This review may contain spoilers
How would you change if you found out you were going to die soon? Cheon Soo-Ho (Kim Jung-Hyun) is the son of a chaebol; entitled, arrogant and bored. Raised by a psychopathic father and an abusive stepmother he is, despite his wealth, someone who has no purpose in life. Diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only six months to live, he dedicates his remaining time to helping Seol Ji-Hyun (Seohyun), a woman he wronged.
The first half of this drama is dark and bleak but somehow compelling despite the numbingly-depressing tone. KJH shed his school uniform with ease and his acting improved in leaps and bounds to the end of the first half. Seohyun also put in a strong performance, especially when she had scenes with KJH, whose presence elevated her acting considerably.
The controversy behind the scenes of this show is well documented. Kim Jung-Hyun's health problems may have forced him to leave the show early but if there was any vehicle where the writers could have worked without a male lead, this was it. Cheon Soo-Ho's death was inevitable and the show had two strong, complex female leads to work with - even if they didn't have the same level of acting experience.
Unfortunately, the writers seemed to falter at KJH's exit. Maybe the writing fell away, maybe the writing was always this poor. We'll never know what the show should have been, but we do know what it could have been if they'd successfully shifted the narrative to the female lead.
The episodes after his departure highlighted how much of this was held together by KJH's gravitas. Without that, the show digressed into standard - substandard - melo: meaningful looks, shallow. smirking antagonists and people running around without purpose.
In the end, Time became a melo mess: thematically weak and even boring. Without KJH's performance, one is left wondering if the show was always that bad and we just didn't notice. Despite that, the first 12 episodes were relatively strong and so it deserves the higher rating,
And KJH deserves to be flooded with offers once his health improves. Because he quite literally stole this show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Story: This story was very interesting about two people from different backgrounds connecting to each other mentally and emotionally after a few events and spending a lot of time together. The story was written in a way that was true to real life and can relate to either one or both of the leads in someway. One of the most realistic melodramas I have seen in a long while.
Acting: The acting was top-notch! I was speechless throughout this drama. I could not imagine any other people playing the leads. Kim Jung Hyun as Soo Ho was raw, real and intense with so much impact. This was the first time that I was truly invested in a male lead character in a melodrama (it usually takes time for me to get invested in them). I cried so many times because of his character. Seo Hyun as Ji Hyun was just as real, raw and intense as Soo Ho. She made me cry just as much too. . . Seo Hyun portrayed a woman who was going on with her life, but then, it just stops after a few events till Soo Ho show up in her life. The chemistry between them was so intense, electric, sad and sometimes sweet even. The other leads were people who you would love to hate so much with passion!
Music: Really hit the right spots for me. The background music was fantastic, and fitting for the tone of the drama. The best song in this drama is "Time" by Gaho. It is sad song that really brings the mood to the drama and fits the scenes that it was in.
Re-watch or Nah?: Would not watch this again because It was hard to watch. I scored a 8/10 because I did watch this twice. . . . I was hard both times. Maybe I would recommend a one-watch for people who are starting this drama.
Overall,
Do not let Kim Jung Hyun press conference controversy stop you from watching this drama! You would understand why he did what he did once you see this drama. You will not regret this. . . . The story is interesting, the acting is beyond expectation and the characters will hit you with so many feels that it is insane.
Was this review helpful to you?
This drama revolved around the quintessential jerk of a chaebol Cheon Soo Ho, played by Kim Jung Hyun, and the optimistic but always struggling Seol Ji Hyun played by Seo Hyun. I thought Kim Jung Hyun was great and initially liked Seo Hyun, but eventually, their chemistry got traded in for a convoluted revenge story that I just didn't like. I felt like the story wasted the development of a great character, Cheon Soo Ho, and instead focused on turning Seol Ji Hyun into an unconvincing mastermind who kept giving everyone the side eye so much that I forgot I initially liked her character. Maybe a better actress could have pulled off Seol Ji Hyun's transformation but as the star of this story she was pretty boring, and unimpressive.
