1This review may contain spoilers
Weekend family drama, progressively challenging the concept of becoming/living as an ´adult´
“My Golden Life” is one of those KDramas that have been writing drama-history in South Korea. It is considered a 'national' series – popularity increased rapidly, the number of viewers doubled during the broadcast and towards the end, almost half of all nationwide TV audience during the weekends, while “My Golden Life” was broadcast, watched this series."My Golden Life" is a family drama, that doesn't just get lost in family clichés, Makjang and RomCom, but instead explicitly addresses some critical contemporary issues. Additionally, given attitudes and convictions are boldly deconstructed along the way. Thus, "My Golden Life" is a rather progressive family drama, involving also the 'quite new' concept of making personal life decisions despite (and in opposition to) family interests. In addition, more than one protagonist is questioning his/her life decisions or is forced to dealing with 'failure' (up to 'depression' as a result of learned helplessness), which is also quite progressive. Whether rich or poor, such issues likewise hit any income classes - in “My Golden Life”, too. In addition, there are current long-running topics such as the (lack of) work-life balance, discrimination because of social status, and the shame of divorce, as well as the increasingly sensitive issue of 'age'.
Ultimately “My Golden Life” is progressively challenging the concept of maturing in the sense of making my own, accountable decisions and thus becoming/living as an ´adult´. What does it mean, what does it need to be an 'adult'? ´Adult´ in the sense of having grown out of the familiar nest and being able to fly with my own wings? In the sense of being challenged to apply what I have learned in my own, individual manner? Is it allowed? Actually desired? Even wanted?
Notably gratifying and astonishing: Throughout the series, practically all of the divers family members go through their personal maturing processes against the background of various contemporary social issues. Many dramaturgical motifs may be familiar, but you can be sure that sooner or later everyone will be challenged with their attitudes and decisions being on trial. “My Golden Life” is not about stumbling through life with a social reptilian brain in obvious stimulus-response pattern. And it is not about by all means controlling the environment with the arrogant mindset of absolutist power fantasies. "My Golden Life" is intelligently and systematically deconstructing the usual set screws for critical life decisions (and dramaturgical plot developments.) In the end, almost every protagonist gets challenged and in the long run actually they all come to their individual, sometimes astonishingly mature, honest and even wise reassessments and re-decisions. This is (at least in this KDrama) possible, permitted, actually prerequisite.
Strikingly symbolic to deconstruction processes of social and individual assumptions throughout the story, ´gold´ is a metaphor for the estimation and valuation of an individual life. Its meaning and value is changing throughout the KDrama, parallel to the transformation processes of the protagonists... Most of the characters initially have the conviction that money (and associated with it: status) is the prerequisite or guarantee for happiness and a worthwhile, precious life... (as on the other hand the lack or loss of money is the reason or the cause of unhappiness and equivalent to a nugatory life.) However, most of them realize over the course of story that a ´golden´ life is not necessarily one that is successful, prosperous and meaningful because of a lot of money. In fact, an elitist, privileged life - being born with a ´golden spoon´ in the mouth - eventually comes with a ´golden cage´, too... Rather, a ´golden´ life is cordial, substantial and radiant with accountability and authenticity.
Within turbulent relationship dynamics (including a bit of Makjang-style topping when it comes to plot development) the 'impoverished middle class' and the 'dirty rich Jaebeol clan' are cleverly juxtaposed against each other, thus almost offensively confronting with the exaggeration of social class-affiliation and questioning traditional mindsets; additionally, full of wit contrasting submissive obedience and self-confident rebellion. Meanwhile, a dubious, arrogantly patronizing 'Noblesse oblige' virtue is craftily criticized, too.
“My Golden Life” is sometimes funny, sometimes intelligent, sometimes outrageously provocative, sometimes infuriating, sometimes emotionally serious, sometimes touching and sometimes downright grotesque. Being set as a family weekend drama, it is supposed to be easy to digest… yet, at the same time, the KDrama is consistently keeping its unabashed finger (gently, yet persistently) on the social scrapes, quirks and deep wounds, too. An astonishingly felicitous, ambitious balancing act. Overall, “My Golden Life” isn´t long-winded, even with 52 episodes. You may as well give it a try.
P.S.:
'Reassessment' seems to be the greater moral of the story.
