Early Access Extras: Soundtrack #1 E1

E1. Ok, so I really like this show, so far. The tone, the friends to lovers set-up, the angst of a hidden crush, the breezy music; this is so up my drama street, and Show feels so pleasant and familiar, yet new and full of promise, all at once.

Also, Park Hyung Sik is just perfect, in this sort of role. His smitten gazes have gotten me in the heart, ever since I first spied them in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, and he wears them so WELL, here, as Sun Woo.

Even without him having to say a word, I can tell - long before Show gets around to the official reveal - that Sun Woo's got hearts in his eyes for Eun Soo, and can't stop himself from feeling the feelings, and shooting those hearts out of his eyes.

His otherwise gruff treatment of Eun Soo is pitch perfect as well, because that's exactly how longtime friends treat each other. All the love and affection is overlaid with a surface sheen of blunt, unruffled casualness.

The thing is, though, Park Hyung Sik did such a great job of this in Happiness with Han Hyo Joo, that my muscle memory demands that I see Han Hyo Joo opposite Park Hyung Sik, even in this drama world. 😅

When Sun Woo does his gruff thing with Eun Soo, I want to see Han Hyo Joo there. When Sun Woo wears those wistful gazes when he thinks Eun Soo isn't looking, I want Han Hyo Joo to be on the receiving end of those wistful gazes.

Looks like Happiness really did one on me; I can't seem to let go of how awesome Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo are, together, as best friends turned lovers.

Now, seeing Park Hyung Sik play opposite someone else, my brain says it's fine, and that's what actors do, but my heart is protesting and throwing things, and wailing about why they couldn't have cast Han Hyo Joo as Eun Soo, because that would've been perrrrfect. 😅

That is not to say that Han So Hee isn't doing a good job, mind you.

I think Han So Hee is doing an extremely decent job of Eun Soo's character. Aside from the drunken scene at the claw machine, which landed a bit labored - and dare I say, a little bit fake 😝 - to my eyes, I thought every other scene was perfectly good.

Meaning, that's my brain reasoning with my heart, saying that there's absolutely nothing wrong with Han So Hee playing Eun Soo.

Happiness, what have you done to meee~?? And, Park Hyung Sik, why are you so good at the wistful gazes?? I think it's this combination of things, that has me struggling a bit, when really, on paper, and in execution, I love so much about this little show.

I'm sure that I'll come around, given a little more time - or at least, that's the hope.

I do think the set-up's efficiently and quite cleverly done, in our story world.

It makes sense that Eun Soo, being the straight-shooter that she is, who happens to be really, really pretty, wouldn't have experienced the deeper angst of a long-term one-sided love.

And of course, Sun Woo's had lots of experience with that, with how he's been silently nursing feelings for Eun Soo, for so long.

It also makes sense that when Sun Woo feels a stab of dissatisfaction, after Eun Soo casually comments that his photographs are all so somber and sad, that he'd want to create works that are more honest.

And of course, Eun Soo, being the straight-shooter that she is, knows all about how to be honest, and even her drunken advice to Sun Woo, is enough to galvanize him into wanting to live honestly - for the sake of producing more honest works.

Really, if there was anything that would've made Sun Woo change his mind about keeping his feelings hidden, and keeping an appropriate distance from Eun Soo, it would be the idea that if he doesn't live honestly, he won't have the capacity to produce honest works, as an artist.

I love the scene of them playing house together; they look and feel so organic, as an intact unit.

It's cute to see them cleaning together, and the food that Sun Woo cooks looks amazing. It makes me want them to live together like this, forever, right away.

It's too bad that Eun Soo appears to have a crush-like fascination with Composer Dude. I felt so sorry for Sun Woo, as he realizes this, and downs his makgeolli in disappointment.

My favorite scene, hands down, has to be when Eun Soo snuggles up to Sun Woo in her drunken sleep, and Sun Woo tries - and fails - to nudge her away from being all up in his personal space.

Guh. Sun Woo's startled expression, as he registers just how close Eun Soo is, is so great. The shocked blinks; the nervous swallows; the darting eyes; I can totally imagine how difficult this moment must be, for him. It's great. 😁

And when morning comes and Eun Soo opens her eyes and looks right into his eyes like that, I can't help but hold my breath, wondering who will speak first, and what they'll say.

I know it's way too early in our story, but.. my inner fangirl can't help wishing that someone  would perhaps lean into the romance of the moment. 😅

Also, what a poignant epilogue, where we see that the little sheep plushie that Sun Woo keeps on his desk, had been a gift meant for Eun Soo, on that day, 5 years ago, when he'd wanted to confess his feelings for her, but had been stopped in his tracks by her emphatic statement that she could never date him. Awww.

* I've decided to cover this as a really quick bonus show for the Ultimate Tier! *

Because I'd like to aim to have the review up on the blog on 18 April (if possible), the coverage schedule of this will be as follows:

Ep 2: Friday, 15 April

Ep 3: Sunday, 17 April

Final review on the main blog: Monday, 18 April

I hope you guys enjoy. ❤️