Tropes that fit perfectly to my taste, but not without flaws
This drama was perfectly my cup of tea that I feel I can sip on for years to come. The dialogue between the three central characters So Bin, Soo Hyun, and Jun was healing, heartfelt, and thoughtful. As the viewers navigate each character's story we are meant to understand the hardships of youth and the necessity of having love and support from others. Our three leads learn how to conquer their complexes and express their vulnerabilities to each other as they heal one another's wounds.
After reading other reviews, I understand the romance between So Bin and Jun was controversial; however, from the perspective of someone that went in with no previous knowledge of the webtoon, I found the romance to be enjoyable. Both characters learned how to grew together, its just a shame their growth (and chemistry) was nowhere near as grand as Jun and Soohyun's. I enjoyed that Jun found something of a family he always craved for with So Bin as a maternal presence and Soo Hyun as an older brother. Every scene with these three were irreplaceable and the quality of conversation between them is something rarely seen in dramas.
Now for the bad...
Personally, the most frustrating part about this drama were the side characters and their criminally underdeveloped plots. I understand the series was shorter than most (12 episodes rather than 16) and many plots fell to the wayside in order to highlight the OT3 (scenes which I wouldn't give up for anything); however, the writer should have understood this limitation from the beginning and should have removed some of these characters to allow others more time to flourish.
So Bin's roommate Mi Joo: Literally a paper thin character with virtually no past, no personality, and no character development. The majority of her scenes were cringe-y and hard to watch, and she just sort of vanishes by the end of the show.
Young Ran: who had an incredibly intriguing character but kind of appeared out of no where with no real flashbacks to help us understand her current and past relationship with Soo Hyun.
So Bin's childhood crush Chan Ki: For what this character was, he honestly had too much screentime. If they were going to keep him within the tormented "too late to see what they have till its gone" trope then what was the point of giving him a scene in every episode with zero character growth?
So Bin's mother: could have offered an intimate look into So Bin's past and current living state; however, her plot was entirely dropped after one meeting.
Research Team: Hye Jin, Jung Ho, and Chun Gook. Each character felt like they were used as plot devices to create tension within each episode with nearly no growth. I'm totally okay with this except the writers obviously wanted us to develop some sort of positive feelings toward them by the end with the sentimentality of the video project.
Professor Park: was such an integral part of the character development and story theme that it felt like such a waste to pair him with Professor Song who provided almost nothing to the plot. His character would have been much stronger if he had had more scenes with his students like the meal he shared with Soo Hyun.
Jun's brother Jun Wan: who's entire complex past of trauma, sacrifice, and hardships were summed up in one flashback.
Goo Hyeon: who could have provided further insight into Soo Hyun's family dynamic, but his appearances were also cut short after a couple meetings with Soo Hyun to provide tension between Soo Hyun and Jun.
If more attention had been paid to these side characters, it would have taken this show to the next level.
Overall, this is one for the books. I understand from an unbiased perspective this drama had many flaws, but I truly and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
After reading other reviews, I understand the romance between So Bin and Jun was controversial; however, from the perspective of someone that went in with no previous knowledge of the webtoon, I found the romance to be enjoyable. Both characters learned how to grew together, its just a shame their growth (and chemistry) was nowhere near as grand as Jun and Soohyun's. I enjoyed that Jun found something of a family he always craved for with So Bin as a maternal presence and Soo Hyun as an older brother. Every scene with these three were irreplaceable and the quality of conversation between them is something rarely seen in dramas.
Now for the bad...
Personally, the most frustrating part about this drama were the side characters and their criminally underdeveloped plots. I understand the series was shorter than most (12 episodes rather than 16) and many plots fell to the wayside in order to highlight the OT3 (scenes which I wouldn't give up for anything); however, the writer should have understood this limitation from the beginning and should have removed some of these characters to allow others more time to flourish.
So Bin's roommate Mi Joo: Literally a paper thin character with virtually no past, no personality, and no character development. The majority of her scenes were cringe-y and hard to watch, and she just sort of vanishes by the end of the show.
Young Ran: who had an incredibly intriguing character but kind of appeared out of no where with no real flashbacks to help us understand her current and past relationship with Soo Hyun.
So Bin's childhood crush Chan Ki: For what this character was, he honestly had too much screentime. If they were going to keep him within the tormented "too late to see what they have till its gone" trope then what was the point of giving him a scene in every episode with zero character growth?
So Bin's mother: could have offered an intimate look into So Bin's past and current living state; however, her plot was entirely dropped after one meeting.
Research Team: Hye Jin, Jung Ho, and Chun Gook. Each character felt like they were used as plot devices to create tension within each episode with nearly no growth. I'm totally okay with this except the writers obviously wanted us to develop some sort of positive feelings toward them by the end with the sentimentality of the video project.
Professor Park: was such an integral part of the character development and story theme that it felt like such a waste to pair him with Professor Song who provided almost nothing to the plot. His character would have been much stronger if he had had more scenes with his students like the meal he shared with Soo Hyun.
Jun's brother Jun Wan: who's entire complex past of trauma, sacrifice, and hardships were summed up in one flashback.
Goo Hyeon: who could have provided further insight into Soo Hyun's family dynamic, but his appearances were also cut short after a couple meetings with Soo Hyun to provide tension between Soo Hyun and Jun.
If more attention had been paid to these side characters, it would have taken this show to the next level.
Overall, this is one for the books. I understand from an unbiased perspective this drama had many flaws, but I truly and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
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