In order to get to heaven, must go through hell first.

After reading several bad reviews, I was hesitant to watch this drama. However, I was glad to have watched this drama and left me feeling appreciative to the deep insight of the writer. It is really nice to watch a grown up drama.

I wish they had wrapped up the ending with more details of their future together. The last episode contained many minutes of flash backs that did not move the story forward. As expected, the our main couple ended together but the director could have given us some more answers about our primary couple.

I was sad to see their breakup but, in retrospect, it was really necessary for Jin Ah to find her self. In order to come to her own, she had to really let go of all bonds that were holding her back. She really had to learn to walk the path of her life on her own. Although, it is nice have allies but ultimately she is the author of her life. I really appreciate the writer's willingness to explore/risk it all to find the happiness.

After the breakup Jin Ah tried to live her life according to her mother/family outlook. But she was still miserable and no better off than before Joon Hee. She finally found her happiness when she risked it all. Our "young" lady has finally grown up.

This drama is not a typical ROM-COM. After watching the drama, I am still left with an ache in my heart as a reminder of our own lives. The lesson: In order to live happily with a significant other, I must be equal to him or her. It is not 50-50 but 100-100.

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Meeeh.. had lots of potential

Eun Bin Did a fantastic job of acting and all other actors were pretty and cute. Giving it a low rating because I really don’t wish to learn legal mambo jumbo and whales/dolphins jumping out of water when attorney woo has a profound thought and found a legal loophole.

Unless there is a season 2, this series let me annoyed with lots of side stories unanswered. I didn’t experience att. Woo’s growth at all. There was no transformation of main characters. Only person transformed were Kwon Min Woo & Jung Myung Seok, and that makes them the hero of the drama.
The evil witch Tae Soo Mi got away with nothing…
No romance/chemistry felt between Jun Ho and att. Woo.

The writers could have a written a very powerful and emotionally engaging drama by change in att. Woo and Jun Ho as a result of their attraction towards each other.

Att. Woo mother could come to her senses.. also att. Woo and her brother relationship could have been developed as well.

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It was coooking show that was sponsored by Quiznos

This drama had a lot of potential but instead ended up as a waste of time. After putting up with missed story lines and focusing on the side plot, instead of focusing on the primary couple (OPC), I had to simply fast forward to focus on the main plot.

For me, It was after Episode 13-14, the main story started to unfold and became somewhat enjoyable.

I liked the theme of the story.. Find compassion through other those people who are witnessing their final moments on this planet.
I liked how tragedy made the person facing the difficult situation stronger.

From Episodes 3-14, I was simply frustrated. There were countless scenes of cooking, after cooking..Meaningless scenes with a car pulling up to a parking lot with nothing to follow!!

I wish this story could have been told differently or a shorter version.

I do not recommend this drama.

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Road to hell is paved with good intentions

First I want to acknowledge the writers for tackling a difficult subject of Alzheimer.
Second.. Hong Je Yi.. Watching her act was amazing. Not for one moment I didn't feel that she was acting.. As a young child of 6-7 years, she brought out moods, and was a natural actor. In my view, she carried that 2nd half of the drama.

First 8 episodes.. All I can say is: "what the hell!!". The husband decides to be a martyr and he forces his wife to have an affair because he loves her deeply. This is one thing I don't get about Korean dramas.. "I really love the other person so much that I will create misery for them by sacrificing myself!!"
Also, the director or the writer creates more misery for the viewer by postponing the inevitable which was to have a meeting with husband & wife and wasting footage by going to grocery store or fishing.

Ok.. Let's go on to the next half.

After the wife deduces that her ex-husband has an illness.. her dearest friend would rather watch her go through misery than to tell her the reality. I really don't consider them to be true friends.
I do acknowledge Kim Ha Neul acting because there was one tender moment where I truly felt her pain and the discovery that she had been living a lie. That brings up another point "What's up with MOMs in Korean Drama". .. They seem to be just present to F*** things up for the main character.

Finally after trudging through the whole drama, the ending just fades. There was really no conclusion. To me it seemed that they lived happily ever after..
In conclusion:
The story telling was very poor.
The drama was very infuriating.
The character's behavior was circumstantial driven. The question I kept asking myself.. How are the lead characters transforming and growing?

Should you watch this drama? .. Maybe if you don't have anything else to do.

