This is the first time I'm writing a review, I'm not good at wording my thoughts out but I wanted to give this a try because I just really want to praise this drama, if I could give it a 100/10 score I certainly would. It raises the bar too high for all k-dramas and TV shows in general for me. GO WATCH IT NOW! You surely won't regret it.
Plot: it's a remake of the U.K. TV show going by the same name, I haven't watched it myself so I had no prior idea of how the plot would go. I have to say it's outstanding. I personally love crime and suspense dramas so this was definitely my cup of tea and it exceeded my expectations by a lot. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of humour in the drama, despite the heavy cases they had to work on the writers managed to incorporate light-hearted moments and it made the experience even more amazing, nothing seemed out of place. I have noticed that in a lot of k-dramas the plot starts dragging out gradually and they tend to get a little boring in the middle especially but this one had impressive build-ups, there was not one dull moment and each episode keeps you on your toes. The surprises keep coming all the time and you can't seem to predict what will happen next. The cases were well-thought out and there weren't any plot holes. The ending was so emotional and a little open for interpretation, it was bittersweet, but I loved it for the way it was.
Cast/Characters: I was blown away by Jung Kyung Ho's acting, he gave life to his character and this impressive screenplay. The female lead I have to say is one of the most impressive and well-done female characters I've ever seen, this is female empowerment done right, she can kick ass, is not depicted stereotypically, is thoughtful, smart af and level-headed. The chemistry between the five main characters was out of this world, they gave off this warm feeling even if some of them didn't particularly start off on good terms, the fact that the friendship that flourished between them was gradual and not rushed off made it seem more believable. I really couldn't have picked better actors for this show.
OST: I loved the old songs they incorporated in the drama, it made me feel the 80s even more, the songs were chosen really well and put exactly where they're needed without them being too much in your face.
Cinematography: It was AMAZING, it's obvious that a lot of effort and probably budget went into the shooting of the drama and it's well worth it, the scenes and perspectives were really well thought out. This is the kind of cinematography a drama with such good plot and cast deserves.
Overall: it's a masterpiece, 100/10, it was a whole journey I'm glad I took and I can even watch it again which means a lot because I usually don't re-watch things I've already seen. If you wonder what to watch next give this drama a chance.
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STORY
I love that the story gives you bits and pieces of the puzzle as it goes along, but keeps you guessing in a way that's fun rather than frustrating. The puzzle itself is such an interesting concept, managing to incorporate sci fi elements without getting too gimmicky.
But the very best thing about Life On Mars is the changing relationships between the characters. It's so enjoyable to watch Han Tae Joo unraveling the trauma and isolation of his past, and learning how to connect with these people from whom he's supposed to be literally worlds apart. And the characters themselves are so infused with heart and humor, the perfect antithesis to the coldly rational mindset that he started with. It's so easy to fall in love with this little found family.
ACTING/CAST
Jung Kyung Ho is amazing. He has been amazing, and he will continue to be amazing, and I don't think I could possibly love him more. I saw someone mention in another review that Life On Mars gave him the opportunity to showcase the more subtle sides of his acting skills, and I couldn't agree more. Han Tae Joo's quiet desperation is so palpable and relatable, despite the muted nature of the character. And rooting for him to finally come out of that shell is so fulfilling!
The dynamic between Han Tae Joo and Kang Dong Cheol is definitely a highlight of the show. Park Sung Woong is such a strong actor, and seems just so genuinely FUN. He is able to traverse between the character's comic antics and the more serious moments with such effortlessness. The growing relationship between the two characters is so pure.
Special mention of course for Go Ah Sung as Yoon Na Yeong. I think I might have fallen in love with her a little bit. The character is so different from the roles she's played before, but this soft-spoken tether that anchors Han Tae Joo to his reality (and just kicks ass all around, honestly) is even alone worth the price of admission on this drama, if you ask me.
MUSIC
The score was appropriate and for the most part managed to support the story without drawing too much attention to itself. I loved the 80s songs that were sprinkled in, especially when the characters were rocking out or dancing along to them!
