A show that I will recommend only to selected people

I finished Twenty Five Twenty One and had to find something with NJH to watch. Et voila, Netflix started carrying this show. I have read that this show is not well written, etc. However, I was in a NJH bender so I clicked play.
During the first 5-6 episodes, I kind a enjoyed it but the comical part of the show was just too slapstick humor for me. As much as I love NJH and his visual in this show, the moodiness of Lee Joon Ha in the show wasn't appealing. Yet, I held on because I just need my NJH fix and the performance of actress KJH was just so good.
When the story of Lady Chanel started to unfold, I started to get more interested and became so invested because of the emotional acting from NJH. Episode 10 Harvengers for me was like WTH is this.
However, when twist happened, I was floored. It is the most mind blowing twist I have ever seen. I can only recall another movie, Inception, that had a similar affect with a twist.
After the twist, the first 10 episode started making sense for me, like looking at an out-of-focus scope being brought into focus.
The confusing stories, the outrageous events or behaviors; all are brought into focus and had a completely realistic and logical reason. Even LJH's moodiness could be explained as Hee-Ja reflection of how Joon-Ha felt.
This is why I love this show so much. It is meaningful but entertaining, funny but heart-rending but heart-warming at the same time. The creator and actors/actresses showed great commitment, courage and confidence to dare something like this. I can imagine how many people could not get past episode 5 or 6. I almost did not make it if not for my NJH addiction. Once I finished it the first time though, I went back and watched every second of it the 2nd time and enjoyed it even more. I was too confused the first time. Plus, like many other watchers, I wanted the young Hee-Ja to come back so I did not know to savor the story being told.

Now that I have pour my heart out about how much I love this show, I have to say that the show could have condensed the first 10 episodes. The story did not need all of the first 10 episodes to make the case for the twist. In fact, this would have been a wonderful story for a movie.

That's all I got today. I have rewatched this show multiple times already and thought I should share my thoughts. :)

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Reality applied unevenly in the story

There has been many many great reviews of the story, so I will add only one that I have not seen anyone mentioned.

I agree that what happened to the main couple, and even the Class President (sorry, can't remember the name) are realistic. Those things happen in real life, even though we don't think great love like that of Baek Ji Yin and Na Hee Do should be like that. However, they are still just young adults. They still have so much to learn and grow.

However, my quibble is with the unrealistic achievements afforded to Yurim and Ji Wong. In real life, people with limited resources, as Yu rim's and Ji Wong's background were depicted, face a lot of obstacle when starting their own business. Passion and skills alone are not going to be enough. Funding is a big one. I can see that Yurim has a better chance to open her fencing school. However, given Ji Wong's family circumstance, where did he realistically get the support and resource to start a company that can buy and sell high quality products? The story would have been much more in line with the desire to be real if Ji Wong had a thriving blog but not a CEO of a successful company after 7 years.

Does it sound like I am salty? Yes, I am. :)

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I could not like the main couple

Like the OST, cinematography, Dong Hoon actor acting, supporting cast.
Dislike: Ji An acting... Like there is only one expression on her face the whole time.

I tried very hard to like the Dong Hoon and Ji An but just simply couldn't sympathize, especially Dong Hoon.

Dong Hoon married his wife, had a kid, was content with having his wife be the breadwinner yet be depress the whole f**king time because someone he hated got the big gig. What did he do to get out of that??? None, until someone threatened him. What does that say about him as a person?
He spent every evening after work hanging out with his buddies, his brothers, or his mom. What about his wife? His excuse was that she wasn't home. Well, apparently, they had mismatched schedule. What did he do about that? None... until his wife gave up and seek emotional solace somewhere else; then he felt bad. Should have seen that coming.
His mother resented his wife because she was more successful than him, even though her salary gave her the financial support she and her boys needed. His wife knew this but still tried. His wife tried to establish their family away from the extended family but he wouldn't hear of it.
So, is it his wife's fault only that they have problem? Where is the acknowledgement that it takes 2 to make or break a couple? I wish she divorced him and found some measure of happiness.

Ji An was the annoying female tsundere the whole time. Her poor background permitted her to do whatever she can to solve her and her people problem, regardless of the impact on others?

Like I said, I tried to like them but nahhh...

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