This is a show with a complicated story arc. And it will divide. It will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotional twists and turns. If you are not comfortable with the adulterous theme, then this is not for you. Ultimately it is a story about redemption, forgiveness and second chances.
Central to this story is a love quadrangle involving the lives of four people. Except for Baek Seok who is the penultimate goody two shoes who can do no wrong, the other three (Hae Gang, Jin Eon and Seol Ri) are flawed characters, all dealing with their own personal struggles. This love quadrangle is sure to take you on an emotional tailspin.
What made me stick around is the performance of Kim Hyun Joo. She’s the star of this show hands down. She’s such a great character actress, playing three entirely different characters in one show: the high and mighty, win at all cost Hae Gang, the amnesiac confident Mother Theresa Hae Gang, and her unsophisticated, simple-minded identical twin, Yong Gi. Her performance is breathtaking that one keeps forgetting she’s in these multiple roles. Her ability to emote a variety of emotions, love, sadness, anger, indifference through her facial expression and eyes is simply unbelievable,
The second reason I keep watching is the amazing on screen chemistry between Kim Hyun Joo and Ji Jin Hee. It is impossible to deny the effortless chemistry and deep sexual tension between Hae Gang and Jin Eon. The sparks just fly when the two are together. The eyes say it all making it so hard for me not to root for a reunion.
Running parallel to the love conflict is the saga of Hae Gang’s twin. In hiding to save herself and her child, she’s quirky, naive and almost comical. Mother and daughter find refuge in the unlikely brother of her enemy. This is a heartwarming part of the show. Kim Hyun Joo having conversations with herself in the two roles is nothing short of perfection. Throw in little Woo Joo. She’s got to be the cutest kid on k-ent. Sweet and endearing like no other, she’s unassumingly charming as Hae Gang’s niece and Yong Gi’s daughter.
And there’s always the trusty sidekick. Hyun Woo as Jin Eon’s best friend, confidante, matchmaker and errand boy, he gives us the candid humour and lighthearted moments.
Unlike other melodramas, the casting of the antagonists were a tad soft in my opinion. Jin Eon’s father doesn’t come across as evil or sinister. Min Tae Seok, the serial murderer is mild compared to other villains in kdramas. I thought the role of Seol Ri was appropriately cast. Park Han Byul is very credible as the beautiful and young seducer. She succeeded in making me hate her for most of the show.
For the most part the characters are all well written, multidimensional with many layers which make this show realistic and unconventional.
This is mainly a story about human relationships and the bonds between husband and wife, between brother and sister, between parent and child and between friends. The other storylines are secondary and only serve to complement the love quadrangle theme.
My only gripe is that at the end, the show tries to tie everything up too neatly for each of its leads which takes away some of the edge. Other than that it is an engaging show well worth my time.
The OST is excellent and very memorable. As for rewatch, not likely at 50 episodes.
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