This drama really caught me by surprise. I read so many great reviews, but based on the synopsis, and the length, I honestly expected to drop it. Instead, I couldn't stop watching. I had no idea what I was getting myself into watching the first episode, but I felt like I blinked and I was suddenly laughing and crying through episode 30. I avoided this drama in the past, because of the amount of episodes, but It felt shorter than some dramas with almost half the amount of episodes. I guess this qualifies as a textbook "makjang" drama, so yes the plot gets pretty unbelievable. What made even the most ridiculous parts of the plot work for me was that I genuinely cared about the characters.
The cast really was amazing... mostly. The chemistry between all the characters kept me engaged, even when the plot was a little wtf. There were some moments when the acting was so over the top that it was comical, which probably has a lot to do with the style of drama, so that's the only reason I didn't give the acting/cast a 10.
Hwang Jung Eum's spunk in other dramas makes sense to me now. Even though Kill Me, Heal Me is one of my drama favorites, this is definitely a close second for my favorite role I've seen her in. Honestly, her perky personality can be a little annoying, but it was perfect for portraying Woo Ri. Then there's Kim Jae Won, with that cute smile - the kind of smile that makes me smile involuntarily. I adored the way he played Dong Joo without milking the role for sympathy. I also have to applaud the writers for making him a strong character, and not just a victim. In fact, neither were victims, which was refreshing. I couldn't get enough of their chemistry too. They had so many instant rewind-worthy cute scenes. They really were a great, and believable, match.
It would take too long to sing the whole cast's praises, but honorable mentions to Nam Gung Min as moody Ma Roo, Lee Hye Young as "Mommy Dearest" Tae Hyun Sook, forever friendzoned Lee Kyu Han as Seung Chul (will he ever get the girl?), Yoon Yeo Jeong as potty mouth halmeoni, and the perfectly cast younger versions... The only cast member I didn't like was Kang Moon Young, who's face was honestly distracting, and her character Shin Ae was one note until the very end. The True MVP of the cast is Jeong Bo Seok as Bong Young Kyu. I wasn't sure what to make of the character at first, but by the end he was the character that made me cry, and laugh, and showed unexpected depth. I would rate his acting well above a 10.
The writers did a great job keeping the show entertaining from start to finish. The drama itself is part love story and part corporate family drama. The love story, from the very beginning, had me hooked because it was so sweet. It had the obvious obstacles that happen in most kdrama romances, but the real focus was on their connection, and support for each other, which made me love their relationship more. The corporate drama, which normally I start to zone out on, actually kept me engaged too, because of Cha Dong Joo and Jang Joon Ha's bromance. Backstabbing, jealousy, and revenge can get pretty boring when the characters are shallow, but because the relationships were so strong, I was totally engaged. That's why I gave this drama a high rewatch value. I could definitely see myself watching this again.
I will also give music a 10 because it plays such a huge part in the story. Music brings Dong Joo and Woo Ri together. Music is how the family gets through hard times. It's not that the soundtrack is exceptional as much as how much the music connected me more to the drama. One scene where Dong Joo sings is a perfect example of how a song doesn't have to be beautiful to convey a beautiful moment.
Overall, the theme of this drama is family, the kind of family that goes far beyond blood relationships. It conveys that in beautiful, touching, and bizarre ways (Kim Yeo Jin, I'm looking at you). With that theme in mind, there were no lost moments in this drama for me, and even the ridiculous started to make sense. The final episode is where the theme really hit home for me, and the ending was absolutely perfect.
This drama is probably not for everyone, and is a pretty big commitment, but I would recommend people giving it a try. I know I am now no longer going to avoid a drama based simply on episode count, because time flies when you're having fun (even when "fun" means crying your eyes out, or yelling at the screen).
This is the kind of drama that you can't enjoy if you watch it with a logical brain, you have to watch it with an open heart to really enjoy it.
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