I really loved this drama, it shot right to the top of my cdrama list. Some things it did so well:
- The chemistry between the leads. It’s palpable.
- The plot is actually interesting, I’m not using the fast forward button at all.
- The FL is smart and principled and makes her own choices even though everyone around her is trying to tell her what to do.
- The ML is both flawed and deeply sympathetic - even when I think he’s making bad choices I completely get why.
- The villains are also believable and the show manages to pull off a betrayal that I both completely buy and also found kind of shocking.
- The music is good enough to have me using my detective skills to find these mando tracks.
- It somehow managed to use the noble idiocy trope in a way that did not infuriate me.
- The pacing is also excellent - this drama knows exactly when it’s time to move into the next phase of the story.
- The couple dynamic is a perfect blend of sincere affection, respectful partnership, and absolutely roasting each other.
- And most importantly: it gives us a slow burn enemies to lovers romance with the same couple *twice* and both times are excellent.

And one thing it really botched:
- The end of the main plot between the leads and their frenemy. You can’t build up a revenge plot for that long only to wimp out and give the villain a brain tumor and wholly unearned redemption at the end. It was hugely disappointing and the only major weak spot in the otherwise great writing.