That pretty much sums it up. I almost turned it off several times during the first couple of episodes. They were pretty depressing and I didn't care for the way things were going. It seemed very dark and, honestly, a little disturbing for a K-drama.
But with all K-dramas, you need at least a couple of episodes to decide if you like it.
By the third episode, everything starts coming together and you find yourself sucked right into the story. This has all the plot devices that make Korean shows so addictive. It's an emotional roller coaster.
You have the underdog battling a corrupt presidential candidate and a crooked business owner. You get several stories of people that overcome tragedy. You get major character developments, including the love stories and family relationships. Secrets are slowly revealed in a way that keeps you hooked. The show progresses at a decent pace, and it answers many questions earlier than a lot of other K-dramas.
You're going to see a lot of familiar faces from some of your favourite shows. The acting is incredible and the production work is top notch. You're also going to fall in love with the twins and maybe even want to adopt a pet pig. And yes, those kids steal the show.
Sure it has some flaws here and there, but don't they all? There were no major plot holes that stood out. I'm sure someone out there will tear this apart, but I was highly satisfied with it. Perhaps the whole injury/amnesia part of the story may become too unrealistic as the show progresses, but this is a K-drama, and they're good at allowing you to suspend disbelief.
Only problem is I hit episode 10 and realized that the whole series isn't out yet. Last time I got to enjoy/suffer waiting a week for new episodes was with Alchemy of Souls - you'll see a familiar face from AoS in here as well.
How the story plays out, I'm not sure. The last episode might be a masterpiece, or it may be the biggest flop of all time. Either way, I'm excited to finish the series. This is by far right up there with some of my favourites.
I highly recommend giving the first few episodes a shot. Good chance you'll become hooked before you realize it.