This review may contain spoilers
A Topsy-Turvy Show Splashed with Frustrating yet Shitty Characters
(Disclaimer: This rant is purely based on my opinion, so please don’t take it wholeheartedly and come bashing at me, okay?)As we can see very well, Go Back Lover’s title is hinting on second chance romance trope, which is no stranger to C-drama veterans. To be honest, I’m not a great fan of this trope because in my principle, if you’re having a relationship, there’s no turning back. So, I’m quite surprised by this theme and wonder how these ex-lovers are going to reunite and resolve their past misunderstandings.
In addition, to make the show more unique, the writer decides to introduce a romance/dating variety show as the catalyst for the plot development. In fact, a dating variety show is somehow rare in C-dramas nowadays and I must say it’s such an interesting premise. However, it quickly goes downhill and becomes a mere plot device to fill in the draggy episodes. I don’t know why, but there’s a lot of things happening outside the variety show too, with some of them being irrelevant or unrelated to the show itself.
And don’t get me started at the horrible dumbass characters! Some people say that they’re not without flaws (yes, I do agree with that), but at least they have to realize their own mistake and being unaware of it makes them look like a bunch of 10-year-old-kid especially main leads and second couple (the SFL, to be precise).
(Note: I'm not going to mention the acting since my review has become an endless rant. However, I still appreciate their acting skills for embodying such characters, so kudos for all of you.)
The first couple is a pair of ex-lovers who broke up after ML had a private brawl with FML (fourth male lead), which the FL didn’t appreciate very much. They accidentally encounter each other again in the airport when FL is attempting to find a male guest for her variety show. Rumors later spark out of nowhere and many people obviously want them to be together once again after ML’s failed proposal in Race Against Time (another variety show which was produced before FL went to German). The ML was indeed thrilled when he saw FL again, but his feelings wasn’t reciprocated at all. The FL keeps repeating that she is forced to do so because she wants her variety show to gain more popularity, while the ML begins to behave like a simp out of nowhere, even loses his self-respect for FL. This push-pull dynamic drags out for the whole 18 episodes until the elderly rural couple manage to convince the FL of marriage. I understand that FL has suffered from PTSD because of her parents’ failed marriage, but as the saying goes,' You won’t know unless you try.' So, she should’ve taken the initiative instead of letting the ML hanging on the thread. She’s also a horrible hypocrite (today she says she wants to be together with the ML, and the other day she pushes him away) and keeps dilly dallying for time (in a very harsh way, she regards ML as her plaything and will dump him whenever she feels necessary) when all they need is a proper communication or heart-to-heart talk instead of doing everything in a roundabout way. It’s just so, so frustrating to watch them and I just keep sighing exasperatedly whenever they pop out of my screen. By the way, they also remind me of Binary Love's main couple which is more or less similar as them.
Same goes for the second (divorced) couple – however, SML still knows his boundaries well and only wants to treat his wife better, but his so-called wife never gives him the chance to redeem himself. Throughout the show, they just keep yelling and shouting at each other (a perfect example of a bickering couple), which is not a very good option. By the way, SFL always acts like a pouty selfish girl who wants better treatment from SML yet never telling him what she wants exactly, which often leaves the SML baffled and confused (they also need proper communication so it relieves me when SFL apologizes to him and they ultimately fix their ruined relationship and become more tolerant towards each other). Since the second couple isn’t the main focus on the show, I think I can skip my rant about them right now.
Third couple is the healthiest couple in this show. As someone who is a shy and introverted person, I can understand what does it feels like to have your daily lives exposed to the public. At first, they’re uncomfortable of it, but they manage to overcome their fears together and become a couple while strengthening their trusts between each other.
Unofficial fourth couple must be the worst out of the couples in this show. FML is FL’s snobbish know-it-all male friend and the biggest rival of ML. He has a secret crush on FL so he deliberately provokes ML which doesn’t succeed, anyway. FFL is the bitchy lawyer and former arch-rival of FL since their high school time (as the saying goes, she's a wolf in the sheep clothing). Feeling resentful of being the third to best (don't forget, there's TML in the second place), FFL resorts to underhanded tactics to ruin FL’s career (what a baffling and cliche execution lol).
