This review may contain spoilers
You and Everything Else: Anatomy of Pain
Over the past three days, I was immersed in the intense journey between Ryu Eun Jung and Cheon Sang Yeon, portrayed by actresses Kim Goeun and Park Jihyun respectively. When I first saw them in season one of Yumi’s Cells, I never imagined that years later I’d witness a relationship that begins already tangled, layered, and gut-wrenching.The narrative doesn’t hold back — the episodes aren’t about healing wounds, but exposing them in detail. It’s the full anatomy of the pain they caused each other over the years they spent together, because there wasn’t a single moment when their existence didn’t leave collateral damage in each other’s lives.
Since childhood, Ryu Eun Jung and Cheon Sang Yeon not only represent extremes — they carry them within. One grew up facing financial hardship and a family shaped by the absence of a father, while the other was spoiled by the privileges of wealth and raised in a seemingly perfect family with a father, mother, and older brother. But their differences go beyond that. Eun Jung connects easily with others, while Sang Yeon always seemed to have a wall around her. Their clashes would arise, but were quickly resolved or ignored. Deep down, they both knew they were reflections of what the other lacked — the embodiment of each other’s insecurities.
They grew up haunted by thoughts like “What does she have that I don’t?” and “I’ll never be like her.” And because of that absence and constant comparison, they tried to fill their voids with what the other had, hurting each other in the process. It was striking how they couldn’t spend too much time together without tearing each other down through toxic comparisons and sharp remarks. That’s where the story finds its strength — in its raw portrayal of human ego and pride. And that’s the beauty of the series.
Everything that happens around them adds layers rooted in past pain — the death of a brother, a mother’s favoritism, the fall from social status — all of which deepen the chasm between them. Yet, there’s always a magnetic pull that brings them back together, and that’s exactly what happens in the end.
As for the final scene, I felt a bit uneasy with how it was portrayed. It’s a very sensitive and delicate moment, and it requires care when watching.
One undeniable highlight is their acting. Especially Park Jihyun, who, with just a glance, conveys how deeply unhappy her character is inside — and how proud she remains.
So, for those who appreciate the human side of storytelling, built on the imperfections of its characters, You and Everything Else delivers that pain.
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This review may contain spoilers
You May like it or may not
To be honest half the story of this drama is so good because evry character is done so well and acting is also done very well but i had major problem with writing of the drama because half of the drama have story until there college years and during that we connect with every character and see that no one is wrong it is just situation and most imortant there is no hint od any three way feelings or love triangle by the end of there college scene in drama it is very well shown that sang yeon is over it even though eun jung and sang hak relationship is not same but it was still not some type of rival thing between female leads but after that i dont know why the writer added this unwanted villian arc for sang yeon because she was clearly good in there college life everyhting was ending on simple note but than writers complicated the things when they enter there work life which i didnt like. but yeah last ten minutes of last episode made me cry because it wa so real, they way eun jung pats sang yeon head and says " you did well" iw ould say great job whoever directed that scene because i ahve personally countless witnessed deaths of including family members this is exactly what most of peole do in those last moments, and yeah rewatch value im giving 1 because of two reason 1st the after mid story of drama which is unwanted and too much emotional ending.Was this review helpful to you?
Frustratingly Beautiful
This show is frustrating to watch. Your ability to finish it depends on how well you can tolerate Eun Jung being repeatedly manipulated by her toxic childhood friend, Sang Yeon, throughout various periods of her life. Some cosmic force seems to keep bringing these two back together for the worse. The obvious solution would be to cut all ties, but then it would only be a three-episode series—and we can’t have that, can we?It’s easy to hate Sang Yeon, but to me, she was equally pitiful because of the struggles she endured. I was deeply invested in whether she would ever find her moment of happiness. I really like shows that portray a character’s entire life, and it’s done here with Sang Yeon.
The show addresses some heavy topics related to Sang Yeon's family situation that I did not expect.
The big C is in this show (not a spoiler), and although it is not original, the acting involving it was a masterclass that brought me to tears.
Lastly, the soundtrack stood out to me. The three vocal tracks by Seori are so good.
