This review may contain spoilers
A drama that starts strong but slowly loses its emotional grip
A Hundred Memories begins with a lot of emotional depth and quiet beauty. From the first few episodes, I was immediately drawn in by the melancholic atmosphere, the thoughtful pacing, and the gentle way the story unfolded. One of the strongest elements of this drama, in my opinion, is the deep and genuine friendship between the three main characters — Shin Ye Eun, Kim Dami, and Jae Pil.
Before romance even comes into play, the drama takes its time developing a truly heartfelt bond between the trio. Their friendship feels natural and sincere, full of subtle moments of understanding, shared pain, and unspoken connection. It’s refreshing to watch a story that allows friendship to be at the center without rushing into love too quickly. There’s a sense of comfort and support in their dynamic that gives real emotional weight to the first half of the show.
The bus incident that ties them all together acts as a powerful emotional core. It brings tension and depth to the story, and each character deals with it in their own way. This trauma, and the way it shapes their relationship, is portrayed with care and sensitivity. It’s really what keeps the viewer emotionally invested early on.
However, things begin to shift — not necessarily for the better — after the time skip. The writing starts to become more predictable, the pacing loses its subtlety, and the story seems to lean into more conventional romantic drama tropes. The slow, emotionally layered storytelling that made the beginning so good starts to fade, replaced by more obvious developments and less engaging conflicts.
The romance that eventually takes over, particularly between Yeong Rye and Jae Pil, feels inevitable from early on, but not especially moving. It lacks the emotional nuance of the friendships we saw before. What once felt unique becomes more standard, and that’s where the drama begins to lose its spark.
As expected, the show ends on a happy note — which fits the genre — but I couldn’t help but feel that the final episodes didn’t quite live up to the promise of the first half. It’s a satisfying ending, but not a memorable one.
In the end, A Hundred Memories is worth watching for its early emotional strength and beautifully portrayed friendship. It’s not a groundbreaking drama, and it definitely stumbles along the way, but it offers a warm, if slightly bittersweet, viewing experience.
Before romance even comes into play, the drama takes its time developing a truly heartfelt bond between the trio. Their friendship feels natural and sincere, full of subtle moments of understanding, shared pain, and unspoken connection. It’s refreshing to watch a story that allows friendship to be at the center without rushing into love too quickly. There’s a sense of comfort and support in their dynamic that gives real emotional weight to the first half of the show.
The bus incident that ties them all together acts as a powerful emotional core. It brings tension and depth to the story, and each character deals with it in their own way. This trauma, and the way it shapes their relationship, is portrayed with care and sensitivity. It’s really what keeps the viewer emotionally invested early on.
However, things begin to shift — not necessarily for the better — after the time skip. The writing starts to become more predictable, the pacing loses its subtlety, and the story seems to lean into more conventional romantic drama tropes. The slow, emotionally layered storytelling that made the beginning so good starts to fade, replaced by more obvious developments and less engaging conflicts.
The romance that eventually takes over, particularly between Yeong Rye and Jae Pil, feels inevitable from early on, but not especially moving. It lacks the emotional nuance of the friendships we saw before. What once felt unique becomes more standard, and that’s where the drama begins to lose its spark.
As expected, the show ends on a happy note — which fits the genre — but I couldn’t help but feel that the final episodes didn’t quite live up to the promise of the first half. It’s a satisfying ending, but not a memorable one.
In the end, A Hundred Memories is worth watching for its early emotional strength and beautifully portrayed friendship. It’s not a groundbreaking drama, and it definitely stumbles along the way, but it offers a warm, if slightly bittersweet, viewing experience.
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