Family by Choice

The ultimate k-drama remake

Family by choice started of decent, the elder-brother and second brother are kept the same except one thing that they changes, in go ahead the second-brother had no ex-girlfriend and was single however in family by choice he had one. Their might be some slight changes, but the characters are kept the same and the drama gets better each episode and has a lot of potential. Hoping to see the episodes progressing to a good standard, which I don't think will disappoint! Hwang-yeop is finally casted as the ML which I'm quite stoked about, he manages to play high school kid quite well!!

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Not The Same As Go Ahead!

When I say it isn't the same - it isn't as great as Go Ahead at all!

It's not bad, but nothing like it's Chinese neighbour.

I have seen Go Ahead maybe 3 times even though it has something like 46 episodes.

Going forward I will refer to Go Ahead as GA and Family By Choice as FBC.

With FBC it misses the humour that GA has when the children were young - even as teens and adults.

In GA, both boys were top students in school whereas the girl wasnt. One boy became a dentist, the other a chef/baker and the girl became a sculptor whereas in FBC it looks like one has become a doctor, one a dropout and the girl a cake maker.

Not sure about the dropout being a proper dropout just yet!

In GA, the one that became a dentist would supervise the girl with her homework at times and around episode 5 told her he was going to marry her someday. There was also this moment he didn't want her sniffing his bed and being in his room as he was starting to develop feelings for her so he told her off. The humour when they were teens in the original version was excellent whether at school, just with each other or at home.

In FBC, the one that becomes a doctor, doesnt say anything about marrying her as teens and doesnt really do too much when she smells something different about his bed which is actually a pertinent moment in the original version. Although they all get along really well - it just isn't on the same level as GA.

When ten years elapses in FBC it seems like the boys have just gone for the weekend then returned as their hairstyles haven't changed nor their faces in age.

With GA they all transitioned from teens to adults which was believable and noticeable like 10 years really had passed.

The good thing about FBC is that it is only 16 episodes so will give you a taste of what the Chinese one is like, but it doesn't have the same depth or characters. One character missing is the one that became a flight hostess in GA.

In FBC, it seems like they are bringing two characters together that were never together in GA. Personally, I don't like that at all.

Another change is the real younger sister of the oldest male seems to be more mature and not so bratty in FBC compared to GA.

Overall, I prefer GA over FBC because of the characters, their stories and the unquestionable dynamics between all of them as well as close bonds - including the parents.

FBC made some obvious changes which shouldn't have been the case - like losing the humour and certain characters, for example.

Still recommended if you want something shorter than the original even if not on the same level.

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It’s different than the original

I really enjoyed watching GO AHEAD and when the news came out that they will be making a korean remake of the show. I was a bit sceptical. I made a decision early on to only watch it when it has finished airing all its episode. However, it keeps popping up on my FYP and it piqued my interest. The TIKTOK edits shows me some new scenes which i did not see in the original CDRAMA and I decided to watch it while it was still airing.

And I did not regret it. While they do have similarities, I can’t ignore the differences they made on making it local and giving a fresh new air towards the show. I enjoyed the show as it has more build up of the characters feelings. It explains the reason their decisions clearly and are not making the viewers misunderstand or think too deeply on the plot.

It really differs from the CDRAMA, GO AHEAD!

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the only way to enjoy this show is to totally block away the chinese version from your mind. Watching this made me appreciate go Ahead even more. i know it couldn't have been easy to try to tell this story in 16 episodes but there were too many things missing. The periods where it felt like nothing was happening in the original spoke volumes!. Her waiting to hear from them, it being too painful for her to see them go away so she travelled to see relatives, her treating them like strangers(because they had become strangers). I was not a big fan of this translation of her yelling at them, i preferred the original. The mother wasn't some unreasonable idiot like she is portrayed in this one, her character was dumbed down and the essence taken away.
she was a mother who carried around the guilt of leaving her child and blaming him and not knowing how to rectify this, she tried holding on to him in an unhealthy way which was exhausting for him and her, also her trying to set him up with someone else showed her yearning to build something ''new'' with him that didn't include their past. she coped by ignoring things(tearing up pictures of her daughter, leaving her marriage and child, trying to get him away from the girl who knew about their skeletons).

