Okay, here`s the thing:This was just a mess from a writing standpoint and there`s no two ways around it.
We don`t have to find something realistic in order to connect with it and find it interesting. However, in my case, it should be consistent and this drama`s execution is lacking, when compared to the synopsis. And it`s not due to the lack of trying. It just feels mechanic. The girl finds herself in an absurd new world, has trouble dealing with it, a handsome savior appears, they fall in love, chaos ensues. Nope, it's not another Disney movie, it`s a supposedly gritty and ill-fated romance of two people found on opposite sides. But I just couldn`t get into it.

First the acting. This is Hyun Bin`s best acting role to this date, easily. His character is also the most likeable, albeit seen before and the chemistry between his unit is great as well. Honestly, I would`ve been fine watching their perspective of this unfolding, it would make for an interesting change. Seo Dan`s story is also mad intriguing and deserves its own show. Son Ye-jin however... I don`t know. I`ve watched her in this and in Personal Taste and I guess her acting style is just not doing it for me. In that way she reminds me of Lee Min-ho, though I did like his newest project. Se-ri is just an unfinished character. It`s like the writers wanted her to be strong and bitchy, but also a damsel in distress so from the get go, we see her be cunning and calculated, but then at the same time, she makes stupid mistakes a character with her capacity shouldn't. And through it all, it just doesn`t feel believable to me and that does fall on acting. And people will probably judge hard but here it goes: I see no chemistry between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin. None. Zilch. They effectively feel like a brother sister duo to me, if anything. Also, and I cannot go without mentioning this but: CLICHÉS!CLICHÉS LEFT AND RIGHT!YOU GET A CLICHÉ, YOU GET A CLICHÉ, EVERYONE GETS CLICHÉS!

I have a bone to pick with the way they used these clichés, rather than them being used at all. Again with the we`ve met before. Only this time we`ve met so many times, that it`s just crazy how we haven't recognised each other already. Again with someone being shot and almost dying. Only this time, it was done twice. Again with, OH LOOK WE`RE IN A BAD SITUATION. Should we solve it and think, as we`ve been established as smart characters?Nope, let`s kiss instead. Look, my main issue is that if you have such an impressive concept and such a cast on board with it, you better use it to your best advantage. And they haven`t really. If I was to interchange North Korea with any other severe world where individualism is not accepted, it wouldn`t make a difference basically. And that`s a problem. There was potential in this:That scene when the main leads had to separate finally made me feel something. But it came too late.

And then, THE COP OUT ENDING. Maybe I misunderstood something but this just may be one of the worst endings to a drama I have ever seen. If I`ve got my facts right, Ri Jung Hyuk was accepted as a pianist in Switzerland and his position was given to Pyo Chi-soo. Meaning that he can stay in Switzerland?And Se-ri, who now has no reason to hesitate decides to stay in Seoul instead of moving in with him and they settle on 2 week-are writers on opiates? What even?I can`t even hide how much I hate the ending and I don`t even like this drama a lot.

Anyway, sometimes you should trust the percentages and sometimes...just don`t.