Step Step Where Do We Go Now?

I watched this drama for the first time about 2 years ago, when I was in a ‘Gong Hyo Jin Marathon’. I ended up having a crush on Jo Jung Suk.

I remember I hated his character here, and had a Second Lead Syndrome. I couldn’t understand why Pyo Nari chose the rude Hwa Sin over gentle Jeong Won, apart from her empathizing with his battle with cancer.
Also I was so exasperated by the pull and push plot, the indecisiveness of Nari and the ridiculous fights between the ML and SML.

But in my second watching I totally enjoyed the ride, everything makes better sense. I can understand all their behavior and even found their competition and constant bickering as funny and endearing. I didn’t even have the SLS anymore. Well maybe just a little bit, ?

Story.
My Mother died after battling breast cancer which was already spread to her lungs. So I can understand a little bit what Hwa Sin had been going through, although I’m sure it’s even harder for male patients. The writer and the producers had done their research properly, the details about the disease and the treatment are quite accurate. The nurse gave a prescription for Tamoxifen which was only subtitled as ‘medicine’ by Netflix.

Acting and cast.
I feel this drama was made for the sole purpose of flexing Jo Jung Suk’s acting skills. Apart from this drama I only saw him in Hospital playlist and a couple of movies, which didn’t give much room to explore his acting abilities (only of course in Hospital Playlist he treats us with his singing talents).
We can see that he really enjoyed performing here, he’s having the time of his life. All of his gaze, his micro expressions, his gesture and body language are just perfect.
He embodied Hwa Sin.
Someone who acts tough to mask his loneliness, his vulnerability and insecurity. As maybe most men do in real life.
He delivered all the character’s emotions flawlessly, albeit sometime exaggerating it a little bit. Because he is a passionate, ‘all or nothing’ man. You can see it in his eyes when he’s frustrated, desperate, heartbroken or even horny, lol. And did I mention that he’s really swoon worthy here (in other word: hot).

Gong Hyo Jin, what can I say. Her acting is always impeccable. She conveys her character as a woman who is strong but understanding, tough but also vulnerable.
I’ve seen 7 of her dramas and I think she has almost the best chemistry with Jo Jung Suk, (the best being with Jo In Sung in It’s Okay That’s Love). The sizzling sexual attraction between her and the ML is almost palpable here.
But for me, she looks the most beautiful as Pyo Nari, her beauty is almost ethereal. Her smiles and laughters are sincere and natural. She’s demure but also sexy and desirable. So it does make sense how the 2 men are fighting over her. And no, she’s not naive.

Go Kyung Pyo as Jeong Won is sweet and adorable, but I like his acting better in other dramas that I’ve seen (Chicago Typewriter and Strongest Deliveryman), here he’s overusing the puppy eyes expression.

Other casts and characters are perfect and hilarious too.
Special shout for Kwon Hae Hyo as the kind and sufferable Director Oh.
Seo Ji Hye as Hye Won, the beautiful ice Queen who’s actually a nice person despite her cold appearance. She and Kim Jung Hyun (Chi Yeol) were reunited in Crash Landing On You.
Park Jin Joo as the nurse with deadpan face. And Bae Hae Son as the most supportive doctor.
Yoo Jae Myung looks like he’s really enjoying himself acting in this drama, so playful and relax.
Lee Sung Jae looks very fine.
This drama also touched the issue of co-parenting before it becomes a trend recently, with the 2 hard-headed Moms of Ppal Gang.

The soundtracks nice and catchy. Not too excessive.

My only bone to pick is that Go Kyung Pyo and Jo Jung Suk has 10 years of age difference. I must say it does show in their faces, but they played as same-age friends. And it doesn’t help that GKP is baby-faced.

Yes this drama maybe is a bit too long with 24 episodes, but I didn’t find it boring because so much is going on. Also maybe they want to show us that everything will work out in the end, even though it may take some time. And they want to tell us that fighting cancer as well as fighting for your love will be a long journey for lots of people, we just have to be patient and hang in there.
Hopefully we all will get the best result, and if not, at least we’re not giving up hope.

