Geum-ju-reul Bu-tak-hae

Most of the characters are incredibly charming and have their own meaningful stories. I loved how the conflicts were handled - quick, realistic, and satisfying. And don't even get me started on the male lead - I'm totally smitten. He's exactly my type, visually and emotionally.

It's such a pity this show isn't available on Netflix or Disney+, so it hasn't reached a wider audience.

But if you're looking for something heartwarming, light, funny in a wholesome way, and perfect for stress relief - yet still engaging from start to finish - this is the one.

Normally, I only get hooked week after week by thrillers full of twists and mystery. But this show broke the rule - it kept me excited for every single episode, even without high-stakes drama.

The ending was also really beautiful. It left me with the feeling that the characters are still out there, living their happy lives - I just don't get to watch them anymore. The romance between the leads was well-developed, never forced, and full of genuine care and understanding.

Visually, the show is gorgeous - great cinematography, lovely color palettes, and thoughtfully composed scenes. Everything felt just right.

If I had to point out one flaw, it would be that some of the dialogue got a bit too cheesy at times. In real life, it's rare for people to articulate their feelings that perfectly. I wish the script had relied a little more on subtle actions rather than overly emotional lines - it would've felt even more authentic.

I quit drinking shortly after it became legal for me because I lost interest a long time ago, however watching the self-righteous attitude and tone of the supposedly "good" guys in this show kinda puts into perspective how much better life is when you just have a drink and have some fun instead of being around sober insufferable boring naggers all the time.

If the creator of the show intended to run a false flag operation, well done indeed.

Also, shoutout to making a Korean show - a society where you are worked to the bone/exhaustion/death - that criticizes not the system that makes it so your only source of happiness after working 12 hours a day is to have a drink, instead the real villain is the person who worked for 10 years without taking a vacation because of checks notes drinking a beer after doing manual labor all day.

EDIT: I wanted to say how much better the show gets in the 2nd half, especially after they stopped nagging and virtue signaling about drinking every episode as everyone around the MC continues drinking while I guess we're supposed to not notice.

However, then I watched Episode 9. Regardless of what happens in the last 3 episodes, that one is pure evil. For anyone who doesn't agree, here to let you know - you are a human being, a person, an individual; you are NOT spare parts for when anyone else has something bad happen to them. That's as far as I'll go spoiler-free.

Overall, anytime this show is just letting characters be themselves/be normal, the show's good, if a little corny, still good. Anytime it's trying to "send a message" = insufferable and now borderline evil, it is what it is.

EDIT x2: Finished the last episode, overall pretty weak finish to what was still an okay series, provided you could stand to push through "the message" to enjoy the wonderful performances by the actors themselves.

Truth be told, they weren't given much to work with and made the best of it, hoping to see more of Sooyoung Choi in a role that lets her be all she is & I stand by everything from my initial thoughts and followup, overall I put this show near the very bottom of my list of 40+ kdramas/movies I finished due to the plot being incredibly annoying and then weak, the quality of the production and performances was still incredibly high, so I can't give it below a 5.