This is the drama to watch when you are in the mood to sit quietly and observe slight glances, small gestures, and single words that embody entire storms of meaning and emotion. It's the slowest, brightest burn I've ever watched.

Director Jo Young Min and screenwriter Ryu Bo Ri steer the ship upon which a close-knit group of characters is trapped beneath endless layers of complex external and internal struggles. Through the characters, we feel the heavy weight of people in authority, debts owed, family expectations, and circumstances beyond any one person's control. The result is relationships that are forever changed because of the pull of a single thread. Every character is suffering in silence that they cannot break through, which would normally make for annoying levels of angst. But the talented directing helps us to never lose empathy for anyone, even those that constantly hurt others. The consistency of direction is reflected in the clean palette of black, white, and cream that we see in the wardrobe and set backgrounds throughout the show.

As the struggling musician Song Ah, Park Eun Bin is masterful at revealing raw emotions underneath an overly disciplined exterior. As usual, her acting is deft, crisp, and poised, and she shows Song Ah's palpable suffocation and powerlessness alongside her quiet strength. Kim Min Jae as Joon Young the anguished pianist, embodies anxiety and struggle through every measured breath. As the two grow their awkward, overly considerate relationship, they share insightful thoughts with us as viewers, along with glimmers of sweet moments. Unfortunately, they don't share enough with each other, especially in the second half of the show. Their transformations are too understated and slow, and reveal too little too late, which cause the show to get stuck in circles, stumbling toward a rushed, unsatisfactory conclusion.

The show features high relational chemistry between all the characters, with subtext woven through every interaction. Part of what makes it amazing is the casting of the elegant Park Ji Hyun as our heroine's formidable rival, and Kim Sung Chul as her supportive but burdened lover. Every interaction between the four characters is multi-faceted. I appreciate that the most power-hungry manipulator is the lone man from the cultural agency, and that women take center stage throughout the show. And special mention goes to Seo Jung Yeon who plays Young In, manager of Kyung Hoo Cultural Center. Her subtle but pointed intelligence and care echo the maturity displayed by Song Ah. There is a special energy in their scenes together.

This is the only kdrama I've seen that features a love triangle that comes off as mature (even if it isn't), and not only that, but it's actually a double love triangle. I picture it as a bowtie with the leads caught in the middle. It's unusual to think that this would work, but it does, except for the way Jung Kyung's role as the angsty antagonist is overdone in the latter half. Like the leads, she misses out on key opportunities to show her personal growth.

Like many viewers, I wished for a more dynamic plot, and to see greater character transformations where the characters share deeper revelations with each other. However, the show delivers a highly intimate and engaging account of the daily lives of people suffering alone and together. Despite the issues near the end, the masterful acting and subtle detail make it a powerful experience.