I'm not a big fan of TV dramas due to their length and generally sub-par acting. However, watching Korean TV series has changed my perspective forever.
This is my second IMDb comment since I started using IMDb many years ago. I am compelled to write about this series because it deserves to be noted, along side with another Korean TV series "Dae Jang Geum" (AKA A Jewel In The Palace) if you have not already seen it.
If you have been an avid Korean romance TV drama fan before watching this series, you will probably find this one too clichéd and has taken (politely speaking) the "best ingredients" of other romantic-themed TV dramas.
However, if you are new to Korean romance TV dramas (dare I say anyone who has watched less than 5 Korean TV drama series prior to this?), then this will probably woo you as it did me, and forever change your view of Korean romantic TV dramas, for the same reason above: when you see other similar dramas after this, you will find bits and pieces of the others that remind you of this one. But -- most importantly -- this one has managed to weave it together better than all the others of the same genre to date. Is it any surprise that the writers and producers have benefited from previous similar productions? Would it be better off if this show was never produced?
This brings me to the next point: I ask that anyone casting their vote to bear in mind that just because elements of this show came from others before it should not be the main reason for down-casting it. Should we down grade an ice skater's superior performance just because he/she has used similar steps as others before them? I think the difference is mainly in execution. This one is beautifully executed with some of the most memorable sound tracks for a romance-based TV series ever -- look up the song title "Bo Go Ship Da" on "www.YouTube.com" for a taste of what may have already become a classic -- seems that every Korean I meet knows this song. The only other Korean TV romance drama series that has this memorable a sound track would be "Winter Sonata," but this show still manages to out-do it with it's own classic.
I have heard many times from other people that watched this series BEFORE some of the other series telling me that "nothing compares" to this one -- that they are spoiled by this show. I concur. If you watch this series, it may just have the same effect on you. Luckily, even though I watched "Dae Jang Geum" after this, DJG was not similarly themed that I was not "disappointed" at DJG in any way.
Does this mean this show is PERFECT? No -- hence the 9 out of 10. The acting by the stepmother and her daughter were over the top at times, and it did get a bit slower near the end where the emotions ran very high, but I strongly disagree with those that said the "ending" was bad because it is "sad." I think the way it ended was beautifully done that though it was sad it wasn't poorly framed nor felt unpolished like some other dramas where the ending leaves you wondering if the writer fell asleep.
So be forewarned -- watch this show and it just may change your expectation for other romantic TV series that follow forever, not to mention needing a box of tissue handy for each episode.
If you want to learn more about the show (and therein possible spoilers), visit "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stairway_to_Heaven_(TV_series)" by cutting and pasting the address into your browser.
Side comment: This series has been watched at least three times in our household. Each time my wife commented that Yuri would have been a better choice as the tragic heroine. Personally, I feel Yuri is prettier than Jeong-Seo. While this may just be a coincidence, did any one notice that Jeong-Seo and Song-joo have complimentary initials (JS vs. SJ)?? :)
P.S. Please let me know if my comment is helpful to you so I know how to improve it for the future. Thanks!
P.P.S. By the way, the someone needs to add "Stairway to Heaven" as the AKA title in the listing. I tried many times to bring this show up in IMDb and have been unsuccessful since I have never known this show's English title as anything else.
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