The side characters were fine. Hwang Seung Eon and her super purse and Kim Joon Han as the worst ex ever were really good, with a relationship that became even more interesting than the main couple, but because of the overload of melodrama, many of the characters became too two dimensional. By the end, I had no real interest in any of them.
I suspect that the last few episodes were not what was originally intended because they seemed so thrown together and tried to overcompensate with the drama. Soo Ho made me sympathize and even boo hoo cry the more I learned about him, but once Soo Ho was no longer the focus I lost any lingering interest in this show. I just finished it to see how it would finally end, and to see if the ending would justify the depressing tone. Maybe some people found the end inspiring, but I did not. I felt like all the suspense lead to a pretty boring conclusion. There were a few themes about classism and trust that could have been interesting, but the story was just too cliché for me to invest any real feelings into it.
Overall if evil CEOs, terminal illness, rich people behaving badly, betrayal & revenge sound like the makings of a great drama, I'd say there are other dramas that do those things much better than this. But if you feel like brooding over how unfair the world is then maybe this is the perfect drama for you. As for me, I'd recommend just waiting for whatever drama Kim Jung Hyun has coming up next.
Was this review helpful to you?
I have mixed feelings about this drama. It wasn't bad nor good, but sometimes I really hated it or loved it lol...
I was watching this just because of Kim Jung Hyun...and after his departure, it became a bit boring to watch....
STORY: 7/10
The story itself is boring, because we already know everything: the villains, the way the victim died and that stuff. It’s just watching the good guys catching the bad guys and finding out how she died. That makes the viewers and/or just me bored. But yet, it is interesting to watch from this perspective.
It was really frustrating to watch this drama because, the bad guys just become even worse and the good ones continue to be only good...and then Ji Hyun (Seo Hyun)... seems like she didn't do anything in most episodes...
When Kim Jung Hyun left the drama, I think the writer was really stressed out that the drama was falling down more and more...his character was carrying the show...at least for me.
CAST: 7/10
I like how complex the characters are.
Kim Jung Hyun//Cheon Soo Ho - He proved it here, that he is a brilliant actor and can play anything. His acting and character were just amazing. I don’t even have words to explain it lol
Seo Hyun//Seol Ji Hyun- Neh, is really a "Neh" for her acting and character. I felt like her character is a puzzle with missing pieces. It is missing something...and as I said before, she seemed to do nothing...what makes her even poorer. Then there was her acting, I do have to say, i'm not a fan of it. There are times when she's good and others she's bad. But she didn't convince me, sorry.
Hwang Seung Eon//Eun Chae A- I'm going to talk about her, since I really like her. This role fits her so well. I really enjoyed seeing her.
THE ROMANCE- It was actually working... dark and melo romances in this type of dramas work really well.
OST: 8/10
I liked the end. It wasn’t a surprise, but it was clean and complete, with nothing missing.
Was this review helpful to you?
I don't know why they named it this . It's a total bluf , You know how catchy title's attract you xD
Like if I made a drama named gangster , you would watch it asap, right ?
That's how it works .
Anyways ,maybe it should have been better to name it this :
" Machiavellianism "
If you don't know the meaning it's :
Machiavellianism in psychology refers to a personality trait which sees a person so focused on their own interests they will manipulate, deceive, and exploit others to achieve their goals .
So this world defines this drama . This is what happens . Here they manipulate the truth .
This drama is a prime example of how things starts with a small butterfly affect and what can be it's consequence ?
It's perfect till episode 24 or 26 . But since the male lead leaves the show , it's ending is a bad presentation . It's absurd .
Time is worth it to watch . The reason I loved it was the far more realistic approach of how things happen but with that ending they totally took a U turn and Middle fingered us with such an absurd superficial ending .
Also the best thing about this drama is the acting . It's one of the best with such a whole new cast fot the first time in recent years .
Otherwise whatever drama I see , there's always a a same cast person , it's like this industry has become a monopoly of some support characters who always play such role .
