This review may contain spoilers
NOT A REVIEW!
This is not a review.
I would like to call this a revisit - or rather a deep dive into the characters and their equations.
Lee Do Hoe –
I am going to hold Do Hoe very close to my heart for a long time.
One of my favourite Korean dramas is ‘To My Star’. Do Hoe reminded me a lot of Han Ji Woo. Both of these characters have gone through some of the most traumatic experiences at such tender age. Even though I haven’t faced - and can’t imagine - the intensity of their experiences, I still identify with them.
The way they push people away even when they need them the most. The fear of being seen - not at their best, but in their mess. The urge to fix everything and still not be able to fight your own demons. The fear of hurting the ones that they love.
I could really go on and on about how similar these two characters were. How their silences had the same kind of pain and misery. Despite their best efforts, they could not explain how broken they truly were and so leaving seemed like the only option.
At one point, I was really confused and didn’t understand Do Hoe’s actions, but soon realized his actions were not to be judged or analyzed. Some people have gone through such terrible things, that rather than feeling sympathy for them, you feel angry that the world could be so cruel.
His little discomforts, his emotional turmoil, and deep-rooted issues, his obsession with perfection, all of it makes sense and makes you feel even more devastated.
But he persists, despite everything. Despite what he has lived through.
He tries to reach out - to seek the light and love of his life in his own quiet way.
Taking a job near where Ju Yeong lives is his way of reaching out - more than anyone in his position could manage. Even when his brain tells him not to, his heart seeks the love, care and affection he once fell for.
That, to me, is how he eventually grows:
He lets go of the past that has tormented him for the better half of his life, but holds onto the part that made him feel alive. He shows the courage to start afresh, to begin again from the moment he stopped living.
When he says to Ju Yeong – ‘ I am just a loser, with a lot of pride. Even so, don’t abandon me.’
-that, to me, is the most beautiful declaration of love. Someone like Do Hoe who has endured so much on his own, lets himself rely on another person and opens his heart to love - and be loved - abundantly.
Shin Ju Yeong –
Again, I must point out a striking similarity between ‘To My Star’ and this show in this aspect. While Ju Yeong’s character isn’t exactly like Kang Seo Joon from ‘To My Star’ – one thing that they both share one rare trait - Their ability to love ferociously. They are both more expressive in love than their respective partners. And they both struggle to heal a wound that they did not give.
What I absolutely love about Ju Yeong is that he never judges Do Hoe — not for his silence, not for his trauma, not for his past. From the moment he realizes the truth about Do Hoe’s abusive father, he becomes deeply protective of Do Hoe.
From making fake snow just to see a smile on Do Hoe’s face to hiding the fact that he is also being hit by Do Hoe’s father - all his efforts go into making life a little better, a little happier for Do Hoe.
Even after Do Hoe disappears, he keeps in touch with Do Hoe’s abusive father, hoping to have some link that connects him to Do Hoe.
When they meet again after 12 years, he doesn’t ask for an explanation, nor does he question his strange new friendship with his school bully, Ha Hyeon Ho.
Ju Yeong only observes, quietly, trying to understand what Do Hoe’s life must have been like and where their relationship stands now after all these years.
He returns to Do Hoe, no matter how many times Do Hoe tries to push him away, distance him. He doesn’t force himself into his life. He waits patiently on the other side of the door, determined that Do Hoe would open the door to his heart someday and let him in, allow him to show his scars like he once did 12 years ago.
It is not easy to find love that lasts a lifetime but it is even more difficult to nurture that love, allow it to grow in its own rhythm and stand by it for eternity.
Characters like Ju Yeong teach us something powerful — that loving someone broken doesn’t mean fixing them. It means holding them steady until they’re ready to rebuild. And only someone like Ju Yeong could have done that.
Someone who can make it snow in a place where snowfall rarely happens. Someone who can make life worth living again.
Ha Hyeon Ho –
I know we often focus on the main leads when it comes to shows like these but I could not possibly let Hyeon Ho and his story slide.
We are introduced to his character as a bully in school who bullies and beats up Do Hoe because of his father.
But in the meantime, we also get a hunch that he is not quite what he shows everyone to be.
We see him momentarily falter and growing jealous of Ju Yeong. We see how, he too yearns for that connection with Do Hoe.
