Let me tell you why you shouldn't shelf this drama aside as 'yet another time traveling drama'
- The series focuses on our main leads, who have been married for 14 years and are getting divorced. It stresses on the fact that marriage is not simply the happy ending, as it's normally shown in dramas. Throughout the whole show, little by little, we get to see what it was that went wrong with our OTP in the first place. The drama portrays the painful reality of marriage.
- Going back in time to change one's past mistake might not appear to be a fresh idea for a drama. But believe me when I say this, that the execution is simply top-notch. This drama hits all the right notes for the viewers. This drama explores the question of If you could go back, back to the time before it all started, what would you do? Would you make the same decisions you made before? Or would you do something you didn't get to do before?
- This drama is just so beautifully realistic in it's approach. Whether it's the flashback scenes or back to the time 1999 scenes, every struggle, every problem, every situation that our leads face is handled in such a realistic way, that it's hard not to appreciate that.
- This drama is going to play with your emotions. And I mean this in the best way. One second, it'll make you laugh out loud. And the next, it'll have you tearing up. Specially the scenes of Seo Jin and Jin Joo with her mom will have you crying out loud. So better prepare some tissues, 'cause you're going to bawl your eyes out in every episode.
- The second lead syndrome is really strong in this one, there's no denying this. The first few episodes, (or in some cases, maybe throughout the whole drama) you're going to ship the leads with the second leads. Specially Nam Gil sunbae. He's simply...perfect. He's cute, kind, funny and well, always there for our lead girl. It's impossible not to fall for this guy.
- One of the best things about this drama, and one that I really loved is the narration by Ban Do & Jin Joo at the opening and ending scenes of every episode. I love how they start with something painfully honest, and end with something hopeful.
- Instead of asking yourself what does this drama has to offer you, question what doesn't it has to offer you. My answer- Nothing! Yup. Might sound unbelievable, but it's true. And you'll realize it too. This drama has everything from comedy, romance, friendship to slice-of-life and nostalgia. Every genre is balanced enough to give viewers an unforgettable watch.
- The OST is just beautiful and melodious. I have had plenty of dramas where I liked or even loved the OST, but this is one of the few rare dramas where I was moved by the songs. They are just so good and so fitting. My personal favorites being 'Dream' by Lucia & 'Wind Song' by Sohyang.
After reading my review, you might think I overused the word 'beautiful', but honestly, that's the only word I can describe this drama with. It's beautiful. It's heartwarminlgly and hearwrenchingly beautiful. So I sincerely hope that you give this drama a chance.Happy Watching!!
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How do I even put this into words? Though just missing the mark of perfection, "Go Back Couple" is quite the emotional ride and one that I can't stop thinking about.
At its core, this is such a simple drama, but its execution is breathtaking. This tells the story of deep emotions and complex relationships under the guise of a lighthearted romcom. Everything about its surface will have you believing that this is a refreshing watch to relax yourself, but once you set foot into the first episode, you will realize: you have made a horrible, beautiful mistake.
I’m a crybaby. Over the years, my tear ducts have truly widened the scope as to what can get them going. Even so, nothing could have prepared me for this drama. “Go Back Couple” had me bawling every episode. Yes: every. Single. Episode. My tissue box is a bit tired. The emotional impact of this plot hits like a cement truck and results from the writers’ decision to focus not on the couple’s romance, but on the leads as individual people who harbor their own struggles. Those struggles then translate into their relationship. As we see them learn how to cope, their reconnection is natural and more satisfying.
The plot is not overly convoluted or “smart,” which occasionally causes it to slip whenever it tries to introduce bigger conflicts; but ultimately the lack of plot twists is what gives it its beauty. The simplicity but poignancy of our leads’ interactions, along with all the characters around them, increases how much we as viewers can empathize with them. There’s none of that theatric suspense that has become the trend in so many dramas: just humans dealing with incredibly human problems. Sometimes I forget that a time slip isn’t exactly normal; it weaves so well into, but doesn’t completely overpower, the story.
