This review may contain spoilers
One of the most impactful shows I've ever watched
This was the first k-drama that I ever watched and it set my expectations so high for what I would watch after. Since watching it, I've rewatched it twice. I am aware that I am biased at least a bit due to it being the first one I watched, but it still holds up so astronomically well five years later. I have had the soundtrack downloaded on my phone since I watched it as well.I found all of the characters to be so well-written with so much depth. Not only within the main characters, but a large amount of the supporting cast have their own minor plots, bit of backstory and personalities. The characters are written so well that you can feel real hate towards the hateful ones, related so deeply to others, and truly shows faults in even the most loveable characters. Fully showing the good and bad to so many venerable and amazing characters.
This drama also deals with many aspects of mental health, as well as grief as a whole, and disabilities, like autism. I have struggled with a plethora of both mental and physical illnesses over my life, and I resonated with so many aspects of the story. I do see why some people struggled with the autistic representation, mainly due to a nonautistic actor playing a character with autism. In general, I thought it was fairly well done. However, I do fully understand that it may be a dealbreaker or a deterrent from the show for people, and it's perfectly understandable. I do not have autism myself, so it is not my place to say for sure if Sangtae was a completely good and respectful portrayal of autism.
Gangtae, working at a mental health care facility, also gives us a lot of stories about many characters and their perspective health issues. The way this show speaks on trauma, grief, mental health struggles and it's stigma is so beautiful and well done. The relationships between these characters are complex, and the way all of them care for each other definitely made me cry multiple times.
I whole heartedly recommend this drama to anyone I know who wants to get into k-dramas, and I sincerely hope that people continue to watch it as years go on.
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