama I watched with LSY was 'A Korean Odyssey.' Her acting was pretty great, but as she wasn't one of the main roles, she didn't stand out to me. I loved seeing her in this one. Her acting is really great, and the character she plays matches her energy. This is also the first drama I've seen YSY in. He did great! I also found this role to really match his energy. You could see that he was immersed in it.

The chemistry between both leads is amazing. I'm happy that we got an enemies-to-lovers story where the 'enemy' status doesn't go away as they fall in love. They still teased each other!

Story-wise, I'd say it was also pretty interesting. I liked the time travel concept. Without the time travel, it wouldn't have been as funny and interesting as it is. There were mysteries that needed to be solved, but the main plot was really just Hyun Jae adapting to the new life and finding a family in the trio. Some things that made me give this show an 8 instead of a 9 are the plot holes we ended up with.

SPOILER

We didn't really find out what kind of sickness Hyun Jae had and never got to see the reaction of his friends nor him getting treatment. I would have liked to see that. Also, how come the future didn't change when Hyun Jae disappeared in his time? Was there another Hyun Jae that replaced him? Also, I really wanted to know more about the backstory of certain characters, especially Choi Woo and Hyun Jae. We were told some stuff but never got to see the depths of it. What exactly happened? How did they live their lives after the hardships? Mostly, I would have liked to know more about Choi Woo. We've seen some short clips, but they were never explained well.

SPOILER END

I wanted to have answers to my questions. It really just needed 15 more minutes. Sadly, they didn't give them to us. Also, I really wanted Hyun Jae to start becoming an idol again. I can totally understand that he did not want to, but it still made me sad because I felt he was made for that role.

Anyway, let's just say that it was his choice to make and that it isn't really such a big deal.

One more thing I wanted to say is that the character development is really great for Hyun Jae. You could see the change in his demeanor, his eyes, everything. I loved how he became a better person without changing his personality. Thumbs up for that!


SUMMARIZED

This drama was really refreshing. The story and characters were all enjoyable. There were a few plot holes, but you'll live through them. Many scenes made me laugh, and I could just enjoy the feeling of an "old" drama.

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What Campus...

While I don't mind low-budget productions, an empty campus without any other students is just ruining the premise of the title. And what's with the over the top lipstick in the opening scene (and other), but forgetting to face-powder the one actor in the next? I don't really feel a professor who gives "love" advice. And finally why end a series with a cliffhanger? Sometimes I was reminded of Thai shows with the silly sound effects which are still annoying as hell.
This was an easy story but I guess the third person could have been spared and they should have more concentracted on character building. So few cast was a downer for me, but at least we get sensible kissing scenes which don't look forced at all.
So, this is an ok show with some length in the story telling and for me some unneeded scenes and a cliffhanger. I suppose an ex will come up in Season 2, if there is a Season 2.

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Disgusting!!

Unless you're some sort of disgusting fetishist I do not recommend. I seriously tried to watch this and even got to episode 10 but It's absolutely ridiculous how this is so highly rated. The brother stuff is insane and whenever they sort of explain it away they immediately throw it in the bin by showing a flashback of a grown man and a child. That is the man who raised him how could they get together romantically it's disgusting. Maybe if the age difference was less and they were in their older teens when they met it would be fine but this was just gross. And also the sister having the same situation it's insane! It's like the writer/director had some sort of age kink and/or wants to get together with their brother but can't so they had to make a show about it instead.

To end off on a positive note though the acting was good and I enjoyed the cinematography, just wish they could've done something different here.

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If you can overlook the silly slapstick elements it is season 2 enhanced

10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean Supernatural Action Drama with 12, 61-74 minute episodes.

