Family by Choice

A Heartwarming but Surface-Level Take on Family

I aim to keep my reviews concise and spoiler-free, focusing on the key points. I also watch every episode without fast-forwarding to provide a fair perspective.

From its first few minutes, the drama establishes a cute and lighthearted tone despite tackling some heavy themes. While loss and hardship shape the characters' journeys, the core message revolves around the meaning of family rather than dwelling on tragedy. The introduction is carefully paced, gradually revealing each character’s personality, relationships, and aspirations through short but impactful backstories.

The performances are strong, with a special mention to the child actors, particularly Oh Eun Seo, who steals every scene. The OST is light and catchy, complementing the overall feel of the show.

As the story progresses, the sibling dynamic emerges as the standout element, with well-written banter and heartfelt moments. However, not all scenes are as well-executed; for example, some subplot comes off as forced and overly obvious. The visuals, while polished, feel a bit too clean and artificial, lacking the rawness that could have made the emotional moments hit harder.

Midway through, each character faces resurfacing challenges that force them into difficult decisions, exploring trauma and its ripple effects on those around them. However, as the episodes pile up, too many dramatic events occur in quick succession, making it hard to stay fully immersed in the story. Some time skips and character choices also feel unrealistic, especially for certain characters who had no clear reason to do what they did.

There are also familiar drama clichés, that make some conflicts feel predictable rather than emotionally gripping. The relationships, whether familial or romantic, often lack depth, staying on the surface despite the serious situations the characters face.

Overall, the drama could have benefited from a tighter runtime and a more grounded tone. It spreads itself too thin between romance and family themes, making it difficult to form strong attachments to the characters. Had it focused more on the core family aspect, it might have left a stronger impact. While it remains a warm and easy watch, it never reaches the depth or emotional intensity it aims for.

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incredible dads and moms... who probably should not be moms

so wholesome and fun. it was able to pull of my heartstrings but also made me laugh. just that classic kdrama feeling. the found family dynamics are amazing. what an incredible father we have here. the dad and haejun's story?? yeah that is probably my favorite part of the story. the relationship dynamics between the three main characters are so fun to watch. not gonna lie, there's a part of me that did not want a romance between any of the main 3 so naturally, i was way more invested in dal and haejun's story (like i would watch a drama between those two for sureif the kdrama gods would cast them again together). not that i don't adore sanha and juwon together but i was kicking my feet in the air for dal and haejun dumdum ass lol. anyway, in the end, the romance isn't the highlight of story anyway.

sanha and his mom's story? heartbreaking and also, rage-inducing, my goodness. honestly, i like that they didn't really give her a redeeming arc. like, yeah just go away. i don't know if haejun's mom and juwon's dad ending up together was necessary tbh (part of me thinks she got away with abandoning her son a little too easily oop) but, i'll just let it go. my little compaints here and there but overall, i had a great time. so emotional and very entertaining. that's my family!!!

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Off with a Bang, Out with a Dang

It’s been quite a while since I watched my last K-drama, The Impossible Heir, which I dropped at ep 4 because of the lackluster plot and unreasonable characters. Hence, I started avoiding K-dramas for months until I noticed Family by Choice at MDL. FYI, Family by Choice is a Korean remake of the much-loved slice-of-life drama Go Ahead. Previously, I’d watched Go Ahead but could only withstand 9 episodes so far. I was curious of what Family by Choice could do, therefore I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go.

Family by Choice’s plot doesn’t stray much to that of Go Ahead’s. It tells the story of unrelated-by-blood 3 siblings (Yun Juwon, Kim Sanha, Kang Haejun) who find solace on each other’s company and become parts of a found family alongside Juwon and Sanha’s dads. I see that they’ve toned down Juwon’s tomboyish attitude and made her look more girlish while the boys are no different with the OG version’s. For Go Ahead’s watchers, I’m sure you know about the boys’ toxic mothers and how much emotional impact they’ve caused on their children. However, in this version, they don’t seem to care much about it and make it looks like a normal family conflict (thank God Juwon isn’t jealous of Sanha’s new half-sister). Also, in the OG version, Park Dal (Juwon’s bestie) has a crush on both boys, but she’s only interested in Haejun here (so no toxic third wheel, which is a breath of fresh air for love triangle’s haters).

