I'm compelled to write this review because I believe everyone should watch this series. However, if you're new to Korean drama, don't start with Our Beloved Summer, there are a lot of high quality KD, but OBS is on a league of its own and it sets the bar high.

STORY:
How can a simple story be told in such an exquisite work of art? The writer, Lee Na Eun, had a vision and trusted a rookie director, Kim Yoon Jin, to execute. No details were spared, from the cell phones used in the life stages of the characters, the books borrowed from the library when they were in HS, then as adults, and during the proposal. The place where they broke up and where Ungi said the magic words to Younsoo. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful cinematography of “Our Beloved Summer”. The series showcased the beauty of each of the four seasons.

ACTING/CAST:
Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi are exceptional actors and their chemistry in OBS is un-matched. We can see why their co-star, Kim Sung Chul, referred to it as a national treasure. Choi Ung and Yeon Soo’s characters are typical of any Korean dramas and so is their story. What set them apart were the actors who played them, give all the awards to Wooshk and Dami now. They weren’t even on my radar prior to OBS, I watched IC but didn’t care for Dami then; and decided to watch Parasite in between OBS episodes.

OST:
The music of “Our Beloved Summer” pulled everything together. The story, the characters, each setting, each scene, were all made more beautiful because of the soundtrack. This is the first OST that I purchased, and I had to pay more for shipping than the actual products – I can’t wait!

REWATCH VALUE:
I rewatched most episodes while waiting for new ones to be released. I’m planning on rewatching the entire series, with less anxiety of how it will end, and more appreciation of its artful storytelling.