Reviews

I wantes to love it, but FL had the opposite of character development

I watched this first in 2020 when i was 14 and i just rewatched this today and couldnt help but notice alot of problems i didnt see before. I feel like the FL had the opposite of character development. She starts of as cool brave tomboyish and de-volves into a petty, defensive, mean under the guise of joking person.
Who took the ML for granted.

Quite honestly if it wasnt for the good actoes and Fl ans ml's chemistry this would be terrible terrible.

I think up until like the 10ish mark its amazing, but after that the female lead just becomes devoid of any emotional inteligence and honestly took Joon Hyun for granted. If they were a real life couple that couple they wouldn't last. Solely because of Bok Joo.

I will start from episode 13 because this is when i realy started getting frustrated.

Episode 13, they finnaly get together because bok joo stops pushing him away and soon after it stabilises the fiasco with Si Ho happens and i honestly was very annoyed.

She has such double standards honestly sometimes she gets too mean to Joon Hyun for my taste. She blatantly scolded joon hyun for being jeaalous as she litteraly wore the bow she wore when she was actively pursuing HIS BROTHER. LIKE HELLO.

And then was all surprised when he understansably didnt like that and actively made him feel bad for feeling something most people would feel. Like you can be secure but thats still a bit much especialy because its realy not been that long.

And then god, she has the audacity to bitch about him helping Si Ho and instead of talking to him like an adult she throes a temper tantrum shuts up and refuses to communicate.

And then Joon hyun has to comfort her all over again its always him putting in the work in that relationship....

Little thing but also like ehen theyre protesting and Joon hyun helps her snd her teamates see shes just like nahh just a nosy person. Ig she wasnt ready to reveal they were together yet but why the need to put him down? She cares more about what other people think and never sits down to think about what Joon hyun feels.

And then has the AUDACITY TO IGNORE HIS CALLS LIKE HE DID SOMETHING WRONG?
I dont know why im so ticked off this particular episode its the small things that bother me even how she had no problem at all lying to him that she just 'didnt see his call'
I know its a small lie but still it sets a bad tone overall... and thrn next episode she lies about being sick because of a single pimple right after the talk he had with her to be honest with him and tell him anything.


The way he was clocking her in episode 13
First with "Didnt you hate the childish jealous type?" After she did just and then even "to be perfectly honest you have a past too?"

He took it well and as cute but she instantly gets defensive "Are you mocking me right now?" And "Mine was just a crush its diffrent to yours."

Wow, Yoon hyun thought it was cute but this just isnt healthy.

And this green flag of a man just smiles at it and urges her to tell him anything next time. Like wow. He isnt a green flag hes the whole forest.

I know this is getting long but the "Dont wear things that show your chest" like okay yeah ig its meant in a lighthearted way but imagine if the roles were reversed? Like... it made me a bit uncomfy...

And all of this happened in 2 episodes.

Im sad because you can make a tomboyish fierce fl without making them an asshole ! And they failed with Bok Joo.






She is as dense as a rock through the episodes not the worst thing about her but like girl genuinely wtf

Dense/ more just didnt realy care about others feelings.

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What Really Happened Next Door

The story centers around a story featured on a radio programme called The Ghost Radio. It reminded me that my country also had a similar programme back in the '80s and '90s, but it ended because of a phone call. Basically, the call was about a guy who had seen a ghost. The call ended with his scream. Until now, no one knows what happened to the guy. It still gives me the creeps whenever I think about it.

Anyway, back to the spoiler... I mean, review.

Win and his heavily pregnant wife, Pat, buy a beautiful second-hand house in a quiet housing estate. The house seems almost too cheap, and the seller gives them an unusual warning: don't interfere with the neighbours and don't get involved with what happens next door. Basically, keep to yourself.

Win was sure the warning was meant for their neighbour across the road because the old lady was eccentric.

One day, Win notices a security guard always stopping in front of his house. Whenever he goes out to give the guard some food, the security guard disappears. What is left at the spot is an offering—the kind of food normally left for spirits.

Win is told by the realtor to inquire about it at the management office. He is told that a security guard had passed away, but his spirit still lingers. The offering was left there by the old lady.

Win is angry. Of all the houses, why did she choose his as the offering spot?

