Family by Choice

As a standalone I guess it's decent but as an adaptation I'm afraid it suffers greatly in comparison

The beginning of the drama filled me with so much hope for what was to come. I thought the director did a great job of carrying over the pivotal “key events” of the original story while adding his own subtle touch. Everything felt familiar, yet refreshingly different, and I genuinely enjoyed reliving such a beautiful story told in a new way. I caught myself smiling constantly, especially whenever the three kiddos appeared on screen. It was also really fun to spot the elements that were adapted with a uniquely Korean flavour, like the walk-up apartment and its staircase, the long uphill road from the noodle shop to their home, the rooftop scenes, and even the layout of the house– it all had a charming, aesthetically pleasing feel. I also appreciated the clever little easter eggs sprinkled throughout, like how Hae Jun ends up being the “acting” boyfriend this time instead of the female lead later on. Those small changes made the viewing experience all the more enjoyable.

I’m really glad they cast Choi Won Young (the cooking father) and Choi Moo Sung (the police father) in these key roles because to me, these two characters are the emotional backbone of the story. Choi Won Young naturally exudes the same warmth and quiet strength as Hai Chao from the original, while Choi Moo Sung perfectly captures the nonchalant yet caring presence that He Ping had. I’ve always enjoyed seeing both of them in father roles; they just fit so well, and their chemistry here was top-notch. In fact, I found myself looking forward to their scenes the most. Special shoutout to little Ju Won too! She absolutely deserves applause. It’s such a pity we only got to see her for a short while. How can someone so young act with that much emotion and nuance?

While the cast overall carried a similar vibe to the original and are undoubtedly solid actors, my issue wasn’t with the casting; it was the change in characterisation. That, paired with a somewhat uninspired script adaptation, caused the show to lose its footing rather quickly. Despite my strong bias and genuine hope for this version to succeed, it sadly fell off the cliff way too soon.

While the drama does preserve much of the original’s core, you can subtly see changes emerging throughout. Some of these adjustments were understandably made to better fit the Korean context, but others felt like they were done simply for the sake of being “different.” I get that every director wants to bring their own artistic interpretation to a story, and I don’t think anyone would be satisfied with a scene-by-scene copy, and I can respect that. After all, this is an adaptation, not a replica. I also understand that the Korean version is significantly shorter, with only 16 episodes compared to the original’s 40. Naturally, that meant certain characters had to be removed and some plot points streamlined to keep the pace moving. However, because of this, several character dynamics were significantly altered, especially when it came to the three siblings, and that’s something I wasn’t particularly a fan of. Many changes were made, yes, but whether those changes actually improved the story or served it well... that’s another matter entirely.

What I really didn’t like was how, from the very beginning, San Ha behaves more like a lover than a brother. So many of his actions seem driven by romantic feelings rather than brotherly love, and it immediately changes the tone of their dynamic. That calm, composed, natural genius who served as the emotional anchor for the siblings in the original has been reduced to a typical K-drama love-chasing oppa. They dumbed him down into this loverboy constantly vying for Ju Won’s attention, and it’s hard to ignore how little attention he gives to his younger brother or either of the fathers. It almost feels like he’s only here for Ju Won from day one. In the original, the romantic angle between them didn’t even cross my mind until much later, after the time skip. But in this version, the chemistry is written to feel romantic right from the start, and that just felt off. The complexity behind his collected nature as someone who carried the burden of being perfect because of the trauma of his past feels so insignificant now because of this loverboy character. All of that has been sacrificed for a shallow, love-smitten version of him that doesn’t resonate with the depth he originally had.

As for Hae Jun, it was jarring to see him as outspoken and independent as San Ha, even challenging him constantly. The reliable-older-brother and troublesome-younger-sibling dynamic is completely missing. They argue like friends, not brothers, and the emotional tension that should come from those fights just isn’t there. Because Hae Jun now comes across as self-sufficient: talented, popular, and successful enough to model abroad. His entire growth arc feels skipped. His temporary departure and later fear of returning lack emotional weight because they no longer align with a character who feels lost or abandoned. In the original, his uncertainty and deep need to prove his place in the family were such a big part of who he was. That sense of hopelessness is gone, and with it, the emotional core of his journey. He skipped an entire growth journey imo.