Final Call
6/10 ( coz I loved Kim jyung Hyun's acting . He's the sole star of this drama with such a perfect acting an also the plot )
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I hardly ever cry in dramas. Imma tough rock to move but well Time was worth every tear. You see Soo Ho was a arrogant person from the beginning and then he is given the huge news. From that point to his last moment you can see a change in him. You can see from being an heartless person to loving and cherishing, protecting Ji hyun.I liked Ji Hyun's character the most. She was wronged in so so many ways it's impossible to fathom her pain.
This has to be Jung Hyun's most underrated work far.
The scene where he prepares meal for her, picks the plate up and tries to see in becuase he is loosing his vision made my cry so so so so bad ):
The reason for low rating is the second half of the drama which took away the charm. KJH had to leave the show for health issues and the story does sulken. Overall I will suggest it for some emotional heartbreaks.
Was this review helpful to you?
A funny thing happened on the way to the last episode
Not that funny unfortunately!The first 12 or so half hour episodes of this totally sucked me in, thanks in a large part to Kim Jung Hyun. Anyone that has had the misfortune to wade through a few of my reviews will know I'm not fond of Jerk Leads who don't grow up but I am fond of Romance. And the first third of this drama promised a Jerk Lead with character development and a sweet though perhaps doomed Romance. Whoot!
As we entered the teens though this promise started to fail, the plot became a lot less convincing, an obviously ailing KJH had to pass the baton to a far less accomplished Seo Hyun and Romance took second place to REVENGE!!
I was left feeling bathetic...so much promise unfulfilled and at 22 episodes in boredom set in - This is not the Drama you were looking for!
Story: Begins well but loses it's way far too early, possibly due to panic over the impending departure of KJH.
Acting;/Cast: KJH is the real stand out here even I appreciated his turn as a Jerk. Kim Joon Han was a convincing villain with scraps of soul and there was haphazard support from Hwang Seong Eon.
Music: Had a couple of classics mixed in and never made me hit mute.
Rewatch: I didn't manage first watch! but if I did revisit it would be for KJH.
Overall it could have been great but it lost it around the half way mark.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I’m pretty torn on this drama honestly, part of me wants to love it because dark and depressing shows are normally my go to but this one seemed highly unfair. I’ve only hit episode 25 and I’m not sure if I’m going to continue or not. I really don’t like when shows go so far into a female revenge plot line. I’ve seen multiple shows do it where the female lead gets so set on revenge that she ends up treating the people who are good like garbage and that’s gotten very old at this point. Soo Ho may have not been the best guy but he sure as hell tried with what he was given after noticing his errors and near the end, she just tore him apart. Chae A was never my favorite character by any means but she slowly redeemed herself when she started acting more human and while she did do wrong regarding Ji Hyeon's sister I don’t think she or Soo Ho are to blame for the death. I didn’t mind Ji Hyeon at first but as time went on I started to like her less and less, the more revenge consumed her the worse her character got.
Either way, while I’m torn on how I feel about the show, I do want to say Kim Jung Hyun’s acting was absolutely outstanding. He by far saved the show for the time he was on it and it’s understandable why playing that character ended up taking a toll on his health. Hopefully, once he's recuperated he’ll get more chances for roles in other dramas.
Was this review helpful to you?
.
Kim Jung Hyun plays a character with limited time who also had to drop out of the drama earlier than planned for health reasons which leaves this weird gap in the last 1/4 without the lead actor. This also led to a problematic ending and send-off of the character which was suppose to be the climax of series! Almost unwatchable after that. There were a lot of other problems but this one seems to be the most prominent one.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
pros
1. KIM JUNG HYUN. (notice the caps) OMG! what a revelation! BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT. great actors are chameleons and from his role on WAIKIKI to this is a complete 180°. I have never been moved by an actors performance in a kdrama since Yeo Jin Goo in CIRCLE. Someone please give this guy an acting award
2. Kim Joon Han. wow! his character was a refreshing take on an antagonist. his low-key evilness would make you somehow still root for him
3. the love story. two broken souls found each other just when they're giving up on life. Really nice chemistry, nothing was forced and cheesy, it was just a realistic portrayal of how love develops
4. the ensemble. this just goes to show that with a perfect casting, it can turn any cliche writing into something else good
5. this drama is therapeutic (at least for me). for those who lost their will to live and survive then this series is for you. there's so much life lessons to take away from this
cons
1. seohyun. I wasn't really bothered by her acting, I just think that she could improve more on being convincing. A lot of times you can tell that she's "acting" instead of being really believable, well maybe because she's surrounded by actors who really lived and breathed their characters
2. towards the middle of the series it felt like the true meaning of the show got lost and veered into different direction. I wished the writers stayed committed to the title and that would've given us so much feels
Was this review helpful to you?