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Thoughtfully done! I don't want to give anything away, but the cinematography clearly reflects what's happening in the story, sometimes in ways that are subtle. And I love that. (Watch for differences in the cinematography, and you can figure out what is signified in the plot.) It shows how much care has gone into even the smallest details that most viewers won't even consciously notice.
REWATCH VALUE
I typically don't rewatch dramas, but this could very likely be an exception. Now that I've seen the end, I want to go back and see which pieces of the puzzle I may have missed the first time around. Not to mention, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters...
OVERALL
Highly, highly recommend that anyone give this drama a shot. It's not a perfect fit in any single genre, so I would be cautious of letting any genre bias discourage you from watching this. This kind of thoughtful writing and creative storytelling feels so rare!
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I haven't watched the original version so I can't tell which one is better, but I still believe that the korean version is a must-watch.
The story was brilliant, it keeps you interested til the very end. It makes you curious about so many things - was it a dream? or was it real? Is it really a time-travel drama or it's just an illusion? It's hard to find an answer for this question and even in the final episode, you don't know what to believe. I had so many theories about the plot twists, but I still couldn't find the right answer.
The crime part of the show was somehow different from what I've usually seen in other kdramas. But different is a positive way. But where is this difference coming from? The unique characters is the right answer. Every character brings a different light of the show - Han Tae Joo with his serious, but still good personality, Kang Dong Cheol with his angry, but at the same time playful moods, Yoon Na Young with her calm and intelligent behavior, they were all really different and they also had a different way for catching criminals. But despite these differences between them, they were such a great team!
I don't have much to say about the cast. All the actors and actresses did a perfect job. Kudos to Jung Kyung Ho for his brilliant portaying of Han Tae Joo. I could feel what he feels when I just look at his face.
The music suited the atmosphere the show brings and the drama is definitely a rewatch material.
Overall, 'Life on Mars' is a crime drama with many hear-warming moments you can enjoy, so I definitely recommend it.
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If I had to describe this drama in a word, I would definitely choose overrated. Still, it’s a very good drama and one of the best of the year. My review will focus mainly on the negative aspects, since most reviews here only focus on the positive ones.
STORY
The beginning was very intense. Han Tae Joo is a detective who is investigating a serial murder case. While chasing the suspect, he gets shot in the head and hit by a car. He awakes in 1988, not knowing whether he is dead, in a comma or if he actually traveled back in time.
The story is great, its development not so much. First off, the writers suddenly cut a great, intense story that kept viewers at the edge of our seats in the middle of it and take us to a whole new —and less interesting— world. This comes as a shock, which was probably the desired effect, but in the wrong way. With every episode, the story gradually loses connection with what is happening in the present time to the point of it being virtually absent. There are no hints that shed light about what's actually happening to Tae Joo or where he actually is, except in very rare occasions. In my opinion, this was a huge mistake.
The main storyline (1988) is overall monotonous and feels like dragging on artificially in order to justify not to tell or develop a more interesting story, which would be what is actually happening to Tae Joo and what is the new reality he finds himself in. The main story should have been that, instead of a bunch of cases a police squad has to resolve in 1988. Basically, the writers had a jewel of a story that they sacrificed and substituted by a good but ordinary story.
Overall, I enjoyed the present time much more than 1988, while it should have been the other way round. Sometimes I even wished our protagonist never travelled back in time. Don't get me wrong, switching to 1988 was not the problem, losing connection with the present time and the overall development of the story were.
Regarding the ending, well, I am not going to sugarcoat: it was absolutely terrible. But the conclusions or moral message that the writers wanted us to draw were even worse. I am aware the ending was very popular, but I did not like it at all.
There is no romance even though there are some hints. If you are looking for romance, this drama is not for you.
ACTING/CAST
The acting was great, specially that of the main lead. His character was well developed and you could really empathize with him. However, I wish he had had a bit of deep internal monologue, especially in such a situation. That would have been great.