And then there's Ju Won. I really didn’t like how insecure she is about not sharing the same surname as her siblings. In the original, that would’ve been the least of her concerns, and she would’ve beaten up anyone who questioned their bond. But here, the sibling relationship doesn’t feel as strong. Ju Won seems to be the only one truly believing in their family bond, while the others look like they're just coexisting. The way they refer to their non-biological fathers as just “uncles” also stood out in the worst way. In the original, it was never spelt out, but it was deeply felt; one father provided the money and the other, the warmth and care. That invisible, quiet dual-parenting dynamic made the household feel whole. Here, it just doesn’t hit the same. Something’s missing.

What disappointed me the most is how the core family-centric theme, something that was the heartbeat of the original C-Drama, is noticeably weaker here. The introduction of romance far too early on stripped away much of the innocence and emotional purity that made the original so impactful. Many of the emotional scenes just don’t land the same. I understand the director wanted this to stand as its own version, with its own style, but I don’t think the blending of new ideas with the original plot was handled well. In fact, it often felt like the essence of the original was completely missed.

The way the characters were reimagined and the choice to cut out key side characters almost makes it feel like the director never fully grasped what made the original so beloved. At times, the story feels like it’s just ticking off boxes from a list of "must-have" plot points from the source material rather than truly reinterpreting them with meaning. The drama focuses far too heavily on the budding romance between San Ha and Ju Won, and as a result, the development of the rest of the cast suffers. When you add that to the already limited runtime compared to the original, it all just ends up feeling underdeveloped, incohesive, and rushed.

For a story that was supposed to be rooted in found family, healing, and emotional bonds, this version fails to make me feel those connections. That absence is especially jarring because, to me, those bonds are the very soul of the story. Unfortunately, the drama quickly spiralled into a typical K-drama rom-com and lost the heart that made the original so special.

The ending, blessed by the happy-ever-after fairy, felt incredibly rushed and random. It’s like they decided to tie up all the major issues in one and a half episodes simply by sitting down and having a conversation. Years of grief and pain were magically resolved by suddenly deciding to be nice to each other and letting go of all the past baggage. It wasn’t just the resolution that felt off; the romance between Ju Won and San Ha, especially after his 10-year absence, was equally jarring. One minute, Ju Won is still uncertain about forgiving him and trying to ease things back to how they were, and the next minute, they’re already kissing. He hadn’t even truly started to pursue her yet! The entire romance felt rushed and underdeveloped, and I could go on, but I’ll leave it there.

If you look at my watchlist, you’ll see that I’m quite stingy when it comes to giving 10/10 ratings because I want that score to truly mean something. Only the dramas I deeply love get that mark, and Go Ahead is one of them. The show had a chokehold on me back then because of the many personal parallels I saw between the story and my own life. That’s why I was so excited when I heard it was being adapted into a K-drama, especially since it was being directed by the same person behind Twenty-Five Twenty-One, another one of my 10/10 dramas.

Don’t get me wrong, Family by Choice is still a decent watch. But as someone who has experienced the beauty of Go Ahead, I can’t help but feel that this adaptation hasn’t quite lived up to the potential the story holds. If you're a new viewer, you might still enjoy it (or not), but if you’re curious for a deeper, more emotionally resonant experience, I highly recommend checking out the C-Drama version. Trust me, it’s worth it, though I’ll admit, I’m a bit jealous of anyone experiencing it for the first time!

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am i the only one who cry aLOT while watching this series??

this is the first time i cry alot while watching kdramaa!!!😭😭😭 im on eps 9 & i cried on 4/5 out of 9 episode😭the acting really got me and idk about this drama that literally brings my chest to pain :( seing the struggle that the character went through really hurt me so much.

i know this is the remake of go ahead, i havent watch go ahead ( bcs its 40 freakin episode) but bcs of this series, i tried to watch & i think the korean version is better! the storyline is straightforward compare to goahead & the aesthetic of the drama is really great!

