Four Hands, Two Sonatas

4 Hands 2 Sonatas: When the Victim Is Asked to Forgive Everyone

This is one of those dramas that left me with two completely conflicting feelings: I genuinely loved its characters and their emotional complexity, but I also finished it incredibly frustrated with the way their suffering was handled—especially JY’s.

And yes, I know the story is primarily told through Pi-o’s perspective. I understand that. I understand why we spend so much time inside his insecurity, his inferiority complex, his guilt, and his complicated feelings toward JY.



#1
BUT, WHAT ABOUT JY?

We barely got to see what JY was feeling through any of it. Even when he tried to hide his pain and put on a brave face for Pi-o, the drama never really allowed us to understand what was happening inside him.

And yes, I know the story isn't necessarily about JY perspective.

But that doesn't mean I can't be bitter about how little emotional space he was given.

Because JY lost something enormous. And it wasn't simply his ability to play piano. His talent was deeply connected to his late mother, his identity, and one of the most meaningful parts of his life. Watching that be taken away from him because of someone else's insecurity was devastating.

And somehow, throughout the entire story, JY was repeatedly expected to be the understanding one.

He had to forgive.

He had to understand.

He had to make amends.

He had to carry other people's guilt.

He had to soften his anger so everyone else could feel better.
At some point I was genuinely like: WHY IS EVERYONE MAKING THE PERSON WHO WAS HURT RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S EMOTIONS???



#2
PI-O: A VICTIM, BUT NOT AN "INNOCENT" ONE

I sympathize with Pi-o a lot.
His inferiority complex wasn't something JY created. His mother and grandfather essentially built it into him. He was constantly compared to JY and made to feel like he was living in someone else's shadow.

He wanted to stand beside JY, but the adults around him constantly taught him that he was standing behind JY.
So yes, I understand him.

I understand the jealousy.

I understand the insecurity.

I understand why JY's talent could trigger him.

I even understand why Pi-o made some of the choices he did.

But I cannot use that understanding to pretend that his actions toward JY weren't wrong.
Because being insecure is a normal human emotion. But Pi-o's inferiority complex became something he repeatedly projected onto JY.
Imagine accomplishing something and looking over at your friend, only for him to respond with, essentially, “Why you and not me?” Imagine being praised for something you're genuinely talented at and then feeling guilty because your friend is upset about it.

That's not healthy friendship.

And JY was honestly a gift of a friend. That level of consideration is insane.
And yet JY was still the one who ended up paying the highest price.



#3
SO YES, BOTH ARE VICTIMS

JY is a victim of Pi-o's inferiority complex, his mother's cruelty, and the adults who failed him.
Pi-o is a victim of his mother's greed, his grandfather's emotional abuse and neglect, his own insecurity, and ultimately his own choices.
But being a victim does not make someone incapable of hurting another victim.
That's what makes their relationship so tragic.



#4
THE MOTHER: SPAWN OF SATAN

I hated Pi-o's mother.
And I genuinely don't understand why the drama gave her so much narrative courtesy by the end.

Yes, she went to prison. Good. Great. Fantastic.

Why are we giving this woman a cute little romantic ending after she essentially destroyed JY's life and played a massive role in creating the circumstances that destroyed both boys?

Call me petty, but I wanted more consequences.
I wanted more time spent confronting what she had done. I wanted her to actually sit with the guilt and devastation she caused instead of the story moving toward “well, she did terrible things, but…”

No.

She ruined JY's life.

She contributed to Pi-o's psychological suffering.

She created the entire chain of events that destroyed both of these boys.

I wanted her downfall to have some weight.
Instead, the drama seemed almost determined to give her a little too much saving grace.

And I remain bitter.



#5
JAE-IN, AKA PI-O'S NO.1 EMPLOYEE

Jae-in irritated me for a completely different reason.
I kept thinking: Does this woman have a personality outside of Pi-o?

Every conversation seems to revolve around him.

Every emotion is about him.

Every conflict is about him.

Every decision is about him.

She's simply just Pi-o-centered.

Because she often feels less like a fully developed character and more like a narrative device whose primary function is to support Pi-o.



