Back to 1989 (2016)

I watched this on Netflix and it was one of the first Taiwanese dramas I ever watched. Overall, it was good and I could empathize with the characters very easily. I figured out the mystery behind Chen Che's birth (through intuition) in the very first episode before it was even revealed, but that didn't take away from the desire to "find out" by watching. I loved the dynamics between both of the romances. I loved how unique the story was to show us how he got to know his mom - really got to know her because he found out by going back in time that he really didn't know his mom as well as he thought he did. The soundtrack was 50/50. The main song kinda grew on me while the ending song was AHMAZING! Super catchy and the video to go along with it was ridiculously sweet.

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All's Sweet That Ends Sweet

The drama started off in a haste, with time-travel thing happening too fast but this drama wasn't as sweet as I imagined it to be. But that is what makes this one unique.

Story: Yes, it was a rom-com but had a scientific side to it too. This drama curbs your fantasy of going back into future to make things right because everything comes with a price and whatever you do there could have a butterfly effect on present times. But the ending was finally sweet.

Acting: Do I have to comment on Ivy Shao's experience and Marcus' skills?

Cinematography: This is simply the overall aesthetics of the drama. Drama lacked fancy shots but all that add to the realistic feel it gives off. This drama did take me back to 1989 with all those obsolete things people used back then.

Direction: When I say this drama took me to 1989, it simply means the director did a great job. Although, it could have been just a bit shorter. Also, when Chen Che travels through time, his body does not transport but when another person (I will keep this a secret) travels, his/her body is transported. Director overlooked this but it's okay, as long as it is sweet.

If you want to get out of the sweet sweet world of dramas yet try something that inspires imagination, do try this.

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I'm gonna be a bit strick with this one, as I was expecting much more. The story itself isn't bad. The concept was nice and fun. However, it was dull. The pacing was a nightmare and I was about to drop it after the third episode, as nothing exciting was happening. The last few episodes, however, were really good, part of the romantic scenes that were plenty, but boring. Yes, the two leads had chemistry, but couldn't the romance be more original? Anyway, the romantic scenes kind of pulled the pace back to the slow slaggish one we had in the first episodes, but at least the story was interesting at last. The mystery of the father, the depth of the characters and their choices that changed the future, everything was thrilling and entertaining. The ending was a let down, though I don't really know how they could have handled the romance otherwise. Other than that, the performances were good and the representation of the 80' era decent.

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Back to 1989 has an interesting plot and storyline of the ML being transported back in time, trying to find out who his real father was because his mother would not reveal that to him. I thought this is interesting and has a "how I met your mother" kind-a storyline but with more drama instead of comedy.

However, I very very quickly loose interest during episode 2 or 3 (on Netflix). I thought the execution of this storyline is a bit messy and I am very annoyed by the FL's acting. She looks like a spoiled high school girl who is so naive with that whiny voice instead of a college graduate who just started her first job (which she did not do well too apparently). I am also not impressed with the ML's acting. I found him stiff and without expression. The bad thing about me is that I never not finish a drama, regardless of how bad it is. However, I don't watch these dramas seriously, so I put it on as background sound while i do errands here and there.

Enough ranting about this drama. Unless you're a fan of the actors and actresses, I would suggest you skip this drama.

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Oh my gosh, what happened at the end!?!?!

The acting was okay, the story was okay. The leads had good chemistry, and their story was sweet, but took a back seat to his mom's story line in 1989. I had to drop this score due to the last two episodes. What the heck!?!?! Episode 21 recapped what had happened throughout the show and led you to believe that they got a happy ending, until the very last, short snippet of a scene. Then, episode 22 recapped the show again, then showed him trying to get back to 1989 and going back to the place/time when he first met her, and that was the end. What about the butterfly effect? What about two of him not being able to be in the same time continuum? I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw something at the tv.

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