Since I started watching kdrama, Yang Kang Chil is certainly the most endearing character I've seen. He is uneducated, unintellectual, unrefined and utterly raw. He talks like a harmless gangster and laughs like a kid. Maybe because of his hair cut, sometimes he reminds me of Forrest Gump though he is not at all simple-minded, he has a big heart and a positive outlook like Forest. They say when life gives you a lemon, make some lemonade. That would be Kang Chil's motto when he was released from prison after 16 years for a crime he didn't commit. He goes back to his hometown to live a simple life with his hardworking mother, and he would have been content with that if nothing else happens in his life. But he falls in love with a pretty animal-loving vet and now his life has a new meaning, more important than finding evidence to clear his name or seeking revenge or justice from the villains who framed him.
I was intrigued by the fantasy or pseudo-religious elements of the show but ultimately don't think they are indispensable for the message the show wants to bring across. Similarly the stories with the typically one-dimensional villains provide some mystery and thriller but to me they too distract from the true highlights of the show. For me that would simply be love: the love of life even when you're an ex-convict with no apparent future prospects, the love between mother and son, of family, bromance between friends who would sacrifice all for each other, romantic love between two individuals with little in common and the knowledge that, even if they overcame all obstacles, their love would still not last forever...
The performances of the leads and key supporting cast are fantastic. The absolute standout though is clearly Jung Woo Sung who wonderfully brought our hero to life in the most amazing way possible. To me, he indisputably gave the most moving performance from a male lead I have ever seen in kdrama. His performance is so good that you actually believe in the authenticity of Kang Chil's unbelievably good character, and why the much younger Ji Na falls in love with this penniless ex-convict who is rejected and despised by society. Because she sees in him the man who is loving and kind and not drown in self-pity inspite of everything life has taken away from him, she decides to love him completely even though she would be considered "totally out of his league" based on any social norms.
In contrast to this innocent and bittersweet romance between our good-hearted and good-looking couple, I find the relationship between Kang Chil and his mother even more moving. Surprisingly, I quickly got used to their non-stop bickering and just find so much comfort even when they are screaming at and hitting each other. In fact, this show tells how the love of family is not constrained by blood ties. You can deeply love someone as your family even if you aren't actually related.
My rating of the show is heavily weighted towards the relationships of our hero and his outlook on life, with the fantasy and thriller aspects relegated to side-dishes to add more color and diversity to the entertainment. While not perfect, this show will remain as one of the most memorable for me.
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