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Lessons in Leadership

I was debating If I should give it a 10. The only reason I took away 0.5 point because the script writer in my opinion could have done a better job from a story telling point view. If you enjoy dramas with some life lessons to remember and to live by, I highly recommend this drama. For example, victim vs. responsibly, power of forgiveness, and when one thinks that they can't go any further they still go. I was touched with all these points in this wonderful drama.

The drama was set in a political landscape where FL shows up as a true leader and stand firm in her convictions. It was very effective to see her vulnerabilities and , emotional pain as she suffered through public opinion and physical abuse. The most memorable scene is when she was along and being pelted with eggs.

She was a reluctant hero. She didn't want to be a mayor but that is how sometimes life works. Many times in life, right people show up to push one in a direction that is a life changing event. In this case it was also true for Shin Mi Rae.

Another lesson learned was how she was able to forgive those who victimized her and eventually won their support. She didn't allow her personal feelings to get in the way of getting the job done and hiring the right people for the job. I think that is mark of true leadership. In other words .. "sometimes it is not about me!!".

In this drama ML also had his hangups and grew by watching FL. Very rarely I see both FL & ML transform. Usually either FL or ML acts as a support for the other transform. In this case they both transformed from their experience and taught each other. For me, it was very moving.

As I indicated earlier the author could have tied the ending a little better. For example, I didn't get councilor woman Min Joo Hwa's transformation from self-centered to a giving woman. Similarly, how did an evil corporation turned their evil plan to a benevolent entity.

Finally, my tribute to Kim Sun Ah.. I think she is an amazing actress. She easily conveys so many emotions without saying a single word!!. My acknowledgement to other actors .. I think they all did an amazing job.

I am sad that this drama ended because of binge watching!!

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WOW!!! A must watch drama for those who want to change their life.

I have watched several movies where the main character may die due to illness and usually the theme is that how a person learns to love and the family has to prepare to say their goodbyes.

First let me get few things of my chest before I describe what really moved me about this drama. I would have given this drama a perfect 10 if it were not for episodes 10-13. The three episodes dragged on and on about FL's depression. I understand that for a cancer patient, depression would be a part all the emotions but in this case it was too much. However, in retrospect as I write this review, may be the writers were thinking that it is very difficult to stand tall in front of circumstances without allies and the love of your life.

Second.. Acting: I am in love with KIM SUN AH's acting skills. She really carried the character and the emotions till the end. Not for one second I felt that she was acting. I also give high marks to the doctor Uhm Ki Joon who had the most transformation of this drama. So from my POV, Yeon Jae (FL) & Eun Suk (doctor) were the heroes of this drama and the director executed their relationship very well. I was not too thrilled with mom's acting especially at the critical moment of mom's discovery of daughter's cancer. I think Kim Hye OK (mom) could have done a better job. Her acting at that moment looked fake and it took away from this beautiful drama.

My Interpretation of this drama:
This drama is not for everyone. This is NOT a ROM/COM. It is a serious drama giving a powerful message about creating a life of the dreams for oneself. The cancer and life/death situation was there to WAKE the FL up and take action. When she threw all the caution to the wind, she finally started to LIVE!!. That's when the work of transforming her life began. For me the following quote from the drama sums it up:

"There isn't much to life. It is not like we take our money and power with us when we die. we just live each day by seeing the person we love. As we live like that, that'll be a happy life".

I also learnt from this drama about self-respect. One cannot begin to create a life of their dreams until one begins to fully self respect themselves first. Expecting self-respect from others without loving myself first is a futile effort. The journey begins inside at first. In this drama when our FL put herself and her happiness first, it was wonderful to watch how people around also transformed.

I hope you watch this drama. The ending was a bit of a surprise but did not disappoint me. Thank you the writers, the actors for such a beautiful work of art and life.

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It's a fools journey

I am Sad to finish another Ahn Pan Seok (APS) drama. I have enjoyed all of his dramas from 2012 onwards. He did not disappoint me and I was very happy with the ending as well. In the past I have criticized APS for ending the drama with unanswered questions but this time he delivered.
The drama itself was 30 hours long and it is the longest one I have watched so far, but the 30 hours seemed to have flown by.

I liked this drama because it did not follow a formula. On the surface, it would seem that the drama is about our primary couple (OPC) but I think the drama is more about ML's parents (in-laws). It was evident from the beginning that our FL was a tough young lady and will firmly stand her ground and little change was expected from her as the story unfolded. Her husband came across as weak and the actor playing that role did a superb job and till the end he stayed as a supportive husband. We all knew that he'd choose the family over his inheritance.

