Editorials 
What is marriage? That is the question - In this way, this drama makes you think. Honestly we all have our own view on marriage and what we think it's about but after watching this drama I do believe my view on it might have changed a little.
The story is beautiful, weird, but beautiful. The awkwardness of the main couple just added the right amount of spice to this drama and you couldn't help but ship them. No iceberg was gonna take this ship down. hahaha. Se Hee was awkward but so adorkable. Yes, adorkable. And Ji Ho. Gosh I loved her. Her personality would be everything I would look for in a girl...if I were a man. I loved SeHee and JiHo together and couldn't get enough of them.
The side couple also added their own flavor to the drama. With Won Seok and Ho Rang, I felt an air of seriousness. Their relationship was probably the most thought provoking one. I mean, who do you side with? One time I'm like she's being selfish and then I'm like he's being selfish...you know what? They were both selfish. Yeah. But in a situation like that, what do you do? On the other hand, there is the other side couple that's always ready to make you laugh, Soo Ji and Sang Goo.Just loved them.
The acting was superb! This is my 'first time' with most of the actors in this drama and it was truly wonderful and the casting couldn't have been better. I've just found a lot of new favorites which means I've got drama/movie hunting to go do.
Don't know if this review will be helpful to anyone but I just had to have my say. I tried not to spoil anything. Overall, well done!
Now on to the next drama!
I'm out...
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Underrated
Genuinely one of the best dramas I've ever seen. Top to bottom, front to back, beginning to end, it was GOOD. It was INTERESTING. Usually dramas like this have some ups and downs in terms of the pacing, and they get boring...NOPE. Not here.I loved every second of it, and the relationship of the main leads is one of my all time favorites. Wow...just...everyone please watch this drama, PLEASE I BEG YOU!
Also I love the soundtrack too! It's so good?!????
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One of my favorites
I came across this drama in Netflix trying to find something to watch and I'm glad I watched it because this is such a gem. Guess I relate so much with all the three main female characters as I'm at that age where I struggle about my career, financials, relationships.For people who likes reading books, or drama where the overall vibes is around books or characters who likes to read/write, this is the first drama that I always recommend. I love all the literary pieces mentioned in this drama. I wish I could read them all. There were so much to learn. I had a lot of realizations that helped me through life. A lot of nice quotes surrounding the drama. One of my faves that has always stuck to my heart. “Just because you lived through yesterday doesn't mean you know everything about today.” - Jiho. And I live by that.
The ending could've been better, but the overall premise and concept of the story was wonderful. The narration was beautiful. Watching it feels like I'm watching a play. Wish I could watch this again for the first time!
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STORY : It is quite simple. It involves 3 couples. Might seemed to be boring for some people but it is very relatable to our daily lives, our surroundings. The plot also goes really well. It carries us to the peak slowy along those 16 episodes. You will definitely feel the warmth inside this drama.
ACTING : Yes! The best! Casts were so good that they were really suited wth the characters. Acting was so great that throughout the drama, u won’t notice that they were acting out. It’s like they are real people living outside in the world.
MUSIC : I dun normally listen to OST that much after the drama ends nor like all of the OSTs but this drama makes me fall in love wth each and every piece of OST. Moreover, each track really suits wth the drama storyline so u can literally play the drama frm the start to end while listening all those tracks. OSTs were really great at portraying the characters’ feelings.
REWATCH? : Definitely yes! I, too, rewatched 3 times and yet it’s still my all times fav. The drama depicts people’s emotions so well that everytime i rewatch, i get to understand more and more of each character.
OVERALL : It’s totally a mature drama. Might be boring for some whilst might be the best for some. No strong love triangles, no melodrama mess, simple, lightweighted yet so deep emotions are in there. U can laugh, cry, sobs, angry, happy together in this drama. It is definitely the best one for me. So much to learn in there abt people. I hope everyone will enjoy.
P.S. wht i love the most in this drama is character portrays and the scripts, each and every line in this drama touched me so deep into my heart that i literally noted down my fav lines. It will give u strength in ur hard times.
Thanks to actors, producers and the scriptwriters. This is one of the best products and nth can replace this drama❤️
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This review may contain spoilers
Great performances, but :too much family drama & spiciness void of romance
Jung So-min & Lee Min Ki are VERY good as the main couple. Just watching them together is a treat, but what goes on around them frustratingly detracts from any good feelings I developed over the storyline.There are SO many negatives.
It's A romance , BUT with an incredibly jaded view of marriage: an outdated, unnecessary thing -a conclusion derived from the fact that [ridiculously] ALL the character's parents are in bad marriages ). Which makes the ending completely juxtaposing & baffling.
Too much family drama ,patriarchal fathers, submissive mothers pressuring thier children to get married is the "engine" that supposedly drives their children's dismissal of marriage .
A cavalier attitude towards sex is presented as an enlightened, modern sensibility-(said literally Every generation!) Side female characters pursue sex like a game of cat and mouse while they dismiss romance. Too many- open discussions about sex. Too many scenes of people jumping into bed with each other.
The character's touted generational superior worldview did not actually seem to lead to happiness and thier lives seemed devoid of anything meaningful, making them unlikeable sad people.
I Do like a story with strong women, but don't find it comedic relief for women treating decent men as inferior in a way that's toxic.
The bits that ruin the drama: [Spoilers]
1) girl walks in on her younger brother having sex. (AGH ! NO !!!)
2) BFF#1 whines like a baby & continually coldly bosses around her boyfriend of 7 years
3) BFF #2 carries around a condom in her purse,(just in case) wears no bra & bosses around the guy who likes her.
4) Male lead lived with a girl & got her pregnant 12 years before this story takes place. This IS integral to the plot & it's resolution And explains why he is the way he is - making the choices he makes.... but for me : it's a Nope !
