*outline*
I wasn't expecting to like this drama as much as I did. The fact that the story has so many twists and turns not only makes the series more dramatic, but also adds a perfect amount of heartbreak, shock/surprise, and love. I felt empathetic and sympathetic throughout, something to credit the actors for. The pacing was perfect till the very end.


*thorough*
STORY : Having a screenwriter write up a story based around North Korea was quite innovative, so it really caught my eye when it was introduced to me. This gave us a break from the cliche Korean story lines we usually find, not that they're any bad but I felt refreshed. The whole drama up until the last episode were really good. My emotions were being played with, which is a good thing of course. However, that sort of changed in the last episode. Episode 16 didn't exactly live up to my expectations which were slowly being built throughout. It's almost as though the screenwriter and Director got tired of the drama and just wanted it to finish quickly. But that's my own take on things... I just feel that the ending should've been a little different. In conclusion, the pacing was off for Episode 16.

ACTING/CAST : I found myself being hit by various moods and emotions because of the actors. They portrayed their roles perfectly. I felt all the love, heartbreak, shock, and even the war. The best played out role was definitely the antagonists. You'll only realize when he's defeated, just how much of a lonely life he's lived. Unlike other antagonists, he didn't use this as an excuse (maybe to even reform), it just showed how deserving of his end was.

MUSIC : Okay, I'm sorry, but I hated CLOY's OSTs. From the very beginning. Literally. It did nothing for me, definitely not set the mood. I only remember two songs now that I think about it... Is that all there were? Meh, not like I'm gonna look for them anyways. The intro was the most disappointing one for me, so I just skipped all of them on the first beat. The other OST I remember was the one that was played during every sad scene (or love scene? or both?). It was decent enough to be able to listen to, and it even set some of the scenes.

REWATCH VALUE : This drama was way too long to sit through. If there were more episodes which were also shorter in time length, maybe I'd be willing to rewatch it. But I doubt that's going to happen. And even in the ending, the Yoon Se Ri and Ri Jung Hyuk aren't that memorable as a couple. Apparently they're dating in real life, but I find it hard to believe how they must act in real life because the love really wasn't portrayed. I 'aw'ed at the love scenes because of the innocence to it, despite them both being quite... erm- well, older than average Korean actors and actresses today. However, it felt very dry otherwise...


*p.s.*
I would definitely recommend this to someone, even if they've been watching K-dramas for a while. It's an amazing drama and it definitely deserves its high ratings. I really vibed with the drama and it was continuously interesting.


*recommendations*
'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim' if you're looking for more rom-com