fae

Amazing acting undercut by a stumbling storyline

I had a lot of hopes pinned on this drama, and for the most part, it paid off. Particularly for Part 1, I felt the raging angst of Gil Chae and Jang Hyun's separation. In Part 2, those feelings were severely dampened, and I felt the romance took a sharp backseat to the rest of the plot--something I surprisingly found myself OK with because the rest of the cast and subplots were quite compelling.

There will be spoilers throughout this (admittedly long) review. I'm trying to keep it brief, I swear. This is my first review on this website, and I think that's a testament to this drama in and of itself. I binged the whole show (Parts 1 and 2) over 3-4 days, and while it didn't pan out how I hoped for, it's been a journey that I enjoyed. This review focuses on Part 2 for the most part, although I make allusions to Part 1 as I didn't review it.

THE GOOD
- The pacing of the drama in general was excellent. There were rarely plot points that lingered for more than an episode, which made the frustration of their existence (e.g., the amnesia storyline, miscommunications, the repeated separations and reunions of our main couple) easier to bear. I found myself appreciating it because the story moved briskly forward. However, there was the related drawback of timeline issues.
- The scenes that were built up to be emotional more than delivered. I can't get Namgoong Min's eyes out of my head--they are SO expressive and tender and carry every emotion. Just his gaze alone! Scenes like the one where he sees her 'for sale', or whenever he and Gil Chae are saying goodbye. The whole scene where she's pretending to be pregnant and you can feel the mixed feelings of 'this is all I ever wanted for you, but this could have been our life for real'. It was achingly beautiful. Ahn Eun Jin more than held her own (ugh, the way she looked at Jang Hyun towards the end!), but I think Namgoon Min stole the show. The emotional acting, yes, but also the fighting choreos, as well as the way he emotes through his words. Actually scratch that--gotta call out him and Ahn Eun Jin for that one scene in Part 1, when they meet, and you hear the audio overlay of them looking back on that moment from the future. The sad happiness in their voices captures the heartbreak of their romance so very clearly, so early on in the drama. Beautiful.
- The cinematography was utterly gorgeous at parts. Cinematic, but also artistic. So many times did I want to pause and paint a whole scene. Coupled with the costuming, and the way the characters (esp. Gil Chae) are gradually and gracefully aged as the show went on...excellent.
- I loved how they treated the SA storyline for Gil Chae. For everyone, but particularly Gil Chae. By keeping it subtle and purposely vague, the writers solidified the theme of 'not losing value' because of it. Gil Chae is never defined by what happened to her, and her confessing it to Jang Hyun and Jang Hyun alone--and we, as an audience, don't ever see a moment of her thinking about it alone--then becomes a powerful scene where she's trusting him with the knowledge, knowing he won't see her differently. It's a sensitive topic that was handled very well imo.

THE BAD
- Timeline--I had no sense of it. I couldn't tell at all. Was Ryang Eum meant to be in jail for 20 years? Neither Gil Chae ages, nor Jang Hyun, nor Ryang Eum (even though his hair turns grey). Yet the dialogue (and the scholar who finds him) suggests that it's been many years, possibly enough years for the scholar to have grown from a boy to a man. I assumed that it was 3-ish years, because that makes most sense all things considered, but I'm still confused. The timeline issue was exacerbated in the final episode, but it was ever-present throughout the show, a by-product of the brisk pacing. The costuming and side cast (babies) did a lot to help contextualise, and I liked how subtle that was. However, because Jang Hyun never changes and only Gil Chae begins to look more mature, it's hard to gauge how much time has passed from the start of the show to the end. My guess is ten years.
- Ryang Eum???? There is no closure to his character. Does he wander the earth thinking Jang Hyun is dead? That's so sad! And who captured him? What did he say that they called him insane? Also, the actor is 22 but the character is supposed to be, what, 8 years younger than Jang Hyun, max? Maybe 10-12, at a stretch? Again, timeline issues. It made it a little hard to follow.

