“ this drama is incredibly romantic, in the most grounded and graceful sense of that word.” THIS! Thank you..

I tried to find proper words to describe how I feel but I couldn’t! This drama makes me sad in a very beautiful way! As I was watching ep.4 I was aware of the number of tears rolling down at the same time and I didn’t even want to wipe them away! I felt like I owe them those drops for showing such a precious love story..
Ji-soo has become one of my all time fav heroines! We don’t know what she has gone through to become such a tired-of-life woman she is now! She used to be a fighter (I loved how she was more determined after being rejected each time and she finally got what she wanted)! I don’t find the present Ji-soo miserable at all! She fights when she feels it’s needed ( when she took her mask off and didn’t let Seo-kyung get what she wanted).. She still has it but when she said “I’m my guardian”, that was explained a lot!

I love Jae-hyun but I want him suffer a bit more!! He has always been in pain not just because of losing Ji-soo but also losing himself but he was a leader who betrayed his own followers...

I found that kiss at the end very sad and melancholic. In the best way possible of course! It was all about what they had lost, rather than current-day attraction and I found that very moving.

Especially because this seems to be a drama about what these two have lost after their first relationship broke up. The reconnection with Ji-soo has for Jae-hyun become a mirror to see how he used to be and what he's since become (although I had a feeling he came out of prison with a plan? ). For Ji-soo, meeting Jae-hyun is like a little holiday from her tough day-to-day life. A break from all the pressure she's under. But I also like that she said that before he came back it was easier to cope with that, plus that the way he is today, crushes the wonderful memories of what he used to be like. I love strong & determined Ji-soo and I loved that the drama showed that she wasn't always like that but that Jae-hyun helped her find her backbone.

Anyway, I'm loving this drama so far. Both the writing and the acting are fantastic.

I usually dont write comments but this show makes me crazy cant describe my feelings, i wasnt excited like this since watching DOTS. Really looking forward to the next episodes. Cinematography, effects, music, chemistry between lead actors is great. Actress that played young Jisoo is really pretty they did great job for casting, her image really suits young innocent, naive, bubbly young Jisoo. Shortly i love everything about this drama ❤❤❤

I was actually really disappointed in episode 4. Everything about the treatment of Ji Soo was a throwback cliche. She got slapped, a drink dumped on her, embarrassed by the 2nd FL, and sent to jail. She is also poor and struggling. Also she was abused by her father and blamed for her mother's death. Why? It is tragedy porn for no other reason then to be dramatic. Then his "I just can't quit you speech" on the beach, then get a divorce. I wish I saw it like the other beanies do, because I was excited for this. However, I am out.

Thanks @missvictrix for the nice review. However, I agree with most of the comments above, and against the review, that their middle age kiss is not too soon (If you count the time, their youthful kiss happened more then a year since they know each other and began dating). At the same time, I don't think today's Jae-hyun need more suffering, or the pair today need more hold back. You know from the first time they meet at the train station in current timeline, there is not only "still have some love left", but they love and longing to each other a lot. This love can sustain Ji-soo to keep on "standing with the losing side (Oh my god, this is such a powerful statement!)", and when Ji-soo reappears in his live, Jae-hyun have to motivation to find his happiness back. Well, it is also interesting the young Jae-hyun comments on the reason his dislike of war movies "For every individual, they are their own story's protagonist," so, "we are allo God's children," and "don't let people, even your own family, to treat you poorly." Ji-soo is getting her will to live on, no matter during her university years or right now, Jae-hyun is her source, so as his journey back to happiness and principle, her is his fuel.

Oh my god, this story is epic, and although it also involve, arguably, some cheating, the story is so very beautiful. We now know Jae-hyun is not a fully lost child to his principle and his love. Now, as I have stated in the first review, it will be time to explore how he lost his principle, and stand to the opposite side of his first love/apprentice, and I am truly looking forward to it.

I like how he was the one who shaped her in their younger days, gave her courage to find her own strength and stand up for herself, and also find conviction for her own life. And how it has now come full circle and she's the one leading him to find himself back after all these years.

And I especially like how both storylines are interwoven very nicely. I think this is actually very difficult to achieve -- to let the old storyline play out in a chronological way, instead of a piecemeal fashion, yet still relevant to the current timeline's progress without being jarring. Everything is very meticulously thought out and so beautifully interwoven.

However, I must say I didn't like the typical K-drama poor candy-like tropes, even if applied in a middle-aged setting. And I also have mixed reactions about that last ending kiss scene... sure, his marriage is a loveless one (at least for him) and his wife cheated on him, but they are still in a marriage. It's romantic for the story, but objectionable from an objective point of view nonetheless sigh.

I agree with the comments about the kiss in the last scene.
I just think JiSoo needed it, needed that break, needed to feel. Just that. To feel she's still alive, because so far she's just been surviving.
I have many theories based on nothing really, but I want to share some of them with you: if I am wrong I would only be guilty of having lots of imagination ;-)
- I believe JaeHyun has a plan to take down the conglomerate, or at least, his father in law. I want to think that the time in jail made him reflect about his recent past. There has been some hints (the leaking to the press, his telling SeoKyeong that he will change even more...).
- I have the feeling the marriage between JaeHyun and SeoKyeong is more fictional than real, and that it has been like that from the beginning. I even think he's not JaeHyun's son. That conversation when his wife tells him she loves him and wants to make their marriage work, and his only answer is "thank you". Not just: I don't love you anymore, but "thanks" made me feel he's never loved her in that way and that they both know. It would also explain why he cares more for JiSoo's son that his, something that I really don't like.
- JiSoo's family fallen in disgrace must be related to her sibling's death and her going to jail.
Let's see if any of this comes true.