However, things change over the years and he becomes a closer friend and the only person Do Hoe relies on during his disappearance.
Realizing his double standards, he makes an attempt to get closer to Do Hoe. But Do Hoe never truly opens up to him. There is always an invisible wall that Hyeon Ha tries to go beyond but never really succeeds.
He realizes that even after all these years, and despite the fact that he is the only person who knows all of Do Hoe’s deepest darkest secrets, Do Hoe never really lets him into his world the way he lets Ju Yeong in.
Despite that, he stays.
Maybe with the hope that someday Do Hoe would let him in or maybe because it’s his way of redemption for all those years of bullying. Who knows!
In the scene, where he breaks down and puts his heart out there for Do Hoe to see for the first time, knowing that his feelings are not reciprocated. Yet, he bares himself for just that moment, knowing well that he is not the one for Do Hoe.
He feels hurt and full of regret, wondering if things could have been different had he opened his heart to Do Hoe and loved him the way Ju Yeong did.
But he was also aware of the difference between his love and that of Ju Yeong’s.
His love was for himself and Ju Yeong’s was always for Do Hoe. He fought with himself to love Do Hoe, while Ju Yeong fought the whole world to protect Do Hoe.
Despite all these, I felt for him. He grew from his mistakes, learning to be a better friend, a companion. His devastation was so real. All of us makes mistakes, all of us have regrets that we carry through life, hoping someday we’ll be free from that emotional baggage. I hope people like Hyeon Ho have the courage in life to move on, grow, forgive themselves and become a better person.
Love is not always enough. But it is something worth holding on to as we navigate this race called life. Love doesn't magically solve all our problems or conquer all our obstacles but it sure gives us the strength to try again.
In the end, what intrigues me the most about any drama is the way it shapes the characters.
It feels surreal, like watching an artist slowly move his brush across the canvas to reveal a portrait.
It feels satisfying to peel each of the layers, discovering the true meaning words of spoken and unspoken, secret glances and silences.
This show was an emotional roller coaster but it was worth every tear that I shed.
P.S - for the people who loved this show as much as I did, I would recommend watching 'To My Star' (if you haven't already).
I would like to call this a revisit - or rather a deep dive into the characters and their equations.
Lee Do Hoe –
I am going to hold Do Hoe very close to my heart for a long time.
One of my favourite Korean dramas is ‘To My Star’. Do Hoe reminded me a lot of Han Ji Woo. Both of these characters have gone through some of the most traumatic experiences at such tender age. Even though I haven’t faced - and can’t imagine - the intensity of their experiences, I still identify with them.
The way they push people away even when they need them the most. The fear of being seen - not at their best, but in their mess. The urge to fix everything and still not be able to fight your own demons. The fear of hurting the ones that they love.
I could really go on and on about how similar these two characters were. How their silences had the same kind of pain and misery. Despite their best efforts, they could not explain how broken they truly were and so leaving seemed like the only option.
At one point, I was really confused and didn’t understand Do Hoe’s actions, but soon realized his actions were not to be judged or analyzed. Some people have gone through such terrible things, that rather than feeling sympathy for them, you feel angry that the world could be so cruel.
His little discomforts, his emotional turmoil, and deep-rooted issues, his obsession with perfection, all of it makes sense and makes you feel even more devastated.
But he persists, despite everything. Despite what he has lived through.
He tries to reach out - to seek the light and love of his life in his own quiet way.
Taking a job near where Ju Yeong lives is his way of reaching out - more than anyone in his position could manage. Even when his brain tells him not to, his heart seeks the love, care and affection he once fell for.
That, to me, is how he eventually grows:
He lets go of the past that has tormented him for the better half of his life, but holds onto the part that made him feel alive. He shows the courage to start afresh, to begin again from the moment he stopped living.
When he says to Ju Yeong – ‘ I am just a loser, with a lot of pride. Even so, don’t abandon me.’
-that, to me, is the most beautiful declaration of love. Someone like Do Hoe who has endured so much on his own, lets himself rely on another person and opens his heart to love - and be loved - abundantly.
