A single-life helper offers her services to those who need a significant other for events such as weddings, reunions, or nagging parents.  After years of running her business, she has finally earned the money needed to pay off her debt.  Her hope is to retire and make a fresh start in a new place.    But one special client has been married to her for the last 5 years, and he isn’t ready to let her go.  To complicate matters, an old acquaintance shows up, and he also needs her help for one last job before she closes up shop.  As matters of the heart come into play, the lines between business and personal become very hard to distinguish.

Go Kyung Pyo as Jung Ji Ho

For the past 5 years, Jung Ji Ho has been “married” to Sang Eun.  As his wife, she works 3 days a week, coming over and eating dinner with him in his apartment.  As someone who doesn’t relate well to other people, this is the perfect situation for him. But when Sang Eun announces that she will be retiring and ending their contract, he is devastated at the thought of losing her.  Now he will try to convince her to turn their professional relationship into something more personal.  But a new client shows up to offer him some competition and showing his feelings has never been Ji Ho’s strong suit.   

Jung Ji Ho is a successful judge who keeps to himself.  His ex-wife left him to find her own success and riches, but also because he always felt so emotionally distant.  At the thought of losing Sang Eun, he decides to really put some effort into learning to be more social, not just with her, but with all the people in his life. I love Go Kyung Pyo, and I felt like he brought this sweetly awkward character to life in a way lesser actors would never have been able to.  His character’s growth was rewarding to watch and I really loved him in this role. 

Kang Hyung Suk as Woo Gwang Nam

Woo Gwang Nam was one of Sang Eun’s first clients.  Now he is her best friend, roommate, and confidante.  After losing his job as a martial arts teacher, he becomes a body guard for Hae Jin.  Both his fake marriage to Sang Eun and his losing his job were because he is gay.  Now he is determined to be open and honest about who he is and not act as if his sexual orientation is something to be ashamed of.  

 ♥ Ji Ho

Ji Ho’s character was the most interesting in this drama, by far.  I loved to watch the way his character developed from someone who couldn’t even carry on a conversation with his co-workers to one who attended team dinners and hosted dinner parties.  At the same time, they kept his growth realistic.  He still has a tendency to be a bit awkward in social situations and often misses social cues.  But he has come a long way from where he began, and with Sang Eun at his side, we can expect that he will continue to improve and learn.  

 ♥ Interesting Job

Sang Eun took the most painful experience of her life and turned it into a creative and rewarding job.  The company that she created is unique and interesting.  I enjoyed the brief glimpses into the way she used the business to help her clients in remarkable ways, and I could have used even more scenes like that.  I think we could have seen more depth and character growth from Sang Eun if we had seen more of her interactions with her clients.  

Lead Chemistry

I think I am not alone in assuming that with two talented leads like this drama had, and Park Min Young’s reputation for making great romantic dramas, that the chemistry in this show would have been amazing.  Unfortunately, the result was much less inspiring.  Maybe it can be blamed on the fact that so many of their scenes took places sitting across from each other at the dinner table.  There were moments where a spark glimmered but much of it felt flat and very matter of fact.  

 Gwang Nam

While I loved Gwang Nam’s character, his growth and ending were a bit disappointing for me.  With such great charm and potential, I would like to see his character find love for himself and break free from his demanding family’s clutches.  Instead, he is encouraged to become a celebrity so that his family won’t have to feel ashamed of him anymore.  Gwang Nam deserves to be loved and accepted for who he is, and becoming famous seems like a step in the wrong direction for this gentle soul.   

Luckily, “Love in Contract” sets aside it’s melodrama alter-ego for a nice happily ever after.  Sang Eun shows up at the board meeting for Kangjin Group and exposes Hae Jin’s brother for the creep he is.  After the obligatory pre-ending break-up, Sang Eun proposes to Ji Ho with a big romantic gesture, and Ji Ho responds in kind with his own intimate proposal.  After a few days of hectic planning and endless errands, the couple find out neither one of them is interested in the big wedding they have been working on.  They decide to have a small gathering of their friends and loved ones and leave it at that.  Hae Jin goes back to acting with the blessing of his mother.  And there may be romance on the horizon for him and Ji Eun.  And Gwang Nam decides to become a singer with Jung Hwan as his manager.  The final scene shows Ji Ho and Sang Eun waking up after their wedding party.  They eat ramen at the dinner table, side by side this time instead of distantly facing each other.  Sang Eun realizes that it’s Sunday, which is her favorite day, and declares this one to be perfect.  And hopefully this is the first of many for the happily married couple.  

In the 1990’s, as crime trends and investigative processes were shifting in the United States, a Korean detective advocates to follow their example by establishing a Criminal Behavior Analysis team in Korea.  With just 3 members on their team and no respect from fellow officers, they begin interviewing current prisoners and monitoring new crimes.  And when a new murder seems to fit the criteria they have gathered, their efforts begin to pay off.  But putting together procedures in such a new field isn’t easy. And the emotional stress of looking into the minds of cold and calculating murderers on a daily basis begins to take its toll.  