That same night, after leaving the management office, he removes every food offering left at the spot, including a boulder.

Yes, big mistake.

That's when the true horror begins.

Apparently, the boulder was an anchor placed by the old lady to keep the spirit living next door to Win's house from wandering. The spirit belonged to a beautiful woman whom his wife had once met.

That's when they find out that the woman had died in her house and wasn't discovered until her body had already decomposed.

Win and Pat couldn't handle the haunting anymore. Multiple shamans came to cleanse their house, and for once, everything seemed to settle down.

Pat gave birth, and their daughter grew up happily. They even threw a welcoming party at their house.

Then everything went berserk again.

Win discovers that the ghost had possessed his friend, and that his friend had removed a talisman from their house.

Win gets into an accident, and while he's at the hospital, Nuad, the previous owner, comes to visit. He tells them that the house once belonged to his sister and brother-in-law. He had been asked to babysit their daughter while they went on a spiritual journey.

Everything seemed fine until the last day of his stay—the day his sister and brother-in-law were supposed to return.

The ghost spared Nuad and his niece on one condition: he had to sell the house.

And that's exactly what Nuad did. He sold it to Win.

Nuad tells them that the only person they can turn to is the old lady.

And off they go.

The old lady tells Win to return to his house. She will open his third eye. They need to find out why the ghost is so obsessed with that particular house.

Once they discover the reason—which I won't spoil—the old lady suggests that they enter the house where the spirit died and cleanse it.

Pat asks another shaman to help them.

The four of them—the old lady, Win, Nuad and Ploy, the shaman—enter the house while Pat and her daughter remain inside their own home, protected by a sacred symbol and chanting scriptures.

When they think they are about to succeed, the old lady suddenly screams:

"Why didn't you tell me the two of you were entangled?"

Cue another flashback.

I won't spoil that one either.

Win becomes possessed by the ghost and runs back to his house, trying to murder Pat and their daughter.

Then, at a moment of clarity, Win pushes Pat and their daughter into a pool below and embraces the ghost.

Yes, if you've watched Dark Water, you might find the ending strangely familiar.

Nuad survives the ordeal and later shares the story on a radio programme, while Ploy promises to help Pat get Win back.

A sequel... maybe?

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A glimpse into the characters' lives

A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream was an absolutely beautiful drama, filled with deep emotion and fully fleshed out characters. This drama is a character-driven narrative that allows the viewer to get snippets of these characters lives without feeling the need to tell a viewer every detail. It is INCREDIBLY well shot with amazing music and acting. While I do think there were times when the show would have greatly benefitted from staying on a given problem, overall this show was excellent.

When A-list celebrity Feng Qinglang needs a quiet place away from the drama of celebrity life, he finds himself in a small, remote village in the mountains. He stays with tea farmer Xu Changyang and begins to learn the ways of life in this village. The longer he remains in the care of Changyang, the more he develops feelings for him, and it seems those feels are mutual. The viewers watch the two lovers deal with the conflicts of relationships while famous, family tragedies, and the costs of pursuing personal dreams.

I thought that the characters were super interesting and very fun to watch. Because this is much more character-driven, I did find there to be some lulls in the show where I was somewhat disinterested with where it was going, but it quickly pick back up and have me interested again. For awhile, I wasn't sure why we were also following two other actors, until we go further along in the story and I started to understand how they paralleled our main characters. I thought that there were many moments where conflicts should have been a much bigger deal than they seemed to be. However, in some ways this made sense for the way the drama was being told: life is full of ups and downs, and time continues forward. This is a beautiful story about love, perseverance and growth, told with beautiful cinematography and directing. Don't go into this expecting to be on the edge of your seat; just sit back, and enjoy the stories of these characters' lives.