Shin Ju Yeong –
Again, I must point out a striking similarity between ‘To My Star’ and this show in this aspect. While Ju Yeong’s character isn’t exactly like Kang Seo Joon from ‘To My Star’ – one thing that they both share one rare trait - Their ability to love ferociously. They are both more expressive in love than their respective partners. And they both struggle to heal a wound that they did not give.
What I absolutely love about Ju Yeong is that he never judges Do Hoe — not for his silence, not for his trauma, not for his past. From the moment he realizes the truth about Do Hoe’s abusive father, he becomes deeply protective of Do Hoe.
From making fake snow just to see a smile on Do Hoe’s face to hiding the fact that he is also being hit by Do Hoe’s father - all his efforts go into making life a little better, a little happier for Do Hoe.
Even after Do Hoe disappears, he keeps in touch with Do Hoe’s abusive father, hoping to have some link that connects him to Do Hoe.
When they meet again after 12 years, he doesn’t ask for an explanation, nor does he question his strange new friendship with his school bully, Ha Hyeon Ho.
Ju Yeong only observes, quietly, trying to understand what Do Hoe’s life must have been like and where their relationship stands now after all these years.
He returns to Do Hoe, no matter how many times Do Hoe tries to push him away, distance him. He doesn’t force himself into his life. He waits patiently on the other side of the door, determined that Do Hoe would open the door to his heart someday and let him in, allow him to show his scars like he once did 12 years ago.
It is not easy to find love that lasts a lifetime but it is even more difficult to nurture that love, allow it to grow in its own rhythm and stand by it for eternity.
Characters like Ju Yeong teach us something powerful — that loving someone broken doesn’t mean fixing them. It means holding them steady until they’re ready to rebuild. And only someone like Ju Yeong could have done that.
Someone who can make it snow in a place where snowfall rarely happens. Someone who can make life worth living again.
Ha Hyeon Ho –
I know we often focus on the main leads when it comes to shows like these but I could not possibly let Hyeon Ho and his story slide.
We are introduced to his character as a bully in school who bullies and beats up Do Hoe because of his father.
But in the meantime, we also get a hunch that he is not quite what he shows everyone to be.
We see him momentarily falter and growing jealous of Ju Yeong. We see how, he too yearns for that connection with Do Hoe.
However, things change over the years and he becomes a closer friend and the only person Do Hoe relies on during his disappearance.
Realizing his double standards, he makes an attempt to get closer to Do Hoe. But Do Hoe never truly opens up to him. There is always an invisible wall that Hyeon Ha tries to go beyond but never really succeeds.
He realizes that even after all these years, and despite the fact that he is the only person who knows all of Do Hoe’s deepest darkest secrets, Do Hoe never really lets him into his world the way he lets Ju Yeong in.
Despite that, he stays.
Maybe with the hope that someday Do Hoe would let him in or maybe because it’s his way of redemption for all those years of bullying. Who knows!
In the scene, where he breaks down and puts his heart out there for Do Hoe to see for the first time, knowing that his feelings are not reciprocated. Yet, he bares himself for just that moment, knowing well that he is not the one for Do Hoe.
He feels hurt and full of regret, wondering if things could have been different had he opened his heart to Do Hoe and loved him the way Ju Yeong did.
But he was also aware of the difference between his love and that of Ju Yeong’s.
His love was for himself and Ju Yeong’s was always for Do Hoe. He fought with himself to love Do Hoe, while Ju Yeong fought the whole world to protect Do Hoe.
Despite all these, I felt for him. He grew from his mistakes, learning to be a better friend, a companion. His devastation was so real. All of us makes mistakes, all of us have regrets that we carry through life, hoping someday we’ll be free from that emotional baggage. I hope people like Hyeon Ho have the courage in life to move on, grow, forgive themselves and become a better person.
Love is not always enough. But it is something worth holding on to as we navigate this race called life. Love doesn't magically solve all our problems or conquer all our obstacles but it sure gives us the strength to try again.
In the end, what intrigues me the most about any drama is the way it shapes the characters.
It feels surreal, like watching an artist slowly move his brush across the canvas to reveal a portrait.
It feels satisfying to peel each of the layers, discovering the true meaning words of spoken and unspoken, secret glances and silences.
This show was an emotional roller coaster but it was worth every tear that I shed.
P.S - for the people who loved this show as much as I did, I would recommend watching 'To My Star' (if you haven't already).
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