Jin Seon Kyu as Kook Young Soo

Kook Young Soo is a “goose dad” who sent his wife and children to the US to study.  With nothing but time on his hands, he has been following American crime and investigation trends.  Based on his research, he believes that it is inevitable that Korea will soon have it’s first serial killer.  He talks his superiors into letting him open a Criminal Behavior Analysis team, and recruits Ha Young to work with him.  Although, the other departments refuse to cooperate with him or take his methods seriously, Young Soo is determined to prove that criminal profiling is an effective and worthwhile style of investigation.  And as his predictions start to become reality, he slowly begins to win the respect of his superiors and co-workers.  

Kook Young Soo is passionate and intelligent.  As the supervisor of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team, he is dedicated, not only to developing the procedures for their unit, but also developing strong relationships with his two co-workers.  Jin Seon Kyu is so likeable as the caring and paternal team leader.  He is always professional and yet undoubtable warm.  My only complaint is that I sometimes felt like his character was completely overshadowed by Ha Young’s all-encompassing personality.  Young Soo himself didn’t get as much character development as I think he deserved.    

Ryeoun as Jung Woo Joo

Jung Woo Joo is the only other person assigned to work on the Criminal Behavior Analysis team.  He is young and enthusiastic and has an honest interest in criminal profiling.  For the most part, he is responsible for holding down the fort in the office while the others are out.  But his work behind the scenes is indispensible in making their team run smoothly.  

 ♥ True Story

I loved the fact that this drama was based on an actual autobiography.  To get to see through the eyes of someone who lived and worked during a pivotal time in law enforcement is fascinating.  I saw plenty of comments where people were talking about how elements of this series seemed so unrealistic.  Word to the wise, while you can complain about certain production choices, unless you are willing to call this intelligent man a liar, we can’t criticize the methods and cases this story relates.  For me, this knowledge added to the dark reality of these crimes.

 ♥ Unique Style

This kind of true crime style is unusual for a kdrama.  I was very impressed with the tone and direction of this series.  The dark scenes and slow moving action gave this story a very specific feel that matched the tone of the story perfectly.  It felt like we, the audience, were also treading through the murky minds of sinister villains.  While the vibe was undoubtably heavy, I think it was fitting for the difficult subject matter it tackled.  

Ha Young’s Mother

I wish we had seen more about Ha Young and his mother.  They included her character because obviously she was significant.  After the accident, we do see them spending more time together, so they  did experience some growth in their relationship.  But I would have liked to know more about their past.  Were they always distant or was there some turning point between them that made them keep their distance?  I felt like she could have given us more insight into his character.

 Lack of “Story”

At times, this drama felt more like a documentary than a series.  While I enjoyed the novelty of this approach, sometimes I missed having a bit more focus on the characters themselves, rather than the crimes and criminals.  It is a testament to the acting skills of this cast, rather than a criticism, that I was invested enough in the characters to want to know more about them. It seems like the stories of the characters themselves could be a whole other drama, but surely we could have had a few more peeks into the private lives of these fascinating personalities.  

“Through the Darkness” ends without any real conclusion, as true stories are prone to do.  Ha Young’s near-fatal accident finally brings him back from the precipice of darkness.  He takes time in the hospital to heal both physically and mentally, and comes back with a healthier perspective on work, life, and relationships.  The team solves another case and are finally receiving the credit they so deserve.  Their team and Yoon Tae Goo’s unit have finally struck a balance and found a way to build their teamwork together.  They celebrate the ending of their case by having a rooftop party at Tae Goo’s new apartment, with all of them laughing and drinking together.  After a time jump, we see the expansion of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team, with a whole group of new recruits.  The final scene shows Ha Young warning their current serial killer that they will eventually catch up to him.  We are reminded that for our heroes, life and work go on, but unfortunately so does the terror of senseless deaths.

A hot-headed lawyer leaves a successful corporate law office to fulfill her dream of opening a law cafe.  By providing legal council at the cost of a cup of coffee, she hopes to help those who have no way to pay the expensive legal fees charged by most corporate lawyers. After shopping around for just the right building to rent, she is shocked to learn that her new landlord is one of her best friends from high school.  But he seems to be intent on avoiding her at all costs.  Will her business be doomed from the start or will she find a way to convince him to help her make her dreams reality.  

Lee Se Young as Kim Yu Ri

When taking pro bono cases at her law firm is no longer enough, Kim Yu Ri decides to strike out on her own by setting up a law cafe, where she can provide personal advice in a friendly, neighborhood setting.  But things get complicated when her new landlord turns out to be an old friend.  Excited to see a familiar face and a fellow-lawyer, she is excited to see him, but he doesn’t share her enthusiasm.  And when an unexpected and powerful enemy begins threatening her and her cafe, she finds herself leaning more and more on Jeong Ho’s friendship and their deepening relationship. 

