dipseabootjack

I enjoy clever twists in stories, I enjoy the underdog getting satisfying moments of redemption/victory/vengeance/karma in your face, and I do not enjoy sentimental, cheesy romances (cf The Double). Therefore, I didn’t like this show very much. The story telling is definitely secondary to the romance and it is not particularly deep or clever, it’s not convincingly executed, and it feels somewhat like a weak excuse for all the cheese. The romance is very drawn out, slow paced, and ultimately very repressed. Both characters seem victimized and complacent regarding their emotionally impotent connection and I didn’t feel any real stirring emotions except for sad, apathetic ineptitude that went on and on. No moments of brilliance, heroism, strength, or valor, or any other inspiring qualities we enjoy seeing in shows because it makes us feel good about our humanity. Also the gender reversal just didn’t translate well a lot of the time.

What I liked: Park Eun Bin in anything, a few supporting cast members, and the costumes and set. It wasn’t particularly outstanding as far as period pieces go, but they’re always well done in kdramas in general and this one was no exception. All in all it was good for playing in the background while I did the dishes or folded laundry or wrote out mindless documentation for work. But just sitting and watching it was like pulling teeth, especially towards the end.