First I provide a Unique Synopsis then Review

Synopsis

This is everything season one was but with more intensity. While they defeated the evil spirits in season one as was sinisterly predicted by the level three they extracted, evil is back but even stronger. Ga Mo tak (Yoo Jun-sang) returns and is now back on the police force so arresting the host after the evil spirit is removed is easier. Do Ha na’s (Kim Se-jeong) ability to to sense the evil spirits is no longer as useful as the evil spirits have learned to see the territory and avoid it. Choo Maeok’s (Yeom Hye-ran) ability to heal makes her an emphasized target for the evil spirits who have also absorbed the ability to heal and understand the importance. So Mun’s (Jo Byung Gyu) abilities have now far surpassed that of any other counter. There is a new counter Na ro bong (Yoo In Soo) who is clumsy and oafish but has the ability to “sniff out” evil spirits. The evil spirits in the second season have the ability to absorb counter’s special abilities especially Hwang Pi kwang (Kang Ki young) who has psychokineses on par with Mun and absorbs the abilities of those counters he consumes. Gelli Choi (Kim Hieora) is his right hand evil henchwoman who is a third level with a spike globe that enhances her physical damage by causing britally deep gouges and cuts in her victims. Like Ha na, Gelli can read and erase memories. Their third evil spirit team member is Wong Li Qiang (Kim Hyun Wook) who absorbed the ability to heal but takes psychotic delight in brutalizing his victims.

A third-level evil spirit specializing in speed who scratches, stabs, cuts, and kills. She can also read and erase memories. Mun struggles with concepts of good and evil when someone he greatly admires, Ma Joo seok (Jin Seon kyu) turns evil after his wife and unborn child are murdered. With evil spirits more powerful than ever, and the lines between good and evil blurred, can the counters prevail against seemingly insurmountable odds?

Review

Could you skip two and just watch season one? About the only thing you might miss is Mun becomng even more amazing. But they are fighting new evil so it is a little bit stand alone. In my opinion it is better than season one just in terms of how much stronger and more powerful both sides have beocome. But, the silly slapstick elements incorporated in season two were a huge detractor made some determine they could do without it. It ends well and everything is resolved yet there are onvious openings for additional season(s).

Spoilers*.

I like Yoo In Soo and was happy to know he was going to be in the 2nd season.That is until they introduced Na Ro bong and his character was ridiculous. The whole dung and potty humour was too much. Ok we get it you worked with cows. And his ability to smell evil? That could have been interesting I am thinking of “The Girl Who Sees Smells” but they made it so he would put his head out the window like a dog. And he wasn’t even that great at it. He would lose track and misdirect. He was useless in the physical fights and, if anything, put the others in danger. He had the mentality of a young child. If they had left that character out the show would have been better.

They put way too much slapstick comedy style throughout the series. Reapers are a serious thing in all the other South Korean shows I have watched. The “counters” were serious bad asses in the first season. This season they trivialized their role by making it over the top silly. I mean, the main counters were still serious, but they interacted with Na Ro bong, and he was so silly that it made everything silly.

Once again Netflix deviated from the elements of South Korean drama that most fans love. Repeat after us Netflix kdramas should be one season with 16 episodes. Supernatural beings are serious characters.

One well written plot twist was when Gelli Choi discovered she could see by reading their minds when and how the counters first got their abilities. I thought “big deal what can she do with that?” Then she was fighting with Mun and realized the only way to defeat him was to steal his memory of gaining his power. She did that and it took Mun out for a significant portion of time. I did not see that coming.

From season one I really wanted to see Mun and Ha na become a couple. If anything in season two they mive farther from that. Ha na even has a side romance. The romantic in me still hopes for a season three and they finally get together.

#UncannyCounter2 #YooJungSang #KimJeSeong #SungJiRoo #JoByungGyu

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I found out about this show after my viewing of Physical 100 and I could not get enough of the genre both shows reside under. I am glad I found this show because unlike Physical 100, it was much longer and included full matches of all different teams. I also enjoyed the ending of this show with the final matches and I believe the winner was much deserved.

The main issue I have with this show is due to Physical 100 and it's magnificent cast. I believe this series suffered a lot due to the cast not being particularly known or high level athletes which made the show sort of redundant and unnecessary because of knowing that the athletes competing are not the best of the bets unlike Physical 100 where all if not most cast was revered and respected throughout Korea for their accomplishment in some sort of setting.