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I have mixed feelings about this one

The drama started off really fun, and I absolutely loved the concept of "you don't always need a blood bond to become a family." That message was heartwarming and had me excited for the rest of the show.

But once the romance subplot kicked in, things started to feel a little... off. I get that San Ha and Ju Won aren't actually siblings—San Ha lived with his dad, and although they shared a sibling bond, he never really lived in Ju Won’s house as her brother. Still, I found it strange how the show started with Ju Won calling him "Oppa" in every sentence, and everyone around them referring to her as San Ha’s sister.

All her life, she saw him as nothing but her brother—and then suddenly, after his confession, she develops romantic feelings for him? That transition didn’t sit right with me. From San Ha’s side, I totally get it. He never gave off a strong "big brother" vibe, so his feelings made more sense. But from Ju Won’s perspective, it felt rushed and unnatural.

Honestly, I think I would’ve liked it better if the romance angle was left out altogether—or, if they were going to go that route, then they should’ve set it up from the beginning instead of leaning so hard into the whole “we’re one true family” message.

That said, I still enjoyed the series overall, and the ending was pretty satisfying in my opinion.

As for the acting... I wouldn’t say I was blown away. I adore Hwang In Youp and only watched this because of him—he’s incredibly talented—but his performance felt a bit underwhelming here, and that goes for the rest of the cast too.

All in all, it’s a drama with a great message at its core, but the execution—especially in the romance plot—might not be for everyone. Still, if you're open-minded and enjoy unconventional family stories, it’s worth a try!

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Not better than the original but swoony, fluffy and charming in its own way. Worth a watch.

Full disclosure, I have seen and loved the original Chinese series "Go Ahead" from which Family By Choice is an adaptation. Therefore my review and appreciation of this version of the story, is bound to be influenced by my feelings on the original drama. Overall, even if I prefer the original series, I truly enjoy this version of this found family tale. There are even things I think the South Korean version accomplished in a neater way. Not better, but like if you would put a pretty bow on things while the Chinese drama had a less fluffy vibe, much grittier, less rom-com, more slice-of-life. I appreciate they took another approach but I cannot say that I found it better. Just different.

The South Korean series hits properly most of the beats of the original story, with some changes on storylines as well as quicker pace (which is unavoidable given that the South Korean version is made of 16 episodes of 1 hour while the Chinese version is made of 40 episodes of 45 minutes). There are some iconic elements of the original story that are missing which I found a bit of a shame but I appreciated some of the cuts they took on some of the side stories / characters. The main flaw of the story resides in its pacing : some traumatic events lived through by the characters felt too quick with the story moving on expeditiously and handling a bit too easily redemptions...Despite those flaws (which I must admit are linked to me comparing both occurrences of the story), the overall plot is still very good and I truly enjoyed the romance as well as the family arc. The trio of main characters are really likeable and form a trio that I loved throughout the full show. I will miss them for sure.

The casting was very good. I adore Hwang In Youp and I found him excellent here. He gave me butterflies in my stomach. His character felt to me like the heart of the story, even more than the heroine. She is of course key to the story and Jung Chae Yeon is super luminous in portraying her. It was my first time seeing her in a series and I will need to see her in a different role to which I'm less attached to form a clearer opinion on her acting. I was also happy to (re-)discovered Bae Hyeon Seong thanks to this drama. He did not leave me with a lasting memory from his support role in Hospital Playlist but here, he made a strong impression on me. The filial bond between him and his adoptive father is one of the best part of the series. Both actors playing fathers (Choi Won Young and Choi Moo Sung), as well as the child actress Oh Eun Seo are worth a shout out as they were amazing in those support roles.

The production value is really good. There are so many scenes that are mesmerizing, decors with flowers, pastel and bright colors participating in creating dreamy and romantic pictures. The soundtrack is really beautiful as well. There are a couple of songs that I will for sure keep listening to.

