Every drama fan wants to escape into a drama, but we all have different criteria for the kind of escape we want (or perhaps your mood changes it). My criteria is always the same: I want an escape that moves me, makes me examine myself or society at large, or creates intense emotional turmoil within me. 'My Dearest' perfectly bottled that escape and spoon-fed me enough of it each week to create such intense obsession levels within my very soul. I personally land on the side that it's a drama worthy of its hype-level bombardment. If you're someone that wants a similar kind of escape as me, this drama will certainly sate that addiction.

Gil Chae and Jang Hyun are put through A LOT. Their initial silliness, selfishness, and immaturity take an intensely dramatic turn—the potent need for survival and the protection of those they hold most dear take the reigns (nothing could be more important). Through the course of the drama, they evolve into their strongest and best versions of themselves. Their character arcs are largely absent from each other. But in those moments where they happen to converge, it's beautiful sparks of devotion—pieces laid on the ground between them that they can't quite trust or merge into a full picture (but that they intensely look forward to nevertheless). It's angst in its most beautiful and pure form, and I consumed every second of it STRAIGHT into my angst-loving veins.

This drama ensnared and stamped an indelible mark on ALL my emotions. The journey was hard wrought, but intensely beautiful. The depiction of wartime: unparalleled. The focus on this specific time period: unique. The evolution of the FL from an immature young woman, to a responsible and enduring survivalist: satisfying. The characterization of our male lead Jang Hyun—brought to life by Namkoong Min: career definingly brilliant.

May the wait for Part 2 in October be short.
May we all find other dramas in the meantime to feed our addiction.