Story: A family1 consisting of a failed lady writer and her 3 unmarried daughters. A family2 of husband-wife, her parents, 2 unmarried sons, and a distant 'uncle'. Family1 get a favour to live as tenant of family2 in their adjacent house for 1 month. As they co-live, some frictions arise and some new relations build. In short the drama tells about: the woman's coping with her publisher's exit, past relation between the woman of family1 and the man of family2, inter-family unease that rises into intra-family friction,
the romance between the girl2 of family1 and guy1 of family2, fierce & lasting opposition from guy's mother, the rivalry between the two brothers and later helping, the grandparents passing on their rice-cake skills to the next generation as the girl2 takes over their shop, the lonely 'uncle' taking an interest on the woman1, her ex-husband's transformation from a harasser to a diligent man, her reluctant acceptance of her daughter1's marriage to a divorced man with a petulant son, the grandmom's old-age sickness and the marriage of family2's son2 to a rich clueless but earnest girl.
Positive: excellent realistic portrayal of Korean family structure and relations, lovely backyard/lawn/balcony night romance. Lead pair are likeable, good looking, yet girl-next-door feel. First 25 or so episodes out of 44 are excellent. The love between the duo remains untarnished till the end, without cliched breakup and misunderstandings. Most of the actors gave memorable characters, e.g. The woman1, lead duo, man2, woman2, grandparents, uncle and the ex-husband.
Negative: quality of production and writing in later episodes is distinctly poorer. Many of the scenes feel like a stage play where many actors assemble in the same indoor room and consciously stand facing the camera/audience so as to be visible. A flimsy office with a few employees is used to advance some scenes. Chemistry/ease between the lead duo was not upto the mark when they have been supposed to be together for months. Some poor actors like the eldest sister, youngest sister's boyfriend.
I think i will still enjoy this show again sometime, may be watching upto 30 episodes. Rating 8/10 for first 15 episodes. Overall 6-7/10.
Positive: excellent realistic portrayal of Korean family structure and relations, lovely backyard/lawn/balcony night romance. Lead pair are likeable, good looking, yet girl-next-door feel. First 25 or so episodes out of 44 are excellent. The love between the duo remains untarnished till the end, without cliched breakup and misunderstandings. Most of the actors gave memorable characters, e.g. The woman1, lead duo, man2, woman2, grandparents, uncle and the ex-husband.
Negative: quality of production and writing in later episodes is distinctly poorer. Many of the scenes feel like a stage play where many actors assemble in the same indoor room and consciously stand facing the camera/audience so as to be visible. A flimsy office with a few employees is used to advance some scenes. Chemistry/ease between the lead duo was not upto the mark when they have been supposed to be together for months. Some poor actors like the eldest sister, youngest sister's boyfriend.
I think i will still enjoy this show again sometime, may be watching upto 30 episodes. Rating 8/10 for first 15 episodes. Overall 6-7/10.