THE UGLY
- The story and plotting was a mess. I found that the main pattern in this drama was for Gil Chae and Jang Hyun to reunite and then separate, reunite and separate, over and over again. It got tiring after a while, and it didn't make sense after a certain point because truly? I missed the selfish Gil Chae and Jang Hyun. I wanted them both to dig their heels in a little and fight to stay together (like Gil Chae tried to stay by his side in Shimsang. But then, what? He called her shameless and chased her away? OUCH.)
- Related to the above, the last half of the final episode was stretched out, repetitive, and made me impatient. Although the emotional climax was a beautiful note to end the drama on, it was somewhat ruined by the panned out shot of Gil Chae and Jang Hyun hugging, and you can hear him sobbing but the shot they chose features a blank-faced Jang Hyun. What????? I blame the editing but it made me laugh out loud. And this is coming from someone who hugely enjoyed the way the show was directed, and the slow-paced shots between Gil Chae and Jang Hyun where it felt as if the episode was paused, but it was the characters who were that still, not the video. It didn't work as the final shot, however, because it completely broke the emotional bubble for me.

OVERALL
All I wanted from this show was to sob over a relationship that appeared to be tender, heart-breaking, and romantic. That was it. That didn't happen. While I didn't feel let down by the ending, exactly, I wanted something MORE that the writers just weren't able to deliver.

Part 1 set-up the angst and the heartbreaking ache of their separation beautifully, but the plot was a lot more coerced in Part 2. For example, Gil Chae being kidnapped to the Qing was so mindlessly illogical, even if it provided an excuse for the leads to reunite. I wanted to see more of Gil Chae's spunk, too, as well as her innocent happiness. For a large part of the drama, Gil Chae and Jang Hyun only loved each other when they were apart. I know it was intentional to show Gil Chae's immaturity ("I will stop teasing you when you grow a little more"), but I wished we'd have seen some more light-hearted flirting between them before the first kiss.

That said, the acting not only makes up for most of my cons here, it surpasses them. Namgoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin carried oceans in their eyes, and I'll be thinking about them for a while. Even if the plotting didn't carry it across, the acting was every bit as tender, as heart-breaking, and as romantic as I could have wished for, and this drama is one that I'll remember for a long long while.

(Oh, and while I was already an Ahn Eun Jin fan from The Good Bad Mother...Namgoong Min has earned another admirer of his works. I didn't like him at all in The Undateables, and now I can't fathom why. He is a masterclass in emotion.)

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Couldn't carry the weight of its own storyline

This drama was very promising at the beginning. It had an interesting premise, strong actors in place for the leads, and intriguing circumstances bringing them together. Most of all, I really enjoyed the Idol perspective on fans and how they view idols. There was so much potential there.

Unfortunately, neither the murder mystery nor the romance paid off for me. I'm a fan of both the actors playing the leads, but this drama was a huge miss. Even their chemistry couldn't keep me engaged. I wish I could say the romance scenes were good, but they weren't. The whole time I was wondering how he could even think of romance when he was a murder suspect! And the kiss...I felt like it was staged to look pretty, not reasonable. That took me out of it completely. I just wish more thought had been put into both the story and the romance to make it believable. This drama would have benefited from leaning into the serious, Idol-life and murder aspect, with romance being toned down a LOT. So, so disappointed with how this turned out.

Would I recommend it? Only if you're a die-hard fan of the leads and don't mind a popcorn (aka empty, hollow) show. P.S. If you're watching it on Netflix, the maximum play speed is 1.5x...

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It takes time to learn how to translate love

I binged this drama over two days because I saw the hype and I refused to get spoiled, and I'm glad I did so. Interestingly, I would say this show can't really be spoiled, after all. There's a story being told, and though I do think it works best if you go in without expectations, it doesn't really matter because there are no stakes. There are things that this drama did really well, but others that it dropped the ball on. Overall, I would say it was underwhelming but enjoyable.