Meaning: Traditional structures, rules, proven patterns and given orders may be all well and good. They may give orientation and set a direction in life. They provide a certain range of tools and know-how on how you can meet the challenges of life. But ultimately, in each individual case, it is still indispensable to carefully consider the appropriate application and decide for yourself what actually should be and could be accomplished. What is it, that I want? What is it, that I can do? What is it that I think is right? And what is it, that I am willing to supply?
At the end of education and apprenticeship usually there is a form of diploma or master's degree – not for mere copying, but for suitable, at best innovative application and enhancements. And in "My Golden Life" there are quite a few characters truly having earned their award... each in their own way. Eventually, it won´t do to simply adopt what others suggest, would have done or did before. It is all about individual solutions. Traditional lifestyles and attitudes are put to the test and are systematically deconstructed - voluntarily or involuntarily. In the end, the individually appropriate reassessment and authentically fitting solution does not necessarily have to lead to an easy or obvious decision...
"My Golden Life" is thus also giving a lesson in emancipation, too - in the original Latin and also in the more modern sense. Initially, Latin “emancipatio” was the “release of the son from paternal power”. In a broader sense: the child has grown or the student has been educated, so they can hold themselves accountable for their own life tasks and work obligations and thus take responsibility and reflect on their achievements accordingly. Additionally, in a modern, more general sense, emancipation is freedom from discrimination based on group, sex or class membership…
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
One of the reasons I loved this drama is because it subtly tackles mental health. Yes, I know this is considered as a family drama but how they personified and tackled depression was so close to reality that it almost hit home to me. Will elaborate more in a while. I first watched this drama without knowing anything about it except for the cast. I heard Uee was offered the role first as Seo Jian but declined, and no matter how much I love Uee I'm so glad she did decline because OMG SHIN HYE SUN IS GOLD. I really love her acting style. She's an outstanding actress and I cannot imagine anyone else as Seo Jian. The role was made for her. period.
However, I would like to say that I'm not the biggest fan of the love line between the FL and ML. I might even say that I like them better when they were siblings. Not too fond also of the relationship of the second leads. I don't know why, but no matter how cute they were together something felt off for me but I can't seem to point my finger on it. Actually my favorite couple in this series is Seo Jiho and Choi Seohyun. They just look so cute together and they grew their relationship more naturally as they spend more time together. I find it very unfortunate that they ended up as just friends but at the same time I understand also why it must be done as it will just be so wrong if they ended up together because first they will be at the same boat as their older siblings and second they will be in-laws when Seo Jian and Choi Dogyeong gets married. My second favorite couple here in this series is actually Choi Jaesung and Noh Myeonghui because even though they did not have the best relationship during their marriage you can still see that they did marry for love and they still have a bit of respect towards each other during their time together. I personally believe that their greed got the best of them sometime during their marriage and that's where it started to go wrong BUT they still did love each other they just had different priorities in life but I'm glad they found their way back. I mean it's hard to believe that they didn't love each other when you have three children together :)
As I've mentioned earlier, I believe depression was part of the theme of this drama also. Throughout this series, there were three characters who had depression (actually more but will focus on these three): Choi Jaesung - Andropause (male menopause); Seo Jian - Suicidal; Seo Taesu - passive suicidal.
Out of these three, Choi Jaesung was the mildest case, however it only meant that if it wasn't prevented properly there was a possibility that it could've worsen. I deeply empathize with Seo Taesu, as in his case it was built up over the years after his family started treating him different due to the change in their financial position. It was actually sad to see that because he was so down that he wanted to die but in no means wants to kill himself. And Lastly, Seo Jian. She did attempt to commit suicide and I'm glad she did recover fast. It goes to show that all of us are vulnerable it's just that others have a stronger facade than most. Out of all the family dramas I have watched, this drama had the most realistic depiction of depression. So realistic in fact that I think they should've placed a trigger warning for the audience.
Overall, it was fun watching this drama. The ending was satisfactory, it was realistic as I think after everything that have happened they all needed time to heal their own wounds.
PS: One of the worst grandpas ever in a series: Noh Yangho!!!
PPS: Other mental issues I've observed in this drama:
Dependent Personality - Noh Myeonghui, Choi Seohyun
Inferiority Complex - Seo Jisu, Noh Jinhee
Manipulative behavior - Noh Yangho
Victim Mentality - Noh Myeonghui
I believe there are more but I'll stop here for now :)
Was this review helpful to you?
The summary of the drama is pretty accurate, so I won't tell much more about it. If I did, it would probably contain spoilers that should only be revealed by watching the drama yourself.
