Nevertheless,

I didn't think I'd love it!

I had my doubts going into this drama because I saw all the negative reviews prior to starting. I had just finished watching "My Name" where I saw Han Sohee for the first time and I was already a fan of Song Kang when I saw "Sweet Home" when it was released.

I started this drama because of the main leads and I'm so glad I did. I keep seeing the phrase "toxic relationship" thrown around, but I didn't see that at all and I think it's because people forget that they started as FWB. Yes, some of their action/words were hurtful, but it shows how complex human emotions are, and I think the drama portrays each aspect of that really well - the initial attraction, the uncertainty, the confusion, the frustration, the jealousy and remorse. Humans are sexual beings and this drama shows that no one is a saint. It is definitely for a mature audience and I can see why people would see their relationship as "toxic" so I braced myself for it but what I saw was raw and realistic emotions.

Han Sohee did a wonderful job as someone who finds herself between two emotions - raw physical attraction to someone and the resistance to give in because she knows she deserves to be treated better. I think Song Kang did an amazing job as well displaying his emotions and the transition of his character. You could really see his character development - starting with flirty confidence in the beginning and then to confusion and him not knowing how to express himself when he felt jealous. I think people forget that Jae Eon is a very complex character who is afraid of getting hurt, and doesn't know how to express himself. Some people are saying there is no character development but I think there are many subtle hints that show he was confused and also fighting with himself about his feelings for Nabi.

The side characters and storylines were also very entertaining and I really loved all the side characters. They make me miss my university days!

I would 100% recommend this drama if you are thinking about starting but are unsure because of the negative reviews. I would say that you do need some patience because it's filmed in a more artistic way with a lot of slow motion camera angles and closeups, while supported with an amazing soundtrack. The chemistry shared between the two leads will definitely give you butterflies (ha). Just go in and enjoy the ride - take in the the beautiful scenery, the attractive cast, and a ton of sexual tension and chemistry between the leads. Don't expect the typical bubbly K-drama romance and cliches from this one. Humans are not one-dimensional creatures - keep an open mind and I promise you'll enjoy this one a lot!!

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In a toxic relationship with Nevertheless,

K-Dramas are no strangers when it comes to unhealthy relationships (unfortunately) but I have never seen a K-drama that was self-aware about it and leaned into that very premise, so I was intrigued by this show before it even aired.
I want to start off by saying, that a story is about a toxic relationship, is itself not a problem. I saw a lot of people writing this show off entirely because it contains a toxic relationship. Yeah, no shit dude, that’s what it’s about. You wouldn’t cancel a crime show because it contains murder and is therefore problematic. The question at the end is if the narrative endorses said relationship. And with Nevertheless, I am not too sure. But let’s get into it.

This show has a lot of things going for it. The cast is insanely charismatic. The chemistry of the two leads is especially off the charts, but the lead actress has a lot of chemistry with the second lead as well.
The cinematography wasn’t necessarily outstanding, I felt like they could have been more creative at times, but the show still looks pretty nice, and especially the spicier scenes were well-shot.
The soundtrack stood out as well, even though I have never been one to care about OSTs. I found it exceptionally good.
The dialogue was good and flowed naturally. Everyone talked like a real person would, which might seem like a low standard to have but is still something I appreciate. All the characters in the show felt like actual people, which is the foundation for a mature story like this.
This show definitely offered a more realistic approach to relationships, which I loved. The obsession with a purity that many Asian dramas have can get really exhausting so it was nice to see that casual sex wasn’t off-limits in Nevertheless,.
I really loved the supporting cast. I found myself rooting for Min Young and Kyung Jun who were sweet and funny and relatable and I wouldn’t mind a spin-off just about their relationship. But I was even more pleased about Sol and Ji-wan. Surprised because I actually wasn’t queerbaited (thank God) and it’s just really nice to see a healthy gay relationship in a Korean drama, but also because I was just really invested in their story. I thought it was a really well-done portrayal of a WLW friends-to-lovers-relationship. It didn’t escape me, that they were the only couple that didn’t really get any genuinely intimate moments, which makes me bitter, because we literally have multiple sex-scenes in this show but two girls being affectionate still was too controversial for Korea, but eh, sometimes you have to be happy with what you get. I usually have to look ages for halfway decent lesbian representation and happy endings for LGBT+ characters are especially rare so it was heart-warming to find something like this in a mainstream drama. I really can’t stress enough how much I loved these two and how happy this couple made me and without them, I probably would have given Nevertheless, a much lower rating.