THE GOOD

- Let's start by naming the stand-out of this whole show--the acting. Every actor on screen delivered, and none more than our leads, especially our Cha Mun Hee. I've marked this review for spoilers but I'll be vague regardless. If you've seen the show, you know why whoever played this character would need to have range--and boy did Go Youn-Jung deliver! She really brought the FL to life (over and over again....like a zombie...haha). I was blown away by her performance, and really appreciated seeing the quality reflected back by everyone whom she shared a screen with.

- Next--the characters. Every single character was fleshed out and characterised thoughtfully, even for throwaway moments in the background. It truly added so much to the world that we were being invited into. I would've happily gone down any number of side roads to learn more about the side characters, which I can safely say is a first.

- Speaking of the characters and how they were directed on the screen--the cinematography and direction of this show was phenomenal. It was beautiful and scoping, and artistic in a way I really appreciated. Small touches, like FL's flashbacks and the dollhouse, changes in lighting, parallels and symbolism in the visuals--they really added a lot of depth to the narrative. One of my favourite examples is when FL is crying and Do Ra Mi is dancing in a thunderstorm. The contrast!

- The story and genre were refreshingly original. I've already talked about the characters, so I'm going to skip them here, but the story itself and the way several plot points unfolded were so deeply satisfying. The drama starts with classic set-ups--a first love ML can't forget, unrequited FL pining, childhood trauma, secrets--and ends after resolving each one without falling into the pitfalls of kdramaland--love triangles, ignored yearning, amnesia, emotional reunions. It was such a pleasant surprise to constantly underestimate how characters would react and the story would unfold. Every attempt at manipulation failed because the main leads kept no secrets from each other, for example. Or the delightful one-sided love line with Hiro, who is in reality a complete opposite to his Prince Charming persona. Oh, and my favourite call-out: "I heard all that. What is wrong with you?"

- This is a continuation of the last point, with a focus on genre. I wouldn't call this show a rom-com. I know that's what it's tagged as, and it has both romance and comedy aplenty. But there's more to it than that. It's not slice-of-life. It's not thriller. It's not a melo. But somehow, it's all of those at once regardless. There is something very comforting about this show. It plods on at a steady pace, making progress without you realising it and suddenly you're on episode 6 and you wonder, what could possibly take 12 episodes??? And yet you keep watching, and it keeps you hanging on. Romance is definitely the main story, but it's not the only story, and I think that made it stand out even more.

- I really need to shout-out the character of 'Do Ra Mi' on its own. First, the zombie dancing killer from the movie FL shoots--oof! I wish that were a real movie! The scenes we got were fantastic and FL killed it! And then the Do Ra Mi that emerges later....she was such a contrast to Cha Mul Hee and it was so much fun watching her on screen. Definitely a highlight of this show.

THE IFFY
Most of my gripes with this show stem from the writing: it wasn't super neat, and although the characters and their relationships were refreshing, certain plot points and situations weren't developed cleanly enough. It's one of the biggest reasons this drama isn't rated higher.

- The pacing was a little choppy at times, especially with the time skips and flashbacks. They were positioned oddly sometimes, making the timeline a little difficult to follow. And certain situations could have been resolved easily with a translation app (aka, all of the scenes with Hiro and FL), but because it wasn't convenient for the plot, the characters never used it. That was a little frustrating in terms of the writing.

- Similarly, some of the dialogues were clearly set up to have an impact, but I couldn't tell what the build up was so the scene fell flat. I don't know if this was a translation issue or a writing issue, to be honest. The translations on Netflix currently suck, which is horribly ironic.

