Although 24 episodes may seem like a chore, this drama manages to make all of them worthwhile.
I risked dropping it after the first episode, though, when not just one but three love triangles became apparent from the get go. I put my trust in the very strong cast and was not disappointed. In fact, this rom-com has unexpected depths that make it interesting for the reluctantly romantic too . Despite starting with a cancer diagnosis and character death, the tone is always light and even the more dramatic scenes cleverly keep an undercurrent sense of humor that is aided by the excellent comedic skills of the actors.
Of course, we get our romantic tropes, yet the author has the ability to steer away from clichés and keep the narrative fresh and gripping.
In the first half of the show we are exposed to an ambitious number of themes, situations and characters, a bunch of them will not survive to the end (Wok of Love, by the same writer, is similar in this aspect. The loose ends might be a sort of irritating stylistic choice...)whereas those that progress toward their resolution are consistent enough to grant general coherence and, most of all, viewer's satisfaction.

The main characters are well written and come to life in the expert hands of Gong Yo Jin and Jo Jung Suk. I won't speak about chemistry because it would be like minimizing their acting skills since I am a firm believer in the fact that great actors can conjure passion with a rock if they need to. So, I'm going to say that, whether they're bickering (like an old married couple) or kissing, they are fire. Very hot.
Go Kyung Pyo is up to the standard (and up there in my personal Korean Hotties' Olympus), of course, but his character is doomed to a blander taste. Nonetheless, this is one of those rare dramas where the second male lead gets a decent exposition and at a certain point I wasn't so sure about the outcome of the triangle (honestly, if I were Na Ri, I would've picked him. He was sweet, well mannered, dependable, had a beautiful house, knew how to make marvelous dresses to compliment her figure and all this in addition to being HOT and RICH. He was even capable of respectfully battling his mother!).

I am not too fond of the triangle resolution. I mean, I don't believe that one can discern love based on the presence or lack of jealousy.
In my experience, jealousy stems from insecurity. I read Na Ri's jealousy as the result of intermittent and deficient emotional availability on Hwa Shin's part. He is sweltering hot but also inherently problematic.
The sad truth is that the majority of us can't help but fall for self-assured (and self-centered), competent (know-it-all), determined (bull-headed), manly assholes.

Hwa Shin makes great use of grammar and communication skills when reporting news but is ridiculously unable to express his innermost feelings and thoughts. Therefore he gets jealous, he pushes and pulls his beloved in a power game fit for kindergarteners, all in the attempt to keep her love. A love he didn't know how to respond to in the beginning and that became precious to him only when threatened.
On the other hand, we have Na Ri, a character that could have easily become a candy girl (for which the very basic requirements are : being1) hardworking, 2) cheerful, 3) innocent and 4)catching the eye of a wealthy chaebol), but manages, in her utter inexperience, to express her love fearlessly (despite the mocking and the indifference), honestly deal with her vulnerability, grow beyond it, save her beloved, teach him, make him human.
In short, an everyday woman.
I love the creative solution she comes up with to test her suitors by living together (I would have continued living with both and being pampered indefinitely). Her only true shortcoming is having a crush on someone as difficult as Hwa Shin.

The bromance was very strong in the beginning, but lost consistency along the way. I would've liked a little more backstory. The glimpse we get on the shared girlfriend doesn't shed any light on the bromance origins. It does, however, cast a doubt on the sincerity of Hwa Shin and Jeong Won's feelings toward Na Ri: are they in love or just competing?
I approved of them resolving their issues and going back to being friends, albeit I'm not really sure on the dynamics of the reconciliation (apparently, it is proper etiquette in Kdramas for the losing suitor to graciously admit defeat and stay friends with the main couple).

I deeply appreciated the idea of talking about breast cancer as a male experience. It gave the story a unique spin and is effective in underlining the social stigma and isolation of cancer patients.
I was sold on the scene in which Hwa Shin undergoes mammography. It is something the audience had to experience through his eyes. Also, the dialogues that refer to the surgeries, both Hwa Shin's an Na Ri's, where they express their concerns on the aesthetic outcome and the lopsided chest, definitely won me over.

I would've liked a stronger focus on the life of a Korean newsroom (I am a fan of The Newsroom with Jeff Daniels), although the little glimpses we get are enough to enrich the story as well as convey a little bit of the author commentary on social issues.

As for the things I didn't like instead, first and foremost the loose ends and the almost complete eclipse of the side characters storylines. Na Ri, for example, is, in the beginning, an affectionate sister who makes sacrifices in order to provide for her teenage brother. Later on, she will practically abandon him to his own devices for the majority of the series (she even misses the career counseling meeting!). And what about Chef's asexuality, a brilliant prompt that is rashly and uninspiringly resolved in the end (although I liked the ending of the triangle between the 2 moms and Gang Pal). There are many other subplots that frame the main narrative that are carelessly managed and just disturb my OCD. I won't put them here now but I'll keep them listed in my heart. For sure.

Female Empowerment Score 4/5 Na Ri is a resilient woman with a dream. She reports the weather and is held in contempt for trying to meet the chauvinistic requests of her employer. She dreams of being dignified and recognized for the effort she puts in gaining competence. But her workplace is a rat-race of women trying to win in a rigged game (it is clear how different the work experience is for Na Ri and Hwa Shin). Despite it all, these amazing women (Seong Sook, Ja Yeong, Hye Won) will learn to support each other. Also, Na Ri is very independent, she knows when to accept other people help but is resourceful and has the capacity to defend herself (from sleazy Anchor Park) and overcome any hardship . She could very well go on living on her own and be successful, however she chooses to adopt this complete mess of a man that would have definitely perished without her. She loses one point though for choosing Hwa Shin in place of Jeong Won...