Step Step Where Do We Go Now?

I watched this drama for the first time about 2 years ago, when I was in a ‘Gong Hyo Jin Marathon’. I ended up having a crush on Jo Jung Suk.

I remember I hated his character here, and had a Second Lead Syndrome. I couldn’t understand why Pyo Nari chose the rude Hwa Sin over gentle Jeong Won, apart from her empathizing with his battle with cancer.
Also I was so exasperated by the pull and push plot, the indecisiveness of Nari and the ridiculous fights between the ML and SML.

But in my second watching I totally enjoyed the ride, everything makes better sense. I can understand all their behavior and even found their competition and constant bickering as funny and endearing. I didn’t even have the SLS anymore. Well maybe just a little bit, ?

Story.
My Mother died after battling breast cancer which was already spread to her lungs. So I can understand a little bit what Hwa Sin had been going through, although I’m sure it’s even harder for male patients. The writer and the producers had done their research properly, the details about the disease and the treatment are quite accurate. The nurse gave a prescription for Tamoxifen which was only subtitled as ‘medicine’ by Netflix.

Acting and cast.
I feel this drama was made for the sole purpose of flexing Jo Jung Suk’s acting skills. Apart from this drama I only saw him in Hospital playlist and a couple of movies, which didn’t give much room to explore his acting abilities (only of course in Hospital Playlist he treats us with his singing talents).
We can see that he really enjoyed performing here, he’s having the time of his life. All of his gaze, his micro expressions, his gesture and body language are just perfect.
He embodied Hwa Sin.
Someone who acts tough to mask his loneliness, his vulnerability and insecurity. As maybe most men do in real life.
He delivered all the character’s emotions flawlessly, albeit sometime exaggerating it a little bit. Because he is a passionate, ‘all or nothing’ man. You can see it in his eyes when he’s frustrated, desperate, heartbroken or even horny, lol. And did I mention that he’s really swoon worthy here (in other word: hot).

Gong Hyo Jin, what can I say. Her acting is always impeccable. She conveys her character as a woman who is strong but understanding, tough but also vulnerable.
I’ve seen 7 of her dramas and I think she has almost the best chemistry with Jo Jung Suk, (the best being with Jo In Sung in It’s Okay That’s Love). The sizzling sexual attraction between her and the ML is almost palpable here.
But for me, she looks the most beautiful as Pyo Nari, her beauty is almost ethereal. Her smiles and laughters are sincere and natural. She’s demure but also sexy and desirable. So it does make sense how the 2 men are fighting over her. And no, she’s not naive.

Go Kyung Pyo as Jeong Won is sweet and adorable, but I like his acting better in other dramas that I’ve seen (Chicago Typewriter and Strongest Deliveryman), here he’s overusing the puppy eyes expression.

Other casts and characters are perfect and hilarious too.
Special shout for Kwon Hae Hyo as the kind and sufferable Director Oh.
Seo Ji Hye as Hye Won, the beautiful ice Queen who’s actually a nice person despite her cold appearance. She and Kim Jung Hyun (Chi Yeol) were reunited in Crash Landing On You.
Park Jin Joo as the nurse with deadpan face. And Bae Hae Son as the most supportive doctor.
Yoo Jae Myung looks like he’s really enjoying himself acting in this drama, so playful and relax.
Lee Sung Jae looks very fine.
This drama also touched the issue of co-parenting before it becomes a trend recently, with the 2 hard-headed Moms of Ppal Gang.

The soundtracks nice and catchy. Not too excessive.

My only bone to pick is that Go Kyung Pyo and Jo Jung Suk has 10 years of age difference. I must say it does show in their faces, but they played as same-age friends. And it doesn’t help that GKP is baby-faced.

Yes this drama maybe is a bit too long with 24 episodes, but I didn’t find it boring because so much is going on. Also maybe they want to show us that everything will work out in the end, even though it may take some time. And they want to tell us that fighting cancer as well as fighting for your love will be a long journey for lots of people, we just have to be patient and hang in there.
Hopefully we all will get the best result, and if not, at least we’re not giving up hope.

Step step
Here we are halfway home
And we will never give up

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