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Started it for Jisoo, Stayed for Amber
Amber was the only rational person in this drama, she was understanding, pure, nonjudgmental and she went after what she wanted but she didn't take hwan's bs and called him out for it, honestly I wonder how she was written by that same writer xDeveryone else just loves to inflict pain and suffering onto themselves and call it "love".
yeji loved to play the victim card "why are you back to ruin my peace", "I'm the most miserable woman on earth"
hwan was crazy enough to say "I want to ruin my life" for someone who keeps refusing him, "I want to suffer", the dude had alot of problems ;/
jin was all sad and wallowing in self pity and he diverted all his angst onto controlling others
the mom is honestly so distant she doesn't deserve to be a mom
and the dad looks nice but again yet he only used hwan as his caregiver then yeji as the substitute
yeji's mom is living through the pain that was "unshcokingly" done becasue of yeji
yeji's aunt is crazy and overdramatic
and they had the audacity of wasting time on the side side characters and their messed up romance
so basically Amber is the only normal person, she's sweet, fun loving and she's adorable and naturally cute and happy, the only time hwan genuinely smiled was when he was around her.
in the end they just added more ridiculous plot line after the other and they literally ended it with "I shouldn't have done that" ;/
yeji was wrong for accepting the marriage but she was even more wrong for fueling hwan's feelings and then she had the audacity to act as if hwan only "noticed" her good deeds while she was the one leading him on ;/
and with everything, in the last ep they were crying over how they can't be together, just to let them reunite and then go back to "we can't be together" and cry some more. it should've ended by ep31 but it should've just stayed as a noona romance with small doses of brotherly rivalry like a normal kdrama xD
this is what happens when they hire a horrible writer with zero planning skills...
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STORY: There's no point denying it, I'm more of a romantic comedy kind of girl. Mainly because melodramas are often black and white and revolve about people crying about everything and anything instead of actually doing something about it and the end isn't always worth all this pain. That's why I think Secret Love is so perfect: you can either see it as a sad -okay tragic- romantic comedy or a hilarious melodrama. You just get the best of both genres. The writing plays obviously a big role in it. The characters are layered and feel authentic so you can't help but being drawn to them, drawn to the story itself.
Bonus point, it definitely makes you want to read Wuthering Heights and anyone that promotes -good- literature has my approval.
ACTING/CAST: The cornerstone of a drama is its two main leads. They need to be good actors since they carry the show and to have chemistry together. The one behind Secret Love's casting couldn't have done a better job. I don't see anyobdy who could have played MinHyuk better than JiSung did, showing both his tenderly sulky side and his ruthless side. It's his acting that makes MH's character so lovable. HwangJungEum -oh HJE- it's the first drama I see her in and I hope it's not the last. I don't know how to put it into words, her character would usually be one that annoys me to no end but from the start I just really cared about her. When she cried -and man does she cry- it doesn't annoy you, it just breaks your heart and when she smiles, it's just like "yes, yes do get some happiness for once girl, you deserve it!". Don't even get me started on the chemistry between these two. Just their first scene together screamed OTP. Let's not forget BaeSuBin who did an amazing job as AhnDoHoon. He is just as perfect at playing nice guys as he is at playing scheming ones. I love the actor but man did I want to punch ADH in the face more than just once. I think I could rant on every single actor that starred in this drama so I'm gonna stop with the main three. I'm just going to add that with IHYV and now Secret Love LeeDaHee keeps growing more and more on me and I hope to see her play in more dramas.
MUSIC: The soundtrack of the drama may be its weakest point. Don't get me wrong I love it but the track Secret Love (why autotune WHY) doesn't really match the mood and the lyrics of Ailee's song (well the English verse really) sounds a bit cheap. I have both these songs and the rest of the soundtrack on my phone but yeah you have to call a spade a spade. Also since JiSung sang for the soundtrack -which I defintely won't complain about- I would have liked to also have a track sang by HJE -I mean she was a SINGER before turning actress- or even better both of them doing a duet. Oh well maybe I'm just being too greedy.
