This review may contain spoilers
Same thing but done better and for a modern audience
The main reason I am giving this such a high score is because I watched almost 27 hours of content without getting bored. Instead of feeling tired, I just kept wanting to watch the next and next episode. That alone says a lot.
Female Lead and Character Growth:
Secondly, I really liked how it went against the cliché. Instead of a weak FL or a strong-to-weak FL, we get an FL who starts with a weak personality but gradually grows into someone who holds her head high and becomes a boss lady.
What I appreciated most is that the change was not sudden. It was a gradual acceptance. She starts thinking, I do not want to rely on my parents, I want to do something on my own. You can see the seeds of that mindset from the very beginning, and later they bloom into a beautiful flower. That progression felt natural and satisfying.
Music
I would give the music a really high rating. The songs fit the drama well, and I especially loved the intro.
That said, the last episode ticked me off a bit.
Spoilers: they played all four songs back to back with a compilation of what the characters were doing for almost 20 minutes. That felt excessive.
Still, overall the music was really good.
Visuals and Cinematography
The VFX was pretty good. At times it was blatantly obvious they were using green screen, but other times the camera angles were perfect. During emotionally intense moments, the framing of shots was golden and really elevated the scenes.
Story and Ending
The story is pretty cliché in a sense, but the clichés are well hidden, so it never feels too predictable. I was also glad they did not use the annoying tropes like we met in childhood, or the MC having trauma that the FL heals with saint-like tendencies.
Towards the last episode, I genuinely wondered what they were going to do because they basically wrapped everything up by episode 35. Then episode 36 happened and I was humorously surprised.
Spoilers: first we get a 2 year jump, then a 10 year jump, then another 3 year jump. I was like, what is happening. It was completely left field compared to my usual expectations of dramas like this. Normally you get a wedding scene with all characters appearing. Instead these guys just speedran the wedding. I definitely would have preferred that. But honestly, because of how unexpected and funny it was compared to where my expectations were, I give it a pass.
I also entirely do not get the character of the SML. You like someone, then you berate them because their parents are richer than yours. You take the side of a childhood friend you do not even like against the person you claim to like. Then you come back saying it is unfair because you missed opportunities with her. Brother what was that.
Other than him, everything was fine. Not perfect, but fine. I did feel like there was no strong secondary cast. They were all just going in and out. First the college group, then the unnecessary step-daughter arc which never got a conculsion, then the office colleagues who did not matter and just became tag-alongs for the FL. So yeah, the secondary cast except the FLs family was basically non-existent, I really loved the charcater of jang rui, and the actor he did a a really good job at potraying this fun charcater.
Final Thoughts
Strong binge value, satisfying character growth, great music, good cinematography, and a story that plays with clichés instead of being trapped by them. Not perfect, but memorable and enjoyable throughout.
Female Lead and Character Growth:
Secondly, I really liked how it went against the cliché. Instead of a weak FL or a strong-to-weak FL, we get an FL who starts with a weak personality but gradually grows into someone who holds her head high and becomes a boss lady.
What I appreciated most is that the change was not sudden. It was a gradual acceptance. She starts thinking, I do not want to rely on my parents, I want to do something on my own. You can see the seeds of that mindset from the very beginning, and later they bloom into a beautiful flower. That progression felt natural and satisfying.
Music
I would give the music a really high rating. The songs fit the drama well, and I especially loved the intro.
That said, the last episode ticked me off a bit.
Spoilers: they played all four songs back to back with a compilation of what the characters were doing for almost 20 minutes. That felt excessive.
Still, overall the music was really good.
Visuals and Cinematography
The VFX was pretty good. At times it was blatantly obvious they were using green screen, but other times the camera angles were perfect. During emotionally intense moments, the framing of shots was golden and really elevated the scenes.
Story and Ending
The story is pretty cliché in a sense, but the clichés are well hidden, so it never feels too predictable. I was also glad they did not use the annoying tropes like we met in childhood, or the MC having trauma that the FL heals with saint-like tendencies.
Towards the last episode, I genuinely wondered what they were going to do because they basically wrapped everything up by episode 35. Then episode 36 happened and I was humorously surprised.
Spoilers: first we get a 2 year jump, then a 10 year jump, then another 3 year jump. I was like, what is happening. It was completely left field compared to my usual expectations of dramas like this. Normally you get a wedding scene with all characters appearing. Instead these guys just speedran the wedding. I definitely would have preferred that. But honestly, because of how unexpected and funny it was compared to where my expectations were, I give it a pass.
I also entirely do not get the character of the SML. You like someone, then you berate them because their parents are richer than yours. You take the side of a childhood friend you do not even like against the person you claim to like. Then you come back saying it is unfair because you missed opportunities with her. Brother what was that.
Other than him, everything was fine. Not perfect, but fine. I did feel like there was no strong secondary cast. They were all just going in and out. First the college group, then the unnecessary step-daughter arc which never got a conculsion, then the office colleagues who did not matter and just became tag-alongs for the FL. So yeah, the secondary cast except the FLs family was basically non-existent, I really loved the charcater of jang rui, and the actor he did a a really good job at potraying this fun charcater.
Final Thoughts
Strong binge value, satisfying character growth, great music, good cinematography, and a story that plays with clichés instead of being trapped by them. Not perfect, but memorable and enjoyable throughout.
Was this review helpful to you?