I have no idea whether inputting past events with the present one is good idea, but the writer seems to have change the entire script and doesn’t put much emphasize on the former, which is quite disappointing because I love that part better than their present lives.
The sets and backgrounds are quite pleasant while the costumes are sort of… weird? Do people nowadays have to wear baggy coats and professional suits to shoot variety shows, huh?
OSTs are meh and I won’t be bothered to give them second chance.
Overall, it’s a 6.5 out of 10. Unless you’re a fan of ML or FL or perhaps you need some brainless watch after days of working out, you can give this a shot. However, if you don't want to waste your precious brain cells, NEVER watch this HOT MESS even if the world is turning upside down. Goodbye and good luck!
Side note:
Does funeral and divorce need a ceremonial party? WTF are they thinking about? It's beyond common logic, isn't it?
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This review may contain spoilers
Although it seems light, it tackles some difficult issues.
Although it seems light, it tackles some difficult issues. Yes, there are some cliches and tropes but then we came her expecting them and I do enjoy some of those while I am not a fan of others.Issues that they tackled:
>> Trust Issues: Lu Xing Yan's lack of trust in her was clear as a day in their past relationship. He came from a place of insecurity and instead of having faith in his partner he decided to react. And this was in the early stages of their relationship. It is good thing that they broke up at the time. They needed the distance to grow a bit.
>> Women's lot in marriage: Shen Xing Ruo's mother situations is the reality of many. When getting married they are told to either quit their job to take care of home or do both alongside. When a child comes along, the woman has to depend on the man blindly. After investing so much on the family, then she is told that she isn't enough and he has found someone else who is better for him. Yes, people change, divorces happen, that's life, but retaining some level of independence might have been better for Xin Ruo's mother's mental health.
>> Shen Xing Ruo's Trauma: It is understandable for Shen Xing Ruo to not want to get married. Her parents' unhealthy dynamic plus the result of that marriage caused a significant trauma for her. Despite all that, she managed to make choices that were smart and logical. She knew what she wanted and stood up for herself. And when she ultimately made the decision to get married it was because she knew that it was the best thing for them and that they could rely on each other.
I was indeed a bit surprised with the sudden transformation in Zhai Jia Jing's character. Unlike the last few episodes she seemed like such a decent human being so the complete change in her character was difficult to adapt to. To me, it felt more like an addition at the last moment than a gradual arc.
These things aside, Lu Xing Yan was so damn adorable whenever he was with Xing Ruo. Despite their challenges, I hoped that they would make it work. They are a good fit for each other.
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Go Back Lover (2024) – Where Misunderstandings Go to Reproduce
Go Back Lover sets out to be a sweet reunion romance between childhood acquaintances Shen Xing Ruo and Lu Xing Yan, but somewhere between the script and the screen, it took a sharp left turn into the Valley of Never-Ending Drama.They meet again on a dating reality show, and you’d think sparks would fly. Oh, they fly alright—straight into a wildfire of miscommunication, overreactions, and "woe is me" monologues. It’s not time travel, but the emotional déjà vu? Relentless.
Every episode felt like a group therapy session where no one actually listens. The female leads are stuck in an endless loop of sad piano music and self-pity, and the men aren’t much better—throwing emotional curveballs like it’s their full-time job.
And the misunderstandings? At this point, they deserve their own opening credit. “Starring Shen Xing Ruo, Lu Xing Yan, and their good friend: Massive Miscommunication.”
That said... the ending isn’t half bad. In fact, it's quite sweet. It’s like the show remembered in the last two episodes that it was a love story, not a competitive crying contest.
Verdict: Watch if you enjoy yelling “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER” at your screen and don’t mind taking the scenic route (through Drama Mountain and Angst River) to get to a happy ending. Bring snacks and possibly a support group.
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I think I’ve seen enough.
