I personally didn't have any expectations or set any standars on what a drama should or shouldn't have if its a fantasy and maybe that and other points where the reason i enjoy it so much.
(I may be changing the rates because i'm very indecisive and correcting some of my spelling and wording mistakes, english isn't my first lenguage so please have that in mind if you want to skip this review)
What i love about this drama?
1) The characterization of the protagonists Tak Dong Kyung and Myul Mang.
I never felt they were cartonish or that there was a lacK or rushed development. They felt real and the combination of good writting and an excellent acting from both parts ParK Bo Young who made you cry in every scene she wants you to cry and Seo In Guk who is able to carry a scene with just his eyes make them as individual characters and their relationship probably one of the best things of this drama and what makes it worthy of your time.
2) It felt like poetry
Quoting George Lucas "Its like poetry it rhymes' thats the way i felt about this drama. When you have an audience engage and making theories after every episode, picking up the little clues you were leaving in every episode and that those theories become true in a way that fit the story and its true with the message that the story wanted to tell just tell me its good writting. Im Me A Ri did an really good job making common tropes their own and give the story a closure that feels like poetry.
3) The messages behind every episode
I never leave an episode feeling unafected once i start to care about this characters (something that happend slowly but for me that makes it even more satisfying) i always end up either crying or thinking about the quotes and messages behind every episode. I never felt the sadness was shadowing the story it has always a message of hope and kindness.
4) The romance between the main leads
The chemistry between both actors was on point and they could carry every scene no matter what dialogue you put them through i could watch only scenes of them for hour without getting tired. Writting a story that starts with the typical 'enemies to lovers' is not a easy thing and i think the writter nailed every aspect of the main romance. It didn't felt rushed or that it was throw in my face. I understand why they both felt that way and why they made sometimes such extreme decisions. It was entretaining and then beautiful and sad it was everything i could ask for a 'fantasy' romance and more because the best part of it was how human it felt.
5) The concepts of 'life' and 'death'
I don't want to go to much into the spoiler territory but the way this show captures the personification of life and death its very unique and interesanting. For me it was never a problem how poetic both deiditys speak in fact i enjoy the scenes between them a lot. Jung Ji So as the deidity who represent life does an amazing job and it takes you to a ride of emotions that's for sure.
6) I doesn't lose it charm but it gets better
Something i was hapily surprise is how some of my favorite episodes and in my opinion the best written and acted were torwards the end. I think episode 14 for example is brilliant and it gives closure in a good moment and leaves the story a moment to breathe on episode 15.
7) The Cinematography and OST
Something i love about this drama is how the cinematography doesn't distract you or i feels like you are watching a very expensive AD. In fact the most beautiful moments are without CGI and makes you appreciate the little things in real life like leaves falling or the flowers blooming. And the OST its beautiful its melancholic and every song felt very special "Breaking Down" its probably my favorite OST in the year and it may go as one of my favorites ever from a kdrama.
Now what i dislike and i will go a little bit in to the spoiler territory but not that much:
1) The 'love triangle' between the second leads, in one aspect it doesn't really take that much of the screentime (the romance between them) so it wasn't something that it stop me from watching the whole drama. I have a few problems with one is that it felt flat, compared to the main romance and in general it just wasn't my cup of tea. I think the reason was i couldn't understand why this people were even in love to begin with, i guess we can say its sort of realistic the childish romance between Ji Na and Hyung Gyu and by episode 14 i could see what was the intention behind this storyline (about how your first love isn't always your last and about two people living with the ghost of a relationship when love is no longer there) but the execution just wasn't for me. Between Ji na and Joo Ik it just felt flat in general and compared to the main leads. The "back story" was weird and not really well written. I didn't like or enjoy the romance between them. I honestly didn't like either male characters of the love triangle for various reasons (as some people said here if i re-watch i'm defently going to skip those scenes). Thats why i'm giving a 8 in story, this should had handle better (the actors were good so this is not on them at all).
In general i love the main leads, Dongkyung family and Jina, and i enjoy every scene with those characters. I fell in love with it by episode 3 and 4 and i wasn't disappointed i cry i laugh and i loved to read people theories and see them come alive.
It made (no pun ineed) my days better. So thank you for the cast and crew (and also the fans who write so many good theories and posts) i will remember this experience forever.
In addition: I read some reviews asking why peope are giving high reviews i can't speak on everyone so i'm speaking on myself. For me the drama was Dongkyung and Myulmang and the dynamics they have with each other and with other characters that was probably a 75% of the screentime and i enjoy that (Spoilers: I loved how the MMDk relationship envolve i didn't found it rushed they become one of my favorite main relationships in kdramas i loved the found family scenes with Myulmang i love the message of you aren't alone and the scenes with Dongkyung family being there for her also the emotional scene with Jina was brilliant and they are so many i could write an essay). I think the acting was impresive i had never watch anything with PBY or SIG and i was truly moved by their perfomances and on my personal view their acting and their characters elevate the drama for me. I spend my time doing video editing since 2012 and watched a lot of media to work with and i found a lot of scenes from those characters memorable they moved me inside and make me cry when i'm not a person who cries easily. This rating system is tricky but since as i mention before i dislike the love triangle and two characters of it i'm giving to the story for now a 8 who knows maybe i change it because i'm very indecisive. But in general because all that i mention above and again the acting of PBY and SIG is why i give it a 9. But that's just MY personal opinion.
If you haven't watch the drama yet and are wondering my opinion is you should try and see it for yourself at the end of the day maybe for one person was boring for other wasn't for one person suceed their expectations and for other didn't they are just opinions.
For me just because of Dongkyung and Myulmang i was entretained for the 16 episodes and i wait for every Mon/Tues to see the episodes. They will remain in my heart more because my country still in lockdown and sometimes every day felt the same but with DAYS (i just love the tittle haha) i have something to look forward too. I hope i manage to reply those people question a little.