Normally I don't like watching melodramas, but I don't regret watching Tomorrow with You for a second, I'll just need to watch a couple of Running Man episodes to get over it.
edit: Now I'm a lot more experienced with kdramas than at the time of writing this review, this is definitely not a melodrama, it just has a little melo flavor.
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The performances of the two leads were so powerful. I have watched these in some of their dramas and they are always amazing. Their chemistry is so amazing. However, the story is so focus on them that other support roles were not given emphasis (except for that mysterious man). There are no back-stories to develop their characters.
I really don’t know why it’s so underrated . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to watch it guys. Everything is perfect from the storyline to the cast and the OST. SUPER PERFECT!
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The plot was great and kind of unique and after really thinking about it I fell in love with the whole thing. The chemistry between the 2 leads was great too. Shin Min Ah of course so I shouldn't have expected any less. As for Lee Je Hoon I didn't really know him but he did a great job with the role and I loved him. The OST was a bit lacking yet there's this one song that I really loved and I still remember the whole thing whenever I listen to it and that's my favorite thing in the world.
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If you hate frustratingly stupid plots then DO NOT WATCH.
The romance is pathetic. I love Shin Min Ah but even this didn't save the drama's super stupid plot.
Throughout the drama, you'll constantly hear the phrases: "Don't tell me!" Or "I can't tell you (God knows why!)" In places where just telling could've saved every damn thing!
You'll understand what I'm talking about if you decided to ignore my warning and watch anyway.
I wouldn't continue watching it if I wasn't stuck on a boring vacation with slow internet connection!
I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. keep in mind that I'm putting up with the bad internet connection just to warn you! This is how annoying the drama is.
If you're into supernatural, go watch While you were sleeping.
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This review may contain spoilers
STORYOK, the story is interesting. It's sweet and also full of mystery. It teaches you that life is fragile, time is limited and you need to appreciate your loved ones. There are some plot holes but so far not really bother me.
ACTING
Wow, what a wonderful performance from Lee Je Hoon and Shin Min Ah,
solid acting! This is what i call talented actors.
MUSIC
Music is beautiful, modern and suit the mood
Overall
It is worth watching
HOWEVER, there is this little annoying thing that really bugs me. Yoon So Joon wants to save Ma Rin right? But it's for a silly reason in the last episode. That's really upsetting. It just spoils the whole greatness of this drama.
If you have not watched the drama, do not read the review below.
=============== SPOILERS======================================================
just wonder why marin is so stupid and careless -_-; i mean at the last scene, when the accident supposed to happen, why does she have that habit to cross the road blindly, that's the whole point of the drama, it's because of her carelessness that her dad sacrificed his own life, why can't so joon warn her stupidity to not crossing the road while there's car around. I get it, she was pushed by someone accidentally but instead of going back to the pedestrian lane, she chased her marriage certificate in the middle of highway. Why is she like that? Gahhh.. Is she a little child to chase something on a highway without even looking around whether there's car, like that?
I mean, the whole story and concept is GREAT, but the reason for Marin's death is only for her stupidity. That spoils the whole drama. It's not like a grand death where she cannot avoid it like what happened to happiness director's fate, it's not like inevitable accident, but she just does it repeatedly and it's annoyingggggg!!!! The whole reason for So Joon and Marin's dad misery is because of Marin's hobby to cross the road carelessly. She seems like fishing for death. Ok, that's all, other than that, everything is fine.
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The fantasy part was good too though it had its loopholes. I can see that Mi ran is someone who is too affectionate and clingy and yoo joon is calm and composed but his character did change midway which is why the drama was made amazing.Everything in the drama seemed realistic. I heard it got low ratings but Seriously its not for those who don't like melodrama or romance which is not forced it just happens slowly and gradually it turns out to be so passionate that they just cant live without each other.I can write alot about it this one is just so perfect with its imperfections.
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This review may contain spoilers
It's not bad but a bit depressing
I watched this show because I'm a big fan of Lee Je Hoon. I was impressed with his performance in Signal and Move to Heaven. For me he's one of the hottest and cutest Korean actors and very talented too. In this drama he also performed very well although this drama is not his usual type.Story wise: The show started well and made you wanted to watch more but as the show goes on, I found it's pretty depressing. I know this is not a common review. I didn't have a good mood watching the show. Although there are some very sweet cheesy scenes, the show focuses too much about their future death. I mean can we just focus and treasure the present? And if you already know that you will die on that specific day at that specific time, why don't you just stay at home? Why did you go out on the road? A lot of things can be avoided if they just communicate with each other. For me that makes the plot weak.
