Sarangbi

This show is the very definition of slow burn romance, with lots of deep, restrained emotion and sacrificial love. I actually dropped it a couple times during the first 4 episodes, because the backstory (though vital to the plot), was understated to the point of being frustrating. However, if you hang in there, things do pick up after that.

I can't say there was much about the story or its execution that seemed particularly original to me, but that's ok. Sometimes you'd rather have a cheeseburger than gourmet food, right? So while you can expect many of the usual tropes (i.e. love polygons & rivals, playboy male + average girl, overbearing matriarch, etc), the film at least had a good cast who made those tropes (mostly) believable.

IMO, the most notable thing about this film was actually its soundtrack and background music, which featured an incredibly diverse array of era-appropriate songs in English, Korean and French (heck, I even heard some John Denver in there!) Oh, and shout out to the writers for featuring a girl using power tools (definitely not a common archetype)!

Fair warning: the current subtitles on Netflix are rather poor, with segments of conversation where the wording is confusing, misleading, out of context or fails to tie together the larger meaning/subtext of what is being said.

ROMANCE RATING: 8/10 The romance is relatively typical and formulaic, and there were only 1-2 really invested kiss scenes (plus a few other PDA moments). However, the main leads had good chemistry and you really felt their desperation...which might be why I thought some of the later hug scenes felt less realistic than if they had featured kisses instead.

In short, if you like classic K-drama and manga-type premises, I'd say give this show a try. It might resonate with you. (Circumstantially) Recommended.

A drama that doesn't promise much at the beginning but delivers very well up to the end. Very consistent throughout all episodes and really warm, emotional characters. The male lead is a good actor with an interesting look, I will definitely try to watch something else with him.

What I liked about Love Rain was the concept. It was an interesting idea to connect two stories together, one from the past and one taking place in the present. Maybe if this one was a few episodes shorter all those cliche predictalbe scenes would not have happened and the story would have concluded nicely and satisfying. However, it didn't and thus, the episodes towards the ending were boring and just too loooong. The start of the drama was kind of slow as well. Actually, the second story was better than the first one. I did enjoy however the way they presented that era. Also, the love triangle was better in the first story than in the second one, where it was weak. Finally, they didn't really explain the character's past in betweet the two stories. So, 5 out of 10.

It's slow, and gentle. You need time to savour it. The older lead couple grow over the years; the younger ones go through painful angst. The male leads have done a fine job of conveying their journey as has the older female lead. I found the younger female lead has done a great job but it was harder to invest in the character. She seemed lack in pride but it could be just the nature of extreme youth.

The scenes from other parts of Korea was nice to see as well as most K Dramas tend to focus on Seoul and that too a rather plastic version at times.

Worth your time if you are able to invest in the slow pace

The first 2/3rds of this show is quite good funny romantic watchable complex and emotional. But the latter third runs out of steam with a repetitive back and forth about not being together because of some inexplicable fauxcest thing. Why the couples cannot be together makes no sense. Frustrating and old fashioned. All this leads to a weak cheap looking ending.

The story starts strong with a 70s campus romance and love square. Then from ep5 things move to 2012 the cast play the children. Quite poignant seeing how things played out. And the older couple 's story was quite emotional. Nice contrast with the kids and their different personalities. Basic premise of The Classic with the kids of separated lovers falling in love. But the story goes way beyond.

The cast is great with the fine Lee Mi Sook as the older heroine. The main younger leads are appealing. Jang Keun Seuk sings and acts the 2 different characters quite well. Firstly the self sacrificing artist father and then the scowling photographer son. YoonA is quite good too in the different characters. Early appearance of Kim Young Kwang as a secondary love interest. Actually I liked JKS disapproving mother Hye Ja the most at least she wasn't frustrating like the rest of them.

If only the show was only 16 episodes they could have done away with the repetitive boring angst and self sacrificing scenes. Then it would have been quite a gem.