With the leading couple, it's sadly not that simple. I expected to have major issues with at least one of the two characters because again, this is about toxic relationships, but I have major issues with both of them.
Park Jae Eon not wanting to date is completely valid. If casual sex is what you’re into, hey I don’t sl*t-shame. That’s cool with me. He wasn’t a bad boy that needed to be reformed in that regard. His actual flaw was toying with Na-bi’s feelings. When he was upfront with Na-bi and told her that he doesn’t do relationships, I was completely on board with that, problems arose when he started behaving like a boyfriend while refusing to be one.
Na-bi craving a stable relationship was of course valid as well. I also don’t blame her for falling for Park Jae Eon, because a) that man is dreamy as hell and b) he was very unclear about the boundaries of their relationship. I found myself frustrated with her a lot, for continuing to spend her time with this guy, but when you’re wearing the pink-colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags. We’ve all been there, we’ve all been in love with someone who clearly wasn’t good for us, but whose magnetism we couldn’t escape. I could only be so mad at Na-bi because I literally have been her and yelling at her to get her life together while I continue to make her mistakes would have been pretty hypocritical.
So we have two flawed people, a guy that’s aware of his charisma and toys with other people’s feelings and a girl that doesn’t respect herself enough to walk away. A common dynamic, truly a tale as old as time.

All of that itself isn’t a problem. I want characters to be flawed, heavily flawed even. I want them to make gratifying mistakes. But God damn it, something needs to come from it. Some growth. Or a life lesson. Because that’s my main beef with these two. Noone learned anything. I guess Park Jae-eon is willing to date now, but again, that wasn’t his flaw that needed fixing. Him enjoying flings wasn’t what made him toxic. What made him toxic is that he was just as bad at having flings as Na-bi was. He obviously struggled to differentiate between what is causal and what is romantic, which is why he continued to lead people on.
Na-bi wanting a boyfriend is valid, but she didn’t NEED one. Her not having a boyfriend wasn’t the flaw that needed fixing either. What she needed was to love herself. As much as I liked potato-boy, I prayed to God that he wouldn’t end up with our female lead, who herself was just as unready for a relationship as our male lead.
So, what this really should have been, was a story about two people overcoming their flaws individually. A girl that learns to stand up for herself and walk away from situations that aren’t good for her and a guy that learns to respect boundaries and communicate his intentions more clearly. Then I would have been totally fine with those two ending up together because they clearly have a lot of chemistry. But what those two needed was time apart to grow as separate people. Sadly this wasn't what we got. Na-bi and Park Jae Eon both never really changed throughout the course of the story, they’re just dating now. And that’s just really disappointing. Because now this show’s main message simply is “You can fix him <3”, which certainly is never true. And even if it was, that’s still a boring conclusion to arrive at. There are already tons of stories that keep telling us that love conquers all and that women are men’s free therapists, so I really didn’t need to watch another one that tried to sell me those ideas.

Should you watch Nevertheless,? Probably not. I wouldn’t classify this as a total waste of time, because there were a lot of things that I really enjoyed about this drama, but I still walk away from it with a bitter taste in my mouth. I was honestly quite surprised by Nevertheless, ending. Because it branded itself as being a more realistic, different approach to relationships but in the end, it still fell into old K-drama formulas. That makes the entire experience feels incredibly unrewarding. Because you watch Na-bi make the same mistakes over and over again to the point where it’s becoming ridiculously repetitive, all in the hope that the outcome will be worth it. That Na-bi will walk away from this, a different, empowered woman. But she doesn’t. And so this show is everything but.

In a weird way, I am Na-bi and Park Jae Eon is Nevertheless,. There were red flags that this drama would disappoint me, that I simply chose to ignore because I was too charmed by its strengths. I really thought things would be different this time, but I ended up heartbroken. I keep reimagining how things could have gone, a version of this that could have worked but it’s all fruitless. This is a toxic relationship and I need to love myself enough to walk away from it. Me and Nevertheless, simply aren’t meant to be.

