Family by Choice

A lesser adaptation, but great at doing its own thing

If you were comparing this to the original, this does some things better and some things worse.

What this one did do better than the original I think, was setting up the romance much earlier. It's there in the original but so subtle I think a lot of people had trouble adjusting to it (not me though, I loved it lol). Here, they make the relationship much more obvious from the beginning, and while I wish we had the longer screentime for their development, I liked the clarity of it. The little bout of the SML "liking" the FL is also removed, which I thought was a relief, as it both gave the second relationship more time to develop, but also strengthened the main relationship by setting the FL's relationship with the two MLs apart.

The shorter runtime means they cut out a lot of slice-of-life moments that really brought the friendships and familial relationships to life. The third friends, while technically unnecessary, really rounded out the group and show's commentary on motherhood. A few things feel just a bit watered down, like the ML going to Seoul instead of actually abroad, or the SML's childhood backstory of almost having to give up school and work in the fields, leading to the FL's father taking him in.

Now, all comparisons aside, I think this drama was pretty great! The pacing and time jump feel natural, and it's really good at giving all the leads equal weight with their emotional stories. The family is by far the best part of the story, especially the dad; there are lot of scenes that will tug at your heartstrings, and the conclusion is sweet and satisfying.

Read More

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.

Read More

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. 💖

_________\\__________//________


-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


.


…


….


……

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

Read More

Family is not always made by blood, but by heart❤️

Family by Choice tells the heartfelt story of Kim San-ha, Yoon Ju-won, and Kang Hae-jun, three individuals who, though unrelated by blood, forge an unbreakable bond during their teenage years. Raised under the devoted care of Ju-won’s father, Yoon Jeong-jae, who owns a Kalguksu restaurant, and San-ha’s father, Kim Dae-wook, they grow up together as family. Despite the absence of their mothers, the two fathers create a nurturing and joyful environment for the trio. However, circumstances pull San-ha and Hae-jun away from their close-knit family, forcing them to part ways. A decade later, the three reunite, uncovering long-buried memories and rekindling the profound connections that shaped their lives.

The first two episodes were great, I enjoyed them a lot. The drama doesn't make sense, first their parents left ML and in the next episode they keep coming back one by one, it's annoying. I'm especially bothered by Kim San Ha's mom, I don't understand her, actually she wanted happiness so she divorced Kim San Ha's father and left her son and married someone else, then after 10 years she came back to their lives and destroyed their peace and happiness and blamed them for Kim San Ha's younger sister's death, later her second husband died in an accident, she blames Kim San Ha and her ex-husband for everything.

After the leap I found it a bit more interesting to watch, personally I loved the chemistry between 1st couple and 2nd couple.

At the end it doesn't matter if the family is related by blood or not, it only matters that they love each other and respect each other and this drama gives a warm love and proves again that it doesn't matter if your caste or blood is different, it only matters that you love each other and care for each other.

Family is not always made by blood, but by heart ❤️

Read More

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

Read More

Good in the Beginning, Frizzles out Towards the End

I guess a lot was lost in translation, because remaking a 40 episodes Chinese drama into 16 episodes Korean drama isn’t an easy feat!

I read comments and reviews on MDL before I sat down to write this review and there was one thing predominantly pointed out in them- that the Korean version lacks the subtleties and family dynamics which were the highlight of the Chinese original. Frankly, I haven’t watched the Chinese drama, so I can only base my review on the Korean remake. But it does seem like there were existent discrepancies which were viable even without the comparison. The first half of the show starts off strong, the tight sibling bond between the three main characters who have no blood ties is established early on; they are each other’s staunch support and comfort zone. Bought up by two fathers in a shared household, the children never lacked love and affection; especially Kang Hae Jun who had no significant ties to either families. The fathers acted as the parental units and the children had them as well as each other while they grew up normally. Now as the storyline descends into the second half, the plot goes awry. I was slightly disappointed with the later episodes as they felt too disjointed. I’m not even sure if the remake still remained true to the original!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/11/28/family-by-choice-series-review/

Read More

A good adaptation, which allows us to admire once again the talent of Hwang In Yeop :)

PLOT: The FL is 7 years old (daughter of a widowed restaurant owner) when she meets the ML (8 years old) whose parents are shaken by the death 1 year earlier of his sister. A grandmother (who works for the FL's father, arranges 1 meeting for him, with 1 single mother of 1 boy (ML2) aged 8 years. This mother will run away (debts) and leave her son in the care of the FL's father. At the same time, the ML's parents divorce. The 3 children will be raised by the two fathers (FL's and ML's) , grow up helping each other to face difficulties and traumas, and try to build their adult lives.