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A rabit who've seen most stars and his cotton ball

Let's skip the buildup and get straight to business.l
For a 32-episode modern romance, this drama packs in an impressive amount of story. High-school romance and rejection, relationships falling apart while chasing dreams, the return of first love, a genuinely healthy relationship between the leads, showbiz, e-gaming, space science, career struggles...
And somehow, it doesn't feel like the writers are desperately stuffing things into every available minute. There is barely a second wasted.
**That's genuinely impressive.**

Now, the characters and cast.
My favourite was obviously JJ. Dilraba did a fantastic job with her. What I loved most about JJ was how she handled rejection, circumstances, and every obstacle thrown at her. She didn't let any of it diminish her. Instead, she turned rejection, challenge, and insult into another pearl in her tiara. Absolute Queen behaviour. 👑
One of my favourite moments was watching her completely delete ML from her emotional hard drive after his ridiculous rejection. No endless crying. No begging. No "why don't you love me?" She simply picked up her broken pieces, fixed her crown, and walked away with her head held high. And when she eventually forgave him, She made him earn the apology. Basically, she didn't forgive him until he learned how to cherish her. Honestly, I struggle to find a single flaw in JJ.

Then there's our ML... Actually a pathetic excuse for a ML in the first half. I understand being passionate about your career. I understand sacrifices. I understand demanding work......But your passion is supposed to bring you some kind of joy, even when things aren't going well. Even during failure or financial difficulties, you should still have that little spark when you talk about the thing you love. This man looked emotionally constipated every single time anyone mentioned his dream. And then using his job like a lame excuse to avoid commitment and responsibilities. At one point I genuinely couldn't tell whether he worked for the aerospace department or had been secretly deployed with the US Army in Afghanistan.

Sir.!!!!! You're an aerospace engineer.
Calm down.
I don't think even Shan Zhongde is *that* busy.

I simply did not buy the level of career-induced absence they were trying to sell us. Thankfully, the second half gave him some redemption. Despite his ridiculously busy schedule, he gradually became genuinely considerate, attentive, and much more emotionally mature.

The supporting cast was another pleasant surprise. FL's manager, her assistant, panicky brother, and ML's colleagues at the institute all added something to the story without feeling like pointless furniture.

The styling was pretty standard for a modern showbiz drama. Nothing particularly extravagant, although FL had a few absolutely gorgeous looks.

The music was good too, especially during the e-gaming arc. Those episodes had some particularly enjoyable BGM.

My biggest disappointment was the ending. Or rather, the relationship situation they left hanging at the end. The timing problem between the leads was never properly resolved, even after the drama took two huge time leaps.


Overall, this was an entertaining and surprisingly packed drama with a fantastic FL, a solid supporting cast, and plenty of interesting themes.

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Golden Retriever Energy Meets Police Team Chaos

This was such a good drama. I would absolutely recommend it!
PLOT
I loved the story. There were ridiculous antics and a great team dynamic, but also lots of fight sequences and large-scale action. I thought the friendships and bickering provided much of the show's humour and heart.
CHARACTERS
Dong-ju had peak golden retriever energy. Park Bo-gum's smile is absolutely dazzling. He was also incredibly determined and resilient. His combination of toughness, vulnerability and charisma was appealing.
Han-na was very cool and capable.
Each of the characters had distinct backgrounds and personalities. The group dynamic was strong.
The villains were great. Min Ju-yeong was threatening, smart and powerful. He was fascinating, and his network of corruption gave the police team a meaningful opponent. His villain team of Baek Seok-chun, Oh Jeong-gu, Leo, and Drugmon were compelling as they had competing motivations that slowly unravelled.
ROMANCE
The romance provided welcome softness in an otherwise intense and violent drama. I loved Dong-ju and Han-na together. They really embodied the grumpy x sunshine trope.
MY ONE COMPLAINT
The romance was refreshingly uncomplicated as Dong-ju made his feelings for Han-na incredibly clear. However, I was a bit uncomfortable in the beginning as Han-na explicitly told him that she didn’t return his feelings and wanted him to stop liking her. He persisted, and it worked out well in this story, but I wasn’t a huge fan of him initially refusing to respect her boundaries.

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"If the victim was a young woman, would he be in custody by now?"

Director Im Seon Ae shone a spotlight on a topic rarely spoken about---sexual abuse of elders in An Old Lady. If rape is hard to prosecute with a young healthy woman, it’s even harder to prosecute with an “old lady.” There was nothing gratuitous in the film but Im made her point quite clear nonetheless.