All the time, I was wondering how are the parents going to transform? So, really the story is about the in-laws and their domineering/controller characteristics.

I wondered till the end if in-laws would fall in line and value the family over wealth and status. I was happy to see that APC and the writer chose the latter.. I think it would have been too cheesy if in the last 10 minutes of the show, the in-laws mended their way and lived happily ever after with OPF (our primary family). Although sad, the ending fit well the in-laws character which was selfish, controlling and looking good. Children.. what children!! they were their play beings as exhibited by their grand child. Throughout the drama, the in-laws would wake up in the middle of the night and play with their grand child. But when the time came to choose between the family and money, they quickly forgot about the grand child and chose money, status and eventually loneliness.

I would have given this drama a 9 but the length of the drama and the terrible OST just couldn't make it to a 9. I would have like to given it a 8.75 but that option is not available.

I am glad to have the spent the time watching this drama and if you like APS's other dramas, you'd like this one too.

Cons: The English translation was lacking at times and it was difficult to follow all the intricate details of the financial transaction and secretary Yang's dealings. So it became confusing at times.

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A hidden Gem

I am surprised that this drama has such low ratings but when one looks at Ahn Pan Seok (APS) list of dramas' ratings then they are not rated as high as I tend to rate them. I, think, his style of directing as well as the story line just appeals to me and my partner. His style of directing and story telling, I think, are simply a masterpiece. As one watches his drama, he invokes multi-sensory emotions: auditory, music, visual such as panning across semi opaque scenes to convey some hidden/private conversations.

I would have given this drama a perfect 10, but I think he left out some closing details on some important topics such as the kids. Thus I rated it at 9.5... I shall explain later.

The whole drama had us engaged till the end but in this case I was happy to see that almost everyone got what they deserved. I love a line from this drama "Karma went out and came back again with vengeance".

This was my 4th APS's drama. I have come to love all of them. The only criticism I have about APS is the way he ends his dramas. On the other hand I have come to expect how he will end his dramas and this one did not fail me. By the end of the 15th episode, I was screaming and I knew that he was going to leave me hanging on some important subject that I thought was the main point of this drama.

So.. on to my analysis of this story... BTW.. for me the love story line between Yoon Seo Rae (YSR) and Kim Tae Oh is there to provide emotional support and a main ally in our FL's journey to freedom but the love connection is not the central theme...From my perspective the central theme is personal freedom with the backdrop of Korea's educational system and its importance to the climb social ladder.

YSR is a devoted mother and a housewife. She literally lives for her son Han Gyeol and his emotional well being. She would rather choose high emotional intelligence over high educational qualifications. When her soon to be ex-husband chooses to move to a neighborhood that places a high value on "looking good and looking right", one begins to wonder how long our FL will survive. It was a "no wonder" moment when she falls for the dentist. This overall way of being of the community immediately places the FL's way of being in a conflict that eventually leads to a big separation. In order to prepare for that separation our FL hero finds her voice and eventually her self.

My problem with this drama:
I have already noted that APS tends to leave of unanswered plot lines. What I don't get is: Han Gyeol (HG) care and up bringing was utmost importance to YSR. In the end the ex-husband is drunkard and is gone for the majority of the day only to show up at the end of the day to say "hi". How can a child grow up in such an environment? Why isn't YSR concerned about it?? She simply leaves the choice up to the kid.
However, after having watched serveral of APS's dramas, it an expected end!! Hence my 9.5 rating.

Credits:
Kim Hee Ae - She has climbed to top my list of favorite actor. She won my heart over when she expresses how she was thankful for being ejected from her own house. Her acting skill in that moment were amazing!!

Jang Hyun Sung: It takes skill to be jerk and an idiot. He did an amazing job.

Ahn Pan Seok: I will watch your other dramas and look forward to your next one!! I think the way you tell your stories for 16 hours is amazing. If you ever come across my feedback and find it valuable.. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE fix the way your end the drama. Just give your self another 20 minutes and tie up all the loose ends. Thank you for your creativity.

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Should you watch it? — yes

I just love Park Min Young acting skills. So I wanted to watch this drama just for that reason. She played a very different character as compared to “what is wrong with secretary kim”. I just think she is an amazing actor.