+++ Great actors (all), especially the 3 leads.
+++ Roughly realistic story, suited to the Korean context where family lineage is a priority.
+++ The characters are not black or white, but nuanced and well developed.
+++ Effective execution, without length.
+++ Korean OSTs (o^▽^o)

### Some characters (the grandmother, the ML's psychotic mother who needs therapy, the ML2's mother who feels extremely guilty, etc.) are excessive.
### The FL's father (with a kindness which borders on stupidity) does not exist in real life!
### What a vision of women !!! All mothers are selfish, intrusive, toxic. Only fathers save the world .... Who has written such a story ?

=> A good adaptation, which allows us to admire once again the talent of Hwang In Yeop :)
**********************************************************
PLOT: Qd la FL a 7 ans (fille d'1 restaurateur veuf), elle rencontre le ML (8 ans) dont les parents sont secoués par le décès 1 an + tôt de la sœur. Une gd-mère travaillant pr le père de la FL, arrange 1 rencontre pr le père, avec 1 mère célibataire d'1 garçon (ML2) de 8 ans. Cette mère va s'enfuir (dettes) et laisser son fils aux soins du père de la FL. //t, les parents du ML divorcent. Les 3 enfants vont être élevés par les 2 pères, grandir en essayant de faire face aux difficultés et aux traumas, et essayer de construire leur vie d'adultes.

+++ De super acteurs (tous), en particulier les 3 leads.
+++ Story à peu près réaliste, adaptée au contexte coréen où la lignée familiale est une priorité.
+++ Les personnages ne sont pas blancs ou noirs, mais en nuances, et bien développés.
+++ Réalis° efficace, sans longueur.
+++ OST coréennes (o^▽^o)

### Certains personnages (la gd-mère, la mère psychotique du ML qui a besoin d'1 thérapie, la mère du ML2 en hyper culpabilisation, ...) sont excessifs.
### Le père de la FL (d'1 bonté qui frise la bêtise) n'existe pas dans la vraie vie !

=> Une bonne adaptation, qui permet d'admirer une fois de plus, le talent de Hwang In Yeop :)

Read More

My Aug 2025 recommendation

Long time this drama sit in my PTW, but thanx to Recommendation Challenge & 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥, I finally watch this drama…

As usual, I’m not particularly fond of remakes, because I can’t help but compare them to the originals. And more often than not, I prefer the original—though there are a few exceptions. Turns out, this one is another exception.

Now let’s dive into the story…

This is the story of 3 children from 3 imperfect families who find comfort in each other and form a family of their own.

The story begins with Yun Jeong Jae (Yun papa), a single dad raising his only daughter, Yun Ju Won (JW). One day, he is introduced to a young woman through a matchmaking program. This young woman, Kang Seo Hyeon (SY), is also a single parent raising her son, Kang Hae Jun (HJ). Yun papa and SY are supposed to be a potential match, but things don’t go as planned. SY mysteriously disappears, leaving her son behind. Instead of abandoning HJ, Yun papa decides to raise him as his own, alongside his daughter JW.

Meanwhile, another family moves into the apartment above them — the Kim family. Kim Dae Uk (Kim papa), his wife Kwon Jeong Hui (JH), and their son Kim San Ha (SH). The Kim family moved after an unfortunate incident involving their late daughter, Kim So-jeong (SJ). SH accidentally caused his sister’s death, which has become a source of immense grief and tension in their family — especially for his mother, JH, who blamed SH entirely.

Unable to stand seeing how SH is treated at home, Yun Papa—moved by compassion—tells JW to befriend him and invites him over for meals. When JH can no longer endure her own bitterness — especially after seeing how happy SH thanks to JW, she decides to leave the family and move out, abandoning SH in the care of JW and her father.

And so, their unconventional “family” begins: two fathers—Yun Papa as the nurturing heart, Kim Papa as the quiet provider—raising three children: Yun Ju-won (JW), Kang Hae-jun (HJ), and Kim San-ha (SH).

They grow up together, bound by love rather than blood. JW always refers to HJ and SH as her brothers, and they fiercely defend each other against anyone who speaks ill of their unconventional "family".

When they reach high school, JW gains another ally in her best friend, Park Dal (PD), who always stands by her against the whispers about their unconventional family.

