A MUST WATCH
I absolutely loved it! Everything was beautiful, no need for any change because it was perfect.Plot- The plot was so interesting and it kept me on my toes. It wasn't fast paced at all but maybe it was because it had a good amount of episodes.
Actors- Amazing, absolutely amazing. The actors did such a great job! I really felt their emotions especially in the end where they made me cry lol. My favorite character is Lee Gang Doo, I felt such pain and love seeing him. You will understand once you see him.
This series is such a masterpiece, the best K-drama I've ever seen. If you haven't seen it yet then what are you doing? Go watch it! You will feel ALL the emotions, the bad and the good.
Hope this review helps you, have a lovely day!
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This review may contain spoilers
It’s just a story of lovers.
Out of nowhere, I find myself musing on the beauty of tears. When I cry during a film, am I mourning the fictional characters’ fates, captivated by the story’s brilliance, or touched by something deeper? If I had abandoned this series, as I nearly did at episode four two years ago, would I feel this same ache now? Would my tears have flowed as freely?Tears, no matter how you view them, carry an undeniable grace. In Just Between Lovers, the characters weep often, yet somehow sparingly. I wonder what I hoped for before watching, what I felt as the story unfolded, only to sit in quiet awe at the end, whispering to myself, “It’s just a story of lovers.”
For a perfect 10/10 film, I either write briefly or pour out pages. With this one, I want to write endlessly yet struggle to find words, as everything I feel lives in the quiet of my heart. Still, it would be a shame not to capture this moment—I fear forgetting the tears I shed today. So, I’ll write.
This is, at its core, a story about what it means to live.
“How do you stay sane in a world gone mad, if not by embracing madness?”
Kang-doo said this once, and he lived it—wildly, desperately, unapologetically unhinged. When society spirals into chaos, how can anyone live “normally”? What even is normal? No one has the answer. People are just trying to survive, dragging their weary souls through the unyielding passage of time. Kang-doo sees this with piercing clarity, yet he’s no cynic, nor does he flee or surrender to fear. He was terrified every day, and even later, doubt and insecurity lingered. But like the moment he clutched a stone and rushed to save a stranger—who later became a cherished sister—he lived madly. If the world is unhinged, it’s people who make it so. To be mad is to dare to act, to face the world’s raw truth, because true heroism lies in seeing life’s harsh reality and still loving it fiercely. Not just Kang-doo, but every character in the film—and countless souls in real life—who dares to live authentically, defy norms, defend their beliefs, and press on for those they love, lives with that same madness. They cherish this beautifully imperfect life.
This is also a story of pain that lingers, refusing to stay buried.
In a world gone astray, life hurls misfortune without warning. Just Between Lovers weaves a tapestry of broken lives: a young man who lost his father in a mall collapse, his dreams of soccer shattered, haunted by trauma, losing those closest to him and teetering on the brink of losing himself; a girl who, on her first outing to meet a crush, watched her sister die before her eyes, her memories erased by grief, her once-warm family torn apart; a woman who loved the wrong man, endured unimaginable abuse, only to trust wrongly again; a comic artist confined to a wheelchair after an accident; an assistant scarred by childhood cruelty; a mother haunted by not seeing her daughter one last time; a father grieving his child; lovers parted; families still waiting for loved ones to return. These sorrows cut deep, seeming distant yet achingly familiar. They’re the inescapable shadows of human existence, in film and in life.
“You once said life is a cycle of regrets and failures. I laughed. You said, ‘To make those regrets and failures shine, don’t hesitate.’”
“ Humans are woven with pain and tragedy,” and that’s why they endure. Though Kang-doo, Moon-so, and others share a common loss, not all grief stems from one moment, nor would their joy have been certain without that tragedy. Some things are unchangeable—like the truth that lovers will find each other, even in the darkest times.
Facing fate, Just Between Lovers blends optimism and melancholy in how people confront a fractured world, yet these perspectives harmonize.
