The cast is good, and I love the leads, but for me the script is erratic, repetitive, and has large gaps. The time slips didn’t work well enough, and the series eventually just bogged down. The ending does not work with the characters or the plot. In a word it was tacked on for no good reason. It’s not a bad series, but not great either: frankly, I think the writer blew the ending and ruined the beauty of her own series. Because, just as in “Something in the Rain,” characters designed as people who love each other that much do not carelessly break up. In that series the writer at least realized the mistake and tried to fix it in the last episode— including the signature umbrella. This time, the damage done is clumsy and so sad.
One of the finest actors anywhere with “ Man from Nowhere” one of the greatest films. Totally respect him and his decisions about his personal life—whatever they may be. But like so many, would love to see in a carefully chosen just for him great film again.
So this fine actor made a mistake, and paid for it, yet MDL spends time yapping about the incident over 10 years in the past—and resolved—instead of what a great actor he is.. Get over it. His performance in Saimdang rivals Hyun Bin’s in CLOY for everything a man in love will do for the woman he is devoted to. He is a superb actor.
I agree with many that some side plots could have been cut, and for me the time slip in the present was murky, plus the villains became so over the top they were tedious. But the rest of the cast, writing, direction and OST kept me interested and engaged. I learned a lot I didn’t know before which is always a joy of watching Korean and other international films. Also, I cared about the main characters and their companions. But like “Faith,” too many eps with repetitious scenes dragged the series down. It is good but not great as a result. However, the bright spot for me is Song’s performance. His development of a character similar to Captain Ri in CLOY whose devotion to the woman he loves is deeply moving.
I agree with others that the beginning is slow, and there are some other pads and fillers here and there. But the cast is excellent, and the bromance between characters plaid by Rain and Kim Bum is worth the whole series. They are hilarious, warm, and wonderful.
I love both leads who worked hard to overcome a mediocre script. The film began okay, became muddled, and then fell apart. But I did think the ending worked okay.
The part she plays in Snowdrop shows her maturing beauty and skill as an actor. She is evolving as an artist, and the effect is a new persona that is interesting to watch.
Superb writer, director, and cast, but they are bogged down in a bloated, repetitive series. The actors all play against type and stretch their skills; however, the story becomes overblown in secondary scenes with boring, shrieking characters and far too long episodes filled with talk and constant repetition. And then there is the contemptible attack on innocent college students that stretches credulity episode after long episode to the predictable outcome. Tacking on a scene afterwards does little to relieve the numb disappointment in what could have been an exhilarating story. It could have been great; it is instead just okay.
Though the series has good moments I enjoyed, it is also too often a dated Korean RomCom due to weak writing and direction. I like the four leads very much, which is why I watched, and they are often charming which entices viewers. But the script and direction drift back down into repetition, often just plain silly or annoying, and slow the whole thing down—again. The fine actors do not have enough to do in the thin, overused plot to demonstrate their range—and they deserved so much better.
Great cast, predictable script, but like most things Korean, it’s still better than most of what Hollywood cranks out any longer. Also like most action films, not much character development, but the characters are well drawn, and all the actors are experienced, respected, and superb in their roles. The film is gritty and gripping: I enjoyed it.
Watched to the end and was glad when it was over. I love the cast; I loathed the maudlin script. Also there was meager chemistry between the “couples”, and the relationship between the three friends is very uneven with Joo Hee clearly not treated equally. This cast deserved so much better. Others here have written excellent full reviews that I think are spot on with why this drama is such a disappointment.
Good cast that worked hard but the writing was not good enough, often garbled, even repetitive. I love thrillers and detective but this one for me was uneven and inconsistent. It’s okay, and I finished but remained unimpressed.
I usually wait until a series is finished before I watch it because I can’t bear to wait for the next episode if I fall in love with it. But a little over two years ago when CLOY debuted, these two leads were among my favorites, and still are, along with much of the supporting cast, and I had read about the coming drama and was excited. So I broke my own rule. And it was tough waiting for each week to pass, just as I knew it would be. However, watching this series each week with KDrama fans at MDL who were also falling for CLOY was so much fun, the best time I’ve had with an international audience loving a great series and sharing as it unfolded in front of us. Ya had to be there, folks.
Much respect again to the wonderful director, choreographer, writer, creators of the OST, and supporting cast who were charming and perfect. To our lead couple: I do not know you and never will, but I thank you for the skill and joy you shared as you created your characters and fell in love before our eyes. We knew, and we’re so happy for you both, Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin. You may very well be the most beloved couple in the world as you marry, and we wish you such happiness all your lives. Thank you.
So happy for you and Hyun Bin. You may very well be the most beloved couple in the world tonight, and we wish you such happiness all your lives. Thank you for the joy you have brought to us.
So happy for you and Son Ye Jin. You may very well be the most beloved couple in the world tonight, and we wish you such happiness all your lives. Thank you for the joy you have brought to us.
The writing is a bit erratic in places, but the actors, especially the leads, do well with the difficult subject. A very sweet but tragic story with the only ending it could have. Still, there is a beauty and tenderness as well: sometimes love stories do not close the way we want them to, but the power of the love remains. And that’s the point.
1 
March 31, 2022.
Two Years Later
I usually wait until a series is finished before I watch it because I can’t bear to wait for the next episode if I fall in love with it. But a little over two years ago when CLOY debuted, these two leads were among my favorites, and still are, along with much of the supporting cast, and I had read about the coming drama and was excited. So I broke my own rule. And it was tough waiting for each week to pass, just as I knew it would be. However, watching this series each week with KDrama fans at MDL who were also falling for CLOY was so much fun, the best time I’ve had with an international audience loving a great series and sharing as it unfolded in front of us. Ya had to be there, folks.
Much respect again to the wonderful director, choreographer, writer, creators of the OST, and supporting cast who were charming and perfect. To our lead couple: I do not know you and never will, but I thank you for the skill and joy you shared as you created your characters and fell in love before our eyes. We knew, and we’re so happy for you both, Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin. You may very well be the most beloved couple in the world as you marry, and we wish you such happiness all your lives. Thank you.