REWATCH VALUE: Like I said earlier the characters are layered and the writing isn't just one hot mess. The acting is great and the soundtrack just fits. Also I utterly loved the ending. So yeah I could definitely watch it over and over.
OVERALL: A well-written story, so well-written that I'm actually keeping an eye on ChoiHoChul (I mean if his first screenplay was THAT good, can you imagine the ones that will follow!?). It doesn't matter if you are more drawn to melodramas or romantic comedies. The bottom line is there's a high chance for you to love it.
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A drama that exceeds your expectation
I started to watch this drama with no expectation, but in the end I got so invested in it. I've never been so invested in a drama like this for a long time.This is the only drama I looked forward each week. I love the pace, all characters, and the story. Each character shows their growth in this drama as the story goes. And though the premise might seem simple, there's always a beautiful message that is delivered in this drama.
This drama has a very positive and heartwarming atmosphere. The main character Asuka, is my favorite. She is a very supportive character. She is the one that continuously driving 8LOOM to be better and better, to be aware of their positive sides. I dare to say: no Asuka, no 8LOOM. But it's also 8LOOM that helps Asuka to grow into a better self. I think this kind of connection is the charm of this drama.
I love how each 8LOOM's song is really connected to the storyline. I will gladly give 11 out of 10 for the music if I can. Not to mention they have amazing dance choreography too!
Please pay attention to the opening of each episode too, since it somehow gives a hint about what story will be told in that episode. The last episode has no opening, but you will understand why if you watch it until the end.
There's always a room to improve for the acting for some actors. But for me, each actor delivers the story so well. And that's the most important thing.
The chemistry between the casts is undeniably so good. Asuka and Dan always look so good together on screen. 8LOOM members are getting along so well, seems like they found another family in this drama. And you can also feel how Asuka really cares about them. I think the production team casted the perfect actor for each role.
My only concern is there's not much romantic interaction between the main couple, Asuka and Dan, despite it has romcom genre. That's why I reduce 0.5 point from the full score 10 for the story. I love the ending though, it's so typical Asuka and Dan ^_^
And since I rewatch each episode at least twice, of course I give full score for rewatch value.
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“A Soft and Healing Story That Shines in Silence”
In Your Radiant Season feels less like a typical drama and more like a quiet moment you sit with. It doesn’t try to grab attention with heavy twists or dramatic conflicts—instead, it gently tells a story about healing, loneliness, and the slow process of finding comfort in someone else’s presence.What really stands out is how natural everything feels. The story moves at its own pace, focusing on small details and everyday interactions rather than big events. The relationship between the leads develops softly, without forced drama, which makes it feel more real and relatable. Their chemistry isn’t intense or overwhelming, but calm and steady, fitting perfectly with the tone of the drama.
Visually, the drama is beautiful in a very subtle way. The warm lighting, quiet settings, and soft color palette create a peaceful atmosphere that matches the emotional depth of the story. It almost feels like every scene is meant to make you pause and reflect. The OST adds to this feeling, with gentle tracks that blend smoothly into the background and enhance the mood without taking over.
However, the slow pacing can be a hit or miss. There are moments, especially in the middle, where the story feels like it’s not moving much. If you prefer fast-paced dramas or strong plot twists, this might feel a bit dragging. The storyline itself is also quite predictable, and some of the supporting characters don’t leave a strong impression.
Still, what makes Your Radiant Season worth watching is its sincerity. It doesn’t try too hard—it simply tells a heartfelt story in a calm and honest way. It’s the kind of drama you watch when you want something comforting rather than exciting.
Overall, it’s a soft and emotional drama that stays with you quietly rather than leaving a strong impact.
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Hands down, THE BEST.
Unmet – perhaps the best drama I’ve watched – is a poetic, moving piece based on a character’s journey to self-discovery. It is heart wrenching yet beautifully written. It reminds us of the essence and priceless value of life, evoking emotions that could resonate for most of us. It shows that not everything can be explained in scientific terms, as such that there are some things that the heart remembers when the brain does not.Every episode is a work of art, crafted carefully for the viewers to relish every minute of it. The entire staff, including the actors, spent an incredible amount of time to make this drama authentic by brainstorming ideas together and adding ad libs whenever necessary. The lighting, sound, and camera work has been set up meticulously to convey the tone for each scene.
