A Time Called You (2023)

A Captivating Journey Through Time and Emotion

As someone who hadn't seen the original version, I ventured into "A Time Called You" with no preconceived notions, and what I discovered left me thoroughly impressed.

As a devoted fan of time travel dramas, this undoubtedly captured my attention from the very beginning. This genre often presents complex narratives that can be challenging to follow, but this drama pleasantly surprised me with its ability to deliver a compelling story with remarkable clarity, even as someone who hadn't seen the original version.

This remake of a beloved classic masterfully weaves mystery, romance, and friendship into a gripping narrative. Yet, it doesn't shy away from tackling weighty issues like loss, grief, and self-esteem, evoking a whirlwind of emotions typical of K-dramas.

Jeon Yeo Been's performance as the leading lady is undeniably outstanding, with her standout scene in the final episode, set before a mirror, leaving a lasting impact.

"A Time Called You" had me on the edge of my seat, a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time. However, it's important to note that for those unaccustomed to time travel dramas, some initial confusion may arise. Nevertheless, if you're seeking a well-crafted narrative and heartfelt performances, this drama is an absolute must-watch.

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A Time Called You: A heartwarming and emotional time-travel romance

Review

The series is a unique and refreshing take on the time-travel genre. It is not your typical time-travel romance, as it does not focus on the mechanics of time travel. Instead, it focuses on the emotional journey of the characters.

The cast gives strong performances. Jeon Yeo-been is particularly good as Lee Yeon-seo. She brings a lot of depth and emotion to the role. Ahn Hyo-seop is also good as Goo Woong. He is charming and likable, and he has good chemistry with Jeon Yeo-been.

The story is heartwarming and emotional. It is a story about love, loss, and second chances. The series will stay with you long after you have finished watching it.


Negative Criticism:

Some viewers have criticized the show for its historical inaccuracies, such as the depiction of scooters in a 19th century Korean school. While this is a valid criticism, it is important to remember that the show is a work of fiction. The creators of the show were not trying to create a historically accurate depiction of Korea in the 19th century. They were simply trying to tell a heartwarming and thought-provoking story.

If you are looking for a heartwarming and emotional time-travel romance, then I highly recommend A Time Called You. It is a unique and refreshing series that will stay with you long after you have finished watching it.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed A Time Called You. It is a beautiful and moving story about love, loss, and redemption. The drama is full of heart and emotion, and it will stay with you long after you finish watching.

I understand why some people might be critical of the drama's plot holes. However, I believe that the drama's strengths outweigh its weaknesses. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

If you are a fan of time travel dramas or heartwarming stories, I highly recommend A Time Called You. It is a drama that will stay with you long after you finish watching.

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Interesting plot with A+ acting

Went into this one blind as I haven't seen the og one (I tried but couldn't even get past ep 1). This is my first time watching Jeon Yeon Bin in anything but I've become a fan.

Despite what some are saying in the comments, I think Yeon Bin slayed all her roles with my favorite being Junhee from her college days. There is this innocent charm added to Yeon Bin's timeless allure during this timeline. The ATCY team did such a great job showcasing her different charms as they jumped through the timelines and I was genuinely impressed. If I were to be a harsh critic, I would give the drama itself an 8 but her performance was a true highlight. Kim Tae Ri , Kim Go Eun and Jeo Yeon Bin are the rare breeds in the industry that demonstrate the epitome of acting and why it should be appreciated as an art form. They truly understand how an actor should utilize their body and eyes to convey specific emotions/showcase a character. Without giving away any spoilers here, viewers are in for a treat as Yeon Bin goes through the various transitions.

