Moving is a unique drama. It's a study of characters with gifts and the hardships of having those abilities. We start off in the present day where we follow high schoolers struggling in romance and their untrained abilities with the dangers of threats bubbling in the background. A large part of this drama is flashbacks of characters' backstories, of main characters and even villains. I'd wager that all together at least half or more of the drama is made up of backstories. It's sprinkled throughout, with the middle being entirely set in the past of the high schoolers’ parents.

These backstories add depth to the present narrative because we empathize and understand their motivations. While a breath of fresh air, this format isn't for everyone, including myself as I prefer a more linear narrative. However, these backstories were important to the present day and they were very well-written, every scene mattered and it'll keep your attention. You may even find yourself crying for these characters.

Story:

Moving is a highly character-driven narrative. The amount of characters and their backstories is immense. When the story shifted focus to the parents, episode after episode I had wondered when I would ever get to see the present again. The middle felt almost like an anthology of connected character studies. I love the depth they've written into the characters. However, the amount of backstories were not to my taste as I personally prefer a smaller cast and stories focused on the present which is why I say that this drama is not for everyone. This is not to say it is bad, just different. All these narratives do end up connecting and culminate into one big thrilling climactic ending. From each character story, we got to witness their hardships in a world where gifts are uncommon and to be exploited.

The character stories set in the past are more fast-paced and thriller. Although the present day plot was slower and overtly less complicated, what truly mattered was how much we cared for the characters when the stakes heightened. We were able to feel what was at stake because of how the stories of the past created nuances in the present, making it just as intricate and empowering.

Characters:

Each character was compelling, but if I'm evaluating them on their involvement in the overall plot, I could have done without a few characters being main characters. I feel for them but what is the point of some of them? Two characters specifically could have been replaced by other characters for a more concise cast. However, if I hold value on the story trying to paint the hardships of possessing gifts, then each story and character was pivotal in painting that picture. The hardships of gifts in society, government, and family were explored. The goal of the characters is to protect those they love, to break away from exploitation and live in a world with normal humans despite having gifts. That is the plot connecting all the seemingly detached narratives for this wonderful image.

Romance:

The developing relationship between Bong Seok and Hee Soo was sweet and heartwarming. One scene even made me cry at how beautiful it was. The romance between their parents was a phenomenal roller coaster of feelings. They were able to flesh out their characters, set up the conflict in the present, and portray a long, organic romance in such a short time.

Overall:

If you like a ton of well-written backstories, exploration of the hardships of gifts, sweet romances, and a large cast of complex characters, then this drama is for you. If you prefer smaller casts and linear stories, this is not it.