This review may contain spoilers
CLOSE YOUR EYES – NOW FEEL ⏯️
DISCLAIMER: I completed this a week ago and had time to collect / sit with my thoughts so please take my opinion / review with a grain of salt as I’m not here to argue with anyone.
I also have not watched the Taiwanese version yet (but I will do so soon) It will be interesting to see if my opinion on the show will been alter / change. Anyways, this is just a my summary of the drama. I watched it completely blind with no preconceived notions.
The emotions you will experience while watching this drama cannot be replicated by reading a plot synopsis or watching a summary video on YouTube. I recommend that you watch it without looking at the spoilers or hating / comparing it to versions you've seen before. Just pretend it's a whole new drama.
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Fantasy
Tropes: Time travel, time loop, doppelgängers, friends to lovers, second chance romance ,found family, friendship, transmigration (body / soul switching), soulmates.
Likes:
This drama was interesting to say the least. The cinematography was beautiful and it felt very nostalgic because it takes you back to the 90s and 2000s. The time travel plot was very well done. I thought it would be confusing but it wasn't. It was easy to understand and found myself figuring out the plot half way through. I figured the scarred man was in fact Nam Si Heon and came up with reasons how this could be possible etc. My guesses were close enough lol. Every episode had me on the edge of my seat, thinking I had it all figured out, only to be surprised by unexpected twists and turns. I had to pay close attention because of the back-and-forth storytelling, but it was worth it.
Jeon Yeo Been's performance was outstanding, especially in how she portrayed the two different characters – she was convincing in showing us (the audience) that it was in fact two different people. The especially how she shifted her personality between the characters. The way she looked at Si Heon / Yeon Jun, laughed, walked, smiled and talked – all changed with the person and the timeline.
Ahn Hyo Seop gave me butterflies and made my heart skip whenever he was on screen, he really is very handsome and I think I developed a crush while watching. Si Heon / Yeon Jun was soooo boyfriend and just the greenest flag ever, across every single timeline. I mean he did such an amazing and convincing job as he portrayed the Si Heon / Yeon Jun who longed for his love (Jun Hee) across time and space. I thought the way he could immediately tell the difference between Min Ju and Jun Hee was precious and endearing. Min Ju could not fool him and unfortunately he would never be able to return her (or anyone else’s) affections becasue Jun Hee was his one true love.
Kang Hoon proved that even without a lot of lines, one's screen presence can be pretty impactful. Also, the way he emotes with his eyes is at another level altogether.
Rowoon's guest appearance was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed seeing him on screen even thought it was short lived.
Min Jin Woong was a very compelling villain. He nailed the psychopathic murderer / serial killer role so well. I was definitely creeped out and on the edge of my seat watching and waiting to see what his character would do next.
Dislikes:
Some aspects of the time travel phenomenon weren't entirely explained, like why there were two people with the exact same face? I also found it puzzling how Chan Yeong looked exactly like his older brother. That resemblance was truly a mystery for me but I guess it made the storytelling easier from the writers perspective. It seems like that's just how the world of 'A Time Called You' works. I did not have a problem with Si Heon / Yeon Jun and Min Ju / Jun Hee existing in the same timeline like other people. It was very understandable and if you pay close attention you won’t be confused.
What triggered me was Min-Ju’s suicide. It captured a suicidal persons thoughts perfectly but reinforced the fact that no matter what you say / do to help a suicidal person, it won’t change the fact that if someone wants to die… they will kill themselves. They have to want to live for themselves and want to heal / get better and have something to live for. I’m not saying this to be cold/heartless because I just knew a girl like Min Ju. The only difference is she'd always threaten suicide for attention (unlike Min Ju) but in actuality, being her friend was exhausting. Safe to say we're not friends anymore and she still has her depressive episodes but I’m glad I’m not around for her to trauma dump on me or act like her issues are for more important / greater than anyone else's. She used to claim other's do not understand her and that she doesn’t have the mental capacity to care about anyone but herself (at least she was self aware, but imo she was also self centered and mean spirited most of all!). I don't think it was for a lack of love or attention, because it seemed she received both, but like Min Ju she was bullied a lot in her formative years and then kept attempting to transform herself indefinitely. Unfortunately she did not realize (and still hasn't to this day) that by doing all that she was killing the person she used to be, leaving her feeling empty and full of self-hatred (much like when Min Ju claimed to be Jun Hee lol!)
