MariliT

Things I adored

1 The cinematography. Every scene was beautifully shot and it felt like I was there walking with them in a beautiful décor that soothes my soul. It lets you see the struggles and the joy, the beauty and the ugliness, and in the end it transports your soul somewhere beautiful where you can start over. A love letter to the region.

2 The music. That was the highlight of the drama. Every time they sang my heart soared. It brought me joy and tears. It reminded me that music unites us rather then divide us and it can speak a language everyone understands. I'm not a music person, I prefer words, but here it was so gorgeous I couldn't help fall in love with it. Such beautiful melodies and words. It reminded me also of my childhood and my family. They would love that kind of music. It would speak to their soul.

3 The words. Sometimes a phrase, a dialogue would move me to tears. It was clear that much care went to writing and that is great to see. The dedication to those who set off again was my undoing. I felt it to my bones, and I wept for a long moment. You can't get it if you never had to leave and come back and leave again. If you never felt that you had to do what scares you the most: leave behind the comfort of a loving family and friends and try to find yourself, try to chase after your dreams. This drama showcased that in the best way.

4 The journey of the girls as a whole. I had a few issues with their individual stories and I'll be honest I wasn't their best supporter in times, but the whole arc was perfect precisely because their lives weren't perfect. They were in search of their dreams as they should and no matter where they end up, they never avoided what scared them. They soared despite the uneven path before them.

5 The grandmother. She was such a great character, A woman to admire. A woman who spoke to my inner self and made me realize that life shouldn't be still, it should let you see beyond the comfort of your daily life. When my dad felt ill, I asked him what was his best memory. I was expecting to say something about his family, he was such a great father and husband and we were the most important thing for him. But everything he said was about a sunrise in some far away mountain. The new places he saw, the people he met.
My dad who adored our place and never wanted to move, at the end of his life had that far away look. The one it said he was happy with the life he chose, but he was also happy to have seen something else, something more. This is the memory the grandmother stirred in me when she talked about being a pigeon in her next life. We all crave for stability and love, but we all want to be free and fly away. We just need to know we have somewhere to get back.
That was what my dad always said and showed to me. You can fly away, you can fly high, but if you get tired, you know we are here. Always, no matter what. That drama made me realize that again. That I need to fly away until the end of my days, I just need to know someone will be happy to see me when I get back.

Things I liked

1 The women. I want separate them because I had some issues with all of them, but I also loved all of them. I can't say I'm an unconditional fan of them and the FL isn't an actress I truly love. Here though she was at her best. I felt like she was happy to be part of this drama. I've seen in other dramas and she almost ruined them for me, but here she was beautiful and had a different vibe. I also liked her clothes. The other two were good actresses, but I can't say I care to look for other dramas they are in. That said, I'm not sure any other actresses would do better.

Things I disliked

1 Some things like the dancer say her husband loved her just not the way she wanted. I have a problem with statements like that. If you love someone you love them they way they need and want. If that's not the case you don't love them. Sorry there is no love when you can't support the dreams of the person you "love". I hate it when writers make women say things like that. It implies you didn't appreciate his love, that somehow it's your fault. NO. Love is what you give the other person when you are able to see their soul and support their dreams. Everything else is your ego getting in he way.

2 The romance in general. I didn't care about any of them. I watched this drama for the rest. The music, the culture, the craft, the people, the relationship between the girls, but the romance was the weak point.

3 The ML. I think he ruined the romance for because he had no chemistry with the FL and he looked like a high school student and that bothered me a lot. I couldn't believe in their relationship and I couldn't get into it. Not to mention that I though he wasn't a great actor either. That and some things I can't accept, even though they are part of their tradition, has me given it a 8.5.