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I decided to watch Navillera in order to take a break from all of the thrillers I've been watching back-to-back and let me tell you that I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! I love stories about old people, found family and dreams so when I read the synopsis I knew right from the spot that this drama would be perfect for me.

If someone starts watching this series expecting to learn more about ballet, they might be left disappointed. While ballet remains one of the central forces in the series, the drama doesn't go into technical details. Ballet is only the cherry at the top of the cake. The story is much more complex and its beauty lies in the many layers that unfold as the episodes and the characters progressed.

I knew that Navillera would be emotional but I did not expect to cry in.every.single.episode. Seriously, I cannot recall a single episode that was unable to make me cry or tear up. When I cried at Lee Gyo Seok's death on Episode 1, I just knew that this drama wouldn't give me a break. And I was correct. Navillera was an emotional roller-coaster in the best and worst way possible. I would laugh at one scene and some scenes later I would bawl my eyes out until my eyes became red and my face a mess. Happiness, relief, hope, anguish, anger, fear, anxiety, sadness...These are just a few of the emotions I can name in order to show what I felt while watching Navillera. I find it really hard to properly convey in words the impact this drama had on me and if I sound too dramatic, keep in mind that my words can hardly portray half of the truth.

Deokchul's story touched my heart. Park In Hwan did a phenomenal job in this role, he put his heart and soul into his performance and he conveyed Deokchul's complexity beautifully. I understand that having a 70 years old main lead who wants to learn ballet is not the most interesting premise for some kdrama watchers but the story is much more than that. Deokchul never got the chance to follow his dreams. Having been raised according to the male standards of his times, he couldn't pursue ballet and discouraged by his father, he abandoned his dreams. Throughout his whole life, Deokchul did his best to provide for his family with, be good at his job and be a good husband and father. He never asked for more and he always put his loved ones' needs above his own. He didn't complain or shift the blame to his family and he kept his head up, even during the hard times. He was always a giver - never a taker. So could blame him when for once in his life, he decided to do something for himself?

I was so excited about Deokchul's journey in ballet. From the very first episode, I was rooting for him so hard, I felt like I was the one trying to achieve a long lost dream. The first episodes were really a headache to me, I was so angry at his family's disapproval and reactions (although as the series developed, they got good developement). They never took into consideration his own feelings, they only cared about the general public consensus and how that could affect their own image. I was so happy to see that Deokchul's will did not shatter and with the help of Chaerok, he didn't give up.

One thing that I anticipated after some hints here and there and yet still affected me deeply was Deokchul's alzheimer illness. It hit too close to home because my maternal grandmothers had developed Alzheimer and died because of that. I remember the developement of her illness, how she gradually started becoming more absent-minded or how she would forget something and we would have to remind her. Sometimes I had to correct her and she would insist that her memory was nt wrong. During the pandemic and lockdown, her situation deteriorated and once the lockdown was over and we could visit her again, it was so painful to see how far away she seemed. Even when she would sit with the family, it was as if she was in her own world, staring at the blank space or not steering a conversation. I could tell that her illness had taken a tool on everyone, especially my mom. It was so devastating to see her cling to the short moments when my grandma could communicate without difficulty. I too lived for them. I stayed by her side, encouraging her to tell me stories of her past (stories I had heard about) or telling me about her daily activities as I filled her in on my own life. As her illness got worse and worse, I couldn't look at her without tearing up and without reminscing about our happier memories. Watching Deokchul deal with Alzheimer made me get deja vu. My eyes would turn into waterfalls and memories would be pulled up. Deokchul reminded me so much of my grandma. When he felt guilty about forgetting things, it was as if i could see her feeling ashamed of forgetting something or even us. The scenes when his family discovered about his illness wrecked me, I couldn't stop crying and be reminded of my own family who had to get used to our new reality and accept that grandma couldn't be cured, so we would have to do our best and take care of her.

And now, let's talk about Chaerok. Honestly, I liked him much more than I anticipated. Contrary to other reactions I've seen, I didn't get that annoyed by his reluctance to accept Deokchul as his student and manager. Chaerok, like Deokchul, was a pretty complex character who went through a lot. He had lost his mother, his father had been released from jail, his relationship with ballet, the one thing that kept him going, degenerated, he got injured...It's only logical that his behavior wouldn't be the best, especially towards Deokchul whom he viewed as an obstacle and as someone who would monitor his life. Chaerok showed many signs of depression at the beginning. He lived a monotonous life, he barely took care of his health and he lived for one thing: ballet. Chaerok wore the facade of a cold person, who was determined to become a professional ballet dancer. However, that would never be possible in his current state because his mental and physical issues would get the best of him. He had the talent but he was unable to soar - until Deokchul appeared on the picture.

Deokchul and Chaerok's relationship was always the heart of the series. I just adored their chemistry and seeing their relationship unfold really warmed my heart! It was so nice to see how both of them helped each other. Deokchul managed to break Chaerok's walls and shower him with the love and care he had been robbed off throughout his early life while Chaerok helped Deokchul gain confidence and encouraged him to stand up for his choice to learn ballet at the age of 70. They shared so many moments together. Some of them made me laugh (especially the ones when Deokchul would help Chaerok against his wish), some of them made me proud and some of them made me cry. The scene where he danced under the snow was so touching and when he and Deokchul finally got the chance to perform together I couldn't hold back my tears. These are two of the most profound moments in this drama and two scenes that will accompany me for a long time.