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a mixed bag.

I didn't like the forced living together in Episode 1. Where does something like this fly today? Even if you would like that person, you would not start living together out of the blue. The rest of the story for the main couple was ok-ish. The side-couple was more or less wasted with too little in depth storytelling. They should have the flashbacks for both couples in the beginning which would have helped tremendously. The drama of Kim Jin Woo daddy was there to support the point that he's afraid of not connecting with the people he loves. Contrary he did connect with the girl in Ep 4 which didn't make much sense to me. If you are a loner, reclusive you don't connect with people in no time.
I wish they would have just concentrated on the lead couple and had a series for the side couple, maybe with even only 6 episodes per series.
The friendship between Jung Ki Sub and Choi Balg Eum was the highlight of the series for me. Overall it was an ok-ish series, not earth-shattering story-wise with some fluffy moments, but also not bad.

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MaxNat Supremacy

This is absolutely worth a watch. It's a unique concept told with a lot of heart and emotion, which I think Max and Nat do such a beautiful job with.

I do think there were some pacing issues so the story started to feel slow in the middle, and I found myself not caring much about Phupha's story. I wish we'd got a bit more time with Jao and Wayu's storyline as well because they had such great chemistry from the start with their constant bickering.

I don't think I've watched anything like this so far, and honestly love to see Max and Nat's acting improve with every project they do together.

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Cute BL love story

Cute ??? I liked the story and especially the playful acting of Nam Shi An. The ending was a very good one, i am satisfied. Some people are disappointed because of the second pair, but it's not a bad ending, it's only that they needs more time.


Cute ??? I liked the story and especially the playful acting of Nam Shi An. The ending was a very good one, i am satisfied. Some people are disappointed because of the second pair, but it's not a bad ending, it's only that they needs more time.

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"Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again."

This drama is a one-of-a-kind experience that truly stands out. The actors gave phenomenal performances by portraying the characters and capturing the mannerisms of the BTS members with remarkable accuracy. Their dedication and attention to detail made the characters come alive, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

Although it spans only 12 episodes, some viewers might find the plot occasionally draggy. However, for those who appreciate slow-paced dramas, this could be a positive thing. Personally, I found the pacing enjoyable, as it allowed for a more thorough exploration of the storyline. Plus, I had a personal attachment to the storyline (it reminded me of the old times when I used to draw flow charts trying to solve the BU mystery ?).

One of the best things about this drama is how it sticks to the original storyline, which fans like me will definitely appreciate. The flawed characters blend harmoniously, crafting a drama that feels genuine and raw. It's what makes this drama feel so... authentic, you know? Perfectly imperfect, just like life itself.

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the ending?

I’ve got some mixed feelings if I’m being honest. at first the sound effects annoyed me, it honestly didn’t feel like I was watching a KBL, more like a Thai BL. fortunately, they died down a lot as the series went on.

this is a very simple, sweet, story which we all need at times. there isn’t a lot of depth and there are a lot of plot holes still left… however I did enjoy it… well up until the last 2 mins. I had no idea this was going to end on such a cliffhanger. BUT with that being said, because of the cliffhanger I’m wondering if we’ll get more episodes that will fill in some of the missing bits.

I do have to note it was really weird for it to be a university campus and there were no students anywhere in the background. it gave the whole things a weird vibe, but if you can look past that, I think overall it was a decent watch. especially if you’re looking for something light, some good kissing, and a handsome cast.

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Simplicity with a twist that will keep you engaged.

Technically speaking it’s a really simple story with a simplistic presentation of complex issues, and yet it works so well and it does not feel boring thanks to the refreshing and fun characters.

What you think you’ll get is a shy nerd who does not care for romance and a confident playboy who will try to win him over. What you get is a confident and at times sassy nerd and socially awkward “playboy” psycho who cannot say no. These two gave me some of the most enjoyable and unexpected chemistry.

