gia
a cup of tea
This is one of the first dramas I ever watched and I’m so glad I’ve finally finished it, although it’s a bittersweet feeling, because I feel like I’ve had a piece of me taken away.
As a history student, I have to admit that I’m a little biased towards any storyline related to the past. This drama strikes the perfect balance between the thrilling, nostalgic sights of the 1930s and the modern present day. There is an acute nostalgia and yearning for the past in this drama; though the history we are given is dark and painful, it is also homely.
As well as this, the storytelling is very clever. The slow unravelling of the past which is contrasted against the present is so smart and well done. As the series goes on, more and more parallels are drawn between the characters, their relationships and the storylines. It’s a very satisfying feeling and as a result is very nice to watch. If I’m honest, the first half isn’t as gripping as the last half, but there is a pretty good set up and if you stick with it everything is revealed so perfectly.
The narrative itself is a little slow and, as a lot of people have said before me. is full of filler. Yet the cute and funny scenes give depth and sweetness to the characters and help you get to know them better. The slow and often silly tone of the story adds to the general feel of the show, and therefore I don’t really see the pacing as a flaw. Giving the characters time to interact with each other and have fun together makes the heavy parts of the show (which are excellent) a lot lighter. Generally, the shows atmosphere is moving, funny, and painful, which is coupled with the most perfect soundtrack that is so lovely to listen to and definitely adds to the scenes.
It’s clear though that, other than the atmosphere, the characters in this drama are it’s strongest area. The casting is perfect. Im Soo Jung is particularly strong here, and delivers a complex, hilarious depiction of both a fangirl and a sniper, who are so different and yet so similar. The other lead, Yoo Ah-In, is spectacular in presenting two tortured and interesting characters who are both lovable and irritating. And of course, Jin-oh’s actor is incredible at giving us our perfect second lead, and the other members of the cast are just so good at presenting characters which are morally grey and a delight to watch. The antagonist, Baek Tae-min, is someone who I hate very much, yet he was still so fascinating and complex that I couldn’t look away in his scenes.
What’s interesting about this drama is the flaws it gives it’s characters. It doesn’t shy away from messy personalities, painful backstories and questionable motivations; every character is interesting in their own right. The relationship between them is what drives the story - the main trio are a heartbreaking representation of immortal friendship and their love for each other is so, so heartwarming and at the centre of this story. It will be with me for a long time - I’m not usually a fan of dramas surrounding friendship, but I think I’ve been converted.
The romance was so lovely. Very tender and very heartbreaking. Every romantic scene between the leads was delivered perfectly and always made me either squeal or cry. Definitely a good slow burn. I also like how Yoo Jin was never selfish and always loved Jeon Seol wholeheartedly, and this never ruined any friendships... it’s a more mature take on romance and a love triangle that isn’t suffocating. Plus, the prioritisation of friendship over romance in this drama works so well! I’d say there are many tropes and cliches, which are sometimes a little over the top, but they don’t take away from the story and are super cute.
The ending itself was moving and a good way to wrap up the show, but admittedly I liked scenes prior to the finale a lot more (most notably the goldmine that is episode 15 and some parts of episode 16 were strong). The ambiguity, which is also at the heart of this show, means you can basically form your own ending in your head. Either way, I wasn’t disappointed and I wouldn’t say it was unfulfilling. Each storyline is basically resolved, although some are left untied, but like I said ambiguity is central to the show and you can come to your own conclusions. Most character arcs were well developed and I especially loved the development of Han Se Joo! This show is so good at character development.
Another striking thing about this drama was it’s use of places. Carpe Diem and the writing room are key examples of the use of scenery to add to the story, to the point where they feel like characters. The subsequent use of these sceneries throughout the show just really gives them a sense of familiarity and it’s really nice to watch the characters interact and push forward in the places they call home.
Music, scenery, atmosphere and the characters were all put together perfectly to create a drama with it’s own personality. It isn’t perfect by any means, but it has its own spirit, moving characters and the most heartbreaking of stories that will be so hard to forget.