This drama explores the human intricacies and the compassion that goes with it. Some incidents are not necessarily sad and yet you find yourself crying by the end of it. You cry because of the moments, the heartwarming relationships, the storytelling, and ultimately, the dialogues that are so moving. The featured stories for each patient will struck a chord in your heart. The comradery of the people in the hospital has been amazing to watch; everyone cares for each other like family.
Miyabi was introduced as an amnesiac character who does not remember the past 2 years of her life and would now only retain her memories for a day. She does not remember her past, so does the viewers. And as the story progresses, the audience (along with the heroine) would also get hints of her past. Some characters may seem to be the villain in the beginning, but in reality, they are not. Every episode is like opening a pandora box, giving a revelation which made it interesting and thrilling throughout.
The casting is immaculate. The actors who played their respective roles have been brilliant with expressing their intended message beyond just words. In one interview, Sugisaki Hana mentioned that one of the best things about their drama is that: it trusts their audience. Sugisaki Hana’s portrayal as Miyabi has been nothing short of perfection. Same thing for Wakabi Ryuya’s portrayal as Sanpei. Their acting is top-notch and you can feel every bit of emotions of their characters without them even saying a single word. There are moments where the camera would zoom into their face without any dialogues, and you will just find yourself shedding a tear. Their persuasive and heartfelt performances conveyed the feeling of loss, exhaustion, the longing, the ‘what could have been’. You cry because you feel the the utter depth of sentiment from the lost memories. Sanpei and Miyabi’s love for each other is subtle and yet the chemistry between the two is undeniably strong.
I could go on and on, but nothing could encapsulate my love for this drama in a nutshell. One has to watch every bit of it to get the compelling viewing experience.
Overall, 10/10. One of the best dramas – if not the best – I’ve watched.
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Too short to be great, competent enough to be good
If I had to describe The Fragrance Of The First Flower in one sentence I would call it a great show trapped in a good show.Words cannot describe how excited I was when I discovered this drama, I think that usually, Taiwan tackles LGBT+ subjects in its media in a very tasteful and impactful manner and on every level, from looks to premise, The Fragrance Of The First Flower looked like it was going to fill the GL-shaped void in my life. Needless to say, that I was gutted when I discovered that each of the only 6 episodes was going to be barely 18 minutes long. Still, I decided to give this drama a fair chance, even though I had the sneaking suspicion that that short runtime wouldn’t be enough to tell this story. And I’m afraid I was correct.
The Fragrance Of The First Flower is a beautiful portrayal of right person- wrong time. The show’s strength without a doubt lies in its gorgeous cinematography and especially in the colour grading. Every shot had purpose while still being aesthetically pleasing and I really feel like the colours dictated the mood and feel of each scene. Some people have pointed out that the actresses look way too old to play their teenage selves and I will have to agree but I still appreciated bot of the leads’ acting. I’ve also seen people complain about the lack of chemistry between them, but that is a sentiment I cannot agree with. I was fully immersed in the relationship between the two characters. There was a lot of subtlety in their performances which I feel like can be traced back to the subtlety of the script and plot. It was very fitting, in my opinion, that the thing that killed the relationship of the two protagonists in high school before it even began, the thing that triggered Yi Mins internalized homophobia, was the painful reminder of the inherent sexualization that comes with being a young woman. The scene in which the two leads almost kiss for the first time until they are interrupted by a pervert was the one that left the biggest impression on me in the whole show. I think it was a brilliant and subtle way of addressing how lesbians are viewed under the male gaze and how their sexualization makes it harder for young queer women to find themselves.
I also think the scene in which Yi Min finally confesses to her husband that she has fallen for someone else is a really strong one. She is desperately looking for another reason to break up with him because on a surface level, she should be happy. Her husband is not a bad man and she has everything she wanted in her teenage years, the house, family, and the role of a wife. Yi Min is looking for something wrong in their relationship so she doesn’t have to address what is really keeping her from being content.