Kim Yu Ri is strong and independent.  Her passion for justice and helping those in need drives her to be a successful lawyer.  Maybe because of all she was going through after losing her dad in high school, she never realized Jeong Ho’s true feelings for her.  But once he finally confesses, she begins to see how much she has always cared about and respected him.  Lee Se Young was fun to watch in this role.  Her enthusiasm and fiery spirit made this  character both entertaining and sincere.  And I enjoyed seeing her do a bit of comic silliness.   

Kim Nam Hee as Park Woo Jin

Park Woo Jin is Jeong Ho’s cousin.  He rents out the second floor of the building for his psychiatric clinic.  He falls for Yu Ri, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that she and Jeong Ho already have feelings for each other and a long history together.  So, he settles for keeping his feelings to himself and helping Yu Ri in any way he can.  

 ♥ Modern Female Lead

Kim Yu Ri is a free-thinking modern woman.  Even with her panic attacks, she manages to stand on her own two feet most of the time, and bravely faces whatever problems arise.  She has her own views on love and marriage, and isn’t afraid to speak up for herself when the occassion warrants.  All of these things made her the kind of female lead that is likable and makes you want to root for.

 ♥ Stages of Marriage

There is an interesting thread in this drama about stages of relationships and marriage.  Toward the end, those threads lace together to give us the drinking party scene with all the female characters.  Each one has her own story and is at a different place in their relationship with their significant other.  But strangely, that seems to give them all something in common knowing that whatever stage of life they are in, there are always both struggles and joy.  

Supporting Love Stories

The main love story for this drama was well done and fun to watch unfold.  But I wish the secondary characters had fared as well in their quests for love.  After watching Doctor Park struggle with his crazy stalker and gracefully give up on his feelings for Yu Ri, the poor guy deserved to find someone for himself.  At least a brief glimpse into a love interest would have been nice.  And watching Eun Kang fall head over heels for Hee Soo was sweet, but a little progress would have been nice.  

 Dog Death

Maybe this is just my animal-loving self talking, but I found the scene of Pyun Woong’s thugs killing the dog to be really disturbing.  Obviously they don’t actually show it, but the gruesome state of the cafe was enough to give a pretty clear idea.  And the fact that no one seems that upset about this poor creature after the fact felt a bit uncaring.  Jeong Ho even makes some off-hand comment about how it wasn’t really his dog anyway.  I felt like there must have been a better way to play that scene, rather than just an excuse for Jeong Ho to play the romantic hero.  

Most of our storylines for this one either end without any real closure or ended along the way.  But the two plots that have run through the whole drama are the story of our crazy villain and the love story of our leads.  So, first things first.  Pyun Woong finally loses it completely.  He takes Jeong Ho hostage and has a showdown with the police, which guarantees his arrest, once they finally bring him down.  He does stab Jeong Ho, which brings us to our romance.  Yu Ri is traumatized by seeing the one she loves seriously injured.  And that helps her to reevaluated her own feelings and attitudes toward marriage.  After talking with the other women in her life, she eventually is ready to commit.  And in true Yu Ri fashion, she rushes to Jeong Ho’s side and proposes to him this time.  They get married in the middle of a typhoon, surrounded by their friends and family.  Some time later we see the cafe bustling with business.  But now there are 2 lawyers available to offer advice.  Of course, their friends are still there, working and supporting them.  And I’m pretty sure, after a long 17 year wait, they are finally living happily ever after.  

A bookish, naive accountant gets an unusal chance to free her family from the poverty that has followed them their whole lives when she finds her name attached to an international bank account and assets worth billions.  But keeping that money involves risking her life to go up against one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the country.  And as she investigates the wrong-doings that have led up to this point, she will discover a secret flower that is as deadly as it is beautiful.  

Wi Ha Joon as Choi Do Il

Choi Do Il has made a career as the quick thinking guardian of Park Jae Sang’s financial fortune.  When he finds out that the slush fund has been cleaned out and put into accounts belonging to In Joo, he strikes a deal with her to betray his employer and split the profits with her.  But trying to protect her and their money proves to be a full time job.  As they work together to gather proof of Park Jae Sang’s criminal activities there will be danger around every corner. And his history with Park Jae Sang has shown him that his enemies never live long.  

Choi Do Il is illusive and mysterious.  He tells In Joo from the beginning that the only thing he loves is money.  And since she controls the bank accounts, she will have his loyalty.  But there is more to his character than he lets on.  He is not as cold and ruthless as he pretends, as is evidenced by the fact that he staged a woman’s death to help her escape Park Jae Sang’s clutches.  For me, Wi Ha Joon was one of the best characters in this drama.  You never quite knew where he stood or what he was trying to do.  He plays this kind of enigmatic role so well, and I really loved watching his scenes.  