Sim Hyo Jeong is having a follow-up appointment after knee surgery. The casual conversation with the nursing assistant begins to make her uncomfortable and then the unthinkable happens. She later tells her live-in boyfriend, Nam Dong In, that she needs to go to the police. With some difficulty she fills out the paperwork to report a rape. With even more difficulty she endures a police interrogation where an officer quips that the nurse took “hospitality” too far. The investigation drives a wedge between her and Nam. While Sim handles the situation quietly and begins to distance herself from it as the prosecution shows disinterest, Nam ramps up his efforts to have the nurse arrested.

The film was set in 2012, apparently after a new law was enacted. The crux of the issue for the prosecutor was that who would believe a 29-year-old would rape a 69-year-old? Excuse me while I climb up on my soapbox. For all those sitting in the back: Rape is not a crime of desire, it is a crime of power and violence. Rapists don’t care how old or young a woman is, whether a woman is in a coma, or anything else. These are men who prey on the defenseless. They will prey on “friends”, the drunk girl at the party who passed out on the couch, a stranger, a small child, or old women in nursing homes. It doesn’t matter what a woman is wearing, her makeup or her sexual history. These men are predators plain and simple. The law in most countries barely protects obvious victims of violent sexual assault, much less ones with fewer physical wounds. And too often the law worries about “ruining” a man’s life disregarding the permanent wound in the woman’s.

Ye Soo Jung is an excellent veteran actress who brought quiet dignity and even quieter pain to the role of Sim. Ki Ju Bong as Nam, the widower and once poet, turned determined crusader for Sim also gave a powerful performance. If I have any quibbles, the transitions were wobbly at times, not explaining the changes in the characters’ lives clearly enough.

Despite my reservations about the vague transitions and revelations, this was an important film. Too often, the elderly are scuttled to the shadows so that people can forget them and their own mortality. 10% of people older than 69 suffer from some form of abuse-in their own home, a facility, or elsewhere. They may not be able to defend themselves physically, cognitively, or financially. I applaud Im Seon Ae for calling out the gross deficiencies in the social mindset and law enforcement for sexual abuse of older women. Sim found her own path to justice when the law let her down. Not as satisfying, but what she needed for peace of mind.

“The spring sun shines even on a teardrop.”

25 August 2026

Trigger warnings: Obviously, sexual assault. The assault was alluded to, but not shown graphically.

Notes: In my country it is important to go to a hospital immediately after a sexual assault so that a rape kit can be performed and evidence preserved. Even if you don't think you'll press charges, you might change your mind later and at least in this way you are covered. The rape kits are not always processed in a timely manner, and getting a prosecutor to bring charges is still hit or miss, but at least it boosts the chances of a conviction.

Unprofessional conduct note: The nursing assistant used the "she was asking for it" defense. He should have at least been fired for copulating on duty, even if admin didn't believe Sim's accusation. Try explaining that one in his next job interview.

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Lack of atraction

I watched this because they say is a "enemies to lovers" and I have to admit it's good at least to the ep 3, then it falls apart slowly, slowly enough to make me watch the entire thing.
So I will say the few good thing first: is entertaining and the main actors are good. And I really liked the crazy lawyer behavior. That's it.
Now the bad things: bad script, bad production, bad editing and effects, bad fight scenes, flat characters.
An the "romance" does very well the tension betweet the leads, but for two grown ass man I expected at leass good kisses my lord !! When they got together at episode 6, the series was dead to me.

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Beautiful multi-layered love story

Summary
A beautiful story of two very different souls coming together through love and loss. The story was occasionally confusing, and the second couple wasn’t very engaging, but the main couple was riveting. Beautiful locations, music, and spectacular cinematography raise the production value enormously. It had its flaws but still made an indelible mark on me. 9.0
The rest of this review is super long and contains spoilers. It has sub-headings if you only want to read part of it.

