sgm

Yes, turn your brain off and turn your thoughts off about the FL. While she has a few good moments, so much of the time she appears clueless, hapless, even pathetic. Her wardrobe in this drama is awful. Frumpy, baggy, unattractive. The ML is eye candy; she's doggy doo. When others read and she reads what she's writing, it's juvenile and lame. It makes no sense when they talk about her as a great writing talent.

Can you recommend any other Cdramas or Kdramas that are as immersive and compelling as TES. I agree with your comments about the incredible directing, acting, chemistry, music and cinematography.

My thanks to you also! Your response is very thoughtful. And we can agree that his belittling comments were toxic. Her lying to him in response to direct questions was also hurtful and destabalizing. I believe what kept people rooting for them all the way through is that the drama subtly showed signs and actions toward each that come from true love and care for one another.

While he was arrogant and conceited, the drama shows a more nuanced look at how he treated her. He went out of his way to frequently drive her home, he rescued her on the mountain, he looked out for her when she drank too much, he cooked for her, he opened his home and heart to her dog, he invited her to Switzerland, he fought the real estate agency mob on her behalf, he stood up for her (although not at the beginning) at work, he gave her the highest score in the work specialist competition, he bought her presents because he thought she'd like them and/or needs them, he cared for her when she was sick, he visited her when they were long distance, he took her on the Tibet trip, he warmly introduced her to his closest friends, etc. One of the through lines of the drama is that you don't have to be perfect to be worthy of love. The series also shows her lying to him regarding the work assault, keeping things from him, frequent communication breakdowns due to her insecurity. The drama arc is watching him become more considerate and empathetic and her becoming more confident and strong. I haven't read the novel but comments state that he was a much greater a__hole in the book. In the TV series, you see someone who genuinely cares for her, and over time, loves her. The drama shows him gradually becoming more caring and appealing and therefore, the skyhigh ratings! People wouldn't have been drawn to this show had he been a complete & total jerk. Viewers would have lost all respect for the FL had she stayed with a complete bully. They showed him as a man with serious flaws alongside serious charm and growing moments of truly caring for her.

What's the other drama?

Enjoy it for what it is. It's well done drama with charismatic leads (great casting choices) and interesting secondary leads. While they changed the novel, it still is structured along much of the novel's trajectory and character development. Bringing a novel to life always has its challenges. How to cram everything into the alloted episodes - what to cut, what to embelish, what to adapt. While some are unhappy with the writers and the director's choices, they have knocked it out of the park in many respects. It's one of the top rated dramas of all time!

I don't think he was the better choice. He suffered from depression, low confidence and he had unresolved family issues and guilt. Too passive as well for someone like Flora. She has grand ambitions.

Your comments are spot on. It was a beautifully written and directed episode. It showcased our longing for resurrection; for immortality; for unending second chances; for unconditional love and for being truly known and fully accepted.

Poor Asian celebrities. Fans want to control their private lives. They feel somehow entitled to intrude into their dating/marriage choices. How crazy that they would approach him with his girlfriend and talk about Sun Qian. It's really nuts and must be really hard on both the actor and their partner.

They work together in a company that has a no office romance policy. It makes sense that it can't be acknowledged. Her job would be in jeopardy. Rumors would fly that she was sleeping her way to promotions and on and on. Given the office ban on romance, they have been "forced" into silence. Even telling friends has a way of getting out so mum's the word.

I, too, thought they were so well written. It's like peeling back the layers of an onion. We're being shown more honesty and more interaction about their state of mind.

So many Kdrama rom coms lack passion and don't have sizzling chemistry. Is it intentional to show lukewarm love? They try too hard to show a shy FL and an overly polite ML in the romance department that it often falls flat and lacks intensity.

Perfect summary of the bridge scene! She needs to make him feel secure that he's THE ONLY ONE she wants and he needs to make her feel secure that she's perfect for him and that he's wild about her and wants the whole world to know that he loves her.

Exactly right! They both are acting out of their insecurities. She's not sure she's good enough for Luke's social standing and he's afraid that he can't live up to what she needs.

How can you compare this drama to the sado masichism in 50 shades? JBR is quite attentive to her needs when they're alone together. He's stoic and abrupt with her at work while at the same time watching out for her well-being. He's introduced her to his close male friends as his girlfriend while she usually denies having a boyfriend. Yes, he's confused and wounded from earlier relationships (especially his dad) but he's increasingly caring and affectionate in private. I guess you could say he's a mixed bag at this point but moving in the right direction.

So many cringe scenes is right! They both lack the kind of character or personality that makes you want to know more. After the 1st episode, I don't want to see more of her or more of him or his mother. They're all a mess.

Exactly. Why should she have to answer for her great grandfather? She didn't pick the family she was born into. None of us did. What is she supposed to do about her lineage. It won't change history.

Couldn't agree more. Bland, timid, even lifeless. Toned down, dull.

The series had so much promise. Lots of villians. Mysterious plot. Great actors. It definitely didn't live up to its potential. The love story included!

In the last scene, the carabiner clip handing on her bag (camera zoomed in on it) is a major clue to their ongoing love. The open ending was giving away a big spoiler with the clip. Their love is not over..