Noodlanding op jou (2019)

Crash Landing on My Heart.

“If you give up on waiting, the pain of loss will kill you. That’s why I wait.” —Captain Ri.

Most people who have watched the entire series love CLOY, which is one of KDrama’s finest, especially for its fascinating strong woman lead and the equally strong, gentle man who loves and protects her. But also for some of the following points:

1. The writer, Park Ji-eun, who also gave us “You Who Came from the Stars,” is one of the best, knowing how to balance drama, comedy, themes, and closure while keeping her audience intrigued and in love with her characters. The director, Lee Jeong-hyo, who has worked on many series and movies, kept everything focused and carefully paced so that the series steadily evolved each week.

2. The cast is one of the best I’ve seen with immensely beautiful and talented leads, warm, hilarious village ajummas, and Capt. Ri’s delightful squad, dubbed “the ducklings”—all of whom became a family for one another and for the viewers.

3. Themes varying from the pain of losing family, being abandoned and becoming a street orphan, all the way to the belief in a Zen appreciation for patience and waiting; also kindness, protection, sacrifice, and unconditional love. The themes drive the plot, and the cast brings everything to life, making us impatient for each weekend to finally roll around so we can see what happens next to our beloved characters—whether love, laughter, danger, and heartbreak, we got on that train with them.

4. A great story that keeps the reader interested, a love story whose premise was there from the beginning and revealed brilliantly in the steady epilogues. But also the comedy of the sidekicks—and the horror of the bad guy consumed with envy and jealousy that destroys innocence and beauty, making this the classical struggle between good and evil embraced by every generation since time.

5. The touching, beautiful OST, which many fans have downloaded. The piano piece “Song for My Brother” leaves me in tears every time.

6. A wealthy, beautiful but hurt SK woman who learns to love herself as well as others, who can be hilarious and sassy, yet who finds strength in loving and protecting the most amazing man—Capt. Ri.

7. A beautiful man, a pianist who becomes a NK army officer, a quiet philosopher and tomato plant caretaker with a “low voice”—the kindest man I believe I’ve ever seen in any narrative—who adores the hurt woman, knows who she is, finds her, protects her, and loves her no matter what evil, what danger threatens them. Yes, he sounds too good to be true. . . . .but he’s not. The whole world is in love with Capt. Ri because Hyun Bin developed him and made us believe that such a man can exist.

8. Talented Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin, who wanted to work together again after “The Negotiation” and gave us “the gift” of “Crash Landing on You.” Thank you from our hearts. And congratulations on the many awards the CLOY team have won and for the love you found in one another. You blessed those of us who love you and this series.

—A J McAninch

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