dmselove

If you aren't particularly interested in romance dramas, skip this one. If you are interested, you're in for a treat. I came to this drama because it featured Yu-Wei Shao whom I had just seen in "The Perfect Match", also on Netflix. Take Ms. Shao, mix in some good writing, direction and costars, and a form of alchemy takes place where you're transported to another world. The characters Ms. Shao has created in both these dramas are so real, so appealing, and the situations (which are eventually overcome) so heartbreaking. But a warning, the story is not for cynics. Ye Chen-Chen is incredibly innocent and good-hearted. This might sound corny, but the story makes you think about love.

The time travel theme and implications was handled in a reasonably logical and serious way, not cheesy. At 34 episodes, this was a bit long, a lot of it devoted to a less appealing secondary romance and story. As is usually the case in these romance dramas, there is a persistent and highly annoying competitor for Ye Chen-Chen's affections.

Watch it!

Fen-Qing (Yu-Wei Shao) is smart, very pretty, and heartbreaking. Ting-En (Kang Ren Wu) is smart, handsome, and rational to a fault (i.e. Too rational). The chemistry between the two is really electric and so believable that I found myself thinking about the characters and looking forward to the opportunity to watch the next episode. I think a lot of care went into the character development for this story, and also the importance of family is a major theme that runs throughout. Fen-Qing, because of her humble background, missing father, and inexperience, places family including friends and acquaintances, as a high priority, higher than a romantic relationship. This, plus some labyrinthian family complications, plus Ting-En's rationality, leads to a heartbreaking situation.

In short, I do recommend this series if any of the above strikes a chord, or if you have any interest in the fine details of high cuisine. It is amazing to me that the two lead actors can make their relationship so real without it actually being so. I wish them and also Ting-En and Fen-Qing the best.

What can I say? Yun-seo (Yoo In-Na) may be the most adorable character ever besides being beautiful. Her innocent devotion and loyalty to Jung-rok, and the joy she experienced from the relationship was touching. In the real world we deal with cynicism, ambiguity, ambivalence, or downright deception. So seeing this drama where none of that applies was a welcome heart-warming respite. The whole cast was great, and the Law-firm workplace was quite interesting. I think Yoo In-Na may have a lock on depicting the cutest Kdrama female love interest.