I gave this drama lowrating because watching this drama seem like “watching the grass grow”. The storyline itself was OK and really didn’t have an emotional component to it.That may seemLike a contradictory statement since this drama dealt with physical abuse mental abuse and self torture as reflected by the aunt and the mother.

What I didn’t get about the storytelling was why would the main female lead fall for a guy who seemed to be totally disconnected and didn’t seem to show any interest in her. I am surprised that mok hae won(MKH) continued to talk to ML after confessing.

A good and powerful story is when the FL and ML transform with the support and love for each other. In this story, I did not see much of transform in IM Eun Sub. It seemed to me that if mkh never came back, he would have been just fine.

So in retrospect, I think the whole story is not about love, but something else. Is it about finding happiness by living simply and enjoying book clubs, and no television? It didn’t seem like the script writers dealt with physical abuse. It was in the background and our main characters simply learnt to live with it. In fact I was very much surprised that MKH, even chastised her aunt when she discovered the truth.

It is funny.. the more I write this review, the angrier I get. The more I think about it, I would hate to be in a relationship with MKH... she can’t forgive easily, isolates those who love her. Only thing she has going for her is her beauty. It was telling when she made a statement “I always have been pretty”.

I am glad I watched this drama. There were lessons for me as to how NOT to be in life to find happiness.

Conclusion:
Watching this drama was like watching the grass grow.
Infuriating due to lack of main characters depth.
Positives: community spirit

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Simple Story

This story did not make any sense to me. Prior to going back in time, they both file for a divorce and when they wake up back in college, there is all this jealousy factor going on.
Logically their divorce doesn't make any sense and I couldn't connect with their initial dilemma which was lack of appreciation of each other.
A powerful story is when the characters transform and their lives have the potential of being better when they have learned the lesson.
I couldn't see how they transformed and what lesson they learned.
For me, Familiar Wife is a much better story along the same concept.

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Simple Storyline well told

The story line of this drama is typical. But I found little flaw in the way the story was told and filmed.
What impressed me most was that when I was expecting an action to take place,.. it happened.
I wish the story behind the last 3 episodes was different. It was obvious that Jin Hyuk mom had a "self-worth" issue and she was powerful enough to bring it out in our FL. But I wish Cha Soo Hyun awakening from dark to light was more profound. After all, Cha Soo Hyun is the heroine of the drama. She is the one who transforms the most. Jin Hyuk was her main support but really he didn't have many lessons to learn in life.
I give this drama 8.5 in this category because I think the story was told very nicely and made sense.

It was worth watching.

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A great drama without too much hot sauce.

If you are into dramas that are emotional, lots of backstabbing and in essence "hot sauce" then this drama is not for you.

I simply loved this drama because it was about love & longing. Every drama has to have some controversy to make it interesting and in this case the sale of the hotel was not controversial enough. The family members had their reasons and that was good enough. In my opinion the message of the drama was about "love" between the players and each player to realize "what do I truly want".

I was impressed that all behaved themselves and loved their grandmother. I gave it a 10 because I am tired of same old contrived situational dramas between a good and a bad guy. In this drama there was no BAD person..

I define a hero or heroes who transformed and in this drama, all players transformed in one way or another. Thus they were all heroes. The narrative at the end said it all to me. I quote here because I want to preserve the narrative for my own records:
"As grandmother, who had lived fiercely with her lifelong longing and love, left on a very faraway picnic, the curtains fell. The people in the audience departed in search of their own happiness with the memories of the performance. This was because they had an audience for whom they wanted to take of the masks of their roles and face with their true faces."

Very profound!!

My interpretation of the above: "We all live our lives as a hero in our own drama/life with our longing, desires and wishes until the end of our lives. Our family members (mostly) are the witness/audience of that life and at the end of that life, they shall move on to look for their own happiness with the lessons learned from the departed one. ". If I am the one for whom they are willing to be authentic and take off their "masks" then perhaps I have lived a good life.

I thank the author for writing such a loving drama and the actors for their brilliant performance

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A must watch for those who love romantic comedies

Why I didn't this drama a 10? I usually reserve a 10 for those dramas that have a unique story and are memorable. This drama will be "memorable" but the story was not unique enough to be a 10. Thus.. a 9.5 rating.

Overall, I couldn't find many faults with this drama, as long as a viewer, one is willing to overlook minor flaws such as recanting of previous stories and side plots that feel like a time filler.