As a history student, I have to admit that I’m a little biased towards any storyline related to the past. This drama strikes the perfect balance between the thrilling, nostalgic sights of the 1930s and the modern present day. There is an acute nostalgia and yearning for the past in this drama; though the history we are given is dark and painful, it is also homely.
As well as this, the storytelling is very clever. The slow unravelling of the past which is contrasted against the present is so smart and well done. As the series goes on, more and more parallels are drawn between the characters, their relationships and the storylines. It’s a very satisfying feeling and as a result is very nice to watch. If I’m honest, the first half isn’t as gripping as the last half, but there is a pretty good set up and if you stick with it everything is revealed so perfectly.
The narrative itself is a little slow and, as a lot of people have said before me. is full of filler. Yet the cute and funny scenes give depth and sweetness to the characters and help you get to know them better. The slow and often silly tone of the story adds to the general feel of the show, and therefore I don’t really see the pacing as a flaw. Giving the characters time to interact with each other and have fun together makes the heavy parts of the show (which are excellent) a lot lighter. Generally, the shows atmosphere is moving, funny, and painful, which is coupled with the most perfect soundtrack that is so lovely to listen to and definitely adds to the scenes.
It’s clear though that, other than the atmosphere, the characters in this drama are it’s strongest area. The casting is perfect. Im Soo Jung is particularly strong here, and delivers a complex, hilarious depiction of both a fangirl and a sniper, who are so different and yet so similar. The other lead, Yoo Ah-In, is spectacular in presenting two tortured and interesting characters who are both lovable and irritating. And of course, Jin-oh’s actor is incredible at giving us our perfect second lead, and the other members of the cast are just so good at presenting characters which are morally grey and a delight to watch. The antagonist, Baek Tae-min, is someone who I hate very much, yet he was still so fascinating and complex that I couldn’t look away in his scenes.
What’s interesting about this drama is the flaws it gives it’s characters. It doesn’t shy away from messy personalities, painful backstories and questionable motivations; every character is interesting in their own right. The relationship between them is what drives the story - the main trio are a heartbreaking representation of immortal friendship and their love for each other is so, so heartwarming and at the centre of this story. It will be with me for a long time - I’m not usually a fan of dramas surrounding friendship, but I think I’ve been converted.
The romance was so lovely. Very tender and very heartbreaking. Every romantic scene between the leads was delivered perfectly and always made me either squeal or cry. Definitely a good slow burn. I also like how Yoo Jin was never selfish and always loved Jeon Seol wholeheartedly, and this never ruined any friendships... it’s a more mature take on romance and a love triangle that isn’t suffocating. Plus, the prioritisation of friendship over romance in this drama works so well! I’d say there are many tropes and cliches, which are sometimes a little over the top, but they don’t take away from the story and are super cute.
The ending itself was moving and a good way to wrap up the show, but admittedly I liked scenes prior to the finale a lot more (most notably the goldmine that is episode 15 and some parts of episode 16 were strong). The ambiguity, which is also at the heart of this show, means you can basically form your own ending in your head. Either way, I wasn’t disappointed and I wouldn’t say it was unfulfilling. Each storyline is basically resolved, although some are left untied, but like I said ambiguity is central to the show and you can come to your own conclusions. Most character arcs were well developed and I especially loved the development of Han Se Joo! This show is so good at character development.
Another striking thing about this drama was it’s use of places. Carpe Diem and the writing room are key examples of the use of scenery to add to the story, to the point where they feel like characters. The subsequent use of these sceneries throughout the show just really gives them a sense of familiarity and it’s really nice to watch the characters interact and push forward in the places they call home.
Music, scenery, atmosphere and the characters were all put together perfectly to create a drama with it’s own personality. It isn’t perfect by any means, but it has its own spirit, moving characters and the most heartbreaking of stories that will be so hard to forget.
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