I notice that I'm really drawn to dramas that include forbidden love, affairs, or things of that nature. The cover art for this drama looked great and the premise was promising so I checked it out.
The director of a music program at a prestigious school leads a seemingly miserable life. She is always held at the throat by her boss and the higher-up ladies who are total catty bitches. She is constantly under pressure to do everything right because if she doesn't things fall on her. Plus she is married to a pitiful bum who can't do anything for himself and the only reason he achieved such a high status in life is because of her connections. Then suddenly her life seems to take a better turn when she meets a disadvantaged boy who happens to be a classical piano prodigy. He is full of vigor and talent but he doesn't have the resources or connections to make anything of himself. Upon meeting him and setting him up with a scholarship to the school, Hye-Won and Sunjae form a band that blurs the lines between teacher and student.
The most mesmerizing thing about this drama, aside from the dramatic piano pieces that played during some scenes, were the scenes where Hye-Won and Sunjae played together. That. Was. Truly. Something. I can't even describe it. It was more than two people immensely enjoying each other's company. The way they both played to the drum of their hearts in absolute bliss was almost orgasmic. I wish those scenes never ended because they were the best in the show.
The ending was not exactly the way I thought things would go. Hye-Won got a divorce from her husband and ended up going to prison for crimes that she did for one of the families she was associated with. But despite all this, she said that she had never felt freer in life. Once she discovered that she could lead a life full of love and passion with Sunjae she didn't want to go back, so she literally destroyed her own life to rebuild a happier future for herself. Once she got sentenced told Sunjae not to wait for her to be released and go live his life, but of course, he chose to wait for her(while still pursuing his music career). With no husband or careers to think about, they were free at last to fully embrace each other. That is an ending that is beautiful and more satisfying than having them just be together in the end. Realistically relationships between a younger girl/guy and an older man/woman don't play out as smoothly as movies and tv portray them. Love is messy and complicated and sometimes doesn't make sense. But if it feels right, what can you do? 9/10.