To be honest, I was deceived. For years I was under the impression that its a fun little romance taking place in the 80s all because I trusted the few clips on tiktok instead of reading a summary. I wanna acknowledge that there is very important context behind this show that you must at least familiarize yourself with. While I would not say the show glamorized the actions of the ahn-ghi-boo, it defintely did not give the entire picture of the cruelty of the 'organization' from the little I do know. So please be aware that there is an extent of historical inaccuracies that can be dangerous -- that is why it is important to understand them because these were REAL people hurting innocents at the end of it all. Disclaimer over: this show had potential but didn't live up to it. The acting was really good and initially, so were the characters. However, the prolonging of the whole kidnapping situation got out of hand and boring. Its as if the writers thoughts came against a wall and they didn't know how to move past it. It was constant back and forth that became redundant. Near the end, I couldn't even follow what was happening because one way or another all the information given seemed so useless. As did the characters; seeing a protester among the girls being a communist among the group I had high hopes for her. But after the first cour, she just did nothing. It was such a waste. And characters I didn't really care about got more screen time, none of it really adding anything to the plot that wasn't established from day 1 of the kidnapping. On top of that, the role Jisoo played felt so bland. The acting was good, but I'm so tired of women portrayed as "kind and caring" to everyone are also damsels in distresses?! She could be a sweetheart AND a badass. Like man she was the daughter of a rich dude she must've been enrolled in Karate at some point. There was nothing to her except her care for everyone even when it means sacrificing herself. Also was I supposed to care that the old man was a spy when you reveal that in the absolute end of the show with no real reason? The plot honestly felt like a waste of time. Seeing how this takes place in a different time, I was excited to see an "'80s" aesthetic. But because of the lack of setting (as everyone was constantly holed up in the dorm), I forgot that this drama wasn't in the present. That is also something worth mentioning; the historical context that the show uses to tell the story is pointless in my opinion. Had they made it a show in the present with the same fictional premise, it would not have really made a difference. Instead they chose that specific timeline undermining real victims who were hurt at the hands of the regime. So how was the romance? That is what it's advertised as. Well mediocre. Which is insulting because Jisoo and Jung Hae In have crazy chemistry together. It hurts because it feels as if it was wasted. Throughout watching it I kept on thinking of a hundred different ways this could've played out. ML could've been a real protestor perhaps, that would've kept the integrity of the context it took place in. If they did want to do the whole North Korean spy plot, then give me something more!!! She meets him once, doesn't see him for 6 months, meets him again, he leaves after max 2 weeks, comes back a few days later, holds her hostage and treats her in very traumatic ways (yes, yes, he didn't want to because he loved her but he still DID) and then I'm supposed to be upset? I was, but more so because I had an attachment to the actors more than the character (the behind the scenes clips of the actors lead me here ok). I wish they added some other stuff in the middle where the couple got to know each other, interacted with each other more or SOMETHING. I enjoyed the beginning a lot. It felt like something difference. Until it wasn't. So that's why I think 5 stars is a justified rating.
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