Just finished watching Winter Sonata on Viki.

For the uninitiated, this is the second chapter of the 4 part Endless Love Anthology series (Autumn in My Heart, Winter Sonata, Summer Sense, and Spring Waltz). I've only seen part 1 and now part 2. Both K-Dramas launched Hallyu and are excellent.

A character-driven melodrama about an ill-fated romance and the strain it puts on the main and supporting characters. The theme of the story is the idea that the sins of the parents fall on their children. I like how the first half takes its time to show how the romance develops while the second half is a rollercoaster with many twists and turns. It will be a journey, but I implore you to hang on until the final episode, which I found satisfying for this type of story.

The excellent soundtrack features one memorable tear-jerking ballad after another. The writing, directing and acting was excellent, especially in the second half. The fashion in this show is also notable.

Hard to believe this came out 20 years ago, but I see why it was such a big hit back then as it is an emotional journey you won't forget once you've seen it. It is worthy of all the praise it gets and receives my highest recommendation.