This drama has so many charming points that it's actually quite difficult to find a starting point. If I had to point out the biggest strength, it would probably be the writing and the cast. Especially the veteran actors impressed big time. Every time the drama seemed to drag, they pushed the story forward and really made me care for their characters. Chun Ho Jin and Jun Noh Min... Two actors I respect a lot. They are so versatile in all of their roles, that I'm always happy to see them in a drama. And goddammit, they were awesome here.
The leads themselves stood their ground and were one of many driving wheels of the story. Actually, the whole cast was so well balanced that it's hard to find a weak link. Of course, I had to pay special attention to Park Shi Hoo since he was not that impressive in his previous drama. And what can I say other than that he found his confidence again. In the first couple of episodes he seemed shaky and nervous, so I was still skeptical about him. I couldn't force myself to ignore his flaws, so I hoped he would get a grip soon. And he did. It took some time but he finally managed to find his old acting self again. From that point onward it was not difficult anymore to enjoy his performance. Though I also have to mention that in some of the later episodes he got unsteady again.
Something that needs to be emphasized in this drama is the development of every single character. Everyone is going through some very dear and life changing situations which pushes them in unexpected directions and shapes their growth vastly. Forcing some of them to make a bunch of inevitable decisions, I didn't always like the direction they were taking. On the other hand they made them so understandable that it was also hard to oppose it.
Family dramas are usually not my thing because the sheer length of the episodes is bound to get draggy at some point. I can't deny the fact that this drama has some difficulties as well, but the amount of these parts is fairly acceptable and doesn't weigh too much into the enjoyment of the drama. And the reason for that are the couples. Each and every one of them had a very interesting story to tell. Whether it was the leads, their families or their friends. Especially the two male friends of Do Kyung (PSH) were a pleasant add to the main character. If one of the side stories got too depressive, there was always another "supposed to be" couple that ensured some lighter moments and lifted the heavy atmosphere.
I'm praising this drama so much and yet my rating only stays at 8.5... What to say about that. I had some issues with the ending. It was not a shocking one and I get parts of it. Yet, the way they wrote it seemed too exaggerated and estranged some characters a bit for me. Not only did they include one of my most hated drama tropes, they also gave the final resolution a torn connotation. Therefore I was not able to fully enjoy the end of the drama.
Overall, I would still recommend My Golden Life. It has some really sweet but also touching and heartbreaking moments, great character development and an endearing bunch of actors and actresses. And who knows, maybe you are more tolerable about its final minutes than my humble self.
One warning though:
There will be a character who will bring your darkest side to light. He is obstinate and stubborn and arrogant till the end, so prepare yourself for some seriously hair-pulling and fist-clenching situations.
Was this review helpful to you?
The story goes so fast then slows down, but it is the best slow-down I have ever seen.
It is like stealing your heart quickly and then torturing it after gaining control of it. It is packed with emotions, it made me feel connected, got me butterflies, and made me cry.I fell for it, I cried a lot, and I smiled along. It is something that you should enjoy and appreciate no matter how slow it goes. It is so full of charm that I managed to watch it so quickly, in a very short time, like it was a 16-episode drama without skipping anything, while appreciating every second. That’s how good it is.. Every episode gets you more emotionally invested than the one before.
I came to appreciate everyone like I have never done before and I felt sorry and sad for everyone in the drama. As frustrating as the actions of some people in the drama may seem, they are actually very understandable if you look at things from their perspectives. Mothers acted like emotional mothers, fathers acted like caring fathers and everyone played their role very well. I was able to sympathize with them.
The music.. The instrumental soundtracks are beautiful, emotional and sad, and so are the songs, making all the feelings heightened.
This OST is the drama, and the drama is its OST. It’s one and the same. Harmonious. How beautiful.
The romance... their warmth was enough to melt all that snow. The feeling was so beautiful and warm. Slow and soft. Loving deeply and sincerely. I want to smile so wide while I cry for them at the same time. And they are the #1 HUGE reason I love this drama.
Nothing is wrong about the whole drama. The quality is amazing. Directing is really really really great, but the acting is from a different world; Shin Hye Sun is something and I don’t think I can praise her acting enough.
Much later, my appreciation for how that drama made me feel like is still there. I also discovered that it's very re-watchable. It is definitely underrated.
About the the slow pace of the drama, I think it was very important for the build-up of everything.
