According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode of "We are all trying here" achieved a viewership rating of 5.3%, setting a new record for the film.
The work tells the story of Hwang Dong Man (Koo Kyo Hwan) - an ambitious director but always haunted by the feeling of failure and inferiority to his peers. Throughout the film, the character has to face insecurity, jealousy and a sense of worthlessness before gradually finding peace for himself.
In the final episode, Dong Man finally completed his own film and won the Best New Director award - something he has pursued for many years. His older brother - Jin Man also gradually escaped the pain after finding information about his long-lost daughter.
On Byun Eun Ah's side (Go Yoon Jung), she learns to accept past hurts and continues to move forward with Dong Man. Meanwhile, other characters such as Mi Ran, Gyeong Se or Hye Jin also gradually find their own values.
The ending is not too dramatic but brings a feeling of relief and healing to the audience who follow the journey of the characters from the beginning of the film.
Korean media assessed that, along with the story, acting is one of the important factors that helps the film create empathy even though the ratings were not too explosive in the early stages.
In which, Koo Kyo Hwan's acting is considered a highlight. The actor was praised for subtly expressing Dong Man's loneliness, anxiety and feeling of being lost through slow dialogue, eyes and many emotional silences.
After the film ended, Koo Kyo Hwan shared that he hoped the film could bring a sense of peace, even for a moment, to those who are struggling with self-consciousness and a sense of worthlessness in life.
Go Yoon Jung also said that she learned a lot when working with experienced actors and felt happy throughout the filming process. While Oh Jung Se described "War in Our Hearts" as a "valuable" project, Kang Mal Geum admitted that she was moved to say goodbye to the film.
Korean media commented that, although not a work with outstanding ratings, "War in Our Hearts" still creates its own influence thanks to the way it exploits everyday emotions, psychological trauma and the journey of modern youth.
The ending of the film does not try to give a perfect answer to life, but to let the characters continue to move forward in their own way. This is also what makes "War in Us" leave a positive aftertaste after closing.