At first, the childhood and teenage years of the 3 siblings are very captivating and I really love their interactions. The way they support and heal each other is just so, so heartwarming that I nearly shed tears for them. Nevertheless, nearing the end of the show, their adult years start to drag here and there, and I quickly lost interest. To be honest, I stopped until ep 14 but still marked it as completed since I don’t want to drop shows anymore. I know there’s no point in watching the final episode anymore because it’s going to be an HE and them reunited once again as a family.

I have no comments on the acting, though – everyone seems to be doing fine with portraying each character’s complex emotion, a very crucial aspect when it comes to slice-of-life drama.

If you’re into slice-of-life and found family theme, you can try this out and it’s shorter compared to the OG version so that you won’t waste much of your time (the plot is similar, anyway). Good luck and happy watching!!!

Memorable quotes:
'Everyone is special in their own way' - Yun Juwon

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They did a good job re-creating it but could have done better

Having watched Go Ahead (the Chinese original), I found it a fun and refreshing experience to revisit the same story through a Korean lens.

The plot remained largely faithful to the original, but this version felt less overwhelming emotionally—which I appreciated. The pacing was smoother, and the 16-episode format made it easier to digest without dragging out the trauma or family conflicts.

I think what pulled many of us in was twofold:

The fondness for the original Go Ahead—a deeply loved, emotionally rich story about found family.

The presence of Hwang In-youp, whose casting added curiosity and star power. He brought a quiet strength to his role and really grounded the emotional moments.

Overall, while it didn’t hit quite as deep as Go Ahead, “Family by Choice” still offered a heartfelt, comforting take on the same themes—with its own charm.
Overall it was a fun experience watching them both with different lenses

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Conflicted.

NOTE: I haven't watched Go Ahead prior to writing this review.
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This drama starts off strong with its first two episodes, grabbing your attention with engaging characters and a plot that promises an emotional and meaningful story. The chemistry between the cast is great, and the relationships they build feel real and relatable at times. It looked as though the series was going to explore what family really means and how love and support can create strong bonds, even without blood ties.

However, things take a dip in episodes 3 through 9. The pacing varies, and the story starts to drag especially when San Ha's mother and Hae Jun's father begin to try and re-enter their lives. The way the producers executed their returns felt rushed and disjointed. Instead of building up emotional weight of their return, their parents came into the picture almost consecutively. There's never a time where Hae Jun's father crosses path with San Ha's mother which is very unrealistic considering how many times they all went back to convince them. This pacing made the emotional moments feel shallow, as I didn’t have enough time to truly feel the impact of their return. When the emotional parts finally came, they didn't have the same impact they could have had because the buildup felt so slow and tedious. The pacing made it hard to stay engaged, and I found myself losing interest in what could have been a really touching story.

Fortunately, the drama picks back up in the final episodes. The pacing improves, the plot becomes more interesting again, and the characters finally start to get back on track. The themes are explored more deeply, and by the end, it feels like the story comes full circle with a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, if you can push through the slow and frustrating parts, the emotional payoff in the final episodes makes it all worth it. The cast was well chosen, the rest of the plot was done well and the script was the best it could've been…it's just those 6 episodes that just make me want to rip my hair out.

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GIVE THIS A TRY, YOU NEVER KNOW!!

If you are pondering whether to watch this or not, give this a try!!
I loved the C-drama version of this drama so much that I didn't want to get disappointed watching it, but this became my comfort drama, there are a few things different from the Chinese version in the Korean version:

(i) No 2nd ML who comes btw the main leads (I don't consider Kang Haejun as the 2nd ML), the Chinese
version had like 2nd ML liked the FL too, here 2nd ML considers her as a sister only, which doesn't make it
complicated and there were no annoying SFL in this drama.

(ii)The younger sister of the ML here is not as clingy as the one in the C version and is respectful of the ML's
choices, which I appreciate here.

(iii)2nd ML has a pairing in the end! (we do not have to suffer from the 2nd ML syndrome yaaayyyyy)

(iv) ML here is orthopaedic but there it was a dentist all in the end, they are all doctors lol. FL here is a
baker, where she was a sculptor.

the first three points made me like this version but of course, it's your choice to like this or not. I would recommend this drama if you like heartwarming families coming together as one drama. I would recommend this drama to the people who didn't like the C-version too. One thing I wish that was there in this drama was that I MISS THOSE CUTIEPIES IN EP 1, really wish that they could have been in a few more episodes...