Park Ji Hoo as Oh In Hye

Oh In Hye is the youngest Oh sister.  She is a high school student.  Both of her older sisters work hard to try to provide her with all the things she never had.  She is a talented painter.  She is approached by Won Sang A to paint a picture and allow her daughter, Hyo Rin, to claim it as her own work.  Through this process, In Hye and Hyo Rin become best friends.  And when the two of them become overwhelmed with the battle raging between the adults, they take all of Hyo Rin’s savings and run away to travel the world.  

 ♥ Choi Da Il

As I have said, I really loved Choi Da Il.  His character had plenty of depth and subtlety.  The pent up chemistry he was able to show with In Joo although they never had a single romantic scene was swoon-worthy.  And there was something so charming about the way he was helping take care of In Joo and her family behind the scenes, while never letting on.  I have to say, this drama would have been much less interesting without his presence.  

 ♥ In Kyung and Jong Ho

I liked the straight-forward friend to lover romance between In Kyung and Jong Ho.  It worked well without needing to take up a major plot line.  Their time spent researching and investigating together gave their story time to develop while still moving the plot along.  His patience was perfect for her impulsive personality.  And I was happy that at least someone got a kiss scene!

Secret Society

The whole secret society thing seemed a bit unnecessary, especially since there was a lot of negative press around their distortion of history during the Vietnam War.  A greedy family with someone about to become the mayor of Seoul would have been enough to represent the kind of power and loyalty this story dealt with.  And in the end, the exact role of the Orchid seems a bit vague anyway.  This concept was interesting but I don’t know that they pulled it off very convincingly.  

 Young Travelers

I thought the way they handled Hyo Rin and In Hye running away seemed a bit weird.  Two sheltered high schoolers hit the road with a fortune in assets and no one is concerned about their safety?  That felt like a bit much.  It was never that they couldn’t find them.  With Hyo Rin’s family’s influence, that would have been easy enough.  But no one, except Do Il, cared enough to keep an eye on them or lend their support.   

“Little Women” ends, feeling a bit rushed but mostly happy.  First, In Joo finds out that Hwa Young is still alive when she shows up to testify on In Joo’s behalf at her trial. Hwa Young and In Joo have their final showdown with Sang A. In the end, Sang A and her beloved father tree full of orchids gets burned to death with the acid meant for Hwa Young.  In Joo takes Do Il to the airport where he plans to finally retire in Greece.  It’s obvious that he wishes she were coming with him, but she declines his invitation. In Kyung finally confesses her feelings for Jong Ho, and the couple make plans to go to the US together.  In one final twist, we find out that Da Il has joined forces with In Hye to keep the slush fund money safe.  Now its finally time to split it up between everyone.  Do Il will take his portion off to Greece.  In Hye and Hyo Rin will keep a portion to continue traveling the world.  In Kyung gets enough to pursue her studies.  And a major share goes to In Joo as a thank you for all she has done to raise and protect In Hye.  With any luck she will eventually find her way to Do Il in Greece, where they can live in happy luxury for the rest of their lives.   

Fresh out of prison, Yoon Kyeo Re is involved in a car accident.  In place of a cash settlement, he is offered community service at a hospice center.  While working there, he meets the members of Team Genie; a group of volunteers who grant the final wishes of their terminally ill patients.  For the first time in his life, Kyeo Re begins to understand what it is like to have a caring family and friends.  As his role in the team grows, his life finally finds purpose.  And as he settles in to his new life, he finds some curious connections between the health care center and his own troubled past.  

Choi Soo Young as Seo Yeon Joo

Seo Yeon Joo works as a nurse at the hospice center. She is in the ambulance when it is involved in the crash caused by Kyeo Re.  After almost causing another accident on his way into the hospital, her impression of him is not at all good.  She considers him a thug who shouldn’t be trusted with the important work they are doing.  But as she works alongside him, she soon finds out that his tough exterior hides his own wounds and insecurities. And as they begin working as a team, her feelings of love and respect for him and all he has been through continue to grow.  

Seo Yoon Joo became a hospice nurse after watching her own mother struggle and ultimately die of cancer.  Because of her personal experience, she is incredibly empathetic and caring toward her patients.  She believes that no one should be forced to silently suffer through pain and discomfort, so she often tells her patients to speak out when they hurt.  Choi Soo Young is establishing herself as more than just an “idol” actress and I thoroughly enjoyed her in this role.  Her strength and passion are contagious and seem to resonate from the screen.  

