3
This review may contain spoilers
Please don't judge the book by its cover.
This j-drama reminded me of Kojinsa Arimasu. Both shows have a seemingly controversial plot device and a strong "what-if" element. While Kojinsa Arimasu is about instantaneous sex change and its ramifications, this drama is built upon the idea of spiritual possession.
While reincarnation/possession is standard trope for xianxia dramas, it is rare for a j-drama to use this as the A-plot.
To wit, a loving wife and mother died in a tragic accident in her 40's. One day, a 10 yo girl shows up at their family home and proclaims to be her. This is a major shock to her husband and daughter as they have been in purgatory for the past 10 years. They exist but are not really living. Every day is a trial, and they suffer in silence.
Where it gets controversial is the interaction between the 10 yo girl and the 52 yo man. Is it automatically paedophilia? Even the show calls this out as people voice their confusion about their relationship. I know it looks bad initially but if you get past the early episodes, you will see that there is much more to this and their relationship is purely platonic.
Fundamentally, the show is about love, family, healing and closure. Yes, when the family reunites, the first thought they have is "everything is back to normal". They even wrote a pledge to get marry when the FL turns 18 (the ML will be 60 then). This is reinforced by the fact that the FL now lives in a "broken" family where her single mom is struggling to stay afloat and to care for her. It is a stark contrast to the loving family she left behind in her past life.
While it was wonderful to share memories and support each other (the scenes between mother and daughter is particularly poignant), they have moved on. They just don't recognise it . . yet.
The drama took its time to show us this new reality. Of course, there is an instant connection between our protagonist, but it is complicated and grows more so every day. This is partly due to the confusion in whether to see her as a pre-teen girl or a middle-aged woman. Living two parallel lives is a challenge for all concerned. This hits the ML particularly hard.
While the theme is thought provoking and impactful, the script is not without flaws. Some side plots and characters feel tacked on. They probably leaned a little too heavily on the fantasy side towards the end. Acting by our leads is good though. The young girl actor is a standout. The rest is more of a mixed bag but serviceable. It is still a good series as far as I'm concerned.
This is the ultimate "what-if". Would we want more time with our loved ones if given a chance? Do we have regrets, words left unspoken? Our protagonist has that opportunity, and they made the most of it. It is thought provoking, poignant and bittersweet. It will fill you with warmth and appreciation if you can see past the “controversy”.
There will be laughter and tears. Please don't judge the book by its cover.
While reincarnation/possession is standard trope for xianxia dramas, it is rare for a j-drama to use this as the A-plot.
To wit, a loving wife and mother died in a tragic accident in her 40's. One day, a 10 yo girl shows up at their family home and proclaims to be her. This is a major shock to her husband and daughter as they have been in purgatory for the past 10 years. They exist but are not really living. Every day is a trial, and they suffer in silence.
Where it gets controversial is the interaction between the 10 yo girl and the 52 yo man. Is it automatically paedophilia? Even the show calls this out as people voice their confusion about their relationship. I know it looks bad initially but if you get past the early episodes, you will see that there is much more to this and their relationship is purely platonic.
Fundamentally, the show is about love, family, healing and closure. Yes, when the family reunites, the first thought they have is "everything is back to normal". They even wrote a pledge to get marry when the FL turns 18 (the ML will be 60 then). This is reinforced by the fact that the FL now lives in a "broken" family where her single mom is struggling to stay afloat and to care for her. It is a stark contrast to the loving family she left behind in her past life.
While it was wonderful to share memories and support each other (the scenes between mother and daughter is particularly poignant), they have moved on. They just don't recognise it . . yet.
The drama took its time to show us this new reality. Of course, there is an instant connection between our protagonist, but it is complicated and grows more so every day. This is partly due to the confusion in whether to see her as a pre-teen girl or a middle-aged woman. Living two parallel lives is a challenge for all concerned. This hits the ML particularly hard.
While the theme is thought provoking and impactful, the script is not without flaws. Some side plots and characters feel tacked on. They probably leaned a little too heavily on the fantasy side towards the end. Acting by our leads is good though. The young girl actor is a standout. The rest is more of a mixed bag but serviceable. It is still a good series as far as I'm concerned.
This is the ultimate "what-if". Would we want more time with our loved ones if given a chance? Do we have regrets, words left unspoken? Our protagonist has that opportunity, and they made the most of it. It is thought provoking, poignant and bittersweet. It will fill you with warmth and appreciation if you can see past the “controversy”.
There will be laughter and tears. Please don't judge the book by its cover.
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