Bankable stars and romantic scenes can’t save this series from inconsistent characters ?
The director, known for previous successful dramas like "Love Is Sweet " and more..., had set high expectations.
Visually, the series is undeniably appealing. The styling, and aesthetics are well done—even “hot” at times. Both leads are attractive and have good on-screen chemistry. Esther’s acting, while often repetitive, suits a broad audience with her naive, childlike, and bubbly charm. However, her range is extremely limited in nuanced, emotional, introspective, or demonstrative scenes. Still, she fits her role visually; she looks beautiful and very young. A lot of effort has clearly gone into the visual aspect of the show.
From EP1 to EP 13
Yet, one of the most striking issues lies in the characterization of the main heroine, which feels completely inconsistent. She refuses to accept her mother’s decisions about her personal life—which is understandable, perhaps—but at the same time remains cold toward the woman who is kind to her, the stepmother. Her father, although shown only in a limited and underdeveloped way (which is disappointing), appears to be caring in the past despite his flaws: he cooks for the children, shares a passion for cars, and spends time with them. He feels more human than the mother, who struggles to accept another boy in her home. The heroine, meanwhile, never takes a moment to talk to her father, understand what’s happening, or reflect on her place in the family.
Up until episode 12, we see a girl who comes to live with her father’s family after years apart and settles in as if this is completely normal and her place is legitimate. She doesn’t seem to consider whether it’s convenient for the family or if she has the right to stay. At just 18, she decides, “I’m staying here…” without consulting anyone. Her only focus appears to be her boyfriend and her teenage romantic impulses.
Her behavior towards the male lead is particularly immature—like a spoiled 9-year-old: “make me tea, cook for me, I don’t like this, bring me that, drive me there,” and so on. She claims to stay “to help him,” but what exactly does she offer? Her actions revolve almost entirely around romance, instead of using the opportunity to connect with her sister, family, or contribute in a mature way. Perhaps her character will develop later, but I personally wanted to see these essential traits early on to understand, empathize with, and support her.
There are also subtle moments that struck me as surprisingly sloppy in writing: for example, a scene where the female lead is drunk with a friend of the male lead, and the male lead comes to pick up the girl, leaving the other girl almost" unconscious" without saying or doing anything. So Everything in the series centers ONLY for the main female lead. It’s an incredibly small, human detail, yet it speaks volumes in the context of a film where every second should help the audience understand a character.
The chronology of events is also confusing. When did her love first begin—at nine years old? The timeline is unclear. Did it happen later, perhaps instantly under the shower, as the show suggests? Similarly, the male lead’s intentions are barely conveyed, with only one line to explain his feelings, yet their interactions suggest something very different. A romance allegedly starting when he was 13 seems implausible, especially given the complex family context. The story asks the viewer to suspend disbelief to accept these developments. From the very first episodes, there are many highly provocative adult scenes, and at the same time, there are brother-sister relationships or depictions of a vulnerable young girl, which is unsettling
Overall, the plot emphasizes romantic drama at the expense of consistent, believable character development. I suspect the series will follow predictable patterns: a few kisses, some tragic obstacles, and time for the heroine to grow—possibly during university—before exploring mature relationships.
By “visual,” I specifically mean styling—wardrobes, looks, cars, the city—rather than directorial choices. The styling is very successful. Lighting, however, often misses the mark; for instance, please avoid that whitish glare on the male lead’s face in close-ups. The racing scenes are well-executed but may feel technically weaker compared to Western standards. For comparison, even the “Fast & Furious” films, despite being commercial, display strong action dynamics cinematography, and big budget
Visually, the series is undeniably appealing. The styling, and aesthetics are well done—even “hot” at times. Both leads are attractive and have good on-screen chemistry. Esther’s acting, while often repetitive, suits a broad audience with her naive, childlike, and bubbly charm. However, her range is extremely limited in nuanced, emotional, introspective, or demonstrative scenes. Still, she fits her role visually; she looks beautiful and very young. A lot of effort has clearly gone into the visual aspect of the show.
From EP1 to EP 13
Yet, one of the most striking issues lies in the characterization of the main heroine, which feels completely inconsistent. She refuses to accept her mother’s decisions about her personal life—which is understandable, perhaps—but at the same time remains cold toward the woman who is kind to her, the stepmother. Her father, although shown only in a limited and underdeveloped way (which is disappointing), appears to be caring in the past despite his flaws: he cooks for the children, shares a passion for cars, and spends time with them. He feels more human than the mother, who struggles to accept another boy in her home. The heroine, meanwhile, never takes a moment to talk to her father, understand what’s happening, or reflect on her place in the family.
Up until episode 12, we see a girl who comes to live with her father’s family after years apart and settles in as if this is completely normal and her place is legitimate. She doesn’t seem to consider whether it’s convenient for the family or if she has the right to stay. At just 18, she decides, “I’m staying here…” without consulting anyone. Her only focus appears to be her boyfriend and her teenage romantic impulses.
Her behavior towards the male lead is particularly immature—like a spoiled 9-year-old: “make me tea, cook for me, I don’t like this, bring me that, drive me there,” and so on. She claims to stay “to help him,” but what exactly does she offer? Her actions revolve almost entirely around romance, instead of using the opportunity to connect with her sister, family, or contribute in a mature way. Perhaps her character will develop later, but I personally wanted to see these essential traits early on to understand, empathize with, and support her.
There are also subtle moments that struck me as surprisingly sloppy in writing: for example, a scene where the female lead is drunk with a friend of the male lead, and the male lead comes to pick up the girl, leaving the other girl almost" unconscious" without saying or doing anything. So Everything in the series centers ONLY for the main female lead. It’s an incredibly small, human detail, yet it speaks volumes in the context of a film where every second should help the audience understand a character.
The chronology of events is also confusing. When did her love first begin—at nine years old? The timeline is unclear. Did it happen later, perhaps instantly under the shower, as the show suggests? Similarly, the male lead’s intentions are barely conveyed, with only one line to explain his feelings, yet their interactions suggest something very different. A romance allegedly starting when he was 13 seems implausible, especially given the complex family context. The story asks the viewer to suspend disbelief to accept these developments. From the very first episodes, there are many highly provocative adult scenes, and at the same time, there are brother-sister relationships or depictions of a vulnerable young girl, which is unsettling
Overall, the plot emphasizes romantic drama at the expense of consistent, believable character development. I suspect the series will follow predictable patterns: a few kisses, some tragic obstacles, and time for the heroine to grow—possibly during university—before exploring mature relationships.
By “visual,” I specifically mean styling—wardrobes, looks, cars, the city—rather than directorial choices. The styling is very successful. Lighting, however, often misses the mark; for instance, please avoid that whitish glare on the male lead’s face in close-ups. The racing scenes are well-executed but may feel technically weaker compared to Western standards. For comparison, even the “Fast & Furious” films, despite being commercial, display strong action dynamics cinematography, and big budget
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