Story

Do You Like Brahms? has a richly layered, character-driven storyline. As the drama progresses, the story slowly unfolds. Well-timed flashbacks reveal deeper dynamics between relationships in the present and add depth to every character. The pacing of this drama is slow. Incredibly slow. Conflicts take several episodes to span out and longer to resolve. There are no big reveals, no big displays of emotions that conveniently wrap up disagreements. Instead, the plot is characterized by small interactions that are telling.

The reason this drama moves at a snail’s pace is because it needs you to pay attention. You have to read between the lines when people are talking. There were moments when Chae Song-Ah talked about how she felt playing the violin, but she was really talking about her dreams and ambitions.

Some reviews talked about how frustrating the plot was because it was fraught with misunderstandings. But isn’t that an entirely human thing, to have moments of miscommunication? How often do people say what they mean? Even when they want to, how easy is it to let someone know how you feel? This drama asks these questions, all the while telling a story that relies on the relationships different characters have with each other, and themselves.

Do You Like Brahms? narrows its focus into everyday interactions between characters. To be fair, Chae Song Ah and Park Joon Young communicate better than most drama couples. There are moments when they misunderstand each other, but they straighten things out quickly.

Acting/Cast

I admired the cast here. I thought they all portrayed their characters well. Most scenes required subtlety to get emotions across, and everyone did their part there.

I loved the characters in this drama. Chae Song Ah, on the outside, seems like a pushover because of how quiet and thoughtful she is. Yet she has a quiet inner strength. It isn’t that Song Ah isn’t a fighter. She simply chooses her battles. She graduated as a business major and then went back to school to study music. Despite all the obstacles in her way, she silently, but steadily fights for her dreams.

Park Joon Young is also introverted. Lee Jung Kyung says that Joon Young speaks with his music first, rather than his words. That being said, he has his bold moments, just like Song Ah. He carries all his burdens himself and doesn’t open up easily, but he also cares deeply for the people around him.

I loved watching Song Ah and Joon Young. They’re both incredibly polite and there are a few awkward moments when they’re getting to know each other. It was rewarding to watch their relationship grow. They stole my whole heart in this show. I liked that they didn’t hesitate to talk about what was on their minds. They weren’t always fair to each other, and there were moments of conflict, but they worked their way through things. I found myself hanging on to every interaction and looking forward to each episode.

The side characters were a treat all on their own. Han Hyun Ho was cheerful, caring and soft. Jung Kyung was a complex play of strength and vulnerability. She’s sharp-tongued and selfish, but she’s also surprisingly vulnerable. There’s a part of her that’s lost, who’s trying to find herself. It was endearing to watch her journey in this drama.

Music

I liked the soundtrack here. Tayeon’s Kiss You might be my favorite, but the songs ranged from light-hearted to emotional and made all the scenes better.

Rewatch Value

I would definitely rewatch this, given some time. It’s one of those dramas that I feel will have new things to love with every screening, and I’m happy to add this to my list of all-time favorites.

Overall

Do You Like Brahms? is about a lot of things: about losing love and finding a new one, about following your dreams, but also about knowing when it’s time to stop fighting and let things go. It’s about friendship, love, pain, healing, and having the courage to start over. I haven’t come across a drama with this much depth before (it’s like a book, there’s so much to analyze). I’d say this is a psychological drama, but not in the sense of crime dramas. Do You Like Brahms? goes inside the minds of all its characters, revealing what is hidden: flaws, insecurities, hopes, regrets, wishes, and dreams. It gets very personal with the main characters in the story. This show made me smile like an idiot, tear up and feel like I wasn’t alone. It’s safe to say I loved it deeply.
If you’re looking for something light-hearted, or something exciting, I’d say skip Do You Like Brahms? This is a drama for people who are ready to invest their time and emotions in characters and all the small parts of their story. It takes some time to paint a picture, but at the end of the day, it’s a beautiful painting.