This drama had a flavor of "Encounter". I loved the "artistic" aspect of this drama and especially how the ending of a scene was framed as brush strokes of a painting.,, Sort of a constant reminder that the drama was about a museum.

In many dramas the comedic part is usually at the beginning and lasts for few episodes. Then the usual conflict take over as our heroes work out the issues. In this case, the comedy was sprinkled throughout the drama till the end and was unique and clever from my perspective.

I loved the Dali character. She maintained her composure no matter what situation was thrown at her. I also loved the sexual tension present between FL & ML. Personally, I thought this drama was mature enough to address the nature of sexual relations in very nice comedic manner. In general, other dramas tend to handle the topic of sex like a teenager.

MooHak did a fantastic job of showing vulnerable and yet sensitive side to his nature. He was clear.. i.e money is money and love is love. He wasn't afraid to admit that he was stupid and poked fun at himself. For example.. my favorite line: Capitol of India ... Indonesia.

I can write pages of analysis on this drama... But the biggest take way.. comedy balanced the heaviness of Dali. Uneducated people showed more class than so called rich people with class.

Spoiler Alert and skip this paragraph if you are not ready!! I was annoyed and yet pleased that the writer/director did not follow the usual pattern of a breakup followed by a makeup. Although the writer/director led us to believe this trope was happening but it was handled in some more accepting ways and consistent with the story line. So.. I forgive the writer/director for this flagrant violation of playing with our emotions.

Please watch this drama and go to bed with a smile having spent time being entertained till the end!!

Until next time... be well.

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Embrace the uncertainity of the future

Kim Sun Ah has become one of my favorite top leading actress. I have watched three of her dramas so far: My Lovely Sam Soon, Scent of a woman, and now I Do I DO. All three dramas I have rated 9+. I Do I Do, I was debating 9.5 or 10. I almost went for 10 but I want to reserve 10s for those dramas that I am going to remember 1-2 years from now.

Kim Sun Ah is just a master of extruding "way of being" and expressing emotions with her eyes and facial expressions. In this drama she plays a "controlling" personality with little vulnerability. A one night stand changes her entire life and I love the transformation of her "way of being" from that of a controlling to "controlling" and "trusting".

For me, this drama manages to accomplish a very serious subject and perfectly balance it with humor to send a powerful message about life. I get emotional just thinking about it!!! As a male figure, it is easy to forget or totally not relate to a woman's journey from pregnancy to childbirth. I have children of my own and after watching this drama, I have a whole new appreciation for their mother.

Kim Sun Ah as Ji An, has to make tough choices after discovering her pregnancy goes through various emotions and reasoning. In one scene she discovers that there many reasons to abort the baby and not a single reason (from her world view) to keep the baby and when she does find that find reason, it was the turning point of her life as well as for the drama. At that moment I knew that I was watching a drama of quality written by writers who have a deep understanding of a woman's journey in the modern day of professionalism.

This drama is not everyone especially given the low ratings of this drama and by other reviewers. In a 16 hour drama there are bound to be some drag out moments where one just wants skip over those parts. This drama had some of those moments but they are forgiven because rest of the dramas was simply a masterpiece of comedy with seriousness. But if you like the work of transformation and a study "heroes" journey then JI An passed that with flying colors. This woman was a HERO of her life and her baby. That is a powerful message for all of us who TRY to be a hero. In fact there was a scene in this drama about TRYING vs. DOING. If you are looking for a typical ROMCOM with escapism then this is not for you.

After watching many Korean Dramas, the endings are predictable and it was predictable as to which guy she will choose. But I couldn't figure out why she would choose him. I really had to step into JI An's character to figure that out. Once I saw it, I had to give another point to the writers of this drama. That realization made the ending perfect for me. To quote:
"What is the right.. Where should I go from here? I will probably live with concerns and panic. But I am not afraid anymore. Life does not go as expected, But it brings unexpected gifts.... I received such gifts in those short 9 months...what kind of gifts will be waiting for me in rough future? I am very curious already. NO, I am definitely looking forward to them."
Given this new awareness about herself, her way of being has transformed from cautious, controlling to curious and Open to new possibilities. The guy she chose at the end represented that uncertainty and exploration. The other guy and his profession provided security and more of the same. Thus, a riskier choice about her companion makes more sense. WOW!!!

I look forward to Kim Sun Ah's other drama. Thank you for your talent!!

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