Wasted potential
The beginning was genuinely strong. I was surprised by how engaging it was, and for a moment, I thought this might turn into an easy 8/10 for me. The setup was interesting, the dynamic had promise, and I could see where a really solid romance could have formed.
Then the middle happened — and it was a mess.
The story became scattered, melodramatic, and completely lost its focus. Too many unnecessary plot points, too many exes hovering around when they had no business being there, and way too much time spent on people who absolutely did not deserve grace or forgiveness. It felt exhausting instead of emotional.
What bothered me the most was how bad characters never truly paid for what they did. The female lead’s “friend” stole her boyfriend, tried to marry him, lived with him for years, and somehow… everything just gets brushed off. I hate that. I needed consequences. Real ones. The kind where bad choices actually come back to haunt people.
I also really disliked how the drama handled the gay misunderstanding storyline. It felt forced, preachy, and oddly Westernized in a way that didn’t feel natural or well-integrated. Instead of adding depth, it distracted from the romance and made large portions of the drama feel like something else entirely.
When the leads finally got together, they had good chemistry — but it barely lasted. It felt rushed, awkwardly handled, and then immediately sabotaged. By the time episode 16 rolled around, everything was resolved so fast it gave me whiplash. I barely had time to process what was happening before it was over.
That said, I will give credit where it’s due:
For a 2010 drama, this was ambitious.
Compared to something like Boys Over Flowers, this was far more watchable.
It was interesting, even when it was frustrating.
But watching this in 2025? It just doesn’t hold up.
This could’ve been an 8 if they stayed true to the beginning. It dropped to a 7 in the middle. And by the end, it firmly landed at a 6/10 for me.
I don’t regret watching it — but I wouldn’t rewatch it, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless someone is specifically curious about older K-dramas.
Then the middle happened — and it was a mess.
The story became scattered, melodramatic, and completely lost its focus. Too many unnecessary plot points, too many exes hovering around when they had no business being there, and way too much time spent on people who absolutely did not deserve grace or forgiveness. It felt exhausting instead of emotional.
What bothered me the most was how bad characters never truly paid for what they did. The female lead’s “friend” stole her boyfriend, tried to marry him, lived with him for years, and somehow… everything just gets brushed off. I hate that. I needed consequences. Real ones. The kind where bad choices actually come back to haunt people.
I also really disliked how the drama handled the gay misunderstanding storyline. It felt forced, preachy, and oddly Westernized in a way that didn’t feel natural or well-integrated. Instead of adding depth, it distracted from the romance and made large portions of the drama feel like something else entirely.
When the leads finally got together, they had good chemistry — but it barely lasted. It felt rushed, awkwardly handled, and then immediately sabotaged. By the time episode 16 rolled around, everything was resolved so fast it gave me whiplash. I barely had time to process what was happening before it was over.
That said, I will give credit where it’s due:
For a 2010 drama, this was ambitious.
Compared to something like Boys Over Flowers, this was far more watchable.
It was interesting, even when it was frustrating.
But watching this in 2025? It just doesn’t hold up.
This could’ve been an 8 if they stayed true to the beginning. It dropped to a 7 in the middle. And by the end, it firmly landed at a 6/10 for me.
I don’t regret watching it — but I wouldn’t rewatch it, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless someone is specifically curious about older K-dramas.
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