The majority of the weight of this drama lies in its plot and characters, while the acting and aesthetics play only a minor part.We have six high school friends here (three couples):
1. Lead Couple – Dated for years, broke up on an ugly note, and are now back again as contestants on the show. 🤥
2. Couple 2 – High school sweethearts who got married and later divorced after years together.😩
3. Couple 3 – Shared a spark in the past but never confessed. Now, the girl is a divorcee and they’re giving themselves a real chance.🤫
Even though the plot is ridiculous (for me, since I don’t enjoy dating variety shows), I gave it a chance because the premise seemed promising. But 12 episodes later, I’m concluding that this crap is just the same thing going in loops.🥱🥱🥱
Characters:
Male Lead – Good-looking, loyal, not very smart but not dumb either. His priorities are set in stone, and he never compromises on them. He holds a high moral stance and never lies. He’s quite hyperactive and sometimes childish, but nothing in his character is unworkable. I’d give him a solid 9/10.🙃🙂
Female Lead – She felt very relatable to me in the first few episodes. I’ve had the same experience of watching my parents fight since childhood, and it’s led to various complexities in my relationships too. But what she did to him was straight-up manipulation followed by gaslighting.😔😔
When you’re broken, you seek someone who can heal you and help you out of your agony—but she wounded him and dragged him into the same hell she was living in. A hell full of self-doubt and rejection. I genuinely felt bad for that poor boy.😓😓
I’m not against a woman who wants to stay single. I’m not against a woman who prioritizes her career over love. I’m not against a woman who chooses herself first—because I’m pretty much the same.
But I am against a woman who plays a man like a Ken doll.
I’m against a woman who starts something emotionally consuming with a man while knowing she can’t live up to the promise.
She just kept him wound around her pinky finger.
Even after 12 episodes and sleeping with him, she said the same thing again. He is clearly the weaker one in this relationship, but that doesn’t mean he deserves this kind of emotional torture. In real life, emotionally unavailable individuals like her cause serious psychological damage to their partners.😩😩
Couple 2 – Male Partner: Childish, jealous, hyperactive, but loyal.
Who Female Partner: Honestly, she’s just the same. They say opposites attract, yet these two are quite similar. Still, they fell in love, got married, divorced, and now they’re re-experiencing the spark.💀💀
Couple 3 – The Mute Couple: Again, both partners are extremely introverted.🤐🤐🤐
And yeah, there’s also a low-budget vamp who keeps causing trouble, but no one ever holds her accountable. Why? Because the writer said so.😤😤
Then we have a man who could be considered either a side male lead or some sort of antihero. He’s after the FL, but she keeps rejecting him in her own savage style.
Like, come on—she doesn’t even give two Fs about the ML, who’s completely devoted to her, and we’re supposed to believe this guy stands a chance? Be serious.🙄🙄
That pretty much sums up the drama—plot and characters.🫡
Cast:
The cast is decent. The ML is a good actor; we’ve seen him in supporting roles before. His performance here was solid.✨✨
The FL is even more talented—I remember seeing her in a period drama, and honestly, she shines more in that genre.💕
As for their chemistry... sorry, I found it too flat. Whether it’s the plot or poor character development, their chemistry felt like a homework assignment nobody wanted to do.👎
The BGM is decent for a modern-themed drama. The wardrobe could’ve been better, but anyway.
I might give it a second shot after a few days, but as of now, it’s just not matching my vibe. So yeah, dropping it for now. 😮💨
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Underwhelming
Actors are great at portraying their given characters.Music, setting and shooting are all solid.
Story:
The ML is an angel among men. He puts up with a cold and spoiled FL and spends years chasing her and constantly putting himself forward. He doesn't have a selfish or even self-protective bone in his body. He's all about her and all in. While it's swoon-worthy to watch, it's unrealistic to expect anyone to endure so much for another and remain strong in the face of such opposition from the other party. He deserves so much better than the FL.
The FL was the next thing to awful because it was only to the ML that she was so cold and untolerant. To everyone else, from he colleagues to the ML's parents to became her surrogate parents, she is sweet and understanding. It's only to the ML that she shows the worst parts of herself. She's alternately cold, mean, and selfish. She blames him for things he didn't do wrong and puts him through hell for no good reason. In her own sweet time, all on her own timeline of course, she finally wises up and decides to marry him. Being the angel he is, he of course accepts her back with open arms. The FL experienced a lot of hardship as a child and teen. But that is no excuse to take it out on other people. And as I said, she could play nice with everyone around her despite her trauma, jsut not the ML. I find that to be unacceptable. Why he fell for her and continues to pursue her is beyond me.