Things get complicated when SH’s mother (JH) suddenly returns, this time bringing along her new daughter, Jung So-hee (JSH). The situation worsens when JH is involved in an accident that kills her new husband and leaves her with a leg injury requiring long-term physical therapy. Leaving SH with no choice but to take on the responsibility of caring for her.

At the same time, HJ faces a shocking revelation: his biological father, Yang Dong Gu (DG), is alive. DG had abandoned HJ and his mother years ago to marry into a wealthy family. But things didn’t go as he had hoped — he never had another child. Now he wants HJ back, hoping to groom him as his heir. But this means HJ would have to move to the US.

At first, HJ was completely against the plan. He doesn’t want to leave Yun papa or their family. But with the financial burden of pursuing university looming over him—and with a friend’s encouragement—he finally agrees to take advantage of DG’s offer—not for the inheritance, but to secure his future at a university in the US

So, as their senior year ends and university life awaits, both HJ and SH face the reality that they will have to go their separate ways from their unconventional "family" and leave JW behind.
At first, they all do their best to keep in touch. But as time passes, their communication grows less frequent. Before they realize it, ten years have flown by. One day, HJ and SH suddenly return to their small hometown.

At first, JW feels awkward meeting them again — familiar faces, yet distant connections. But slowly, they fall back into their old rhythm, rediscovering the warmth and comfort they once shared. However, beneath the surface of those old bonds, new feelings begin to emerge—especially between SH and JW.

For SH, who has always found comfort and security in JW, his feelings have long grown into something more than just that of a sibling. And now he now wishes to explore something more than a sibling bond.

Now the question is: What will JW’s answer be to SH’s feelings? If the feelings are mutual, how will their family react — especially Yun papa and Kim papa?

That's pretty much the story without giving any more spoilers. Now the difference between 2 dramas… I’ll try to keep it spoiler free…

The difference:
* After watching the Korean version (FBC) the first obvious difference is the romance between JW & SH with Li Jian Jian (JJ) & Ling Xiao (LX). After watching this, it became more obvious Go Ahead (GA) romance is so weird & forced. Especially when LX kinda forces his way a little bit into JJ.
* The way FBC portrays SY as a more loving mother than GA is leaving a bigger impact. From early on we can clearly feel & see how much SY loves HJ, it’s kinda not believable if she just leaves HJ behind for no reason. In GA, He Zi Qiu (HZQ)'s mother feels more detached, not as loving as here.
* SH’s mother is painfully b*tch in both dramas. But here, she’s more tolerable. FBC put more into her perspective, in GA, I don’t really understand why LX’s mother is so toxic, and doesn’t want to let him go. With a little of her perspective from here, I think I understand her better.
* No unnecessary friend drama. In GA, JJ at one time had problems with both of her friends. Sometimes yeah that’s just added unnecessary screen time…
* The feeling of Yun Papa & SY is more subtle than in GA. We can’t really see that Yun Papa is mesmerized by her & falls at the first sight when they met back then. It's just like they just added this story cause in GA they ended up together, so it's just 1 tiny detail they can’t change.
* The way they make JW the one pursuit bakery than HJ is also better & makes a little sense. The one that has a sweet tooth is the one pursuing making cake, better then one just learning to please the other, like JJ & HZQ.

Overall this really interesting intake of the remake of Go Ahead…. Happy to watch this… ^^

Read More

This Chinese Remake is Really Really Good in Its Own Right!

The Chinese remake, Go Ahead, was one of my most Favorite Chinese Dramas, so I was going into watching this Korean version with prejudice. Remakes more often than not are usually not that good. However, what a pleasant surprise!!!

Even knowing the overall storyline, the Korean's did a Fabulous job making this drama their own. Great cast, great acting, intense emotions. I love these type of warm family dramas vs those where everyone is busy stabbing each other in the back.

Highly recommend, I look forward to rewatching the drama again in the future along with the Chinese one.

Read More

Definitely in my top 10 for the year!

I just finished watching, and OH MY GOSH it was SO GOOD! I understand that it's a remake, and I haven't seen the original so I can't make comparisons, but I absolutely loved this drama! The acting was outstanding! The story was interesting. The music...well, not so much, but it didn't make me want to turn it off, so that's a plus. It seemed through most of it that if I wasn't laughing or smiling ear to ear, then I was crying...but I cry every time the actors do, so make of that what you will. The family was unrealistically heartwarming, but I don't watch dramas such as this expecting realism. It's a "possible but not probable" storyline, so it's not too far out in left field. I absolutely adored all of the mains and most of the side characters. Definitely worth the watch!

Read More