An Improvement On the OG (imho)
I'm glad I finally got around to this version!
It was a breath of fresh air after (mostly) slogging through the original Cdrama. The original has a very nostalgic quality to it, for sure (in a way that Reply 1988 managed to capture, too), and does a good job capturing the passage of time and the messiness of life (I think because it took more time to pause, meander, and just let characters and scenes and shots "be" without always moving the plot forward deftly and swiftly like in the Kdrama), but everyone was a bit too much of a hot mess for me (almost in a way that the drama itself didn't seem to own up to as being problems, which bothered me).
I mean, Li Hai Chao (the father of the FL in the original) was an actual saint compared to every other adult. He was an amazing character, and by far my favorite. In contrast, many of the characters were made into healthier versions of themselves in this drama, so Yoon Jeong Jae (this drama's Li Hai Chao) felt more like a typical awesome, loving dad (as opposed to a saint 😅) in this since everyone else wasn't terrible by comparison.
This version overall tempered the unrealistic or problematic themes or scenarios of the original, and really improved them, in my opinion. There were things portrayed as "normal" or "okay" in the original that at times just made me really uncomfortable (and while we're on the subject of uncomfortable, can I just express my puzzlement over romance Cdramas having scenes with the FL on her period? What's up with that? 🧐). This drama also had a much faster pace, and condensed quite a bit, leaving out filler/annoying plots and things that made the original drag. All my favorite parts from the original were included, and I didn't feel like anything was missing to complete this version.
For instance, regarding an "inprovement": the "brothers" never fight over the FL in this (oh, what glory!) and instead Hae Joon was always just Joo Won's brother, and nothing else. San Ha was responsible and mature like in the original, but far more gentle, sensitive (he's the best at picking up on nonverbal cues that someone is not okay), empathetic and functional in this version (Joo Won isn't what helps him to cope, like a drug that he needs to "get by" (like the original); instead, he gravitates to her because she's always been there for him, and rooted for him), and also, Hae Joon and San Ha had a much stronger friendship and bond with each other than in the original. In the original, it feels more like the brothers tolerate each other because of the FL, and wouldn't have much to say to each other if it weren't for her (especially later when the leads start dating and the boys start fighting over her like a toy they both want 🤢).
In this drama, the brothers stand up for each, support each other, and fight for one another's flourishing. All three "siblings" do this for one another, and it was lovely to watch. (They even give Hae Joon a loveline, and allow second leads to end up together rather than leaving them to pine in misery--way to go, writer!!).
It's still got some very dramatic characters and moments that lean into melodramatic soapiness, but it was a joy to watch. Episode 16 was just darling, and had me grinning from start to finish. You should definitely give it a go!
It demonstrates the power of love to heal, transform and empower, and affirms found family as an alternative to toxic "blood ties." Sweet stuff!
It was a breath of fresh air after (mostly) slogging through the original Cdrama. The original has a very nostalgic quality to it, for sure (in a way that Reply 1988 managed to capture, too), and does a good job capturing the passage of time and the messiness of life (I think because it took more time to pause, meander, and just let characters and scenes and shots "be" without always moving the plot forward deftly and swiftly like in the Kdrama), but everyone was a bit too much of a hot mess for me (almost in a way that the drama itself didn't seem to own up to as being problems, which bothered me).
I mean, Li Hai Chao (the father of the FL in the original) was an actual saint compared to every other adult. He was an amazing character, and by far my favorite. In contrast, many of the characters were made into healthier versions of themselves in this drama, so Yoon Jeong Jae (this drama's Li Hai Chao) felt more like a typical awesome, loving dad (as opposed to a saint 😅) in this since everyone else wasn't terrible by comparison.
This version overall tempered the unrealistic or problematic themes or scenarios of the original, and really improved them, in my opinion. There were things portrayed as "normal" or "okay" in the original that at times just made me really uncomfortable (and while we're on the subject of uncomfortable, can I just express my puzzlement over romance Cdramas having scenes with the FL on her period? What's up with that? 🧐). This drama also had a much faster pace, and condensed quite a bit, leaving out filler/annoying plots and things that made the original drag. All my favorite parts from the original were included, and I didn't feel like anything was missing to complete this version.
For instance, regarding an "inprovement": the "brothers" never fight over the FL in this (oh, what glory!) and instead Hae Joon was always just Joo Won's brother, and nothing else. San Ha was responsible and mature like in the original, but far more gentle, sensitive (he's the best at picking up on nonverbal cues that someone is not okay), empathetic and functional in this version (Joo Won isn't what helps him to cope, like a drug that he needs to "get by" (like the original); instead, he gravitates to her because she's always been there for him, and rooted for him), and also, Hae Joon and San Ha had a much stronger friendship and bond with each other than in the original. In the original, it feels more like the brothers tolerate each other because of the FL, and wouldn't have much to say to each other if it weren't for her (especially later when the leads start dating and the boys start fighting over her like a toy they both want 🤢).
In this drama, the brothers stand up for each, support each other, and fight for one another's flourishing. All three "siblings" do this for one another, and it was lovely to watch. (They even give Hae Joon a loveline, and allow second leads to end up together rather than leaving them to pine in misery--way to go, writer!!).
It's still got some very dramatic characters and moments that lean into melodramatic soapiness, but it was a joy to watch. Episode 16 was just darling, and had me grinning from start to finish. You should definitely give it a go!
It demonstrates the power of love to heal, transform and empower, and affirms found family as an alternative to toxic "blood ties." Sweet stuff!
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