This review may contain spoilers
Whatever happens, family stick together as a glue.
This did not feel like a show. It was a biopic for the ups and downs of life and how parents are parents for the first time. For people my age, it was an eye-opener to see how much the seemingly mundane things our parents do could be the same things that they look forward to doing and what makes their day.
I think I’ll keep this drama close to my heart for a long time. Like the four seasons it portrays, it hits me with so many emotions at once, the lightheartedness of spring, the intensity of summer, the melancholia of autumn and the bitterness of winter. Absolutely loved the director's decision to split the drama into 4 episodes per week.
Also, I finally get what people mean when they call a drama "healing." Even with all the loss and tragedy the characters go through, all i remember is the warmth and comfort of this drama. I already know that this will be one of the dramas i'll always recommend, easy.
IU is definitely going to get all the awards buzz, but I think Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon also deserve their flowers. Loved seeing more of PBG as the young, steadfast and sweet Steelheart. That ocean swim will go down as the stuff of kdrama legends. But I truly think everyone- mains, supporting, cameos, did fantastic in their roles.
-It's a tough (nigh basically impossible) demand to live up to Yang Gwang Sik as a love interest, but Park Chung Seob held his own! Loved seeing him care for Geum Myeong even when his physical state is compromised through seasickness and alcohol. He chose her over and over again. That scene in the hospital where Geum Myeong is struggling through labor and he says without hesitating "I choose my wife"! The scene when Geum Myeong asks if they can use money they're saving for Sae Bom's piano for her parents instead and he tells her she doesn't have to ask him! We all may think of different things when we think about love, but maybe boiled down to the basics, love is about choosing someone over and over again and respecting/honoring their choices even when times are tough.
-I don't think I've ever cried so much at a kdrama wedding scene?? The use of the younger Yang Geum Myeong actresses to show us Yang Geum Myeong through Gwan Sik's eyes is so effective.
-Seeing Ae Sun and Gwan Sik work so hard during the IMF crisis and struggle with the restaurant broke my heart. Gwan Sik lived and worked for his family, and never complained, and the kids only saw what they didn't have and lamented that they weren't rich! The man never even had a hobby. I've spent a couple of days complaining about my commute to work to my parents and I feel humbled. I think in a world where we see so much online/on Instagram, it's so easy to feel resentful about people living "better" lives than you, with more money and vacation travels to exotic places. But Gwan Sik wasn't bitter at all about giving his whole life to take care of his children. So sincere, so diligent, so much heart for his family.
-I don't know anything about poetry, but I love how Gwan Sik encouraged Ae Sun to work on her poems and fulfill one of his promises to her. Ae Sun acts tough, but she poured her heart into her writing and we can see the depth of her feelings for Gwan Sik in what she writes about him.
-That scene in the hospital with a young PBG and IU looking at each other when Gwan Sik passed absolutely destroyed me.
I've spent A LOT of time thinking about this drama and why it's so gut-wrenching for me, and I think it may be because I'm now at an age where I think more about whether I'm ready to become a parent, and I'm more appreciative of everything my parents have done for me. This drama reminds us of what parents sacrifice to give their children a better life/more than what they had, and it also reminds us about appreciating our parents before it's too late (vol 4 especially). Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong kept telling their parents, "You're not done raising me!" throughout these episodes and boy do I still feel that, even though I'm a fully-grown adult too.
These later episodes reminded me that Ae Sun and Gwan Sik are not much older than my parents (!!!). I've noticed that they walk more slowly these days, and there are more doctors appointments, more vitamins/supplements on the kitchen counter. My mom and I have watched countless kdramas together and we always make time to watch something together whenever I'm home. I've been telling her for probably at least 5 years now that I'm going to take her and Dad to Jeju Island, and I called her after I finished watching this drama to tell her that we're going to go to Jeju Island, and this time, I really mean it.
