Watch this.

I read the reviews before watching this. I've used this site many times before choosing my next drama. I ALMOST passed on this one and that would have been tragic. Anyone not rating this above an 8 clearly missed the point. The story is brilliant. Yes, it twists around on itself more than once. Classic "who is the villain" that loops like a snake eating it's tail. This had the potential to be redundant but they did it smart. At no point was it tedious because the clues they left you were so carefully placed, it was fun to play along. There was just enough romance to make those who prefer the strong romantic elements of the guy getting the girl, giddy happy. I'm one of those. I love it when the guy gets the girl. I was not disappointed.

The biggest aspect of this drama... a story that finally let the characters be who they are. I love that about Asian story telling. I'm an American and I loathe the way we treat our characters. We write these wonderful heroes and fantastic heroines... then we destroy them. Even if we let them win the day, the damage is done. Nothing is more American than watching the hero fail and fall but to rise again. We can't believe it unless there is some flaw or fault to overcome before earning the title of savior. It's almost like we can't allow anyone to be that good. It's never made sense to me and usually just pisses me off.

I absolutely LOVED that the ML was allowed to be as good as he thinks he is. As good as he's appeared to be throughout. No tricks. No slights. No candidly written plot devices where he has to remember who he is. He does what he says and says what he does. He's the hero who just really is. Just as much, the FL didn't waver. She made a choice, early, and stuck with it. I had more respect for her and cherished how steadfast she was. She was the perfect match for him, for that very reason. She believes him. In him. Without question. An earlier review said the ML lost himself and became someone else after falling for the FL. I disagree. Completely. I'm not sure how anyone watched this and didn't see the same drive and brilliance in him... but with more focus. The writing and the actor balanced it well and it was believable that he went from confused and awkward and weird to acting like someone who actually cares. He made a choice. And within the parameters of his character, he did the expected. He analyzed the situation, came to a conclusion, and acted accordingly. The entire series is him doing just that. Why would anyone need him to continue to struggle when he was clearly smart enough not to.

I applaud the tension building, the plot transitions, and the carefully crafted elements that came together in the end. I don't want to spoil anything, I loved every moment of this story. The only cons... because nothing is perfect... some of the side actors were, umm, new. Small hiccups in dialogue and the accents on supposedly American players will fool no one. Also, they did rely a bit on behind the scenes activity. Bringing it out after the climax of the moment as a flashback. It didn't take away, so much, but it did hollow out the moment enough that I noticed. I trimmed a single point for this.

Over all, I give this a 9 because the main cast was wonderful. The story was smart and enjoyable and tense and all the things I needed it to be coming from years of watching every American crime drama that has ever aired. This held it's own. The romance was spot on being cute at times, sweet at others, and completely without guise. I finally made an account on this site just to review this one. I recommend this. Highly. I loved every second of it.

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