*Families are not about who's related to whom, but rather about who cares for you and shares your woes and joys!*
this is what popped into my mind after completing this drama.

Thank you for taking the time to read my yapping, it has been a while since I wrote reviews so bear with me...

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Loved the story but the chinese drama version is way better

The story of this drama is different from typical dramas which is what intrigued me to look into this drama. After reading reviews, I found out there was a Chinese version called “Go Ahead” (the whole series is available on Youtube for free!)

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching BOTH versions but to watch the Chinese version FIRST!!!!

Cdrama version is 40 episodes and the kdrama version is 16 episodes. Think about it… how can they condense 40 episodes into 16 eps?!

My initial reasoning was I didn’t want to spoil the ending for myself by watching a condensed version of the story first so i decided to watch the Chinese version then Korean version right after

Both dramas have the exact same story line with minor changes

Cdrama version PRO / Korean version CON: story building & humor
Chinese version focuses more on story building and the relationship between the female lead and her family, friends and most importantly the male leads (the brothers). The cdrama gives you more time to love each character

For example,in the Chinese version, both brothers decided on their careers based on their love for their sister but the Korean version lacks this. I think just the brothers’ career decisions alone shows their love for their sister WAY more than the korean version
Although the ending of the cdrama version fell a little flat in the last few episodes and had an ending i wasn’t expecting (since i watched it first), I think it depicted the story a lot better as the Korean version has too many cliche situations similar to other kdramas & had less the story building.

Korean version PRO / Chinese version CON: romance & casting
I think watching the Korean version AFTER will soothe your craving for the romance between the FL and main ML. The chinese version wasn’t AS focused on romance between the couple. Kdramas are generally also better at casting attractive actor/actresses so it was definitely nice eye candy

it was so easy to binge the whole 40 episodes of the cdrama version. However, I found myself unable to focus at times while watching the Korean version

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What We Keep, Even When the Past Lets Go

I didn’t expect to be moved like this. Go Ahead holds a permanent place in my heart, and the idea of a remake — especially one condensed into 16 episodes — made me wary. It’s hard not to go in comparing every beat, bracing for what might get lost in translation. But Family by Choice didn’t try to copy the original’s soul. It found its own.

There’s something incredibly disarming about the way this version told its story — stripped down, yes, but still rich in emotional texture. The pacing was tighter, which meant some arcs didn’t get the space they might’ve deserved, but the heart? It never felt rushed. Every interaction between San-ha, Ju-won, and Hae-jun held weight. Nothing grand. Just steady, lived-in connection that grew deeper with each episode.

Hwang In-youp’s San-ha in particular stayed with me. His vulnerability wasn’t loud or dramatic — it was quiet, often unspoken, the kind that lingers behind the eyes and between words. He carried the burden of abandonment like someone used to holding back, not because he doesn’t feel, but because he never learned how to share the feeling. Watching him learn — slowly, haltingly — how to let others in, felt like watching healing in real time.

And that’s the thing — this version didn’t just explore pain. It understood what it means to carry it. To try and outrun it. To find people who sit beside it with you, without asking for it to be explained. That’s what hit hardest: not the grand reconciliations or sweeping emotional turns, but the small, often invisible acts of choosing each other. Again and again.

There were moments that felt compressed. Stories that could’ve unfolded with more breath. But even in its constraints, the show gave space for grace — for messiness, for forgiveness, for the quiet ache of growing up with emotional bruises you can’t name until someone else points to them gently and says, I see that too.

I’ll always love Go Ahead — that version was sprawling, slower, full of long silences and unresolved threads that mirrored real life. But Family by Choice brought something else: clarity. A sharper lens on the same emotional truths, reframed but no less powerful.

It reminded me that family isn’t defined by blood or even time. It’s shaped by presence. By choice. By the people who don’t flinch when things get hard, who stay when it would be easier to leave.

This story didn’t just echo the original — it stood beside it, shoulder to shoulder. And it earned its place.

