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Because this is...disappointment
There is a reason this series is taking first places in several "underrated drama" lists. After having put it on hold a couple years ago, I now decided to pick it up again and absolutely loved it. Until... I didn't.
When do I recommend watching this:
- You want to see something slow-paced and calm
- You want to see something different
- You like series feeling relatable or down-to-earth
- You don't expect great chemistry, a grand love or swoon-worthy romance (but realism)
- You still can enjoy a series even when the ending is messed-up / you're disappointment-proof
- You don't mind clichés, especially misunderstandings and back and forths
- You don't expect the series to actually challenge your way of thinking, but simply approve of what you already know in a creative way
This had everything to finally be different. It was slow and thoughtful, it showed the characters challenging societal standards, addressed common issues, and many topics were shown very directly and openly without palliating. It felt incredibly relatable. They showed that love isn't the only thing neccessary for relationships to work and proved that even romantic K-Dramas can do without clichés - until they didn't. Suddenly we have all those clichés coming around the corner, love is bigger than everything and issues are solved in ways I'd call irresponsible. You can admit this is your first life to show kindness and understanding towards your own (or other people`s) decisions. Or you can use it as an excuse. During the course of the episodes, the characters' actions and mindsets seemed to turn from one to the other.
As one person mentioned below in the comments, the FL's personality changes drastically when with ML. She suddenly appears so self-conscious and timid and the amount of things left unsaid between both of them started to massively bother me after the first half. FL is pulling the hardest series of back and forth-movements I have ever seen in a character. She is presented as a person who thinks everything through carefully - but she never really follows through. Towards the end I wanted to yell at the characters "being grown-up doesn't mean you never make mistakes - it means you deal with their consequences, so please, finally deal with them". For all the mistakes they make, I never saw an open conversation or a proper apology. In fact, character development was slow and barely existent, and most side characters almost disappeared towards the end.
What also should be mentioned here is the lack of chemistry between the characters. Actually, amongst all the life, relationship and marriage philosophy and the societal critique, we learn so few about the characters that it is really hard to like them for who they are. Which leaves the question - what do their partners like about them? We never find out.
I don't remember the last time I was so annoyed by a series' wasted potential. This promised to finally be different and I give them credit for that, but its messages seem to have turned into their opposites towards the end and that was a huge let-down.
When do I recommend watching this:
- You want to see something slow-paced and calm
- You want to see something different
- You like series feeling relatable or down-to-earth
- You don't expect great chemistry, a grand love or swoon-worthy romance (but realism)
- You still can enjoy a series even when the ending is messed-up / you're disappointment-proof
- You don't mind clichés, especially misunderstandings and back and forths
- You don't expect the series to actually challenge your way of thinking, but simply approve of what you already know in a creative way
This had everything to finally be different. It was slow and thoughtful, it showed the characters challenging societal standards, addressed common issues, and many topics were shown very directly and openly without palliating. It felt incredibly relatable. They showed that love isn't the only thing neccessary for relationships to work and proved that even romantic K-Dramas can do without clichés - until they didn't. Suddenly we have all those clichés coming around the corner, love is bigger than everything and issues are solved in ways I'd call irresponsible. You can admit this is your first life to show kindness and understanding towards your own (or other people`s) decisions. Or you can use it as an excuse. During the course of the episodes, the characters' actions and mindsets seemed to turn from one to the other.
As one person mentioned below in the comments, the FL's personality changes drastically when with ML. She suddenly appears so self-conscious and timid and the amount of things left unsaid between both of them started to massively bother me after the first half. FL is pulling the hardest series of back and forth-movements I have ever seen in a character. She is presented as a person who thinks everything through carefully - but she never really follows through. Towards the end I wanted to yell at the characters "being grown-up doesn't mean you never make mistakes - it means you deal with their consequences, so please, finally deal with them". For all the mistakes they make, I never saw an open conversation or a proper apology. In fact, character development was slow and barely existent, and most side characters almost disappeared towards the end.
What also should be mentioned here is the lack of chemistry between the characters. Actually, amongst all the life, relationship and marriage philosophy and the societal critique, we learn so few about the characters that it is really hard to like them for who they are. Which leaves the question - what do their partners like about them? We never find out.
I don't remember the last time I was so annoyed by a series' wasted potential. This promised to finally be different and I give them credit for that, but its messages seem to have turned into their opposites towards the end and that was a huge let-down.
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