Step step
Here we are halfway home
And we will never give up

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Family Means Ohana

My Unfamiliar Family
This drama is a pleasant surprise for me and I’m sure is relatable to a lot of the viewers too because it’s all about family. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

I didn’t expect too much at first. I was interested because it got a bit of ‘Our Blues’ vibes. And ‘Our Blues’ drama is a masterpiece for me.

But then I got hooked since the first episode. The story is flowing nicely, although some people might find the pace a bit too slow for their liking. But I think it’s because this drama gives plenty of time to introduce the characters and then for all the characters to understand their own feelings and learning new things about themselves.

And I don’t think this is a makjang drama, because this is about ordinary people with daily hardship and struggle.

Contrary to lots of the comments in this page, I actually admire Choo Ja Hyun’s performance as Eun Joo (the eldest daughter). I enjoy her expressionless expression, with only her eyes betrayed her emotions, which is not easy to act. I know some people who’s like her, and I think sometimes I also behave like her.

Also kudos to Jung Jin Young (Kim Sang Shik, the father), he really delivered his characters. How he changed his personality from a bitter 60 years old to a smitten 22 years old man.

Of course Eun Hee and Chan Hyuk are adorable and a delight to watch, we cherish their friendship. And then the ‘friends-to-lovers’ transition were done smoothly, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Nothing cringy.

About Eun Joo’s husband also is not something rare in this age and era. I personally know some people who experience the same thing in their marriage. And it’s the lies and deception that hurt the most. This drama touch this issue with confidence and empathy.

I also notice that lots of things were subtly implied in this drama, not everything is spelled out.
Like one of the last scene that’s heartwarming is when Yoo Min Woo (Eun Joo’s ex-trainee-turns-to-colleague) is comfortably asking Eun Joo’s advice and opinion. He knows that Eun Joo LOVES giving advice and her opinions, lol. And Eun Joo finally learned to restrain herself from giving unasked harsh judgment.

All characters have their own development. And they will understand that: Being a family doesn’t mean we will always see eye to eye, we disagree more than we agree on something.
But being a family means acceptance and what’s more important is just being there for each other.

There are a few things that prevent me from giving a full score.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
One, I don’t like that it was Eun Hee’s CEO who’s been emailing with her for a long time, under a disguise name. That’s creepy as hell.
Two: the relationship between Eun Hee and the CEO, how the CEO taking advantage of Eun Hee drunkenness for their encounter and in general his cheating behavior. But I guess that’s one of the themes of this drama. The dishonesty.
Three: Sang Shik had a brain surgery, but they didn’t even shave his head pre-surgery or put a bandage afterward. Well it’s not Hospital Playlist I know, but I wish they paid more attention to this detail because it’s an important plot in this drama.

I love the OST and the background music, they play it at the right time and nothing excessive.
Two sweet songs that stand out are ‘Family’ by BUMKEY and ‘When We Were Close’ by Kang Seung Sik.

All in all it’s an underrated drama, try to watch it at their pace and enjoy all the feelings and emotions this drama will give you.
This drama makes me miss my family even more.

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The best learning curve drama

This drama comes from the same director of My Mister, my favorite drama, so I have high expectations. And this drama doesn’t disappoint me, even though there was a point when I put it on hold because I wasn’t in the mood.
Then I picked it up again and I was blown away by the strong story and characters. This drama shows in details how every character can develop into a better (or worse) person.
Even the senior/mentor figures akso have something to learn from their junior/subordinates.
Yes, you need to have some patience to follow the storyline, but it’s worth it because it’s so satisfying.
No silly office romance, it’s mostly about friendship and supporting each other to get up again.
I’m not an office worker but I can relate to their struggle, and sympathize with them.
This is a Kdrama with the best learning process and character development that I’ve seen so far.
The only setback is too many unnecessary flashback scenes, but I understand it is to show the characters’ thinking process.

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