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As the ML says, "let's fix this"

The reviews for this show are very polarizing. People either seem to love it or hate it, and I can definitely see how that could be. I almost didn't watch it because of the negative reviews, but I'm so glad I decided to give it a chance!

For some reason, I was very patient while watching this show. Maybe it's because I'm in my early 30's and work as school psychologist, so everyday I work with very dysfunctional couples and families! :) Yes, the two leads are incredibly flawed people and make many mistakes along the way. Yes, I got a little frustrated at certain parts and just wished they could communicate. But I kept going back to how these characters are in their 20's and I remember what it was like dating in college. The writers of this show did a fantastic job of really describing the messiness of dating in your 20's (i.e. the feelings of insecurity, rejection, falling in love for the first time, loneliness, navigating past traumas, "hook up" culture, social media/gossiping, etc.). I keep seeing people throw around the word "toxic" for the lead couple's relationship. I honestly don't see that. Yes, the two leads are very flawed, but the whole point at the end of the show is that they BOTH make a definitive decision to work on themselves/move past their traumas, while finally giving their relationship a chance. I don't see anything toxic with that. Millions of couples around the world have struggles/past traumas that they are working through.

What I love:
*The music is fantastic! Every single song used is perfection in helping to set up the scene/mood. It is very soothing and pleasing.
*The visuals, cinematography, and sceneries are beautiful! This show has a very cozy and calm vibe.
*I love the fact that this show takes place at an art school and I loved the scenes of them working on sculptures/art pieces. This was an interesting and unique set-up.
*The acting is top notch. I wasn't familiar with the FL's work, but when she was crying in episode 10, WOW! I had goosebumps. I could feel the utter pain, heartbreak, and despair in that scene. The ML and FL's acting was very mature and convincing. The supporting characters did a great job as well.
-10 episodes was the perfect amount of episodes for this show. I'm so glad they didn't drag it out for a typical 16 episodes.

Is this a perfect drama? Absolutely not! There are some frustrating moments and slow paced scenes. Before you start watching this show, I would encourage you to have an open mind and be patient. There are so many hidden meanings and symbolism that is just so beautiful.

*The review on MDL from ZeeWoods is the best interpretation/analysis I have seen of this show! This person's analysis is exactly my feelings on what this show is truly about. When you can view the show from this perspective, you can really see that this is a beautiful show and what it means for these two flawed people to finally grow as individuals and give into their love.

I saved this show to my watchlist on Netflix so I can rewatch! I really enjoyed this show! :)

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I genuinely don't get why some people hate this drama so much

First of all, I gave this drama a 10 because it was honestly the first kdrama in months that I was so excited to watch every week. I have so many dramas that I haven't been able to finish, I mean, I've seen quite a lot of them and I just keep losing interest. So maybe this isn't really a 10/10 but it is close to that. I think that Nevertheless is the perfect title for this kdrama, it excellently portrays Na bi's relationship with Jae eon and all these people who say that the episodes were repetitive and that the drama could've been way shorter, in my opinion, don't get the point of what this kdrama is about. Nevertheless is about a girl who fell in love with a guy that she knew was going to hurt her, NEVERTHELESS, she could not just change her feelings, even though she definitely tried.

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I started watching this drama and what can I say? I think the plot was boring and I skipped a lot. The relationship between Jae-on and Na-bi is freaking toxic and I get that they are trying to make more interesting with him being a playboy and confusing her but to me it’s just boring. I really hate Jae-on and Na-bi and rooted for potato boy like he is the only reason I kept watching this drama. Jae is so toxic and Na-bi is too stupid and get swayed easily by him like seriously! The one thing I hated when I watched this drama is like I am already on episode 2 and they are already kissing and being intimate? I hate those kinds of dramas where it’s not into 5 episodes in and they start doing inappropriate things like that. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t see any character development in Jae-on at all till now. I hate nearly everything about this till now about the toxicity of their relationship and character development but I have hope that it will get better and for Jae-on to have character development. Just staying for potato boy but if Jae-on gets character development then I will be fine with that and that will be great and if the plot get more interesting as well. I know this is a very unpopular opinion but I am just saying as it is! I don’t care if some people judge me and throw hate at me when they think differently. I just don’t care at all! If it gets more interesting maybe I will lessen the skipping or not skip at all. I only watched this for potato boy because I spoiled myself by watching when they first met on YouTube and I thought he looked cute and when I watched the drama, he was really nice and thoughtful unlike someone. Jae on who I had hope for was not the greatest at all but going to continue watching this and see if it does get better. Hope that I won’t skip the next episode and so on

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An overall review of Nevertheless.

