|| OVERALL ||

A very well-rounded drama that made me feel wholesome by the end of it. The reason it deserves a high rating is the fantastic acting, excellent OST, and interesting plot premise. My main complaint is that the main plot could have more depth or be explored more instead of spending so much time on the side plots. However the chemistry between main and supporting characters enabled flaws to be overlooked so I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The drama deserved the high viewership ratings it got which I couldn't say the same about some other highly rated dramas I watched.

**I recommend this drama to those that enjoy a wide variety of drama genres. Also to those that could appreciate the director’s / writer’s choices in seemingly trivial details. Certain phrases that are repeated, props that are chosen, among other details show the depth of the relationships, so if you were to pick up on that the drama will be much more enjoyable. There are parts that are unrealistic but needed to move the story along so not being too nitpicky on those can also improve the viewing experience.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - Given the inaccessibility of North Korea, the general idea of the drama to begin with is quite interesting as we get a glimpse of what their lifestyle is like. There is also an even split of showing how South and North Koreans cope in each others’ cultures which was interesting.
*Genre – Excellent balance of romance, comedy, action, melodrama in each episode. Whatever drama you like, each episode will have at least one scene that caters to your tastes. Even in the most serious and sad episodes there are still elements of comedy. However, this could also be seen as a flaw as scenes in the genre you prefer less may seem boring, so you might enjoy the drama less if you have very specific preferences.
*Main Plot / Love Line – To enjoy the drama, it is important to realize and accept that there will be unrealistic parts. Otherwise, the main plot was quite good. The romance exhibited was very mature and straightforward which was very fitting. Each episode had a romance scene that was touching / cute which catered to what I like in a drama. The only comment I have would be that the main plot could be explored or explained more, as some parts seemed rather shallow and progressed way too quickly just to give time to side plots.
*Side Plot / Love Line(s) – The main plot was shared with quite a lot of other characters (second love line, JH’s infantry, North Korean villagers, SR’s family, among others) which could be good and bad. Good in the sense that in certain scenes they really add to the main plot whether it be humour or just to move the plot along. A flaw in the sense that there were times when I wanted to just skip the side plots. Personally, I’d prefer less scenes of the second love line, North Korean villagers, and SD’s family after JH went to South Korea as I think it took away from the main plot.
*Additional features – Haven’t seen this in other dramas but the epilogues were excellent as it gave sort of a behind the scenes to the character’s life. If you are an analytical viewer, you would also really enjoy this drama as there are many small details that allows you to appreciate the relationships a lot more. When rewatching scenes, you could pick up on details you didn't notice before which added flavor to the plot.
*Ending - Dramas could be excellent throughout but if the ending is not well justified, that single episode could drop the rating of the whole drama. Not a lot of dramas achieve this but the final episode was very well executed, reflecting the quality of this drama from the beginning until the end. Each decision or plot progression whether it was a happy or sad resolution was justified and made sense to me.

= Cast =
*Acting – I personally felt Son Ye Jin’s acting was the best followed by Hyun Bin. They both were able to show a lot even when they were just looking at each other in certain scenes. Their acting made me feel as if they were together for real on multiple occasions. For supporting cast, Yang Kyung Won (Pyo Chi Su), Oh Man Seok (Cho Cheol Gang), Kim Sun Young (Na Wol Suk), and Kim Jung Nan (Ma Young Ae) stood out for me. I haven’t actually watched Korean dramas that much to know lots of actors / actresses but I think the abundant cameos also added a lot of buzz to the drama.
*Chemistry – Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin had great chemistry, I don’t think I need to elaborate further. For the supporting characters, the different groups had a different vibe from each other which was very refreshing. Even within each of the groups, each supporting character had their own personality which added a lot to the colour of the drama. In other words, chemistry between the supporting characters and between the supporting cast with the main actors / actresses were excellent. However, in all honesty, I wasn’t too absorbed in the Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun relationship (though I quite liked Seo Ji Hye’s character), maybe because Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin’s chemistry was too overpowering.

= OST =
My favourite soundtrack so far. There was great variety and the songs were very fitting. The OST is suited for those that enjoy mellow and slower music that portrays deep feelings which is the type of music I enjoy.


|| A LESSON ABOUT FATE ||

Perhaps we are only fated to love one person. Some date around wondering why they never work out, some long to be in love, some have given up on love, some might not have ever planned to be in love. However, this might just be part of waiting for the fated one to show up. When they do, everything you thought you knew about love changes. You would be willing to do drop everything and do anything for them. In the end, the fated one may or may not be by your side, but either way, there is beauty in dedicating your life to that one person no matter how brief your paths cross.