AA2024

When this drama was launched I was thriving to watch it: a story of falling out and/or relighting love; brilliant main actors (especially Ahn Eun Jin mesmerized me in My Dearest); KBS is a channel with decent production budgets.

Now, that I just finished watching:
the story is there and if you watch closely & listen carefully, then you could find a story thread-line that is consistent = a couple falling out of love under the pressure of every day life and societal jungle laws and how it this (might) end.

I said to watch & listen carefully, because there were unnecessary side stories and the one with potatoes stealing/embezzlement was awfully taking to much time. I would prefer to use that film time for more interesting stories, especially what happened with main couples during that 2years jump.

OVERVIEW OF MAIN STORIES
The story is presented more consistent from FL perspective: inner torture, realization, more inner torture/shame, painfully climbing back to (new) life. For me it was clear how FL was going through these phases - kudos to AEJ! - and I acknowledged her ark (though I do not agree to many of her decisions, I could understand one could chose them).
I consider also consistent the stories of ML and SFL: I could tune to their thoughts, feelings and actions - again kudos to SKJ and JoA.
Completely different is my take on SML story... hard to believe such an ark, for me it's just a forced story in order to give a kind of "right ending" to FL.

THE ENDING
Most probably, the writer wanted to close - as by the book - all stories (incl. side stories), but failed to give time and consistency to the most awaited endings FL, ML, SFL, SML.
I would need to learn more how the feeling of ML and FL have changed, what made ML to decide prolonging his abroad stay from 6months to 2years and why is he so sure now about his current feelings. I felt the passionate kiss of SFL, after his return, is contradicting his emotions next day.
However, taken with a grain of salt, I could accept that he decided to go for SFL and wanted to make sure a solid closure with FL and especially with her family (imo this acknowledge he is still very much into FL and family).

... and the implied coupling FL + SML: it is just unbelievable and disgusting.
It makes sense for me only if you see that as punishment for FL - she got a clingy, immature, psychopathic-prone partner . Her feelings to SML are deriving from pitying him and cursed responsibility (she feels that leaving him, he will be doomed back in his black-hole); consequently, she is also doomed to accept a relationship with him (FWB? Casual Dating? Lovers?)

CONCLUSION
I would rewatch this dram just for a couple of scenes with Ahn Eun Jin, having the pleasure - through her performance - to immerse again in the story of a struggling mature woman finding back her path after her life collapsed.
Just to name a couple of scenes: her looks and crying after realizing the mistake of that night; her moves and look just before the accident; her looks as she realizes losing Ho; her last scene: from troubling to accepting and then looking-forward to what life brings on.

P.S. I could write more about my takes on these stories: why I won't chose what they chose, why "cheating" is not an accident - but a symptom you both need to treat in advance, why ML choice was actually very brave, consistent to a contemporary, sophisticated real man (not male), etc.