Without necessary expanding the number of episodes or just by adding one to two episodes, I feel like the storyline and characters could be fleshed out more. Speaking for myself, I wanted more details about between the leads as college students/adults and what they went through as a couple. There were snaps here and there but I didn't think it was enough especially when they dated for more than a decade. Perhaps they could show some key milestones, when Junhee graduated, how the two celebrated when she got her first "real job" (as her character was goal oriented while the ML was more of a romantic), their first fight (and how they reconciled) or when they first met each other's parents. What I'm trying to get at is that the show didn't show enough moments of the two being each other's soulmate, why they love each other as much as they do. There's a part in the drama where Junhee mentions Yeon Jun knows her better than she knows herself but the drama doesn't go further into it or show viewers what she meant. It's a shame because I'm sure the actors would have delivered these scenes well.

**slight spoiler**

They also could have also expanded on In-gyu's character(?) as it lacked depth and felt flat (not an actor issue, there just weren't scenes to show his development). And lastly, with such a complicated storyline with intersecting timelines, viewers definitely needed more explanation on how it all worked (not sure if the og did well on this component). I became very confused by the end of episode 9 and had to resort to third party sources to understand what happened. Perhaps it needed to be broken down more for the average viewer (or maybe I am just the only one missing a few brain cells), an aspect I believe the writer/director could have done better at.

This also leads me to highlight a detail I thought could have been changed. The present story starts one year after the ML's passing and I thought they could have changed it to 3 or 5 years instead. The fact the coworkers at the office thought Junhee should've moved on is a bit odd (I'm not saying she should be sobbing everyday but it would be normal to stay single for awhile after such tragic). As an interesting opening, it would be nice to have someone confess their feelings to the FL but she kindly rejects them. She goes back to her apartment that night and the viewers see all the old photos, only to realize she is still mourning her bf who passed some years ago and is only putting up a front at work/in front of her friends. There is a flashback to when her boyfriend's sister told her about the engagement ring and she cries. A few days later she receives a mysterious cassette tape and the story begins there.

All in all, I enjoyed the show. A few misses here and there but definitely worth your time. I mentioned this at the beginning but you should watch this show just for Yeon Bin's performance alone (the others did well although there's definitely room for improvement); her scenes are for the acting manual.

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A wonderful remake of one of my favorite dramas of all time

I’m not gonna sit here and pretend that I don’t prefer the Taiwanese version still. I have no clue how much of it is the fact that I watched it first vs some subtle difference in storytelling that just makes me bawl like a baby and get a headache every time I watch the old version… Nevertheless, A Time Called You is an incredibly strong remake with a wonderful cast. I was most of all pleasantly surprised at Jeon Yeo Been’s acting skills because of how many different emotions and characters she had to portray (a schoolgirl who is deeply depressed pretending to be the 36 year old version of her who took over her body and yet she is a terrible actress so her own personality slips through no matter how hard she tries - yeesh! That’s not easy). Something about this drama is still nagging at me and I do not think I will truly find out until I rewatch the original version, but for now I’m going to leave it by saying the following: The korean remake is incredibly faithful to the original drama. Superb cinematography and cast, wonderful music selection. Worth a watch, especially if you weren’t ruined by the original! I truly think this drama has the potential to be preferred by someone over the original, that person is just not me.

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Convoluted Time-Traveling

A Time Called You splits between several timelines in the past and future. I was most interested in what was happening in the 1998 timeline. It felt very slice-of-life school drama which I'm a huge fan of. The dynamics between Min Ju, Si Heon, and In Gyu were enough to hook me. I thought the three of them had good chemistry together.

When Jun Hee comes into the picture, things become too complicated. The show starts out confusing and doesn't become less confusing. It doesn't explain a lot of things such as time travel and scientific mechanics with the chosen device (a cassette tape). Every episode leaves the viewer guessing. I haven't seen the original show, so I presume things are explained more in-depth in the C-drama. My review is only based on the Korean version.

I was very invested in the plot and relationships at the start. As the show went on, I found myself feeling more confused and frustrated with the events. I didn't care for the main couple. I never saw why Si Heon and Jun Hee were destined to be soulmates. They were just fated to be together somehow, and their connection didn't feel that natural as a result. I can appreciate the sentiment of soulmates reconnecting, but their relationship was quite ordinary. I didn't see anything special about it, and this made it hard to root for them.

