Let's get one thig out of the way - this drama has haunted me since the day I finished it. And I mean that in the best way.

For days after finishing Coffee Prince I could scarcely close my eyes without picturing Gong Yoo's pained face as he lies next to Yoon Eun Hye on the beach. This drama took me by surprise with the sheer amount of pained yearning present in the main romance - and the unexpected 'love is love' message. Almost unheard of in any show, in any language, from 2007, but from South Korea? God, I still can't get it out of my mind.

Gong Yoo is the star of this drama. There's no denying it. His struggle with his emotions for Go Eun Chan is real and raw and sometimes painful to watch. It's perhaps one of my favourite performances in a drama, ever. This storyline can get heavy at times, but it stays rooted in that tenderness of true, terrifyingly deep love. The angst of the show comes from these themes of falling in love despite yourself, of forgiving the ones you love, of hiding the truth and forgiving yourself for it.

While the chemistry between GY and YEH is electric, the entire cast seems to mesh well together. Every scene with the coffee shop crew feels fun and comfortable, like you're watching a real group of friends hanging out. The secondary performances are memorable, and the style of the show at large is simply heart-warming and comforting.

But, god, Gong Yoo. Watch it just for him and his painful painful yearning, I beg you. You won't regret it.