Live Up to Your Name (2017)

Loves this drama so much

Been wanting to watch this drama for so long and am so glad I could finally finish watching this. Not just because of Kim Namgil but also because the drama's focusing on Heo Im. Like there's lots of dramas that had a different take on Heo Jun but this one's had Heo Jun as support role.

That said, I like the concept of the drama since this is like the opposite of the theme from JIN (or Dr Jin for the Korean adaptation) so that's an interesting pov. Love the focus on oriental medicine versus modern medicine as you see from the clash between Heo Im and Yeongyeong, where the two eventuality ended up learning about each other and how different their two worlds was.

Kim Namgil as Heo Im was quite an endearing character with his silly and serious side. Not to mention how his path became twisted along the way and after meeting Yeongyeong he started on a journey to recover his true self as a doctor.

I love the fact that the drama not only just focusing on Heo Im, but also Yeongyeong and all the other people around them. And how as both Heo Im and Yeongyeong started learning about each other and became better doctors because of it, and that their changes also affect the people around them as the rest of them also try to be the better versions of themselves. And I love how from beginning to the end the drama continued to remind ourselves to 'live up to our names'.

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Outstanding!

Normally dislike flashbacks and going back in time dramas but this was a well written, believable story. Love 16 episode dramas that don't try to extend the story with too many plots, sub plots and lengthy, wasted dialogue! Current medical and old oriental medical practices was well depicted, entwined with bouts of slapstick comedy and heart wrenching tragedies. Actors well casted, ML and FL had great chemistry! The interesting storyline flowed well and kept me anxious for the ending! Not spoilers but be cautious of several scenes of almost realistic operations and acupuncture! After watching several vengeful, silly, jealousy gone wild with loud non-stop argumentative dramas, this was very refreshing !!!

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This drama was enjoyable from the beginning to end. The characters each grew in many ways through the course of the “crazy destiny” of Heo Im.

The side characters, especially the children, effect the two main leads in their growth in love and in personality.

This is not Faith, nor is it like Queen In Hyun’s Man, but it does have some of the same situations that any time travel show will have.

The music fit the mood throughout and was neither overbearing or under utilized.

It’s too bad we won’t get to see the story teased at the very end of the last episode, after the credits!

Enjoy your marathon!

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Although the story's idea seemed consumed but i thought it was promising
at the beginning i liked, starting from ep 07 i began to lose my interest

the ML many times seemed clumsy and idiot and this was too weird for someone lived in Joseon age
which was a savage time
and a famous cunning doctor like him should have very strong character to know how to deal with greedy nobles at this period
but the contrary happened i saw him weak which i couldn't accept

the romance wasn't great i saw it lukewarm in a weird way
the goodbye between them was cold and when they met again was too cold also for someone who didn't see his love for months

starting from ep 12 every thing was repetitive for me
the reason behind travelling in time was weak

and what i was questioning about a lot was
every time we saw the ML got killed if he was hugging someone this person traveled in time with him
so how he rescued his assistant at the last scene and he traveled alone

i didn't see any character development by the way especially for the ML
only he finds his right way to pursue

this is the first drama ever none of the characters affected me
may be (Lee Jae Won) the FL's colleague
his role was cute

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So I'm hitting a K-drama slump and came across this because it has some of my favorite Korean actors in here. I also thought Kim Nam Gil was going to be fighting but he only did a spit of it. I truly hate seeing martial art fighters pretend they can't fight!

The story line is unbelievable but I watched this drama in it's entirety because I was curious.

I began getting frustrated right away because of that 'Disney love at first sight' mumbo jumbo and I seriously HATE that.

Next was the story behind the acupuncture needle box. It was never covered. Then there's the time travel...We all know it's impossible so why when the MML and MFL disappears whenever the main ML dies everybody is OK with it. They ask questions but is completely fine with no answers.

The main FL got on my ever lasting nerves. I hate that 'I hate you, then I like you, but then I hate you, but now I can't live without you' routine. She acted like she was the best there is and you'll just have to deal with it.

A lot of the times the actors kept looking at the camera. I guess they looked at the camera so much that the editor just said forget it.

The so-called funny scenes didn't make me laugh. It was too over the top. KNG is already a goof ball. I seen a snippet of Man Of The House with him in it and he was adorable to watch. So watching this drama was like watching KNG just living his life with the cameras following.

The sad part about this drama is that each episode was so slow I forgot I was still on one episode! This drama could've ended with just only 12 episodes. The writers did a good job by making it drag on for ever to make it last, though!

Some people stated this was the best drama ever...I've seen better.

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Time Traveling Acupuncturist

This drama gets to the heart of why some people are driven to help others. What makes a doctor yearn to heal a patient? The visual animations of an acupuncture needle penetrating the skin and charging the blood with healing life are amazing! This drama explores the Eastern medicine vs. Western medicine, while giving us interesting characters, time travel, romance, "fish-out-of-water," humor, and a little bit of history. I fell in love with Kim Nam-Gil and his ability to portray a multi-faceted character. I finished this and immediately rewatched it. The music is great, too.

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This reminded me of the series “ Faith”. Modern doctor times travel and etc. The uniqueness of these series is that it took place often, had tons of humor but it was also heartfelt. Time traveling doctors are faced with people the harsh realities of the current time. They both have something to learn to grow. It was a fun watch.
There was a lot of action, comedy, a little romance, mystery as well as heartfelt moments. For me what I like the most about this series was that the writers did an amazing job in revealing each character‘s personality to include what they saw as their strengths and what they learned about their weaknesses.