I would recommend this to people that love romantic story and found-family trope. If you enjoy protective, caring and ambiguous "big brother" character, you are in for a treat. The story is not without flaws and it pales a bit the comparison to the original drama...Still, it is worth watching if you enjoy rom-com with swoony moments, supported by a charming cast and solid production value.

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Better than the original. But just by a bit.

Beware, it’s going to be long and with spoilers!

So my test-retest reliable but I liked just a bit more the Kdrama so I gave another half point. Below will be my comparison between this version and the Cdrama.

The cons: They didn’t spend much time around their younger days and I loved it much more than the modern ones. I understand that the Cdrama was much longer but IMO they lost all the beauty of how they became a one big family. In the Kdrama they suddenly started sort of living together, and without the prior knowledge I might’ve been confused.
Their modern days wasn’t done perfectly either. It was fun watching them going between the apartments in the Cdrama and practically living all together again, but here it felt less like that, and they missed the whole thing of how they became neighbors again at the first place !
Another problem is the familiar faces of actors who are usually doing villain roles and suddenly you got to believe they’re the sweetest dads in the world. So I’m sorry but I liked the dad there more. And the Mom was much more savage here. It was painful to watch her scenes.

The pros: Real life age of actors! Seven was older than the guys, especially ML and it showed. I’m happy In Yeop was older, so I could’ve felt the chemistry more.
Also I liked that unlike the Cdrama where Seven was the glue between them, here it felt like In Hyup was the one. So he really felt like the protective older brother. He has done a terrific job.
Her friend was much integral part of the story and it was interesting they left her with the same character as she grew up and didn’t make her go against her mom like in the Cdrama. It showed much more what a sensitive and beautiful on the inside woman she is. It emphasized the growth of the 2ML (who, as he should, didn’t want the FL, even for an instance -unlike the Cdrama).

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Though not as good as Go Ahead, it's still a good adaptation worthy of watching

“Family by Choice” should be my last completed drama in 2024 and I’m glad I am ending my drama year on a happy note (but via a rocky journey of emotions). If you don’t know, this is an adaptation of the very popular and beloved Chinese drama “Go Ahead”. I will try to review “Family by Choice” as an independent drama and also in comparison to its predecessor.

Drama reviewed on its own:
Objectively, “Family by Choice” is a great drama. It has a little of everything that would appease different audiences. At its core, it’s about family and especially the new and lovable found family. This family of five was formed due to some unfortunate circumstances. But they are full of love, adoration and care. It’s not easy when two children were abandoned by their mothers at a very young age. The drama follows their healing journey into adulthood, and this journey isn’t easy. You need to prepare for an emotional roller coaster, as you will cry for them as they endure pain, laugh with them as they celebrate successes and smile with them as they find their romantic partners.

I enjoy the acting of the cast very much, especially, Hwang In Youp. I’ve seen most of his dramas but it’s in “Family by Choice” that I realize he has grown to be a great actor. His portrayal of the broken soul, San Ha, is spot on. I want to give him a hug every time I see him, and want to shake some sense into him and his mother, as he suffers under her emotional abuse and manipulation. Playing opposite him are Jung Chae Yeon and Bae Hyeog Seong. Both are great and the three of them have excellent chemistry together as siblings. I have to say, I quite like this portrayal of our female lead Jun Won. I love her sunny disposition and beautiful smile. No wonder she’s the light in San Ha’s dark world. There is no question in the acting ability of the veteran cast, especially the two lovable fathers. Let’s not forget the 3 adorable kids who started the drama with a bang! I actually wish they stay longer than just one episode.

