4
A solid noona romance with a touch of déjà vu
If I were to blank my mind, then this is a sweet noona romance/healing drama. However, while watching it, I can't escape a sense of déjà vu as I recall another j-drama called Silent as well as Move To Heaven(Korean). Both are excellent but more focused on their main theme. I suppose good storylines are timeless. ;)
Let's start at the beginning. The FL is 10 years older than the ML, but it is not too obvious. The show doesn't call it out specifically as an issue. Most of their friends and family accepted it readily. Our leads do tease each other about it. Quite cute. This adds to their chemistry, and they don’t shy away from skinship either.
The genre bending comes from the ML being deaf since birth. He is well adjusted and does not see himself disabled. In fact, he has a particular insight into human nature which gave his character added depth. It is nice to see our FL making a big effort to integrate into his world. C’est amour, mon ami. ;)
Speaking of romance, it progresses quite quickly. Yes, the meet-cute is forthright. It would be non-PC these days. Many older movies/shows have used this trick to signify the raw attraction between the leads. For what it is worth, it gave their relationship a momentum lacking in similar dramas. In fact, the general pacing of this show is spot on.
Both leads confessed their love for each other within a relatively short span of time. No silly word games while they dance around each other. Drama gods be praised! Our OTP looked at each other intendedly as they signed their simple yet heartfelt confessions. Is it easier to confess in sign language? Interesting.
Of course, nothing is ever that simple in dramaland. We must deal with unrequited love and dark pasts. Old wounds reopened and inner demons braying for attention. Thankfully, the show doesn't weaponise the angst until we beg for mercy. We do see their pain and aggravation as the show progresses.
Acting is solid from the ensemble cast. Kudos to the actors playing deaf roles and to those who learn the sign language just for this show. The support cast is a mix bag of quirky characters so typical to j-dramas. One or two are a bit over the top but the majority are worthy inclusions.
In hindsight, this series didn't go down the rabbit hole as deeply as the other two shows and the medical side is a bit lightweight. It is still a solid presentation. Good effort by the writer-san to incorporated multiple themes into one script. I enjoyed it and I would not hesitate to recommend this to any fan of this genre
Let's start at the beginning. The FL is 10 years older than the ML, but it is not too obvious. The show doesn't call it out specifically as an issue. Most of their friends and family accepted it readily. Our leads do tease each other about it. Quite cute. This adds to their chemistry, and they don’t shy away from skinship either.
The genre bending comes from the ML being deaf since birth. He is well adjusted and does not see himself disabled. In fact, he has a particular insight into human nature which gave his character added depth. It is nice to see our FL making a big effort to integrate into his world. C’est amour, mon ami. ;)
Speaking of romance, it progresses quite quickly. Yes, the meet-cute is forthright. It would be non-PC these days. Many older movies/shows have used this trick to signify the raw attraction between the leads. For what it is worth, it gave their relationship a momentum lacking in similar dramas. In fact, the general pacing of this show is spot on.
Both leads confessed their love for each other within a relatively short span of time. No silly word games while they dance around each other. Drama gods be praised! Our OTP looked at each other intendedly as they signed their simple yet heartfelt confessions. Is it easier to confess in sign language? Interesting.
Of course, nothing is ever that simple in dramaland. We must deal with unrequited love and dark pasts. Old wounds reopened and inner demons braying for attention. Thankfully, the show doesn't weaponise the angst until we beg for mercy. We do see their pain and aggravation as the show progresses.
Acting is solid from the ensemble cast. Kudos to the actors playing deaf roles and to those who learn the sign language just for this show. The support cast is a mix bag of quirky characters so typical to j-dramas. One or two are a bit over the top but the majority are worthy inclusions.
In hindsight, this series didn't go down the rabbit hole as deeply as the other two shows and the medical side is a bit lightweight. It is still a solid presentation. Good effort by the writer-san to incorporated multiple themes into one script. I enjoyed it and I would not hesitate to recommend this to any fan of this genre
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