- The biggest issue for me was the back-and-forth that happened between the ML and FL. I couldn't follow their reasons for staying away from each other. It felt a little contrived, especially when Do Ra Mi was introduced. That also contributed to the confusion because she would speak FOR the FL at times to progress the plot, and we wouldn't really see how FL felt about it all. For example, at one point she says FL is too embarrassed to speak to ML...okay...but what exactly happened? There was so much stuff happening between event X and Y that it was difficult to follow. It also felt like ML and FL had several emotional 'breakups' only to get back together. That normally would have rage-baited me, but it was tolerable here because there was still progress, you know? But it definitely made the overall writing weaker. I think the writers could have developed it better (as we do see Do Ra Mi make excuses for that behaviour at times).

- One thing I would have loved would have been increased anchoring of the story with quotes and references, like in 'Because This is My First Life'. The set-up was there, with ML being widely read and living in a house full of books, as well as his professor friend. Not to mention the many languages featured on screen! It would've added some great emotional depth to the story, as well as backbone for the ML and FL's arc.

- One last point: Do Ra Mi drugged ML. No one speaks of it again, even after they learn the actual circumstances of how FL's parents 'died' and how her aunt and uncle were afraid she was just like her mum. That should've been resolved because drugging...that's crazy.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I really enjoyed this show for what it was. If you're in the mood for a binge-worthy romance that is satisfyingly sweet, that has great side characters, and beautiful cinematography and costuming, definitely give this one a go. Give it a miss if you're looking for a story that has realistic depictions of mental health and emotional arcs of love and reconciliation. While I liked that they were a part of the story, neither of those things were anything more than a plot device. The introduction of the dissociative identity was interesting and made sense for the story, but it would have been less gimmicky had it been rooted in FL's trauma in a more realistic way. REGARDLESS.

CUTE ROMANCE, EXCELLENT ACTING, BEAUTIFUL SHOTS.

(I will admit, some part of me watched this show because I was searching for Park Chung-Seob from When Life Gives you Tangerines...)

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Makes you want to fall in love

This was my first cdrama and I'm really glad that it was. Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are incredible as the leads. They do a fantastic job to convey the said and unsaid feelings between the two characters, and their acting and chemistry really added to the story.

I'll summarise my thoughts in a few bullet points.

The good
- Like the title says--this drama made me want to fall in love! The pure innocence of the first love, the longing and friendship between the two leads, and then the change to MORE...oof! It was so good!
- The acting was phenomenal. Whether it was the main leads or the siblings, or even the friendships on the side....I really enjoyed every dynamic. Shout out to the main leads, of course, and Sang Yan...these three always made for entertaining scenes.
- I really appreciated how the story was written when Sang Zhi is still a minor. I thought it was respectful of her feelings while also making it very clear that Duan Jiaxu didn't see her like that.
- I really enjoyed the episodes where they were both feeling each other out. I thought their banter was always top notch, and while Sang Zhi did get shy at times, she always gave back as good as she got. Their dynamic was delightful

The iffy
- While the age gap isn't actually that bad, the narrative itself remains inconsistent in how they deal with it, and the ages for their relationship aren't super appropriate. Even the writing seems to know that it's bad....until the birthday arc, it's unclear whether Sang Zhi is 19 or 20. Even Jiaxu "rounds her up" while downplaying his own age (which could conceivably be 23 until his birthday). The actual difference between them is more like 6 years, then, as we finally find out that turns 19 a short while before he turns 25. Possible? Yes. A bit yikes? Definitely.

That was my biggest holdup with this show. I was willing to suspend my disbelief about everything else, but not this. Considering Jiaxu was working in the video game industry, it would've been so easy to have Sang Zhi intern at his company in her final year. Or for her to be in grad school and do so. I understand a driving force for this was probably that the writers didn't want the main characters to date anyone else, but that's still possible for both of them if Jiaxu is still paying his debt off, and Sang Zhi is trying to forget her first love and focus on her studies. Either way!!! Sang Zhi was legally an adult but legally wasn't good enough for me. I would've preferred to suspend my disbelief about them having been single for so long, rather than the fact that he starts liking her as soon as she's legal (a fact everyone keeps emphasising is okay).

