Simply one of the best adaptations I've seen in a while---and I've seen a lot. Both of Shi Guang's actors are both quite effective in pulling us into having an empathetic relationship with the character, be it in his shameless moments, the happy times or the sad. All throughout the series, we are made to feel emotionally invested in a board game (most of us don't even understand), and in secondary characters (we usually give a damn about). Yet it works, it works splendidly. In a way, we also became Chu Ying, we became a third party viewer of happenings where we have no physical control of, an entity that could see the bird's eye view.

That was why once Chu Ying had to say his goodbyes, the accumulation of memories for the past episodes came crushing in and gave us tear-inducing scene. We shared what he had. Like how Chu Ying was just one part of his life, we realized we have the same position as well, but the time spent together becomes memorable enough.

At the end of the drama series, we don't have the climatic battle moment we tend to see in other sports drama, but we got a glimpse at the beginning of Shi Guang's road to being a pro.

Hikaru no Go is now one of my all-time favorite dramas. Watching it was worth my time. Thank you to all actors, staff and production crew. This was ride.