kate_xulansis

It was a ride, that's for sure. Not a structurally sound ride, but a ride nonetheless. It was bumpy, sometimes the belt securing the passenger to the seat felt as if it were about to break, the track seemed to be missing in certain areas, and the themes holding it all together seemed to be confused and change completely at random and without warning. So, all in all, it was a miracle it held up to the end.

The romance carried the show, the chemistry between the leads and how cute the characters all were, really were the saving grace (if there was a saving grace). But just like ML's hair, there seemed to be consistency flaws in the plot (from his hair changing to black to grey to green to blue depending on the factors surrounding him). Rules were made and broken and changed at random and you could never pinpoint the world building behind the scenes. Even after it is all done, I'm sitting here wondering what the point to it all was--the laws that seemed to be based on nothing more than a whim. If they were trying to go for vague godlike beings doing vague godlike things that make no sense to humans, then, hey, they did just that. But was it fun and entertaining and worth watching? Meh. As I said, the romance was what carried it all and for me, as a die-hard romance lover, I'm okay with it all and have made my peace. Whatever the writer was trying to convey in this story, I personally wasn't able to interpret it, but I still enjoyed watching it (although, it totally dragged after episode 10). Then again, they really threw in all the romance they could possibly think of, I mean what with the completely unrelated love story thrown in there lol. As a romance lover, how could I not appreciate the effort though?

Best advice I can give? Go in like you are the Kevin character. Use your own interpretation of whatever the heck is going on in the plot and just be happy you recognize love, family, and being together. Don't try to understand everything and get needlessly frustrated because all that's matters is whatever little you do understand. Lol. Kevin was arguably the best one in the drama.

Plot: 3.5/10
Romance: 9.5/10
My Compromise: 8/10

Well obviously like most things, it didn't age all too well in certain areas. However, if you can get passed some of those initial controversies that are common tropes from that era, I think it makes up for it in later episodes. It wasn't frustrating, like at all (imo). All misunderstandings, drama, and issues are solved pretty early on every time something pops up. And the relationships between all the characters are wonderful to watch (minus a certain middle-aged dude who attempted to groom our girl into his little bride... ew). There are many cute scenes between the leads (and other couples and friends) and I don't think anything was left unsolved by the end. I especially loved how the drama tackled all of MLs trauma, and how very therapeutic it all ended up being for him. ML definitely got the better end of the stick in everything, and everyone did everything to make him comfy--but honestly, at times he did sorta deserve it and I wasn't really mad (until the very end a bit). That's not to say that I don't think some things were wrapped up TOO easily, but hey, it's a drama and why not live in a fantasy world where everything works out like magic for a bit?

Overall I give it an 8.5/10--but that's going in knowing I'd be met with problematic tropes. Don't go in expecting a FL that breaks the glass ceiling. She is there to be the support ML needed to heal (because, you know, men obviously can't go to therapy and get a real therapist *roll eyes* women are expected to do everything *sigh*), but she isn't as horribly written as some dramas. She's very cute and knows exactly who she is and what she stands for; I don't think anyone could have the heart to hate her.

The ending for me soured the overall story a tiny bit. I just wasn't pleased with how easily everything seemed to be overlooked and the storyline itself seemed very unnecessary, if not just a last minute plot device that made a certain successor thing work itself out too easily. But in doing so, I think it hurt an overarching theme important to the leads. Not a fan of that. Still, it was cute and light and easy to watch. Turn your brain off for a bit and enjoy :)

Yes yes yes! Thank you for summing up my feelings perfectly. The first 15 episodes are the only ones worth watching. After that the writing turned all potential for character development into character assassination! Mike became such a coward and so dense!!!! Ughhhhh I loved it so much before and would have given it a 9, but after ep 15, I gave it a 7 (and that was only to be nice to the earlier episodes—they deserved so much more). But they really took all that potential and dumped it down the drain... *sigh*

Thank you so much for your compliment! And I agree. Not many dramas blow me away but crowned clown and psychopath diary were both so completely phenomenally done. Truly amazing what some of those actors could do with their roles. Incredible!

