This is such a beautifully-written drama. Each episode moves you in such a way, that I could not help watch it with misty eyes. I cried not particularly because of something sad or tragic that happened, but because of touching moments like the dancing scenes at the end of episode 8 (Chae-Rok dances in the park in front of Deok-Chool) and episode 10 (Deok Chool dances on the road in front of Chae-Rok).

Similar to Start-Up and Run On, this is a drama about chasing your dream. But this one includes an old man. You are never too old to make your dream come true, as long as you have the will to try. “When you want something with all your heart, you shine brighter than anyone else” (episode 11).

It shows a beautiful relationship between a 70-year-old senior citizen and a 23-year-old young man, each struggling to make their dreams happen. What started as a teacher/student relationship eventually turned out to be more like a father/son (or perhaps grandfather/grandson) relationship.

First of all, I really do admire senior actor Park Im-Hwan (who in real life is 75 years old!) who took the role as Deok-Chool. I read that he has been acting for more that 50 years, and yet he humbly admitted that he learned so much from this drama, pairing with the young Song Kang. The chemistry with Na Moon He (his wife, Hae-Nam, in the drama) was also great. I read that they have played as a couple too many times that they found it so much easy to connect with each other in Navillera. Having read that, now I remember that I’ve watched them both in Miss Granny.

Deok-Chool was such a fatherly figure whose purpose in life seemed to be encouraging people to chase their dream. Not once did you see him being mad at his children (the family dynamics were interesting). When the youngest son, Seong-Gwan, decided to become a film-maker, and left his job as a medical doctor, he said nothing. When his eldest son, Seong-San (who was not a pleasant person to begin with) did a huge mistake at work, Deok-Chool gave him baseball gloves and told him to pursue what makes him happy. He was so supportive to his granddaughter, Eun-Ho, who had just begun to build her professional career. He even gave encouraging words to Ho-Beom, the antagonist. Of course, you would find more heart-warming dialogues between fatherly Deok-Chool and Chae-rok throughout the drama.

One of the best quotes from this drama was when Grandpa Deok-Chool told Bo-Heom: “You’re never going to be perfectly ready. Start now and get better 0ver time. Diver right in, even if you don’t feel ready”. Yes, whatever it is, follow your dream. We may be terrified to begin, but we had better take the first step.

Now I also want to give two thumbs up to Song Kang who brilliantly and beautifully portrayed the life of the aspiring ballerino, Chae-Rok. In the early episodes, Chae-Rok did sometimes come out as a difficult character, using harsh words to his fellow workers at the restaurant. He was also rude and nasty to grandpa Deok-Chool at the beginning stages of teaching ballet. He rarely smiled at the beginning and yet you still liked him. Perhaps because there was this subtle sadness on his face, and then knowing he had a strained relationship with his own father, that made you love and sympathize Chae-Rok.

I liked the fact that Song Kang took his role seriously by taking ballet lessons for six months before acting in this drama. This is one thing that I admire about him. I also liked it when Song Kang perfectly pronounced French ballet terms, such as devant, passe, releve lent. I look forward with great anticipation to see more dramas/movies with Song Kang’s wonderful acting in it.

The father/son dynamic between Deok-Chool and Chae-Rok was beautifully portrayed by showing how it growed stronger and stronger in each episode. You can just see that they both needed each other. They were both benefiting each other, not just on ballet, but on life and pursuing dreams. They were also thankful for having found each other, ending with a very touching airport scene in the final episode.

This is my first Korean drama to watch in 2021, with no romance, love triangles, or jealousy. This was more about chasing your dreams, soaring high, and developing human bonds regardless of age differences. A highly recommended drama to watch.