Moon-so once sighed, “If emotions could wear out after ten years and be replaced, how wonderful that would be, Mom.” But emotions aren’t like a broken appliance, easily swapped. They may fade, but they can’t be replaced. Instead, they can grow into something more beautiful. The pain of those wronged by others’ mistakes doesn’t end with the disaster, in death tolls, compensation, or cold memorials. It lives in the survivors, in their longing, their grief, their hauntings—in the families of the lost, in those who shared the same risks, and in those fighting to prevent such tragedies again.
“To heal a wound, you must face pain greater than the injury itself—only then can it mend.” That pain lingers forever, a reminder of old scars. Healing comes from facing it, even if it breaks you, even if you feel it tear open, exposing blood and bone. By revealing pain and the courage to confront it, Just Between Lovers is a profoundly healing story.
Kang-doo buries his pain beneath a reckless, carefree mask, nursing his wounds like a lone wolf. Only when he meets his love does he reveal the vulnerable pup within. The tragedies of youth shadow us lifelong unless we grow through them. Maturity is such a journey: even if it shatters you, you must break free from the self you once were.
For Moon-so, it’s unclear whether it for luck or misfortune, but her mind chose to forget. She often blamed herself for moving on while others suffered. Yet, like the tale she shares of a squirrel hiding nuts for winter, only to forget them, those nuts sprout into a forest. When the pain is too great, bury it, for “forgetting is a kind of healing, too.” In the end, Moon-so chooses to remember, after a lush forest has grown within her heart.
Then there’s Grandma—a remarkable figure whose name we learn only after she’s gone. She lives by embracing both pain and love. People whisper about her past: a soldier, an America-hater, an aide who couldn’t save her husband, returning to a poor alley as a pharmacist, reaching for the last spark of hope for the sick. Whatever her story, she was the first to urge others forward, pointing to the brightest path. She left to rejoin her husband in her most radiant form, gifting those she loved a final, dazzling smile.
Grandma once said,
“Do you know why so many die? Not from cancer, accidents, or suicide. Poverty kills. It leaves no room for treatment, no escape from disaster. That’s why I fear nothing.”
And also,
“The suffering of all beings fuels my strength. Pain, injustice, hatred—they’re your strength, too. Use that power in this cruel, frightening world. Find a way to keep living, no matter the cost.”
She was a true friend, gloriously mad—living madly, dying madly, and cherished in her own fierce way.
Each person faces their inner wounds differently in this cold, unyielding world. Some flee, some hide, some confront, some draw strength from pain to carry on. Ultimately, people endure, at any cost. They live for those left behind, for families who need them, for gnawing guilt, for burning vengeance. Because their hearts still beat. Yet, “It takes only ten muscles to smile, but all to frown. Instead of grimacing, I hope you find a smile today.” Smiling, embracing your true emotions, feels just a little lighter, doesn’t it?
And in the end, this is a story of love—of lovers. Nothing more, nothing less.
That love blooms in human bonds.
Family isn’t always blood. There’s a pure, selfless love, like Sang-man offering half his liver to the brother renting his home; gratitude from those touched by kindness; a childhood glance that lingers in the heart; confessions shared in a steaming bath; trust placed rightly; understanding that reaches the soul’s depths. A doctor once asked Jae-young, “What kind of man is your brother that so many offer to save him?” The heart isn’t easily given, but when it is, it endures, saving lives forever. Whether kin or stranger, the familial love in this film is a quiet miracle. Even amid misunderstandings, “We don’t lash out and then regret it.”
That love is a fairy tale—not the usual rescue or healing, but a shared breaking, gathering sharp fragments, and holding them close despite the cuts. I can’t fully capture their love—a madman and a saint, both gloriously mad. It’s breathtaking, yet steeped in sorrow. They love with raw, beating hearts, the kind we all carry. It’s sacrifice, trust, faith, devotion, the final balm. It’s fleeing a sudden miracle or whispering, “I miss you,” the courage to face your heart.
“Look at yourself. Is this the time to fall in love?”
“Who’s asking about your situation? I’m asking what your heart says.”