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Powerful and Captivating
The script flowed well. Excellent character development. Both female leads delivered great performances. At times the characters leap out of the screen and into my living room. The portrayal of the production company was very realistic.I admire Park Ji Hyun for portraying such a damaged Cheon Sang Yeon so well. She deserves a best actress nomination. Kim Go Eun is a perfect complement to her. Kudos to the casting choices.
The script takes some of life's most stressful events in our lives . The cast delivered the depth of emotion to create an awesome journey towards healing ones soul.
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If you missed NANA, this will break you all over again
A love so strong, it lasts decades.A love so strong, it takes over your life.
You and Everything Else is about two friends who’ve known each other since elementary school, and whose relationship defies definition. Both live with an inferiority complex toward the other. There’s jealousy, insecurity, and a constant feeling of not being enough. And yet, they love each other so deeply that it hurts.
It’s not just friendship.
It’s not romance either.
It’s not family, but it doesn’t fall short of it.
If you’ve watched NANA (the anime), you’ll understand that weird, aching feeling, the one that lingers every time the two main leads interact. That sense of something unspoken, raw, and deeply emotional. This drama gave me that same feeling for a full 15 episodes.
The acting was phenomenal. Both leads were real, raw, and honest — you could feel the emotions in every glance, every silence. The production and music were equally beautiful.
I loved getting lost in the confusion, intensity, and emotional chaos of their bond. It was a deeply moving experience — and one I won’t forget anytime soon.
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- Between Life and Regrets -
"You and Everything Else" is an emotionally charged drama that will leave you reflecting on life, regrets, and the passage of time.You and Everything Else is a deeply moving drama, carried by the exceptional performances of Park Ji Hyun (Sang Yeon) and Kim Go Eun (Eun Jung). This is not just a story of rivalry or secrets, but an exploration of life through time, from childhood to the forties, in all its emotional complexity. We follow these two characters across decades, from adolescence to their thirties and finally into their forties, as they face the sometimes brutal realities of existence.
The drama unfolds like a true coming-of-age story, where we witness the pivotal moments that shape the personality and fate of Sang Yeon and Eun Jung. Their lives intertwine and cross paths at each important stage of their journey, marked by friendship, rivalry, broken dreams, and regrets. Sang Yeon, a strong woman, fights against illness and life's hardships, while Eun Jung, full of ambition and dreams, faces personal struggles that will forever mark her. Both characters evolve over time, and as the series progresses, we feel the depth of their emotions and the fragility of their choices.
The most poignant aspect of this drama is how it captures the evolution of the characters and the way life can both break and strengthen them. Sang Yeon’s battle with cancer, a central theme of the drama, is not just an illness but a metaphor for the passage of time, inevitable death, and the losses one endures along the way. It is through this struggle that we see the evolution of the characters and better understand the sacrifices they’ve made to get where they are.
Over the years, we watch the characters go through the different stages of life: childhood, where everything seems possible, the twenties, full of promises and disillusionment, the thirties, where reality sets in, and finally the forties, a period filled with regrets and more tangible losses. This journey through the ages is accompanied by tough choices, human connections, and breakups, creating an atmosphere that deeply resonates with the viewer.
The ending of the drama is both tragic and liberating. Sang Yeon, confronted with her illness, finally finds inner peace, but this reconciliation comes too late in her life. She does not have the time to fix all the regrets or fully embrace this peace. The series thus shows that sometimes, despite all our efforts and struggles, reconciliation and peace come too late to repair all the pain we carry.
What makes *“You and Everything Else”* beautiful is that the series offers a sincere look at life, with its moments of happiness, sadness, regret, and resilience. It’s not simply a story of rivals or hidden secrets but a true immersion into the lives of Sang Yeon and Eun Jung, two women who grew up together, lost each other, and finally found each other again, understanding one another in a deep, emotional way by the end.
A big thank you to Kim Go Eun and Park Ji Hyun, whose performances transcended the screen. Their portrayals of Sang Yeon and Eun Jung are nothing short of incredible. Their ability to bring out the emotional depth of their characters, especially in the most difficult moments, makes this series a memorable and moving experience. Thank you for this story, for these characters, and for all the beauty you brought to this series.