This shorter version is able to fit in all the major plots of the original drama. The pacing is good, the main characters are endearing and the ‘villain’ is just as hateful. The drama is able to hold my attention for the full 16 hours, and I was not bored once, even though I already know how the story goes. I do have two criticisms: San Ha and his mother’s relationship took up too much screen time in an already-shortened version. As much as I appreciate the depiction of mental health issues, I would have liked to see his mother less and have that storyline resolved a lot sooner. It seems like this black cloud looms over everything for way too long, thus, making the drama a little less enjoyable. I’d rather see Hae Jun’s mother more. This long plot took away precious time from other characters that I enjoy. Secondly, though the romance is better than the original version, I want to see a longer and more believable transition of feelings on Ju Won’s end. She went from going in shock, to denial, and acceptance way too fast. The realization of her feelings happens too abruptly.


Comparison to “Go Ahead”:
The best part of “Go Ahead” is seeing the formation of the found family. The Chinese version spent a considerable amount of time showing us the kids' everyday life at home (not just at school) and how the two fathers take care of them in different ways. If you mention “Go Ahead” to those that saw it, they would comment without a doubt that the two fathers are the most MEMORABLE and adorable father duo in dramaland. The Korean version doesn’t give off the same vibe. It’s a watered down version, and this is the most disappointing thing about this drama.
The romance in “Go Ahead” is quite controversial. Many don’t like the perceived ‘love triangle’, because it does such a good job in showing us sibling love. Luckily, the romance in “Family by Choice” is written way better without too many icky feelings. From very early on in the drama, there are already many subtle hints and looks by San Ha, showing he has feelings for Ju Won. It also helps that Hae Jun’s declaration of marriage is obviously for a different reason. I also found Hwang In Youp and Jung Chae Yeon look much better as a couple. They have good chemistry as siblings and also as lovers. In contrast, Seven Tan’s character is way too tomboy-ish and young, thus the romantic pairing with Song Wei Long doesn’t quite work. In another romantic comedy, their height difference could be adorable. But in “Go Ahead”, with the backstory of growing up as ‘siblings’, this couple can give off uncomfortable icky vibes. Unfortunately, in both dramas, I have the same criticism of a poor transition of feelings on the female lead’s part.


I will still recommend viewers to watch “Family by Choice” whether you’ve seen the Chinese version or not. It has its own unique charms with great pacing and excellent acting. However, it doesn’t get as high a rating that I gave to “Go Ahead” (9.0) because I am missing screen time of the super lovable fathers.


Other random observations:
1. Actress Kim Hye Eun who plays San Ha's mother, has so much botox that it's distracting. Her forehead is so shiny as well!
2. Really excellent acting by the kids
3. Love seeing Ju Won (FL) stand up and defend her oppas against both mothers.




Completed: 12/30/2024 - Review #532

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Suffers by comparison

This is my personal opinion. If you are wondering if you should watch Family by Choice, I would say yes, because I realize I'm in the minority here.

Yes, I watched Go Ahead first. No, I didn't love it. I felt it was entirely too long. However, Family by Choice, left out most of the episodes that had heart and, for me, wasn't able to recreate the bond of the found family.

What I liked:
-The acting was good.
-They didn't have both male leads fall in love with the FL.
-Ju Won's friend Dal. Loved her storyline with Hae Jun.
-Ju Won's dad.

Not so much:
-A lot of bad kisses. Not feeling the chemistry. Actually, I didn't believe the romance. It could have been left out.
-The actors looked exactly the same from high school to 10 years later.
-San Ha's dad. He was just there for the food and alcohol.
-I wasn't really able to feel the strong bond between the siblings, because we didn't have enough of what they went through as children to stand together against the rest of the world.
-Ju Won's dad was a lovely character for the most part; however, he seemed to love the boys more than her!
-an ode to terrible mothers. Every mother in this show was a nightmare.
-bad mother shout out - Hae Jun's mom. So, you leave and don't come back for 20 years. The reasoning was extremely weak, and she was being such a martyr. Then, moving close so she can see him from afar. Then, they have one conversation and all is forgiven.
-storyline for Ju Won's dad and Hae Jun's mom - came out of nowhere and ran at lightning speed.

