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Family by Choice korean drama review
Completed
Family by Choice
0 people found this review helpful
by Floki
Feb 22, 2025
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

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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