The tango sequence in episode 8 is probably the most sexually-charged one of all Korean dramas. Executed with sublime brevity and confidence, it finds Lee Dong-wook's rejuvenated yet still restrained character charges into the dim but warmly lit practice ballroom and, in the blink of an eye, gets his secret love interest dancing. The male-led nature of tango and the physical intimacy it demands on the dancers provides them ideally discreet cover for their pent-up longing for each other, especially in an Asian society where physical contacts are predominately reserved for private space between intimate relationships. And just as the touch and dance starts like a spark, it ends abruptly without the much anticipated kiss, an emotional climax which the camerawork leads us anticipate. The chemistry between the pair has been great throughout but it is here that it reaches its ultimate height in silence. The intensity of that moment of passion is such, it felt as if it had never seen before in Korean drama or cinema. It is a defining sequence for the drama itself and also a moment of revelation for an outsiders; it proves that not only Korean directors understand how to handle such scenes, but that its family audience are ready for such direct expression of passion in their living room as well.
Though I had made a point to switch off for beauty sleep at 23:00, I stayed up till 3am. There aren't many that can keep me going like that, despite its faults in the script.
Now I can see why Lee Dong-wook is in such high demand. There is a boy-man touch in him which endears him to women.
PS: now that I have finished watching the series, I am slighted disappointed to find that there are a number of lost opportunities where it could have continued to build on the passion between the protagonists, especially in the last few episodes when they are finally reunited following a forced separation.
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