This show seems shallow on the surface but after watching it unfold week by week it developed into a show that had me watching two people slowly and deeply fall in love in a way that I haven't seen much of in Kdramas.
Normally I'm not a fan of Cinderella dramas because the ML never seems to truly understand how the real world works and it always feels like the power imbalance is off by too much. I get irritated by how forgiving the seemingly strong FL lead is and wonder if after the drama is over, their marriage turns into the hate-toxic one the ML's parents usually have written.
I was worried that this might be the case with how clueless he seems about everything outside his rich bubble, but that wasn't the case with this drama.
I liked that she wasn't teaching him how to be an adult, to have empathy for others or just outright teaching him to be a person as though she was his mother. She was just being herself around him, honestly speaking her mind and by being by her side he opened his own mind to things outside of his perspective.
She refused to change who she is, refusing to stop smiling or letting negativity seep into her self worth and her mental strength is amazing. She solved problems in her own way, using her own experience in life to be the best she could and follow her dreams.
I really enjoyed that there were actual consequences to his initial attention. His games and attempts at grand gestures were seen as inappropriate and often blew up in his face. I appreciated that we got to see the consequences of these moments and it wasn't done with the usual Kdrama clichés. Because in reality, his seemingly big romance gestures could have harmed her reputation and in past dramas, this would have been brushed over and forgiven because he "wouldn't have known."
The initial jealousy from others who already think low of her due to her education was realistic and the face that there were supportive people too made that usual impending doom of potential bullying scenes disappear because again, she was able to use everything in her arsenal to win them over that it would have felt hollow without a peer whose joy I could vicariously live through.
The practised smile she held throughout the show became more and more genuine as did his, their awkward photoshoot a stark contrast to their shared smile over his part timer interview.
When he approached her honestly and without all the flair, it became perfect to me. It played into is dislike for fakeness and the change in proposal solidified that for me.
There is no unnecessary breaks-ups or love triangles and they actually voice their thoughts and feelings like mature adults. This blooms into a beautiful romance that had me squealing like a giddy teenager whenever they pulled something obnoxiously cute (that restaurant photo got me!)
My only negative would have been the ML's family. I feel as though there could have been more there, especially with the father and the sister. I would have loved to have seen him grow an understanding and earnest bond with his sister, to share in the things he'd learned and heal from her feelings of neglect from childhood.