Won Ji An as Ha Joon Kyung

Ha Joon Kyung grew up with Kyeo Re in the orphanage.  They agreed to be family when they were young, and Kyeo Re considers her his sister.  But she is obsessive and self-destructive, and Kyeo Re recognizes that she makes him anxious and unhappy.  Every time Kyeo Re tries to get away from her, she threatens to kill herself or both of them.  

 ♥ Kang Tae Shik

Sung Dong Il is one of those immediately familiar faces in kdrama.  I couldn’t count how many shows I have watched him in, and I always love him.  But he was so perfect in the role of Kang Tae Shik.  His portrayal of this character as at once content with his life and yet slightly melancholy in nature made him incredibly realistic and lovable.   As the father figure and glue that held their team together, his presence in every scene was dynamic.  

 ♥ Hogeweyk

I found the idea of the Dementia Village in Amsterdam to be fascinating.  I had never heard of such a place before and I was touched to learn about it.  I also loved that for this drama, they ended up building their own little village right on the property, for Deok Ja and others like her.  Keeping her in the environment she is used to, and letting all her friends watch over her, was a wonderful way to end her story.  

Son

I understand that Son needed to die at some point in the show as a turning point for Kyeo Re.  But I wish they would have kept him around a bit longer.  I think there was some good work the dog could have done at the hospice center as a therapy dog.  And that could have helped show Kyeo Re the way.  There just seemed like an obvious way to give the dog purpose within the story that went beyond Kyeo Re, and I wish they had explored that a bit more.  

 New Volunteers

Bringing in a new volunteer at the end of the drama was a great way to bring the story full-circle and show Kyeo Re’s maturity.  But was I the only one who thought it would be Joon Kyung and Seok Joon?  Now that Joon Kyung and Kyeo Re had come to an understanding about their relationship, it would have been nice to see the gang back together.  Obviously, Joon Kyung and Seok Joon could learn a lot from volunteering there, and for Joon Kyung to see people who treat life and death with the reverence they deserve could give her a fresh and healthier perspective.  

“If You Wish Upon Me” tied up all their loose ends and brought the focus back around to life and healing in a fitting way.  First, we see our last wish granted to Tae Shik, who holds a surprise birthday party for Kyeo Re.  Lots of familiar faces show up to join the celebration.  Tae Shik hands over the watch to Kyeo Re to symbolize the changing of the guard and calls him “son” for the first time.  One year later, Tae Shik has passed away, leaving all his money to Team Genie for their work.  A big chunk of that money went to building their own version of Hogeweyk for dementia patients.  The dating bug has bitten the workers at the center, with both Mr. Koo and Dr. Yang in new relationships.  And of course, Kyeo Re and Yeon Joo are still together and doing well.  The final scene has a new volunteer showing up on a motorcycle, looking rough around the edges and complete with a pet turtle.  Life does go on, even in a hospice center!

In 1987, against the backdrop of an important upcoming presidential election, a young college student meets a charming young man on a blind date.  Little does she know he is actually a North Korean spy, getting ready to finish his important mission surrounding the election and head home.  But when his circumstances end up spiraling out of control, he finds himself  taking her and her whole dorm hostage in an effort to get home alive.  And as the situation builds, they will find the lines of country and allegiance blurred, as each of them faces betrayal and become pawns in a political game that is much more complicated than they realized.    

 Kim Ji Soo as Eun Young Ro

Eun Young Ro was raised by her grandmother after her mother died.  Her father is the Director of the ANSP, but Young Ro hides that fact from her friends and roommates. When she meets Soo Ho at a blind date, she is immediately attracted to him.  And she keeps meeting him in increasingly difficult situations.  When he shows up at her dorm with a gun and takes the whole group hostage, she is hurt by his lies about his true identity.  At first, she refuses to have anything to do with him, but she can’t help stepping in when he needs her. And as the terrible truth of their situation unfolds, she finds out that they have both been betrayed by fathers and countries that are more concerned with their own greed and power than either of them.  

Eung Young Ro is kind and generous.  She treats everyone with respect and care.  Even Boon Ok, who the other’s mistreat any chance they get.  It is this tenderhearted concern that draws Soo Ho to her, even in the midst of their horrible situation.  This is Kim Ji Soo’s debut acting role and she proved her potential as a talented actress.  She will only improve from here, and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow.   

Yoo In Na as Kang Cheong Ya

Kang Cheong Ya is a doctor who has been living undercover as a North Korean spy for 17 years.  Her latest mission involved getting close to Nam Tae Il so she could keep an eye on him and the ANSP.  But she has been in love with Soo Ho since a chance encounter between the two of them years ago.  Her cover is blown when she is sent in as a doctor for the injured hostages.  

 ♥ Villains

One of my favorite things about this drama is that there were lots of familiar actors in very unfamiliar roles.  Seeing actors like Yoo In Na,  Kim Hye Yoon and Kim Min Kyu step out of their usual roles to play villains was unexpected and interesting.  It gave each of them a chance to stretch their acting skills and show  sympathetic yet obviously flawed characters.  

