Had so much potential, but left me feeling underwhelmed

I went into this drama excited for a star-crossed lover fantasy romance reminiscent of (but not too similar to) Goblin. Instead, I was left feeling underwhelmed by the lack of depth shown in these characters as the story went on and felt myself comparing it to other Korean dramas that portray topics of sickness and loneliness much more impactfully. It felt like we only scratched the surface of these characters when their stories could have been given much more depth overall.

While the chemistry between Park Boyoung and Seo In Guk was sizzling in the first few episodes, I felt less of a connection between their two characters over time. It was hard for me to picture these two characters actually falling in love with one another for a variety of reasons. I even felt myself getting more interested in the second lead's storyline than the main lead's about halfway through the show. I could actually feel the emotion between the characters, especially the hurt between Cha Joo Ik and Lee Hyun Gyu. The chemistry between Lee Soo Hyuk and Shin Do Hyun was AMAZING. I wish there had been a drama just focused on their storyline.

Scenes that should be heartwrenching, felt bland and non-believable to me as a viewer, sometimes due to the actors themselves (particularly Park Bo Young in some scenes), but mostly due to the writers. And believe me, I am notorious for crying while watching films or tv shows due to good writing. Almost every issue I seemed to have in this show seems to connect back to the writing. From cliche lines to overused plotlines to characters that lacked depth, a lot of issues in this show could have been fixed for me if the show tried to be less like Goblin and more original in telling a fantasy love story (especially towards the end of the show).

Overall, I feel like the storyline was okay, but nothing special, especially in comparison to other fantasy romances produced in the last decade in Korea. The potential to stand out in the current market filled with crime and soapy dramas was there, but the show faltered in the end.

Read More