An Absolute Masterpiece
This drama will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will teach you about life, it will give you hope, and it will fill you with happiness
Overall thinking:
As my title says, this is an absolute masterpiece. But the word masterpiece gets thrown around so easily these days that it barely means anything anymore. So what makes this drama truly special? Many people describe it with adjectives like heartwarming, healing, therapeutic, soothing, or praise its acting. All of these words fit perfectly, but if I had to choose one word to define this drama, it would be uniqueness. There are many healing, heartwarming, slow-burn dramas out there, yet this one still manages to stand apart (I’ll explain why later). It shows its sublimity in every department—cinematography, script, location, story, casting, acting, and music. Everything is executed with absolute perfection.
The main story is simple. You can almost predict where it’s going. But here, the destination doesn’t matter at all. What matters is the journey. The drama weaves together the stories of the female lead, the male lead, and 5–6 supporting characters (along with many others) as they try to find themselves. The characters feel incredibly realistic—like actual people you might know. They’re imperfect, they’re confused, and they don’t have all the answers. The drama follows their journey as they discover those answers through life experiences. The biggest strength of this drama is how real the characters feel. They mirror ordinary people like us. Everything is delivered in such a way that you feel like you’re part of the story—something very few dramas can achieve. You learn life lessons alongside the characters. You begin to understand what truly matters in life and what deserves your attention. The drama explores a wide range of relationships: family bonds, friendships, grandparent–grandchild dynamics, parent–child relationships, sibling relationships, neighborhood connections, and more. Unlike many slice‑of‑life dramas that tackle serious issues but fail to entertain (and often end up being labeled boring), this one is completely different. It is incredibly fun to watch. Every minute gives you a warm, happy feeling (except episode 1, which is a bit sad). Simple moments will make you laugh out loud, and simple moments will make you cry—but even in those emotional scenes, you still feel good. That is the true greatness of this drama.
Romance:
Although this is both a life drama and a romance drama, the everyday interactions and life lessons are so captivating that you might forget to even mention the romance. But romance-wise, the drama excels. The relationship between the leads develops naturally and realistically—perhaps one of the most authentic romances you’ll find in any drama. You will enjoy and cherish every moment of it.
Slow Pacing:
I also need to talk about the pacing. Yes, it is a slow-paced drama. But in this case, the slow pace is not a weakness—it becomes one of its biggest strengths. Some viewers may struggle with the pace at first, but if you’re not too impatient, you’ll adjust quickly. In most dramas, slow pacing is a sign of failure. But here, the script, the unique storytelling style, and the cast’s performances turn the slow pace into an art form. The interactions, dialogues, and conversations are crafted so beautifully that they become the heart of the drama. If you’re too impatient and try to fast-forward or skip scenes like you might do in other shows, you’ll miss the true beauty of this one. But if you give it time, you’ll soon get used to the rhythm—and you may end up considering it one of the best dramas you’ve ever watched.
Story:
The plot is simple and easy to follow. You’ve already read the MDL summary, so I won’t repeat it. I would say the plot itself is simple—but the story is not. This is a wide, layered narrative. Many stories are woven together to create a wonderful mixture. There are so many characters in this drama—not just the main leads. There are at least ten other characters (actually more) whose stories are explored in depth. The story is not plot‑driven; it is character‑driven. Unlike other dramas, the interactions and conversations between characters matter the most here. There are countless golden conversations—too many to list without spoiling anything. You need to experience them yourself. The drama flows smoothly from beginning to end in a way that makes it hard to skip scenes. In fact, you may find yourself pausing and rewinding to rewatch certain conversations because they’re so enjoyable. These conversations are the soul of the drama. They may seem like simple everyday exchanges, but they carry different stories, values, emotions, insights, and life lessons. Sometimes they make you cry from sadness, sometimes from happiness.