When Kang-doo finally listens to his heart, he says, “I can’t be the man everyone calls good, so I gave up long ago. But I realized that if I try with all I have, I can be good to one person. So I want to try.”
Even staring death in the face, when she asks what he did to deserve such unfairness, he smiles, “Unfair? Since meeting you, I feel like I saved the world.”
Be it the first popsicle, the first kiss, a love enduring through winter’s first snow; a hummed tune or a dusty construction site; a bus stop, a hesitant handclasp, a swing, soft whispers, tender kisses, unguarded glances—it’s all singular. It feels unlike any film of its era or beyond. Their love is fierce yet gentle, perhaps grounded in reality, perhaps a dreamlike escape. I don’t know. The way Kang-doo, so adept at hiding, can’t fool Moon-so; the way Moon-so’s tears and kindness shine in his eyes; the way they reach for each other, smile at each other, stand together—it’s a fairy tale, luminous and true.
For all this, I wept endlessly, from episode nine through the finale. The story doesn’t lean on shocking twists, yet every moment grips your heart. Unspoiled, I met the ending with raw openness, bracing for tragedy, only to find a miracle “in someone’s misfortune.” Yes, miracles rise from pain, and pain lingers in miracles—that’s life, where sorrow and wonder intertwine. Death hovered close, a breath from parting. “They say living is learning to say goodbye, but no one ever does.” Just as I began to accept that truth, Sang-nam’s words rang out: “When you have someone to protect, you don’t die easily. So don’t worry—we won’t die.” Kang-doo lives. He’s not ready to meet Grandma yet. He’s busy holding his lover’s hand, basking in a golden sunset, savoring life’s details with care. Because, in the end, he and Moon-so are simply lovers.
“We suffered so much before, so now we must live joyfully.” —Kang-doo
Just Between Lovers, where people and their love endure, through sun or storm, side by side. The film isn’t perfect. The workplace plot didn’t draw me in, feeling a bit dry and hard to follow. The secondary couples were vibrant, though the comic artist’s arc felt rushed, not fully explained—but love doesn’t always need reasons, does it? I skipped parts, nearly dropped it twice early on, frustrated and weary, even thinking the lead wasn’t handsome enough or imagining another actor. Now, that feels absurd. I’m grateful I pressed on, or I’d have missed a masterpiece. The cast is stellar—Lee Jun-ho is stunning! The main couple’s chemistry is electric; I adore both leads’ spirits. The supporting characters have depth, with no villainous rivals. The story feels real, yet tinged with fairy-tale magic. Across sixteen episodes, a somber veil of grief and tears lingers, but beneath it glows a warm, sweet, healing light. The themes sidestep workplace drama, focusing on people—their journey from brokenness to wholeness—deeply moving and true.
In the end, it’s a profoundly emotional, richly layered story, as powerful in 2017 as in 2025. It’s remarkable how a film can wound and heal in the same breath, in a single glance. It feels like an embrace.
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The chemistry between the main leads is one of the slam-dunks of the show. The zeal to follow one's love no matter the circumstances is quite well-written. The transition between episodes is fluid enough to not cause a distraction or end-up in major plot holes.
Although the drama hit many home rums with respect to relationships overall, nonetheless we find a lack of gradual sibling bonding between the male lead and his sister. The final arc of the season, especially the last 2 episodes show major sibling bonding.... which is closer to a real-life scenario..... which is kinda welcome.
Like most romance dramas, the existence of cliched misunderstandings and sacrifices is present, but not to the point of being a hindrance to the overall flow of the story. All-in-all, this is a refreshing portrayal of pain, love, regrets, memories and all of them being the reasons to live.
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I already loved Junho from clips I'd seen of him, but after watching this drama in full, he's definitely become one of my facec actors. You could feel all the anxiety, the emotion, the trauma, sadness, anger...you could feel EVERYTHING that the character was feeling.
I literally sobbed through the entire last episode — getting my homework wet and everything — but it was so worth it, and I don't know if I've ever felt that much anxiety over how a drama would end.
