Watching this as a 12 year old was certainly overwhelming but in a good way. I couldn’t believe there was such a tragic story and such a crazy stop at nothing antagonist, Subin. The wild character tropes & storylines would be something I would come to see often in the world of kdramas and I was well prepared.

I didn’t even know Yoona was a pop star when I watched this as I knew of kdramas before kpop. Thankfully this show along with ‘Happiness in the wind’ was part of a cultural awareness slot which premiered on non cable tv back then for a few hours a day. Very grateful.

**The show introduced me to the complex society of south Korea and their fundamental societal roots. As a young American pre teen at the time, I certainly learned the vastly different culture in which I still appreciate to this day.
I honestly can’t say if it’s a must watch, it’s just a special show to me and watching the beginning credits sends a wave of nostalgia in which I can vividly remember bombarding my family with this show every evening, sitting closely to the tv to see what was happening in the newest episode, feeling like I was somehow connected to the county miles away.

If you like drama centered around family as well as romance, well this is packed with that you’ll laugh and cry-not even being corny I remember sobbing while trying my best to copy the Korean words I was learning sloppily. Shows like these are more in depth than the typical 16 episode series nowadays, so you should watch if you’re a true Korean culture/drama fan and appreciate the era of 2008-2010.