Characters:
There are a lot of characters and the characters are very well developed. You have the FL, who is a former front office Hotel Manager who came to the village to spend time. Previously, she made a plan with her best friend to come here, but her best friend is dead now. So she came to the village for both of them, to fulfill their promise. ML is a local boy who is highly educated and used to doing a good, well-paid job. He is now back in the village and now wants to improve the village. Then, you have Nana- A waitress working in the local café, Damai- An aspiring young novelist, Mr. Hu- A singer and songwriter, Mr. Ma- The man who keeps himself busy doing meditation, Xiaochun- A local woman who is divorced, has a cute daughter, and manages the different business for ML, Xiaxia- A woodcarver (local craft), Grandma Xie- 80 years old but still strong woman with a lot of wisdom. I can mention a lot more. But it will be a long list. (Special Mention: Aunt Gui, Aunt Feng, Aunt Baoping, and 4 cute little kids). Every character is portrayed by the perfect actor. While watching, you can’t help but admire how flawlessly each cast member embodies their role. Every character is unique, with their own struggles and stories. The drama explores these stories with care and depth. From my description, it might sound heavy—but it’s not. The drama is incredibly lighthearted, and all these characters are genuinely fun to watch.
Acting:
It’s a 10/10 from me. Honestly, anyone giving the acting less than a 10 is being unfair. The female lead, male lead, supporting cast, grannies, aunts, and children—everyone delivers outstanding performances. The acting is some of the most realistic and natural you’ll ever see in a drama.
Screenwriting:
Let me put it simply: this drama is a screenwriting masterpiece. Yes, truly. The characters are not only well written—they are delightful to watch. You will like every single character. Yes, every one of them. There isn’t a single unlikable character. You’ll even remember all their names (which I rarely do in other dramas) because they’re so impactful. The conversations are written with such mastery that I don’t have enough words to praise them. Many viewers don’t realize the beauty of great screenwriting because most dramas never showcase its true power. Usually, we think the plot is everything and the script is just there to move it along. This drama proves otherwise. You need to watch it to understand what real screenwriting looks like—and how it can elevate a drama from good to truly great.
Music:
A solid 10/10. This is not an exaggeration—it’s exactly how I feel. The OST, the background music, and the way the music is used in different moments are simply wonderful.
Enjoyment:
The drama keeps getting better and better. The first few episodes are introductory, and the characters may seem a bit strange at first. But once you get to know them, you start loving them. And as I said, it only gets better. So, for example, episode 10 is more fun than episode 5, episode 20 is more exciting than episode 10, and episode 30 is more exciting than episode 20. After episode 10, you might think, “It’s already so good—how can it get better?” But trust me, it does. Unlike many dramas that start strong and then fall apart, this one never loses its charm. It just keeps improving. You’ll only understand once you watch it.
Some Weak Points:
Yes, there are some weak points.
>>Simple Plot and Predictability: Yes, the plot is simple and predictable. You can often guess what will happen next. You get exactly what you expect, and the drama doesn’t disappoint in that regard. For some viewers, this might feel like a weakness. But those who truly watch the drama will say the opposite. The greatness of this drama actually lies in its simplicity and predictability. Our daily lives are simple and predictable too—yet when you look closely, life is extraordinary. This drama is the same. It is extraordinary in its simplicity.
>>Not many WOW moments: This drama is very different from typical modern dramas. Nowadays, we watch shows on our phones or computers with a 5‑second or 10‑second forward button. We skip conversations and jump straight to the “WOW” moments. Most of the time, you don’t miss anything important by doing that. For viewers like that (☹, myself included), the drama may feel slow or even boring at first because there are no such moments. But if you watch it properly, you’ll realize the conversations are pure GOLD. Believe me—you will find more enjoyment in these simple, heartfelt conversations than in the flashy moments of other dramas
Rewatch Value:
I wish there were an option to rate the rewatch value higher than 10. This drama deserves 11/10. Many people rewatched episodes 2–3 times even before the drama finished airing. I’m the same. I will definitely rewatch it multiple times—I don’t even know how many.
Recommendation:
I absolutely recommend this drama. Most people will fall in love with it, though some may struggle with the slow pacing or other personal preferences. Even if someone doesn’t enjoy it now, I would still recommend giving it another try in the future—especially during difficult stages of life. This drama is not only enjoyable; it shows the beauty of life and helps you think more positively.