#6
THE MAIN ISSUE

Ultimately, the drama's biggest problem was its treatment of JY

For me, the biggest flaw of 4 Hands 2 Sonatas isn't that it made Pi-o sympathetic.

It absolutely should have.

His story is tragic.

The problem is that, at times, the drama's attempt to humanize Pi-o and redeem the people around him came at the expense of JY.

The perpetrators' actions were sometimes presented so mildly that the actual victim began to look like the villain.

JY's anger was emphasized.

JY's revenge was emphasized.

JY's harshness toward Pi-o was emphasized.

But the years of circumstances that led him there were often given less emotional weight than they deserved.

Meanwhile, Pi-o's guilt, pain, regret, and suffering were repeatedly explored.

That's why I finished the drama feeling like JY was simultaneously one of the most important characters and one of the most overlooked.

I just wanted the story to acknowledge, more fully, what was done to him.

Because before JY became someone capable of revenge, he was a boy who's talent left people speechless, a friend who constantly tried to make himself smaller for someone else's sake, a son who lost the person he loved, and ultimately a victim whose entire future was taken from him.

And I will forever mourn the JY who could have existed if his talent hadn't made someone else feel inadequate.

I'll mourn the pianist he could have become.

I'll mourn the life he could have had.

And most of all, I'll mourn the fact that almost everyone around him failed him in one way or another—and yet somehow, he was still expected to be the one to forgive.

JY, my boy:

You deserved better.

And yes, I'm still bitter about it. 😭

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Intertwined Destinies

Take heart my friends. The ending of the series was just the beginning for Pio and Jeong Yo. Finally.

After years of struggle...torment...conflict...depression...they are both now free from the shackles of performance pressure and public expectation. The two embattled souls have finally reunited....but as free spirits to soar together.

At first I was disappointed with the ending...considering it a dull easy way out...a non controversial ending that was carefully crafted not to offend anyone's sensitivities. And...it is....dull and an easy way out. But...there is more.

Jeong Yo needed to find himself again...needed to heal again...needed to quietly find a place where he would be hidden from the world and no one would find him. And like a wounded animal, he remained in seclusion to heal until he was ready to re-enter the world. He returned to Europe...to the monastery....his place of healing....to once again heal....to heal his soul.

Jeong Yo did not become a priest. He's not even a monk. After carefully researching this I learned that in the Benedictine Monasteries the monks wear a black woolen robe with a black hood and a scapular. Jeeong Yo was not wearing the scapular. That ... then...identifies him as a Benedictine Oblate....an oblate is a layman who lives in the monastery and chooses a monastic type of life without ever taking vows. He is has not made a life commitment and is free to come and go...to live a secular life....as did Jeong Yo when he left for Korea and then returned back to Europe.

And is that it then? Is that where Jeong Yo is destined to be for life? No. Both his and Pio's worlds have been set on paths that are always changing. For the two of them nothing is forever...except, that is, for each other. They are the forevers in each other's lives.

I took pause to think.

Everything in this series has required a deeper analysis...a look between the lines....studying the glances...observing the body language...and most of all reading the eye language. The eyes have been the window to both of their souls. The eyes have told the story from the very beginning.

So...in this ending we are each given the opportunity to interpret it as it most comfortably fits into our own expectations. It is...not open ended...it is merely unfinished.

For those who wanted a friendship, in their minds the friendship will continue...like two planets orbiting around each other but always keeping a fixed distance from each other....and in this case, a safely fixed emotional and physical distance.

For those who wanted a bromance, the groundwork has already been laid out. The two healed souls...now free spirits...can more than orbit around each other...they can revolve their lives around each other's. They can break the physical/emotional boundaries and be both physically close to each other when they feel the need....but emotionally close to each other for life.

But...in truth...this story is the story of the romance of two tortured and lost young men. All one needs to do is to reflect upon the eye exchanges...the glances...the smiles...the rage...the emotional turmoil...throughout the entire series. They can NOT live without each other. In the final scene Jeong Yo and Pio are in a Catholic church...sharing the moment in front of a choir of children. Jeong Yo and Pio share glances, smiles....their eyes sparkle, and the look of joy between them is the look of victory... "We did it! Here I am! And here I am!"... when they finally reunite. Although the exchange between them didn't show longing and passion, it couldn't. The two of them are in a church in front of a choir of children. Their smiles were love..pure and simple.