[EDIT!!!]
while waiting for new episodes to come out, i continue to watch goahead. the KDRAMA IS SOOO MUCH BETTER IN MY OPINION! the character of li jianjian is too childish imo. i might say the k drama is more realistic irl & i didnt cry a bit while watching goahead :/, even when the 2 brothers leave abroad.

in summary, LOVE that the Kdrama is more straightforward compare to the cdrama & i support the writer’s changes in the kdrama series :)

edit: ending is a bit boring😭 decided to change the rating

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Watching this is like watching a Disney's Live Action movie. There is no substance nor added value.

Condensing a 40-episode drama into a 16-episode one is no easy feat, it was obvious some scenes were going to be cut, and some characters arcs were going to be altered. But imo they butchered the story.

The acting is not that bad, the kids were great, the dad's okay, the leads meh. The problem overall is in the plot and character development.

In the FBC the family isn't really a family, just neighbors that are friends and eat together. They don't address the other father as dad, they don't address as older brother-yonger sister. Which makes the title of the drama pretty useless, "Family by choice"...what family? I see two families; it should be called "Neighbor by choice".

They made Sanha's mom even worse than the OG and in turn made the son more "well adjusted"/normal and love her more. Let's be honest, the mom in Go Ahead was really unhinged and cruel, well here she is even worse, at least in the OG, when she came back, she was sorry for leaving and wanted to make it up to her son. In FBC she was inches of calling her son a murderer in his face and her excuse for coming back is to "forgive him"....okay...what a way to make a really despicable character even worse but then why is Sanha so normal?, he has a pretty normal relationships with everybody else and even seems to communicate well with his dad, not only that but when the mom has her accident he remembers his mother talking care of him when he was a kid and he decides to care for her out of love. WTH? who wrote this?? he also cares for his little sister (that he barely knows) because it's his family, because he loves her. Where is the family by choice here? Now it should be "Family by blood"?

Some characters just feel like they come out of a comic or something like that. They don't feel like real people.... ahem ahem Haejun's bio dad.

One of the biggest flaws is the development and characterization of Ziqiu, they completely butchered his character. I think this is one of the characters that was miscasted. Zhang Xincheng is in another league of his own, but aside the acting (which to me in FBC his emotional scenes feel cringe), is that they turned the character into a pretty useless one that only know how to whine about his mom, he can't even defend his sister in a school fight.

Additionally, the script is so badly written that the emotional scenes don't hit the mark. For example, the big emotional scene where the dad gets drunk. In the original the whole point is that they are family even if not by blood, but because they care for each other and how much he cherishes his children when their own biological families treat them badly. In FBC while trying to convey something similar, fails to make the point of "family by choice". This is more noticeable in the scenes of Haejun/Ziqiu and his dad, in the OG felt that the words spoken by the dad are truly what a dad would say to his son, nothing fancy but spoken straight from the heart. FBC script just uses the same old cliché lines from kdramas.

And while some of the changes could be considered as nice. Like making Sohee (equivalent of Little Orange) a nice kid, it makes the storyline suffer. There's a point of Little Orange being so unlikeable, she has the accident while bickering with JianJian and it gives a chance for Ling Xiao to again draw the line with his mom that they aren't a family, he is in the hospital because he is responsible and filial but not because he loves them. His line says it best "What belong to JianJian I won't give to someone else, I'm not you." This not only reenforces the idea of who he identifies as family, but also takes us to the beginning of the story when he was first abandoned and show us how the emotional dependence transferred from his mom to JianJian. It's those lines, those seemingly unimportant scenes the ones that carry the show and elevate it to the next level, the ones that are missing in FBC.

The OST as well plays a huge important role in the story, I think the OG having such a great OST that helps framing the emotional scenes. In the FBC they put some generic background music that make the whole scene feel less authentic and emotional.

All in all, the changes don't add to the story, only helping to enhance the romance which isn't even the focus in the original drama. There are too many cliche scenes added to make the romance more obvious and frame it as a typical kdrama.
The problem is that this show doesn't even know the meaning of family they want to convey, or even if family is the core of the story because so far this show is Love next door 2.0.
Perhaps the main fault of this drama is the producers wanting this to be a teen romance drama instead of a serious one, because it lacks subtlety in every way, every single thing they want to convey they give it to you in your face.

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Great watch! Go ahead with it ??

