There are many, many things that make Thirty But Seventeen worth watching. But the thing that most makes me want to convince anyone reading this to give this drama a try is something so subjective and so intangible that it's hard to even put into words. Watching Thirty But Seventeen and getting to know its band of characters left me feeling each week the same way I feel when I've had a chance to spend time with a friend I really, really love, someone who I know I can trust to understand me and comfort me just as I would them. It's this sensation of shared nostalgia... or some unwavering, mutual affection.

The sheer amount of heart that saturates every moment of this show is what sets it apart from other dramas.

The latest entry in the newly minted "healing drama" genre (and arguably, the best yet), Thirty But Seventeen details the intertwined lives of Woo Seo Ri and Gong Woo Jin, allowing us to slowly unfold both their shared traumas and the bond that they build to overcome said traumas, together.

The story is driven by emotional and character progression beats, rather than plot points and adrenaline. The world that they've created around the story is a magical one, something like a modern day fairytale. Maybe a retelling of Sleeping Beauty?

The acting is wonderful. Shin Hye Sun is perfect as Seo Ri, giving the character equal parts vulnerability and innocent whimsy. And Yang Se Jong stole the show, honestly. Every time he cried, my heart just shattered. His portrayal of the traumatized Woo Jin made me say, "This man may not have been in a coma, but he's been trapped in stasis since the age of 17 too" long, long before the show drove that point home in the dialogue itself.

And the supporting cast were what really made the show shine. The little found family who all grow together and support each other, full to the brim with kindness and the best intentions... throw in a sweet little applehead chihuahua named Paeng, and we the audience really never stood a chance, did we? How do you NOT fall in love with them?

I've stopped including the music in most of the reviews that I write, because honestly most shows don't use their soundtracks to their full advantage. But in this case, the music was spot on... the classical songs that they chose to incorporate into the storyline directly fit perfectly, and the OST while having a limited number of tracks managed to include some really beautiful, heartfelt songs that worked gorgeously in the scenes that they chose.

Actually, now that I'm sort of on the subject, I really want to give a shoutout to whoever did the editing for this show in general. Multiple times, I couldn't help but notice just how stunning the editing was. Particularly in the scenes where Woo Jin or Seo Ri are having flashbacks... the way that the past and present seemed to melt together, combined with the sound editing choices... it was really incredible. I would rewatch this show solely for those scenes, to be honest.

Anyway, this review has gotten a little bit away from me, and I think I'm probably just rambling now. But suffice it to say, this drama is one of the few that I wholeheartedly and without any reservations love, and I hope that as many people as possible will watch and be touched by this story and these characters too.