This review may contain spoilers
This drama is TRASH
I don't understand the logic of this drama....I hate the fact that the female lead chose the male lead instead of the second lead.
When they were married she hated him so much, but now she loves him.
She just forgot how bad they treated each other.
And him at the begining of the drama being happy that he changed his live and forgot about his children.
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A Familiar Story
I watched this drama right after Ji Sung's riveting Secrets, so my momentum had to be brought down a little bit more to sit back and enjoy The Familiar Wife. I will not write too much as the other reviewers have already done a good job sharing their thoughts.For me, the drama was overall enjoyable especially with Ji Sung's always charismatic acting. One could see the real struggle of 'what if's' if one was to turn back the clock and change their destiny in married life. Though the drama did not create a lot of eagerness to chase the episodes, it does a good job to share how one could have coped with difficulty in relationships differently without needing a second chance. It was educational and the last hour of the entire drama truly made me laugh and I felt real happiness in my heart after all the struggle. Normally, the ending of dramas have short and rushed happy endings, but Familiar Wife managed to dedicate almost an entire episode of happiness and I appreciated it.
The story was not without it's flaws but the Director did a pretty good job and the Actors were on point. I guess this drama would be more suited to those who are Ji Sung's fans and might want to watch him acting in a less confident role. For me, I enjoy more watching him in his manly and confident characters, but then again, he is so versatile.
Overall 7 Score for this drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
Dragged
I didliked the male character for most of this drama! Totally immature from the start - and after abandoning his wife in his next life sold himself to the rich girl and became in his own words "a puppet"and when he finally begins to assert himself then apologises when she divorces him- saying he made her unhappy!!!So then he abandons his real wife again as he will make her unhappy. Does this guy learn nothing? Knowing how being inconsiderate to his first wife then overconsiderate to his next- does he not learn just to love and communicate ? Finally he makes the right decision but by this point I really didnt care!I think the writer just let this go on for too long - it became exhausting to watch.
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Great female lead and interesting story that is less familiar then one may think
I came for Han Ji Min and stayed for the story.What if... don´t we all have the what if I had stayed... what if I had showed upp in time... If I could just redo this one thing would my life change and would I be happier? What about the people around me would they be happier in a world where I made a different choice?
The story start off like many other stories like them an unhappy marriage. a miserabel life filled with misfortune and lets face it a guy who is a total d**** , to be honest the guy may evolve as the story progresses but he is still a total coward and a d**** hence not very lovable (yet handsome) making me wish the female lead would stay singel . The female lead is however cool, fun and just has this amazing vibe to her that made me wish her all the happiness in the world, no matter who is or is not beside her.
The acting in this drama is great, the side characters are all lovable, and add that little extra spark to the story-line. The pace of the drama is good as well and it truly is a good drama that almost makes you forget the whole back to the future theme to it...
If you have seen go back couple this drama is a bit more mature it has more drama, more smart humor, less awkward humor and is more about the male leads journey and how small choices can change ones life completely. More responsibility less communication problems, and an entirely different plot. I liked both the acting, the plot and the side characters in familiar wife more (but enjoyed both).
Last but not least, I was really surprised by the ending so I guess this may not be a must watch but definitely worth the watch !
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This review may contain spoilers
Time Travel realness
This is actually a drama I just recently finished and wow.I really wasn't expecting to like it this much, but it really didn't disappoint!
Im usually a sucker for time travel kdramas and this one..wow this delivered everything and more that i needed.
The regret of changing the past, how the smallest things can change the biggest outcomes in your life, and what i rellay found unique is how they didn't go back to their old life yet they actually used this time travel to their own benefit and found a way to be happier than when they were before the travel.
It teaches you a lesson that your fate is written with a certain person, and they are simply your soulmate and you can't do anything to change that fact!
Really recommend this! It will not leave you bored!!
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Time travel is really interesting, but can be very messy too. Since the writer is Yang Hee-Seung (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, Oh my Ghost) you can look forward to see many funny moments and a very enjoyable drama but I couldn't take the drama seriously. The drama was too long. It could have just been 12 episodes....
STORY:
It is one of the typical time travel stories. I actually didn't like the concept of "it’s always the man's fault when there's trouble in the marriage".
CAST:
Jisung is an actor that makes the drama really enjoyable with his acting. I kinda liked his character, but he was selfish and no one actually talked about that, but then, he had such a good devolvement.
This is the first time I watch a work from Han Ji Min and she's so good, this role fits her so well.
Amazing support characters. They were so funny and refreshing.
[NEGATIVE POINTS]
--[SPOILERS]--
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(This is the part when he wanted to go back to the past.)
1) They lost their son and he didn't care. We just watched one short part when he felt "sorry".
2) His actions were not because of "jealousy", but because he was being selfish about how happy his "wife" and his best friend were together. He was always in the way of these two, because he didn't want his best friend and "wife" to end up as a couple, which is so selfish and childish.