Another thing that I appreciate so much about this drama — the disabled characters. I loved MS's best friend SO much, and I loved Sang-Man even more — he was a big reason I cried in the last episode, and he was the most adorable character. The way every character was fleshed out in some way really made it feel like I knew them all, and I became emotionally invested in everyone's stories. The only person who I might have wanted to know more about was the best friend's love interest.
This drama just felt really REALISTIC, all around, and despite it having common kdrama tropes, it didn't bother me at all and it was executed to perfection.
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I got pulled in and didn't want to leave.
I shall be honest; I watched this because I am working my way through all Nam Da Reum's dramas (almost done them all now). It's been on my list for a while and whilst I like the entire cast, for some reason I thought it would be dull or maybe even depressing.How wrong can a person be?!
I ended up absolutely loving it.
The 2 lead characters are very naturally played by actors that feel made for their parts. Their chemistry, projection, expressions, are all excellent. I fell in love with Lee Kang-doo (a very endearing performance from Lee Jun-ho ~ such a good actor).
Supporting parts are very good and well acted too. I did feel the brother/sister company heads were a bit kind of obvious (Jung Yoo-taek's constant angry outbursts, shouting and huge inferiority complex, really got me riled up at times). Both were arrogant and haughty, although Jung Yoo-jin was the typical kind of power woman who treats a subordinate male, better than a female counterpart.
Ha Moon-soo's mother, Yoon Ok, angered me the most. Understandably, any parent who has lost their child will grieve, go through depression, anger and never really get over it. However, she wasn't the only parent to suffer at that time; her husband lost his child too and Moon-soo her sister. She appeared to be addicted to the grief though, wallowing in self-pity, living through a bottle and taking it out on any and every one. She needed a good slap, plus copious amounts of therapy.
My favourite supporting character though, was the street pharmacy Grandma. That actress made that character so real, believable and incredibly warm, even though she was cantankerous, quick tempered and tough as old boots. So wordly wise, intelligent and astute ~ I loved her.
The present day architect, Seo Joo-won, I found a little too good to be true. He carried around the baggage of bitterness and guilt, the latter being misplaced.
Everyone is linked by the one tragic event and those links, and how they have affected the various characters, are uncovered as the story unfolds.
It is not fast paced, but is well paced. The story is revealed perfectly for me.
There are some well used drama aspects, but overall it is well written and directed.
Some may feel the subject matter isn't portrayed seriously enough, but to my mind, being a drama and not a documentary, the screenwriter got it right. It's a romance for entertainment, at the end of the day, and I personally stop watching when something is too depressing or melodramatic ~ that's not escapism to me.
The final episodes did introduce a couple of plot twists that I felt were unnecessary and OTT, but it was all brought together in the end.
I mostly enjoyed the soundtrack, but some of the instrumental music I found a bit depressing sounding, which didn't fit with scenes it accompanied.
I would certainly watch this drama again and recommend it.
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Mixed feelings... Someone really need Patience or Willing to understand the plot
Although this drama breaks the STEREOTYPE of a Normal Kdrama.. But Still the PLOT is AMBIGUOUS...Honestly i was really curious after the end of every episode and liked the Leads and their chemistry as well.. i m satisfied with the ending but i m somewhat confused..
But somewhere it made me rethink about my life, my parents, and goal.. And i started feeling like what i would have done if i was in that conditions....?
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★STORY★
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It started with a plot and then they slowly moved the story to a really different territory..
If you have read the story synopsis then u will get it.. It started with a miserable accident which changed the life of the survivors and victims family as well.. So i thought the story might be about findings about why the accident happened or Who was responsible or about making sure a tragedy like that never happen in future.. But Nothing was like that....
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★CHARACTER★
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If i talk about the characters.. Then i liked all the characters specially the main lead ( Male)- Bcoz he was not portrayed as a rich, wealthy boy from a renowned family... But as a simple, straightforward man who survived with misery And the female lead character was also good.. But All was about Hurt and comfort.. Every Characters have Their own Suffering, dejection and pain....
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Possui um ritmo lento, um bom enredo e um casal principal apaixonante.
