This review may contain spoilers
He loved him once. Destiny gave him one more chance. But that chance hurt.....
Once Again isn’t just a love story it’s a second-chance tragedy wrapped in a time loop of guilt, longing, and pain. Shin Jae Woo isn’t some lovesick schoolboy, he’s a man drowning in the memory of a love he couldn’t save. When he literally hears the voice of his past love through an old intercom and realizes he’s time-traveled back to 2007? Baby, I knew I was about to cry in HD. 😭
This drama isn’t loud or flashy. It’s all about that quiet ache the kind that simmers beneath every awkward reunion and desperate second attempt. Watching Jae Woo try to reconnect with Kang Ji Hoon, who has no clue why this strange guy keeps calling him “uncle,” is heartbreak in slow motion. That awkwardness? That hesitation? That deep desire to fix what was broken? 100% relatable tragedy vibes.
The acting is subtle but sharp, Lee Hyun Jun’s portrayal of a man on the edge of emotional collapse is haunting. And Moon Ji Yong as Ji Hoon? So effortlessly boyish and gentle, you totally understand why Jae Woo fell so hard. The chemistry is soft, not explosive, but it works because this story is about trying to change fate, not just kiss in the rain. Could we have used 2 more episodes? YES. Could the time-travel twist have gone deeper? Absolutely. But even in its brief runtime, Once Again hits like a punch to the past and it hurts so good.
Storyline: 8.5/10
Time-travel meets emotional redemption and it works. The premise isn’t groundbreaking, but the execution is quietly devastating. The pacing could’ve been tighter in some parts, and YES we all wish they dug deeper into the timeline mechanics. But the emotional hook? It stabs and twists.
Acting/Cast: 9/10
Lee Hyun Jun carried this with a face full of regret and eyes that SCREAMED pain. Moon Ji Yong’s subtle performance brought warmth and softness. Their chemistry wasn’t loud, but it was felt. Like unfinished business wrapped in nervous glances.
Music/OST: 8/10
Nothing overly dramatic or standout, but the music blended into the emotion. Soft, melancholic, and supportive. The kind of soundtrack that creeps up on you during a late-night sob.
Rewatch Value: 7/10
You’ll want to go back when you're in your feels again. Maybe not every month, but it has those “I miss this ache” moments that hit when the weather gets gloomy and you want to feel something.
This drama isn’t loud or flashy. It’s all about that quiet ache the kind that simmers beneath every awkward reunion and desperate second attempt. Watching Jae Woo try to reconnect with Kang Ji Hoon, who has no clue why this strange guy keeps calling him “uncle,” is heartbreak in slow motion. That awkwardness? That hesitation? That deep desire to fix what was broken? 100% relatable tragedy vibes.
The acting is subtle but sharp, Lee Hyun Jun’s portrayal of a man on the edge of emotional collapse is haunting. And Moon Ji Yong as Ji Hoon? So effortlessly boyish and gentle, you totally understand why Jae Woo fell so hard. The chemistry is soft, not explosive, but it works because this story is about trying to change fate, not just kiss in the rain. Could we have used 2 more episodes? YES. Could the time-travel twist have gone deeper? Absolutely. But even in its brief runtime, Once Again hits like a punch to the past and it hurts so good.
Storyline: 8.5/10
Time-travel meets emotional redemption and it works. The premise isn’t groundbreaking, but the execution is quietly devastating. The pacing could’ve been tighter in some parts, and YES we all wish they dug deeper into the timeline mechanics. But the emotional hook? It stabs and twists.
Acting/Cast: 9/10
Lee Hyun Jun carried this with a face full of regret and eyes that SCREAMED pain. Moon Ji Yong’s subtle performance brought warmth and softness. Their chemistry wasn’t loud, but it was felt. Like unfinished business wrapped in nervous glances.
Music/OST: 8/10
Nothing overly dramatic or standout, but the music blended into the emotion. Soft, melancholic, and supportive. The kind of soundtrack that creeps up on you during a late-night sob.
Rewatch Value: 7/10
You’ll want to go back when you're in your feels again. Maybe not every month, but it has those “I miss this ache” moments that hit when the weather gets gloomy and you want to feel something.
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