Calendula

A melodrama depicting the true form of love that one should pursue through the life of a woman who spends her youth struggling due to the fate of first love. The environment surrounding the main character Ji-woo is burdensome, including the betrayal of her fiancé, the death of her younger brother, and her mother who has a mental illness. In the midst of all this, she meets different men and experiences love and conflict, but tries to give up all love for fear of experiencing the failure of her first love again,

Directed by —, Calendula leans on a strong ensemble — Hwang Shin-hye, Son Ji-chang, Park Keun-hyong — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1992.