Where do I start with this kdrama, or should I say k-trauma, because it felt like that at times. Yet again the writers have messed up what would have been a beautiful, modern love story. The cast were exceptional. They were perfect in their roles. Full of fun, depth of emotion and understanding of what they had to portray in their roles. What let this drama down was the poor script in the latter episodes. From episode one to about ten, we had a great story. A beautiful couple finding their feelings were changing from old family friends to lovers. The intimacy between the male and female leads was so well done that at times I thought are they really a couple in real life.
Where the writers let the story down was the way they brought in the break-up storyline. Yet again going down the predictable storyline of happy, happy, happy relationship, let's bring in more drama by splitting them up, for then to bring them back together later on. As if they didn't have enough problems to overcome with the female lead's mother. A break-up was not needed. For this to be an adult relationship with longevity they needed to stick together and support each other and show the world no matter whatbyou throw at us we can get through it, but no they had to go down the boring predictable break-up route.
Also, why is it they always have to have these toxic, psychotic mothers who hide their awful behaviour behind the pretext of their motherly love, and wanting what's best for their child. Shouldn't their happiness be the number one thing, not whether they are in a high powered job, or dating (with a possibility of marriage) to another high powered, successful man. Both times, when we saw the female in those types of relationships, she was miserable. The first one cheated on her with someone much younger. He also stalked, sexually assaulted, kidnapped, and tried to kill her! W.L.A.F!!! Who in their right mind thinks that is a good relationship. The second one, we see at her brother's wedding. Yet again a self absorbed prick who is constantly on his phone with work. Yeah, I get in his line of work he probably does not get a moments peace, but even at a family event he could not keep off his phone, and then left without saying goodbye because he had to catch a flight. He was never present in their relationship. Throughout the date and the drive home, he was on his phone, and ignored her. I bet he didn't even notice that shebleft his car when they were at a set of traffic lights. Someone like him should not be in a relationship. Even though this was bad enough, her mother when she told her that they had split up, she was still angry with her. He daughter at this time is nearly 40. Leave her alone. You created this situation. Her toxic parenting was responsible for her daughter making those decisions. What she should of done is get a life of her own. Done things with her husband instead of focusing so much on her children and what they got up to. I know the Korean culture is different to ours, and a lot of emphasis is placed on parents and your piotity towards them, but still this was yey again on another level. When are writers/directors going to learn that this level of abuse, especially with adult, independent (she might have lived at home, but she had a professional job) is not OK.
Also the other disappointing thing was the ending. They did the predictable time jump thing that they always do. This time it was 3 years. She was with douch-bag number two, the male lead turned up after 3 years to his best friend's (her brother's) wedding. Loads of awkward interactions with everyone else, but no contact between them. Lots of side looks, and unhappy stares. It took most of episode 16 for them to talk face to face. Still for all to see a deep lingering love between them, but because of their past hurt and their stubbornnes, never resolved their past break-up and trauma.
Eventually in the last 10 minutes or so of the episode they get back together, but it was so lame. They definitely needed another episode or two just to tidy everything up. She was living on Jeju Island. He still had a job in America. Was he going to stay in Korea or was he still going back to America? Never addressed that. Also was his sister, her mother and the rest of her family going to accept her being in a relationship with him again? Never was addressed. How could they live happily ever after? Could they forget their past traumas? Could they move on and be at peace with the relationship as it is. A sort of secret love affair like before? Or were they willing to be open with everyone and be damed with the consequences? So many unanswered questions, that really spoilt what was a lovely modern day love story.
Even the secondary storyline of the female lead's sexual harassment case, was a breath of fresh air. Tackling a very difficult subject matter, that can be understood globally, but yet again they messed up with this storyline. They dragged out, and then did a poor job in resolving it. She didn't get justice, but you find that in a lot of these cases, but the lack of support from her female colleagues I just found gobsmackingly awful. I know women can be bitchy, especially in the workplace, but this was on another level. They deliberately through her under the bus just to save their own skins. It was disgusting to watch. She was literally alone. Her family were no use. Her mother, the toxic mess. Whose idea of love is to make her daughter miserable. Her boyfriend who's idea of support, was to run away. And then her best friend, who what I can gather, had never been in love or ever had a boyfriend/relationship, completely cut her off because of how her brother was treated. She never once put herself in her friend's shoes. The blind date she was forced to go on, because if she didn't she would have been seen as an ungrateful and disrespectful daughter. Even though all she ever did was bend over backwards for her family and friends. Literally a doormat for them to walk all over her. Then her mother having a go at her best friend and boyfriend, in front of everyone. I get why the sister/best friend would be angry, but not once did she think all that vitriol would not hurt her friend too. The two closest people in the world to her. The two people she loved the most, was being abused my her own mother and she didn't know what to do.
Overall the writers missed a whole chunk of the story out. They rushed parts in order to get a 'happy' conclusion, but dragged out some storylines (the sexual harassment part being one). Maybe more episodes might have tidied up the story better, but I believe some of the middle episodes could have been reedited so as to not have such a rushed last episode.
In the end it has great actors playing their roles well. The leads had great chemistry, but the ending was an anticlimax after such a great story build up. The age gap between them was never an issue throughout. In some instances you could be mistaken for her being younger than him. The way he conducted himself, at times, was as if they were the same age, and this made their love story more sweet and their compatibility more true.