The moral of the story is this: time passes, so be a person of integrity. Whether you die tomorrow or 80 years from now, let honorable (not easy) choices become a habit.
I had initially planned to skip this drama altogether, as light and fluffy rom-coms aren't my cup of tea. Given the concurrent dearth of quality entertainment issuing from S. Korea, however, I decided that, rather than read a book or go outside, I'd try this. And how pleased I am that I did.
I am no expert critic, so pardon the shortcomings of this review. The story is simple, maybe even a tad superficial, but it somehow manages to be compelling, meaningful, and, of course, enjoyable. Today, innocent, feel-good (about your fellow man, mostly) dramas are becoming rarer and rarer. The writing and character development are good without being complicated or even very unique. As it turns out, uniqueness and complexity are often overrated.
What I especially enjoyed about this drama--or, rather, what impacted me most-- was its clear yet subdued depiction of what it means (and doesn't mean) to be a good man (and, by that same token, a good woman, but this drama especially focuses on masculinity). The protagonist and several non-villainous male characters of this drama develop so markedly from whimpering, whining wimps, to becoming men who take responsibility for their behavior and choices, who defend their families and friends, sacrifice themselves, their desires, and even their pride. In an age where people of both sexes are largely self-involved to the point of obsession, and yet confused about who they are, it was refreshing to see a purer representation of (eventually) healthy attitudes (sometimes exemplified by unhealthy ones). As soon as the male protagonist's attitude changes for the better, so does the attitude of the female lead. They both become less selfish and egocentric as they put the needs of the other before their own. It's quite a simple concept, and yet it's depicted so rarely these days.