sophiawatches

One of the best I’ve seen :)

OH, MY GOODNESS SO SO SO GOOD (spoilers ahead) when I say I have watched around 200+ dramas and NEVER CRIED during a proposal or wedding scene UNTIL NOW. I was sobbing the entire last episode, this drama makes you feel like you grew up with them and I loved every second of it. The actors are super good at portraying all age ranges of the characters and showing a realistic progression of a loving relationship over time. The supportive, loving friend group showcases amazing side characters and stories that are equally well-written. The music felt warm and the cinematography felt very personal and comforting(I love a good videotape scene!). To me, this show doesn't shy away from accentuating colder tones in the color grading, which doesn't seem like it would make a difference but compared to only emphasizing the warmer tones, it gives it a very 2010s feel that solidifies it as a nostalgic comfort watch. I would consider this a classic, iconic, need-to-watch drama.

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Pure perfection

Truly, I don't want to over-hype this show, BUT ALSO I have seen a lot of dramas and I have to say this one is one of my all-time favorites. The plot is where this drama shines, I think it focused on a lot of details other dramas pass up and didn't conform to specific plot timelines you frequently see (i.e. confession on the 8th episode, dating on the 9th episode, breakup on the 12th episode, etc.). The script wasn't too cliche and I'm not a big fan of the age gaps tropes (this one is around 4 -5 years) but, this one explained it pretty well and didn't make it incredibly unrealistic. The color grading and the cinematography were so so pretty. I loved how it kept a warm, comforting feel throughout the seasons. In a strange way (but good), the entire drama felt like it was perpetually in summer, even though we see snow and spring scenes. The soundtrack and the music selection were a great match for the show's cinematography and storyline. Stars and co-stars aced it, the acting is really good, and I loved that the side characters actually had personalities! What I would give to rewatch it for the first time, but then again it's become a comfort watch, coming from someone who doesn't usually rewatch things. Anyway, I really don't mean to over-hype it but it truly deserves all the praise it receives, my best advice to those who haven't seen it is to stop reading reviews and go into it as blindly as possible, happy watching!

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One for the books

I will unashamedly glaze this show. As I was watching it, I knew it would be an all-time favorite. I cried constantly throughout the show but ESPECIALLY in the last episode, during the talk with the mom, during the break-up/offical good-bye, and as soon as Jun showed up I was bawling, I mean I was a goner, but I cried because it was so good! It's insane that a show can make you feel so strongly in ONLY 10 episodes! I have seen a lot about dramas getting shorter and shorter, but I have to say I really liked the 10-episode length because it's what fit the storyline best. There are no unnecessary plot-filling storylines that are somewhat pointless and poorly written. I have also read some points that it wasn't particularly romantic, but I think that's for the best. I enjoyed watching a storyline about how love can persevere through life's difficulties rather than unrealistically be the center of every conversation and scene, with large grand gestures, which are very fun to each in the certain dramas, but the fact is, this isn't that kinda of drama. The ending didn't have to be grand like an engagement or wedding because the show ultimately wasn't about grandeur. So many dramas are either too similar or try so hard to be different that they mess up the ending, but this one just was a perfect sign-off, very happy with the ending.
I could go on and on about the attention to detail that is just so admirable; it totally makes a difference. To start, all of the side characters are incredibly well written and fleshed out, they always add to the storyline. The dialogue is just so well written, it has a perfect balance of comedy and drama, and it handles the very difficult topics of grief and loneliness in a very realistic way. The cinematography makes all the difference, I saw a lot of more artistic shots compared to other dramas, and not only were they stunning and added to a scene's emotion, but they also played very nicely with the overall theme of cinema. The color grading was also very lovely, it matched the scenes very nicely, playing with warm and cool tones and the lighting choices i mean again the attention to detail really shows through. THE EPISODE TITLES I mean, the fact that each title is a quote from a famous film AND it relates to the episode's overarching theme is just perfection. Finally, the performances from all the actors and actresses is undeniably what makes this really emotionally impactful. Once again, the portrayal the complex feelings of grief, loneliness, and love all in one drama is just done so well, and that's not just talking about the lead actor and actress but every single actor and actress who played side characters just killed it, I mean smashed it out of the park. I don't rewatch dramas much, especially not so quickly after I've just watched it, but I am very excited to revisit this one. Even still, I don't think this review covers my love for the show and how impressed I was with it.

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