SunOh

Born Again is a hardcore melodrama (some might say makjang, which I view more as creative freedom than criticism), so you definitely have to be into that, although my hatred towards the second lead was definitely a struggle despite my usually high tolerance (again, that's praise). I actually liked him a bit at first, but then it just kept getting worse and worse, but well, it’s a k-drama where growth and redemption are a thing, and usually character behavior doesn't come from nowhere, so you have to see how it ends.

I loved the leads and the story so much, everything was so well done, and I'd love to read Wuthering Heights (which is also known to have a supernatural atmosphere, while this drama has a supernatural plot). As I did a lot of research about the story and the ending of this novel, I realized Born Again was an even more beautiful and passionate drama than I initially thought. And on top of that, there’s a brilliant biblical reference at one point.

You get to see many different sides of humans, which is what makes it interesting. You have to look at it kind of like a chessboard, the development throughout the two lives is really well thought out (personalities, jobs, illness, psychological state, relationships/family, background lore, the unexplained dreams, the painting), and the MC’s story is really moving in so many ways. The only drama I wanted to drop but absolutely refused to drop because I loved it so much 😭 Can you believe that the leads got closer in the second life through their shared interest towards skeletons in a teacher-student relationship? This drama is the best.

Anyone who likes tragic romances with hope for a future and a beautiful spiritual touch (like the scene where she meets him in the church and touches him deeply with her empathy) absolutely needs to watch this. The actress has such a beautiful voice too, and she was basically my ray of sunshine throughout the drama. Of course, I was annoyed sometimes because I was seriously invested in the male lead, but that's what makes a drama good. And Ji Chul really reminded me of a wolf: a sort of wildness, his long hair, deeply anxious and traumatized, kind but misunderstood. His future self Jong Bum does too in his own way.

I'm sorry for those who mistook the second lead as the main lead, but I have bad news... you guys need to start seeing things a bit less at face value because of your love for an actor (considering him as such for being with the female lead from the beginning; as the narration is naturally yet not so directly painted as a tragedy between them, while the male lead was wronged from their perspective). Many dramas are underappreciated if not hated for being less straightforward and different. It was very obvious he was not in the first episode alone, hell, just seeing the premise and the poster is enough. Notice that, the male lead is the one who's placed further from them. A poster reflects the story, not the ending. You have a romance drama about reincarnation and you somehow expect the girl to end with the same guy from the beginning who did so much wrong? Anyway, not like this is a first-time situation.

Another weird thing, some of them apparently didn't get that Sa Bin was deeply confused because of Ha Eun's heart, leading her to have strong feelings for Soo Hyuk, and made up her mind later as she started to know her own heart and what those feelings were. No, she did not owe Jong Bum to become his girlfriend out of nowhere. But yes, it's obvious that she will be. The parallels in this drama were so good on top of the order and manner in which each of them slowly got their memories back. Absolutely thrilling.

Well, I can see that the second lead fans just watched for the actor lol. I myself like him now, thanks to this drama.

I could mention some themes that I can remember right off the bat, like not being able to choose the family you're born with yet the hope to start anew, found family (including a very nice bromance) and breaking free, history repeating itself, the danger of death penalties, wrong accusations, the psychology of the MC and his relationship with the FL, the topic of warm and cold empathy...

The journey also has enough happy moments of them side by side, the latter half is clearly more peaceful, and the ending after the final climax is a poetic one which kind of has the spiritual feeling of the author's books. In the end, everything that needed to happen took the time necessary. But they're together way before the end, and a certain kiss of the MC was memorable. Those who like complex, smart and mysterious characters will love Jong Bum. The most important in the end was to make things right.

I’m definitely planning to rewatch it, because I think I’ll suffer less this time around and it’s still more fun for me than a lot of dramas.