ZaneAraki

It was hard to make my mind for this drama. First, I fast forward most of the scenes after the 7th episode.

I was reluctant about some of the characters, from Yi Seok to Doo Soo, and Hong Do is no exception. Yi Seok is a psychiatrist, but his work ethics is very unconvincing. In the beginning episodes, he was physically and verbally mean to Hong Doo, and was just a very rude person that I doubt he would be redeemable later. He did get better, but he wasn't enough for me to avoid ffs.

Hong Do and her phobia is interesting, but her arc with Doo Soo isn't. It played like the typical female lead pinning quasi-passive for the second lead. That's not my problem. It was due to my indifference to the actor playing Doo Soo. The reason? Nothing in particular. I just don't feel attracted to his acting, but his interpretation of his character was decent.

Hong Do and Yi Seok's relationship did finally blossom, but the road to that stage was full of shouting and name-calling between them. I'm reminded of the fight I used to engaged with my kindergarten friends :) There was supposed to be chemistry and I could pick bits of it all over the place, but still, the way they banter and debate doesn't glued me the way Hae Soo and Jae Yeol from It's Okay did it. Theirs was zippy, annoying but manage to be interesting and bounciful, with just the perfect balance. Yet, the banters in this drama felt tired, like how I mostly felt it too with kdrama in general. (This one is a minor complaint!)

And then the core conflict left me in awe... except that it's not. One thing I learn from this drama is that some Korean people seem to can't get enough of makjang. If it's not the mother, then it's the father. But here, I wasn't expecting the grandpa to be the makjang plot insinuator. He then transferred the virus to his daughter-in-law, rinse and repeat, until it reach our dear Yi Seok. Arriving at this part of the story made me let out a cheeky victory sigh, because my ffs attempt are finally not in vain, and was something that I had to do with this drama.

With the final rating of 6.5, I think it's the least this drama could do for me thanks to the convincing over-blushing spectacle (the only thing that keeps me aboard) and Hong Do's quirky alter ego.

can i say the same for loving a drama, that it is a trend as well? :B
even masterpieces get their own set of critiques too. not that i enjoy this drama, but i think the negative reviews aren't really picking on without reasons. the trouble is apparent for those who didn't enjoy: how it got repetitive, the bland and slow character arc, the missed opportunity, etc. and maybe because the beginning was awesome, yet the second half left a lot to be desired.

I had a delayed reaction with this one. I didn't realized that the opening sequence proceed to their flashback, so when I arrived on the ending, I didn't really feel it.
But then I realized they're wearing different clothes in those scenes, so I had a little change of heart.
It's a coming-of-age story and boys might relate to it more on a spiritual level.
I love the ending, a mix of wistfulness, nostalgia, and humor. The story isn't that complex, but seeing the progress of each character's journey to their respective craft, and the ups and downs of it is my favorite part of the movie, especially since they never make it 'dramatic' for the character's sequences, instead the casual delivery resonate with me more.
9/10

It was enjoyable until the part where Mi Su did whatever she did. Kind of twisted their entire relationship, which revolves around them being apart due to the timing (like he being subjected to the detention center again, or Mi Su forgetting to write the password) but during that moment where she decided not to look back right when he came back for her, it pissed me off because I don't understand her action. It was a bit random for me. It doesn't make sense because she endured it when she had no idea how he was doing when their contact was often cut off abruptly. And when their relationship arrived at the beginning of their vulnerability, like Mi Su discovering his secret and him being mean, he just went off to clear his head and when he's back, she's already decided to left? (Would have made more sense if this scene happened in the middle and not slapped to my face near the end.)
It felt like she wasn't even being sincere and only wanted the sweet things of their relationship. In the end, rather than meaningful, their relationship felt like a caricature. I don't care when she repeated what he did, all sweaty coming back for him. It doesn't feel the same anymore.
7.5/10

Modern Farmer.

At first glance, the show felt like the typical drama where the female lead is being ostracized by her society for coming out of an 'unfortunate' background. But it was so much more than that. Dong Baek is just part of the equation that makes the drama able to send its beautiful message.
In the end, it's about sprouting together, so that each of us can bloom.
The best thing about this show is the dynamic characterization of each characters, be it main or supporting roles. What I find jarring is sometimes the reaction of the people toward a certain situation, which I found a bit off, but I could forgive that if not for the way everything is tied together... with all the characters that truly felt full despite their action/personality that you might find annoying at times.
Even though I didn't rated it higher, I do felt this was a unique drama with unique characters, and deserved a place of its own for being able to tell a love story in different forms without sacrificing the cohesiveness. It's not just Dong Baek who has been comforted with warmth from the people around her. As a viewer, I'm grateful for being able to witness that warmth along with the characters.
8.5/10

Baek Kyung surprised me the most because usually my hate would be consistent for characters like him.
But with just that closure scene with Dan Oh on 31-32 I truly felt for him when Dan Oh says the wisdom words. I hate him on most of the episodes but that expression he made melts all my hatred. The actor must be really good.
Imagine if the writers put more care into the character development for all the characters. It would have saved for the rushed and draggy parts of the story.

I also agree with you.

