Found this by accident - a true "must watch" if you really are addicted to Kdramas
After watching all 20 episodes I definitely recommend it. It has a few flaws like misleading subtitles which cause viewer to lose some the story detail or character development; poor film quality and camera angles in a few scenes also cause some confusion. An excessive use of the melancholy OST music may create emotional overload for highly sensitive viewers (as was case for me).
As a slow burn type romance viewers might lose interest when plot bogs down after episode 10 - I myself came close to stop watching.
Actors chosen, do a good job conveying the interior emotional conflicts of their situation. Especially Jang Keun-suk, and Im Yoona who play the youthful lovers in both time periods. The actors playing their much older counterparts were a bit less vibrant and interesting except for Yu Hye-Ri. This actress nails her role as Hye Jung - self-centered, toxic, manipulative yet unable to attain what she craves as a self-destructive and ultimately pathetic human. She is a study in psychology that someone can lose decades of happiness wanting what she can't have by force, only to achieve emotional ruin for those around her.
Thankfully there are lots of funny moments and situations that make you appreciate the foibles of youth. Both the innocent and worldly characters begin to slowly influence each other. And it is a very slow process for Seo Joon once he's bitten by the love bug. His ideology that love doesn't exist slowly derails and is a slow and painful process for him and the innocent Ha Na.
At my viewing, this drama is 13 years old, and I didn't find it too difficult to enjoy. Seo Joon's "styling" as far as wardrobe was a bit much to endure but I got over it.
While there is ambiguity in how the romance is presented in the last episode the story and characters come to a happy and very satisfactory end.
The following is MY personal interpretation from each character's perspective: I could be misguided.
Seo Joon is sexually experienced and becomes careful in his expressions of affection (hugs instead of passionate kisses) due to Ha Na's innocence in this area. You can believe in his respect for her. Ha Na accepts that Seo Joon doesn't believe in marriage because of his family life. Yet with the deep love & physical attraction they have she still feels the need for caution by running away to "cool off". It's her way of never pressuring Seo Joon into a life choice she wants - marriage.
As a slow burn type romance viewers might lose interest when plot bogs down after episode 10 - I myself came close to stop watching.
Actors chosen, do a good job conveying the interior emotional conflicts of their situation. Especially Jang Keun-suk, and Im Yoona who play the youthful lovers in both time periods. The actors playing their much older counterparts were a bit less vibrant and interesting except for Yu Hye-Ri. This actress nails her role as Hye Jung - self-centered, toxic, manipulative yet unable to attain what she craves as a self-destructive and ultimately pathetic human. She is a study in psychology that someone can lose decades of happiness wanting what she can't have by force, only to achieve emotional ruin for those around her.
Thankfully there are lots of funny moments and situations that make you appreciate the foibles of youth. Both the innocent and worldly characters begin to slowly influence each other. And it is a very slow process for Seo Joon once he's bitten by the love bug. His ideology that love doesn't exist slowly derails and is a slow and painful process for him and the innocent Ha Na.
At my viewing, this drama is 13 years old, and I didn't find it too difficult to enjoy. Seo Joon's "styling" as far as wardrobe was a bit much to endure but I got over it.
While there is ambiguity in how the romance is presented in the last episode the story and characters come to a happy and very satisfactory end.
The following is MY personal interpretation from each character's perspective: I could be misguided.
Seo Joon is sexually experienced and becomes careful in his expressions of affection (hugs instead of passionate kisses) due to Ha Na's innocence in this area. You can believe in his respect for her. Ha Na accepts that Seo Joon doesn't believe in marriage because of his family life. Yet with the deep love & physical attraction they have she still feels the need for caution by running away to "cool off". It's her way of never pressuring Seo Joon into a life choice she wants - marriage.
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