3) His sister married his other friend and had a child, and he still didn't care about it.
4) He didn't think or cared for his "new" wife either.
But as I said, he had a really good devolvement.
5) Now a different problem: for me things got fucked when WooJin uses the coin to time travel. They could have removed that part....
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--[END OF SPOILERS]--
The drama had a really good ending!
Yes, I do recommend this drama. It was very enjoyable.
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A Second Glance at "Familiar Wife": A Journey of Regret and Redemption
Upon first encountering "Familiar Wife," I found myself trapped in a web of conflicting emotions - primarily fueled by Cha Joo Hyuk's seemingly nonchalant attitude towards the radical shift in his life and the memories of his past wife. Like many, my initial journey with this drama halted prematurely, unable to reconcile with the male lead's choices. Yet, a renewed perspective gained from exploring other time travel narratives nudged me to revisit this title, offering a richer and more nuanced viewing experience on the second run.Cha Joo Hyuk, as I came to realize, embodies the axis of pain, regret, and growth within this narrative. Though steeped in controversy, his character development draws the audience into a reflective journey of self-discovery and transformation. Though warranted, the palpable sense of anguish he embodies unfurls a complex character trajectory that stands as the centerpiece of this drama.
The casting aligns perfectly, bringing forth a slew of seasoned actors who meld into their roles seamlessly, offering depth and dimension to the unfolding narrative. The camaraderie depicted within the bank scenes not only portrays a polished depiction of work life but resonates with familial warmth, adding a touch of realism and enjoyment to the series.
Despite the stellar cast and setting, the drama stumbles in its scriptwriting, often wandering into the realms of confusion with an over-reliance on flashbacks. Instead of propelling the story forward, these narrative tools sometimes halt the momentum, creating a disjointed viewing experience. Moreover, a more realistic portrayal of early-onset Alzheimer's, a critical plot point, would have grounded the story, offering a balanced perspective amidst the fantasy elements enveloping the time travel theme.
The set design is a testament to the meticulous attention to detail, mainly seen in the aesthetically pleasing bank setup, which leaves no stone unturned. Yet, the soundtrack fails to carve a distinct identity, blending seamlessly into the background without amplifying the emotional undertones of critical scenes.
In conclusion, "Familiar Wife" beckons viewers to approach it with an open heart and mind, offering a narrative that intertwines regret, choices, and the rippling effects of time. Although marred by certain shortcomings, it remains a worthy venture for those willing to immerse themselves in a tale that holds redemption at its core. It serves as a reflective mirror, urging viewers to ponder the implications of choice and the labyrinthine journey of human relationships, anchored firmly by remarkable performances from a well-assembled cast.
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- The story is one of the hot themes of the moment. A married couple who fights and wants to end things but this time only one of them makes that decision, and not both, because it's Joo Hyuk who decides to turn things around. The title is fitting, because the drama is basically around Joo Hyuk and the "familiar wife" he knows. You'll understand along the way. Like I anticipated, the story kept me entertaining for the most part because there are a lot of funny moments, but I think that after the first 11-12 episodes it was dragged, and the last episodes felt like an extension that, to some degree, could have been cut into less episodes.
- The main character, like I said, was Cha Joo Hyuk, played by Ji Sung. I've got nothing to say on the acting itself because it was really good, so I'll talk about his character. Joo Hyuk is one of those men who is selfish and lets his wife take care of the house and their children, not thinking that his wife has also a life to live and a job and that he needs to help her too. Besides this, he is also whipped, and lets other treat him like they want and when it's time to speak, he is not understood because he never spoke his true mind. In the first episodes I found his attitude annoying, but it slowly changes (although it doesn't make me like him completely). Seo Woo Jin, played by Han Ji Min, was Joo Hyuk's wife. Her husband let her do everything and rarely helped her, and this makes her angry and bitter. She could look despicable as well, but in my opinion, she had more reasons to be like this compared to Joo Hyuk, in fact I sided with her. We see different "shades" of Woo Jin that lets us see how she was before she married Joo Hyuk. She is truly an enjoyable character and stronger compared to Joo Hyuk, and I liked that. She is probably my favorite character. Luckily the story wasn't just about Joo Hyuk, but also about their friends at work and family. I liked every person at their workplace and they were funny (I admit I laughed a lot watching this drama), and I could tell that the cast got along well during filming because the group was tight. Loved to see Jang Seung Jo again in a funnier role compared to the one he had in "Money Flower". Everyone was good.
- The music gets the highest rating along with acting because it was catchy. I really like the song that they used at the beginning and that was played in the background of the shots where they showed the title of the episode.
- This drama was nice, funny, it let me spend some hours in peace and didn't make me have headaches like some other titles, but in my opinion it was a good romantic comedy with realistic acting but didn't leave a mark in my heart. This is why I gave it a 8 star rating.