Since the drama has finally ended, I have decided to write a holistic review for it. I sympathize with the fellow viewers who have been on this rollercoaster ride for the past couple of months.

I'll start by saying the element that carried the drama for me was the vibe. The drama has an attractive aesthetic and innate sense of style and usage of color. I love how color also plays a role throughout this drama. Whether it be Bit-na's hair color, the little drink packets that Jae-on and Na-bi have together, or Sol's intricate pair of headphones, the presentation was fascinating and was one of the primary elements that kept me watching the drama.

Even though the story falls through midway for the drama, I felt the redeeming factor will always remain the drama's vibe.

Coming; to the point of discussing the story. The drama started rather interesting. Like most people are saying here, the drama had a great deal of potential to be a drama that does something different and does not fall into the cliche category of finally boy and girl get together. Alas, that is not what happened, and there were a few questionable turns within some characters.

The character that confused me the most with his motives was Jae-on. He's introduced as this free-spirited, good-looking, fairy-like boy who has undeniably fantastic artistic capabilities. Yet, I was never able to understand his philosophy. In the beginning, I did not want to categorize him into the box of a typical fuckboy. Yet as the show progressed, I could not comprehend him more than that. I understand the drama is narrated from the perspective of Na-bi, and most of the characters have significant detail to give them have a certain amount of depth. Yet, I would have appreciated some more depth in Jae-on for the first almost seven episodes. The rushed-up character development was poor and they could have done so much more with his character. I'm not saying that Jae-on was destined to be a fuckboy and he should remain one. I believe the final ending would be justified if his character development was gradual and did not occur right after Na-bi ghosted him and deciding to get closer to Do-hyeok.

The acting, in my opinion, was pretty good. I felt all the actors absorbed their role rather well and displayed it beautifully. In my opinion, Han So-hee played Na-bi undeniably well. She captured Na-bi's hesitance and timidness, yet she also embodied her distress and anger in such an appropriate manner. Song Kang as an actor regardless of his good looks can soften the perception of his character. Jae-on's character would harbor a lot of hate because of his attitude, yet Song Kang playing Jae-on gives this pleasant take to a rather harsh reality. The performances from the remaining actors were beautiful and refreshing to watch. Yang Hye-ji and Lee Ho-jung were some of my personal favorites. Bit-na and Sol were dynamic characters that were adapted to fruition by these actresses. Our dear little potato boy, Do-hyeok pulled at my heartstrings, because of the way this man acted with his eyes (I will weep at the sight of it). I loved watching Do-hyeok played by Chae Jong-hyeop, and I look forward to seeing more of his performances.

The final component of this drama is its music. I'm aware I'm not the only one who has been listening to Love Me Like That by Sam Kim on repeat since when it was released. The drama has a phenomenal playlist that encompasses the emotions the drama aims to focus on. *Chefs Kiss* It was so good, I have no words.

To wrap up my review. Would I watch this drama again? Maybe. Do I wish it was executed any differently? Yes.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this drama and the rollercoaster ride it brought along. I do look forward to seeing more dramas created for a mature audience.

I hope this review was helpful and you enjoyed reading this :))

Tink

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Very disappointing, definitely not a love story!

Here we have an egotistical, arrogant, self- indulging pretty boy who manipulates and uses a gullible, naive, delusional and weak-minded female for his own frequent sexual pleasures. This is all about lust, no romance at all. This female lead character shows the worst inclinations and judgement possible for any members of the female gender. There are only a few redeeming characters in this dysfunctional misguided bunch. It was frustrating to watch this female lead allow herself be used over and over again. Other than for sexual gratification, they had no relationship. This was made by Netflix and it is far removed from the typical conservative Korean culture we have come to know. A huge disappointment!