My biggest complaint:
-San Ha's storyline. I had so many problems with it.
-First, both parents were gone when his sister died. Did Child Protective Services not get involved?
-San Ha saying he wants his mother to keep thinking his sister's death was his fault. Why?
-This storyline overshadowed every other. It was extremely toxic. The actress did an excellent job, I hated her so much.
-Why would he go and take care of her? It might have made sense if he was underage and had no choice, but he was an adult. Respect for an adult/parent is one thing, but to suffer abuse from your mom for over 10 years? Plus, he was in med school - even a bystander could see that she needed psychiatric help. She should have been committed.
-I completely lost respect for him when he went to see her and got on his knees at her bedroom door. What the heck!?!?!?
-This storyline, for me, seemed to overshadow all the others, which really drove my enjoyment down.

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Beautiful Found Family

Let me start by saying I love both the original Chinese story (Go Ahead) & the Korean adaptation. Both casts did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. Each version has strong points & flaws. Some people struggled with just how much the two dramas are alike, but that wasn’t an issue for me. They’re the same story so I was expecting that, it didn’t bother me at all. If you think it’d be a problem for you, this is my advice - don’t watch them back to back. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The story is both heartbreaking & heartwarming at the same time. It shows how deeply members of your family can hurt you, but also how family can be the ones to heal you. It also beautifully portrays that some families are connected by blood, while others are made by choice. At the heart of the story we have our beloved sibling trio: the two boys who’ve been abandoned by their mothers & the girl being raised by her widowed father.

One boy is goofy, athletic, & out-going. He hides the pain from his mother’s abandonment with a smile. He’s constantly reminded by outsiders that he’d better behave ‘cause the father could get rid of him at any time (whyyy do people say such cruel things?!) His aunt keeps track of what they “owe” the girl’s father for raising him & promises the boy will pay him back when he’s grown (something the father neither expects nor wants). This all makes a deep impression on the SML’s psyche, affecting his life choices as an adult. The betrayal of his mother & being the only non-bio child of the trio causes him to doubt that he’s equal to the other two in the father’s hearts.

The other boy (my bias in both versions!) is more mature, studious, & a loner. His younger sister died when he was a little kid which resulted in the fracturing of his mother’s mental state. She blames him for the tragedy since he was the only one home at the time of the accident (um, hello, lady - where the heck were you?!?) She files for divorce & abandons him to his father (who never blamed him, fyi). This all causes the ML to draw into himself. He slowly bonds with his “siblings”, but he keeps a wall between him & everyone else. He hides how much he’s still affected by his mother’s cruelty. He works hard to achieve his goals while trying to keep the other two in line (which is quite the task!)

The little girl is sassy & adorable. It’s always been just her & her dad until the arrival of the two boys. One she is not at all impressed with while the other she instantly claims. Eventually she accepts the SML & finally wins over the ML so she feels her world is complete. She grows up sheltered & adored. She’s optimistic with a bubbly personality which helps soothe her brothers’ wounds. She adores them both but their popularity is a thorn in her side. Her attempts to make their admirers leave her alone provide us with some of the best scenes! She’s confident that she’ll always have these two by her side.

Which means the writers inevitably split them up…

The SML’s biological father appears to claim him & take him abroad. The ML’s toxic mother returns with her young daughter, expecting him to leave with them. The trio’s lives are thrown into chaos. The fathers try to guide the boys the best they can even while their own hearts hurt. The FL is desperate for them to stay with her. And despite their desire to remain by her side, the boys are forced to go with those who came & destroyed their peaceful lives. Cue the tears as our beloved trio is ripped apart…

10yrs passes quickly for the viewers & the three once again fill our screen together. Their reunion isn’t happy,though, as the FL treats them coldly for staying away so long. But her love for them doesn’t allow her to stay distant for long. The strength of their bond is proven as they quickly fall back into their friendship & sibling camaraderie. The trio is as they always were, best friends & beloved siblings. But the ML isn’t content for things stay this way & now we gotta cue all the happy girl squeals ‘cause OhEmGee - the chemistry!!! 🔥🫠

Look, I love the alpha male/CEO trope as much as the next girl, but there’s just something about watching a stoic & quiet guy like this one be utterly focused on his female that really gets to me. I love when there’s that connection between the Leads that could never be replicated with someone else - it has to be her for him & vice versa. And not in a toxically possessive/controlling style, but rather because they understand each other in a way that no one else ever could, deepening their bond to unmatchable depths. They need one another just as much as they want each other, if that makes sense? The way this plays out in this drama is like catnip to me!