The rest of the characters were equally well-written and complex and I cannot resist sharing my thoughts about them. Characterization in general was one of the defining aspects in the series. I was so interested in each character's personal journey and separate growth. All of them, with one way or another, connected with Deokchul and Chaerok and by the end of the series, their conclusions were satisfying.

Choi Hae Nam: Deokchul's wife. I got so angry at her when she disapproved of Deokchul's interest in ballet and when she teared off his ballet outfit but she quickly became one of my most favourite characters. She too had been robbed off so much in order to bring up her children and throughout the series she was shown to care so much about her family. Although she tended to express her love in a tough way at times, it was evident that she was a loving wife, mother and grandma. She was there to comfort her family and she worried so much about their future. I adore how she and Deokchul adopted Chaerok and treated him like a grandson!

Shim Seong Suk: Deokchul's daughter. Her relationship with her husband was fun and it worked as a comedic relief at times. I felt so sad for her when she struggled with the fact that she couldn't birth a child but thankfully, her family was supportive of her. I loved how she was shown to be close with her mother and how supportive she was of her husband's political campaign.

Shim Seong San: Deokchul's eldest son. No one can deny that he is one of the least likeable characters. He appeared to be ignorant, he wanted to have the upper hand in his family, he cared more about his image without taking into consideration each others' feelings...And yet, the more we got to see of him, the more I sympathised with him. He was the eldest son of a poor family. He too, like Deokchul, grew up with a dream: to become a baseball player. But as the eldest, he was aware of his responsibilities and the financial difficulties his family faced. He had to sacrifice his dream in order to get a proper job and escape poverty. I know that his upbringing should not excuse his toxic behavior but that doesn't erase the fact that he was still a person who wanted the best for his family. He just didn't know how to do it properly. I found it realistic how he seemed to be the most conservative person in the family and the one who was highly influenced by South Korea's patriarchal standards and I like how his change was not sudden but was slowly build up. The scene when Deokchul brought him the baseball glove made me cry so much. It was a scene that highlighted their relationship and this is when Seong San fully realized how much Deokchul cared for him. He always took his family's love and help for granted and by the end, he became a better person, one who could give and not just take.

Shim Seong Gwan: Deokchul's youngest son. I was so invested in his story: a doctor who wants to resign after feeling guilty for the death of his patients and who wants to make a documentary for his patients. Even though he seemed nonchalant, he was a very caring person. Unlike his siblings, he was the only one who supported Deokchul's interest in ballet from the start because he knew what it was like to do something that you actually liked. His decision to make a documentary of his father instead of his patients moved me so much, it was clear how close he was to him and how much the news of his disease affected him. Jo Bok Rae did a great job portraying the pain of a child who tries to cope with the news that their father has Alzheimer. I also liked how close he was with his niece, he was the father figure she needed.

Eun Ho: Deokchul's granddaughter. She was very sweet and I found her really relatable. She craved her parents approval and support and instead of doing what she wanted to, she wanted to live according to the expectations that were put on her. When she finally snapped and poured her feelings to her father, I felt so sorry for her, she had been bottling up her emotions for so long and she finally had the courage to express them. Her relationship with Deokchul was so warm and tender, they cared so much for each one and every time they were together, my heart just melted.

Ho beom: Chaerok's former friend and teammate. I personally loved this character, he was more than just a bully and he had so many layers. It was painful to see how much he was affected his Chaerok's father's abuse and even though he wasn't justified to be angry at Chaerok, he was so sympathetic and he had every right to feel wronged. I was happy with how the writers handled this character and gave his a proper redemption instead of making him a cliche bully. And I was happier to see that Deokchul played a fundamental role in his change of heart.

Another element that I loved was the soundtrack. I find myself listening to some of the songs very often. It was soothing, emotional, powerful and yet so simple. It matched with the story and the characters. There were times when I just wanted to lay back, close my mind and let the music play. The makers did an excellent job utilizing the songs and make them fit in the proper scenes.

The drama tackles various themes: chasing your dreams, expectations from your family and yourself, family relationships, abuse, personal growth...And yet I think that each theme was handled with care and attention. I was afraid that the story would become too overpacked for my own liking with all of these characters, arcs and subplots taking place simultaneously but that wasn't the case. The series has so many important lessons and everyone can learn a thing or too by watching it. It shows the importance of not giving up and do what makes you the happiest. Deokchul could never become a proper dancer. That would be impossible. But he still wanted to try. He wanted to learn ballet and dance for just one time. Chaerok, on the other hand, had to postpone his participation in the competition due to his injury but he didn't quit. Thanks to Deokchul, he became more open and more cheerful. He went out of his shell and found beauy not only in ballet but life in general.

If I had to pinpoint a drawback, that would be the subplot with Chaerok's father. Aside from the fact that I found his scenes quite boring, I'm sorry but I do not agree with the way this subplot was handled. He was abusive towards his athletes and he made Chaerok feel pressured. We should have seen more of Chaerok's conflicted emotions about him. I also felt iffy with his confrontation with Ho Beom. Like, what do you mean you spanked your athlete because you didn't want him to ruin his leg due to his injury and therefore, you wanted to motivate him to become better? Thankfully not much time was wasted on that part of the story, I understand that it was important for Chaerok's personal development but I didn't like how the abuse was handled as something insignificant and something that could be ignored just because Chaerok's father apologized. Additionally, there were times when the pacing became a little bit incosistent but overall, nothing too bad.

Navillera is an ode on life. We might not live in a utopia where we can do whatever we want, we should at least try to do the things we love the most. We should try to spend our time with people who care about us. We should learn to value ourselves and not try to please others. And we should never stop dreaming and always try to soar.