My chest is heavy. My head is pounding. My throat is dry. My eyes are burning. This drama did not need to do all that. I will never heal 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 Drama of the year IMMEDIATELY. Goodbye I’m off to grieve. I need to find my Gwanshik and ParkToto
I think I’ll keep this drama close to my heart for a long time. Like the four seasons it portrays, it hits me with so many emotions at once, the lightheartedness of spring, the intensity of summer, the melancholia of autumn and the bitterness of winter. Absolutely loved the director's decision to split the drama into 4 episodes per week.
Also, I finally get what people mean when they call a drama "healing." Even with all the loss and tragedy the characters go through, all i remember is the warmth and comfort of this drama. I already know that this will be one of the dramas i'll always recommend, easy.
IU is definitely going to get all the awards buzz, but I think Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon also deserve their flowers. Loved seeing more of PBG as the young, steadfast and sweet Steelheart. That ocean swim will go down as the stuff of kdrama legends. But I truly think everyone- mains, supporting, cameos, did fantastic in their roles.
-It's a tough (nigh basically impossible) demand to live up to Yang Gwang Sik as a love interest, but Park Chung Seob held his own! Loved seeing him care for Geum Myeong even when his physical state is compromised through seasickness and alcohol. He chose her over and over again. That scene in the hospital where Geum Myeong is struggling through labor and he says without hesitating "I choose my wife"! The scene when Geum Myeong asks if they can use money they're saving for Sae Bom's piano for her parents instead and he tells her she doesn't have to ask him! We all may think of different things when we think about love, but maybe boiled down to the basics, love is about choosing someone over and over again and respecting/honoring their choices even when times are tough.
-I don't think I've ever cried so much at a kdrama wedding scene?? The use of the younger Yang Geum Myeong actresses to show us Yang Geum Myeong through Gwan Sik's eyes is so effective.
-Seeing Ae Sun and Gwan Sik work so hard during the IMF crisis and struggle with the restaurant broke my heart. Gwan Sik lived and worked for his family, and never complained, and the kids only saw what they didn't have and lamented that they weren't rich! The man never even had a hobby. I've spent a couple of days complaining about my commute to work to my parents and I feel humbled. I think in a world where we see so much online/on Instagram, it's so easy to feel resentful about people living "better" lives than you, with more money and vacation travels to exotic places. But Gwan Sik wasn't bitter at all about giving his whole life to take care of his children. So sincere, so diligent, so much heart for his family.
-I don't know anything about poetry, but I love how Gwan Sik encouraged Ae Sun to work on her poems and fulfill one of his promises to her. Ae Sun acts tough, but she poured her heart into her writing and we can see the depth of her feelings for Gwan Sik in what she writes about him.
-That scene in the hospital with a young PBG and IU looking at each other when Gwan Sik passed absolutely destroyed me.
I've spent A LOT of time thinking about this drama and why it's so gut-wrenching for me, and I think it may be because I'm now at an age where I think more about whether I'm ready to become a parent, and I'm more appreciative of everything my parents have done for me. This drama reminds us of what parents sacrifice to give their children a better life/more than what they had, and it also reminds us about appreciating our parents before it's too late (vol 4 especially). Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong kept telling their parents, "You're not done raising me!" throughout these episodes and boy do I still feel that, even though I'm a fully-grown adult too.
These later episodes reminded me that Ae Sun and Gwan Sik are not much older than my parents (!!!). I've noticed that they walk more slowly these days, and there are more doctors appointments, more vitamins/supplements on the kitchen counter. My mom and I have watched countless kdramas together and we always make time to watch something together whenever I'm home. I've been telling her for probably at least 5 years now that I'm going to take her and Dad to Jeju Island, and I called her after I finished watching this drama to tell her that we're going to go to Jeju Island, and this time, I really mean it.
My chest is heavy. My head is pounding. My throat is dry. My eyes are burning. This drama did not need to do all that. I will never heal 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 Drama of the year IMMEDIATELY. Goodbye I’m off to grieve. I need to find my Gwanshik and ParkToto
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