Overall thinking:
As my title says, this is an absolute masterpiece. But the word masterpiece gets thrown around so easily these days that it barely means anything anymore. So what makes this drama truly special? Many people describe it with adjectives like heartwarming, healing, therapeutic, soothing, or praise its acting. All of these words fit perfectly, but if I had to choose one word to define this drama, it would be uniqueness. There are many healing, heartwarming, slow-burn dramas out there, yet this one still manages to stand apart (I’ll explain why later). It shows its sublimity in every department—cinematography, script, location, story, casting, acting, and music. Everything is executed with absolute perfection.
The main story is simple. You can almost predict where it’s going. But here, the destination doesn’t matter at all. What matters is the journey. The drama weaves together the stories of the female lead, the male lead, and 5–6 supporting characters (along with many others) as they try to find themselves. The characters feel incredibly realistic—like actual people you might know. They’re imperfect, they’re confused, and they don’t have all the answers. The drama follows their journey as they discover those answers through life experiences. The biggest strength of this drama is how real the characters feel. They mirror ordinary people like us. Everything is delivered in such a way that you feel like you’re part of the story—something very few dramas can achieve. You learn life lessons alongside the characters. You begin to understand what truly matters in life and what deserves your attention. The drama explores a wide range of relationships: family bonds, friendships, grandparent–grandchild dynamics, parent–child relationships, sibling relationships, neighborhood connections, and more. Unlike many slice‑of‑life dramas that tackle serious issues but fail to entertain (and often end up being labeled boring), this one is completely different. It is incredibly fun to watch. Every minute gives you a warm, happy feeling (except episode 1, which is a bit sad). Simple moments will make you laugh out loud, and simple moments will make you cry—but even in those emotional scenes, you still feel good. That is the true greatness of this drama.
Romance:
Although this is both a life drama and a romance drama, the everyday interactions and life lessons are so captivating that you might forget to even mention the romance. But romance-wise, the drama excels. The relationship between the leads develops naturally and realistically—perhaps one of the most authentic romances you’ll find in any drama. You will enjoy and cherish every moment of it.
Slow Pacing:
I also need to talk about the pacing. Yes, it is a slow-paced drama. But in this case, the slow pace is not a weakness—it becomes one of its biggest strengths. Some viewers may struggle with the pace at first, but if you’re not too impatient, you’ll adjust quickly. In most dramas, slow pacing is a sign of failure. But here, the script, the unique storytelling style, and the cast’s performances turn the slow pace into an art form. The interactions, dialogues, and conversations are crafted so beautifully that they become the heart of the drama. If you’re too impatient and try to fast-forward or skip scenes like you might do in other shows, you’ll miss the true beauty of this one. But if you give it time, you’ll soon get used to the rhythm—and you may end up considering it one of the best dramas you’ve ever watched.
Story:
The plot is simple and easy to follow. You’ve already read the MDL summary, so I won’t repeat it. I would say the plot itself is simple—but the story is not. This is a wide, layered narrative. Many stories are woven together to create a wonderful mixture. There are so many characters in this drama—not just the main leads. There are at least ten other characters (actually more) whose stories are explored in depth. The story is not plot‑driven; it is character‑driven. Unlike other dramas, the interactions and conversations between characters matter the most here. There are countless golden conversations—too many to list without spoiling anything. You need to experience them yourself. The drama flows smoothly from beginning to end in a way that makes it hard to skip scenes. In fact, you may find yourself pausing and rewinding to rewatch certain conversations because they’re so enjoyable. These conversations are the soul of the drama. They may seem like simple everyday exchanges, but they carry different stories, values, emotions, insights, and life lessons. Sometimes they make you cry from sadness, sometimes from happiness.