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We Can’t Always Measure The Other Person’s Love For Us By Our Love For Them

I am not going to say I appreciated Nevertheless's mixed ending, but at the same time, it's quite realistic in that there are many out there who fall for people they know will not make them happy in the long run but can't help but be with them. In that sense, it was as realistic as can be. I know, I've been there, and it was real for me, but it also didn't last that was real too. If I can commend Nevertheless for anything, it would be the compelling way it shows viewers that relationships aren't easy. It also clearly described each couple's fear of loss, the conflicts regarding freedom and possessiveness, honesty and deception, trust and jealousy, togetherness and separateness, satisfaction and sacrifice, and even judgments of unconfirmed love.

It was relatable in the way it portrayed the all-consuming experience from that magical match that includes: sexual attraction, mutual enjoyment, emotional knowing, social compatibility, sensitive consideration, physical affection, friendship feeling, and romantic excitement, all combining to create a sense of caring, commitment, and completeness that make that other person the only one for you even if not the most ideal. Still, it failed to deliver the overarching message because it is a fairytale ending at best, following one's heart when undoubtedly knowing it won't lead to happiness. I say this because I know how it ends from a personal experience, but maybe that was the point, and if it was, then I guess it delivered.

In a way, it made sense that Nabi ends up with Park Jae Eon despite everything or maybe because of it and that she chose to be with that magical love even if it wasn't one she believed would give the eternal happiness she wants. Because in the end, and this is the message I chose to take from the drama since I wasn't really sure if it had one -- is that love is risky because the person we love the most can hurt us the worst. Love that feels forever does not necessarily last forever, but it's worth the risk. And we can’t always measure the other person’s love for us by our love for them.

As for the cast, I think they all did a great job in their individual roles, some more than others. Yoon Sol's character completely and utterly overtook me, which is a testament to Lee Ho Jung's acting. Nam Kyu Hyun was another character that had me invested in his story, and again it speaks volumes to how Kim Min Gwi portrayed the role. Kudos to him for that. Chae Jong Hyeop was a blessing, a much-needed breath of fresh air from the heaviness of Nabi and Park Jae Eon -- again a great testimonial to Han So Hee and Song Kang. A job well done to the whole team.

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In a friends with benefits relationship both should be friends

Don't understand most of the reviews....
Maybe sex, attraction, etc should be labeled...

The story is about Na Bi, who desires and feels sexual attraction for Jae Eon. She has lots of feelings for him. He only wants to have sex with her, at her apartment, without any other shared moments, while having other relationships with others.
Friends with benefits has to do with friendship and that is not the case. He doesn't care about her as well as the other girls...
Jealousy exists when someone thinks that owns the other. It is a feeling of possession. And that is why Park Jeon wants to be with her after she rejects him ..
She will agree, will be used by him but knowing that he will not changed and will hurt her.
So, it ends with a relationship where he will cheat on her and she will gladly endure! But the sex is good but even when they are together, as Kyu Hyun was saying, she will not be happy because their objectives and feelings are not the same..

And then a love triangle (what a refreshing plot!!!!!) With a childhood friend.
The other couples were way more interesting. They save this drama.

Don't like it. Not the sex part or the relationship when based in truth. He doesn't care about her and she is willing to bear with that. And the most interesting part is her friends, who knew that Park Jeon was awful and hurted and played with lots or girls, are trying to help them to be together...

Well...

Do you like a cheating man that looks good?
Do you like a woman who is treated as a good f...?
Do you enjoy a relationship that is Doom to end badly?
Then watch this drama!

If someone could edit only the story of the other couples this would be more interesting!

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You can't get an STD from a toilet seat, or from watching this show. thankfully.

Details from above: "Park Jae Eon finds dating a waste of time but likes to flirt. Even though he is friendly and cheerful towards all, he does not pursue others. Park Jae Eon is a master of “push-and-pull” who doesn’t get swept up in emotions. Jae Eon draws firm lines between himself and other people and doesn’t reveal how he feels."

Friendly and cheerful towards all? Um. No. Park Jae Eon is a complete slut who has sex with many women a week, and probably gives them all STDs. He sets up dates with women, then ghosts them to have sex with someone else.