IMHO, the ML slayed in this role. His facial expressions, gaze, & pitch of his voice - it all worked perfectly to bring life to this precious character. (The fact that the actor is gorgeous doesn’t hurt!) He’s my favorite of the three (though I love the others too!) because he’s so soothing & pleasant to watch. I love the life & color the others bring to the screen, but it’s the ML’s steadiness & calm demeanor that most attracts me.

I adore the way he eases the FL into a different dynamic between them. He’s so careful with her, knowing she’ll need time to adjust going from a sibling type relationship to lovers. And there’s nothing creepy about them developing feelings for one another so I won’t focus on that because it’s a total non-issue. This duo is absolute perfection from their first interaction as kids. I’m not really sure who falls for the other first since they’ve always been special to one another. It’s simply that the ML becomes aware of his feelings first while the FL is too naive to realize what she feels for this boy she grew up with.

Their interactions are so precious. I love all the scenes we get with them being a couple & the way their lifelong bond shines through. Their protection & genuine care of one another is so sweet. How they both handle the initial shock & opposition from their family is admirable. And when the FL defends & claims the ML in front of his mother at the hospital - that scene is perfection & you can see the adoration in their eyes. Absolutely beautiful! 💜

I like the way the shift in their relationship ultimately settles into place with the SML, too. So good! It allows a more mature side to be seen in him. Speaking of which, the scene where he confronts the ML over the sleeping pills is so emotionally impactful. Such depth of emotions in that scene!! The actors deserve recognition for their portrayal of these characters! 🩵

Since I’m talking about the SML, I must also mention the adorable SFL. He’s completely clueless that she’s always had a crush on him, not the ML, which leads to some comedic moments throughout the show. But when she accidentally blurts out her confession he’s forced to face her feelings for him, but also his feelings for her. When he realizes he likes her too & claims her after the basketball game? Swoon! They’re so cute together!! This is one thing I love more in this version - he gets a love of his own instead of thinking he likes the FL. And the SFL doesn’t spend any time crushing on the ML (meaning no fight over him with the FL, yay!)

Another thing I like better in this story is the ML’s little sister. In the CDrama she’s a total brat. She does grow & mature but the majority of the time she’s unlikable. But in the KDrama she’s sweet from the start. This was a refreshing change from the original.

One of the best things that remains true in both versions is the pure awesomeness of the father duo. They’re such a non-gay married couple, haha!! They’re total opposites who’ve formed a bond while raising their kids together. Their friendship is precious & the love they share for all three kids is fierce. They don’t treat their biological child any differently than the others - to them, all three are their kids & that’s that. All the hearts, thumbs-up, & kudos for these two. They’re a beloved father pair in the drama world for a reason!

So despite some flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed this drama & highly recommend it if you want to experience the beauty of a family who genuinely loves one another through all the good & bad times of life. 💖

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.11 💋
- Together : ep.12 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 🫶🏻

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main cast is SPOT-ON! off to a good start!

Hwang In Yeop totally nails the eldest sibling vibe—he’s responsible, serious, and caring, but he has this distant, mysterious vibe. Bae Hyun Sung, as the playful older brother, always has a smile on his face but you can tell he’s hiding some deeper, painful feelings. and Jung Chae Yeon is such a perfect fit for the youngest sibling! i’m really loving the trio and their dads.

i love the original Chinese drama, and since the original has 40 episodes, i’m excited to see how they’re going to pack everything into just 16 episodes. definitely looking forward to seeing how they adapt it!

btw, Bae Hyun Sung reminds me a bit of Park Bo Gum in ‘Reply 1988’ with that hairstyle and especially his eyes. is it just me? haha

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