I went into this drama with expectations and ideas; I'd seen "Goblin" and "Tail of the Nine-Tailed", which were good, poignant stories and for this very reason, I grappled with the storyline of "Doom at Your Service" for the first four episodes. If the expectation is for the slightly formulaic, well written story, well, "Doom" is one of those in spades but throw out this drama belonging to a standard storyline. In fact, it's so well written, so subtle, it took those first four episodes for me to understand the heart of this show. What does it mean to love, to regret, to live, and to understand that an ending is imminent in all situations?

I'll start with the second stage characters and that is Cha Joo Ik (the editor), Lee Hyun Gyu (coffee shop owner) and Na Ji Na (the author). This is a love triangle in three ways: the love of two men who are closer than brothers, and their love for the same woman. A backstory usually bores me in a drama because the words or actions from the past are usually repeated in the present. Their story unwinds logically, emotionally with their present person wearing the emotional scars of past regret. The friend who betrayed his brother, the woman who vainly searched for a boyfriend lost, the boyfriend who chose to hide rather than face pity. What unfolds is a slice of life that never preaches but displays emotions for the loss of love, of chances, of bonds broken. I've been riveted to the screen with every scene.

The deities of Doom and So Nyeo Shin also have an interesting dynamic. One is the creator and forgives, the other is the judgement and destroys and between them, there is an envy of the other's ability. Their balance and existence is born from humanity but the lack of an ending exhausts and bores Doom. He is the witness to the worst and pities the other deity's existence as she bears the burden of those sins throughout time. At episode 14, I still cannot figure out if there is compassion, affection or disdain for the other's presence

The last to be mentioned is the relationship between Doom and Tak Dong Kyung. Park Bo Young's character struggles through life, relationships and responsibility. Her first meeting with Doom (Seo In Guk) is not love at first sight but rather loathing that needs to turn into affection. His regard for her is one apathy and slight amusement for a person that threw her fate into a wish upon his name. They grow into a relationship and by the time they regard one another with affection, I know longer realize they are performers in a part. The acting craft in the drama is exhibited with flawless execution by all parties and again, by episode 14, there is not one emotion on the screen that I don't feel internally as a viewer.

"Doom At Your Service" is not a feel good drama but one that asks questions and then subtly answers them. I have a feeling that viewers will either find it thought provoking or dropped but ultimately, this story will resonate with me for a long time. What is fate through decision and what is fate unavoidable is something tackled in this story and I'll be interested to see what the last two episodes bring to the table.