The Time We Were Not in Love (2015)

Could've done better, but not totally unwatchable

Let me start by telling how this story is too long for 16 episode. It can be easily finished in 10 or less. There are lots of unnecessary details that makes this drama so boring, at the same time gave me headache.

Firstly lets talk about what I dislike about the characters. (just my opinion)

Hana is just so flaky. I understand that it's hard dealing with toxic relationship and all, believe me, I've had some share of toxic relationship. But in this story, Hana's behaviour is just nonsense. She's the type of person that ignores what her friends are saying until the rock hits her later on, which can be annoying sometimes.

Won on the other hand is a coward. Not only he doesn't admit that he likes Hana, he just has to wait a thousand years to confess. I get that he has to consider the risk of losing a life-time friendship and he has trauma, but c'mon, 17 years of friendship without confession? even many marriage couldn't last that long. What more trust does he want.

Seo Hoo is just straight up narcissistic, egoistic, and so toxic. I like that he's true to his feelings, unlike Won. But c'mon, after he left her on the engagement, basically shamed her because of that, cheats on her, broke her - and after 3 years of silence, the first thing he said was, "I'm sure you missed me?" what a d*ck. And I feel like all he said is very egoistic, like making all the talk about him, not Hana. He should've begged on his knees to take him back and explain what happened 3 years ago. If he really loves her, which I think he doesn't, he should've hold his pride and say wtf happened that day and begged for forgiveness. After all, the one that hurts the most, and embarrassed the most was Hana.

So Eun, I have nothing much to say about her since her character is just uninteresting. She's manipulative, yes. But every third person of the love triangle is always petty and nothing new. She just gets more hate because she's a woman who is chasing after a guy (what I realize in every drama).

What I like about the drama is mostly about the chemistry between 2 best friends. It's nothing new or sophisticated, but it gives me comfort knowing that friendship can last that long. And I like the compatibility between the 2 too.

For the acting, I feel like it's not Ha Ji Won's best work. There are many awkward facial expression, and I feel like her facial expression of sad, angry, and happy is just same. It gave me blank character every time.

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** I haven't seen the original In Time With You. **

I also watched this as it aired.

I really had high hopes for this drama so it was with pig headed determination that I stuck with it despite it getting draggy and slow. The music was probably the best thing in it for me. I did really like the chemistry between the leads and, despite the painstakingly slow development in it, I got drawn into their love story and I adore Ha Ji Won. I really think she saved it! To anyone starting this drama I would say to try stick with it, the story does eventually develop and I really enjoyed the last few episodes that aired.

I wouldn't re-watch this however, it was such hard work to watch the first time around. Overall it's an average drama, that's enjoyable, has pretty good music and not a difficult viewing that serves fine as a simple best friends turned lovers drama.

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Potentially good drama spoiled by a lackluster performance

Middle of the road K-drama with pleasant, likeable leads with good chemistry that will resonate with anyone who has ever been "friend-zoned" or watched helplessly as an unrequited love interest falls into a poisonous relationship. However, everyone else will tire of this K-drama rather quickly.

Ha Ji Won is lovely as Oh Ha Na and her relationship with nice guy Choi Won (Lee Jin Wook) is very endearing and believable. But problems with the story start when the despicable ex-boyfriend Cha Seo Hoo (Yoon Kyn Sang) shows up. Of the nearly 40 K-dramas I've watched so far, Yoon Kyn Sang's performance as the ex-boyfriend Cha Seo Hoo is by far the most wooden and unengaging (if not downright irritating). I initially thought the problem was with the part as written, but as the story unfolded I became more convinced that it was Yoon Kyn Sang's performance that was lacking. There was just so much about him/his character that wasn't believable, and the chemistry between the actors Yoon Kyn Sang and Ha Ji Won was sorely lacking. How was the delightful, innocent character Oh Ha Na *ever* attracted to Cha Seo Hoo in the first place? And even if she suffered some momentary lapse of judgement, how did he manage to hang onto her with his stone-faced, emotionless demeanor? I just didn't buy their relationship at all, and I can only attribute it to Yoon Kyn Sang's stiff performance. By episode 10 I was so irritated that jumped ahead to see how the show ends, and I *never* do that. (Suffice it to say that what I learned allowed me to keep watching...)

Looking past the Cha Seo Hoo character and Yoon Kyn Sang's performance there was much to like about this show. At its heart, it is a story about a long-lasting friendship between two friends that love each other dearly and how it slowly transitions into something even deeper and more meaningful. Along the way it explores love in many of its shapes and colors--including infatuation, angst, romance, and an almost agape-type love--and how we can transition in and out of these in the course of a long term relationship. But with its problems, this K-drama is really just for those that remember the angst of young love and the feeling of being friend-zoned. Others will simply find it frustrating.

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What is Love?

Wow, perfect earlier drama. So much emotions. So much depth. Ha Ji Won knocked it out of the park again. What is love? Feelings? What types? What sacrifices ? Indeed.

my only gripe about the drama was the sound quality in several places where they played music on top of sounds. that was really disturbing.

I very rarely rewatch dramas, but this really really has impressed me because of the depth of feeling. On my very short likely to rewatch list. several dramas have let me down in the last few months, now I’m gonna go watch some more Ha Ji Won since she has not let me down yet.

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