When I first watched this show I scored it a 9 but was rather undecided on the ending episodes. Rewatching it again I've come to appreciate how masterfully executed the first half of the show was.

It was incredibly beautiful, tying in two characters who are polar opposites yet sharing in common difficult relationships with their mothers that informed their outlook on life. Both characters suffer from it, yearn for affection, love and companionship but it manifests in different ways. Their failure to understand each other creates conflict until they both come to realise they want and need the same things. There is a moment in episode seven when Moon Gang-Tae has a powerful and emotional epiphany on his mother's supposed indifference and neglect of him and he realises he was loved all along, and it deepens the grief of missing her. That it didn't come from him being directly told but piecing together the truth behind their family outings to the local market made it all the more powerful. This is a story built on motifs, symbolisms and metaphors and it does them superbly.

I think the show explores autism powerfully and beautifully. And also in a very real and human way. Having to look after an autistic brother from a very young age isn't something anyone can do without fatigue, and the show is really good in showing us how Kim Soo-Hyun's character sometimes suffers from privately wanting more. I think his acting, and particularly Oh Jung-Se's were just great. There's also some moving character moments dealing with loneliness, seeking companionship and love, and how sometimes something as simple as sharing dinner with someone else can feel special. The show is really lovely in that sense, accentuated by a blend of songs that correctly fit the tone of the show and various scenes.

I did still have a real problem with the latter half of the show and I don't think it needed a murder drama brought into it but nonetheless this was a masterpiece in storytelling.