The only status quo in their lives is their need...and their love...for each other. They just can not live without each other.

So...for those who were hoping for a romance, the stage truly had been set in the final act of the last episode for a romance. They are at last together. Nothing, it seems, could keep them apart. And in the finality of it all, Pio and Jeong Yo will finally be able to be with each other...exclusively....just the two of them...as adults...unhindered...and unrestrained. Their intertwined destinies from childhood had all along been setting the path for a life together of exclusive love and happiness.

Sorry for those who don't want to accept it...but this story is the story of love....the romance of two young men.

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Two Pianists, Two Broken Pasts: A Beautiful Story of Rivalry, Trauma and Bromance

Wow, I genuinely never expected to like Four Hands, Two Sonatas this much. Music and pianist dramas are probably one of my least favourite genres, but I decided to give this a chance and I am SO glad I did. I loved the first two episodes so much that I ended up binging them in one sitting, and now I cannot wait for the next episode.

Even though I know absolutely nothing about classical music, every time they played the piano my heart was racing.

I was never bored for even a second. The drama starts off incredibly strong, from the intense piano performance in front of a massive audience in Prague to the shocking kidnapped car scene. The atmosphere immediately pulled me in and the production quality is honestly amazing. Everything feels polished, cinematic and expensive.

I absolutely love Song Kang as Kang Bi O. He comes from a wealthy and privileged family, but behind that perfect image is a boy who has received very little love from his grandfather and has spent his entire life under enormous pressure to be perfect. Even as a child, coming second instead of first was enough to disappoint his mother. When you see what he has been through, it makes so much sense why he carries so much trauma and why music means so much to him.

Then we have Jun Young Lee as Choi Jeong Yo, who comes from the complete opposite background. He grew up in poverty with an alcoholic father and eventually had to escape his family situation. Thankfully, a teacher recognised his incredible talent and gave him a place to stay in the dormitory and a scholarship to an elite arts school. He is incredibly gifted, but his difficult past has left him traumatised, especially when it comes to performing on stage.

What I love most is that these two boys come from completely different worlds. One was born into wealth, the other struggled just to survive, yet somehow both are equally lonely, damaged and desperate to find their own place in the world. They actually crossed paths when they were children while playing piano, and I loved the flashbacks showing their childhood connection before they eventually reunite as teenagers.

This is technically not a BL, but I honestly cannot ignore the chemistry between Kang Bi O and Choi Jeong Yo. Their enemies to bromance relationship is SO good. The way they slowly begin to understand each other, secretly care for each other and help each other without openly admitting it is one of my favourite parts of the drama. The eye contact, the tension and the little moments between them are everything.

And that candle scene!!! Choi Jeong Yo is terrified of the stage, so Kang Bi O lights up hundreds of candles to create a more comfortable environment for them to practise together. Tell me that is not one of the most caring things ever. Their relationship feels much deeper than a simple rivalry. They challenge each other, understand each other's pain and slowly become the people who can bring out the best in one another.

I also really like Gyu Ri as Hong Jae In, who adds a completely different energy to the story. She brings some humour and warmth into what can otherwise be a very intense and emotional drama. Her connection with Kang Bi O also adds another interesting layer to the trio.

The plot is so much more than just music and piano competitions. It is really about ambition, childhood trauma, family pressure, poverty, friendship, rivalry and growing up. Choi Jeong Yo having to work part time just to survive while attending an elite arts school adds another realistic layer to his character. And of course, this is a K drama, so you cannot escape the bullying but honestly, I think it works here because it adds even more tension to the already competitive school environment.

One thing I find especially clever is the title Four Hands, Two Sonatas. Four hands refers to two people playing the piano together, usually on the same piano, which perfectly represents Kang Bi O and Choi Jeong Yo. Two sonatas refers to two separate pieces of classical music written in sonata form. But beyond the literal meaning, the title feels almost poetic. Two completely different people coming together and creating something beautiful through music, almost as if their individual lives become one performance when they sit at the piano together. I love when a drama title has this much meaning behind it.