Happy you've found peace in dramaland hehe it can get a little restless here at times. Wish you luck in all your CWs and PTW! <3

I love this review because that was how I felt when I watched part 1. I'm curious on what your take is now (if you've watched part 2). Because to me, the hong sisters did it again... they butchered the end of a plot and refused to bring characters into their true potential lol! *I'm laughing, but I'm actually crying* I especially loved mudeok naksu and how complex she was yet so *sure* of herself in this part (and how she chose her own goals and survival over love and even Uk's trust). Felt like it was onto something big like you said and it just didn't quite reach it... But I'm curious to know if you have a different opinion or if you loved part 2 like many others have :)

I somehow completely agree with all of this (I missed Mudeok version Naksu SO MUCH and even she wasn't the bad ass Naksu I would have loved to have seen) but I also still gave it a high rating probably for the fact that I knew exactly what sort of endings the Hong Sisters gives to female characters. They are absolutely misogynistic and battle with severe internalized opinions on their sex (although that's not to say stereotypical and traditional females aren't just as worthy as the ones that break glass ceilings... but for this specific character it was a total disappointment seeing how sure of herself and her power/strength she was in part 1). Unfortunately for my raging feminist side, I tend to try to lower the volume of that part of my brain while watching the Hong Sisters dramas. It's just not worth the exhaustion I can physically feel in this rant of yours. Totally justified and I love that you said it despite how big of a fandom this show has (that takes so serious guts imo), but that frustration would have killed me more than the stupid amnesia plot did lmao.

Thanks for saying it out loud and I hope you don't receive any hate for it <3 Your frustrations are justified in my eyes, but boy I was already in love with the leads and apparently still love them as a stupid misogynistic stereotype *sigh* But I REALLY did miss mudeok, the dryness in which she delivered her lines was the best and how she prioritized herself and her goals over love.... :( RIP the mudeok Naksu I guess.

First: why all the hate for my baby Ha ru?! It was so fluffy and adorable, I could have just died watching Haru and FL. Too cute and wholesome. My heart ached.

Second, and most important I think, this made me so anxious in the best way possible as a writer. I couldn't help but to imagine my own characters trying to fight their fate I've created for them. Omg i would feel just horrible! But it was so fun to think about. It was great.

I didn't give it a 10/10 however, because I felt like it didn't wrap up everything too well. In fact, it felt like there was a lot missing. But I'm not really mad at the ending either (despite how the entire reason for the original plot seems to have been thrown under the bus lol), so I didn't make it take off too much since the over all experience was a really great one (seriously, so, so, SO cute!).

Lastly, as a watcher of AoS, dang am I disappointed in our boy. What a total AH of a character lmao! Great actor thooo <3 I appreciate him sm.

I loved that line from the 2FL lmao, she delivered it in such a earnest way too lmaooo. Like yeah, say what we're all thinking, that's totally acceptable imo.

Honestly, I did not feel it very deeply for like the first half which is a real shame because that second half was captivating as hell and completely stole my heart away. Logically, this drama is in the 7's category of my personal rating system, but in my heart its at least a dang 9. Everyone in the reviews pointed out most of it's flaws, so let me point out what I felt they got right.

(1) Anything that can make me sob that hard while sympathizing with almost every characters' backstories and psyche wiring, is a must watch for me.
(2) I'm not into sad stories, I'm into heart-wrenchingly heartwarming stories, and this definitely fit that bill.
(3) All the MLs eventually totally won over my heart irreparably even with all their many flaws and refusal to develop into something better lol.
(4) And the FLs (although a little too stereotypically done for me) were all their own characters which I appreciated seeing (no carbon copies of each other, in my opinion).
(5) The ending did leave a bit of a lackluster taste, but episode 16 still by far held the most heart-wrenchingly beautiful scenes, so I forgive it.

It's a good watch if you're looking for something easy and not so hard on the head. You can still enjoy the emotions and romance even though the overarching plots are somewhat lackluster in power and development. I really think some of those backstories are the real magical elements in this drama. BRB I'm just gonna go cry into my pillow again over them. I saw it coming but I still didn't prepare enough for the emotions they put into it (and that big crying scene was really well done imo). Oh BOY.

This is the quickest a drama has ever broken my heart lol. Years later and I am still unable to move past that episode... I am still in so much pain. How do y'all watch passed *that* scene? I have never fallen in love with a character SO fast and hard, and had my ass handed back to me so violently lmao. My heart has never shattered so quickly. *I am sobbing just thinking about it*

Just a guess, but I would assume it's because rural towns like her hometown normally have a strong patriarchy where women are socialized in a more traditionally conservative sense. Probably why she was such a pushover despite her physical strength too, lol.

One line to sum it up: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results...