Four episodes in, I know I'll be a stayer and am surprised at how much I like the parallel youth story which is well acted and directed beautifully - since the main attraction to me was the YJT-LBY pairing.

What sets this story apart from the other first love unfulfilled stories is the role reversal of the two leads as to how they influenced each other but life is not on their sides (or they both have been relegated to the losing sides.) I do agree and hope as other commentators said that this will be a story of redemption for Jae-Hyun. It's heartbreaking to hear him say in the final beach scene that Ji-soo is her dream. That said a lot of what a broken man he is.

This then comes to the point if Ji-soo is a Candy. She may appear so but what we see from the youthful day is an empowered journey through Jae-hyan. Of course, we still need to see how that part of the story unfolds as I imagine the parallel storytelling will go on for a while. The Ji-so today acts out of pragmatism with clear eyes, rather than because she is another Candy. It's a relief (if I could use this word) to see her let go for a moment to initiate that kiss. If the writer decides to have a kiss this early on, I am really intrigued on what they have in store for us.

All in all, an incredibly romantic drama that we haven't seen for some time.

I am more interested in Jae Hyun's wife, she seems surprisingly candid and has shades to her. I think if the writers want, they could really say something meaningful and compelling in terms of story telling with her character. But they will probably turn her into textboom kdrama villain. Jae Hyun and Ji Soo, its clear life has not been kind to either and they are merely shadows of their past self. But that does not excuse Jae Hyun's actions. He is very callous to his lawfully wedded wife and seems plain disinterested in their son's well being. Some fan theory are saying that is because he may not be biological father. If that is the case, then I will dislike him even more. If you decide to put yourself in the role of a child's father, you then need to step up and see it through. Ji Soo was just too much of a candy this episode, wine being thrown, shoes broke, slapped, went to jail. Her intentions are well but seriously clashes with her choice to be a single parent. It is clear that she has primary physical custody because her husband chose not to challenge her in court. She has a rap sheet, barely has an income, her son passed out from exhaustion and she wanted to get into a clash with police, add to that her father raised her constantly hating her. I am sorry, there is no logic to her actions here, she is stubborn to the point of being stupid and comes across as a masochist. I am not surr why she refuses child support. Therr better be good reason because whatever she is doing to make up for her lack of adequate cash flow is not doing any favor to her son. He needs to be in a different school close to both his parents. I honestly feel both are really in no healthy space to be parents at the moment. Custody probably should go to their respective ex and to be exes. That said, I like the flashbacks. At least I can ship them in that timeline.

I am so slow, I just realized the young Ji Soo was the pretty, loyal friend to Jin Hyuk ( Park Bo Gum) in Encounter.. LOL.. I was wondering why she looked familiar..

I love that the two main leads are quiet and understated characters. They are human, and we see their armor crack a bit through their interactions.

I think the biggest thing that makes this show is the portrayal of their political activism. What we see in these episodes is Ji-Soo going more into the protests, and Jae-hyun in the present time delving away from that only to think twice when he meets her again.

There's an understated and quiet elegance to this show. No doubt in no part because of the two outstanding and brilliant actors who give this show levity and gravity.

thanks for the recap:-) its so well written....since i like reading reunion trope in my books, i'm really liking this show and how the story goes back and forth, but i was really hoping they don't kiss just yet..., so waiting to see what happens in the next episode.

The kiss was appropriate not only based on story line but of what Ji-soo said, that they should each keep their places ... and only after hearing Jae-hyun say that for him she was a dream from which he can never get out, only then she kissed him after saying he is bound to wake up as it is only a dream. She kissed him as if they were in his/their dream. And what an elegant and graceful last scene that should have gone for a little longer! Hopefully we will get the longer version next episode.

This drama gives me the same vibe as My Love Eundong. Similar story, similar yearning minus the amnesia!

Thanks for the weecap.

i appreciate all the comments i've read here so far in describing the drama's understated elegance, and that of the leads too.

...but am i also the only one who has laughed out loud at certain scenes for being too makjang? >.< this is the second week in the row i've found myself doing that, and i usually don't see it this way, i promise lol. maybe it's just Ji-tae oppa's overly serious delivery and just the way Park Si-yeon fits into that kind of trope.

like @missvictrix, am gonna see where week 3 leads us :)

Thank you @missvictrix for the beautiful weecap. I love the parallel storyline and the fact that we are slowly unearthing bits and pieces of the past as the present story develops.

I feel the same way, I hoped that the kiss happened later. Jae Hyun is a married man so it kinda bothered me. I’m also bothered about Ji Soo’s parents. What kind of father would treat his own daughter that way? It also seems that her mother did not do anything to affirm her love for her. That said, it’s a beautiful drama.

The script is actually very beautiful...I found so many conversations in the last 6 episodes very true and moving! Not many first love will be a success and of course less first lovers comeback to each other because life does change! But their story, the background and what made the two separate is not what they wanted. Thus it is believable that they still love each other until now! However, they have to deal with the reality when they've both grown up and have families to be responsible for! This is not a teen drama, this is definitely a drama that only adults who experienced would understand! And completely different from other adult drama stories! This so beautifully and painfully! And last but not least, all actors and actresses have made a great job! My heart flutters and moved every moment they are together! No matter how the drama will go (we have 12 more episodes before the end), but the first 6 have been so memorable to me! And even it stops here, I am totally satisfied on how the stories were told and even the ending is open here for everyone, that is still so fine! PS: Beside mature acting by 2 leads, Jinyoung never fails our expectation. He is specially gifted and is very potential as the best male actor or rookie award or best couple with Jeon So nee, who is also unexpectedly so good in acting!

This show reminds me of those older Kdramas. The really melancholic ones, where people lingered on every word. The scenery sets the tone. Everything is so quiet--no need for theatrics. And I think my husband is in love with Lee Bo-Young.