And the funniest thing is that I am not even into music or piano dramas, yet every time these two start playing, my heart is actually racing. The music is THAT good. The performances, cinematography and sound design make the piano scenes feel genuinely thrilling rather than boring.

My only small criticism is the casting age. Song Kang is 32 and Jun Young Lee is 29 in real life, while they are playing 17 year old high school students. Even in school uniforms, I could definitely tell they looked much more mature than 17. But honestly, their acting, chemistry and bromance completely won me over, so it became a very minor issue for me.

Four Hands, Two Sonatas has quickly become one of my favourite K dramas of the year. I went into this expecting a music drama that probably would not be my thing, and somehow I ended up completely invested in the characters, the rivalry, the bromance, the emotional trauma and of course the piano performances.

If you love unique plots, talented pianists, enemies to bromance, childhood connections, rivalry, coming of age, school dramas, emotional trauma and high quality Korean production , this Netflix series absolutely deserves a spot on your watch list.

10/10. I am officially invested and I NEED the next episode.

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Dragged out on one hand, not developed enough on the other hand. Runaway train story

The first few episodes lay a nice foundation for the drama. I would say, all episodes in high school are masterful laying out of psychological framework, characters and their relationships. That ends in ep.5

Ep 6,7, all the way to the end of 8 are mostly fluff, watching the pretty face of adult PiO in suffering. Also ep 9 and 10 are not really deep.

Ep 8 has a very very very profound message, of how the objectivity of art and one's genuine appreciation for it can lead to healing. .

Adult life episodes (from ep 6 and on) are majorly dragged... and acting is inadequate. Main leads have enough acting skills to act not-so-complex teenagers, but they severely lack skills to act very-complex adults.

The main issue here is that PiO's mother is a malignant narcissist, and she uses PiO to advance her own prestige, influence, and social status. She convinces PiO that he is a fantastically great talented pianist and he has to compete to show to everyone that he is great. Or else - he will be some unknown pitiful person.
PiO's mother always manages to "bribe" and manipulate PiO to go back to that grandiose view of himself.... However, PiO's mother actually hates him for not being ah so great and having to practice real hard to achieve winning by technical competence, not by soulful playing - as his grandfather keeps reminding him.

So because Pio is not perfect and a genius and truly "the best", his grandfather considers him nothing. And his mother pushes him to be "winning" and being "first" but she too hates him for not being a genius.

Pio wins all competitions... but his Grandfather and his teacher tell him his playing lacks soul. Meanwhile, his mother, society, and his girl fan always shower him with praises.

And PiO ... goes with it. He does what his mother says, and ditches his best friend and colleague (and competitor) JY.

At this point, PiO is a snowflake, coddled by massive praises and "wins", and majorly insecure in himself. He is on the verge of mental illness at all times.

Somehow, PiO is impressed by JY's genius playing, and he saves him. The two of them have such a great time playing together, and for the first time in his life PiO genuinely experiences playing for fun and having a friend - and he throws it all out to listen to his mother and compete to beat JY and show him he, Pio, is the best.

SO THE ENTIRE DRAMA GOES BACK AND FORTH LIKE THIS. WHERE PIO LISTENS TO HIS MOTHER, THEN TO HIS INNER VOICE, AND KEEPS SWITCHING.
And every time he listens to his mother's voice, he becomes more mentally ill.

So PiO came with negative karma, where it is too easy to convince him to diss others to benefit himself.

JY also came in with negative karma. He is a genius piano player, naturally, and he pities PiO for being "lesser player" - but he hides it, to keep PiO as his friend, so that they can play piano together.

Eventually, they do compete and PiO's mother commits a crime that disables JY for life. THIS IS THE END OF EP 5 AND THEIR TEENAGE YEARS.. Thus far, the drama is done well.

The drama has 9 yrs time skip. Now the soap and fluff for most of the time, and waste of drama time begins. Ep 6,7, most of 8, 9, 10 about their adult lives are ... dragging. PiO suspects his other and investigates, and suffers - as he is now a global star and he knows he doesnt deserve it.