Let's begin with the story. True to its name, 'Time' is a dark, sad criminal drama. It took me a while to get hooked, but I did. To be honest, if it wasn't because of Soo Ho's (Kim Jung Hyun) condition and limited time to live, this drama would've just been another criminal drama about rich people abusing their power and forgetting how to be a decent person; however, after Soo Ho discovers he's sick, we are given the first lesson of the many in this drama: no one lives forever, no matter how rich you are, you'll die. That stuck with me throughout the whole drama and will continue to do so forever, because I never gave it a thought before and even if I did, I never got to actually see it.
The plot begins to twist after Ji Hyun's sister, Ji Eun, dies. Of course, something has to be the catalyst and I was okay with it, but things started happening really fast. For me, Ji Eun's death was enough to develop the whole plot and there was no need to make the female lead suffer more, but they still did; probably because they wanted us to feel for the poor Ji Hyun even more, but it still seemed forced and rushed.
The characters are another story. The emotions are portrayed really nicely, especially the first episodes, but only with the two leads. We don't really get to see the personality of the secondary characters and they feel pretty much like filler. There are characters that I just can't understand why they even exist. Of course, this is forgiveable and the show still managed to get me on my feels, but I felt like I was missing so much, so many backstories...
The acting was still amazing, especially from Kim Jung Hyun. I cried and felt so much with him, I felt his pain and his guilt, and that's something I didn't feel with any other characters, like Eun Chae Ah or Min Seok, until the lastest episodes. Seo Hyun was also really great, and her acting would really boost whenever she was on the screen with Jung Hyun. I got to empathize with her character, too (who wouldn't, poor girl), but at certain point her attitude seemed to change so drastically I didn't even notice. This made me mad, because it was only shown to us the ''new'' Ji Hyun and not how she was really feeling, but that's still forgiveable because, honestly, you understand her and it's not difficult to imagine how she was really feeling.
As many of you know, Kim Jung Hyun had to quit this drama sooner than expected due to his mental health, which meant his character, Soo Ho, would die sooner. Honestly, his death scene felt plain. I cried, I really did, but something was just off. It was really quick and out of nowhere, with no explanation but your guessing. This kind of threw me off because the drama was literally just about Soo Ho's remaining time and the crimes that Seol Ji Hyun had to solve, so his death was actually a really important scene and it wasn't developed well enough.
After this, the show became more of a mess. The directors failed immensely to drive the attention to our left-alone lead Ji Hyun and the criminal part of the plot had been dragged way too much. They managed to give it an average ending, but again, plain. We didn't get to see how the situation was affecting the rich characters except from Eun Chae Ah, we only got to see their non-changing greedy personality. Finishing the episode there was one thing left unexplained, which made it feel like there could be a second season; thank God there isn't, because the story just couldn't go any further.
Overall, I really (really) enjoyed 'Time' and the soundtrack, especially the instrumental pieces, is so beautiful. It is enjoyable enough and really emotional, kind of succeeds on making you feel attached to the characters (mainly Soo Ho) and gives really precious life lessons. Still, that doesn't change the fact that it was a little hard for me to watch (I dropped it twice) and that it could've been better. I wouldn't watch it twice, but it will stick with me for a while and I don't regret doing it. Would recommend, if you're patient and don't mind badly written secondary characters that much.
Was this review helpful to you?