There is one unanswered question for me. How did So Joon and the ajusshi got the ability to travel to the future? How did they get selected but not Song Marin? Maybe I missed something?
The couple: they have some good chemistry there. It's not electrifying but the chemistry wasn't bad.
Characters: I couldn't say that I like Song Ma Rin. I think she sulks too much. Nothing really stands out from her personality. She sulks for days because So Joon keeps secrets from her but what do you expect when you marry the guy after 3 months? She did get better and became more understanding as the show went on but it's still annoying watching her sulk. Also, Shin Min A should practice her crying scenes. You know that she's trying to act when she cries, it's not natural.
Overall, I didn't think that i wasted my time (maybe because i love Lee Je Hoon too much) but I definitely won't rewatch. If you like time travelling this show is for you.
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A time travel trope done exremely well
Tomorrow With You (2016) – A Time Travel Drama That Didn’t Fry My Brain (Shocking, I Know)I’ve always avoided time travel dramas like they’re a bad ex, dramatic, confusing, and likely to give you a headache. Let’s be honest, K-dramas already exist in a dimension of their own, so throwing time travel into the mix usually just feels like asking my last two brain cells to do calculus.
But then came that cursedly addictive TikTok edit (you know the kind, slow-mo stares, tragic music, probably a train involved), and next thing I knew, I was knee-deep in “Tomorrow With You,” wondering if I’d been too harsh on the genre. Spoiler: I had. And I’m kind of mad about it.
The plot? Surprisingly coherent. No wild derailments, no nosebleeds from trying to follow paradoxes. It felt like the writer actually relaxed while telling this story, Like she trusted us to get it without throwing in ten monologues and a PowerPoint. And yes, I said she because I’ve started to believe that women screenwriters just understand the assignment better. Fight me.
What impressed me the most was how clean the time travel was. It wasn’t just some gimmick thrown in for spice. The back-and-forth was seamless, you almost don’t notice it because it’s not flashy; it’s purposeful. Whenever Yoo So Joon jumped to the future, it was to either fix something or gather info to deal with the past. Smart guy. I like him.
Now, the past storyline? That thing had so much depth, it could’ve been its own drama. The kind that gets 20 episodes, a heartbreaking OST, and a beach scene with tearful goodbyes. And yet it blended perfectly into the main plot.
As for the pace, look, if you’re the type who microwaves tea because the kettle takes too long, you might call it a slow burn. But for the rest of us with functioning patience, it moves at just the right speed. Every subplot, yes, even the nosy neighbors, served a purpose.
Special shout-out to the bromance between Yoo So Joon and Kang Gi Doong. That man was loyal to a fault. He found out his best friend was jumping through time and instead of freaking out, he was just like, “Cool. Let me know if I can help in any timeline.” Now that’s a friend.
Lee Je Hoon, this was my first drama with him, and now I’m eyeing everything he is in..my list of his dramas keep growing.The man’s got presence. He doesn’t act; he becomes. I couldn’t tell if I was watching a character or the actor living a double life.
And Shin Min Ah? Queen behavior, as always. I’ve never once worried about her performance. She could play a lampshade and still deliver a show-stealing monologue. She just gets it.
In short, this drama came from that golden age of K-dramas, when scripts had sense, romance had depth, and editing didn’t rely on 50 filters and a drone shot. For someone who avoids time travel like expired milk, I was shockingly hooked from episode one to the end credits. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a stable, mature story with just enough romance to make you kick your feet and squeal like a high schooler.
Oh, and yes ,it's earned a comfy spot on my “fluffy-feelings-and-butterflies” list. You know the one.
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This review may contain spoilers
The leads have great chemistry and loved Lee Je Hoon in this!
When I started this drama, I was so surprised and it was such a pleasant surprise to see Lee Je Hoon portray a character so different from the one in Where Stars Land, because that was his only other drama I had seen so far.From the near robotic yet solemn guy to this charismatic jovial guy, he has done such a good job in bringing both characters to life. It was fun watching him.
The story could have been better. I have gotten used to some family dramas so I expected things to be a bit over the top when she finds out the reason why he married her. But I like the way things turned out.
It might be worth a rewatch just to see these two cuties work that chemistry.
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Another highlight from me is the superb directing. It gives a movie-like vibe, and presents some mundane life to be more interesting. The PD let the actors to act freely in some scenes, which turns the acting comes out natural and convincing. Moreover, the music helps much to set the mood; all the music instruments are on point. It can allow you to feel certain emotions in such a depth that overwhelm you. It was beautifully crafted. Love it!
