This review may contain spoilers
Stunning scenery marred by horrendous child abuse and a weird love obsession.
This show had some of the most beautiful cinematography I’ve ever seen in streaming. Gorgeous. However, it was a stark contrast to the ugliness that was going on with the characters who were living amongst that beauty. Many of the parents in this were awful people. Consumed by greed and depravity. To start ,the mother/stepmother, MinYeon, seemed like the worst. Blaming a Jae-yi for her son being missing for 12 years , beating her and treating her like trash even though she was the daughter of her wealthy husband. But then he allowed this to go on. And it is quickly learned that he is worse than her - a selfish POS who cared for no one, even his own children, unless they could help him gain something for himself. He used his adopted son, Mujin, in a power play against MinYeon and when it went bad he abandoned him to die. He cheated on MinYeon and when his mistress got pregnant he abandoned her for his own gain knowing that the former would seek to destroy her. And that wasn’t the worst of his behaviors. He was complicit in the “snow man” kidnapping children and taking them to that psychopathic Prince to be poisoned and severely abused. He supported this depravity because the gain was great fortune and prestige for himself. His behavior was beyond reprehensible and I’m glad he met a horrible demise. Though it was not horrible enough.
Though beautifully acted, the love story almost seemed out of place. Thank goodness the sibling situation got cleared up quickly. Hongrang admitting his feelings to Jae-yi, her rejecting him, finding her own romantic feelings for him being disturbing considering he was her “brother” and deciding to leave town as a result, played well. However, when she found proof that he wasn’t her brother and he confessed that same truth, their sudden decision to run off into the sunset was jarring. As was them making love in a cave knowing the entire world was outside those walls hunting them, and then setting down in that cabin on the mountain top. Their love did have potential but it had not earned that type of intense loyalty. In fact, it was difficult to believe when Jae-yi said she loved him and couldn’t live without him. Where did that love come from? As she’d spent every episode up until that point hating him and waffling between him being or not being her brother.
What seemed more out of place was Mujin’s 180. It was obvious from the start that his love for Jae-yi wasn’t brotherly. However, he always respected the fact that she saw him as her brother. Overall he seemed like a good guy. But by the end of the series he was willing to lie, kill and align himself with a child abuser and killer in order to possess her. So disappointing.
The writing in this was a bit messy. There were several story threads that weren’t fully fleshed out. However, the actors had good chemistry and their performances were outstanding. I felt Hongrang’s anguish and tears over the abuse he suffered as a child. I felt Jaeyi’s heartbreak at the realization that he was suffering from chemical poisoning and dying. I seethed at the delusional and deranged Prince’s arrogance and narcissism. Again, great acting by all. Is this worth watching. Absolutely. Would I watch again. Probably.
Though beautifully acted, the love story almost seemed out of place. Thank goodness the sibling situation got cleared up quickly. Hongrang admitting his feelings to Jae-yi, her rejecting him, finding her own romantic feelings for him being disturbing considering he was her “brother” and deciding to leave town as a result, played well. However, when she found proof that he wasn’t her brother and he confessed that same truth, their sudden decision to run off into the sunset was jarring. As was them making love in a cave knowing the entire world was outside those walls hunting them, and then setting down in that cabin on the mountain top. Their love did have potential but it had not earned that type of intense loyalty. In fact, it was difficult to believe when Jae-yi said she loved him and couldn’t live without him. Where did that love come from? As she’d spent every episode up until that point hating him and waffling between him being or not being her brother.
What seemed more out of place was Mujin’s 180. It was obvious from the start that his love for Jae-yi wasn’t brotherly. However, he always respected the fact that she saw him as her brother. Overall he seemed like a good guy. But by the end of the series he was willing to lie, kill and align himself with a child abuser and killer in order to possess her. So disappointing.
The writing in this was a bit messy. There were several story threads that weren’t fully fleshed out. However, the actors had good chemistry and their performances were outstanding. I felt Hongrang’s anguish and tears over the abuse he suffered as a child. I felt Jaeyi’s heartbreak at the realization that he was suffering from chemical poisoning and dying. I seethed at the delusional and deranged Prince’s arrogance and narcissism. Again, great acting by all. Is this worth watching. Absolutely. Would I watch again. Probably.
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