This review may contain spoilers
Mediocre writing, but good cast and idea
This drama is one of those cases where you can see the potential the whole time… and then watch it slowly trip over itself trying to deliver on it.
Both Rin and Taiga feel stuck in different ways, and watching them try to figure out their paths is honestly one of the strongest parts of the show. Their journeys aren’t magically smooth either, which makes things feel more grounded. Taiga finding direction while Rin keeps struggling adds a realistic contrast… but also kind of hurts the overall balance.
The casting was actually one of the stronger parts of the drama. Hyewon as Rin did a really solid job, even if her performance felt a bit awkward at times, which honestly seemed more like a language barrier issue than a lack of skill. Despite that, she still managed to convey Rin’s emotions in a way that felt sincere and natural, especially in the more vulnerable scenes. Having seen her in Friendly Rivalry, it’s pretty clear she has range, so it wasn’t hard to recognize that the awkwardness here wasn’t really on her. As for Eiji as Taiga, this was my first time watching him and he genuinely impressed me. His acting felt more effortless, especially in the quieter moments where he didn’t need much dialogue to express what he was feeling. He balanced Taiga’s reserved personality really well without making him feel flat, which is honestly harder than it looks. Together, their chemistry wasn’t perfect, but it was believable enough to carry the emotional parts of the story.
The side characters had potential too, especially Noa. Her relationship was clearly building toward a breaking point, but when it finally happens, it’s weirdly underwhelming. It doesn’t feel like the emotional explosion it should’ve been. And Junho not ending up with Noa just feels like another missed opportunity. There were way more interesting directions they could’ve taken there.
The romance itself is… messy. Not in a complex, layered way, but in a “why are we still doing this” kind of way. There are way too many conflicts built on miscommunication instead of actual meaningful issues. Instead of exploring cultural differences in depth, the show kind of uses them as a surface-level excuse for arguments. A lot of the fights could’ve been avoided if the characters just talked properly for five minutes.
And the pacing does the relationship no favors either. Things escalate way too quickly early on (episode 3 really said “no buildup needed” apparently), which makes the emotional weight feel a bit unearned. A slower burn between Rin and Taiga would’ve made their connection feel a lot deeper. If they had taken their time instead of rushing into everything, the later moments would’ve hit harder.
The cinematography and OST were honestly some of the most enjoyable parts of the drama. A lot of the scenes were shot in a really simple but intentional way that made even small moments feel meaningful, especially the quieter interactions between the characters. The use of lighting and everyday settings gave everything a more natural, almost intimate vibe instead of feeling overly dramatized. And the OST fit surprisingly well with that tone. It wasn’t anything overly loud or distracting, but it blended into the scenes in a way that actually enhanced the emotions rather than forcing them. Some tracks really stuck during the more emotional moments and made them hit harder than they probably would have on their own. It’s one of the few aspects where the drama felt consistently well thought out from start to finish.
Then there’s the ending, which feels like the writers suddenly remembered they needed to be “different” and just went for it without thinking it through. The whole breakup comes out of nowhere. The montage shows them managing long distance, visiting each other, staying connected… and then suddenly they’re just not together anymore. No proper explanation, no buildup, nothing. It’s less “bittersweet” and more “wait, did I miss an episode?”
And honestly, the biggest issue is that everything starts feeling rushed toward the end. Plotlines get wrapped up too quickly, conflicts come and go without enough depth, and a lot of things are just left hanging. It doesn’t feel like a proper conclusion, more like the story just ran out of time.
Overall, it’s not a terrible drama. There are genuinely good moments, and it does feel more refreshing than a lot of overly cliché shows out there. But it keeps getting in its own way. Between the rushed pacing, overuse of misunderstandings, missed character potential, and that confusing ending, it ends up being more frustrating than satisfying. It’s the kind of show you almost love, which somehow makes the disappointment worse.
Both Rin and Taiga feel stuck in different ways, and watching them try to figure out their paths is honestly one of the strongest parts of the show. Their journeys aren’t magically smooth either, which makes things feel more grounded. Taiga finding direction while Rin keeps struggling adds a realistic contrast… but also kind of hurts the overall balance.
The casting was actually one of the stronger parts of the drama. Hyewon as Rin did a really solid job, even if her performance felt a bit awkward at times, which honestly seemed more like a language barrier issue than a lack of skill. Despite that, she still managed to convey Rin’s emotions in a way that felt sincere and natural, especially in the more vulnerable scenes. Having seen her in Friendly Rivalry, it’s pretty clear she has range, so it wasn’t hard to recognize that the awkwardness here wasn’t really on her. As for Eiji as Taiga, this was my first time watching him and he genuinely impressed me. His acting felt more effortless, especially in the quieter moments where he didn’t need much dialogue to express what he was feeling. He balanced Taiga’s reserved personality really well without making him feel flat, which is honestly harder than it looks. Together, their chemistry wasn’t perfect, but it was believable enough to carry the emotional parts of the story.
The side characters had potential too, especially Noa. Her relationship was clearly building toward a breaking point, but when it finally happens, it’s weirdly underwhelming. It doesn’t feel like the emotional explosion it should’ve been. And Junho not ending up with Noa just feels like another missed opportunity. There were way more interesting directions they could’ve taken there.
The romance itself is… messy. Not in a complex, layered way, but in a “why are we still doing this” kind of way. There are way too many conflicts built on miscommunication instead of actual meaningful issues. Instead of exploring cultural differences in depth, the show kind of uses them as a surface-level excuse for arguments. A lot of the fights could’ve been avoided if the characters just talked properly for five minutes.
And the pacing does the relationship no favors either. Things escalate way too quickly early on (episode 3 really said “no buildup needed” apparently), which makes the emotional weight feel a bit unearned. A slower burn between Rin and Taiga would’ve made their connection feel a lot deeper. If they had taken their time instead of rushing into everything, the later moments would’ve hit harder.
The cinematography and OST were honestly some of the most enjoyable parts of the drama. A lot of the scenes were shot in a really simple but intentional way that made even small moments feel meaningful, especially the quieter interactions between the characters. The use of lighting and everyday settings gave everything a more natural, almost intimate vibe instead of feeling overly dramatized. And the OST fit surprisingly well with that tone. It wasn’t anything overly loud or distracting, but it blended into the scenes in a way that actually enhanced the emotions rather than forcing them. Some tracks really stuck during the more emotional moments and made them hit harder than they probably would have on their own. It’s one of the few aspects where the drama felt consistently well thought out from start to finish.
Then there’s the ending, which feels like the writers suddenly remembered they needed to be “different” and just went for it without thinking it through. The whole breakup comes out of nowhere. The montage shows them managing long distance, visiting each other, staying connected… and then suddenly they’re just not together anymore. No proper explanation, no buildup, nothing. It’s less “bittersweet” and more “wait, did I miss an episode?”
And honestly, the biggest issue is that everything starts feeling rushed toward the end. Plotlines get wrapped up too quickly, conflicts come and go without enough depth, and a lot of things are just left hanging. It doesn’t feel like a proper conclusion, more like the story just ran out of time.
Overall, it’s not a terrible drama. There are genuinely good moments, and it does feel more refreshing than a lot of overly cliché shows out there. But it keeps getting in its own way. Between the rushed pacing, overuse of misunderstandings, missed character potential, and that confusing ending, it ends up being more frustrating than satisfying. It’s the kind of show you almost love, which somehow makes the disappointment worse.
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