Story
The story of the main couple is about a BL actor, Qinglang, who, now in his 30s, has closed himself off from love after being hurt in the past. While he takes time away from the spotlight and spends it in the mountains, he meets Changyang, who breaks down his walls and they fall in love. Changyang is young (20) when they first meet, but he is already determined to win Qinglang’s heart. He devotes himself to caring for Qinglang with such tenderness and attention that Qinglang cannot resist him. Their love is passionate and they become utterly devoted to each other. Unfortunately, Qinglang is a big star and lives life in the spotlight, which is not easy.
They try to keep their love discreet, but both cannot avoid being affected by scandal. Qinglang doesn’t care as much about his own image as he does about Changyang, but after Changyang’s father makes it clear that their relationship will damage Qinglang’s future, they break up. This was definitely some “noble idiocy” in my mind because Qinglang doesn’t tell Changyang why they are breaking up, and it happens after they have pledged to stay together, so you know they will end up back together. But it was still very much a typical romance trope, and the lack of communication was, as usual, annoying.
In general, the story of their love and their scandals is meant to shed light on the difficulties of the BL industry, and even the toxic shipping culture. This is especially displayed through Changyang’s sister, who reveals her brother’s relationship online because she ships Qinglang with his on-screen partner and wants them together, not her brother and Qinglang. Here we see how what she wants and imagines as a fan is more important than what actually makes Qinglang or her brother happy. It is infuriating! Qinglang’s former partner also tries to use the fans of their ship to revive his career, despite having hurt Qinglang in the past in real life. While it is important to make BL viewers aware of the problems that go on behind the scenes, I was not especially surprised by most of what happened in this regard. If it opens people’s eyes, though, that’s good.
The story of the second couple is supposed to mirror the past realities and struggles of Qinglang and his BL partner, Yuhao. Unfortunately, the second couple doesn’t pull the viewers in the way the main couple’s story does. There is clearly both love and manipulation involved, but it’s just not engaging in the same way. In addition, it is often confusing and hard to understand what is exactly going on with this couple. At times it was frustrating having so much time devoted to them, when really we just want to see Qinglang and Changyang.
Qinglang and Changyang’s love story surpasses time and place. They love each other beyond words, yet they also let each other have their separate lives. Only at the end do they finally both leave their professions and decide to live together in the mountains. The final scene of their mountain wedding, with imagined blessings from all the characters, lends a beautiful sense of closure to their story.
Watching Qinglang and Changyang together is incredibly moving. They clearly love each other with everything they have. Despite being radically different from each other, they balance each other perfectly. The sacrifices they make for each other as well as the effort to connect while apart is beautiful to watch, and they express a love that all of us would wish to find.

Problems with the story:
It is confusing at times and sometimes hard to follow. I spent a lot of time on Reddit trying to understand what was going on and why. This lack of clarity in the events that unfold really interrupts the flow of the romance and takes away from the beauty and pain of it.
The second couple is not very interesting and is sometimes annoying. Too much time was devoted to them.

Loss and Death in the Story
Three people die in this drama, and they are all significant characters. This lends a layer of sadness to the whole story. The losses are a counterpoint to the beauty of the love story. They affect the characters and viewers deeply. This is especially true of the death of Qingtian, Qinglang’s younger brother and Changyang’s friend, who is portrayed as a beautiful soul and loving presence. His loss hits the viewers especially hard. All the deaths are a reminder that we cannot control the events of our lives, only guide them. Sometimes terrible, devastating things happen. Death exists alongside life and love. The fact that Qinglang is able to continue to love Changyang and lean on him throughout is even more powerful in light of these losses. Changyang suffers too, yet he does all he can to protect Qingyang from the worst of what happened to Qingtian. And in the end they still celebrate their love, despite all that they have lost.
While I found it difficult to watch so many characters die, I don’t see this as a problem with the story. It is an important element in lending meaning to everything that happens.

Symbolism
The title: Changyang is the “winter sun.” He brings slow, steady warmth to the coldness of winter (Qinglang) without being overwhelming.
The wind represents change, as Qinglang opens his heart to Changyang. The wind can cause disruption too, as evidenced by difficulties on the path as well as loss.
“Spring Hills Dream” is Qinglang’s rebirth each time he escapes to the mountains and replenishes his soul through nature. The dreams also represent his connections to those he has lost and a way to see and remember them in his mind.
Tea has great symbolism in the story as well. The best tea takes time to grow and pick and seep. It requires patience in the face of nature and in the process of brewing. It takes time to extract meaning from life’s chaos, just as it takes time and effort to brew the best tea. Qinglang takes the tea thermos Changyang gave him everywhere he goes. It helps him cultivate quiet reflection and connects him to Changyang and to the mountains where the tea comes from. In quiet reflection and dreams he is able to process loss and recognize true love.