 ♥ Kye Boon Ok

As much as I couldn’t decide whether I hated or pitied Boon Ok, I loved seeing Kim Hye Yoon in this role.  Her character was so incredibly complex and nuanced.  It would have been easy to make this character simply unlikeable in every way, but instead I found her at times humorous, desparate, and sadly misunderstood.  Kim Hye Yoon really showed a range of skill that I have not seen from her before.  

 Politician’s Wives

This drama took full advantage of the long episodes to include a huge cast of characters and plots.  But some of those stories felt largely unnecessary.  The snotty, petty politicians’ wives are an example of that for me.  I just didn’t care much about their ridiculous quarreling and constant competition.  And they were never really needed for the plot progression.  I would have loved to see that screen time given to other more interesting plots.  

Soo Ho’s Sister

While the cast was huge, there were a couple characters whose are mentioned, but we never get to hear their stories.  Most obviously, I would have liked to see a couple scenes, even if they were memories, of Soo Ho’s sister and Young Ro’s grandmother.  These two characters seemed pivotal in the lives of our leads, and it would have been nice to get a bit more of their stories and relationships. And more importantly, what happened to Soo Ho’s sister after he died.  We are told repeatedly that she will be killed, so are we to believe that after all that, Soo Ho’s death is doubly tragic because he couldn’t save himself or his sister? 

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So, it is easy to see from the beginning that “Snowdrop” was likely to end in tragedy, and it did just that.  Soo Ho had actually made it out of the dorm and was on his way home, when he decides he needs to go back and finish protecting Young Ro.  He is shot saving Young Ro’s life and dies in her arms, in a heartbreaking scene. The hostages are released safely, thanks to highly visible media coverage.  The political leaders involved in the ANSP all end up in jail and their belongings are seized.  Only Young Ro’s stepmother seems to make it out, taking off with all the money from their safe.  One year later, the dorm is back to normal. with Miss Pi and Boon Ok overseeing it.  Young Ro goes back to the cafe where she first met Soo Ho and listens to the cassette tape he put into her hands as he was dying.  As she listens to his confession of his feelings for her, she remembers their time together and cries, sitting alone at the table.  

A young veterenarian from Seoul is tricked into taking over his grandfather’s vet clinic in a small country town for the summer.  But living in a close community and caring for large animals and livestock are all far outside of his experience.  A bright and eager police officer tries to help him adjust to his new surrounding.  But she carries a secret about their past that he has totally forgotten.  And as he begins to get to know the people in his new home, he begins to wonder if his future path is leading him down a new road he would have never predicted.  

Choo Young Woo as Han Ji Yul

When Han Ji Yul receives a phone call that neighbors have been unable to reach his grandparents in the country, he jumps into his car to check on them.  But when he arrives, he finds that it was just a plan by his grandfather to leave his veterinary clinic in Ji Yul’s hands for the summer.  He quickly learns that the life of a country vet is hard work, taking care of large livestock and traveling everywhere by bicycle.  And living in a small, nosy community is no picnic either.  But with the constant help of one very eager and beautiful police officer, he finally begins to settle into his new surroundings.  

Han Ji Yul lost his parents in a car accident when he was young.  This traumatic experience left him with a scar that makes it hard for him to show a lot of emotion.  This kind of life-style was easy enough to maintain when he lived in the city, but coming to a small town in the country is a whole different story.  He will need to get used to people who assume a close relationship to everyone they meet.  Choo Young Woo played this role well, although there is never much emotional depth to his character.  As the drama goes on, he does get to show a looser, more natural character, which I enjoyed.  

Ha Yul Ri as Choi Min

Choi Min is Ji Yul’s ex-girlfriend.  He was devestated when she broke up with him, but over time he has been able to move on.  Min decides that she wants to get back together with him, and shows up in town to try to persuade him to start dating her again.  

 ♥ Animals

Because Ji Yul is a veterinarian, this drama has lots of cute animal scenes.  Thankfully, most of the stories are uplifting and positive for those of us who are animal lovers.  It would have been easy to over-emphasize this element with excessive cute animal scenes.  But instead this drama uses them for story elements without overdoing it.  It was also interesting how they highlighted the difference between a city vet who focuses on pets and small animals vs. a country vet who works with livestock.  

 ♥ Scenery

This drama was aesthetically unique in that the vast majority of scenes take place outside.  They really managed to use the beautiful small town setting to its advantage.  The bright, natural light and beautiful blue and green tones of the landscape made a nice backdrop for most of the story.  

