finem
Netherlands
This review may contain spoilers
Uncontrollably moving
Many of the reviews on My Drama List of 'Uncontrollably Fond' stress the aspect of melodrama noting that much of the emotional weight of the drama is created by exaggerated situations. Contrary to my fellow drama lovers, I was struck by the characters, not in the least one-dimensional - and how the writers took stereotypical archetypes, the celebrity male and the downtrodden but hardworking female - and developed the story around their response to each other and their different but equally difficult circumstances.
How a 28 year old celebrity on top of the world deals with a death sentence from a deadly disease is believable and touching. The way he deals with the sure realisation that his time is limited, the growth he achieves as a human being during that short time, and those few days and weeks of total happiness with the woman he loves makes his gentle death beautiful and true. Kim Woo-Bin acts this complex character with a perfect balance of bravado and subtlety. The moments where he rebels against his cruel fate are few but powerful; his acceptance of his fate also allows him to do whatever it takes to express his love for No Eul, played by Bae Suzy. Her character is even more complex; her striving for acceptance and success as well as her desire to punish her father's murderer show Bae Suzy's confidence and range. I don't know why several other reviews find her acting sub-par. I found her performance detailed, strong, and fully credible.
The villains are exactly that though at least one, Choi Hyeon-joon (Yu Oh-seong) redeems himself. The secondary parts, their stories, loves, deceptions, and daily lives are effectively portrayed and help add color and detail to the story.
As effective as the OST songs are, even more compelling is the orchestral soundtrack which knits scenes together enhance the emotions being portrayed. It is one of the best scored dramas precisely because the music is not just about the songs, well done and effective as they are.
This is one of those dramas which got better and better. I'm not a crier but the last episode brought on the tears. I'll definitely rewatch this.
How a 28 year old celebrity on top of the world deals with a death sentence from a deadly disease is believable and touching. The way he deals with the sure realisation that his time is limited, the growth he achieves as a human being during that short time, and those few days and weeks of total happiness with the woman he loves makes his gentle death beautiful and true. Kim Woo-Bin acts this complex character with a perfect balance of bravado and subtlety. The moments where he rebels against his cruel fate are few but powerful; his acceptance of his fate also allows him to do whatever it takes to express his love for No Eul, played by Bae Suzy. Her character is even more complex; her striving for acceptance and success as well as her desire to punish her father's murderer show Bae Suzy's confidence and range. I don't know why several other reviews find her acting sub-par. I found her performance detailed, strong, and fully credible.
The villains are exactly that though at least one, Choi Hyeon-joon (Yu Oh-seong) redeems himself. The secondary parts, their stories, loves, deceptions, and daily lives are effectively portrayed and help add color and detail to the story.
As effective as the OST songs are, even more compelling is the orchestral soundtrack which knits scenes together enhance the emotions being portrayed. It is one of the best scored dramas precisely because the music is not just about the songs, well done and effective as they are.
This is one of those dramas which got better and better. I'm not a crier but the last episode brought on the tears. I'll definitely rewatch this.
Was this review helpful to you?
