50 hours long but worth it
This is the first time I've written a review here. I am so appreciative of the reviews on MDL and the time people take to write them, so I wanted to do my part and encourage people to watch this excellent drama! Fifty hours for a single drama (100 half-hour episodes) seemed intimidating, but this show is very binge-worthy! The story flows so well, with so many moving parts all fitting neatly together, I just kept clicking on the next episode.The drama centers on the Song family and their neighbors at Yongju market, where the family has a fried chicken shop. While the series abounds in staples of a kdrama rom-com (a contract relationship, fake girlfriend, lost sibling, and an imposter relative, etc, etc), the characters were incredibly well-written and relatable, with realistic problems.
The family members include:
Patriarch Song Young Dal: generous and good-hearted (though a skinflint with the family budget), he carries a burden of guilt from childhood for leaving his sister when they were orphaned and he was unable to care for her.
Mother Jang Ok Boon: hot tempered yet fiercely protective of her children, three of whom are still living at home.
Oldest child and only son Song Joon Sun, a stuntman who has inherited his father's good heart. His generous impulses have ruined him financially and wrecked his marriage.
Oldest daughter Song Ga Hee, who left her cheating husband and is struggling to support her son.
Middle daughter Song Na Hee, a pediatrician with her husband Yoon Gyu Jin in the same profession. Her parents are very proud of her career and stable marriage, and consider her the most successful of their children. However, not all is as it seems.
Youngest daughter Song Da Hee, who is engaged to a fiancé with social and financial advantages. Here as well things don't turn out quite as expected.
Everyone has obstacles to overcome and issues to resolve., and manages to grow working through these personal challenges as the story goes on.
I would say Song Na Hee and her husband Yoon Gyu Jin are the primary characters. Their marriage is strained by life events and affected by their poor communication. Song Na Hee is whip smart, logical and emotionally distant. Yoon Gyu Jin is popular and friendly but not very mature. Their love story is touching and painful. You really feel for both of them.
My favorite romance by far is that of Da Hee, the youngest daughter, and Yoon Jae Suk, who is actually Yoon Gyu Jin's brother. They are both lovable goofballs. Their love story is so cute and quite a counterpoint to Na Hee and Gyu Jin, as they seem so attuned to each other's feelings and so kind and supportive of each other. I just loved it and admit I went back and re-watched all their scenes. They were just so hilarious together.
There are many other minor characters with their own story lines, all entertaining and nicely integrated into the overall plot. The humor was fantastic, and the actors were so well cast.
OST: I really liked the music, and I normally don't even pay attention to the sound track at all. I actually downloaded two of the songs: Love is Danger by Raina & Song Yu Vin, and Spring Breeze by Lee Moon See.
I rated the show 9.5 - some of the storylines were a little predictable, or too neatly tied up in the end, so not a perfect 10.
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Initially, I enjoyed the set-up for the main characters, Na Hee and Gyu Jin. Over time, however, I found them to be overbearing and frankly, frustrating. I became more attracted to the supporting characters and their developmental arcs, particularly Oh Yoon Ah's character (Ga Hee) and Lee Cho Hee's character (Da Hee). While it is hard to say how things will turn out, given the drama is still airing, I find them to be much more interesting than the main characters (for now).
I am a sucker for dramas with lots of side plots and non-nuclear family structures, so this was a hit for me. The original soundtracks are also really good (check out "눈 감아도 눈을 떠도 (When I Close My Eyes)", the second soundtrack and my personal favourite)). If you guys are looking for a comedic and light-hearted 주말 드라마 and are happy to invest in a 100-episode journey, I highly recommend "Once Again".
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This review may contain spoilers
This was an unexpected surprise for me. My first weekend drama and a first longer drama. The message of it hit the spot for me, I was having (and still in way am) a harder time at work than usual -I think that most of us do right now - and for a time this was the only escape for me. I am still hoping it will all pass and this drama gave me a bit of hope. Once Again was the highlight of my day, the only couple of minutes that I was able to smile and loved it to pieces.What this drama does so well is the early development of the individual stories of each character. Some have a later arrival than others and the perspective often changes, giving more screen time to those who are in more eventful moments and it steers away from those, whose story needs a little more time. I had no idea how I did it, but I watched the first 30 episodes in eight days. This is something I almost never do. TV is always a reward for me but this made my self-control just fly out of the window.
My hunger for the series slowed down when the events in some storylines kept hitting the peek. I often found myself quite emotional and having quite a dramatic situation on my hands irl, I just needed to calm down a bit. This wasn't due to the tempo of the drama, I think that it was very stable throughout the series and it kept it's pace until the end. Slowing down in watching it made me appreciate it much more, and I was also finally able to see the details that make this drama so great.
The drama finishes with a couple of episodes that are pure fan-service and it does not leave any storyline hanging. This makes Once Again incredibly rewarding and the 50+ hours of it totally worth it.