Still, as I mentioned before, The Fragrance Of The First Flower ended up not fully living up to its potential and I really do feel like its main fault lies in the infuriatingly short runtime. In no way is this drama flawless but in my honest opinion most of its problems could have been addressed, if the show just had a few more episodes, or at least longer ones. Everything felt just slightly underdeveloped and it’s such a shame because all the ingredients to make this really special were there. But you just really need that time to develop a believable relationship between two people and unfortunately, time is the one thing this drama didn’t have and that might be the reason the ending fell completely flat for me.
Admittedly, I am a little salty. The BL fandom practically gets content shoved down their throat (eventhough most of said content to be fair, is not great) while I have to look for ages to find half-decent WLW representation. I just kinda had held on to the hope that this drama would be the one to kick off the success of the GL genre, and I doubt it will. But then again, I fully realize that what I am asking for is the same fetishization that gay men have to deal with, so maybe I should just be happy with what I get.
In the end, I feel like The Fragrance Of The First Flower did its best with what little it had. I have certainly seen way worse and at least I can confidently say that this was an earnest attempt at believable, well-meant representation. I have no problem recommending this show to other people who are also starved for WLW-content. The short runtime might have been what killed this drama but at least this way it doesn’t feel like a big commitment.
I will do my best to be optimistic about the future of GL and I’m sure that dramas like this one pave the way to better WLW representation.
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I'm relatively new to K- and T-Dramas, but I've been watching Telenovelas all my life, so at times I feel jaded of the topics and cliches that are shown. This drama did not make think about anything else but what I was watching. I was so into it, I was not thinking things like: When is this arc going to be over? Why are they dragging this so much?. It seems they had a firm hold on what they wanted to express from beginning to end.
This drama varies from many, as the Heroine of the story seems to be more "alpha" in personality than the male. The growth shown by her character and the way this actress portrayed it, was outstanding. I was at first hesitant about the acting by VanNess Wu, he seemed overpowered physically and performance wise by the main actress, but in a way this suited the characters so well, that it made it even more believable.
I liked that you get your "grew up in an orphanage" heroine, who instead of growing up to become the maid of a big hotel and a giving soul; becomes a strong, self centered, materialistic person who works hard for what she wants. Even if these things are brand named clothes and diamonds. Unlike most dramas this heroine is not the one spreading love and rainbows of happiness wherever she goes. She has a lot to learn about love and life, but has had no one to teach her. Nor has she been willing to learn.
In juxtaposition, our Hero is the one who is gentle and idealistic.
I liked the side characters and that the second female was not some mean girl who was going to take the man she wanted regardless of his feelings. The greatest hurdles that our characters went through were self created. Wounds that had to be healed. The main villain in our heroine's life was herself. I LOVED the characters of Peter and later on Moses.
The Parisian backdrop, the clothes and jewelry shown were amazing. It really did help to take me in and suck me into the world presented even more. The music was so beautiful and right when presented. It did not overpower and only aided to express what was going on in the scenes. This drama makes you fall for the sounds of the violin and makes you want to listen to what else is out there with this instrument. I even liked the opening score.
In short I really, thoroughly enjoyed this drama. Was it perfect? I don't know. I was too tunneled visioned while I was watching. I was buying EVERYTHING they were showing in an AS IS manner. To me, that is the best compliment I can give any sort of movie, book or drama. If the point of watching is to let go of your own reality for a few moments, this drama did it for me in a way I was more than willing to just go along. This drama really feels like a brand name, luxury item. I highly recommend it.
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heartwarming and heartrending
Overall: this is a prequel to Unintentional Love Story (ULS) with a focus on the side couple from ULS. Originally released as a movie and then broken into 6 episodes about 18 minutes each on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/the-time-of-fever-episode-1-18mbzov4oiw?lang=en_usContent Warnings: past death, child abuse/beaten up, homophobia, punch
What I Liked
- acting/chemistry/tension
- sweet and caring moments
- cameo from Unintentional Love Story actor Gong Chan
Room For Improvement
- because it's a prequel the ending is open, I still would love to see what happened to the couple after ULS but we'll likely never get that (this is a rare time I would have been okay with a time gap in order to get closure on their story)
- too much blur filter
- I don't totally understand the actions of 1 character at the end because he must have realized what the drawings meant, maybe internalized homophobia played a part in not communicating/telling the truth
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In terms of historical accuracy, Gohatto is right on the money for everything except the subject it's primarily dealing with.
