Before writing this post, I had already watched this drama twice. Oh, this is so me! Slice-of-life dramas are always my favorite, and no doubt, it’s because they have good storytelling. Ever since they announced this drama, I had been anticipating it because the leads are Choi Woo Sik and Park Bo Young—both of my favorite actors.
A drama about movie people. Choi Woo Sik plays Ko Gyeom, a cinephile. He’s a movie critic, and before that, he was just an extra who always wandered around movie sets, even when he had no schedule. He has loved movies since he was a child because he was lonely. Watching films was like seeing light while waiting for his brother to come home from work. He has no parents, but he has a loving and kind brother.
Park Bo Young plays Kim Mubee. I think her name, Mubee, comes from the pronunciation of movie. It’s not clearly stated what she did before becoming a director, but I think she was an assistant director. At first, she seemed dark and distant, struggling with the loneliness of losing her father. He died in an accident caused by overwork. Mubee doesn’t quite understand why people love movies—she has a love-hate relationship with them. Movies took her father away, but at the same time, watching movies with him created beautiful memories. Even Gyeom falls in love with Mubee at first sight because of her name. He thinks it’s beautiful, while Mubee hates it.
They have a cute-meet moment, like in a movie, and slowly grow closer. At first, Mubee ignores Gyeom because he’s too bubbly for her—she’s introverted and doesn’t like drawing attention. But Gyeom quickly becomes attached to Mubee. Like in many romance dramas, Gyeom suddenly disappears, leaving Mubee alone again. Her fear of getting close to someone stems from the trauma of losing her father.
Later, we find out that Gyeom disappeared because he had to take care of his brother, who had an accident. The relationship between Gyeom and his brother is beautiful yet heartbreaking—I love it. This is why I adore this drama. It’s not just about the romance between Gyeom and Mubee but also about their lives and personal struggles.
Long story short, Mubee and Gyeom meet again when Gyeom and his brother move into the house across from hers. Inevitably, they start off as enemies before realizing they still love each other and want to be together again.
Gyeom also has close friends, Hong Si Jun (Lee Jun Young) and Son Ju A (Jeon Son Hee). Si Jun believes he’s a musical genius, but he hasn’t debuted yet. Ju A is his ex, and she’s a rookie screenwriter. A lot happens between them that makes them rethink their relationship—whether it’s truly over or if they still have a chance. What I love about Ju A is how much she sees potential in Si Jun and supports him in making music. She even asks him to compose music for her new film.
I love how the writer makes this drama seem simple, yet each character carries deep emotional struggles. Gyeom, Mubee, Si Jun, and Ju A all have personal issues they must eventually confront. I also love how they grapple with their lives, their passions, and their loneliness.
Spoiler Alert
One of the most heartbreaking moments was when Gyeom lost his brother. His death hit Gyeom hard—he felt completely alone and couldn’t even bear to go home anymore. But Mubee was there for him. She reassured him that he wasn’t alone. They weren’t alone anymore. They hugged and kissed. I cried. The emotions were so raw—Gyeom, who always seemed bubbly, was actually deeply lonely, and that broke me.
Even towards the end of the series, Mubee still harbored resentment toward her father, who was so passionate about movies that he neglected her. She had always craved his attention, but he was too busy working. In the end, she realized she had taken her mother’s love for granted. She had spent all her time resenting her father while her mother was always there for her, understanding her completely. Just like Gyeom said, Mubee actually resembled her mother—not just in looks but in heart. Her mother, just like Mubee, had fallen in love with a movie lover—Mubee with Gyeom, and her mother with Mubee’s father.
Oh! I also loved the idea of them healing each other by sharing their secrets—the fact that they weren’t perfect, that they weren’t necessarily good people. And there’s one important scene at the end when Mubee said her relationship with Gyeom had many genres—family, romance, and more. Then they kissed. I loved that idea.
I think I’ll rewatch this series because it’s truly a feel-good drama. So heartwarming. I was really impressed with Choi Woo Sik—this character suits him so well, and his acting felt so natural and effortless. I remember Park Bo Young saying she took this role because she heard Woo Sik had already accepted it first. I love this pairing—their chemistry is amazing! I need more of them—10 episodes are not enough!
Watch only on Netflix
Pictures: hancinema