This review may contain spoilers
Do you believe in magic? Do you believe in yourself?
Do you believe in magic?
Did no one else watch the scene after the credits? Because that is what ultimately made this a 10 for me instead of a 9.5. They revealed that the entire thing was a musical on a stage. It was all a performance, played for an audience, us, and what we watched was the story through the eyes of the audience itself. In a theater, people are far more willing to suspend reality and let their imagination fill in the gaps between sets, props, and limitations. Seen that way, everything suddenly made sense. What we watched felt real.
Seeing everyone bow at the end, the audience clapping, every performer smiling, it was beautiful. Not just a perfect ending for the drama, but for the whole project itself. And it finally answered the big question:
Do you believe in magic?
After watching this, I do. At least a little more. :)
At first, I was not convinced and even considered dropping the drama. That would have been a huge mistake. This was such a refreshing watch. I was intimidated because musicals usually only work for me if I speak the language, but they performed everything so well that the emotions carried through the acting, movement, and staging alone. Nothing was lost.
I loved how we first saw Ri-eul as someone cool and mysterious, almost bigger than magic itself, only for the story to slowly teach us that magic is only real if we believe in it. His parallels with Na Il-deung were surprisingly strong, and sadly very realistic. Far too many Korean teenagers are victims of the education system. Thankfully, Il-deung chose his health and dreams after learning what happened to Ri-eul. In a way, Ri-eul saved him too. :D
Ri-eul’s relationship with Ai was especially compelling. He helped her stay afloat through hope, only for her to realize in the end that she had to believe in herself all along. That is what this drama is really asking us:
Do you believe in yourself?
The characters themselves are intentionally clichéd, which makes sense, especially after the end-credit reveal. While they did not reinvent character archetypes, they absolutely reinvented the story.
Ai, the classic smart and poor girl, does not become a high-powered lawyer or professor. She becomes a magician. Someone who helps others smile, one person at a time. She helps people believe in magic, and in themselves, even if just for one night. She was a wonderful character, and Choi Sung-eun played her beautifully.
Ri-eul’s backstory was tragic, but expected. No adult clings to magic this desperately without a reason. His character was built with care, and I even briefly believed he might have committed the crimes. D: Instead, I chose to believe in him. Seeing him disappear without resurfacing was bittersweet, but I like to think he is still out there, teaching people to believe in magic, one person at a time. :) Ji Chang-wook played him masterfully.
Il-deung’s character, the smart, rich kid crushed under impossible expectations is familiar, but the asphalt versus dirt road and flowers metaphor made it resonate deeply. Watching him choose his mental health over his parents’ dreams was genuinely satisfying. Hwang In-youp was charming enough to make Il-deung likable even at his worst, which was absolutely the right casting choice.
In the end, being a musical worked entirely in this drama’s favor. The acting was strong, the symbolism rich, the metaphors layered, and the pacing excellent. I am genuinely glad they did not stretch this into a 16-episode drama. It was perfect exactly as it was.
Annarasumanara
Did no one else watch the scene after the credits? Because that is what ultimately made this a 10 for me instead of a 9.5. They revealed that the entire thing was a musical on a stage. It was all a performance, played for an audience, us, and what we watched was the story through the eyes of the audience itself. In a theater, people are far more willing to suspend reality and let their imagination fill in the gaps between sets, props, and limitations. Seen that way, everything suddenly made sense. What we watched felt real.
Seeing everyone bow at the end, the audience clapping, every performer smiling, it was beautiful. Not just a perfect ending for the drama, but for the whole project itself. And it finally answered the big question:
Do you believe in magic?
After watching this, I do. At least a little more. :)
At first, I was not convinced and even considered dropping the drama. That would have been a huge mistake. This was such a refreshing watch. I was intimidated because musicals usually only work for me if I speak the language, but they performed everything so well that the emotions carried through the acting, movement, and staging alone. Nothing was lost.
I loved how we first saw Ri-eul as someone cool and mysterious, almost bigger than magic itself, only for the story to slowly teach us that magic is only real if we believe in it. His parallels with Na Il-deung were surprisingly strong, and sadly very realistic. Far too many Korean teenagers are victims of the education system. Thankfully, Il-deung chose his health and dreams after learning what happened to Ri-eul. In a way, Ri-eul saved him too. :D
Ri-eul’s relationship with Ai was especially compelling. He helped her stay afloat through hope, only for her to realize in the end that she had to believe in herself all along. That is what this drama is really asking us:
Do you believe in yourself?
The characters themselves are intentionally clichéd, which makes sense, especially after the end-credit reveal. While they did not reinvent character archetypes, they absolutely reinvented the story.
Ai, the classic smart and poor girl, does not become a high-powered lawyer or professor. She becomes a magician. Someone who helps others smile, one person at a time. She helps people believe in magic, and in themselves, even if just for one night. She was a wonderful character, and Choi Sung-eun played her beautifully.
Ri-eul’s backstory was tragic, but expected. No adult clings to magic this desperately without a reason. His character was built with care, and I even briefly believed he might have committed the crimes. D: Instead, I chose to believe in him. Seeing him disappear without resurfacing was bittersweet, but I like to think he is still out there, teaching people to believe in magic, one person at a time. :) Ji Chang-wook played him masterfully.
Il-deung’s character, the smart, rich kid crushed under impossible expectations is familiar, but the asphalt versus dirt road and flowers metaphor made it resonate deeply. Watching him choose his mental health over his parents’ dreams was genuinely satisfying. Hwang In-youp was charming enough to make Il-deung likable even at his worst, which was absolutely the right casting choice.
In the end, being a musical worked entirely in this drama’s favor. The acting was strong, the symbolism rich, the metaphors layered, and the pacing excellent. I am genuinely glad they did not stretch this into a 16-episode drama. It was perfect exactly as it was.
Annarasumanara
Was this review helpful to you?