Lead’s Missing Years

Both of the leads have pieces of their stories that are introduced vaguely but never fully explored.  For Ja Young, I was curious about the years she said she went away to school.  It’s hard to imagine her living a life away from their small community, and she has the naivete of someone who has been sheltered her whole life.  And for Ji Yul, I wondered why he didn’t stay with his grandfather after his parents death.  And who did raise him?  While neither of those issues were blaringly necessary, it seemed weird that they weren’t addressed a bit more.  

 Old Bull

I found the story of the old man and his bull to feel a bit out of place in this drama.  Not that it was a bad story.  It was actually surprisingly touching.  But in such a light-hearted show this somber plot felt a bit too heavy.  If it hadn’t been the only story of its kind, it might have worked.  But as it was, every other animal story had a happy ending without much drama to it.  

It’s all happy, easy endings for “Once Upon a Small Town”.  There isn’t really much dramatic tension here.  Ji Yul goes back to Seoul once his grandparents come back.  He and Ja Young do the long distance dating thing, with some advice from Yun Hyeong, who has become something of an expert himself.  They have a slight bump, because they each feel like they should not bother or worry the other one. But they quickly talk it out and move on.  Eventually, Ji Yul decides to take over the business from his grandfather and proposes to Ja Young with matching rings.   Cue the music and the happily ever after!

A group of college friends and roommates attend a class together at the beginning of the school year.  But shortly after their first class, an anonymous love letter shows up on the campus internet message board, signed simply “M”.  As the letters continue, each student will try to solve the mystery of who “M” really is, while wondering if there is any chance that they could be the mystery writers first love.

Jeong Jae Hyun as Cha Min Ho

Cha Min Ho is a Computer Science student who is already developing his own apps.  He has a natural talent for all things computer, that makes him a model student.  He is in love with his best friend, Ma Joo Ah, although he has never let on to her that he feels that way.  After years of friendship, the 2 are inseparable anyway, so he has been patiently waiting for her to realize how he feels.  But when she suddenly develops a crush for the first time in their lives, he knows that if he doesn’t confess to her soon, he could lose his chance. 

Cha Min Ho is confident and social.  But he lives with the sadness of having lost both of his parents in a car accident when he was young.  He was raised by his older sister, who gave up her own dreams and ambitions to take care of him.  Now he is determined to pay her back for everything she has done by working part-time jobs whenever he can.  NCT’s Jeong Jae Hyun made his acting debut in this drama, and  I thought he handled  it well.  He was able to convey plenty of sensitivity and emotion with this role and I enjoyed his character a lot.  

Bae Hyun Sung as Park Ha Neul

Park Ha Neul is one of Min Ho’s roommates.  He recently changed his major to Computer Science, but the shift has been more difficult for him than he expected.  He is going out with Ji Min, and their relationship is very stable and sincere, until Ro sa begins to plant doubts in Ji Min’s mind.  

 ♥ College Life

College dramas often spend all their time showing the social and dating lives of the students, but they often neglect the more day to day life style of what it is really like to be a University student in Korea.  I enjoyed the fact that the characters of this drama were shown studying and attending classes, as well as some of the more mundane things like trying to find someone to eat with in the cafeteria.  It gave the story a more natural and down-to-earth feeling than a lot of others in this genre.   

 ♥ Siblings

Min Ho’s relationship with his sister was very sweet.  I would have enjoyed even more moments with these two together.  But the few scenes we did get show his love for her and give his character some sincerity and depth that added dimension to his story.  His desire to pay her back and her assertion that she never resented being able to act as a second mom to him were both reasonable reactions to their situation.

 Moon Joon

Moon Joon’s character was a  difficult one for me.  The whole story between him and Joo Ah seemed weirdly unexplained.  I get that he wasn’t sure of his feelings and he was trying to gain some clarity.  But it seemed like he did it without any consideration of Joo Ah’s feelings.  For someone who was so well-liked and respected, this felt very out of character.  And his actions with Min Ho only made him more unlikeable.  But I couldn’t really understand whether he had always been kind of a jerk and no one actually knew the real him or if these actions were a change in his personality.  

Ro Sa Conclusion

The “villains”  were the weakest link in the characters for this drama.  Ro Sa’s story felt incomplete in several ways.  First of all, the reason she took a year off never felt fully explained.  It became obvious that the travel-abroad story wasn’t actually true.  Then there was some talk about her being involved in an unpleasant rumor that left her unable to face her fellow students.  But we never really hear what that rumor was about or if Ro Sa had somehow gotten in trouble for her habitual toxic behaviors.  I felt like her story got teased a bit but we never had any resolution to it.  She seemed to have some very unhealthy personality traits, and I would have like to see her character taking some kind of steps to actually heal that, rather than just moving on to a new friend who may just be a new potential “victim”.  

