This is one of the dramas I binge watched within a few days time. Despite the negative reviews and low ratings I gave this drama a try because I'm a sucker for friends to lovers trope. I got emotionally connected to the drama by the end of the third episode and then it was a compulsive binge watch for me.
What I liked - the flawless complexion of the cast, beautiful ambience, suitable OST, even the costumes of the female lead which made her look elegant and yet simple and sweet. Both ML and SL were so handsome and played their roles well. The friendships among the FL and her besties were quite authentic and the way the various side stories were interwoven kept me invested in their lives as well. One side story was a romcom track by itself and felt cute. The other was too much sadness and the girl was really irritatingly self pitying it felt so frustrating as to why the professor would continue to be in love with her despite how closed off, Secretive and full of pride and selfishness she is. This couple had almost as much storyline as the main couple.
Coming back to the main couple, they had good chemistry at places where they were yet to become a couple. But once they actually became a couple the chemistry felt a bit lacking. I would have expected lot more emotions from the FL for someone who was in love with a person for ten years, and her actual behavior when they became a couple fell short of expectations. The ML is a complete sweetheart once they are a couple and i couldn't understand how such a loving couple who came together after so many years could break up so easily via a phone call. The last 4 episodes were dragged out and full of cliches and yet somehow watchable because by then i had invested interest in all the characters of the show.
Lots of philosophical statements on love and relationships all through. Some relatable and some cliched yet somehow relevant to the tone of the drama.
I also liked that the second ML was good but somehow made not that likeable compared to the ML, so it wasnt really a frustrating love triangle in the real sense and we always know to whom the FL's heart belongs.
What i didnt like
The FL was very open and communicative during the first few episodes about how she felt. But in latter episodes she became closed off and shy in the actual relationship and it felt unnatural. That she would contemplate being the one to initiate a break up felt unreal. The ML has the opposite character development - from zero empathy to becoming a sweetheart over time.
Too many eye rolling cliches in the final few episodes.
Too much Melo for the side characters mom's story - it was just too sad and dragged out.
Overall I would say it was still a good watch for me personally because it got me invested in the lives of all the characters and kept me involved in their world. Yes it was frustrating here and there but then so is real life!