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This review may contain spoilers
When Labels Fade, Healing Begins
This drama is my first favorite of 2026. It’s far from perfect, but it kept me engaged from beginning to end and delivered where it mattered most.
Story (4.5/5):
The story follows Bom, a teacher who moves to a small town to escape a damaging label after an incident in Seoul, and Jae Gyu, who carries his own reputation based on rumors and first impressions. Both characters are judged before being understood, and the drama does a great job showing how those labels affect their lives. As they grow closer, they not only help the villagers and teachers see the truth, but they also slowly heal themselves.
The writers handle the narrative well—introducing the problems, showing the emotional brokenness, working through conflict, and allowing healing to begin. My only issue is the heavy focus on the teachers. I didn’t care much about most of them, and too much screen time was spent on their storylines.
Acting/Cast (3.5/5):
The main leads completely carried this drama. Jae Gyu and Bom were compelling, emotionally grounded, and believable, making it easy to stay invested. While there’s no clear main villain, there are plenty of frustrating characters.
The Choi siblings were the worst for me. I Jun’s resentment toward Jae Gyu felt excessive, and Se Jin’s constant attitude made her hard to tolerate. Even with their redemption arcs, too much damage had already been done for them to become likable by the end. Bom’s parents also fall into this category—her image-obsessed mother and passive father were disappointing, though not the worst K-drama parents I’ve seen.
Among the teachers, Hye Suk stood out positively, while the Dean was easily the most unlikable.
Music (5/5):
An easy 5 stars. The music fit the tone of the drama perfectly and enhanced both the emotional and lighter moments.
Rewatch Value (4.5/5):
Definitely a rewatch, especially for the cute and funny scenes. The drama noticeably improves once the leads get together, which made the second half much more enjoyable for me.
Final Thoughts:
This drama isn’t flawless, but its strong leads, emotional healing, and satisfying character growth make it memorable. If you enjoy slow healing stories and character-driven romances, this one is worth watching.
Story (4.5/5):
The story follows Bom, a teacher who moves to a small town to escape a damaging label after an incident in Seoul, and Jae Gyu, who carries his own reputation based on rumors and first impressions. Both characters are judged before being understood, and the drama does a great job showing how those labels affect their lives. As they grow closer, they not only help the villagers and teachers see the truth, but they also slowly heal themselves.
The writers handle the narrative well—introducing the problems, showing the emotional brokenness, working through conflict, and allowing healing to begin. My only issue is the heavy focus on the teachers. I didn’t care much about most of them, and too much screen time was spent on their storylines.
Acting/Cast (3.5/5):
The main leads completely carried this drama. Jae Gyu and Bom were compelling, emotionally grounded, and believable, making it easy to stay invested. While there’s no clear main villain, there are plenty of frustrating characters.
The Choi siblings were the worst for me. I Jun’s resentment toward Jae Gyu felt excessive, and Se Jin’s constant attitude made her hard to tolerate. Even with their redemption arcs, too much damage had already been done for them to become likable by the end. Bom’s parents also fall into this category—her image-obsessed mother and passive father were disappointing, though not the worst K-drama parents I’ve seen.
Among the teachers, Hye Suk stood out positively, while the Dean was easily the most unlikable.
Music (5/5):
An easy 5 stars. The music fit the tone of the drama perfectly and enhanced both the emotional and lighter moments.
Rewatch Value (4.5/5):
Definitely a rewatch, especially for the cute and funny scenes. The drama noticeably improves once the leads get together, which made the second half much more enjoyable for me.
Final Thoughts:
This drama isn’t flawless, but its strong leads, emotional healing, and satisfying character growth make it memorable. If you enjoy slow healing stories and character-driven romances, this one is worth watching.
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