Satisfying & Beautifully Shot

I'll be honest, I started watching purely because Hani was in it and I like her. However, it's a solid drama and definitely can stand on its own, all bias aside. The plot is simple to follow but entertaining and really rewarding—it's a nice, compact little story that doesn't have many huge twists, and everyone gets what they deserve in the end.

It's short (10 episodes of ~25 minutes each), but I feel it does as much as it can with such a limited run. The characters aren't super fleshed out, but this doesn't detract much from the plot. The little we know about the characters is all we really need to be invested in them/their stories, and that works for me. I honestly did not care about the romance whatsoever, but it was sweet. Hands down the best part was the female leads and their volatile dynamic—Hani and Hwang SeungEon have great chemistry together, and it made for a lot of intense scenes. For me, they were really what made this drama worth watching.

All in all, the acting is great, the costuming is good, the music is decent (Sunmi's OST really sets a "revenge" mood, though I felt some of the background music was odd at times), and the cinematography is surprisingly fantastic. Visually, it's a beautifully shot and produced drama, especially considering its budget and scale. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it, and probably will watch it again. Though it can feel rushed (particularly near the end), it's a great length for casual viewing and has a story that's easy to get into each time.

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I've literally never been compelled to write a review before, but this drama called me to do so. Takane no Hana is brilliant—brilliantly shot, brilliantly acted, brilliantly paced, and, with admittedly some stumbles, beautifully written. Never has a drama pulled me in so deeply—and everything about TNH is deep. The development of its characters (particularly its female lead) over the course of a few months is the focus of the plot. And not only the development of fictional characters, but the exploration of human emotions and the way they are expressed, from person to person. The raw moments of humanity, often chillingly acted by much of the cast, but Satomi especially, are astounding. This is a drama that will stay with you after you've finished watching it.

I watched it out of sheer love for the characters (Momo in particular) and the journeys they all go on, but viewers who watch for romance will find it here. If you're looking for couple with lots of sweetness, Momo and Pooh (our leads) will give that to you. The give-and-take of the actors is tremendous, and they play their roles exceedingly well. I'm generally not one who gets attached to couples, but these two are so playful and thoughtful. You will find yourself loving every minute they spend onscreen together.

I cannot stress how much of an impact this drama left on me. Yes, there are some odd plot twists and unrealistic behavior that result from them, but the magnitude and quality of this drama make me overlook it all. I could say so much more to praise it, but there's little point: just know that this drama is absolutely fantastic. My specific favorite things TNH tackled: 1) the growth within people when they discover how to love themselves, 2) the representation of the intense love between sisters, 3) the bravery it takes to admit you love someone, and the understanding that it does not make you weak.

In all, I cannot recommend this drama enough.

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