In a way, it's modern-minded characters in a historical setting.
I won't give an entire Japanese history lesson here, but homosexuality was not fraught over as it is in the movie. For example, there is a lot of concern in the movie over who "swings that way" and who doesn't. In reality, shudo was considered a higher form of bonding and there was extremely little concern over who participated in such acts and who didn't. It's also important to note that sexuality was much less... fixed. It was not seen as such a solid concept as it is today.
Again, this could arguably be the intention of the director, handling a modern issue on a different platform.
Historical accuracy has never been huge for me, though. I do feel it's important to understand if something is or isn't.
A lot of this movie is left open to interpretation. If this is a big pet peeve of yours, I don't recommend this movie.
While artistically I understand why so many questions were left hanging in the air, a big part of me still wouldn't mind some filling in of the blanks.
Something I didn't hugely care for was that large chunks of time were "skipped over", explanations of what has occurred given textually. I just felt it didn't work for this film.
I do want to give due credit to the costume and set designs which were excellent. The swordsmanship was also well choreographed.
The music, on the other hand, just wasn't noteworthy.
The acting just didn't stand out to me. I felt the actors did their job and they did it well, but it wasn't anything more than that. It's difficult to tell if that is a reflection of their skills or a director's decision; I'm leaning towards the latter.
As a last little peeve, most of the actors keep a relatively flat affect the entire movie, especially Kano. While this can be chalked up to how samurai actually behaved at the time, my problem with it in this instance is that because so much of the plot is left up to how you interpret it, I was hoping for emotional cues to lead me in the right direction. So yes, I think the director made the right choice, but the selfish part of me wants to know what the characters actually felt.
I personally felt this movie was more about the corruption that goes with desire rather than homosexuality. Nonetheless, the director does a good job of presenting the issue in an interesting and relatively unique way.
Overall, it wasn't my favorite, but I do think Gohatto is worth watching.
Note: There's truly no sexually explicit scenes in this movie. There's only one that's even questionable. I do advise anyone who is squeamish of gore to proceed with caution, though.
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1A masterpiece, not just among BL dramas."
I don't watch many BL dramas and have little experience with them, so I compare this one with other favorite Asian dramas : it's an excellent show and shouldn't be confined to the BL category. The acting is top, especially from the actor Up, who, for me, is a revelation in Asian cinema. The plot is also not overused—where else have you seen a main character, a Top one, who is in love with another for half the series (even in hetero dramas, the male lead rarely loves someone else)? There were some plot holes, and the acting of support characters was so-so, but the main couple and the love line between them is incredible, awesome and very captivating. The intimate scenes were top. Before this, I had watched more modest dramas, but I really liked everything here.As for the plot: Ming is an abuser and far from a positive character, but I was rooting for him from start to finish. The actor outperformed his partner, or perhaps Poom's character was just more modest and had a less complex role.
Thank you production for this great and incredible show.
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The kind of show that says too much without truly saying.
The most underrated show in 2021! This is the kind of show that will definitely stick around in your head for quite sometime.It might not be for everybody, but those who can enjoy melodramatic shows as much as I do, will understand what I mean.
Realistic, full of emotions, deeply written with some class acting.
It just leaves you thinking about the numbness we feel while we are living in autopilot mode and how a sense of belonging can brings life back even if it’s in the prohibited desires.
