Kim MC

"Twelve Letters" is the drama that shows the heartbreaking beauty in storytelling, and about once every year, the Chinese outdo themselves in storytelling ability and visuals. The absolute grittiness that Zhou Yi Ran and Wang Ying Lu bring to their characters and circumstances shows a master class in acting, especially with Zhou Yi Ran. He transfers rage without moving a muscle, only using his eyes and stillness to convey the emotional toll and unfairness of his life. Wang Ying Lu does a good job of showing the frustration of circumstances that label her as the crazy one and her father the saint. Honestly, by the time I was watching the 12th episode, I called her paternal sperm donor everything but his character's name, so kudos to the actor's portrayal of a character beyond redemption but believable in every way.
The only reason I rated this drama a 9.5 was because of rewatch value. The actors, the stunning photography, and the side characters translated into cinema perfection. The storyline was gritty and emotionally draining, and I can't bring myself to emotionally ride the roller coaster again; at least, not this soon.