Two Series in One – Captivating Beauty That Fades
I binge-watched the series and felt like I was watching two completely different Dramas. The first episodes were wonderful, evoking the feel of cinema from another era—nostalgic, beautiful, with little need for words. Everything was shot against breathtaking landscapes, and the cinematography was meticulous, clearly the result of careful thought and precision. It seems the director was influenced by "Call Me by Your Name" (French/British style).
But then, starting from the middle of the series, once the landscapes disappeared, so did the creativity. There was a total disconnect from the first half. No consistency, no clarity—just hints of something past and the director’s own nostalgia, without knowing how to convey it to the audience. Most scenes were suddenly filmed indoors, exposing his weaknesses in lighting and composition. In fact, it seems he relied heavily on the scenery rather than directing skills, which is unfortunate. Perhaps if he had a better grasp of light and shadow—or the budget to continue filming outdoors—the series could have ended perfectly.
The same thing happened with the choice of music. At times, the soundtrack was perfect and beautiful, featuring piano pieces. But suddenly, during intimate moments, he chose trashy trumpet music straight out of cheap 1980s films.
The actors weren’t very good, but in terms of appearance, they were wonderful and very well cast. There were moments when they didn’t convince me, but they still had good chemistry.
The story is quite simple and not particularly unique, but as I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t very clear in the second half. Of course, someone who knows how to piece the puzzle together can understand, but it felt like the director wanted to be understood without actually telling the characters’ story.
A rewatch? That’s a good question. I’m not sure I’d watch it again, but I also can’t completely dismiss the series. I’d say it’s a very good and enjoyable viewing experience. It has a unique charm that, unfortunately, fades—and that leaves you with a sense of missed potential that, in my opinion, makes it hard to revisit.
But then, starting from the middle of the series, once the landscapes disappeared, so did the creativity. There was a total disconnect from the first half. No consistency, no clarity—just hints of something past and the director’s own nostalgia, without knowing how to convey it to the audience. Most scenes were suddenly filmed indoors, exposing his weaknesses in lighting and composition. In fact, it seems he relied heavily on the scenery rather than directing skills, which is unfortunate. Perhaps if he had a better grasp of light and shadow—or the budget to continue filming outdoors—the series could have ended perfectly.
The same thing happened with the choice of music. At times, the soundtrack was perfect and beautiful, featuring piano pieces. But suddenly, during intimate moments, he chose trashy trumpet music straight out of cheap 1980s films.
The actors weren’t very good, but in terms of appearance, they were wonderful and very well cast. There were moments when they didn’t convince me, but they still had good chemistry.
The story is quite simple and not particularly unique, but as I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t very clear in the second half. Of course, someone who knows how to piece the puzzle together can understand, but it felt like the director wanted to be understood without actually telling the characters’ story.
A rewatch? That’s a good question. I’m not sure I’d watch it again, but I also can’t completely dismiss the series. I’d say it’s a very good and enjoyable viewing experience. It has a unique charm that, unfortunately, fades—and that leaves you with a sense of missed potential that, in my opinion, makes it hard to revisit.
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