Goodbye “You and Everything Else" 🫶🏻
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The thin line between love and hate - a toxic love story
This is not just a slice of life but a whole pie of life as we follow these two girls and the people that affect them from childhood to adulthood on a journey of self destruction, hate, pain, more pain, self blame, hate, obsession and possession.The acting is phenomenal and so is the storytelling and cinematography. Each episode has a build up and ends with a line that makes you want to press that next episode button, to find out what will happen next, We the viewers are given small clues, but they take their time telling the story, preparing us for the twist the lie ahead . I rarely watch dramas in bed while my husband is still a sleep but this time I just had to see how it would unfold. So I turned off the sound just in time for episodes that even without sound evoked a whole lot of emotions in me that I found myself lying in bed crying my eyes out in the silence of the early morning. No violins needed.
The characters are not always lovable, they are human beings imperfect full of mistakes, full of hate oh so much hate. (mostly towards themselves) , there is a show of several social issues and representation without taking away focus from the main plot. And while I do have some issues with coice of words here and there this is without a doubt a drama I highly recommend. Just make sure to stock up on sleeves, tissues or whatever you prefer to use ro wipe your tears and snot for the episodes somewhere in the middle of the drama.
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The Ambiguity of Affection
A beautiful drama that it’s impossible to remain indifferent to. It explores friendship from a fresh and original perspective. It doesn’t shy away from making the viewer uncomfortable, because that is precisely the intention of its narrative: to make the audience question and reconsider their own opinions about the characters’ actions. The ambiguity between affection and resentment expressed by both protagonists in every gesture is something that accompanies us throughout the entire series, just as our perception evolves with each new revelation about the reasons behind their behavior.In my case, this series was the confirmation of Kim Go Eun’s enormous talent, and a very pleasant surprise in discovering such a great actress as Park Ji Hyun. I was also impressed by Kim Jae Won’s outstanding performance, since in the other dramas I’ve seen him in, he hadn’t stood out as much.
This series features a beautiful OST that will go straight into my playlists. In case you’re interested, the songs I’d most recommend are: Hope by Kwon Jin Ah, Blue Temperature and Note and Pencil by Seori.
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You, and Everything Else: A One-in-a-Million Story That Held My Heart Hostage
You, and everything else is what true art portrayed in a television series looks like in my book.i do not know how my eyes found the tears that came through,
a naturally flowing story that is accompanied by one of the best acting performance i have seen , i do not wish to single out any performance as its a dis-service to the rest, but those were remarkable child actors, their performance will remain with me for a while
The performance of acting was only rivaled by the story as well as the production
i think the decision to release this series in one go had some strong thoughts behind it, it is just.
i found myself taken hostage by the story of this duo , where you can't really distinguish good from bad, right from wrong, fantasy and life , this story, is a tale of life unfolding
It would be unjust to not mention how lovely the ost that accompanied this project was
you, and everything else was a one in a million tv series that i hope it can have challengers in years to come
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A Friendship that should never exist in real life
I just finished this drama, and while it truly was a beautiful story, I can’t help but see things differently from most people. Many are praising the friendship between Sang Yeon and Eun Jung, but to me… it felt toxic.No matter how hard I try, I just can’t forgive Sang Yeon for everything Eun Jung had to go through because of her — from the breakup, to Sang Hak trying again, to even stealing her project. In this friendship, Eun Jung kept losing — whether it was people, work, or trust.
Meanwhile, Sang Yeon was always admired — in college, at work — everywhere. Yet, in the end, the only person truly looking down on her was herself.
And that’s where it hit me: yes, her illness made everything tragic and heartbreaking… but what if she hadn’t been ill? Would she still have looked for Eun Jung? Would she have ever asked for her forgiveness? Or would things have continued the same way?
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Loved it
I must say that one of my favorite series this year truly impressed me with its compelling narrative and the wonderful depiction of friendship among the characters. The actresses delivered such outstanding performances that I found myself deeply moved by their portrayal.I can rewatch it again and I won't hope for it. I highly recommend it to people who tend to be melo drama
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a heartbreaking friendship story
initially i thought that would be another love triangle story that ruins a beautiful friendship between two women, but as i watched the episodes, specially the last three episodes i finally understood everything, it’s not about romantic relationships, it’s a deep friendship that faced so many layers over the years and at the end finally could make sense, the final two episodes are so heartbreaking, so beautiful, breaks your heart in so many pieces, i love everything that kim go eun does, such a great actress i want moreWas this review helpful to you?
