Radieuse

I found this drama surprising and it was worth watching just for the amazing performances that the entire cast delivered. Truly exquisite. I could not score it 10/10 because I think it's not flawless plot wise but it's most certainly worth the 12 plus hours I spent watching it. Some really beautiful moments that will remain with me, and performances I won't forget. Beautiful.

If you want typical romantic kdramas or that kind of fantasy ones, this drama is not for you. It has such a deep meanings and wonderful acting. The surprising ending is the best and you feel that the whole experience has been changed for awhile. I just love it. Watch it if you feel that something doesn't make sense, wait for the end.

The curfews and police brutality were real. The fashions and hairstyles were real. It was almost shocking to see the gender roles so accurately portrayed - not according to today's stereotype but how they were in reality, back then.

I think I just marked myself as a bit older than the average KDrama viewer.

That puts me in a position to confirm the depicted ageism and snide comments as real and ongoing. The need for elders to be seen as still valuable and wanted. The callousness of grown children who, for decades, nurse their grievances and stubbornly refuse to see their parents as people, not just as their mommies and daddies - all of it, so true.

From a technical perspective, this was spot-on. The writing, the acting - OMG! The acting!, the camera angles and cinematography: all excellent.

The story: mind blowing. Stunning. Jaw-dropping. A must-see.

P. S.: bring lots of tissues.

Do not watch this series if you are looking for a typical romance/fantasy kdrama for light entertainment. Coming into the show I knew there would be something unexpected and unconventional but it still took me by surprise.

I agree with another reviewer who said the comedy and much heavier and darker portions do not always blend well. Following the plot and time jumps is also not easy, resulting in frequent confusion in the storyline. However, the one constant throughout the entire show is the amazingly lovable character of the old lady and the fantastic performance of the actress Kim Hye-ja. If it were not for her, I probably would have dropped the show in the middle. I hanged on through the disappointments and sadness because I believe there must be light at the end of the tunnel and I desperately wanted to see her happy.

Without spoiling anything, the 'big twist' comes towards the last few episodes but not at the very end, so it has plenty of time to properly develop its storyline till the ending. In this sense, after going through all the misfortune of our heroine and her family, and having many questions with the plot line unanswered, everything suddenly came together in a natural and believable way. Not bad for a fantasy drama!

I'll conclude by saying it is not easy to rate this show. It is not light entertainment by any means so your level of enjoyment will greatly depend on your ability to appreciate a good story told in a very unconventional way, despite its flaws.

I have been watching dramas for many years and I haven't been that moved since...I don't even recall. At the beginning it just looks like your typical funny/romantic/fantasy drama but, and this is a "BUT", it has so much more to offer. The topics that are covered are deeper than thought and anyone can relate to them, in the sense that it is a society issue. The outcome is just "dazzling", and could leave anyone speechless. To finish, the 3 main actors are also great and especially Kim Hye Ja, she completely deserved her award. Recommended 100%