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Decisions = Consequences whether you like it or not
I have a mixed feeling for this series. I was avoiding it for the longest time but then when I watched it, it's actually better than I imagined. Storyline-wise, I had a gist of what would happen and when I started to watch it, it was still kind of unexpected -- so there's an element of it being unpredictably predictable. At first, I just hate the male lead for being an ass and then gradually his character started to develop and I love how his character development went. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for the other characters because there was no continuity to their life, they just became an entirely new person after a minor change in the past that ultimately caused a butterfly effect. That's kind of where I am kind of disappointed because I can't really tell if the female lead on the 1st version, is the same as the 2nd version. They almost felt different. There were lots of questions in my mind as to whether if the time travel element wasn't present, would they improve the same way? What would've happened? I just felt like the female lead was completely deleted after all the time warp, but that's just my thought. This series also reminds me of a couple of other dramas like Go Back Couple and Emergency Couple.JiSung and Han JiMin did a great job portraying their character though. I have watched tons of JiSung's dramas and he always delivers so it's nothing new to me. He has a wide spectrum of characters he can portray (the most iconic one for me is on Kill Me, Heal Me). For some reason, WooJin's mother is an iconic character in this series, too. I felt like she did a lot of roles to make the whole series make sense but I also love the mystery that surrounds her.
Overall, I did enjoy the time watching this. There were lots of cringe-y moments that kind of felt good. I watched this with my partner and we were having long discussions about making relationships healthier so that's a plus for me. This series kind of give you an idea what to do and what not to do in a relationship so I definitely recommend this. It's such a good show to watch with your partner.
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Watch it for the comedic element and the actors (the romance part sucks so far)
In the original timeline, the FL was had to job, juggle it with managing the household, and taking care of the kids. Something that's pretty common in Asian culture and has been glorified when all it means is putting the majority burden on one person in the married duo dynamics. (Have seen many married women, some my friends other relatives do this for their husbands and there is always resentment present in such dynamics) That's one dimension of the FL. The other part was her being non-communicative and physically abusive to her husband.The ML was so absorbed with his own life & job that he forgot that he was married to a women he loved (Similarly, the FL was so absorbed with all that she had to do, she stopped caring about the person she loved) We have no idea when the neglect started but it was mutual. They both dropped the ball in their relationship.
=>As I watched the Drama, I kept taking sides, in episode 1 I did not like the way the FL didn't give him any privacy. Throwing the crab bone at him to the point that he bled. Going full on crazy. That sucked. And that poor game console, what an overreaction. She didn't even give him time to tell her that he was in an accident.
=>At the same time in episode 1, it was easy to see that the FL took on the majority of the weight of their relationship. The kids they both had, but only one had to look after all the time. Her job was clearly more expendable then his. He failed to communicate just as much as her.
If put in her shoes, would you really be able to accept that your husband hated you so much that when he had the chance, he dumped you and got together with his first love? I certainly wouldn't. Kudos to the FL for being the mature one and realizing that they were both at fault here.
Oh we have Oh My Ghost cameos, as if Seon Woo wasn't enough of a treat, even Park Bo Young appeared as an actress in the movie that the ML was watching at the theatre. At least I think that it was really Park Bo Young on screen.
Okay. After all that, I didn't think that I would like them getting back together. But you gotta admit that they look great together and have a lot of fun as well. A majority of that is the credit to the actors playing the leads, they had good chemistry, whether they were fighting or enjoying each others company.
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Plot
Everyone is pointing out the similarities between Go Back Couple and this one. And yes,in the beginning they're definitely similar but to be honest,Familiar wife can't be compared to GBC. That drama was worth a perfect 10 and this wasn't (it's just my honest opinion)
So the plot isn't really unique and it has some flaws,it got boring from time to time and i wish it was shorter. They should've ended it around episode 13. I think they dragged the story too much (episodes 13,14 & 15 were just fillers) to the point i wanted to start a whole new drama and watch this one later. The writers also left a couple of questions unanswered.
But overall it's not like i didn't enjoy it,i actually did. I liked that it highlighted well the fact that most marriages and relationships aren't perfect and that you should learn to communicate better and have a good teamwork to make it work and not fall apart. Also, the ending was perfect. I'm glad i could see how all the characters lived before, during and after the changes.
Acting
The acting is a 10. The cast did a wonderful job and Ji Sung never disappoints.
Some of the characters are gonna get on your nerves. A LOT. But this drama has such an amazing character development. You can see it through all of the episodes. And it's really satisfactory.
So,it's not a drama that i will be remembering forever. It failed in making me feel excited until the end. And as a drama binger,i don't really recommend watching this all at once. (If you're like me and get bored easily...) But i do recommend it if you like time travelling dramas and amazing acting.
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