Therefore it was WELL-paced.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A realistic drama that teaches about life
There were so many people disliking this drama and I wanted to defend it. So here is my first ever review. This drama does a few things very well:1. Show realistic and complex emotions.
2. Tell us how it is important to love our self before loving others.
3. Convey the fact that a golden life can be lead without being born with a silver spoon.
4. This drama knows how to pull on heartstrings.
5. Tell us parents are humans too. They are not bound to be responsible for our lives and should be allowed happiness as well. We often forget that.
A lot of people were not satisfied with the ending, but it is the most realistic one so far. People die, and we need to accept it. The good part is that when someone dies without regrets, it is the perfect end to a journey.
Not everyone ends up together. The most loveliest, compatible and cutest people just might not end up together (Although I would have loved if the Cinderella and the youngest son did)
I loved loved loved the female lead standing up for herself and her family.
I also liked that they touched on issues related to mental health and how it is very important to be considerate of people around us. They very well showed the emotion of not have anyone left to lean on or anywhere left to go and hence the suicidal thoughts.
They also showed the process of healing slowly and finally finding what truly makes you happy.
I also liked that the main relationship wasn't just a happy go lucky one. They were ill fated and they have to face all kinds of problems. Yet to get through that, and still loving each other was a major thumbs up for me.
Yes there were some things that were not wrapped up correctly at the end. But I don't think they should have made an episode just for that. It would have become dragging.
In real life, people are not bound to change that easily in a years time.
Overall I loved the drama! Stirred all kinds of emotions in me since I relate to the female lead personality very much. But apart from that, if you love to watch a drama filled with family and love then watch it!
P.S: I noted and loved the fact that the male lead is shown to be nice and forgiving, not a 'bad arrogant man'. But, often the nice ones are crueler. They love the feeling that you are indebted to them, and they are the noble ones, and the female lead points in out. That if one is good only when one has nothing to lose, then it is more cruel. So I liked the transformation of the male lead from the wannabe noble man to a real nice man.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
THIS DRAMA DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE COMPARED FATHER IS STRANGEMy Review contains spoilers
I want to start of nice and say the character introduction was done so well. In fact I would say the first quarter of the drama was soo good I looked forward to it each weekend.
Then they ruined it, either they ran out of their creative juices or the switched writers or the first part of the story was stolen from a different writer before it was finished. I have tried to come up with so many reasons why a perfectly good drama was ruined.
I am completely fine with the male lead giving the female lead her space to grow professionally and emotionally that part is fine. HOWEVER there are SOOO many plot holes.
The relationship between the 2 youngest siblings was such a disappointment. The Cinderella youngest daughter's character deserved a better story line than she was given.
Woo Hyun Deserved a stronger characterization that he was given. In this drama he is basically just a crush boy and a good friend. His own character has no depth.
I also have many questions
Who was the man that rich mom was seeing? where did he end up with his life?
Where does the relationship with DK and grandpa stand at the end?
Does poor mom remain financially dependent on her kids?
Why were we introduced to their home sharing roommates if there was no story to tell?
How did Jisoo come to forgive her rich family after all they did to her poor Dad? Why did we never get that confrontation?
Was this review helpful to you?
So many regrets. I wish I had listened to my gut and dropped it around episode 35-38 - I wasn't fond of where I saw the plot going. My mother, who started watching My Golden Life with me around episode 25 was thoroughly hooked and convinced me to continue watching it with her because she wanted to see how it turned out. *sigh* I really should have dropped it.
Honestly, there's too much wrong with this drama to be able to explain them all here. In a summary, the biggest issue was that there were too many sub-plots that weren't concluded by the end of the series (the relationship between the grandfather and grandson of HaeSung, the relationship between Ji Soo and her biological parents, the relationship between Ji Ho and Seo Hyeon, the relationship between Ji Soo and the Baker, the relationship between Ji Soo and the Baker's wife, how Do Gyeong's secretary's mother/family were doing now that he was successful, how Ji Tae and Soo Ah were doing with their careers now that they "moved", the relationship between Ji An and Do Gyeong's mother, the relationship between Ji An and Do Gyeong, all the stories for the friends who lived in the sharehouse, such as, Yong Gook. These loose ends might seem unnecessary to wrap up, and while there were *some* glimpses of slight implications as to how SOME of these characters turned out, there wasn't nearly enough wrap up. They jump ahead a year and just expect us to swallow that all these characters have moved on and are "fine". Well, I'm sorry, but I can't just accept that. For a 52 episode drama, when you're investing so much time and emotion into it, the directors should have most definitely dedicated more energy into making sure each introduced character was given closure due to them to help leave the viewers with some satisfaction after finishing the last episode. The ending felt incomplete.