Good show! Don’t be swayed by those who want an exact copy of Go Ahead. I watched Go Ahead years ago and personally loved the family dynamics in the first half. However, I found the romance aspect disappointing and was put off by it. The post-time-skip part felt unnecessarily dragged.
In contrast, Family with Choice handled the post-time-skip phase much better—it was engaging and fun! I think your enjoyment of this show depends on how much you compare it to Go Ahead. Personally, I was disappointed with Go Ahead, so I approached this as a standalone series without bias, which helped me connect with the characters and the story.
I’ll write more when I have time, but overall, it’s a great watch! Don’t let comparisons put you off. This is an adaptation, and I found the changes refreshing and better, in my opinion. If you’re new to K-dramas or haven’t watched Go Ahead, I highly recommend giving this a try

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Family By Choice is a masterpiece. Everyone should watch it!

You guys... I don't know how to start this review because I'm so excited, sad, happy and a lot of other emotions for what I just saw it. I like Go Ahead (the chinese version of this show) so much, but I have some questions about it. And I feel like here they "fixed it" everything that I think that would be better for the story, in general.
IT WAS SO GOOD! FBC was a beautiful, thoughtful, well-written story. This "dysfunctional" family is something that, since the day one, you'll be rooting for it.
I am gonna start with the dads, my precious dads, that made a H3LL OF A GOOD job here! Their chemistry is hilarious! They became everything for me. They helped each other to raise these three kids, despite with everyone would say about it, and caring less about bad opinions. They're great. I love them so much.
About them, the leading characters of it. We are talking about my favorite trio: Kim Sanha, Kang Haejun and Yoon Juwon. These three... oh my God! I felt like in the chinese version, they lost some of the beautiful friendship between them. and in here wasn't the case. They like each other. They care about each other. They would do anything for each other. That was marvelous! Haejun finding a family with Sanha, his brother by soul, and in his little sister Juwon was so good for him! I LOVE THIS BOY SO MUCH lol. Sanha is the most responsible, caring and awesome man that anyone could have in your life. His love for Juwon is beautiful! They complete each other. Despite his awful, d1sgusting, self-centered mother (I don't like her since go ahead, it's so difficult for me her scenes, that woman is pure evil) he's really come though and became this awesome boyfriend for juwon, a beloved bother for Haejun and perfect son for his dads. He deserves the world.
Now I have to talk about Juwon. This girl... OMG! She's my everything. The first difference that I realize from ch version is that girl there... I don't know, it missed a lack of something on her. Juwon is completely different. She's fire, she's brilliant, she's have everything. When she's grow up and made about her life something so beautiful to see, it brings her to light! She was so dependent of her older brothers, and when happens what happened she became another person! In several episodes I was really proud of her. She became a mature woman. Her growth was magnificent.
I like when, in here, they bring more of the family good feeling all the time. These three kids and the dads (not romantic related) are a family. Period. No one can't be counterpoint to this. And this message that we had to be with people who love us despite that we had blood related or not, was the purpose here.
Family by Choice is a beautiful show. It worth to watch so much! BRAVO!

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EMBRACING FAMILY BEYOND BLOOD

"Family by Choice is a heartwarming drama that beautifully explores the theme of chosen family. The story revolves around three individuals who come together, each carrying their own past wounds, and through their shared journey, they begin to heal. As an adaptation of the popular Chinese drama 'Go Ahead,' Family by Choice adds its own charm to the narrative, making it a unique experience.

The storytelling is light and relaxing, yet it tugs at your heartstrings with serious topics like abandonment, depression, trauma, and loss. The pacing is fast enough to keep you engaged without feeling rushed, allowing you to enjoy each character's journey step by step while avoiding any drag. The acting is undoubtedly good, and the dialogue is well thought out, relatable, and, of course, heartwarming and emotional.

Overall, Family by Choice is a great drama. However, I've noticed that opinions about it can vary significantly between those who have watched just the Korean version and those who first experienced the Chinese version. It seems that many viewers become biased against remakes, often expressing their opinions through harsh criticism rather than constructive feedback. Some viewers might dismiss the remake simply because it doesn't evoke the same feelings as the original, which I find unfortunate.

