When Time Feels Too Fast and Life Feels Too Real
Thirty-Nine is the kind of drama best watched while it’s raining or snowing—perfect for crying quietly (or loudly) as the story unfolds. I loved how dramatic yet simple and realistic the story felt. The bond between the three leads was so convincing, I wouldn’t doubt for a second if they were best friends in real life. While the plot stays straightforward, it beautifully explores family, love, friendship, and the bittersweet messiness of life.One thing I wish had been different was JoHee’s arc. She often felt like the third wheel—an afterthought compared to the deeper bond between MiJo and ChanYoung. Even her romance storyline breezed by without much depth.
Still, this is the kind of sadness that feels oddly refreshing. Like a reminder of how lucky we are during our good days. If you’re in the mood to cry, laugh, and feel warm inside, I’d definitely recommend this one.
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Such an important message
I have never written a review but because I have seen a lot of bad ones on this one I felt compelled to leave mine here.The characters go through a lot of hardship but also a lot of happiness and companionship, just like how life works.
Because the main plot (warning: an extremely sad one) is so dear to my heart, so relevant and so touching I can't help but leave this drama with bittersweet tears. The way the writers chose the words in the last two episodes and the way they gave the characters the emotions they had...makes me completely forget about other little things that bothered me during the show. The ending was too real and too beautiful.
This is, although a sad story, undoubtedly a friendship story.
While I understand that a lot of people feel like the /big sad discovery/ killed the mood in the drama, I also believe that this topic brings a lot of light onto how humans feel and express all kinds of emotions from anger to grief.
I highly recommend you watch this show if you are up for a beautiful story about love and, most importantly, unconditional friendship (and if you are okay with crying every 2 episodes).
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YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS MASTERPIECE
That was excellent. I'm not even joking. This drama has everything : it's funny af, as well as it can be sad sometimes and that's the whole charm of this drama cause they know how to balance both there's never too much sadness. AND FOR THE ROMANCE you're served I'm telling you right now. The males leads YEAH THE THREE OF THEM are high quality men. The chemistry between all of the couples is so great + they are mature.The story itself is interesting and will keep you obsessed it never gets boring. (dayum i should be paid for this free ad)
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A good series for a good cry
This series is much more than three friends and their friendship. This series is definitely very deep and if your looking for a lighthearted series this isn’t it. This series shows how hard it is to lose a friend but most importantly how every moment you have is precious with all those around you. This series WILL make you cry after episode three and for every episode after that.Make sure to take time after watching to call those around you and tell them you love them
10/10 series worth the watch
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A duo disguised as a trio
Thirty-Nine is a warm friendship drama,but I felt Joo-hee’s character was underdeveloped.
Mi-jo was clearly treated as the main character, and Chan-young’s illness naturally gave her more focus, but Joo-hee often felt sidelined.
At times, it seemed more like a duo than a balanced trio, with a clear pattern in screen time.
The third couple could have been explored better by showing how their relationship began.
I do know that mi-jo and chan-young cared about her,stood by her during difficult moments. But that lack if focus on her character was disappointing.
Despite this, it’s still a good watch for those who enjoy slice-of-life and friendship dramas.
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Hmmmmm.....
Maybe i put to much expectation of this drama since the plot of this drama about achive their dream when they are forty. The plot is really good, about friendship, sliced of life, etc.I love how the actor have the color of their personality but i did get the hype. It become classy k drama when started of episode two.
The main focus of the story not about the dream but they chasing by the time to fullfil all they dream. All the problem only connected into one and it become weird.
Maybe they have to change the title of this drama for more suitable for the story. but yeah the actors is good.
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Great chemistry between all the actors, nice story with few not needed subplots.
I quite like this drama because of the amazing storyline, good pace and brilliant chemistry between all the characters.First thing first, there is unequal screen time shared by the characters and as much as I dislike that notion, I can't fault it much because you know that when you're getting into the show. This is essentially Mi Joo's story about her life, her struggle with her identity as an adopted child, and her friendships and relationships with different people in her life. And I'm not just saying that, it is quite literally her character narrating everything so it's kinda obvious that it is from her perspective which means more focus on her. Therefore, once I acknowledge that fact, I'm unable to understand the inequity between the presence of the characters.