The cast plays a huge part in all of this success. Because the plot relies entirely on the personalities of its characters, there is no room for error on the side of the actors—and there are no errors made. Jang Na Ra is always spot-on when it comes to her roles, especially in scenes that are emotionally heavy. As soon as she hits the switch for the crying, it’s almost impossible to not follow along. Son Ho Jun is a new name to me, but he could be Ban Do in real life and I wouldn’t question it. These two together are as great as they are as individuals. All the side characters and so-called “secondary leads" are also incredibly important in their own ways. None of them are “there” for the sake of diluting the plot and dragging out time. They each bear their own hardships in ways that pry at our hearts and help the lead couple along their journey.
Everything about “Go Back Couple” feels priceless to me. There are so many little moments that are heartwarming yet claw at your innards. It’s one of those shows that has something incredibly personal to say to you, regardless of what stage of your life you’re currently in. That’s such a difficult trait to come by in any type of media these days, and that alone makes this drama worth watching.
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The cast is perfect! The character of second lead is almost too perfect even I was secretly hoping that Jin Joo will end up with Nam Gil..
The music is spot on.. the rewatch value is also record high for me.. even I will rewatch it again after I finish writing review.
I can say this is one of the most enjoyable drama ever.. the problem with it, I think the SLS is too hard..
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I really liked the main couple. I'm not familiar with Son Ho Jun's acting, but I'm a fan of Jang Na Ra (Hello Monster, and Fated to Love You), and I think they were a good match. The script calls for a lot more melodrama than cuteness between the two of them, but I definitely believed them as a couple, and got invested in their relationship pretty quickly. There's a sense of intimacy between the two of them that is really believable. Jang Ki Yong however brings on some major second lead feels, and really pulls off being the "older" member of the group, while actually being one of the youngest in the cast. I was very impressed by him, and loved his scenes with Na Ra. I hope to see a lot more from him. I also gained some new appreciation for Jang Na Ra's range, so I want to see a lot more of her dramas too.
The rest of the cast was solid as well. The friendships are awesome! Sometimes they go a little overboard with the immaturity, but it was fun to watch. The retro vibe also makes it fun, especially if you remember the last century well, even if a few of the references went over my head. I cared about every character, and they all had such memorable personalities. The MVP of this drama however is Kim Mi Kyung as Jin Joo's mom, which isn't so surprising based on her awesome career, but her character's storyline ends up being the drama that drives most of the show, and immediately sets the tone that this is more than a silly retro drama. Any fan of hers won't be disappointed, not that she's doing anything particularly new, but she's just so great to watch in general that you get to really appreciate her in this. I was also impressed by her moonwalking skills.
I got hooked on "Go Back Couple" pretty quickly, so I was shocked to see that it only had 12 episodes. Initially I was disappointed by that, but it honestly felt like the perfect length at the end. Although I did think some parts of the ending were a little rushed and contrived, they did do a good job of satisfyingly wrapping up everything. I like the message overall, and I suspect that making it longer would have just dragged things on unnecessarily. The episodes are over an hour long, so that does make a difference. I was never bored, and looked forward to watching each week. It also makes me more likely to rewatch it, and makes it much easier to binge watch.
Maybe I'm biased towards stories about gaining a new perspective on a life, or a relationship, that you wish never happened, or have regrets about, but I highly recommend this one. I will warn anyone that has lost a parent that this may be really tough to watch at times, but there is also a great balance of comedy, and insightfulness, that keeps it from being too depressing. I cried hard, I laughed out loud, I got in my feelings about life, so I consider this a drama success. This is the kind of well rounded drama that I don't think you will have any regrets watching.
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Overall, this is probably the best drama I have seen since Healer. It is beautifully written, evocative, touching, and hilarious. It's really everything you would want from kdrama. It's got a fantastic ensemble that are all fun and lovable. Every episode brings something special. A very, very addictive and binge-able watch.
Jang Na Ra is as perfect as ever. Seriously. There's honestly no better drama actress in the entire country. She believably plays both a 20-year-old and a 38-year-old. She can and will make you laugh and cry like crazy.
This is the first time I have seen Son Ho Jun in anything and he was impressive. His melo scenes felt a bit off, but I think that was more to do with the nature of his character than his acting ability. One of his melo scenes is probably my favorite scene in the whole drama.
The two "second leads" (in quotes because they get less screen time than a couple of the other Supporting cast) succeeding excellently in doing what they were supposed to do: be ridiculously attractive. Jang Ki Yong just looks like Korean Benedict Cumberbatch, which, of course, is awesome. And although she really just looked like little kid most of the time, I couldn't deny that Go Bo Gyeol was hyper-cute. Their characters didn't get as much development as you might expect, but they were still a lot of fun to watch and were utilized well by the writers as tools for the development of our hero and heroine.
