This review may contain spoilers
Mixed Feelings, Love the Story but Directing Not So Much
I love a lot about this show. There aren’t too many shows that are set in the 80s of Korea and this gave me nostalgia of something I never experienced. A lot of the dynamics, setting and structure was refreshing and breaks some cliches. It did made me feel like I was growing up with them and loved seeing the friendships form. I love seeing the siblings and the parents get the screen time and their relationships. I almost wish there was more time to see all of the stories in more detail and throughout the years. But at the same time almost shocked how much happened in 12 episodes. There is too many thoughts that I have but loved so many aspects that I can’t even place my mind on. I don’t understand the low rating as I feel people may rate on the their personal feelings of the characters when they are sent to be seen like this by the viewer. However, most of my negative thoughts are on the directing and the actors did an amazing job!
Production:
Firstly my mixed feelings is about the structure of the show. Half was set in their “childhood” while the other was their adulthood. I liked how it almost felt like two shows put together and have enough to be reminded of the beginning of the story as the past them. Even with moments of the friends and the families. However, I felt they almost have too much time to Jong Hui and Jae Pil story. It had me wondering who was going to end up with who and if it was the leads then how they would do the 180 which is not necessarily a bad feature as it kept me curious. It almost made it seem like Jae Pil had no other choice but to like Young Rye. For them to have Jae Pil and Young Rye to be together, they should have given more scenes of what happened in the seven years time jump. As well as how Mr. Ma almost lost touch with the main characters.Even the confession scenes and ending romance seemed rushed and was more devoted to the Jong Hui story that almost made her the main lead. I did want Young Rye and Jae Pil to end up together but wish there was more moments of Jae Pil realizing he liked her. Their relationship did seem genuine and were so cute to see together! One odd factor that one really mentioned is how the boys in the beginning are in high school while the ladies were around 21 and 23. it just didn’t sit right with me to see Jong Hui (23) have Jae Pil as her first love for a high school student.
Characters:
These comments don’t reflect my rating of the show just how I feel about the characters as they are meant to be portrayed and the actors did a great job to make me feel these ways about them.
Jong Hui was an annoying character for me. In the second half she was always there, I get how it showed that she missed them and liked her life there but it was almost overbearing. She somehow made it into the confession scene and limited moments we had with the main couple, even in the very end making it seem all three were dating. Like I get it but understand the boundaries. She also had no respect for Young Rye relationship and feelings. Throughout the first half, Young Rye suppressed her feelings so she could make her two friends be happy even “letting go”her first love for them to be together. However Jong Hui, after the seven years she was gone and knowing Young Rye liked Jae Pil, kept going and trying to get with him. She ended it in the past “for Young Rye” but then regrets it later. She eventually BLAMES her for breaking up with Jae Pil while Young Rye is dating him. There were times she took a step but I believe not for them to be happy but bc she felt insecure about herself and didn’t know how to “catch up” to the relationship Jae Pil and Young Rye built (which she states). People may say it was selfish for Young Rye to get with Jae Pil but she understood he boundary even after Jong Hui was gone and never confessed. Jae Pil was the one who did after the seven years. Also Jong Hui and Jae Pil only had at most a 6 month “situationship”. So Jong Hui was more selfish and disrespectful to her “most cherished best friend”. I do like her with Young Rye brother but again felt like a second option.
I love Jae Pil’s character and ever more the actor. At times I did feel that the character was leading Young Rye on like in the beginning. However loved their long friendship was always something more for him and he knew it but never expressed it until he had some competition. The actor does an amazing job of being nervous to express his feelings to both of the female leads. I also love when dramas show the real feelings of the male leads life and shows that he has struggles with his father. He has a sensitive side and the crying from the actor felt real and raw. I wish he did more dramas where he was the man lead.
I also wish Jeong Bun ended up with her daughter’s father. And if not at least gave her daughter’s father a chance to prove himself or even them make the father more genuine to her in the past. She gave him no relationship with his daughter.
Production:
Firstly my mixed feelings is about the structure of the show. Half was set in their “childhood” while the other was their adulthood. I liked how it almost felt like two shows put together and have enough to be reminded of the beginning of the story as the past them. Even with moments of the friends and the families. However, I felt they almost have too much time to Jong Hui and Jae Pil story. It had me wondering who was going to end up with who and if it was the leads then how they would do the 180 which is not necessarily a bad feature as it kept me curious. It almost made it seem like Jae Pil had no other choice but to like Young Rye. For them to have Jae Pil and Young Rye to be together, they should have given more scenes of what happened in the seven years time jump. As well as how Mr. Ma almost lost touch with the main characters.Even the confession scenes and ending romance seemed rushed and was more devoted to the Jong Hui story that almost made her the main lead. I did want Young Rye and Jae Pil to end up together but wish there was more moments of Jae Pil realizing he liked her. Their relationship did seem genuine and were so cute to see together! One odd factor that one really mentioned is how the boys in the beginning are in high school while the ladies were around 21 and 23. it just didn’t sit right with me to see Jong Hui (23) have Jae Pil as her first love for a high school student.
Characters:
These comments don’t reflect my rating of the show just how I feel about the characters as they are meant to be portrayed and the actors did a great job to make me feel these ways about them.
Jong Hui was an annoying character for me. In the second half she was always there, I get how it showed that she missed them and liked her life there but it was almost overbearing. She somehow made it into the confession scene and limited moments we had with the main couple, even in the very end making it seem all three were dating. Like I get it but understand the boundaries. She also had no respect for Young Rye relationship and feelings. Throughout the first half, Young Rye suppressed her feelings so she could make her two friends be happy even “letting go”her first love for them to be together. However Jong Hui, after the seven years she was gone and knowing Young Rye liked Jae Pil, kept going and trying to get with him. She ended it in the past “for Young Rye” but then regrets it later. She eventually BLAMES her for breaking up with Jae Pil while Young Rye is dating him. There were times she took a step but I believe not for them to be happy but bc she felt insecure about herself and didn’t know how to “catch up” to the relationship Jae Pil and Young Rye built (which she states). People may say it was selfish for Young Rye to get with Jae Pil but she understood he boundary even after Jong Hui was gone and never confessed. Jae Pil was the one who did after the seven years. Also Jong Hui and Jae Pil only had at most a 6 month “situationship”. So Jong Hui was more selfish and disrespectful to her “most cherished best friend”. I do like her with Young Rye brother but again felt like a second option.
I love Jae Pil’s character and ever more the actor. At times I did feel that the character was leading Young Rye on like in the beginning. However loved their long friendship was always something more for him and he knew it but never expressed it until he had some competition. The actor does an amazing job of being nervous to express his feelings to both of the female leads. I also love when dramas show the real feelings of the male leads life and shows that he has struggles with his father. He has a sensitive side and the crying from the actor felt real and raw. I wish he did more dramas where he was the man lead.
I also wish Jeong Bun ended up with her daughter’s father. And if not at least gave her daughter’s father a chance to prove himself or even them make the father more genuine to her in the past. She gave him no relationship with his daughter.
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