Not to insult anyone's drama taste (I appreciate how much taste can vary person to person and how everyone has the right to a different opinion) but I am shook at what just happened... and not in a good way. I admit, it had me up until like episode 16, but it went *real* sour *real* quick after that. The characters were SO infuriatingly immature and showed no real development by the end--in fact, I'd have to say the leads DEvolved rather than evolved. I loved the ML in the beginning, he had so much promise and seemed on the right path to self-awareness. And then Episode 17 (or wtver) happened and he became a clueless, selfish, dimwitted fool. And not to mention the FL became even *more* of a pushover with confidence issues. It was just *angering* after that and I seriously recommend everyone to stop watching at episode 16 or 17 (forget which one, but you'll know when you get to it because everything felt like it was in a moderately good place). Post ep 17 and that was just... not well written at all in my very unprofessional opinion. Very over-the-top and roll-your-eyes scenes, with absolutely no good point to them (I can excuse cliches, but I can't excuse poor plot development and last minute obstacles that come out of nowhere just to try to drive the plot). Ugh. I'm glad I didn't invest myself fully into it, it would have driven me so far up the wall if I weren't too busy rolling my eyes so much it hurt.

Despite the lousy ending on top of all that (and the no closure to *any* of the supporting cast btw), I still can't give it lower than a 6.5/10 (my cut off on dramas I don't regret watching) because I truly did really enjoy that first half quite a bit. In fact, it gave me strong Boys Over Flowers vibes and I'm a bit obsessed with that stupidly infuriating (in a good way) plot. This just went so far off the map on that second half--definitely more 'Mischevious Kiss' infuriating (in a terrible way) vibes--and made me uncharacteristically hate the leads, so I can't in my right conscience rate it just for that fun beginning.

However, I should have seen it coming. The supporting characters were all backstabbing trash from the getgo-- I should have known the leads were secretly trash too. *sad*

This is KILLING ME. I swear I am going to die before we even find out if our leads live or die. This is torture. How do the Hong Sisters always make you literally ACHE for the leads? In every series I've seen of theirs, I am literally in tears because of the frustrating ache for the leads to just BE TOGETHER GOD DAMMIT. lol help, I can't make it. Numbness has spread, I am going to be cold before the tenth and final episode even drops. *cry*

Not a bad drama if you want something light after something darker (I'm currently watching AoS2 and this filled the deep aching the now lives permanently in my chest because of the damn series, oh my) but you definitely can't take it seriously. The ML was amazing and I want one for myself, but everything else was at best mediocre (at worse annoying and at times frustrating and nonsensical). There was a lack of complete satisfaction for every mini plot and I honestly ended up fast forwarding through a lot of the non-main romances. Some stuff felt irrelevant as well. But again, it was a super light and an easy drama to binge. And it was admittedly cute to watch FL grow up bit by bit (she looked so comfortable in her body and cute by the end).

All in all, the romance between the leads was worth the watch. Very cute, wholesome, and goal-worthy.

I love how so many relationships honestly just mirror respect for one another. So I agree as well with that. I just enjoy seeing the deeper connection between these two other than what we're used to in normal romantic dramas. It's refreshing to stop thinking about the physical and focus instead on everything else between people :)

Ohh, that makes sense! I disagree, but it's interesting to see different perspectives. I guess cuz since i'm also more on the asexual side of things, to me it did feel very developed between them. You don't always just fall in love with someone after you've acknowledged your feelings to someone, I think often times you fall in love without saying a word to the one you love and that's personally what I saw here. They both had become so close and comfortable around one another and had been through so much growth as individuals and partners, so they are passed the initial attraction or crush phase of a friendship-turned-romantic relationship. It's deeper and more intimate. I just find it so wholesome and cute! Especially the way they always think of each other. If they are asexual, I'd say there wasn't much more left to develop to be something serious, except for actually communicating their love for one another. They've already found their happy place being together :)

They didn't communicate it to one another, but they definitely were in love imo. The side characters hinted at it a bunnnch too. It just wasn't a normal romance. It was one without skin contact or the usual passionate scenes. Instead it showed in their dependency of each other, respect for one another, and how much they thought of one another when the other wasn't around. By the end, it just shows in their complete trust--when FL leaves and ML knows she'll be back. It's just not what we're used to. It's romance without anything sexual. Platonic friends are a lot different imo :) asexuality isn't about just being platonic with everyone, there is still romance if you're not also aromantic.

I want to add that I normally only watch dramas for the romance, and even though it wasn't like other dramas, romance and falling in love is STILL in this drama. But it's not with skin contact or typical romantic scenes... it's how they learn each other and depend and think of one another in everything that they do. They love each other completely and respect one another just as much. There IS romance, it's just not a normative one and imo it was really wholesome and refreshing and I'm crying because it's so cute.

I don't think they were exactly platonic though. I think they were in love with each other, but our boy definitely on the asexual spectrum. He didn't seem to mind about staying a virgin. So I assume they are enjoying the relationship they do have.