Two Supporting Cast shout-outs I simply MUST give are for Kim Mi Kyung, who I think should be tagged with a Main Role here, simply because she was the 3rd-most important character in the show. I have said it before and I'll say it again: Kim Mi Kyung is her own gravitational force. What an incredibly watchable, dynamic, compelling actress. Every time she and Jang Na Ra shared the screen, it was amazing and wonderful.
The second shout out goes to Han Bo Reum, who is just plain gorgeous and a lot of fun to look at. Very funny, great smile, excellent hair. I never got tired of her or her character (and the hilarious yet oddly fetching late-90s outfits they always made her wear). She was excellent and, at age 30, will hopefully get some good lead roles under her belt soon.
If you're looking for a quick rollercoaster of emotion with some ridiculously amazing acting, just stop what you're doing and start this drama right away. A low-risk/high-reward prospect at just 12 episodes, there will be nothing to regret once you're done.
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Overall, the whole plot and story of this show was done wonderfully. You have a failing marriage and two people that loved each other dearly but when you're so used to someone or you adapt to situations, you really don't realize how much that person or moment meant to you and sometimes you really just let people down. I really felt for the main female lead because she fell into this loop of just average daily life while her husband was also trying to do his best but they slipped away and it was just an emotional whirlwind. The whole thing was a fabulous road to scale from going back into the past from the beginning and ending flashbacks, to what happened with her family and it was just all so emotional for me that I was literally crying every time there was tears, honestly. I could not help myself because I felt everything in that moment too.
Jang Nara happens to be one of my top favorite actresses, definitely like top 5 for me and she really didn't let me down, I actually absolutely loved every single character in this show with the parts that they played and it made it even more enjoyable especially with all the drama and feels.
Even the OST was wonderful, it was really fitting, even in moments when they were having fun.
I would definitely rewatch this if I need someone for my feels or when I really just want to watch a really great drama down the road and so I definitely recommend this show to anyone wanting to watch it and has been hesitant.
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An underrated gem. It's a well-written story with lovable characters.
38-year-old married couple raising a toddler were considering a divorce because they are burdened by years of their weary marriage life. But one day, Ban Do (So Ho Jun) and Jin Joo (Jang Nara) wake up to find themselves in their 20-year-old selves, the time just before they meet, with the memories of their 38-year-old. They can choose new love, but if they do their beloved son will never exist, except in their memoriesA fun and fresh second chance romance with a fun fantasy twist. Right off the bat this is a fresh, entertaining easy show to binge. The drama is really funny, but it also gets emotional in the right way. Because of their present memory when they go back to the past, it was interesting to see what they’re going to do to change or not to change their fates, and seeing them considering the consequences their decisions.
For me, Jin Joo is the best-written character among all. Jin Joo shows how lonely parenting can be without making fun of it. Her mannerisms bring a lot of depth to every scene. Her relationship with her mother is one of the most grounded representations of mom-daughter relationships.
I also enjoyed both second leads' romances for both Ban Do and Jin Joo, especially Jin Joo and Nam Gil (Jang Ki Yong) together is so swoony. Their scenes made me feel a bit nostalgic with the 2017 kdramas' camera shot style, where they show us all the angles. Second lead romances usually bring syndromes, but here, the ending for everyone is wonderful and hopeful. A very good show! It deserve a praise for the well-written characters and consistent story.
-Jan 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
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And this is a drama with a serious case of 2nd lead syndrome. So be warmed, your heart will ache.
The story is very simple. Unhappy couple, goes back in time and tries not to fall for each other again. See, simple.
NOT.
In every episode it goes deep into long term relationships and how it works. It focus how we ignore the simplest things, how we take things for granted that in long term it doesn’t even exits for us. And how the things we do, the miscommunication affects a relationship.
It’s beautifully written and thought out story. And very, very pleasing for the eyes.
I think in every episode I probably said that ‘it’s my favorite episode.’ There are moments that will make you bust out in laughter. And then there moments with Seo Jin and Jin Joo’s mother to cry your eyes out.
The cast was lovely.
