I know I'm going to get a lot of Not Helpful marks right off the bat because of my low rating, but frankly speaking, this drama disappointed me. I truly wanted to love it going in, and I tried my best to fall into the world this drama creates, but it always fell flat and left me feeling like I was missing something everyone else seemed to get.
In the beginning, the story was looking like it would be semi-original and be about pure revenge for the wrong the male lead received, and an innocent person would end up hurt. Song Joong Ki played his role so well that it really made that plot seem new and believable. He's just man you fall in love with right away, even when he's doing something wrong. I even liked Park Si Yeon when she was mean and defensive, because it's not often you see a spicy female lead like that. Then it all took a nose dive a few episodes in, and the logic behind the revenge or the expected gain of the revenge seemed so non-existent. There were times I cried, but I don't ever remember laughing during this drama. There was no levity, no comedic relief to over-come the crushing weight of the angst in the story-line, no hope that things would get better or that the characters would suddenly find a way to let everything go. It felt like the love was always tainted and the continuing of the scam and then the later refusal to just TELL Park Si Yeon was infuriating and pointless to me. Not to mention the last episode (I don't think this really gives anything away), especially the last five minutes, made me feel like I wasted 20 episodes on never-ending pointless angst because it just didn't matter anymore. Everything the leads worked for, and all the reasons they supposedly couldn't just run away, crumbled into nothing and were all tossed aside, twenty episodes too late.
All the negatives in the above paragraph aside, the cast was really well selected, and even though I really didn't enjoy the story-line most of the time, I really do think the actors played their roles extremely well. Song Joong Ki was awesome in his role, and he really shined in one of his first male lead roles (at least that I've seen). Park Si Yeon also played her character well, even if I got whip lash from the changes in personality at times, she acted well and I believed the emotions she was projecting. Awesome acting aside, I unfortunately never came to really care about any of the characters. It was truly hard to find any real qualities to love, knowing that half their personalities were just based on circumstances or loss of memory. Even the villain became someone I couldn't understand towards the end, and I started to forget just what her justifications were exactly.
The music was good, I can't particularly remember much, but I do know I love the opening and the song playing during it. As much negative as I have towards this drama, I truly think the opening sequence in by far one of my favorites, and the small change in it they make on the last episode only made me love it more. I love small details like that. The rest of the OST really fit the mood and was well chosen.
I really don't think I'll ever re-watch this drama because even the semi-happy scenes are doused in angst, and I just don't feel the need to. Maybe I'll rewatch the last five minutes, because those are my favorites. XD
Overall, I want to point out the good aspects because I know my review is really critical and may upset some of the drama's lovers, and I do like some of it! I did really like how I could tell the main pair was in love (At least towards the end), even if I didn't understand their motivations anymore or particularly like their characters, I liked their real love. You felt it, you WANTED then to work out, and you rooted for a happy ending, even if there was no logical hope. Also, once again, the actors played their roles wonderfully, and the camera work was beautiful and smartly done. I just didn't connect with any character, and felt like all the drama was so pointless not even halfway through. I'll be honest, I'm bitter. I really, truly, wanted to love this drama as much as everyone else, but it ended up being a good drama that is a one time watch and move on type of drama. If you watch it, I really hope you like it more than me!!
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