Positives:
ALL the young people & couples grow alot but it's only shown at the very end.
All the younger generational characters decide that marriage is stupid, BUT all the couples get married!!!
I liked the OST but they did repeat one song way to much.
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Where should I start? Everything was so perfect in my opinion. The chemistry between the leads was by far one of the best I've seen in dramaland, it was cute, heartwarming and it felt so real. The stories of the rest of the characters were also very interesting ; I enjoyed watching the 2 other couples so the episodes never felt too long or boring. I think this drama was not as cliche as other rom-com I've seen, the lead couple acted very maturely, the ex was not annoying at all, there were no misunderstandings and no fights for no reason. This drama has also one of my favorite OST (Moonmoon <3). I usually never rewatch dramas, but I might rewatch this one because I already miss it!
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Great lead actors with tons of chemistry, amazing supporting cast, wonderful OST.
It's funny, romantic and deep all at once. It definitively became one of my favourites.
Last but not least, I found refreshing that more and more K-dramas are finally including believable physical interactions, even when they're not actually shown. Apparently, producers are slowly realizing they can have their characters talk about and have sex without being too hypocritical about it or turning the show into a porn. This is one of those (recent) cases and I'm genuinely surprised.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love, Life, and the Courage to Choose Yourself
This drama doesn’t rush romance. It asks what it’s for.Because This Is My First Life is quietly profound, peeling back the expectations placed on love, marriage, and adulthood with honesty and care. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt behind, unsure, or pressured to live life according to a script that never quite fit.
Ji-ho and Se-hee’s relationship begins as an arrangement but slowly transforms into something deeply intentional. Their love grows through conversations, silences, and shared space rather than dramatic declarations. It’s awkward, cautious, and beautifully real. The drama understands that intimacy isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s choosing to stay and learn someone, one day at a time.
What elevates the series is its broader lens. The stories of friendship, career struggles, gender roles, and societal pressure are just as compelling as the central romance. Each character represents a different way of navigating adulthood, reminding us there’s no single right timeline or definition of success.
The writing is thoughtful, reflective, and often disarmingly honest. It doesn’t offer easy answers, but it offers reassurance. That it’s okay to start late. To start over. To live imperfectly.
🌱 10/10 for emotional intelligence, quiet courage, and a drama that feels like a companion during moments of self-doubt and becoming.
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The acting was spot on. You put a great actress and actor together that just know what they're doing and they do it well. You have people that all around clicked and just entertaining families in general and it was great. ALSO THOUGH SHOUT OUT TO MY GURL BO MI. She out here, to my fellow pink pandas. Lmao.
The OST was nice, very fitting, loved it.
Would I rewatch it? I would on a rainy day. Like today was for me. On a day where I just have time and I need something that is easy going. It was long but flew by. I didn't feel the need to forward through draggy parts and all that. It never crossed my mind honestly.
So to those who stated this show was a hidden gem. They were not incorrect. This show was definitely a gem.
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THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS DRAMA WAS SIMPLY EVERYTHING! THE SCRIPT, THE DIRECTION, THE PRODUCTION, THE ACTING, THE CAT AND THE AESTHETIC AND COLOUR PALET OF THE ENTIRE SHOW, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SHOW WAS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
There wasn't a moment in the entire 16 episodes when i got bored, the story was simple but yet so well written, this show taught me some of the best quotes to remember and the dialogue delivery by both jung so min and lee min ki was amazing, especially the narration parts by jung so min were so beautiful, there is just something so soothing about her voice that it grasps your attention AND makes you feel nice!
The entire show was so realistic in describing human emotions, feelings and relationships that one couldn't help but feel connected to the story.
Each episode was eye opening and made me introspect about my own life.
The side stories of their friends were so cute as well! and they showed different types of relationships different people have.
And the last few episodes made me bawl my eyes out but the emotional ride was worth it because the ending was just perfect, it honestly couldn't have been better, i know some would disagree but if you watch the drama carefully you will understand why she did that.
If someone actually read my entire review and reached the end...THANKS!!! <3
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I did NOT plan to get that invested...
Have you ever randomly clicked on a show just to have something playing in the background as you do something else? This was one of those shows for me, only when I clicked it, I fully intended to just let it play as I went about my work buuuuut... from the moment it started - there was no cutting it off. Even my family stopped what they were doing to start watching this show.My ONLY warning to you if you see this show and want to watch it, clear your schedule because you are about to miss a lot of sleep to finish this show.
I ended up loving every single one of the characters.... and I do mean Every. Single. One. Those from the start that you just hate with a passion and want to hit with a car.... loved. Lol. Hats off to the writer of this show because it is really hard to take a hated character and make them loved. Least for me it is. Because when I hate someone, there is no changing it. Lol. It goes to show that the growth of all of the characters are powerful.
The twists man. Oh gosh!! This is the PERFECT example of the quote "that's what you get for assuming." *hides in shame* I was so ready to hate so many of these characters only to have it shoved in my face that what I *thought* was actually HELLA FREAKING WRONG!!!
Because This Is My First Life is one of those shows that you need to watch every single scene though because you'll be lost for a while if you don't. Not that I minded; it was like crack. Lol When I finally did need sleep - I had to actually force myself to shut it off. Which... did last long, mind you. Like I said, it's crack. Hahaha
I want to say this is probably the first drama I have watched where I haven't completely ripped into something or someone. X_X Though don't get me wrong, there was one character I love/hated. He was such a amazing person in the end but he reminded me of someone that makes my skin crawl. So it was always mixed feelings with him.
"Sounds like a personal problem to me." Lol - it is, bro. It is.
So do yourself a favor, check the show out. You know you wanna.
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