Trigger warnings: Suicide, Death

First of all, let me tell you that this drama has absolutely wrecked me. I knew what was bound to happen but when it did happen, I was still caught off guard. That last scene was such an emotional moment, something that will forever be engraved in my memory.

I have put off watching this for so long because I was well aware of the tragic backstory and I just didn't know if I can handle it. However, upon watching this, I've realized that Shim Deok and Woo Jin's story is more than just a tragedy. It was also a beautiful story of falling and fighting for love, owning your identity, appreciating art, and finding peace.

I am still conflicted over how the characters resolved the conflict in the end and even before watching this, I couldn't imagine what reasonable reasons would push two people to end their life together. Although, I know I wouldn't be able to fully understand their pain, I had a glimpse of what led to these two people to do what they did and I'm just glad it was for love and they were at peace. Most importantly, they weren't alone, they had each other. The fact that they didn't even falter and waver once and remained resolute with their decision actually haunts me. It's fightening and admirable at the same time. They know the only way they could be together is to leave this world together. They were very flawed people. If you will overanalyze things, some things could've been avoided and dealt with properly and things could've ended differently but at the end of the day, they were just humans struggling to live and to love and facing very real and dangerous situations so I would choose to remember them as two beautiful people who fell in love with art and with each other, then ultimately decided to be somewhere that would be more appreciative of this love.

Shin Hye Sun and Lee Jong Suk were both commendable in their roles. They both inflicted their own touches to Shim Deok and Woo Jin's characters and they have succesfully brought them to life. I am always in awe of Hye Sun and how she always delivers phenomenal performances and her role as Shim Deok wasn't any different. I felt her character's joy and I especially felt her pain. Jong Suk also was quite a revelation in this one. I've loved him since I first knew him but honestly, this was one of his most powerful performances, in my own opinion. I am especially stunned by how their characters didn't even need words in expressing what they're feeling. Their eyes always do most of the talking.

All of the other elements of the show such as the cinematography, the music, the dialogues, the poetry (!!!), and just the overall vibe of it fit so perfectly together. They all complemented each other so much and and everything helped convey such a melancholic retelling but at the same time, a beautiful masterpiece.