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“Dear.M” brings everything around for lots of happy endings with all our main couples.  All three “roommate couples” are finally out in the open and doing well.  Ro Sa has moved on to a new friend and seems to be doing well.  I guess only time will tell with that one.  Moon Joon finally tells his father everything and says he is quitting college to live his own life.  Good for him, I suppose, although his horrible behavior in the second half of this drama left me not caring much about his character.  And the big “Dear.M” reveal turns out to be none other than our impish psychology major, Gil Mok Jin.  It is unclear whether the confession was actually sincere, and from the smirk on his face, it may very well have been just a fun prank to pique everyone’s curiousity.  But I guess we get the last laugh, since he did meet his first love in that class after all.  

A former criminal profiler spent time in prison after being framed for his best friend’s death. Now, after serving his time, he makes a living by using his keen powers of observation and insight into human behavior to convince rich clients that he is a shaman.  With the help of his best friend, who serves as his personal bodyguard, and his tech-savvy sister, they perform their “magic” in the back room of their cafe.  But outside of business hours, the crew is still trying to find the real culprit in their friend’s murder.  When their investigation overlaps with a current police case, the conman shaman meets a tough and determined female detective who also shares an interest in their private investigation.  Now, they will find out whether a rogue conman can actually work with a by-the-book officer of the law.  

Oh Yeon Seo as Han Jae Hee

From the time she was a child, Han Jae Hee was interested in martial arts.  And a childhood crush on a young police cadet set her on a career path that has never wavered. But after her brother’s tragic death, she changes her name and joins the police force with her new identity.  When an investigation brings her face to face with her old crush, she is thankful that he doesn’t recognize her as the awkward young girl who followed him around.  But his involvement in her brother’s death draws her to him, as they both search to find the truth of what happened that night.  

Han Jae Hee is known as the “ghost homicide detective”.  She is determined and fearless in the face of criminals.  But her brother’s death left a shadow on her heart that has never healed.  Oh Yeon Seo has played several of these outrageously outspoken characters, and she plays up to the intensity well.  Unfortunately, Jae Hee has a tendency to be all bluster without much substance. A bit more depth to her character would have been nice. 

Kwak Shi Yang as Gong Soo Cheol

Soo Cheol was a detective before he was fired unfairly.  Now he works as a barista during the day at Cafe Minamdang, while still using his detective skills to help Han Joon after hours.  Han Joon is his best friend, and he is completely devoted to him.  When Soo Cheol falls in love with Hye Joon he is overcome with guilt and worry that Han Joon won’t approve of him as a suitable suitor.  

 ♥ Mom

The character of Han Joon and Hye Joon’s mother “Deacon Kim” was very funny.  The lengths the group goes to hide Han Joon’s identity as the great shaman is well played.  And her delicate christian sensibilities are presented with just the right touch of subtle humor.  And that made it doubly funny to watch her find out that her son is the shaman her church friends are visiting.  And also when the group try to explain that the whole thing is really just one big ruse.  

 ♥ Psychological Twist

Although the shift in this drama from silly comedy to psychological thriller was a bit much for some fans, I appreciated the unique twist the story created.  Although I was suspicious of the prosecutor, the idea of a young psychopath getting hypnotized into becoming a warrior of justice was an interesting touch I couldn’t have predicted.  And it made his character much more complex than the usual evil villain.  

Villain Ladder

This is a pretty common formula for crime mystery dramas.  They chase after some evil villain and then when they catch them, they find out that there is someone more evil.  And this repeats multiple times.  It’s not necessarily bad, but it can be pretty redundant over time.  This drama did it enough times that it started to seem like it might never end.  By the end, many of the bad guys in the earlier episodes had been long forgotten.  They could have cut out a villain or 2 and gone with fewer episodes. 

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 Inconsistent Character

It’s not unusual in kdramas to start with over the top silliness that eventually calms into an actual plot.  But this drama started with some large personalities that seemed to loose all those unique traits as things went on.  Hye Joon’s messy room and crumpled clothes fell to the wayside for beautiful straight hair and a more put together appearance as a whole.  The prosecutor’s habit of filling with air with boring trivia points also disappears and never comes back.  It just made the characters feel inconsistent and a bit more boring in the later episodes.  

Things wrap up for “Cafe Minamdang” pretty much the way you would expect.  Do Won’s true character is finally revealed and he is arrested.  However, he still refuses to show any remorse for his actions, standing by the idea that he only killed those who deserved it anyway, with a slight exception for Jae Hee’s brother.  Han Joon had hoped to leave the life of a shaman behind after catching Gopuri, but his team was quick to remind him that they hadn’t finished paying off their debts.  So he agrees to keep the cafe open on the condition that he get a 6 month vacation to travel.  Initially Jae Hee refuses to go with him, saying she is happiest working. But a sudden suspension makes her change her mind.  She and Han Joon are just unwinding on their vacation when some other vacationers find a dead body floating in the water.  So, the detective/cafe squad is back in action.