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honestly it would be better without sanha-juwon relationship..

haejun saved the show can’t change my mind, I like the story because it raises a lot of complicated issues and emotions. It actually shows how important trust is and that it is okay to cry, that hiding your emotions won’t make you feel better. I feel that juwon didn’t treat haejun the same as she did it with sanha even before she fell in love with him. And everyone around were okay with it? It was impossible not to notice it. At least he could finally feel that he belongs somewhere. Also sanha’s mother? I understand how hard it must have been for her to live after her daughter’s death but sanha was her child too? And she didn’t actually pay the price for it? But overall it was kinda nice and engaging

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Who cares about the original?

It's natural for adaptations to differ significantly from the original (because why else would anyone want to adapt?!) and it's equally natural for those who have seen the first iteration to compare the following ones. What matters is judging each on its own terms and contexts. I haven't seen the original but I also don't care about a single review that finds this kdrama pale in comparison. In fact, I would say that I've been distracted by such reviews, and this is the danger of reading reviews while one is still watching the drama, because it prevents me from judging it on my own terms.

This easily is one of the loveliest, heartfelt dramas with emotions running the entire gamut of laughter and tears and empathy.

I have two main sticking points in the storyline:
1. The villainisation of all the mothers (regardless of how it concludes and may recuperate them [still on episode 13]). While I very much appreciate the unusual portrayal of maternal and understanding fathers, it grates on me that it's the mothers who get caught between extremes of good or evil, and then you are left with comparing the good mother vs the bad mother. For ex: why does Sanha's mother have to be so obsessive and 'hysterical', we're never told.
2. Kim Sanha being too perfect in all respects compared to the clutzy, simpleminded Hae Jun--nothing in his character development particularly showed why this would be the case. He was sensitive, but how come so perfect? And why doesn't Hae Jun become emotionally intelligent until so much later? Was a bit frustrating.

Apart from this, I do love everything about the show--the cast, the pace, the atmosphere--it is pure comfort, slice of life, family, genre kdrama at its best. I look forward to the concluding episodes!

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Starts strong with great characters and back stories, but themes and sublime moments are too watered down by the end . . .

The inevitable comparison to 'Go Ahead' is at the end of this review.

Can you have a sunny, optimistic future after a traumatic and unconventional childhood? The answer is a resounding 'yes.' The theme simple: hold tight to the people in your life who want to see you happy and healthy - and run away from people who don't believe in you and wish you would fail.

The romantic suspense is addictive: we the audience can tell that Sanha is over the moon for Juwon. But Juwon has no idea. There's a bit of a 'forbidden romance' factor as well.

Once the primary romantic storyline is resolved, between the two of them, then moves to the difficult bit. How to address the lasting trauma that these characters suffered in childhood? This is completely soft-balled. Sanha's mother just fades away, as does Haejun's father. Sanha's taking of sleeping pills is waived away by learning the joys of drinking.

The acting is great - I especially liked Haejun's characterisation. The production values, music and pacing are all decent, and occasionally there would be a cinematic moment. But, the highlight of the show is the depiction of toxic/traumatic family relationships, finding your 'found' family and the romantic storylines. I just wish it hadn't turned so saccharinely, unrealistically sweet in the last 4 episodes.

COMPARISON TO 'GO AHEAD'

Go Ahead was one of my top dramas of all time until the last 5-10 episodes. It was much more raw, and much more realistic about surviving toxic and traumatic relationships than Family By Choice. So much so that it should come with trigger warnings. It also was less literal and a bit more sublime. While I really hated the plot resolutions, the last scene of Go Ahead will stay in my mind forever.

In Go Ahead there were two strong sources of tension/suspense. One the romance, but the second was whether the Sanha character would be able to thrive or if he was going to sink and drown.

One of the most emotionally touching scenes in Go Ahead, was when he scrambles in a panic to explain to the Juwon character that he'd take anything she is willing to give, it doesn't have to be romance, it can be friendship, it can be anything - that in the years they've been apart the only light in the darkness was imagining seeing her again.

Instead of saying that is romantic, she starts to cry, and she hadn't realised things had been so bad between him and his mom, that she hadn't seen how bad things were for him, how had none of them seen?? How had they let him suffer all these years??

In comparison, in Family By Choice, Juwon goes to her dad and asks if it's OK and normal that Sanha and Juwon feel like no one in the world exists but each other. Instead of her Dad warning her about 'romeo and juliet' type romances, he instead reassures her that it's normal.

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