My favourite aspect of the show is the friendship between the three leads and how they tackle the various curveballs life throws at them. These are three vulnerable women who have stood together through thick and thin and we can see that in the bond they share. I also quite appreciate how we see a very "woke" bond in the sense that the women call each other out when one messes it up. For instance, they call out Chan Young's affair for what it is instead of the stupidity we see where friends would support each other's disasters as well. I love when your friends keep you in check and this show is a beautiful amalgamation of that. I also like how they share such a good bond with each other's families and significant others. This is the kind of friendship I aspire for and so I'm really happy to see that on screen.
The show gets quite emotional with its main storyline revolving around the loss of a near one and I like how they show people coping with it in different mechanisms. I've seen another show with a similar trope and cried buckets there. While I did shed a tear or two in this one, I like how it was not overly emotional and sad. Like obviously death is sad, but they handled it well and portrayed it less depressingly. They showed the struggle of people connected in a real sense and that was nice to watch.
Lastly, I also quite liked the way they handled the other tropes like the whole idea behind adoption, however, I feel like that subplot is a little overdone and not very well handled. Like it was fine till it was Mi Joo mentoring Seon Woo's sister but it got too much with the whole involvement of the father and all of that crazy politics. It got a little boring, annoying and unwanted at that point. I also did not quite enjoy the entire idea behind the new subplot of the birth mother and her horrible attitude. The story was strong enough without these tropes and would've done better without such unnecessary subplots.
Overall, I absolutely loved the acting and it is the great chemistry between the three women that make this show super close to my heart. Definitely recommended!
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This is my kind of drama.
The plot is the effect of an unexpected, tragic outcome in the prime of one’s life. The example is the inaction of the woman who wasted many years in indecisiveness. That loss is the message of the series. However this series was focused on Son Ye Jin. That is the weakness of this series. It diverted the audience’s compassion, to the acting skills of a peripheral figure. Son ye Jin’s character did not need to have a mask. She is capable to show a stoic expression very well.I liked the invitation to see the peony and the aftermath. It was extremely sensual and stirred my groin. I am 76 years old and only my husband has been able to stir these emotions since we both were 17 years old.
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Sad but worth watching
I watched this because I am a fan of Son Ye Jin. I would watch this again except for one thing. It is too sad to watch again. Someone should have warned me that it was going to rip my heart out and stomp all over it. Having lost someone close to me who died from cancer made this drama all the more real. I cried a lot.The acting was really, really good. Very believable. It just drew me in.
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Although I got into the drama because I'm a fan of both Son Ye-jin and Jeon Mi-do, I quite enjoyed the time watching this drama. Big heads up, this is a sad, sad, really sad drama and you'll know it early on so proceed at your own expense. The drama deals with quite a sensitive and emotion topic, which is grief; more especially, the death of someone before their time. Despite all that, the drama really got its message through and through. It's a testament to human nature of dealing with incredible emotional turmoil and the irreplacable role of friendship in getting through such obstacles. In the end, what I take from the drama is a slight sense of hope and encouragement. And isn't that just enough for a good drama!
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Good Series...Though Trailer Was Misleading
This was a really good series, in that it hit many aspects of what being grown-up is about, and that life hands you things you least expect, both good and bad.I wanted to watch this because it looked like a fun story, with three friends enjoying the end of their 30s. The storyline became a very sad timeline very quick, which was really shocking. Personally, I can relate to this story very much, and also have two really great girlfriends, that have shared a lifelong friendship. I guess I wanted to see this as a happy series, rather than sad, but I completed the series anyway.
I think it could've ended at around episode 8, instead of 12. It was just a lot of added drama for the last few episodes. I think the friend actresses had good chemistry, along with the men who were involved in their lives. It was almost too perfectly synced, though, like it doesn't really work that way so perfectly in real life. But, it's a K-drama, right?
I'd say if you want a drama that will make you hit those emotions, this may be for you. But it's not a comedy or lighthearted at all, like how the trailer showed it.
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