Min Ju's storyline was portrayed realistically and accurately. Out of all the characters, I cared about Min Ju the most. I could understand everything she struggled with. Being overlooked everywhere and constantly feeling empty. It's all very difficult. I'm glad she got a happy ending. Although, it felt rushed. She grew really fast, while her internal conflict is ongoing. I don't see how she would end up with In Gyu when for the entirety of the show, her feelings for him were never romantic. I would've liked to know more about In Gyu since his background was not explored much.

There are a few inconsistencies with the characters' feelings. Min Ju and In Gyu's relationship was not developed that much, for instance. Therefore, it just seems like she accepted his love because of convenience, not realization. Being the second couple, I would've preferred if they got more development. Si Heon initially did not return Min Ju's feelings but then he does. He claims he felt that way all along, but if he did, what made him fall for Jung Hee? Because she's more outgoing, confident, popular...? It seems a little shallow. The main pairings' personalities in this show were too similar for me to get behind and be intrigued by, and also their romances are not deep.

Excellent cast and OST. I know Jeon Yeo-been from Be Melo. She's fantastic as a lead role. The songs were well-suited for each scene. There were many areas that could've been improved in the actual story.

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No words are enough to describe this - from a person who didn't know this was a remake

Firstly, if you're looking for a review without any comparisons because, just like me, you found this drama by itself, be my guest.
As a person who did not watch the original, I really wish we could just appreciate this on its own, instead of pointing out every single thing that tells both dramas apart – even if they are good or bad.
I started watching this, not even knowing it was a remake, and found it astonishing. The whole plot really gives you some food for thought, it's truly a well-told story. It checks every box in what I personally find in a good drama: romance, thriller and mental health issues (yes). The ending is just perfect in my eyes, makes the entire show worth it.
For the OST, the songs were charming and, unlike many people I have seen here, the main song perfectly fitted the emotion that this drama was supposed to give – a certain nostalgia and desperation.
Another thing I would like to talk about is how much Jeon Yeobeen shined as Kwon Minju, I was in complete awe all the time. However, I must complain, there is a lack of women in this story, which makes her the only remarkable female in the entire show.
This show really left a strong impression on me, so I think I will keep on thinking about it for a few days and remember it for a long time. It's simply that beautiful and intriguing, it truly touched my heart.

PS: this is my first review + english is not my first language so I gave my best

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Not the best time travel romance drama, but enjoyable

This drama was going so well throughout. But time travel dramas either have a really good ending (rarely) or they f**k up the ending by essentially erasing the whole story. This drama falls into the second category despite the fact that up until episode 9 I didn't think it needed to have this type of ending.

The plot of this drama was really good, I loved the ML, SML and FL. Despite the love triangle, it wasn't really a love triangle. Min Ju will probably be considered the SFL, she was okay, I just hated what she made In Gyu go through, the guilt he must have felt to take the blame for her death despite having nothing to do with it. She treated him like shit until the FL saved her and then erased herself from the past. I wish we got to see more of In Gyu and Min Ju together, especially in the future. I assume they are still together because when Si Heon runs into Jun Hee in the future (2011, so 13 years later), he mistakes her for Min Ju. I wish we got to see all 4 of them together and I wish the main leads somehow remembered the past.

This is entirely drama was essentially a time loop, up until about the last 20 min of the last episode where somehow it was changed. I just hate it when time travel dramas rush the ending. I feel like the last half an hour of this drama should have head it's own episode, if not 2 episodes. Going from 1998 (where it started) to 2011 (where it ended) and then skipping to 2023 just to show how the timeline has changed. I love that the main leads met in 2011 instead of 2023.

