Not even alternative timelines can stop love
This drama is captivating. The story isn't original, nor is it spectacularly filmed, but it still manages to hook you; you want to know what's going to happen with this couple in love. The series narrates how a character would face the possibility of changing something in their life, stemming from decisions made at a crucial turning point. Would taking the alternative decision truly improve our lives, or are we always the "constant problem"? In other words, are we doomed to an unsatisfactory fate regardless of the decisions we make, due to aspects of our own personality that prevent us from personal growth, or not? This reflection can be interesting, but the truly compelling part is the love story between the protagonists.I must say, I love the character played by Han Ji-Min; I've seen her in many dramas and she never disappoints, even in the less-than-good ones. Ji-Sung's character, on the other hand, starts out as the one who "suffers" due to his hectic life, coupled with the domestic abuse he endures. However, as the series progresses (in the flashbacks), we see that the essential problem of this couple is a lack of communication from both sides. Still, initially, you understand, at least in part, why he made the decision he did (I don't like that he never really considered his children), as his wife seems insufferable. But then you feel sorry for her because she has to juggle her job and family life, in addition to her sick mother (which doesn't justify the violence).
I love how, in the timelines different from the original, Han Ji-Min's character improves in many aspects, making you wonder if it really wouldn't have been better for her not to marry Ji-Sung's character. However, as is common in these dramas, these two characters are destined to be together in any timeline, whether earlier or later in their lives. Despite all this, I enjoyed this drama because there's chemistry between the protagonists, and the romantic story between the characters is always pleasant to watch across all timelines, especially because of the assertive and proactive character of Seo Woo-Jin (Han Ji-min).
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You've probably seen this type of story before.
This drama is quite entertaining, especially due to the charisma of its lead actor (Takashi Sorimachi). Overall, the story is predictable, following a typical structure: the newly arrived teacher with a different background and personality who disrupts the school's norms. The series follows a structure where the protagonist faces a challenge in each episode, stemming from the initial distrust of rebellious students and other teachers at the school where he teaches.I haven't read the manga it's based on, so I can't compare the plot. However, it remains entertaining because the actors are good and perfectly fit the types of characters they were assigned. Plus, I believe this drama conveys very positive values regarding what the objectives of education should be, not just the academic aspect, but also the human aspect, resilience, empathy, camaraderie, and loyalty—aspects that are increasingly needed in our societies.
Furthermore, it's a series with some touches of comedy in a few subplots, but it never becomes excessive, which helps to highlight the show's attempt to emphasize the human values it wants to convey. I've already mentioned the actors, but they're all good, especially the protagonist, whom you want to succeed in his attempt to be a high school teacher and who wants the students to value themselves, even above their academic results. I also like the character of Fuyutsuki Azusa as a counterpoint to Onizuka.
Ultimately, I think it's a good series, although I wouldn't watch it again since there are several series and films with similar themes, and many more will continue to be released in the future.
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