Anyway, it's ironic because thorough everything I was deemed selfish and told that I just don’t understand even though I always was encouraging, reassuring and supportive much like In Gyu. Seeing such a similar occurrence in this drama brought up a flood of emotions for me, which is why I think I felt overwhelmed then slightly irked while watching it. It was insane, especially when they showed inside Min Ju’s mind, Jun Hee trying to stop her, In Gyu pouring his heart out and trying to comfort her by lending caring / supportive worlds to then hearing Min Ju claim nobody cared about her. It was even more shocking to then see her catapult / launch herself off the building, thus killing herself (bleeding to death) and In Gyu taking the blame. I had so many mixed emotions but that very intense scene left me feeling sad and disheartened most of all. I could feel the same sense of hopelessness much like how Jun Hee felt, just being a mere bystander/watcher from that cave – not being able to do anything to help or convince Min Ju her life was worth living.
Moral of the story is choose your friends wisely, try your best and be kind always. If it’s not good enough (especially to the other person) and they don’t see the value in their life then know it’s not your fault / on you. Don’t blame yourself and go to prison for someone else’s choice or twisted wishes to be fulfilled like In Gyu. As Jun Hee said it was Min Ju's own expectations of people that made her miserable and she needed to take time for herself and take care of her wellbeing.
I wish the show explained the alternate ending better, I would’ve liked to find out exactly how In Gyu saves Min Ju on time. It would also have been nice for them to tell how Min Ju gets stuck in a cave where she see through the eyes of Jun Hee and vice versa plus how they escape from it and become the main host of the body.
I’m a very emotional / sentimental person so I did tear up while watching. If you’re the same (or worse) be sure to bring some tissues.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, each of their stories was beautiful as was the ending. Even though it’s an open and some what bittersweet ending I think it gives the viewer hope and promise of what is to come between the two main characters. While watching I felt warm seeing the kind of love that was portrayed throughout the drama. It made me feel the butterflies of a first love, the comfort of a mature love, the pain of separation and the overwhelming relief of their reunion.
The ending made me hopeful and happy, but it also made my heart hurt. I think it’s more so because of the realization that so many precious memories and relationships formed across various timelines would be lost forever, as if they never existed.
This was the kind of drama that stays with you long after you finish watching it. I still feel an ache in my heart when I think about it or listen to the OST (which by the way is just as amazing!) I think everyone who enjoyed this had that moment where they played "Gather My Tears" and tried to close our eyes and dissociate pretending we were going back in time like Jun Hee.
If this drama was a quote it would be: "In a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality – I'd find you and I'd always choose you."
It truly deserves an 8.5/10 and I will definitely be sure to rewatch it in the future, whenever "a time calls me."
If you read all this ILY! 🥹
Thanks for reading & happy watching!
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
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A MUST WATCH K-DRAMA!
This is honestly one of the best k-drama that I've watched. It may be a remake but still, I was able to enjoy it. Now I know that my favorite plot is Time Travel/Time Leap since I also got hooked in Lovely Runner. ONE OF THE BEST! The casting, chemistry, and storyline was so good that I'm planning to rewatch it again. I finished watching this last February 25. AAAA I will never move on. I wanna watch this k-drama for the first time again... this is so perfect, i love this so much! a must watch kdrama indeed.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Missed opportunity
*****This does contain spoilers *****This is the go-to show that got me hooked on the Asian market. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched it. I like the English version for falling asleep to -Daniel Kim’s voiceover work for Ahn Hyo-Seop is smooth. 🫠
One thing I don’t understand is how at least 10 years later (after college) Yeon-Jun and Jun-hee are not married. As in love as he is with her, why wait so long to propose? We know Si-Heon takes the entrance exam in 2008 and JunHee goes to New York in 2023 so that’s a HUGE chunk on SiHeon’s part.