The second couple is a mess. They act like a couple of kids playing house with the maturity of high schoolers. I see zero growth from the FL. All she can do is throw tempter tantrums, throw hands and shriek. No clue what the ML gest out of their relationship tbh. But he himself is a child too. The best I can say for him is that he edures her well and always "pulls his punches" during their fights-figuratively, since he'd never lay hands on her. He always apologizes first.
The sweetest couple is the third one. The divorcee whose long ago crush came true. They were sweet.
The lawyer who went nuts ,the mean girl trainee, the friend who was there to cause jealousy...I don't know some it fit and some of it came off as the writers trying to stir up the uneccessary.
Overall, I wouldn't rewatch.
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The urge for scheming lowered the score
This isn't a bad drama, but I do think it could have been better if they had not let the urge for scheming characters and insane plots take over.The main storyline is interesting in itself, and I believe that story-arcs and development could have happened without the introduction of villainous, scheming characters.
The acting is not jaw-dropping good, but mostly decent enough. The FL and ML delivers (luckily enough) amongst the strongest performances.
They are also two interesting characters, but I kind of wish we had gotten a bit deeper connection with them.
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HONESTLY SO FUN TO WATCH!!!
I dont know about others but I loved this drama. It was so feel good , on the plus side the plot was interesting, and i am a huge fan of the cast so that was no problem for me.The story shines in its exploration of emotional growth, forgiveness, and how time changes people while love quietly lingers. Its concise 24-episode format keeps the pacing tight, avoiding unnecessary drag, while maintaining a balance of humor, nostalgia, and heartfelt moments. Supported by sleek production, relatable dialogue, and meaningful character interactions, Go Back Lover stands out as a feel-good romantic drama that resonates with both young viewers and anyone who has ever wondered, “What if we met again?”
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interesting start
this show had an interesting start and an intriguing plot at first, adding both the past and the present day life of the characters.there was an element of mystery and curiosity about what had happened in the past and how the events will unfold in the present day.
BUT, in my opinion the reality show just wasn't done in an interesting way. at some point you started feeling like they were all repeating themselves a lot.
other than that i would say for the plot this is worth a shot.
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this is why some of the streaming places need to add a 1.5x and 2x speed. (viki!!!)
loved seeing actor as a ML -- very impressed with his acting in other dramas. This is a very sweet drama and the characters are mostly interesting. All actors did a good job. Esp 3rd FL with the domestic abuse arc. Well done. But it is told at a very slow pace. It took a while to get through it. I recommend it if you are a fan of the actors, but it does drag. and I wouldn't watch it again. But the OST was outstanding. The opening and closing songs are beautiful.Was this review helpful to you?
A perfect one time binge watch
If you are looking for an easy binge watch with nothing serious but a slice of life drama, then this one is for you.A comfortable watch. Nothing outstanding, nothing too lasting, just a cozy comfort watch when you are between dramas or awaiting for THAT drama to finish airong so you can watch everything back to back.
I would definitely recommend adding this to the watchlist for those times.
It's that hot drink you want to warm your hands on a cold night and not really care how it tastes but it still makes you comfortable and puts a smile on your face.
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Needs more communication
I am not finished with this yet. The guy is a really good actor from what I can tell and can't wait to see him in other drama. I don't think the issues with the FL is her fault but her character and how she was written annoys me a little. Like she keeps not communicating with the male lead or they both don't communicate there issues with each other and just puts things past them without talking about it. And then move on happy and then agian of course issues come up. It is just annoying. Then the man is so sweet to her and she just rude and cold back. I don't like it, why would a guy like that. Idk if my taste have changed in dramas I don't think so but this is just annoying. It is cute but not overly cute. It is a one time watch nothing like admist a snowstorm of love, love me love my voice, lighter and princess and sunshine of my life which are some of my top top dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
Ryan Ren only one resion I watch this love story drama
I like Ryan Ren is so ossam story is good but i wach this drama only Ryan Ren 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💐🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰all actors are so good you must watch this drama is good story acting ☺️😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 just watching i am and so far drama butterfly in my stomach I want please Ryan ren do main lead but future became new drama his do main lead pleaseWas this review helpful to you?
