After seeing 630 k-dramas, I almost gave up on this one up at the beginning because of the clichés and the over-shy discomfort of our leads when they first met. But it worked. Yes, even the over-long camera focus on our leads faces when they try to to communicate. I remember the earlier days of K-dramas when this 'film trope' was used a lot, but I read an article in which a director explained that it was to bring viewers closer in, then hold them a beat longer in the emotion along with the character. This drama uses it almost in the same way, although today's viewer might not like it. Our leads stare at each other during conversation, their eyes often saying way more than their wordscommunicate.
It's an old-fashioned story idea too: city boy meets a country girl. But clichéd stories don't shoot down a drama if the characters are interesting. I felt his social phobia was actiually endearing and loved our femal leads friendly, capable and generous personality was a worthy lead . The countryside's villagers are another tropey tie-in to classic dramas indeed, yet I foundwe gotsome nice country extras with both the animals and the children, who stole scenes even more than the nosy neighbours.
As for romance. The parallels among the three love relationships reflect each other almost to a fault and seem over-scripted ...but yet...it works. We get some fresh insights on how men and women think differently about managing a relationship, yet they come up with the same answers we all do in the end. Finally, the sweetness of Once Upon A Time...might seem like cheese at times...but when it comes to dramas...I like both.