Production Value
Locations—the mountains are a spectacular backdrop and provide beautiful scenery to the story.
Cinematography—The cinematography in Winter Sun rates up therewith the best I have ever seen. Every shot is carefully and beautifully laid out. From figures in shadow to overheads of the mountain road to reflections in a mirror or pond, the shots are cleverly thought out, gorgeous to behold, and add the the feeling and meaning of every scene. Quiet, ethereal beauty shines through the whole series and elevates the entire production.
Music—The music is also beautiful and ethereal, and adds another impeccable layer of quality to the production. Sometimes there is no music and just slow and quiet scenes.
Acting—The actors playing Changyang, Qinglang, and Qingtian stood out the most for me. They brought their characters to life with depth and emotion. Sometimes a simple look or movement revealed so much, while other times passionate feelings or desires were expressed physically and viscerally. The MLs had amazing chemistry. The intimate scenes were spicy without being too revealing. I felt I really knew these characters by the end of the series, and I will miss them.

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?

Let's skip to the gossip!!


🥵🥵the actors are 🥵🥵🥵
Main couple,super cute ,super funny,super gud looking ...I'm like fulfilled
I loved how they portrayed their love story,like romance with laughter,lots and lots of laughter.
What I was surprised and Actually couldn't stop rewatching,was the scene where they discussed whose the top and whose the bottom ...that killed me ...I loved the singing too ,I fell in love.

Second couple 😍😍😍I was shipping so hard so that it doesn't sink like the Titanic ship....Marvis is flawless no lie, Jamie is hot,duang is like rocking handsome and cute at the same time and Qin is beautifully nonchalant..they all ate
Im happy the second couple did not cloud the first couple but also wld have loved just an extra episode of the couple...I'm selfish I know...but understood that the series is called duang with u and they need to serve wat they advertising...

Overall I'm happy with the series,Imma give it a month to cool down den rewatch again,...I'll be searching for more serieses of the actors and give u guys feed back...just check my profile


RECOMMENDED TO WATCH

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the crew need to practice to clean their lenses and not show up on camera on randomly placed

the drama was good the visuals in this series is 10/10 the kisses could’ve been better, for such a short drama i think it’s good. the acting is done very well and the relationship between them is good.

THE CREW NEED TO CLEAN THEIR LENSES! randomy you could see in the series the screen was dirty…
and one of the crew members was showing on the balcony where the 1st lead role was hanging on.

let’s not talk about the power in the house that he didn’t have because how expensive it was (idk if it was only at night) but you could see the reflection of the light in the wall or something and it was on…. cheap made drama but well acted so it’s okey

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Team no one LOL

The formula for a successful clichéd rom-com usually includes:

1. A strong, heroic male lead. (Not really.)
2. An appealing second male lead who gives viewers serious Second Lead Syndrome. (Also not really)
3. A cute side couple. (Still not quite there.)
4. Fun besties and scene-stealing sidekicks. (This was the closest thing to a success, but they barely got any screen time.)

I started this drama for Kim Hye-jun, since I've loved many of her previous works. Unfortunately, I didn't feel much chemistry between her and either ML, and the bromance didn't land for me either.

What I did enjoy:

The positive workplace vibes and supportive coworkers.
The Korean traditional knot-making scenes.
The touch on the darker side of sasaeng fan culture.
The OST.

Overall: Watchable and pleasant, especially if you're a Kim Hye-jun fan, but not a rom-com I'll be thinking about months later like Spooky in love (1st 1/2) or Business Proposal

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It couldn’t finish strong

I really enjoyed this in the beginning. it wasn’t a deep or brilliant plot, but it was a silly/cute comedy of errors kind of thing. The secondary couple is adorable (although they could learn about privacy a bit) and was actually my favorite part. The main couple just got to a point where I didn’t understand why either of them were behaving the way they did. Both knew the relationship was built on a lie. One pretended to not notice while the other was super guilty, and then instead of Itt being angry he was lied to, Ritt is angry that he hid knowing it was a lie all the time?! Ritt began the deception (even if it didn’t work). Having the multi-episode tantrum and not “believing they were real” when he began this farce was just irritating. I expected Itt to eventually also be angry or at least not put up with it, but he kept apologizing in most expensive ways. Between that and the grandfather’s whole health story line and end, I just felt like something light and silly became a heavy mess for no reason.

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