No geral, é um melodrama bem feito, com diálogos profundos e muitos personagens cativantes. Traz muitas lições de vida e constrói um romance lindíssimo. O casal principal pra mim se sobressaí muito em termos de construção de relação, o que pra mim não acontece da mesma forma com os outros casais da trama, que acabam possuindo pouco desenvolvimento e finais bastante abertos. A profundidade das cenas, a beleza dos cenários e a trilha sonora fazem desse drama uma experiência inesquecível. Apesar de no final não ter cenas que eu esperava com ansiedade ainda sinto que foi um bom final para a maioria dos personagens.Was this review helpful to you?
I'll give this a 7/10. I won't give this a 10 out of 10 because I got a little bit bored on how slow and long this drama is, but in my opinion, it is good enough too recommend it to someone.
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I mean this was such a great story, almost perfect. There actually didn't "happen" that much, if you look closely at it, but the interactions between each person were enough to keep you glued to the screen. I mean, every single character had a grounding of their own which let you connect with and like them to bits. I loved every single story. Gang Doo's sister and Moon Soo's boss kinda annoyed me though.
Of course, the most endearing and compelling part was Moon Soo's and Gang Doo's growth and their struggles to overcome their past. And how they completed each other, eventually. The actors were just... magnificent, especially Jun Ho (and I'm glad they never changed his hair style in this drama like they do in other ones, because.... damn his messy curls~).
I preferred the first part over the second one. The characters were steadier in their decisions and actions, and never budged. In the later episodes there were some things that looked like the writers didn't know how to push the story forward, so that they started to use old standard methods.
And this is also why I only gave a 9. Because the final plot twist rubbed me up the wrong way. It was totally unnecessary and felt like an emergency solution because (again) the writers had no idea how to wrap up the drama with a smooth and deserving ending. I mean I didn't even ask for an explosive finale at all. I would have been completely satisfied with a calm one, too, instead of this... dispensable add-on. Or they could have at least changed the reason for the last event.
The drama still deserves the 9 because of its many strengths, a well put together atmosphere, strong characters with noticeable development, and a significant background music, which all put together create a heart wrenching but also warm story. It's one of those dramas that will touch your heart in a special way and stay with you for a long time.
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Not your typical love story
Consume this show with enjoyment and emotional attack. From the start, they introduced empathy and sympathy for the victim’s families and survivors of a traumatic incident. They undoubtedly did a great job of portraying this kind of story flawlessly and with well-executed outputs. The field of work is a breath of fresh air from the usual professional jobs that main leads in K-Drama often perform their service to.The best thing about this series is the on-point acting skills of the cast and their consistency in holding a firm grip on their characters’ personalities. Happy to witness a love triangle without making the second lead do something toxic. I like the closures of each one of them here. Everyone ended up with a new start and living their life with positive energy.
The main characters are worthy to be called the MC. Lee Kang Doo, portrayed by Lee Jun Ho, was a manly-ordinary worker who lived just to survive. The same with Ha Moon Soo, played by Won Jin Ha, who’s also trying to face the reality of the present with no other choice. Their love story was well carried out. Both have genuine and sincerity boosting around their presence. The conflict was resolved without any exaggerated scenarios.
Together with the rest of the supporting characters, this drama is surely one of the best dramas of 2017. My only regret is that I am this late watching this in 2022. Nevertheless, I am wishing the best of happiness to all of the people out there who are also experiencing emotional imprisonment towards themselves. Rain or Shine, we should keep surviving this uneasy life with a grateful heart towards ourselves and the people around us who help us to cope with this life. May the joyfulness keep on leading our lives to the fullest.
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bring tissues and psychologist on speed dial
this tv show was soo well done I ended up in therapy. I forgot it was Lee junho in the show I was so lost in his character. he plays someone who has lived a hard life and he really portrayed that character well. he is so talented. if you are after a drama that is serious and don’t mind some triggers involving death or trauma then 100% recommend this show.it is a sad show and very serious with heavy topics covered in it. I felt the characters in a strong way and the storyline was strong.
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