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A wonderful drama

I did not know this was a remake but I enjoyed it thoroughly ! It is brilliant , well acted with some amazing photographic scenes and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat . It never falters , keeps a good pace and your interest . A most enjoyable Back to the Future series . The cast is wonderful especially Jeon Yeo-been who transforms from a 36 year old woman into an awkward teenager through skills and good acting . Three characters time travelled but the story never loses its focus until it is all resolved . There won't be any going back into the past . The past is safe . The future remains in the future and the ending predicts a forthcoming romance . The theme song is beautiful .

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Confusing Yet Captivating Love Story

A Time Called You is a drama that captured my heart, despite its moments of confusion. The storyline, which weaves through complexities and emotional depths, sometimes became tangled, making it challenging to follow every twist and turn. However, what truly stood out and compensated for any narrative confusion was the remarkable acting from the cast. Their performances were not just skilled but deeply moving, bringing to life the essence of the story and its characters in a way that was utterly convincing and compelling.

The drama has this incredible ability to reignite a belief in love, thanks to the palpable chemistry between the leads and the earnestness with which they navigate their relationship. Even when the plot felt a bit muddled, the sincere and heartfelt portrayals kept me engaged, rooting for the characters and their journey towards love. This drama is a testament to the power of strong performances and the enduring allure of a love story, even when it takes you through a labyrinth of emotions and timelines. It's a drama that, despite its flaws, leaves a lasting impression and a renewed sense of hope in the magic of love.

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Doppelganger madness

I have indeed seen the original drama, but it's been enough years that I can also watch this drama with fresh eyes and for it's own merit and flaws. The story feels like it takes way too long to get going to the interesting parts with multiple episodes of emotional scenes for a characters and a couple we don't know yet. It's a relief when finally Jun Hee wakes up in 1998 and it's interesting that she has some of the host body's memories, enough that she is confused about who she really is. Like most magical reality premises, the magical item/ability origins is not explained, but the drama kept consistent with doppelgangers of a specific 7 year age difference regardless of being related or not interacting with the walkman and song on the tape.

Si Heon's hair is a bit distracting, but it looks like Ahn Hyo Seop's hair may be contractually obligated to be styled like that since 2020 after looking through stills of the dramas he's been in since that time period. Jun Hee and Min Ju feel like completely different people, which is kudos to the actor. She changes up the chemistry with Si Heon according to the character she's playing, which is great to see. I do think it's a bit weird that Jun Hee acts different when she is in Min Ju's body versus when she's herself both in college and in 2023. She's way more playful teenager, but her mind is still her adult self. It's a minor thing though that can be easily looked past for the story being told.

The biggest heart wrenching tragedy is original Yeon Jun's untimely death when he and his almost boyfriend Tae Ha finally recognized the feelings they have for each other, but didn't look at the road ending with a complete and total kill your gays moment. They deserved a second chance, I wish the show made some effort to change their ending rather than just using them for a shock twist. A gay man's body being used to change the fate for a straight couple instead is extra cruel. He wasn't even out to his family, nobody even knew how out of character he's being. Real Yeon Jun deserves better.

The way that it was unavoidable that Jun Hee would accidentally divulge all the important information to the absolute worst person to tell since it's a family friend from college was well set up, as was Jun Hee saying all the wrong things to a suicidal high school student that no one paid proper attention too, not even Jun Hee even though she was literally in her shoes for a long time. It's good the show spent time to explore Min Ju's perspective as well, how crushing it is to hear from everyone tell her to her face that they didn't like the real her, how her desperation would drive her to lie to Si Heon and welcome her demise at the hands of a serial killer. It's good that Jun Hee is able to use her free will to break the time travel cycle which saves Si Heon. Whether Chan Hee would kill again isn't shown, but there is enough in the story to indicate that maybe his elder brother would be enough of an influence for him to suppress that side of him without his future self going back to encourage it.

I'm really glad that the drama concludes with Si Heon meeting Jun Hee again in 2011, when she's also a full grown adult rather than a minor. It was totally stingy of them to not set aside time to show a bit more of their new world together though.

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