Another thing worth noting that bothered me the most in regards to plot development/characterization was that the father, Seo Tae Soo had an extremely poorly written character. I adored him in the beginning (first 25-30 episodes), but after Ji An moved back to Seoul and he found her and went into his depression and became bitter because he felt "betrayed" was nonsense. Sure, after shit hit the fan with everything that happened with the HaeSung family, their family being chaotic and having marital problems makes sense and would be reasonable. But dragging out his nastiness was absolutely OUT OF CHARACTER, distasteful, and unnecessary (it goes on for about 10-15 episodes!). With everything learned about him prior to that point, he was a very understanding, supportive, and loving man. His character shift didn't make logical sense, especially to the extreme and length of time it lasted. Additionally, his tragic end was just insulting. Dangling hope but still having a sad ending for him was insulting and all I could do was shake my head.
The only other thing that I really feel worth mentioning is the fact that Ji Ho and Seo Hyeon not ending up together is really upsetting and unfair. They should have been a happy couple. They were really my favorite characters to watch and they complimented each other so well. And Seo Hyeon really was looking like she'd rebel because of the lack of attention and affection she was receiving, but NOTHING. She went forgotten, by both her parents AND the writers of this drama. It was a disservice to such a sweet and capable character.
The OST *was* particularly note-worthy and will likely make it onto my playlist.
I would NOT recommend this drama to anyone, unless they've seen ALL the other long family dramas and are absolutely bored and have nothing but time on their hands. For me, it was a waste of time - the drama loses control, direction, timing, and organization around episode 35. They tried to refocus in the end, but it was already too late. Please note, there WERE some good times and there were things that I enjoyed seeing, but the poor resolutions written in this drama outweigh the drama's good points.
In the future, before starting a terribly long drama, I will give more attention to reading the reviews and spoilers to determine if I want to invest myself into such a drama. Unfortunately, it's dramas like this one that give a bad reputation to long family dramas and cause so many people to be weary and hesitant/intimated by them. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a better one in the future...
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is one of these dramas you spend so much time watching - week by week - waiting for the next episode because it seems to be following a logical and intriguing storyline that was building on a theme that made sense. Then for some reason, this drama took a u-turn. Reality takes a dive and the viewer must suffer through 2 episodes of dry storytelling and unrealistic scenes accompanied by dumb piano playing and pitiful music in the background. This was not a realistic or credible story ending. I am not going to write a spoiler but I advise any new viewer to heed a warning -- don't spend 52 hours of your life on this scrambled egg. The rest of us have been wounded deeply and feel the burn of frustration. Was this review helpful to you?
Time Will Heal All Wounds
The screenwriter So Hyun Kyung does a good job and she delivers and writes a beautiful story; "My Golden Life" covers mental health issues and the gift of giving. I am not going to tell the story, but it is a lovely storytelling Kdrama to watch with strong performance by the lead actress Shin Hae Sun and actor Park Shi Hoo.The main female character, Seo Ji Ahn (portrayed by actress Shin Hae Sun) is a struggling part-time employee and intern that has an on-and-off love relationship with the third generation conglomerate Choi Do Gyung (portrayed by Park Shi Hoo). Do Gyung exudes strongly a third generation chaebol character that was born with a silver spoon in his mouth flawlessly. I cannot imagine other actress or actor to play these two leading female and male characters. They look good together on-screen and convincingly interpret their characters; they show their raw emotion and inner turmoil so well. The audience will be able to palpate Ji Ahn depression and her will to get back on her feet again. Also, the audience is able to feel the will of Do Gyung to be worthy of Ji Ahn's love.
I do not see any on-screen chemistry between the other leading characters Sun Woo Hyuk (portrayed by Lee Tae Hwan) and Seo Ji Soo (portrayed by Seo Eun Soo). Woo Hyuk seems to be not interested in the lovely Ji Soo from the beginning to the end. Woo Hyuk did so well in the initial episodes when the character runs away from adoring Ji Soo, but he has a hard time to interpret the character Woo Hyuk that is in love with Ji Soo in the subsequent episodes. His expression does not show any inclination toward loving Ji Soo. He tries hard but does not deliver.