My friendly advice is this: if you watched the original, give this adaptation a chance. If it doesn’t resonate with you, that’s perfectly fine—just stop watching. For those who are experiencing this story for the first time, you’re in for a treat without any comparisons clouding your appreciation. I do recommend checking out the Chinese version as well since it has a lot of depth, but for this review, I encourage you to block out the noise, try Family by Choice for yourself, and see if you love it. It truly is a good drama."

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A Tale of the Most Adorable Blended Family

Just finished this delightful Kdrama. It was a really good!! I really don't have any negative things to say. I loved it from the start clear through to the ending. There really wasn't a dip in the middle like some dramas have. There are the usual Kdrama cliches, but they weren't that exaggerated, so everything stayed realistic for the most part, and they even made fun of some of the cliches which just made the storyline that much better. (I especially loved the two police officers doing the romantic dip....lol). It is just the sweetest story. There are two storylines that carry this drama through to the end. The relationship of the 3 main leads, San ha, Ju won, and Hae Jun. The entire drama, the story of how they watch out for each other, are there for each other, accept each other for who they are is so strong, and the actors make it believable. The three had chemistry, so their interactions were seamless and realistic. It's not hard to imagine these three are really siblings. The second storyline was the commitment by both the fathers to make a stable home and family life for their three kids. Their dedication, love, and sacrifice was so heartwarming.

Congratulations to the cast and the entire production crew on this drama. It was just so fun to watch! I'm sad it had to end, but it is one I will definitely revisit. I highly recommend this feel good drama.

Posted after 6 episodes:
Blended families have history, have tragedy, have baggage. That doesn't mean they can't come together and be the most wonderful family to each other. This is the tale of people who have gone through loss, heartache, even unfairness and injustice, but came together to love and nurture each other.

I just finished episode 6, and I'm glued to this amazing story, and bemoaning that I have to wait until next week for the next two episodes to drop. The cast is incredible!! Especially the actors playing the 3 main roles as pseudo siblings to each other. I hope it remains as heartwarming as it is now, and doesn't fall into Kdrama cliches, exaggerated plots, and overacting in order to make it to the magical 16th episode.

If you're looking for a really good series to watch, try this. I highly recommend it.

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Go Ahead in Kdrama land

This review is an ongoing reflection, likely influenced by my personal bias against remakes, particularly K-drama adaptations. I’ve never been a fan of remakes, and I hold a special place in my heart for Go Ahead, which makes me cautious about this remake. However, I decided to give it a chance, especially after seeing the cast, particularly Hwang In Youp as the lead.

As of episode four, here are my thoughts:

What I Appreciate:
• The similarities to the original Chinese drama, like the noodle shop, the store's placement, and the open rooftop.
• The female lead's character is more upbeat and cheerful a bit more feminine, a difference from the Chinese drama. I love that she also knows what she wants.

Challenges I’m Facing:
• The shift in genre: This remake leans more toward fun and comedy, aiming for a rom-com vibe. I read an article indicating that it will focus more on romance than family, which disappoints me. Given the title "Family by Choice," I hoped for a stronger emphasis on familial bonds, but it doesn’t feel like a family dynamic so far.
• In the original, Tan had a more tomboyish personality and treated the boys like brothers, which added to the family feel.
• The foreshadowing of Tan’s love for hard candies and the male lead’s eventual career choice.
• The opening song: As I mentioned in my brief review of Go Ahead, the opening song was a highlight for me, something I looked forward to in each episode.
• The length of the K-drama: Condensing the depth of 40 episodes into 16 inevitably leaves out many beloved details, resulting in a loss of emotional build-up and relationship development.

I’m trying to approach this series with an open mind, but I know I’ll likely compare it to the original. So far, I’m not loving it, leading me to rate it 5/10. There are many elements working against it, and I'm struggling to find aspects I enjoy in this remake.

Update 12/6:

Here’s my final review after watching the series. The first half was really disappointing. It felt like a copy without the emotional depth. I actually made a whole list of what they did wrong as I watched each episode as it aired. I was crying, feeling sad, and seriously considering dropping the show before it ended. I was going through a whirlwind of emotions and didn’t want to continue. However, I pushed through because I wanted to see the ‘romance.’

