HUUUUGE SECOND LEAD SYNDROME (long review read at your own risk lol)

I thought this drama was pretty good, it had an amazing casting and was overall an okay drama. I didn't like a lot of things about it though, in my opinion, they completely wasted many opportunities to give us depth about the second lead characters such as Han Seojun and Kang Soojin, and make the overall show more enjoyable. The female mc (Lim Ju Gyeong) didn't really have the type of character development I would remember because it happened in an instant. This concept seemed overused and became more dragging like the webtoon, but I will say I absolutely loved the OST for this show. My favorites were definitely "Fall in You' and "It Starts Today", they had many great tracks that I occasionally listen to.

The moral story was lacking for me and rather than a feel-good confidence drama it ended up like any other romance cliche, which isn't bad, but considering the casting, I would've expected more from the plot as well. In all honestly, I wouldn't have continued to watch the show if it hadn't been for the second leads and side characters, their small moments in the show compensated for it, but the person who really stole it for me was Han Seojun. I really learned a lot from him watching the show and as a die-hard team Seojun, I was incredibly disappointed with the ending. The ending closed as many holes as possible in the vaguest and unsatisfying way possible which was really sad because it had so much potential. The female lead was also a basic pushover who was oblivious to everything and not very interesting personally.

This show followed so many cliches, it isn't the type of drama that gets you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next or who she is going to end up with, instead, they make it painfully obvious who she's going to end up with. This show was advertised as a "love triangle" when in reality that wasn't it at all, it was just Suho and Jugyeongs love story with Seojun being the sweetest guy ever and getting absolutely nothing in return, he got the worst ending out of all of them. Would not recommend it as a classic "love triangle" drama when the female lead showed absolutely no interest, as no interest, nothing towards the second lead. Just once I would've liked to see that first love isn't final love because that trope is so overused in my opinion.

Hwang In Yeop and Moon Ga Young had the type of chemistry that I would expect from the main couple, seriously every scene of them together made my heart skip several beats and I was blushing like crazy. HIY just continued to surprise me with his acting skillset throughout the series, I remember the amount of hate he was getting when he was first announced in the casting because he was 30 at the time and a rookie actor, but what I saw from him in the drama was a whole new level. I wouldn't write this review if I said I didn't know my way around kdramas, I've watched several of them and when I'm telling you his acting stole the whole show I mean it. This man is the true definition of 18 again and his acting was so incredible it seemed like he has been doing it for years. Quite embarrassing to admit but going into this I thought I was going to be in team Suho because of how much I love Eunwoo but ended up making a whole fan account of Hwang In Yeop instead because of his visuals and talent.

Would I recommend this show to anyone? Not really, unless of course, you're a sucker for cold rich boys with daddy issues, a diehard Eunwoo fan, or someone who loves cliche romances.

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