It's been some time since I liked a K-drama. And it is great to see Kim Go-eun on screen. For me, she will always be the actress I saw in Goblin. But these mature “lady-like” roles suit her too. So without wasting more time, let’s see what the plot holds: Ryu Eun-jung is a television writer whose life changes when her now estranged friend Cheon Sang-yeon reappears in her life out of nowhere. Now, being childhood friends, you may think that this will be a warm reunion, but it is anything but warm. But here is more to the plot: Sang-yeon is a successful producer. However, she is suffering from terminal cancer. She wishes to have an assisted suicide, for which she asks Ryu Eun-jung to accompany her. And thus we are taken back to the past with a flashback that shows us their story and friendship. We are shown their childhood, their teenage years, and their years through the university. You see, viewers, this show is written very tactfully. Ryu Eun-jung comes from a humble background and is instantly drawn towards Cheon Sang-yeon because of her good behavior and intelligence. In between, we are shown why these former best friends grow apart, but dear reader, if you think that I will reveal that, then you are sadly mistaken. This point of the story is not for me to break. Furthermore, a gift from her (Sang-yeon) brother, Sang-hak, ignites Ryu Eun-jung’s love for photography. But kdramas and easy love stories rarely go hand in hand. And thus we are given the character of Sang-hak, which makes this a messy, dramatic love triangle all in all. Just as Ryu Eun-jung thought life would be good for her, the reappearance of Cheon Sang-yeon changed her path in life. The question is, what decision will Ryu Eun-jung take? Will these two ever become friends again? Or is the spark gone forever?
The writing of the plot uses all possible kinds of tools that make it intriguing- misunderstandings, twists and turns, love triangle, terminal illness, etc. What must be noted is that using all these can make the plot look ugly, but it doesn’t. In fact, we get a masterpiece thanks to the plot being so beautiful. Coming to acting, while the entire cast is worth all the lauds, two shining stars are Kim Go-eun as Ryu Eun-jung and Park Ji-hyun as Cheon Sang-yeon. They bring these two emotionally layered characters to life and put them in full swing. You see, playing heartbroken is one thing, but playing heartbroken with a lost friendship requires more depth, which Kim Go-eun gives us in the perfect depiction. On the other hand, Park Ji-hyun as Sang-yeon is also a great fit. She and her character give us that complexity that is required in the writing. When these two get on screen, they are able to grab your attention. We see a sense of toxicity in the script, but for once, it doesn’t feel heavy. It feels as if it was given in just the perfect amount to us. Yes, somewhere, the pacing gets a bit slow. But that isn’t a frequent recurrence.
So, k-drama lovers, this is a serious and emotionally heavy plot. Only if you are in the mindset for some truth-revealing and emotional roller-coaster, get on the train. If not, then pass it. But one thing is clear: this is a good script, and the execution has been done well. Hence, I would recommend you watch this. The actors are a true delight, and the plot is mature.
Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times