He finds himself "drawn" to FL. why? because her name is Butterfly and he has a butterfly tattoo on his neck. They meet for the second time at a party. He's deciding (out loud in front of everyone) whether he should stay at the party or go get laid at his prior engagement. He decides to stay, and "gets together" with the FL. More correctly, FL sees him tonguing another woman in the alley behind the restaurant, and when he sees her, he sends the other woman away and says to FL, "I really wanted to kiss you..." Oh, the romance!!! She's smitten. He doesn't even wipe his mouth before he tongues her too. She tells him he smells like cigarettes. No, not the other woman's mouth.

They get together. He proceeds to cheat on her. Over. and Over. and Over. 2ML is kind, attentive, smart, gorgeous - everything you would want in a guy. So of course: ew. Gross.

FL finally dumps him? Or he leaves her. I can't actually remember. Then poor ML suffers. Will she have mercy on this disgusting, sleazy low life? Will they get the happy ending they so desperately deserve? Can he be cured of his syphilis? Maybe. Watch to find out. I don't want to spoil it for you.

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Realistic portrayal of romance

As i read from some of the comments, this drama definitely is more suitable for those above 25.
First and foremost, it does not follow typical kdrama plot whereas people can easily identify right or wrong. Here we have a male lead as typical playboy who wanted no string attached relationship and female lead as pretty but not so innocent girl who fell hard for him. From first episode, the way the male lead try to get FL's attention is classic. He did not immediately offer to take her home after a drink with their group of friends. He let her trying to approach him first. Beside i did not get why people call him toxic. All the time in their relationship he let her make the decision. I guess most of viewers are getting biased due to the webtoon.
What I love about this drama is how they make him finally want to start a real relationship with her. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT GLORYFYING TOXIC LOVE STORY as people have been saying. He feared of losing her for good at the same time he realized his true feeling for her. And how did he realize that- all thanks to our sweet potato boy. It did happen irl as well. Didnt you ever see a guy would show affection only after losing something that he thought already belong to him? At the end of the drama, Nabi has sort of standing up and have a equal balance in a relationship with him. We did not know how long their love story going to last but actually who cares, they are just in their early 20s.
The only thing i do not like about the story is they dance around the question Nabi asked Jaeon "do you have a girlfriend?" the whole time. They could just solved it in episode 6 or 7 instead of dragging it until episode 10 and not addressing the Nabi main concern "did he cheat on me". That thing is sure her deal breaker which shown since the beginning of the drama.
Other than that, I enjoy this drama thoroughly and definitely would binge watch again during free time.
PS: Song Kang's acting in N is superb. His best performance so far i have to say. He brings out the Park Jaeon that makes us believe we would fall head over heels for even if its screaming walking red flag ;)

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Captured young adulthood so well then lost the plot !

Disclaimer : I have one and half episodes to go and unfortunately have no desire to complete them. That is how plotless this drama became.

Let me start with the good points . The show had a splendid start depicting young adulthood in the throes of university life . The cast seemed promising in Han So Hee of The World of the Married fame and Song Kang of Love Alarm and Navillera fame .Not to mention how aesthetically pleasing and fashion conscious the drama was . All this blended in with the beautiful cinematography and well shot scenes . The camera angles really made the viewer feel like they were in the shot and thats how full bodied the drama started off.

As for the plot - this was the enthralling aspect of the drama.Every guy has met a Nabi; every girl knows or was involved with a Jae-un. There’s lots of immaturity and poor communication. We are left trying to figure what everyone’s motives are. And this happens in real life . I can testify as a young adult myself . The insertion of a LGBTQI+ romance was also so substantial.So of course EVERYTHING was lined up for me to eagerly watch and consume this show.

My goodness! What a sham it ended up being . At one point there was no dialogue in an episode. The back stories were not fleshed out and left the viewer unnecessarily wondering what the heck is the point was!I slowly became detached with how inane it was becoming hence I could not finish it .

For a drama that could've been a truly inspiring and enlightening show about situationships and relationships for confused people in their 20's or for people who fall for the wrong ones and end up hurt, they merely reduced it to a 'beautiful cinematography' with no plot.

Great music though !

However , I still do not recommend!

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