JY thinks PiO did the crime, and comes back after 9 years for revenge.

END OF EPISODE 8 IS A WONDERFUL STORY OF A TEMPORARY TRUCE OBTAINED BY BOTH PIO AND JY FOLLOWING THE HIGHER PATH OF ART. The music shows their genuine feeling, and they make peace. JY finally believes that PiO has talent.

However, their music healing does not transfer into real life. In real life, snowflake PiO is still his mommy's boy and goes back to it as soon as there is an obstacle.

PiO finally finds out his mom was the criminal who permanently disabled JY - and he protects his mother at the expense of throwing JY - and himself - under the bus :) He covers up for his mother and accepts the responsibility for her crime. PiO feels guilty for doing so - which enrages JY because it is clear that PiO has absolutely no compassion for JY and just blindly covers up for his mother.
Ep 9, 10 are JY torturing PiO and PiO suffering in guilt - sure it was necessary to show this, but two episodes of that is too much -
although PiO looks "guilty" he really has no genuine remorse He is just taking on his mother's responsibility to feel guilty. He genuinely is NOT able to feel the pain of JY. PiO's "suffering and guilt" is not real - it is just a way to avoid JY and stay with his monster mommy.

PiO sticks to his mother - although he dislikes her and avoids her, his mother is STILL #1 IN HIS LIFE. PiO is essentially an accomplice in crime because he hides the evidence of the criminal - his mother.

Since PiO has tasted joy and friendship and real enjoyment of music, we cannot say "he never experienced it." He did. With JY. And PiO *** chose *** to throw it away, because his mother convinced him he has to win over JY bc he is better than JY. This conflict inside him is driving him into mental illness. From ep 6 on, PiO is on the verge of needing a psychiatric asylum.

JY may seem a victim but he is effectively a villain, torturing PiO and pushing him more into mental illness.

The only thing that could work is for PiO to somehow find something Higher to latch onto and rise above the narcissistic brainwashing and his own negative tendencies.

It is going to be hard for PiO to overcome this .... and there are only 2 episodes left. So the drama might end up in a major flop because of improper pacing, spending too much time on the drama and suffering instead of showing how the healing happened.

In ep 10, PiO is genuinely trying to play JY's original piece properly, and JY keeps complaining PiO missed to convey the feeling of the piece. Because the piece is about JY's suffering due to that injury. Since PiO practices badly, he is ruining his hands.

So at this point - either PiO sticks to his mother and becomes mentally ill, or he changes.

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It should have been a movie instead of a drama

This drama would’ve worked better as a movie! Not saying it’s bad, but it’s just one flat storyline with zero plot twists. Depressed PIO from start to finish, then sad JeongYo from mid to end 😩. Basic storyline, no thrills, and the chemistry is basically nonexistent. Fans only gag over it ‘cause it’s their fave actor, and the querrbaiting while the director keeps calling it a love story just to keep the hype alive 🙄. I got bored halfway, nothing major happened. Just another overhyped drama, period!!

Why was JunYoung moving like a grandpa with back pain toward the end? JaeIn’s character was pointless, and clinging to a depressed guy was just irritating. The acting is solid, but honestly this is one of the most overhyped dramas of 2026!

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Was it painful? Yes. Did I love every second of it? Also yes.

This series is everything I didn’t know I needed. From the moment I started watching, I was completely hooked — every episode left me craving more.

I have so many thoughts, and they’re all chaotic. I don’t even know where to start — whether with the cast who completely stole my heart (and occasionally stomped on it), or with the fact that there was… a lot going on. Painful, yet somehow perfect at the same time.

What might look like a standard Korean drama is actually anything but. It’s unique, refreshing, and unpredictable. The plot twists, the characters, the tension!! The tension, the strain, the longing (in all its forms), the fear and the hope… phew. I loved every bit of it. Everything was done so well — the friendship, the sadness, the family relationships, the secrets… it was all so compelling to follow.
The dynamic between Bi O and Jeong Yo was messy, and I loved every second of their drama. Seriously. This isn’t BL, it’s not even close to bromance… it’s something else entirely. I don’t know how to label it.