Now, for the missed part. Uncle is explaining to YeonJun the meaning of his stores “27” names. It would tie in better with the story line if Koo Yeon Jun were to “fly to New York” when he was 27 years old. It would make more sense to wait those few extra years after school to get finances in order and propose. 🤷🏼♀️
Gather My Tears still hits, especially knowing the tragic background of the artist.
This drama still makes me cry. Every time. ♥️💔
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Low Expectation
Someday or One Day is my favorite Taiwan drama ever. That being said I had low expectations for this show, like how could this drama be better than that masterpiece, right?Well I think that's exactly what helped when watching this kdrama; I had low expectations. I kept thinking "oh there not gonna do my favorite scene". or "there not gonna add the gay storyline". After finishing the show I had same sort of love that I had for the original. It took me some time to be use to the pacing, but as I watched each episode I was criticizing less and enjoying it more. It seemed as each episode went by the writer was more confident in the story. Slowly the writer added their own take to the beloved remake. Adding their own spin and exciting take on the crazy loophole ride that we go on. The storyline is not destroyed as many remakes do? The original one needed a rewatch for complete understanding but I feel someone who hasn't watched the Taiwan one would understand this because they made Kdrama ver a little more precise and clear.
The acting was amazing especially the last couple of episodes, so many emotions… Props to everyone, especially the main cast as they definitely carried part of the show on their backs.
I wouldn't say it's a perfect remake, but if you’ve never seen the show before I think you’ll enjoy it!
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This review may contain spoilers
A drama that will twist your mind, and leave you thinking about it long after it ends.
First of all the synopsis:"A Time Called You" is a South Korean drama that blends romance, time travel, and mystery. The story follows Han Jun-hee, a woman grieving the loss of her boyfriend, Gu Yeon-jun. One day, she mysteriously wakes up in the body of a high school girl, Kwon Min-ju, in 1998. There, she meets a boy who looks exactly like her late boyfriend. As she navigates this new reality, secrets unravel, and love defies time itself.
Now for my reviewww~~~
First of all, the music, especially "Gather My Tears", has been stuck in my head since last year! It’s so beautiful and emotional, perfectly fitting the drama’s melancholic tone.
At some points, the story gets a bit confusing, especially when trying to figure out who the murderer is. At first, I think many of us(who watched it <: ) suspected In-gyu, thinking he killed Yeon-jun out of jealousy since he also had feelings for the main character. But as the story unfolds, everything starts making sense, and we realize that the real killer was someone else. The mystery was well done, keeping us hooked until the truth was revealed.
And oh, did this K-drama make me cry so much! 😭
That ending made me cry more than ever... I wanted a happy ending where they end up together! Instead, we get one of those "up to your imagination" endings. 😭 Aghhh! Still, the storytelling, the acting, and the emotions make it 10000/10 recommended! If you love emotional rollercoasters, this is for you. Please don't lose your time and watch it ! You will totally not regret it
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Just enjoy it
First of all, if this wasn't a remake, ya'll would've enjoyed this so much. It's so sad to see most reviews from Someday or One Day enjoyers, are mostly complaints. Like let's stop comparing every single detail.'A Time Called You' really reminds me of the original version which I loved so much! but at the same time it brought it's own charm and attraction that made it different. Both Ahn Hyo-seop and Jeon Yeo-been have amazing chemistry with each other, and the cinematography is insane. The ending can be viewed as sad or happy. For me it was the most sensible, perfect end to a drama. It was like the start of something beautiful, and they've left the rest to the audience's imagination. Well executed, well acted, and overall a good drama. Watch it without comparing it to the original & you'll love it.
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To Travel Back In Time To Save You...