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One of my favourite tropes is a Power Couple™ and this drama ticked all the boxes. I don't normally go for Medical Dramas, but the plot was so good that it changed my mind.

What this drama has going for it is the element of a modern drama AND a historical drama in one. The element of time travel makes it all the more interesting.

My favourite moments are when Dr. Heo Im goes into full-on doctor mode and saves his patients. They are so epic, and I never got tired of it. He has this ‘magic touch’ where he can tell exactly what’s wrong with the patient and fixes them like a superhero. It was just so cool! Especially when he and the female lead Dr. Yeon Gyung save people TOGETHER! Quality

Although, that being said: there are so many goddamn needles in this show. There’s even 3D graphics of the needle going INSIDE the skin, I don’t need to see that!! I get the idea! And there are SO MANY medical scenes... so yeah, I’m never watching Grey’s Anatomy. I've seen more than enough lol. I can't complain though, this is a MEDICAL DRAMA what were you expecting @myself?

Although it is crazy the amount of people who have medical issues. With every sick person they find, I'm thinking 'isn't anybody just...healthy?'

Best quote to sum up this drama: “Why are there patients wherever you go? Your timing is amazing” I’d been feeling that way since Day 1.

But ignoring those minor flaws, this drama is a very good one. And at the heart of the show is our couple. I appreciate what the writers have done with them, constantly paralleling each other. Started the story with them both being successful doctors but they still have areas they need to grow. Their journey together is so beautiful, as they heal each other's scars to become better doctors AND better people.

On the whole, this is definitely a drama worth your time.

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Beautiful and Provocative Series of Love and Healing that Transcends Time

I'm going to sound like a broken record in these reviews of Korean shows, but they continue to surprise me with deep, complex, and beautiful stories, such as this one. I can usually tell when a series is getting to me because I feel it in my heart and soul, and I end up watching several episodes at once because I cannot get enough. "Live Up To Your Name" is such a series for me.

The series follows two doctors. One from 400 years ago in Joseon, and one from today. Heo Im (wonderfully played by Kim Nam Gil) is the most brilliant acupuncturist of his time--perhaps of any time, if truth be told--and yet he wonders why he's stuck in a "lowly" post of a small village rather than being exalted by the King of Joseon. And given a proper position worthy of his talents. Dr. Heo Im soon finds himself transported to the future when he is shot by two arrows intended to kill him.

Next, we have Dr. Choi Yeon Kyung, an equally brilliant doctor as a cardiologist who sees patients as a means to an end. They are there to be saved. She has little-to-no personal contact with any of them. It is ironic that a doctor's greatest strength is often perceived as a weakness: caring. Even hospitals and other doctors expect their physicians to act like robots.

Both characters are victims of traumatic pasts which hinder their true gifts from shining through. And, ironically enough, it's through each other that they not only learn to heal and learn from the past but to also love.

We have Eastern medicine meeting Western medicine, like two halves of a coin, both are equally effective and necessary. Western medicine tends to focus more on the physical body. Eastern medicine--especially in the case of acupuncture, is a science handed down from the last Golden Age that had more to do with healing the body through its various energy centers. The body is, in fact, made up of energy, and doctors from that age understood and knew how to manipulate that energy in order to heal various ailments.

I love the mystical needle box, which provides enough magic without the need for explanation and the power it represents. The acupuncture scenes were always the most fascinating to me.

This series provides us with some incredibly beautiful and touching moments as both characters learn about each other through each other, and in the end, become the doctors they have always meant to be. Thus, living up to their name. However, it is the undeniable chemistry between Nam Gil and Ah Joong that really makes this series soar!

I've seen Kim Nam Gil in "The FIery Priest" which I also enjoyed. Every time he cracks that big grin, it makes me laugh--and in a good way! He is such a master of bringing charisma and spirit to his roles. He's like a child lost in modern times when he first arrives. He's a little mischievous and a little conceited, but you can't help loving his character anyway. His emotional range is also spectacular, and you really feel what he's exhibiting.

I have not seen Kim Ah Joong in anything until now, but she equally impressed me, bringing her own incredible range to her role. First, as a doctor who is much like a robot, to a wondrous beauty who begins to shine like the sun as soon as allows her heart to open. Her scenes with Ha-Ra.

The character of Yeon-Yi was so adorable, that I enjoyed those scenes with her. I think this young actress (Shin Rin Ah) has a very bright future!

Heo Im imparts the true wisdom of healing: that it isn't just the doctor who is involved, but the willingness of the patient is equally necessary. And, yes, sometimes, despite all efforts, people still die. Adn doctors should not see this as a failure.

As with so many K-dramas--the series is complex, and expertly imbues heartfelt moments, with inspirational ones, to scenes of complete hilarity. I don't believe anyone does this to such perfection like the Koreans. They are deftly able to navigate and cover so much of the emotional spectrum, that one cannot help being utterly amazed by it.

This series is one of my favorites--and it deeply touched my heart--and it's become extremely challenging to pick out a "top 5" of K-dramas, because there have already been so many that I have watched that have been so good! And yet, having only watched shows over the last 5 years or so, I feel like a kid in a vast candy store, knowing that there is still so many more to watch! I can prove extremely challenging to decide what to watch next!

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