Bi O and Jeong Yo stole my heart from the very first episode. These characters are so raw and charming that it was impossible not to root for them. They both brought so much to the table, but Bi O really captured my heart. His quiet sadness was palpable — you could feel everything he was feeling. And Jeong Yo? It felt like every time we blinked, life threw him another curveball. My boy handled it with such strength. The connection between them was undeniable, no matter what label you might try to put on their relationship.
And honestly? I really, really adore Hong Jae In. She’s such a wonderful friend.

I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up loving this series.

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Original Rivalry

Two powerhouse male leads—how can you go wrong?

The story is deeply emotional, tracing the characters from childhood into adulthood. I went in with no expectations and genuinely had no idea what I was in for. What unfolded was far more than I anticipated. I became completely immersed in the friendship, the subtle shifts in facial expression, the unspoken vibrations between the characters, and the intricate choreography of deception, trust, and emotion.

The entire drama felt like a beautifully composed piece of music: Intro → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Bridge → Chorus → Outro. Each movement introduced a new emotional phase, building upon what came before it. There was harmony and dissonance, moments of restraint followed by surges of intensity, and pauses that spoke as loudly as the dialogue. The emotional tempo continually shifted, carrying me through anticipation, uncertainty, tenderness, tension, and heartbreak.

And then came the crescendo.

Lee Jun-young is commanding. He portrays a child who possesses an extraordinary gift without yet understanding its magnitude, gradually developing into an intense leader and teacher. His performance has a remarkable musicality to it—quiet and understated in one moment, then gathering force until the character reaches the inevitable, almost explosive crescendo I had been waiting for.

Song Kang is exceptional as the insecure and tortured young man whose struggles become the counterpoint to his emerging brilliance. His performance captures the dissonance between vulnerability and genius, pain and potential. Watching that transformation unfold felt almost like listening to a composition gradually discovering its own melody.

Together, the two leads create an extraordinary dynamic. Their friendship, rivalry, silences, expressions, and emotional undercurrents become part of the score. So much is communicated without words that the smallest gesture can feel like an entire musical phrase.

I rarely write reviews, but this drama was supposed to be a filler for me—something to watch between other shows. Instead, it became the main event. I was completely drawn into its rhythm and watched the entire series in two days.

I began with no expectations. I ended in tears.

Sometimes, the most unexpected compositions are the ones that stay with you long after the final note has faded.

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Such a powerful story that you miss plotholes!

This is a fairly detailed review with my personal reviews and a lot of things that most people have missed out on while watching FHTS. The story was extremely gripping, the emotions were conveyed so perfectly well that it is completely normal to overlook some slips here and there. Overall, I must say this is one of the best kdramas I have ever seen.

Things I disliked about FHTS:

1. FHTS seems to be written from the point of view of Pi-O which completely overshadows Jeong-yu's back story. This would have been okay if Jeong-yu did not play such a massive role in the story's development, which he did. His disappearance and what exactly happened after he got shot, who saved him from the waters, how did he start living in the monastery were major things that the show missed on his side of the story. Another major thing is how did Jeong-yu even start following PI-O when he was meeting the abductor, what gave him away? This is what I mean by the fact that the story being from Pi-O's perspective and missing major developments in Jeon-yu's part of the story.

2. Pi-O should have had some form of emotional support and yes, his mother and Do Hyeon Su were not that. Hyeon Su silently favored Jeong-yu and initially even refused to give Pi-O a clear answer about what actually was missing from his playing. He only did so when Pi-O crashed out.

3. Pi-O's grandfather was extremely childish for someone of great talent presumably. He refused to ever tell Pi-O what actually was wrong with his performance. I also think that he had his own standard of what was good music and because Pi-O somehow did not fit that and to add fuel to fire, he did not like him because of his mom, it all added up to a stupid nagging that never seemed to move forward or backward. He was hypocritical in the sense that he did preach others that everyone has their own way of bringing life to music but somehow always dismissed Pi-O. I must say the character development towards the end was great.

