Who are they kidding?

The clues were there early on that maybe this series won't end the way I anticipated. But I have to say I held on in hope. Partly because this is Kdrama and partly because the acting was so darn good.
I rooted for these guys, because a relationship likes theirs is super hard to find. The chemistry, commitment, companionship, was flawless. And that, for me, was the main problem with this show. Yes, the characters made flawed decisions, but don't we all? This show promised so much but it seemed to end on some strange premise that the leads learnt something and that 'something' enabled them to make their next choice. I don't care for ambiguous endings and this series did the ultimate faux pas of being ambiguous and rushed.
Maybe it's just me, but finding love such as the one described in this show, is rare. It isn't a stepping stone to something else. Leaves me to wonder what on earth the writers really intended for us as viewers. Because first love is one thing, but true love is another.

Read More

Peeling back the curtain at suicide

This had a similar vibe to Mystic Pop Up Bar, though with a rather more edgy feel. The cinematography was beautiful and the characters slowly reel you in until you root for them - even the anti-hero, stroke villain Park Joong Gil , who appears unforgiveable at times and yet he's exactly the type of aloof, cold-blooded creature girls hate to love.

What I liked:
This one made me reach for the tissues in a good way. The writers took us on a journey through people's pain, their darkness and agony, until you related and felt it with them. It was easy to understand why each character wanted to give up on life. I have nothing against 'It's Okay to not be Okay' but this is the series I'd recommend for peeling back the rabbit warren of a person's brain, and the dark paths our thoughts can take us down. Each episode pulled me in, and though perhaps a little preachy, made me value life more. Totally worth the watch!

What I wasn't sure of:
Not necessary for the enjoyment of the show, but dependent on whether there's a second series I thought the writers made a mistake with Goo Ryun & Park Joong Gil's fated/not-fated relationship. It's clear from the get go there's chemistry and I'm not good at math but how long did Goo Ryun wear rouge on her eyelids because the love of her life liked it? The resolution felt hurried and ambiguous, and not measured well against the range of emotions expressed in the history of both characters.

What I didn't like:
Personal taste but seriously Choi Joon Woong yelled a LOT. Couldn't quite buy in to his righteous-anger scenes.

I thought the ending was OK, it didn't disappoint me but it didn't give me that nice feeling of a present wrapped in a bow. A few reviews comment on the humour being misplaced, I actually quite liked it. I think the seriousness of this drama needed a bit of levity. And actually that's what life is about - finding joy in the shadow.

Final recommendation is please watch it. This one deserves it.

Read More