I also love the contemplative elements in the dialogues. It felt natural, and REAL. Case in point: Ma-rin and her mom's scenes. Further, this drama constantly shows the long-talk between the main characters where the story unfolds there. Their long conversation and also the bickering gave the glimpse of how newlywed could have (albeit, this one is too corny).
Regardless of that one tiny imperfectness I mentioned before, which sadly affects the story in a whole, I fall in love deeply with this show since its first episode, like a love at the 1st sight (LMAO WHY I'M SO CHEESY. I blame Yoo So Joon LOL). I connected to the characters immediately, and was so invested to the story right off the bat.
I loved SMA as Ma-rin before I started to warm up to So Joon. She captivated my admiration for her because she subverts other female characters. She is too sensitive sometimes, but she represents half of the females in the world when it comes to a relationship so I had no problem with that. I could relate to her frustration about her 'dense' partner lol. I also loved LJH as Yoo So-joon. His acting is convincing in most of his scenes. I found his overly aegyeo was off-putting and corny, but he's the best when it's time to deliver a rapid change of sad emotion. He has always been a good actor. When you put SMA and LJH on screen together, bam, their chemistry exploded. I could tell there were some ad-libs being made because they seemed one second away from laughing out loud. I LOVE how SJ and MR could be so silly together, yet they're still mature and considerable for each other. They're also too adorable. They delivered the sweetest yet most heartbreaking love story.
Overall, this drama leaves deep and good impression for me (I probably need more time to get over it).
If you look for a romance, this one is definitely for you. Just be prepared for a long squee and endless swoon while watching it ;)
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This review may contain spoilers
I just want to clarify one thing first: People have this misconception that since Tomorrow With You revolves around time-travel, the episodes should be action-packed. However, Tomorrow with you is a melodrama. To put it short, it's a mix of time-fantasy + melodrama combination. I have seen a lot of shows that failed overall just because they wanted to create a new mix of genre (Bride of the Water God = fantasy + youth romance || Suspicious Partner = Crime-Mystery + Romance || Doctors = Medical + Melodrama + Romance), but there have also been a lot of successful genre-mixes (While You Were Sleeping = Legal/Crime + Fantasy || Descendants of the Sun = Medical + Melodrama || W = Fantasy + Thriller). Not gonna include Goblin as an example because that show is a masterpiece and no drama from recent time has been close to it at all. At least for me.
Tomorrow with you is a melodrama that stood out well for me. It did well enough that I can say with confidence that it can be mentioned alongside the names of top-notch Melodramas such as The Master's Sun and The Innocent Man. Now the actual review starts from here
Story
I'm pretty precise when it comes to scoring the story. I haven't ever given a perfect 10 for story; even for my all-time favorite show, Goblin. For the story to be a 10 for me, the plot, the conflict, the flow, the climax, and the ending must all be equally resonated among the episodes. There must be absolute clarity in terms of the delivery of the plot from start to finish. That includes the most important part which is the ending. Hence, to spoil a bit from the story, I want to say that Tomorrow With You probably has one of the best endings of a melodrama in history. Hands down.
The plot itself is unique. I'll give a short premise to the plot to let you know how unique it is: A man can time-travel to the future (and back to the present) through the use of a subway, thus leading him to be successful in his current life. The story starts there, introducing us to Yoo So Joon, a selfish and wealthy time traveler. His life changes when he finds out the he will die in the future (for those who haven't watched, relax. This spoiler isn't exactly a 'spoiler'. Technically) on the same night with a beautiful woman (Song Ma Rin). He then made the effort to rescue that woman in the present in the hopes of changing his future. It didn't change however, and it actually turned out worse because now, he couldn't travel in the future if the date is past 2019. Also, he doesn't die in the new future, but rather becomes missing.