4. Pi-O's mother was not criticized enough for being a bad parent. She was criticized throughout for her general nature and the bad deeds. Pi-O was just her weapon for getting her father's and everyone else's acknowledgement. She projected this onto Pi-O which is why he also always arrived for his grandfather's acknowledgement. In the jail scene, I absolutely disliked when she said that Pi-O was a gift from heaven that she wanted to show off to everyone. All of this was disguised as motherly love. She did not want any good for him, she wanted good from him. Yet Pi-O seems to forgive her at the end and even Hyeon Su tells her that she isn't a bad parent when she clearly is very toxic. This was especially evident by how threatened she felt by Jeong-yu's presence instead of being confident in her own son. I do agree her father had a major role in how she turned out to be.

5. Hong Jae in. This is probably the aspect of the series I disliked the most. To begin with, she was in the same art school as Pi-O and Jeong-yu, yet she had no individual storyline or character development nor did she pursue being a violinist. What is even worse is that she became Pi-O's manager and seemed to like the job partly because she had a huge crush on him!? She was at most treated as a glue between the two main characters. There was no explanation to why she did not pursue arts and just became a manager in her mother's company. The character was one badly.

6. Jae in and Pi-O's relationship was this huge joke. I only realized they were in some form of relationship when Pi-O initiated the breakup. There was one forced kiss, no proper proposal or agreement and whatsoever no couple scenes. At any moment, you could easily assume that she was a really good friend of Pi-O. I personally thought the relationship was completely unnecessary and as I said, it was glue to hold Pi-O together because all the adults around him professionally sucked. But anyways, if they wanted to put it, at least execute it properly. After everything was settled, the so-called relationship had no formal closure either. And exactly where was Jae-in's self respect? I still think the actress did really well in that role.

7. Kang Ji Hye's backstory and how she conceived Pi-O and who was the father was extremely necessary according to me. Tbh, I had a hunch that Hyeon Su might be the father based on the past relationship they had but there was no explanation for either of these things. Similarly with, Jeong -yu, I was hoping his actual father and a bit of his 'good childhood would be shown"

8. Towards the end, Pi-O's mother emotionally manipulated him over the abduction, when Pi-O said he would shift the blame onto him, why did she not take a step then and there but wait for everything to fall through?

9. In the chappel, Anna took Pi-O's musical scores, why? No explanation, no consequences.

10. Jeong-yu was way overstimulated after his return and maybe overlooked things and generally misunderstood pretty much everything, but that was necessary to the plot I guess.

11. What exactly is the relationship dynamic between Seung Un and Seon Ju? Why did she move out later?

Things I loved about FHTS:

1. The amount of yearning from both sides was very equivalent which is something I adored but what took me by heart the most was Jeong-yu getting injected so he could temporarily use his hand to show Pi-O and finish his guilt.

2. Jeong-yu's character change on his return was just EPIC and the coldness was so beautifully performed. I really liked how his first score was being written to being performed with Pi-O both times. Nemesis is now a very beautiful word in my dictionary, like a painful misunderstanding.

3. I loved when Kang Seung Un said in the end "Leave me alone with the music" as he wanted to say goodbye to his lifelong partner after wishing goodbye to others. The performance of Lacrimosa, the pain, the falling down, just perfect.

4. I am a huge fan of the pre disaster moments between Pi-O and Jeong-yu, especially the candle lit room scene. Pi-O and Jeong-yu equally helped each other out both times, in similar ways, which was warm to watch. The musical arcade scenes were probably my comfort scenes from the entire series. They were carefree and happy in most of them.

5. All the piano scenes and the conducting scenes were top-notch. It is extremely hard to mimic these movements if you are not a professional pianist or conductor but the actors nailed it.

6. This series was a lot about human nature as well besides music, I loved when Pi-O said to Jeong-yu that he would have thought of getting rid of him anyways because that is how a lifetime runner up's mind works. That is true human nature, no one can be pure. In context to this, there is a heavy religious undertone to the whole drama. From Ji hye's guilt and church scenes to the Lacrimosa performance and Seung Un falling, to the last scene in a church.

7. Pi-O's grandfather finally helping him out and acknowledging him and smiling the widest during the premiere of Nemesis was a very emotional scene for me.