I really enjoy the secondary supporting characters Seo Ji Ho (portrayed by Shin Hyun Soo) and Choi Seo Hyun (portrayed by Lee Da In), they almost steal the show. However, the strong performance by actress Shin Hae Sun and actor Park Shi Hoo save the day and our focus is still glued to the painful Ji Ahn and Do Gyung on-and-off love story.
I find the character Seo Ji Tae is made for actor Lee Tae Sung, the actor fits so well to play as the first son of Seo family and an Oppa/Hyeong to his siblings. I do like these following characters , firstly, Kim Ki Jae [Do Gyung's best friend) character, he is truly a devil advocate friend of Do Gyung; secondly, Lee Yong Gook [Dorm owner] character is a guardian angel for Do Gyung; last but not least, Secretary Yoo [Do Kyung's secretary] is a real soul mate of Do Gyung. These three friends are always there to guide and comfort Do Gyung through his "angst". Salute to actors Kim Sa Kwon, Kim Sung Hoon and Lee Gyu Bok that work as catalysts in this wonderful story and keep the story going.
As usual all the veteran actors Chun Ho Jin and Jeon Noh Min and actresses Kim Hye Ok and Na Young Hee show strong performance as the parents of Ji Ahn and Do Gyung. However, when Seo Tae Soo (portrayed by the great Chun Ho Jin) is angry and depressed, and lives in his parent' hometown, it feels like he is throwing tantrums. But Seo Tae Soo comes back strong when he saves Choi Do Gyung and his company. He works as a catalyst to keep the story moving. The original sounds tracks are excellent and I would give a nine-out-of-ten for "My Golden Life". I am incline to give a five-out-of-ten for re-watch value because "My Golden Life" is a storytelling Kdrama and re-watching it may diminish the charm of the story. But do not take my word for it.
Was this review helpful to you?
The acting was amazing
The story was good, even if it sometimes seems a little over dramatic, this drama does a wonderful job at keeping things realistic in my opinion.The OST has some really pretty songs that I'm going to add to my playlist but the acting is what moved me the most.
I got attached to every character and felt their pain and joy, I felt like I was apart of the family and going through life with them.
Was not expecting to love it as much as I did and I'm so glad I gave this drama a chance.
Definitely worth the watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Shin Hye Sun at her best in a family drama
What an emotional ride this was for me... This was my first 52 episodes drama and I never got bored. And the ending, especially the last 3 eps are pure perfection.The story has some really heavy twists but I think that's typical at such a length. Of course there were some really unrealistic things but it every choice a character made felt perfectly fine and the story was wrapped up really well.
The acting was really good. Shin Hye Sun was unstoppable and took me on an emotional rollercoaster. There were 2 actors that felt a little stiff but maybe that depended on their characters because I came to like them on later episodes.
The OST is beautiful. There may not be one outstanding song but after watching the first half it took a place on my heart and there are about 4 songs I really love.
About the rewatch value I have to say that I never rewatched anything but I watched the drama despite spoiling myself about some important things but that didn't effect me in any way.
My overall rating is a 10 because I rate on an emotional base. And especially all the parts that lead to this ending and then the ending made me not be able to rate it different.
Was this review helpful to you?
The couples were some what of a disappointment also. Park Shi Hoo as Choi Do Kung and Shin Hye Sun and Seo Ji An had no chemistry whatsoever. However, Lee Tae Hwan as Sun Woo Hyuk had great chemistry with everyone including the guys. He really did steal the show. The best couple was Shin Hyun Soo as Seo Ji Ho and Lee Da In as Choi Seo Hyun. They were so cute together and he helped her a lot. I don't know if all the extra cheesy couple stuff was necessary to the story. It honestly got on my nerves. I did like that everyone seemed to have a friend they could lean on. If it weren't for that 3rd generation chaebol that owned the share house, then the story would have gone in a crazy direction. I love that the writer put limits on the mean ass grandfather. It is sad how much those adults put those kids through. Seo Ji An and Seo Ji Soo were total victims. The writer does a good job with the character development and emotional turmoil of these two characters. The rest of the characters seemed to be decoration around their story. I started watching this because I like Lee Tae Sung but he is barely in the drama and his character was strange.
All of the acting was what you would expect from this type of drama.
The music is good.
I will never rewatch this.
If you like family dramas, then this one is an okay watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
