irmar
One of the very best!
This drama was awesome. The script was clever, profound and gripping and raising a multitude of issues! Corporate greed vs. human lives is one, but it touches on so much more. Work ethics, personal ethics, ideals versus reality, viable compromise, ways to survive without losing one's humanity. Friendship, sacrifice, brotherly love, personal dignity, trust. Even mental illness as a coping mechanism.
I don't know why and how, but on reading the synopsis one might think that the subject matter is dry and potentially boring, but in reality it's more gripping than a wild West adventure and you can't wait to see how it's going to unfold. There's never a dull moment, or a slackening of pace, even in the introspective moments with interior monologue which are possibly the weakest, but still play their role.
The two (three? four?) love stories are organic to the plot, they are not an afterthought, and they even help the plot go forward and the characters evolve.
The characters are all flawed, there isn't one perfectly "good guy" without any weaknesses, there isn't one bad guy (except for one) that doesn't have a good side to him/her. Every character richly detailed and developed with plenty of nuance. Even the chauffeur or a nurse we only see occasionally, all characters have been taken care of. This is so rare in k-drama.
The direction brought every detail of this masterful script to life, with the help of a group of extremely talented actors, each and every one of them on top of his/her game, down to the last role.
A special mention goes to the main lead - who is Cho Seung Woo, not Lee Dong Wook. He really makes the difference in this drama, shining bright.
It's not a drama to watch in a leisurely, distracted way while doing something else, or when you're sleepy. Maybe also not if you are under 18. I think that I wouldn't have enjoyed it when I was a teenager, but then today's teenagers might be different. It does require concentration, because so much is going on all the time. But you'll be amply rewarded for your attention, it's so enjoyable! And yes, it does have a happy ending - or as happy as possible, which will leave you smiling and satisfied.
I don't know why and how, but on reading the synopsis one might think that the subject matter is dry and potentially boring, but in reality it's more gripping than a wild West adventure and you can't wait to see how it's going to unfold. There's never a dull moment, or a slackening of pace, even in the introspective moments with interior monologue which are possibly the weakest, but still play their role.
The two (three? four?) love stories are organic to the plot, they are not an afterthought, and they even help the plot go forward and the characters evolve.
The characters are all flawed, there isn't one perfectly "good guy" without any weaknesses, there isn't one bad guy (except for one) that doesn't have a good side to him/her. Every character richly detailed and developed with plenty of nuance. Even the chauffeur or a nurse we only see occasionally, all characters have been taken care of. This is so rare in k-drama.
The direction brought every detail of this masterful script to life, with the help of a group of extremely talented actors, each and every one of them on top of his/her game, down to the last role.
A special mention goes to the main lead - who is Cho Seung Woo, not Lee Dong Wook. He really makes the difference in this drama, shining bright.
It's not a drama to watch in a leisurely, distracted way while doing something else, or when you're sleepy. Maybe also not if you are under 18. I think that I wouldn't have enjoyed it when I was a teenager, but then today's teenagers might be different. It does require concentration, because so much is going on all the time. But you'll be amply rewarded for your attention, it's so enjoyable! And yes, it does have a happy ending - or as happy as possible, which will leave you smiling and satisfied.
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