Personally I loved Kim Jin Woo from the start, but Jung Ki Sub is a sneaky one, slowly making me fall for the character more and more. There was something irresistible about this character, it does not matter how annoying he might have felt, you kind of craved more of his screen time.

While I understand the appeal of the supporting couple (who does not like some angst in their lives?), I was not quite sold on their journey. I really like Balgeum, I did not care much about In Ho. That said, even if I was not that into them, the couple did deliver one of my favorite scenes in the whole show.

Plot wise - simple is the best. Were the issues at times presented in a comically simple way? Yes. The message was clear though, the story was not confusing and all the aspects got a closure. With short dramas like that, I could not ask for more. I appreciate the introduction of the topics like unintentional neglect, trying to please people and losing yourself in the process, being scared of your own feelings/not understanding your own feelings. The shame one can feel about their economic situation and how it can affect all aspects of a person's life.

The acting… I’m definitely a can of both Kim Sung Hyun and Nam Shi An now. Kim Sung Hyun did great with presenting both being rather cheeky and confident, and completely vulnerable with his feelings. Nam Shi An just… what an emotional journey we witnessed with the character he was presenting and how he slowly put away the positive mask and started to show more and more real emotions - that progression was perfect.

What’s more? The ost is just amazing. Silent goes straight to my playlist and I’m gonna play it on repeat for quite some time. Do It Over? Fun song perfect to start your day on a good note. I Will delivers great vocals and Isolation the best melancholic vibe.

Overall, I kind of want to rewatch it right away. It was sweet, fun and really entertaining. The characters were great and I would not mind either second season or a longer version (with the same cast, obviously).

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Twenty Five Twenty One is my first true experience in the realm of K-Dramas and I could not have asked for a better start. This show has delivered in many more aspects than I could have ever dreamed. The simpleness of the story, but the rawness of the actors brings together a spectacular slice of life series.

At first I did not like the main lead Na Hee-Do as I felt she was a bit too over the top, but as time went on slowly but surely I started to relate with her and see my own self in her character. Her experience with being an individual with great potential but not acting on it slowly turned into just another talented person that could have been something special. She never backed down from anyone and always stood her ground believing in what she thought was correct so no matter if you like her or not, you would always respect Na Hee-Do.

The maturity shown in this series was refreshing. Even though most of the cast was teenage to twenty years old, they really behaved in such a sophisticated manner. Never taking anything personally no matter how harsh they must have felt it to be, they always thought that there must have been a reason behind it. This speaks volumes to real life in the sense that if you love someone but do not agree with their decisions do you really love that person whole? People do things in life that will benefit them as we are all selfish beings, so why is it that we are always so surprised when it happens directly to us? We think we are special and therefore we should not be betrayed to an extent, but in the other person's brain, it is not betrayal, it is simply making the best decision for themselves.

A compact 16 episodes really tells this story in full. I do not feel like it dragged, or even went on longer than it should have. It was enough… just like friendship and relationships are. Though it might not be as long as you might have hoped, without that person or persons, could you really say you would be the person you are today? So in that sense, was it not worth it?

I feel as though Na Hee-Do’s mothers character is one that can garner some intense views, but personally as harsh as she was I do agree with her. I believe Na Hee-Do would not be the champion she became without the strong womanly presence her mother brought to her. Tough love is not always agreed upon, but it is how I was raised and I thank my mother as well for that. It brings true strength. This one line from her mother encapsulates her character in a whole “ It is not my job to congratulate you, it is to make you worthy of congratulations``. She loves her daughter as most mothers do, but feels that praising her daughter will make her be content with her standing so she does the opposite and never praises her. Forever leaving Na Hee-Do to be in a constant state of trying to win her mothers approval while at the same time bettering herself in the process.