If that's not some unique plot that will catch your attention for a melodrama then I don't know what will. The supposed 'plot twist' was already given at the start of the drama so it makes you think how will this pan out (Sort of how W did it from episode 5). Give this drama a try if you want something fresh and new. I wouldn't lie, it has some tweaky plot holes near the climax of the story, but overall, the presentation of the story from start to finish was sill fantastic. 9.5/10
Acting
I honestly thought Shin Min Ah + Lee Je Hoon was a weird combination. You're combining an actress famous for being in successful rom-coms such as My Girlfriend is a nine-tailed fox and Oh My Venus, and an actor who's known to play more serious roles, especially in Signal. I had this prejudice that both of them would suck at making viewers feel connected to them because of their backgrounds. I was wrong though. They both were fantastic in their first melodrama. The character development of both Yoo So Joon and Song Ma Rin in the show was exceptional. Yoo So Joon from being a selfish, lazy director of a real estate company to being a loving husband and a responsible person. Song Ma Rin from being an alcoholic, hopeless-romantic to being a gloomy, mysterious woman towards the end. The acting of the two leads is brilliant. Would have shed a perfect 10 had it not been for a really mediocre supporting cast. 9.5/10
Music
The OST is really unique. It was mainly composed of ballads and piano solos to capture the mood for scenes. I'm personally not a fan of classical music, but nevertheless, it was executed well in this series. You can feel the emotions in scenes from the music. 9/10
Rewatch Value
The plot is so unique for a melodrama that if you want to cry all over again, you can just watch it. I'm one of the few people who actually appreciates melodramas as it actually brings the best of the best actors/actresses in terms of delivery. Having a unique plot to make me feel that is a worthwhile experience
Overall
I recommend you to watch this even if you are not a fan of melodramas. You just might start appreciating melodramas after this. If you are a fan of Melodramas, prepare for an emotional ride
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While there are indeed holes in Tomorrow With You, overall I felt the use of Time Travel was very good though.
Following narrowly avoiding a fatal railway accident Yoo So Joon finds that he can now travel through time every time he uses the subway, forwards or backwards depending on the direction that he travels. Interestingly, where many time travel stories only talk about permitting travel to the past, this one declares that one can only travel to the future and back to your "current" time, so if you travel forwards in time 2 years stay there for 4 hours and come back - 4 hours have passed in the current time. It kinda makes sense as a plot device (because time pressures in the "now" also exist in the future, you can't just come back 1 minute after you left and solve the problem) and means that you don't need to bend your mind around some of the more complex problems of time travel.
A key difference between this story and many others i've seen (all others to date in fact) is that the couple get married really early on in the story, so this immediately isn't your regular story. It's got the kind of tone about it that feels like an arranged marriage where the couple start of marrying and then over time develop their feelings and a close relationship.
The story definitely has different gears though, as it progresses it shifts into these different gears and the focus of the story shifts a little, whether it's getting together with Ma-rin in the first place, dealing with an embezzler, solving a murder or - well, the things that happen even later in the story - I felt that the shifts made sense and really gave a feeling of the story progressing. It takes place over a period primarily between 2015 and 2022 (though there are nods back to 2009 when the railway accident occurs), so over such an extended period you can see why there would need to be some sense of real progression through the story.
What kept me going through this was the relationship between Ma-rin and So-Joon, I loved Ma-rin's character and thought the extreme bubbliness was actually warranted given she's led a largely lonely life and finally finding someone she loves in this way it's like all that emotion is bursting out of her - but she's no push over, and she's not a light headed character either, she's independent and strong as is demonstrated numerous times when So-Joon asks her to change something (e.g. stop being a photographer at a location) because he's trying to prevent something in the future - but without telling her the reason, she stands her ground because it's just a really unreasonable request in any other circumstance. So-joon played by Lee Je Hoon was another good character, somewhat wooden but then again I also feel that since he's had a largely isolated life that's not unreasonable either.
The bad guy - Kim Yong Jim, played by Baek Hyun Jin was awesome, he had a real presence about him as his character - which starts as a nice guy, gradually devolves into - well, what he ends up as. Seeing his descent was really interesting and portrayed well. It's got that "joker" or "darth vader prequel" feel - the step by step slippery slope as a good guy became the bad guy. His whole mannerism with his facial expressions and general posture though, amazing. Definitely going to watch some more with him to see his range.
Finally, the conclusion - without spoiling it. I left the final two episodes (15/16) until the following day as it was already about 3am by the time I got there... and I'm really glad I did. They're emotional, tense and difficult. Seeing ma-rin go through such a rollercoaster of emotions was painful and joyous and I really think it was her character that drove these last two episodes - So Joon was doing plenty too but what Ma-rin was going through, the strength of character it showed and the emotions she experienced were the highlight for me.
This is an absolute must-watch for me and definitely going on my re-watch list.
Music was the only downside for me, and it may purely be because i was so engaged by the on-screen action that I forgot to pay attention, but nothing stood out for me. I need to dig out the OST on YouTube and have a listen, but certainly for the time being the music didn't make any specific imprint on my memory.
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