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Indeed a JOY OF LIFE All the Way Through~
Joy of Life is simply magnificent and truly a masterpiece. The writing is very clever, compelling, unpredictable and the political schemes and mind games are absolutely, absolutely fantastic. I think no one can write complicated and ruthless fight for the throne storylines like the Chinese. Everyone is treated like a piece of chess and being used completely -- like is it possible that you can have a free will when you behave exactly like what your enemies want you to? And I think no one could really understand the brilliance writing of Joy of Life as well if they are not familiar with historical costume dramas. Usually, dramas like these are expected to be cleverly written with compelling plots and brilliant characters but few dramas are like Joy of Life where the character totally behave or do what you as viewers wants them to do -- no stupid decisions, no yielding to the bad guys, no overly righteous person that drive you mad and no compromising to things that are wrong just because you are family or someone important.Fan Xian is literally one of the most layered, rich and brilliant character I have encounter in dramas. I think I can write thesis on why he is so awesome as a character – he is like an onion, everytime you peel a new layer, you will find the other side of him, just when you think you know him, he will surprise you again and again with his decisions and actions. I like how he always done things the opposite of normal dramas' characters especially when he was caught in difficult situations. He will never yield to the bad guys no matter how pressured he is. You usually will predict what character will do when they are caught in a dead end but Fan Xian retaliate in ways that will surprise you. Just when you thought he made a mistake, there is wisdom in his actions to fool his enemies. And most of all, how reluctant he is in joining this ruthless fight to the throne game when all he wants is living a quiet and happy life with his family. He is extremely brilliant, genuine, unpredictable, playful, loyal, warm-hearted, righteous, full of love but at the same time merciless and crafted -- all of this combine and blends wonderfully that made him such enthralling and captivating as a character. I have seen many dramas but few characters can really stand out like Fan Xian. The depth of his character is almost spellbinding. I'm completely in awe.
The greatest thing about this drama is the storyline. How it started slowly by introducing each character to us so we understand their state of minds and intentions. Then it started getting heavy and this is where the political mind games and schemes comes into the picture. You will have gazillion questions when this drama started since everything is disjointed and didn't really make sense but all your questions will be answered one by one from the biggest to the smallest and everything comes together like a perfect puzzle as the drama progressed. Why Fan Xian was left at Danzhao despite his father is known to be a warm person? Why he is so important and loved by everyone around him? And the reason behind his mother's death lurking with the darkest and most insidious secrets.
Aside from that, what is so magnificent about this drama aside from the intelligent script is the characters. Almost all characters are fleshed out and have their own identities -- whether you love or hate them. The Emperor for an example will make you tremble and uncomfortable with his words but his wisdom are beyond the horizon. He is probably one of the most cunning and cleverest Emperor portray in dramas but you will like him despite of that. Or Chan Ping Ping? How can we not love his character and feel so attached to him? His cunning schemes, brilliant mind while all this being covered with his gentle and loving demeanor? Or Fan Xian's father? How as he might look like he didn't care but he actually the one that love him the most and will do everything to protect him. Or his teacher Fie Jie, this old man, how can't we not love him and the length he will go for Fan Xian? Even the bad guys, instead of hating them, I was fascinated by them instead -- they are such an enigmatic and interesting bunch of people.
Plus, Joy of Life has a nuanced script and acting just like Nirvana in Fire so upon second viewing, the script basically gonna take your breath away even more since a lot of foreshadowing were done subtlety -- probably one of the smartest and detailed storytelling that I have encounter in dramaland. Since lots of foreshadowing were in the drama, you will have fun guessing who is the real mastermind. Focus on the micro expressions, actions and how all characters behaves, its all clues that lead to how they are as individuals and their motives.
I'm actually confuse why this drama is called Joy of Life and I finally understand especially when it reached the end. Turbulence and chaotic life, despite it might come and caught up with you unexpectedly, is still happy and joyful when you live following your heart and never stray from doing what is right and be with the people that you love. And it is no doubt a 'Joy of Life' as well to the viewers while watching this drama lol. This is one of a few dramas where you will love it completely -- no idiotic plots that makes you scratch your head and the plot twists are especially surprising and unexpected. That’s the art of writing great dramas -- your plot twists are unexpected but made complete all sense at the same time and was foreshadowing since the beginning. 10/10 is the only rating worthy of this great drama. One of the very few dramas that deserve this perfect rating from me.
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The leads were cute as kittens and it really just made me smile for the majority. Though it did make me wish it was a little bit longer but that always happens with web dramas.
The OST has introduced me to ASTRO and I will save this drama for one of those times I need something short, sweet and cute to watch.
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