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BrightestStar
Turns out, there's really no place like home
No one is immune to mental illness, it can happen to anyone.
I decided to write a review for this drama because the number of negative reviews doesn't reflect the immense positive this drama has to offer. In general, it rarely bothers me when a drama I like gets criticized, sometimes I even agree while still enjoying it. What bothered me this time was how the critics of this drama are stuck in technicalities and apply their biased view of the situation (or apply their country's laws about it).
Enough ranting and now on to what made me love this drama. Like most of my favourite dramas, it's all about the characters. They were all flawed in their own way and can be annoying at times, but at the end of the day good people. Beyond the main characters, I enjoyed the subtle growth in friendships shown with supporting characters, relationships that were originally ignored yet later become endearing.
The second aspect that made me enjoy this drama is the consistency in the pacing and not forgetting its initial message. By episode 11, it gets even spelled out for us: no one is immune to mental illness, it can happen to anyone. Having it spelled out might be a bit much, but when I think about the main target viewers I understand and applaud it. While in some countries, mental illness has become known, and less to no stigma to those suffering from it. However, in countries like South Korea, it is still a taboo. And while people try to avoid talking about it, a growing number of their population is suffering from it, and maybe don't get treated on time often (an assumption from the country being from the top countries with high suicide rates). Thinking of this situation makes me appreciate this drama better.
Now when it comes to illnesses, I am sure we are bound to find some flaws with how it was dealt with. The way the nurses dealt with patients didn't always seem the most ideal, or even professional. That being said, this isn't a documentary, it is a drama that is meant to engage us with the stories. It's not about the illnesses, it's about how characters deal with it. I also appreciate how it doesn't just blame outside influences for it. Some of the patients had great support, yet it didn't prevent the illness. Also, most of the illnesses portrayed are for those in the hospital, whose cases are more to the extreme. But less extreme cases and scenarios are also presented.
For those looking for romance, though present, it isn't something grand. The relationships are cute but I was indifferent to how they end up. For me, that wasn't a flaw at all. Though I didn't mind who the characters ended with if at all with anyone, I still cared deeply about the characters and enjoyed the growth they go through.
Finally, the way some problems related to mental illness get resolved is more on the unrealistically optimistic side. For me, that still made sense in the context of the drama even if it cannot be found in reality. After all a drama giving introductory lessons about various mental illnesses was showcasing what SHOULD be happening in those cases, not what could. It was part of the lesson.
I highly recommend this drama to anyone, really.
Enough ranting and now on to what made me love this drama. Like most of my favourite dramas, it's all about the characters. They were all flawed in their own way and can be annoying at times, but at the end of the day good people. Beyond the main characters, I enjoyed the subtle growth in friendships shown with supporting characters, relationships that were originally ignored yet later become endearing.
The second aspect that made me enjoy this drama is the consistency in the pacing and not forgetting its initial message. By episode 11, it gets even spelled out for us: no one is immune to mental illness, it can happen to anyone. Having it spelled out might be a bit much, but when I think about the main target viewers I understand and applaud it. While in some countries, mental illness has become known, and less to no stigma to those suffering from it. However, in countries like South Korea, it is still a taboo. And while people try to avoid talking about it, a growing number of their population is suffering from it, and maybe don't get treated on time often (an assumption from the country being from the top countries with high suicide rates). Thinking of this situation makes me appreciate this drama better.
Now when it comes to illnesses, I am sure we are bound to find some flaws with how it was dealt with. The way the nurses dealt with patients didn't always seem the most ideal, or even professional. That being said, this isn't a documentary, it is a drama that is meant to engage us with the stories. It's not about the illnesses, it's about how characters deal with it. I also appreciate how it doesn't just blame outside influences for it. Some of the patients had great support, yet it didn't prevent the illness. Also, most of the illnesses portrayed are for those in the hospital, whose cases are more to the extreme. But less extreme cases and scenarios are also presented.
For those looking for romance, though present, it isn't something grand. The relationships are cute but I was indifferent to how they end up. For me, that wasn't a flaw at all. Though I didn't mind who the characters ended with if at all with anyone, I still cared deeply about the characters and enjoyed the growth they go through.
Finally, the way some problems related to mental illness get resolved is more on the unrealistically optimistic side. For me, that still made sense in the context of the drama even if it cannot be found in reality. After all a drama giving introductory lessons about various mental illnesses was showcasing what SHOULD be happening in those cases, not what could. It was part of the lesson.
I highly recommend this drama to anyone, really.
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