This review may contain spoilers
Need to Know a Bit About What to Expect
There is a mild spoiler ahead, but it's from episode 2. I include because if you are thinking of viewing this show, there are three things you should know before you start:
1. This is the story of Cha Mi Jo (played by Son Ye Jin) and her two close friends, Jeong Chan Young (Jeon Mi Do) and Jang Joo Hee (Kim Ji Hyun). In episode 2 we learn that Chan Young has a terminal illness and that she will not recover. The rest of the series is devoted to the ways Mi Jo and her friends deal with this awfulness, up to and beyond Chan Young's death. This is a tear jerker.
2. Reiterating something from #1, while this is the story of three friends, Mi Jo is clearly the main character, and Chan Young's passing is largely shown from Mi Jo's perspective. One reviewer suggested that Chan Young's death was a prop in Mi Jo's journey, which is exaggerating, but there is a kernel of truth there. Joo Hee is a third wheel in the friendship, almost from the beginning of the show (and from the beginning of the friendship troika going back 20 years). It shouldn't be too surprising, since in kdrama land Son Ye Jin is royalty, Jeon Mi Do is coming off her breakthrough role with Hospital Playlist (after a long experience on stage), and Kim Ji Hyun is a stage actress without any big kdrama roles before this.
3. Mi Jo gets annoying at times. There were a few times when I wanted to yell at the TV "Your friend is dying, stop nagging her!" It is awkward to have a show focusing on one friend's emotional, and at times irrational, reactions to another friend's impending death.
When thinking about the path to #3, I realized this is where the story starts to get personal, and in a way that's uncomfortable for me (at least). Mi Jo desperately loves her friend, and it is tearing her up inside that her friend will be gone soon. Most people face that position at some point, be it a close friend, a parent, or a spouse. Yes, it's their life, and I want to be supportive, but I will have to deal with the consequences too, and I can guess how bad it will be after this person close to me is gone. I am scared about what might happen if my wife, a cancer survivor, dies.
This story was a lot more challenging than the "happy go-lucky three friends find love and meaning as they approach their 40th birthdays" tale that I expected. That would be my summary of the series, solid story, good acting, just not what I was expecting. My only real complaint would be the adoption story lines, which were not exactly "bad" but felt barely relevant to the main story. Again, a good series, as long as you know what you are getting into.
1. This is the story of Cha Mi Jo (played by Son Ye Jin) and her two close friends, Jeong Chan Young (Jeon Mi Do) and Jang Joo Hee (Kim Ji Hyun). In episode 2 we learn that Chan Young has a terminal illness and that she will not recover. The rest of the series is devoted to the ways Mi Jo and her friends deal with this awfulness, up to and beyond Chan Young's death. This is a tear jerker.
2. Reiterating something from #1, while this is the story of three friends, Mi Jo is clearly the main character, and Chan Young's passing is largely shown from Mi Jo's perspective. One reviewer suggested that Chan Young's death was a prop in Mi Jo's journey, which is exaggerating, but there is a kernel of truth there. Joo Hee is a third wheel in the friendship, almost from the beginning of the show (and from the beginning of the friendship troika going back 20 years). It shouldn't be too surprising, since in kdrama land Son Ye Jin is royalty, Jeon Mi Do is coming off her breakthrough role with Hospital Playlist (after a long experience on stage), and Kim Ji Hyun is a stage actress without any big kdrama roles before this.
3. Mi Jo gets annoying at times. There were a few times when I wanted to yell at the TV "Your friend is dying, stop nagging her!" It is awkward to have a show focusing on one friend's emotional, and at times irrational, reactions to another friend's impending death.
When thinking about the path to #3, I realized this is where the story starts to get personal, and in a way that's uncomfortable for me (at least). Mi Jo desperately loves her friend, and it is tearing her up inside that her friend will be gone soon. Most people face that position at some point, be it a close friend, a parent, or a spouse. Yes, it's their life, and I want to be supportive, but I will have to deal with the consequences too, and I can guess how bad it will be after this person close to me is gone. I am scared about what might happen if my wife, a cancer survivor, dies.
This story was a lot more challenging than the "happy go-lucky three friends find love and meaning as they approach their 40th birthdays" tale that I expected. That would be my summary of the series, solid story, good acting, just not what I was expecting. My only real complaint would be the adoption story lines, which were not exactly "bad" but felt barely relevant to the main story. Again, a good series, as long as you know what you are getting into.
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