Genres: Drama, Romance

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Note: This series is originally based on a Korean drama of the same name. All spoken dialogue is done by the original series actors but is airing in Japan for a 26 episode run.

Kang Joon Sang reminisces over the events that led to his present predicament. He begins to narrate them to the viewer, the series is the visualization of this narration, starting with what he believes is the only picture he has of his father. Kang Joon Sang’s mother has told him that his father is dead, and that he shouldn’t be concerned with that topic any more. This only seems to add to the rift of hatred between mother and son.

At school, Kang Joon Sang avoids social interaction and generally keeps to himself. He is far brighter than any other student there but seems loath to apply that ability. After a brief argument on the bus to class one day, a girl named Jung Yu-jin decides to break Kang Joon Sang out of his shell. She attends the same class as him and her long time friend Kim Sang-Hyuk. Kim Sang-Hyuk’s attempts to befriend Kang Joon Sang met with utter failure.

Using the school radio club as a starting point, Jung Yu-jin begins to get Kang Joon Sang to socialize a bit more. It is only after he saves her from a drunk man in an alley way that they truly seem to begin bonding. Kim Sang-Hyuk also notices this change in their demeanor and his feelings for his friend Jung Yu-jin begin to surface as jealousy. At one point, while walking between classes, Kim Sang-Hyuk attempts to hold Jung Yu-jin’s hand for “safety” while she balances on a railing. She denies him this, stating that she will only hold the hand of the man she chooses.

It is on a snowy path that she makes the decision to hold Kang Joon Sang’s while balancing on a log. He begins to open up to her and its apparent that there is some degree of mutual attraction forming between them. That, is when they run into Kim Sang-Hyuk on their way back home…

This series is off to a rather slow start and the pace could definitely throw some potential viewers. The bulk of the story lines does not begin to fall into place until episode 3 and 4, where events hinted at the beginning of the series and during the credits unfold. As drama goes, Korea really knows how to roll a story together, which may be the saving grace for this series.

Overall Hook Rating: C