After watching so many tragically dramatic romantic tales of late, Summer Nude (a somewhat misleadingly titled picture of innocent young romance) was a refreshingly light hearted and fun-filled experience, spinning a narrative of budding love and friendship in an idyllic seaside setting. Other reviewers cite complaints of slow pacing, but I felt like this benefited this easygoing story and permits you to simply relax, unwind, and connect to the lovable characters.

Whilst not necessarily meant to be the star of the show, I feel that the character of Hanae (played by the beautiful and talented Toda Erica) brought a lot of warmth to the plot and I found myself unwittingly rooting for her at every step. Her charm and gentleness engages the viewer in a way that few characters can, pulling the entire cast along with her to make being part of this story a heart-warming experience.

The setting is pretty and well captured (as it should be considering that photography is one of the key concepts in the show) and the soundtrack does its best to match the feel of the whole series perfectly. Whilst enticingly beautiful, it is apparent, particularly when indulging in this show over a short period of time, that the range of content in the soundtrack is somewhat limited. Every emotive moment, of which there are many, is accompanied by the same melody. This issue of repetition becomes glaringly obvious when the same theme is used to highlight the comic relief character's amusing, and hopelessly inept, emotional diatribes.

Don't let this small fault sway you from enjoying the show however, since this is only a small part of what Summer Nude has to offer. I would recommend this to anyone looking for some romantic light relief, interwoven with an enviable tale of friendship and personal growth.

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I have just this moment completed the final episode of this drama and can say, with the utmost honesty as I ruefully dab tears from the corners of my eyes, that it is a truly emotional ride and one of the most compelling tales of love and longing that I have experienced thus far.

Unlike many dramas which construct grand schemes and complex tragic plots to evoke such heartfelt emotion, such as My Love Eun-Dong, the author of this story chooses to centre the plot upon the simple, yet ubiquitous premise of class and familial divide. Though clearly inspired by the age-old narrative of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, this tale brings a unique nuance to the romantic voyage of our lovers. We see the wonderfully portrayed characters grow through their experiences, yet remain fallible to the very end. It is this growth, and the sense of almost tangible loss that the journey provokes, that makes it such a wonderful story to be a part of.

This story is coupled with beautifully captured cinematography and an evocative soundtrack which both help bring the entire narrative to life. I could not recommend this to you more if you are looking for a tale of earnest young love between a disparate, yet clearly fated couple.

I truly hope that you enjoy it as much as I have.

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