Peridot83
A slow but touching nod to the publishing industry . . .
First off, these slow, poetic K-dramas are generally not my cup of tea, and this one suffered like the others. After the initial well-done aesthetics, and 'cozy' feel are established nothing ... happens. Plus, the romance was very immature for one woman divorced and one man with an established dating history. If you are familiar with the U.S. show Younger that this is based on, this doesn't have the crazy hijinks and cliffhangers, it is quiet and not much happens.
What kept me watching, was the ideal of work that you love, doing it with integrity, and adding value and well-being in the world. If only we could all work like that! It seems like an ideal from another time, and it moved me a lot. Also, the care the show put in to actually portraying the publishing industry with detail.
Acting was competent, music matched the mood, I absolutely will not be rewatching. I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes - 7.5
Putting in the time and work to create and bring art into the world is a responsibility and a lifelong passion. Behaving with integrity may cause pain in the short run, but pays off in the long-run. A minor theme on how hard modern capitalism is on mothers.
Character Growth - 4
No one meaningfully changes or grows, they are the same as of episode 2 as the end. Perhaps, the most disappointing part of the show.
Complex women and relationships between women- 7
There's plenty of screen time between the women in the publishing house, them interacting, mentoring, helping and hurting each other. They are all a bit of a stereotype. Dani, it must be said, is a bit of a blank slate - apparently has no friends or family besides what goes on in the publishing house.
Production/Cinematography - 8
I loved all the different outerwear/coats. The clothing and settings really fit the characters. There was a soft, warm feel to the cinematography that suited the show, and I liked how they shot bookstores and books, but it did not attempt to be very creative cinematically.
First off, these slow, poetic K-dramas are generally not my cup of tea, and this one suffered like the others. After the initial well-done aesthetics, and 'cozy' feel are established nothing ... happens. Plus, the romance was very immature for one woman divorced and one man with an established dating history. If you are familiar with the U.S. show Younger that this is based on, this doesn't have the crazy hijinks and cliffhangers, it is quiet and not much happens.
What kept me watching, was the ideal of work that you love, doing it with integrity, and adding value and well-being in the world. If only we could all work like that! It seems like an ideal from another time, and it moved me a lot. Also, the care the show put in to actually portraying the publishing industry with detail.
Acting was competent, music matched the mood, I absolutely will not be rewatching. I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes - 7.5
Putting in the time and work to create and bring art into the world is a responsibility and a lifelong passion. Behaving with integrity may cause pain in the short run, but pays off in the long-run. A minor theme on how hard modern capitalism is on mothers.
Character Growth - 4
No one meaningfully changes or grows, they are the same as of episode 2 as the end. Perhaps, the most disappointing part of the show.
Complex women and relationships between women- 7
There's plenty of screen time between the women in the publishing house, them interacting, mentoring, helping and hurting each other. They are all a bit of a stereotype. Dani, it must be said, is a bit of a blank slate - apparently has no friends or family besides what goes on in the publishing house.
Production/Cinematography - 8
I loved all the different outerwear/coats. The clothing and settings really fit the characters. There was a soft, warm feel to the cinematography that suited the show, and I liked how they shot bookstores and books, but it did not attempt to be very creative cinematically.
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