User reviews

I normally dislike these ridiculous "Hallyu" (Korean Wave) dramas because of their over-the-top melodramatic nature, but I just finished viewing the final installment of "Summer Scent" starring Son Ye-jin in the female lead and I'd be lying if I said that I was not completely captured by the sight of Miss Son's impossibly lovely facade. One look at those soft, ideally feminine Asian facial features and one moment of listening to her alluring female voice was all it took to melt me. I'm glad that one of the local Korean-language cable TV channels here in my part of the Eastern United States decided to broadcast this series, for I may never have discovered her otherwise. The drama itself is probably average or somewhat above average -- it revolves around a love triangle involving Shim Hye-won (Miss Son), a young woman who received a heart transplant and who struggles to emerge out of a sickly childhood to live a normal life and experience the normal range of human experiences and emotions, such as true love. Someone get the tissue boxes ready, 'cause tears are gonna be a-flowin' on both sides of the screen.

What may set this drama apart is the beautiful rustic South Korean scenery in which some key scenes are set and the wide range of stunning appearances that Son Ye-jin adopts throughout this drama. She's a pretty and energetic schoolgirl one minute, a sweet young maiden in conservative dress wandering in the woods the next, and a darling bride-to-be at yet another instance. The combination of breathtaking natural scenery and youthful smashing girl can indeed be a potent and poignant one from a cinematographic point of view. The musical score of the series is somewhat impressive, I must say, and merges harmoniously with the theme of the drama and the scenes in which the music is played. Even when the action in the series becomes dull, redundant, and excessively emotional, the mere chance to gaze at Miss Son washes away all other concerns about the drama. If you want to see what a comely and pleasant goddess from the Orient should look like, check out "Summer Scent" and fixate on the uber-attractive Son Ye-jin as Shim Hye-won for all 20 episodes. You won't regret it -- she's the "purdiest" li'l thing this humble Southern boy has ever seen.

Son Ye Jin's early melodrama is partly worth watching for her sweetness. The scenery is pretty with an alpine resort, a beach hotel and tea fields. The down side is the story isn't enough for 20 episodes. The obstacles are a bit contrived and frustrating. It's just breaking an engagement not a marriage. Felt for the man she was engaged to. Liked the way the sister said it as it was. Still why can't the 2 siblings just move on? The first part is watchable but the last third is frustratingly repetitive.

The lead actors are good and obviously destined for better roles. Fans of them will want to see it though. Song Seung Heon sports dyed permed hair. Son Ye Jin is pretty and sweet here. Although things start out fairly interesting with the hike and romantic overnight, and it is tense at first to see if their love gets found out. The formula of the love square gets after a while.

Repetitive but melodic score. Overuse of Schubert's Serenade.

The series is good and has beautiful melodies. It is true that it is not as strong as the first part, Autumn in My Heart, and the second part, Winter Songs, but it is beautiful, emotional, and warms the heart, as usual in the Four Seasons series.

The main heroine, Son Ye-jin, is very beautiful, has very innocent features, and her acting performance is absolutely amazing.

I also enjoyed the music very much, and the rural visual scenes are excellent.

Son Ye-jin was very impressive in all her scenes in the series. She had a strong presence in front of the camera and had a clear impact on the viewer, so I now hope to watch all of her work.

I watched it for her but ended up falling for him. Song Seung-heon was heartbreakingly authentic and beautiful. Now, I can't wait to see more of his work. While I loved Son JeJin in her much later films, "Crashlanding on You" and "Something in the Rain" (rewatched numerous times), this early work from 20 years ago wasn't a favorite.

And the brother and sister had me shouting and calling not nice names. The continuing betrayal by practically every character except for Min Woo is at first devastating and then unbelievable.

The scenery is often lush and gorgeous. I want to live there.

The storyline while moving in the first half becomes sappy and unbelievable, but I stayed with this too long series for the beautiful and compelling performance of Song Seung-heon.