__

If you ignore that last point, however, the show is wholesome and sweet. The two characters are otherwise evenly matched and support each other equally, which I really liked. It wasn't just the older guy looking out for Sang Zhi. The scenes where she defends him are some of my favourite.

Would definitely rewatch. In fact, I went back and did just that last night after binging the show over a couple days!

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Emotional, satisfying, and heart-wrenching in the best possible way

When I finished watching this drama, I rated it a perfect 10 for my own list. Writing this review, I'm tempering it down to an even 9. That said, there really isn't much better you can do with a storyline like this, and when I say this show was satisfying, I mean it.

THE GOOD
- The characters. Let's start there, because there was a LOT of good in this show. I absolutely adored every single character they introduced to this story. The most remarkable aspect was the sense that every one of them had a backstory, regardless of whether we saw it or not. That really made the characters live and breathe beyond their supporting role (in most cases). Eun Gyeol was an excellent lead to take us through the story, and he worked beautifully opposite the younger versions of his parents. It was incredible being introduced to character after character and growing to care for them as the series went on. I'm talking about the guitar grandpa, Se Kyeong, the band, Ma Joo, Eun Ho, the whole lot of them. Definitely one of the more superior ensemble casts I've had the pleasure of watching.

- The Deaf representation. I want to start by saying that I am not Deaf or HoH, nor do I know anyone who is, so my opinion here is secondary to anyone who's from that community. However. I really liked the way they handled the rep here. Not only did they show the struggles of functioning as a Deaf person in a hearing community, but they also showed the joys and beauty, too. I am always apprehensive at time travel plots that aim to 'fix' a person's disability, so I was really really pleased with how it actually played out in this show. There were some more subtle moments of respect as well--when Yi Chan gets to know Cheong Ah better and doesn't pull her out of the way of a car but rather lets her walk out of the way on her own. Deafness and differing abilities of any kind are not a burden on society and that was such a beautiful moment to show that. Cheong Ah had her fair share of abuse and bullying, but it was honestly incredible to see how her friends respected her and liked her and wanted to communicate with her the way she deserved. Similarly, showing Yi Chan's grief following the accident...that was incredibly real, too. I always thought the time travel was never about saving Yi Chan, but for Eun Gyeol to understand him, and I was very pleased to see the writers agreed.

- The pacing. Rarely have I watched a show that was so well-paced. The plot was constantly moving, and every piece of filler served to move the plot forward. It was very, very well done.

- The acting. From the child actors to the adult ones, everyone knocked it out of the park. There isn't a single one I can point out as an exception because they all brought their A-game. It was riveting to watch, truly.

THE BAD
- The last episode made me a little impatient. I had hoped for an earlier resolution in the 'past' so we could see more of the 'future'. That said, it was still fulfilling in every way that mattered.

- The time travel. So this part required a little suspension of disbelief. There really were no rules to how the time travel worked, and how big or small an impact changing the past had on the future seemed to depend entirely on what served the storyline. If you're a stickler for these details, then you definitely have to turn that part of your brain off. It's a little wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...and that's OK. Things don't have to be perfect. It was still enjoyable.

- The new future. OK so...I was really hoping for Eun Gyeol and dad!Yi Chan to revisit their argument from the beginning (EP2) AFTER the time travelling so we can see them both grow to understand each other. That did not happen. In fact, their lives were changed enough from the past that the argument never existed. Which is...one way of doing this, I suppose, but I wasn't a huge fan. I didn't like the idea that Eun Gyeol returned back to a completely different life, even though the person he is was forged from all of these experiences that no longer existed. Again, wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...but I would have liked to see some more subtle changes rather than some big ones.

There is no THE UGLY because there truly was nothing that bad. This show is such a comfort drama. Very rewatchable, and it really makes you want to live a more fulfilling life. It had me nostalgic for highschool as well, and wishing that I'd spent that time 'sparkling' a little more.

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