I thing Jang Na Ra was perfect to play the Aajuma and 20 year old. She has the perfect face for it.
Jang Ki Yong was my favorite of all. I’m not gonna lie form the moment he was on screen I was all over him. He, with his perfect little shy smiles and glances made it hard for not to fall for him. I think I was rooting for him the entire time.
Son Ho Jun, sorry mate Jang Ki Yong stole your thunder. But I loved the way he played Ban Do. In the end we could see the character growth.
Love the OST, there are beautiful. But I’m hopelessly in love with ‘Confession’ by Choi Nakta.
Rewatch value…10/10.
There is nothing to say actually. It’s just a beautiful experience to have to go through a drama . And it makes you greatful for having love in your life. And being forever single I can tell you that, love and being in a relationship with a person who you love and who loves you in return is a great thing. And this drama teaches that.
So do give it a try. Please give it a try!
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The cast is outstanding - Jang Na Ra never fails to illicit an emotional response from me. And Kim Mi Kyung is always an excellent addition to the cast. I loved her in this. Son Ho Jun, even though I've only seen him in Reply 1994 before, completely impressed me also. The side characters were well used and also cast well.
For me, this show was very nearly perfect. I could see myself rewatching this very easily.
Be prepared with a couple of tissues for this one, but I know you won't regret watching it!
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This is quite tough for me to review as it was just an okay drama. If you liked Emergency Couple (as I did lol), then this drama might be worth a try. They're similar in way that the couple is on the ''brink'' of a divorce, couple just had enough of each other; Bickering here and there blah blah blah.
This drama is not so cliche but it just didn't leave me a good enough impression (aka it did not deliver as much OMG or OMOOOOO factor throughout the whole series). At first it was quite interesting and thus made me wanna look forward to new episodes per week. But halfway through the series, the story became too predictable and made me didn't wanna look forward anymore. In a way, although this show is relatively short with only 12 episodes in total, I still felt that the story was dragged on way too long.
I give this drama an overall score of 7.5/10 as it delivered some good life lessons (i.e treat your parents and partners with all the love you can give while you can), it had really cute OST's and OMG a really cute and lovable 2nd lead!!! I think I only really continued watching the show just because of the 2nd male lead and of course, his bickering with the male lead. Reason why I give this a 7.5 and not an 8 or 8.5 is because, I did not feel the chemistry between the main leads. I felt more of that spark between the 2nd male lead and and female lead, tbh. Also, I felt like the plot is quite lacking in a sense whereby, there was no enough content.
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This review may contain spoilers
Muscles and Bad Dancing
The plot description for this drama made it seemed like any typical kdrama, but it was unexpectedly very funny! The side characters are so ridiculous. You are almost always guaranteed laugh, especially when Jae Woo appears on the screen. His fake muscles and bad dancing took me OUT!Go Back Couple is one of the few dramas where I actually liked the second lead. I mean it wasn't very hard not to like Choi Ban Do. What didn't he do wrong honestly?? He was a horrible crier, so that made it hard for me to emphasize with him. I feel like Nam Gil would've been a much better person for Jin Joo. Also, it was weird that Nam Gil was suppose to be older but he looked much younger than everyone.
This drama had such a great start, but the ending was just disappointing. Everything felt so rushed. As expected, there were too many plot holes. The couple frustrating to watch because even when they go back to the past, they still don't communicate with each other. Overall it was an okay drama. I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for an easy plot to follow and a good laugh.
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Perspective
Sometimes, you don't need to do things differently, you just need to see them differently and you will understand what's important to you. At least that's my convoluted way of saying give Go Back Couple a chance it deserves, because, it gave the couple in the drama a chance and that turned out really really good for them. So it might well be excellent for you too.It was excellent for me. First thing, the comedy made me roll over the floor laughing literally, and I've since gone back to watch it again and again, it still cracks me up every time. But that's just the icing on the cake really. For those who can do without the icing, the cake is just as good too. Go Back Couple gives this sweet, heartbreaking, comedy couple, a second chance to get to know each other, to remind themselves of the love they forgot, to learn about the new things that they should've seen but missed because they've been too wrapped up in their own misery for far too long and then finally makes them realize what matters most to them. It's not always that things have to get better, be different, or go smooth and happy.. though these are important, what matters most is the people who are next to you when the hard times hit. At least that's my take.
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