Characters:
There are a lot of characters and the characters are very well developed. You have the FL, who is a former front office Hotel Manager who came to the village to spend time. Previously, she made a plan with her best friend to come here, but her best friend is dead now. So she came to the village for both of them, to fulfill their promise. ML is a local boy who is highly educated and used to doing a good, well-paid job. He is now back in the village and now wants to improve the village. Then, you have Nana- A waitress working in the local café, Damai- An aspiring young novelist, Mr. Hu- A singer and songwriter, Mr. Ma- The man who keeps himself busy doing meditation, Xiaochun- A local woman who is divorced, has a cute daughter, and manages the different business for ML, Xiaxia- A woodcarver (local craft), Grandma Xie- 80 years old but still strong woman with a lot of wisdom. I can mention a lot more. But it will be a long list. (Special Mention: Aunt Gui, Aunt Feng, Aunt Baoping, and 4 cute little kids). Every character is portrayed by the perfect actor. While watching, you can’t help but admire how flawlessly each cast member embodies their role. Every character is unique, with their own struggles and stories. The drama explores these stories with care and depth. From my description, it might sound heavy—but it’s not. The drama is incredibly lighthearted, and all these characters are genuinely fun to watch.
Acting:
It’s a 10/10 from me. Honestly, anyone giving the acting less than a 10 is being unfair. The female lead, male lead, supporting cast, grannies, aunts, and children—everyone delivers outstanding performances. The acting is some of the most realistic and natural you’ll ever see in a drama.
Screenwriting:
Let me put it simply: this drama is a screenwriting masterpiece. Yes, truly. The characters are not only well written—they are delightful to watch. You will like every single character. Yes, every one of them. There isn’t a single unlikable character. You’ll even remember all their names (which I rarely do in other dramas) because they’re so impactful. The conversations are written with such mastery that I don’t have enough words to praise them. Many viewers don’t realize the beauty of great screenwriting because most dramas never showcase its true power. Usually, we think the plot is everything and the script is just there to move it along. This drama proves otherwise. You need to watch it to understand what real screenwriting looks like—and how it can elevate a drama from good to truly great.
Music:
A solid 10/10. This is not an exaggeration—it’s exactly how I feel. The OST, the background music, and the way the music is used in different moments are simply wonderful.
Enjoyment:
The drama keeps getting better and better. The first few episodes are introductory, and the characters may seem a bit strange at first. But once you get to know them, you start loving them. And as I said, it only gets better. So, for example, episode 10 is more fun than episode 5, episode 20 is more exciting than episode 10, and episode 30 is more exciting than episode 20. After episode 10, you might think, “It’s already so good—how can it get better?” But trust me, it does. Unlike many dramas that start strong and then fall apart, this one never loses its charm. It just keeps improving. You’ll only understand once you watch it.
Some Weak Points:
Yes, there are some weak points.
>>Simple Plot and Predictability: Yes, the plot is simple and predictable. You can often guess what will happen next. You get exactly what you expect, and the drama doesn’t disappoint in that regard. For some viewers, this might feel like a weakness. But those who truly watch the drama will say the opposite. The greatness of this drama actually lies in its simplicity and predictability. Our daily lives are simple and predictable too—yet when you look closely, life is extraordinary. This drama is the same. It is extraordinary in its simplicity.
>>Not many WOW moments: This drama is very different from typical modern dramas. Nowadays, we watch shows on our phones or computers with a 5‑second or 10‑second forward button. We skip conversations and jump straight to the “WOW” moments. Most of the time, you don’t miss anything important by doing that. For viewers like that (☹, myself included), the drama may feel slow or even boring at first because there are no such moments. But if you watch it properly, you’ll realize the conversations are pure GOLD. Believe me—you will find more enjoyment in these simple, heartfelt conversations than in the flashy moments of other dramas
Rewatch Value:
I wish there were an option to rate the rewatch value higher than 10. This drama deserves 11/10. Many people rewatched episodes 2–3 times even before the drama finished airing. I’m the same. I will definitely rewatch it multiple times—I don’t even know how many.
Recommendation:
I absolutely recommend this drama. Most people will fall in love with it, though some may struggle with the slow pacing or other personal preferences. Even if someone doesn’t enjoy it now, I would still recommend giving it another try in the future—especially during difficult stages of life. This drama is not only enjoyable; it shows the beauty of life and helps you think more positively.
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