But I don't care - ultimately, I still adore this show, because the characters and relationships are so endearing. Joo Rin is really a great protagonist. She habitually lies in the beginning (albeit usually for understandable reasons), and she is also sometimes temperamental and petty. But she's also loving, kind, funny, and charming. In other words, she is likable, but flawed and genuine. Gong Chan, likewise, achieves a perfect balance of traits. He is sometimes arrogant, but also modest and hardworking. He seems tough and rigid, but he actually leans more towards being softhearted and kind. Lee Dong Wook instills a very warm quality in his character. I question whether another actress and actor could have brought these two characters alive in such a beautiful way. (Side note: I did actually see the Philippine remake of this story first. I enjoyed it, but this version is better.)
The talented Lee Joon Gi is also wonderful in this; I love his character's expressiveness and cheekiness. I also love the Seol family, even if I think the romance between In Sun and Il Do could have been ~a bit~ less dramatic at times. Although Gong Chan's grandfather is actually rather awful in a way, his actor does so well at playing up his sweet and charming side. The weakest link for me, hands down, was Se Hyun. I understand she's supposed to be an antagonist, but after a certain point, she seems to outstay her role in the show.
I really love the music. It is memorable and does a great job at enhancing the emotional quality of scenes. Overall, I really enjoyed the narrative. The ending is satisfying without being too unrealistic; the two main characters do suffer the consequences for their deception. I might favor My Girl a little because it was one of the first Asian dramas I saw, but I still think it's a fun show and I'll probably watch it again in a year or so. If you haven't seen it, give it a go. :)
Was this review helpful to you?