Simply put, the best (drama) series I have ever seen.
This is one wonderful drama with phenomenal acting from the lead actors, excellent OST, very good camera and directing, and very good script.I discovered this drama by coincidence after watching (and being a bit disappointed with) Crash Landing on You and was not sure I wanted to watch it. What a gem would I miss! While watching the first episode, I was not sure about the main male lead (Lee Min Ki), he felt kind of annoying to me. But Jung So Min as his co-lead kept me in. The end of ep 1 started to give me good vibes and the ep 2 landed like a hammer and made me hooked for the rest of the series (and for life).
There is not much yelling or over-the-top emotional gestures in this drama, definitely none between the main leads. They don't need them to tell us the story. Jung So Min and Lee Min Ki make you _feel_ their emotions. The way they talk, the words they use, the way they look at each other, or the way they just remain silent, the softness and sincereness in their eyes, the unconditional respect they show for each other - right from the first time they meet, the way they interact somehow creates magic and feels often very pure and intimate without touching or any skin being showed. This is what a true chemistry between characters is - the feeling of the gravity that pulls the two together with the force of the universe. Some scenes felt so real I felt like I was an uninvited observer who had no business watching and hearing their conversations and interactions.
Lee Min Ki's character has very limited space for expressing emotions. What he does though is he uses his eyes and subtle changes in his voice and face to open the window into his soul. Surprise, confusion, regret, compassion, respect, love - all of them. I had to replay some scenes many times just to comprehend and repeatedly enjoy what he was doing. An absolute mastery of acting.
Jung So Min has much more space and she uses it perfectly. There are particular scenes in the series which require absolute world class acting to feel real. I have never seen any other actress of all movies I ever watched, mind you, who would portray them more authentically and with the feels.
Them together felt like the most real unreal couple in any series, their chemistry was just off the charts. I just wish there was a continuation of this drama, I could honestly watch these two just sitting on the couch having a casual conversation.
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