Shockingly, the second half felt like they rewrote the show to give it a more K-drama feel, with the romance twist. Honestly, I think they should have gone in this direction from the start, but I understand that they were trying to establish a backdrop and create familiarity for fans of Go Ahead, hoping they would either enjoy or learn to appreciate this remake.

Here are some points I genuinely enjoyed about the series:

• The FL defending the ML during the mother visit. She stated to the mother, she only ‘loaned’ him back to his mother for ten years because they were family, but now he belongs with her; a flashback to when they were young and he was given away. I’m glad they cleared up this misunderstanding much faster than in the Chinese drama. With only 16 episodes, the pacing felt nice.

• I appreciated how they made it clear that the second lead brother wasn’t trying to marry FL out of romantic interest, but because he wanted her to have the family name – what she always wanted! In the C-drama, this misunderstanding wasn’t cleared up until later. Plus, FL friend never switched over to liking the ML, which I’m grateful for. I’ve always had a soft spot for the second lead, and it felt like they really played into that here. I was genuinely affected during the episodes when they unraveled his thoughts. My favorite line from him: "Why does everyone abandon me?" Honestly, I think the writers were listening to my thoughts because that scene made me follow Steven Zhang as an actor.

To conclude, for the first time, this is a remake that’s not bad. It’s still not the best, but it served its purpose - this is how Go Ahead might look in the “K-dramas world”

Rating: 7.5. It’s a series I probably won’t rewatch because it doesn’t give me the same emotional satisfaction or sense of family and slice of life that the original did.

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3 Families Under 1 Roof - Poor Adaptation.

I did watch Go Ahead when it aired and really enjoyed the drama and it's poignant storyline and acting. When I heard there was a Korean remake, it prompt me to start watching it when it aired as well.

Overall, it's okay. I think what disappoints me is all the important parts of Go Ahead was watered down especially the talk between Sanha and his mother after Sanha started dating. However, both mothers were definitely a pain in the ass. The Korean mother seems to be screaming way too much. She seemed to be screaming over every little thing.

Yun Ju Won played by Jung Chae Yeon is a bubbly girl who tends to be very positive about her family dynamic. I enjoy watching her act. Unfortunely, due to how short of a length this drama was, I felt like her relationship with Sanha was not natural. One minute, she feels digusted by Sanha's confession, the next minute she had a pivotal moment, and suddenly she's in love with Sanha in a romantic way. It just felt like something was missing, in my opinion, they should've just stayed siblings. I couldn't find a connection between the two, in facts its the same for all couples.
One moment they're being rejected, the next they're together! The pacing is just too quick for me to connect with their emotional scenes.
Sanha played by Hwang In Yeup. There's not much to say about his acting, he has subtle facial expressions which he portays nicely. But overall, his character is just bland. Not to say the Chinese counterpart wasn't bland, both were bland. lol But what makes the Chinese counterpart better is the scriptwriting. For example, as aforementioned, the argument between Sanha and his mother. In the original, the mother argues that Ling Xiao cares more for his neighbors more than his real family, Ling Xiao shouts, "They love me, why don't you love me?" That was the heartbreaking moment for me, and I was expecting this to happen in the Korean version but it didn't come. The Korean version was lackluster.
Kang Hae Jun (Bae Hyun Seong) seems to have anger issues compare to his Chinese counterpart. I understand he felt abandoned, and angry that everyone was trying to protect him in their own way. But anger is not needed in certain scenes. The actor's ability to cry was very natural though.
Overall, the acting of everyone was okay.
Due to kdramas being only 16 episodes, everything was cut short so it made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. I felt like they should've marinate the emotional scenes a bit more.
I also want to point out something. Was this a low budget drama? Why are 2 of Sanha's classmates ALSO doctors and why is it always these three treating the main and second leads? Yun Ju Won's cafe feels like it's her home cafe because barely anyone is ever there! LOL??? The setting felt unrealistic basically.

Overall, what really made this adaption fall short, at least for me, was the poor script and pacing.
I wouldn't recommend this version if you watched the Chinese version.
If you didn't watch the Chinese version, I would recommend that if you want better script and emotion connection with the characters compare to a fast pace adaption of it. The choice is yours.

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