Poetry in motion
The drama has enough critical and audience acclaim, so you know where it stands. This one is like watching a poem in motion – it flows very well and manages to make you feel warm and broken inside.
If you've seen the writer's last work, 'When the Camellia Blooms', you will notice that there are various themes from that drama that fit here too – found family, a mother's sacrifices, a hopelessly devoted man in love, community in a small-town setting, and puppy love to name a few. Maybe she is a master at depicting these themes, because she manages to weave together a story that spans generations but still manages to be engaging and never loses its heart.
I would also laud the lead actors for capturing their character's essence so well, considering the younger and older versions have the same amount of screen time.
The episode release format really elevated the watching experience. In my opinion, volume 1 centered around love and found family; volume 2 revolved around loss, community and finding a foot in the world; volume 3 was about romantic complexities and taking a stand; and volume 4 was sort of a combination of it all. I do think the first 2 volumes were the strongest and most emotionally impactful; volume 3 felt a little lighter in comparison and worked as the perfect breather (emotionally), but volume 4 struggled to keep the momentum going and felt a little disjointed in comparison – however, the finale more than made up for it!
One of the reasons I felt this way was because the third volume ends on a note which indicates there will be a focus on Geum Myeong's romantic exploration with her future husband-to-be. However, the resolution to it all is pretty quick in comparison to the build-up we receive.
Another issue I had was that they raised a pertinent issue in episode 14 – the way their son Eun Myeong was often disregarded emotionally, but there was little to no payoff. He ends up having no shining moment as compared to the other members of the family, which somehow bothered me a lot.
In spite of it all, I would still say that the show is very cohesive in its presentation and barely falters compared to most dramas in Kdramaland. They just set the benchmark so high and keep the portrayal very realistic that you end up feeling and expecting more for each character in Gwan Sik and Ae Sun's family.
All in all, this show will be appreciated more if not binged – try to follow the true release order when you watch it. And yes, you should watch it; you'll end up smiling as much as you cry. It is absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking in the best way possible.
If you've seen the writer's last work, 'When the Camellia Blooms', you will notice that there are various themes from that drama that fit here too – found family, a mother's sacrifices, a hopelessly devoted man in love, community in a small-town setting, and puppy love to name a few. Maybe she is a master at depicting these themes, because she manages to weave together a story that spans generations but still manages to be engaging and never loses its heart.
I would also laud the lead actors for capturing their character's essence so well, considering the younger and older versions have the same amount of screen time.
The episode release format really elevated the watching experience. In my opinion, volume 1 centered around love and found family; volume 2 revolved around loss, community and finding a foot in the world; volume 3 was about romantic complexities and taking a stand; and volume 4 was sort of a combination of it all. I do think the first 2 volumes were the strongest and most emotionally impactful; volume 3 felt a little lighter in comparison and worked as the perfect breather (emotionally), but volume 4 struggled to keep the momentum going and felt a little disjointed in comparison – however, the finale more than made up for it!
One of the reasons I felt this way was because the third volume ends on a note which indicates there will be a focus on Geum Myeong's romantic exploration with her future husband-to-be. However, the resolution to it all is pretty quick in comparison to the build-up we receive.
Another issue I had was that they raised a pertinent issue in episode 14 – the way their son Eun Myeong was often disregarded emotionally, but there was little to no payoff. He ends up having no shining moment as compared to the other members of the family, which somehow bothered me a lot.
In spite of it all, I would still say that the show is very cohesive in its presentation and barely falters compared to most dramas in Kdramaland. They just set the benchmark so high and keep the portrayal very realistic that you end up feeling and expecting more for each character in Gwan Sik and Ae Sun's family.
All in all, this show will be appreciated more if not binged – try to follow the true release order when you watch it. And yes, you should watch it; you'll end up smiling as much as you cry. It is absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking in the best way possible.
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