The rest of the characters were really underdeveloped and mundane, even though their acting was usually very good. You didn't know anything about them, their lives or their feelings. They were funny in some way, though. But honestly, I am disappointed.
MUSIC
The OST was good. The music did its job, which is completing the scenes, but didn't stand out or make me feel anything.
WATCH/RE-WATCH VALUE
Should you watch this drama? My answer is YES! It's a great drama to binge.
Would I watch it again? No. But I would definitely welcome a second season or a sequel.
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than cases taken in this are so brain mapping and connecting to each other.
Oh my lovely god! This is really one of the best mystery thriller drama the best of 2018! Not a single episode is boring .Damn I was biting my nails on each episode beocz it keeping me till on edge and on bumping !!thumping!!! what will happen next
i love the bromance and suporting characters also how they suport each other especially yoon na young as a woman in that 90s era showing her capabilities and mindblowing undrstanding of criminal pyschology and crime scenes through perception and profiling qualities.
this drama kept an essance of 90s and 2018s difference in working of police department and how much technology and science is needed to solve any further cold cases and also leadership.truthfullness,and commitment towards ur job , work and people.
signal is my no.1 ever crime,mystery,timetravel drama but this is getting on my top list forever .
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Confusing in a good way, but too loud
This is one of those dramas where you just want to send 60% of the characters to anger management and find yourself astonished by the fact that all still have their jobs.But if you look past the constant yelling, outbursts of rage and fighting you will find some pretty sweet volnarable and lovable human beings...
The story is interesting, confusing in a good way and keeps you (kept me) on your toes for the most part. The characters are complex and the line between dream/reality good/evil are very blurry which is something I personally really appreciate.
Officer Yoon, the one female officer is really cool she is smart, funny, bit too emotional and shows a very subtle way trying to make her mark without becoming macho herself... in a macho environment. We also get to see more or less subtle acts of sexism and harassment who cater to my personal prejedus of how it was to be a woman in the police force in the 80s. It also showed how little a man had to do to seem dreamy and make a girl feel respected (basic human curtesy). Subtle but very real portrayals of day to day seism in the work force. Her acting however seemed a bit off, but it could be her role too.
The friendships and bonds made here are definitely a good point, as well as the mystery but the best and most scary part is still the blurr... But a lot was ruined by the yelling and my constant wish to send them all (yes all) to therapy to work on handling their emotional issues.
Definitely a decent watch, just mind the yelling and emotional reactions.
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Life on Mars is a cross between a serious crime show that OCN is known for, and a slapstick chummy cop show with a rambunctious captain calling the shots. It follows Han Taejoo, who ends up in the 80s outside of Seoul after a mishap in a present day 2018 case. The first few episodes are very heavily so Taejoo getting adjusted and lots of references to 2018, but as it continues on, it delves more into the story of why Taejoo came to the 80s and how it ties into his 2018 life. The plot was always interesting, and as it gets towards the middle the true nature of the story comes to the forefront and is super captivating.
As for the cast, they're all purely fantastic. Jung Kyungho does a great job as Taejoo, especially when he is caught in the rift of past and present (which isnt easy). For me, the real gem of Life on Mars is Kim Dongcheol, played by Park Sungwoong. Dongcheol is your typical rambunctious, self assured, brawn and all captain who rules his team with a brash and harsh mouth but would go to war for every single one of them. Park Sungwoong was absolutely hilarious in near every episode and made for a lot of comedic relief that didn't feel forced or cheesy. Go Ahsung also did a wonderful job as Yoon Nayoung, and I adore how her character was written in every aspect and how she is allowed to grow within the team. The character development is very noticeable and positive, and that's what I did love about the show.
The ending made it very open ended so I'm interested to see if OCN will follow through with a season 2 (i.e Voice), but regardless, you won't regret watching this. If you want a crime show but something still light hearted? This is the drama for you.