I would literally travel back in time to a time called You.It brings so many emotions to watch this drama, and even Kim Min Seok's OST made it even more emotional because I recognized his voice from Mr. Sunshine.; His Vocals is so magical.
The cast truly delivered, I'm so rooting for AHS; I need another chance to see him before this year runs out. And Jeon Yeo Been truly captured me when she was mostly Han Jun Hee. Her chemistry with the two actors was top-notch. I think I'll have to add her to my list of artists to watch.
Overall, A masterpiece of Casts, btw! Not really the plot.
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This review may contain spoilers
How Will I Ever Emotionally Recover???
The answer is that I won't. I won't give any major spoilers here, I'll just say.... wow. The performances of this cast really had me weeping the whole time. This show is one I'll truly never forget. And that's what I love most about stories is how the right ones will touch your heart and stay ingrained in your memory. Just a beautiful story.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Rather soft love story with a lot of twists and turns!
I have seen 3 episodes of the similar series Someday or Oneday few months back. Always love time travelling movie and dramas. Blue Birthday is my most favourite♥️Recently through Ost got to know about this series A time called you. First thing which clicked my mind was the music… OST was so lit that I had to made my mind for watching this series. Actors were goodlooking so I was hooked.
Ahn Hyo-seop was outstanding, when he acts you really get into the character. The actress and other ML did a good performance too. The confusing part came where Nam Se Heon goes in the future in Yeon Jun’s body. I guess most of viewers will find it difficult to know what happened to Yeon Jun then. So let me make it clear for them that it is a lovestory between 1998(Nam Se Heon) and 2023(Han Jun Hee).
She travels back into the past for him and he travels into the future for her. Hope you understand now❤️ And yes MINJU’s character freaks me out… when it turns into negative I was swearing her whole time🤣 was so angry at her!!
Can’t tell which version is more perfect because I have not yet completed the Taiwanese version! Would only say that you should watch this one if you like the cast, slow romance, suspense and time travelling dramas!!
Would rate the series 8/10 for me! Ideal for binge-watching!!
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1000 points to A Time Calle You
A Time Called you itself is a solid stand alone kdrama. A remake but it added its own colors and flavor as a kdrama.It has all the elements a well crafted kdrama : beautiful cinematography, EXCELLENT acting by the cast and especially by actress Jeon Yeobeen, who played the dual role of Junhee and Minju, just the righ pacing, and OST. Yeobeen fits the role perfectly with her delicate acting, voice modulation , and even the little mannerisms of Junhee and Minju.
It gave justice to the remake. I could not ask for more for this kdrama! a must watch!
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not bad
As a fan of the original drama, I have to admit that this adaptation fell short in terms of directing and script. It lacked that special Korean touch that made the original stand out.For Jeon Yeobeen's character, I noticed that her lines were somewhat repetitive. However, I must say that she portrayed the sorrowful moments quite well. Among the main cast, she definitely gave the strongest performance.
Unfortunately, Ahn Hyoseop wasn't able to capture Li Zi Wei's mischievousness in the same way as the original actor. Li Zi Wei's character was known for his cheeky expressions and funny antics, which made him so lovable. Hyoseop's acting in this adaptation felt a bit flat in comparison.
Kang Hoon's character didn't quite emphasize his hearing disability as much as in the original. It felt like something was lacking in his portrayal. Overall, Kang Hoon's acting didn't leave a strong impression either.
On a positive note, the cinematography was outstanding in this remake, even surpassing the original. However, I felt that the OSTs didn't have that "WOW" factor. The iconic Wu Bai's Last Dance and the opening song "Someday or Oneday" didn't quite live up to their potential.
The original Someday or One Day was an incredible drama. It had a compelling portrayal of mental health struggles, beautiful romances and friendships, and a captivating soundtrack that truly enchanted me.
If you have already watched the Taiwanese version, I would recommend giving this Korean remake a pass. While the overall plot and storyline are still good, it doesn't quite live up to the original. However, I appreciate that they provided a happy ending in the Korean version.
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