8. The closure for Jeong-yu and his father was sad but needed. In terms of suffering and still striving, Jeong yu's character has always taken my heart. He is in short a good human despite what he went through and his instinct for revenge, especially because for the second half, he had absolutely no one to take care of him. On this note, I liked the dynamic between him and Yeon Su, it gave mother-son.

9. Overall, both main characters were very well done and portrayed different personalities facing different dilemmas, Song Kang and Lee Junyoung were an amazing choice.

10. The ending was very well done. It was good to see that both Pi-O and Jeong-yu started playing for people and for what made them and others happy instead of hyper focusing on stage performances where every single note is judged, because the most important instrument for music is the soul. And as Jeong-yu said, he wanted to play for happiness and not for revenge anymore.

11. Lastly, the opening scene of this drama was agonizingly beautiful. I think there is something raw and pure about bleeding onto the piano keys while playing.

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Supreme harmony – friendship, beauty and music

The story is built around the dynamics of friendship between two protagonists. It is a familiar theme, one explored particularly often in Chinese literature and cinema, but in the hands of this screenwriter it acquires an extraordinary depth of meaning. The story unfolds naturally and authentically, offering no easy shortcuts or simple solutions to its conflicts. And above all, music reigns supreme.

Acting: Every actor delivered an exceptional performance. Although the two main characters captured all our attention, everyone who appeared on screen contributed to this emotional spectacle, filled with tender glances, angry outbursts and tears of genuine emotion.
Lee Jun Young – His performance is energetic and self-assured. His Choi Jeong Yo is always arrogant and independent; only Kang PiO manages to bring out both the very best and the very worst in him.
Song Kang – Once again, he portrays a sensitive artist. Here, his performance is refined and delicate. Kang PiO's despair is always touchable, always genuine.
The third protagonist of this drama is music itself. Never before has music carried so many layers of meaning. You can literally lose yourself in a cascade of sounds. We come to understand the main characters' passion for music so deeply because it accompanies us throughout the entire story, from beginning to end.
The combination of visuals and sound is one of the drama's greatest strengths. The director has achieved a remarkable harmony between the leads' friendship and their music. Watching Song Kang and Jun Young play together on the same piano is an absolute delight!
Special applause must also go to the mother, played by Yoon SeA – she can love and hate. She portrays an incredibly complex character, a woman with many layers within her: love for her son and hatred for his father, faith and naivety, gratitude and ambition. Every one of these facets is revealed to the audience and portrayed to perfection.

The Prague cinematography also deserves praise. Although the scenes feature only a single bridge, a tram and a small stretch of street, even this brief glimpse of the city is a pleasure to behold.
This story reminds us that beauty, love and happiness do exist in the world and that they can become part of our own lives, too, although achieving them requires effort and sacrifice. Friendship also exists in this world, and it is closely connected with beauty and love. Haven't we become just a little better after watching this drama?

I can`t stop thinking about this story and characters without my heart beginning to race. And I can`t get that wonderful music, played by four hands, out of my head.

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"You saved me too, Whether you meant to or not, You were light to me, you were hope"

I never thought i will be writing a review for a drama but here i'm after frequenting this page multiple times a day for the past month i really want to say thank you to the actors, writer, directors, production staff, cast crew and the fellow viewers here for making making me feel so many special emotions while watching this show, i'm really really grateful to all of you.

Now, atfirst i didn't think this drama would be anything but a crappy love triangle where two men fight for a girl and I meant to not even follow up but it captivated and hooked me up from the very first scene. Even though i stayed for the mystery that they build up, the pure love and actions of the two male leads towards each other really moved me. No matter how hard their situation became, no matter how much they resented each other, they never stopped caring for one another and gradually found their way back to one another multiple times till the very end. Every single action and emotions were portrayed so beautifully and delicately by the actors (Shoutout to Song Kang and Junyoung) i feel like any word used to praise them would be underappreciation.

I don't really know how to write long letters but if you are reading this, please watch this as its a truly, very beautiful story between two broken souls who found each other at their lowest and healed one another only to get torn apart by circumstances but their love of one another saw no bounds and they slowly realised that hence letting go as a final act of love only to get reunited because what is Jeongyo without Pio and Pio without Jeongyo.

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