I'm glad that this show is finally over. For me it's one of those shows I couldn't drop because I wanted to see their closure, while the middle part to the end was repetitive and it's a chore for me to watch.
The first 6 episodes were my fave. After that, I couldn't feel as invested as before when Dan Oh's sickness and her love triangle with the boys took the center stage. Some parts are cool, like Joo Da's self-awareness or her being decisive.
I thought the drama would have felt better for me if there's no melo, and more like the sidekicks adventures to defeat/rebel against the writer.
When Baek Kyung becomes 'good', I felt his chemistry with her Dan Oh (an immense amount of it!) but almost none for her with Haru.
Also at the end, where's Joo Da and Do Hwa? :c
5.5/10.

I don't think you won't miss much though. the only thing that keeps me going is because i just want to know the ending. otherwise, i would have drop this after the bitter love triangle. i feel stuck when watching this and i don't like this feeling.

I want to say it's badly written, butI have only watched 6 eps so who knows it would get better, though I decided to drop this anyway.
My main frustration with show is Yoo Ryung's lone wolf's work ethic. I hate it when the leads aren't being transparent, since the subject himself is a serial killer, the crimes are not a joke but Yoo Ryung act like the burden is all on her. Changing partners is basically playing the 'I care about you so I need to get out of your life to protect you' trope, and it's just amusingly ridiculous to see it played in a police setting like this.
Whenever the 4 leads are on-screen together, I keep seeing the word 'love triangle/quadrangle' written in each of their face. When they interact with each other, it made me cringe even harder. A shame that their established connection with each other is mostly about the awkward love/attraction/longing and jealousy stare at your ex/crush whenever they're on-screen together.

Woah, this is like Yoon Yeo Jung's revenge on Joo Hyun, if you guys watch Dear My Friends, YYJ was the one pinning after JH but here seems like the reversal x)

don't trust the rating, because this show shouldn't have been defined by one. it took a whole different meaning of being random, absurd, funny, zany, and full of heart at the same time.

I'm in love with your third paragraph from the bottom, it's so beautiful and did justice to show's brilliant, and what made me love it too on the first place.
But, I also want to ask for those finally trying this show to be patient. As atslipinbag said, it's like a good wine that gets better with each episode.

Judging from your comment, I'm somehow relieved that I decided to drop this. I don't want to watch a show that moves nowhere?
Will this become the first drama that lets the character stuck for the whole episode?
Or will they throw the secret card only near the last two episodes, or suddenly add more episodes, which is unlikely?
I'm both intrigued and a bit upset that show had to go that far to portray the story and character as realistic as possible.

Poor Baek Kyung! Although he's been getting on my nerves for the past two episodes, I also feel that he's somehow going through depression? I don't think the show will address that, because so far, the drama isn't focusing on their mental problems. Just like Ju Da who felt suffocated with her setting, and the possibility of her being aware only worsen it, because she didn't have someone like Haru who could change the scene with her. Yes, Do Hwa can give her the emotional support, like hugging her as she vent about her situation, but it's still on a different degree than Haru who could actually do something about it.
I feel bad for all of them! I mean, Dan Oh isn't getting any better too. At least Haru is with her with his previous memories intact, but then Squid Fairy once said, Baek Kyung's the most dangerous among them. I think they might go down with Baek Kyung being the ultimate villain, but I hope it wouldn't go that route, though... it felt nice if Baek Kyung actually had his redemptive arc, or if the writer at least try to humanize him, that there are no villain in the story at all, only people with their own complicated upbringing and personality.

wow this is so on-point. exactly how i feel after watching the third ep. for the first two, i could tolerate Yoo Ryung's recklessness. But it's harder when I'm also seeing how it would affect Ji Suk, and probably the rest of the team. i like them individually, unlike your problem of relating to them, but i feel uncomfortable when i had to see her being ignorant or not considering the degree of the rash decision she made for the officers and people in general.

This show is like Chicago Typewriter to me. The first couple eps are like warm-ups, the character development is either nonsensical or subtle. If you like it after that, you will like it a looot. It took me 9 ep to be hooked to Chicago, and I think it's similar with this one.
At first, I loathe Dong Baek and Yong Shik, and the ahjummas. EP 5-6 is my warm up to Dong Baek, because they gave interesting reveal of her relationship with the murderer. Every time I want to drop this drama, the writer gives more and more of growth in the romance, family, and friendship aspect, plus the murder plot, even though so far we're still speculating the suspect.
And before I know it, the characters and the plot really grows me and I look forward to the next one with joy.

Damn, so my intuition wasn't wrong. Do Hoon's stare at Geun Young looked like a longing/intrigued kind, so I'm not really surprised, but rather this is sort of annoying because I want more of the scooby doo partnership feels rather than the incoming angsty 'i love you so you gotta love me back' vibe.
I think they will use the second leads to catalyst the main leads realization of their feelings for each other, because it seems like both are pretty clueless and denying the idea. x0

Preach!
She's very wholesome in Romance Is A Bonus Book, here's to hoping she would get a lead role after this drama.
Well, or drama can start making the leads the only romantic relationship, while the second leads are pure good friends with each other and with the main leads.

Ugh, I feel so bad for her thanks to your last point. Scared by everything, huh?
The combination of things that leads to her skepticism, you explain it well.
Thank you.