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Life on Mars is a really good drama but has a totally different storyline from the British one. The premise is the same but the main storyline is different. I enjoyed the Korean storyline even though I felt some episodes dragged on a bit but by the end of each episode the cliffhanger made you want to watch the next episode.
The characters in both versions are well developed and the main leads are amazing with great chemistry. The casting was spot on.
I preferred the British one but that's because I come from the UK and can form an attachment to the 70s nostalgia (I found it hard to connect with 80's Korea) Also I watched that first so I knew how the Korean version was going to end and some of the spoilers.
In the UK there was a sequel "Ashes to Ashes" it delves deeper into that world and answers some unanswered questions from Life on Mars. I wonder if they will make a Korean version. I hope so as the Korean writers will be able to do that justice and that would be amazing.
I would love to know what others who have watched both think.
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Cannot rave about it enough. Jung Kyung-Ho has once again proved his worth with this drama, this man has shown such versatility like no other. His chemistry with Park Sung-Woong and also Go Ah-Sung is so effortless. Oh, the bromance is so real and the romance between the characters stays grounded till the end, never going into a dramatic frenzy. The whole team has an amazing comfortable atmosphere. Though the ending might be confusing for some and can be interpreted in different ways, one is for sure that it was the perfect ending (though it may feel incomplete) suitable for the drama as a whole. The entertainment value only goes up when there are instances to comedic relief in the episodes.
Perfect for binge-watching because I prefer it that way.
Do do watch it for its brilliant spin on the original story as I have read that even the Producer of the British version has praised it.
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probably a useless review
I'm not really good as writing reviews but i hope this can be of help to anyone.I was finally able to find this drama and just finished watching it. This has to be one of THE Best k-drama shows so far. It has an amazing story with great character development, unlike some other dramas, the characters actually felt like they could be real people which i think really adds to the watchability of the series. I really enjoyed the whole 80s vibe as it felt really refreshing compared to dramas based in the 2000s and the romance was just the right amount so that it didn't take over the story. Although some may say the ending is lacking or not that good i think the exact opposite as the ending fits really well with the drama because it doesn't need to be explained in detail or that would (in my opinion) ruin the whole point of ending the series in that way. The whole time travel thing my not be everyones cup of tea but i'd definitely suggest giving it a go you never know you may end up enjoying it.
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A drama with an unique story
So the drama was pretty good. It had a good & unique story. But after first few episodes the drama goes into being typical crime solving mystery drama's. You will understand what I am saying after watching it for yourself. Though this is not a bad thing. Many people do like this kind of drama's. But it kind of feels lengthy in the middle part of this drama. But not so boring that you will drop it. Actually if you get into this drama you can't possibly drop it before watching the end of it.All the main cast's did a great job. But few side characters were a bit off with acting in my opinion.
Now something about the ending (Spoiler free)
I think about 50% people who watched this drama were satisfied with the ending. And the other 50% people weren't satisfied like me. I mean the ending didn't make any sense to me. It was good but also bad.
This drama is definitely worth watching. I watched 4 episodes per day. It took me 4 days to finish this. If I wanted I could have finished it sooner. If you are into mystery, crime, thriller this kinds of drama then you won't regret watching it.
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Characters: I found all of them interesting. From the prideful captain to the two lowkey detectives and the dedicated female officer. And the male lead was pretty solid in here with his struggle to define his place in time.
Plotwise: The story was told in a fascinating way with how the lead character experiences living in the past and his constant mind inceptions with the present through TV or Radio channel. This is why this show is so good because we get to learn about the serial killers' background from the male lead's POV. I don't know of any show that has done it this way where the antagonist's life is exposed through the detective that is chasing him's dream of the past. The ending defines the entire story. Especially that last minute epilogue which screams a second season (perhaps the lead detective will find his way back home - again).
Music: I loved the music. It gave the show the vibe the story needed.
Overall: Very good show with interesting characters and story.
Recommendation: If anyone wants a break from the bottomless ocean of kdrama romance, TRY something of this genre. The only way you'd be disappointed is if you had no interest in these types of storylines.
Rewatch - yes.
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