This show is a constant tearjerker especially during the controversial final between the two main women. Seeing Na Hee-Do get comforted in the restaurant by those old men telling her that she truly did win was a fantastic portrayal of grief being overcome. Till then, no one has really congratulated her, not even her mother. Seeing the love she received in the most unlikely of places was beautiful. If that was not enough, we also see that the main male got in contact with the referee and convinced him to get a piece of his opinion on the action. This show is perfect as showing all sides, it brings up a problem and tackles it in such unique ways from all different angles. The relationship between pretty boy and Ko Yu-Rim is also moving extremely slowly but perfectly in the context of the story. Also one of the aspects I love about K-Dramas is how they portray love in such an innocent way. It all starts as friends first and slowly moves further and further as we see both characters are in love but too shy to express it in their own ways.

One of my favorite scenes in this drama is when Ko Yu-Rim is singing and later jumps into the pool. Na Hee-Do is there to watch all this and as much as she might believe she hates Ko Yu-Rim, you could see the worrisome nature in her face seeing the jump. She was genuinely fearful because as much as she might see her as a rival, she still respects her as an individual and a person. The music, the tense but relaxing atmosphere, the sight of Ko Yu-Rim being in her feelings and showing emotion made this scene absolutely unforgettable to me. Both these women are broken, yet found the solitude in fencing. As much as they compete, they do not yet know they are the exact same person. Twins born of different parents even. The next scene is the two women messaging on the chat board yet unknowing that they are speaking to each other. Truly a prophetic moment, two girls with everything in their hands and the world at their fingertips, yet at the end of each day, all they can do is go and message the one person that has been there throughout everything. The one person that they have not even seen in person yet trusts them with all their hard difficulties.

I also love the scene where Na Hee-Do hears two women in the washroom gossiping about Ko Yu-Rim and her family situation. It is at that moment where she takes charge and goes into the stall and attempts to beat up the two girls in protection of Ko Yu-Rim. This is one of the true moments we see Ko Yu-Rim and Na Hee-Do work together and it felt absolutely fantastic to see. Ko Yu-Rim had always disliked Na Hee-Do but after learning that she was the one Ko Yu-Rim was talking to, she does a complete 180 and realizes all of her past mistakes which takes a truly grown person to do. The actress that plays Ko Yu-Rim has great facial emotions. Whenever she is in a sad scene, it really makes the viewer feel exactly what it is that she is feeling. You just can't help but want to give her a hug and tell her everything will be alright.

Seeing the two embrace each other after Ko Yu-Rim confesses she is the online friend is so heartwarming. I just could not help but smile the entire time through. The two girls finally found their platonic soulmate and it is beautiful to see. All that hatred and all that anger at one another just vanishes and it turns to embrace and lovingness.

The second last episode was absolutely heart wrenching especially towards the end. Seeing the differing situations between Yi-Jin and Hee-Do was just setting this show up for a sad finale. Growing up is an occurrence that no one can ever help. You can not ever beat time. We should have known that this would eventually happen to the couple that fell in love so young, but we just never learn as humans. Relationships between humans are the most difficult thing to work out because of them having two fully functioning people. Two smart and in different mind stated individuals.

No one was simply to blame in this couple's ending, if anything it was simply the cards they were dealt. Having to be apart so early in the relationship, and on top of the already difficult long distance was the added agony of both and especially Yi-Jin’s day to day life. He wanted to succeed and in doing so he took all opportunities, but the cost was the life he imagined with Hee-Do. We see when they break up first, that Hee-Do does not even seem like the same person. She is so cold on the outside and has just fully checked out from an emotional standpoint. She thought of all different routes this relationship could go and came to the conclusion that it was a lost cause and there was no way to pick up the already broken pieces.

It gets to a point in some relationships where even if you are one of the people within, you look as a bystander. Some relationships are just not meant to last, and it gets to the point of simply watching either yourself or your partner lose the attachment once felt.

All in all, this show was a great entry and had magnificent points throughout its 16 episode run time. I do believe that it had a bit of a fall off later in the series, but the last 2 episodes were done greatly. Some questions such as how Yi-Jin and Yu-Rim know each other from their childhood, I feel could have been incorporated into the story a lot better. I definitely would not say this show has failed potential as it had a great ending and accomplished what it set out to, but I was not satisfied quite fully after the show ended.

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