The cast of the drama is pretty much phenomenal. Even the children, who are often sore spots in dramas, are tolerable here. To be honest, there isn't one performance that I wouldn't enjoy. I especially liked the two mother figures - Kim Bo Yun and Cha Hwa Yun were incredible - there are plenty of moments where they let you love to hate them. The four siblings and Yoon brothers carry most of the drama though, and they are doing it admirably. Also, Lee Sang Yi smiles so brightly, that I am pretty sure I saved some money on my electricity bill due to not needing to have my light on while watching his laughter in the drama.
The story comments on many elements of daily life in South Korea and especially on the common theme of appearances in front of others. I think that everyone could relate to it and while there was not anything groundbreaking in terms of storytelling here, the dialogue is written so well that the drama is addicting and it will keep you coming back for more. The Song siblings are also very human and I think that every viewer will see elements of himself/herself in at least one of them. They are also #squadgoals.
The OST was nice and Lee Moon Sae's song, often featured in ending sequence, will be stuck in your head for weeks. Trust me.
I am so happy I gave this one a go. The number of episodes might seem intimidating but... It's just so worth it. I cannot wait to come back to this a rewatch not only my favourite moments, but probably the whole series again.
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Heartwarming Family Drama
My rating on this drama is probably a bit harsh but there were so many parts of the drama that just didn't capture my attention. Don't get me wrong. I was hooked on my seat over certain storylines within the drama, but as with any 100-episode drama, it just gets to be a bit too much at some point (at least for me ... it seems like others thought otherwise). This is why I typically avoid these long dramas because they tend to drag, in my opinion, but I really wanted to watch and see what happened with the main couple (Gyujin and Nahee).Of course, as I watched, there were definitely parts of the storyline and characters that I grew to like more as the story progressed, but there were also other storylines I still couldn't get behind. As someone who doesn't watch these types of dramas frequently, though, perhaps this is all very normal for a drama of this length. It reminds me a bit of one of those shows that I could put in the background while doing something else, and it's certainly light-hearted and an easy watch. If you need something to fill your time, I would still definitely recommend giving this a try!
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This review may contain spoilers
Best family drama ever, it's as simple as that
Where to start ? Once again is a gem, the kind of drama you bump into every 10 years. It's so perfect. Let's list the qualities of this drama :- Story : the story is about people who 'failed' their first marriage and given the importance of that in Korea, it's hard for them to get another chance. The show is perfect at giving hope and good feelings about it. It's absolutely lovely seeing every character rebuild their life and overcoming hardships. The only draggy moment was the fake sister storyline, but fortunately it wasn't there so long. That's the reason it's a 9.5 and not a 10.
- Characters : they're all so endearing, so well-built... I love them so much, each one has its own personality, its own qualities and defects, and its own development. I loved the market atmosphere and side characters were really funny. Okja... lol.
- Music : this OST in on my daily playlist. What more can I say ?
- Comedy : it's very funny and the humour is totally my type.
Anyway, I love the Song family and I feel like it's mine.
This drama can't be toped.
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The best family drama that i have ever watched..!!!
A drama with 100 episodes that i never thought i would finish, but here i am rewiewing it. The first thing that i have to say is that every single ep is worth watching. It's ok to spent this amount of time if it's such a great drama.Sooo.. this drama starts with the Song family which includes the mother the father and four adult kids( 3 women and 1 man).
The Song family has a really stressful life and goes through a lot of unpleasant events. This drama has a refreshing story with all kind of relationships. Also deals with real life problems.
Half through the drama you might start thinking what else can it show. But trust me it's keep geting better because sudently it brings you more unexpected problems, that the family has to deal. More family issues are created and of course more romance.
Overall ,I would recommend this drama to everyone because it has a great balance between a romance an a family drama.
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its like a warm hug
Why is this drama not mentioned more often in ‘to watch’ lists?? I’m going to start a petition and spread the word, more people need to watch this!This show made me smile, laugh, cry, go ‘ooh’ and ‘aaaw’ so many times. It was funny, romantic and so, so full of love.
Not love just romantically, but family wise. It is almost a commercial for having a big family at home. I felt a little bit of ‘empty nest syndrome’
towards the end!
Also, the chemistry between all main characters was, to me, amazing. The scenes with Gyu-Jin and Jae-Sook were hilarious, the casting was so good!!
I just love love loveeeed this show so much! Will definitely rewatch it!!
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Great Family Drama!
Kuddos to the writers! From the start to the end I simply couldn't stop watching this show.At the beginning, the highlight of the story was Song family's youngest daughter engagement was completely destroyed by her cheating fiancee. The shameless and disgusting guy was cheating on her right after the engagement / wedding party. I felt super bad for her but at the same time, I wish she would punch or slap the horrible guy. Too bad she just left and broke the news to the family that she wants an annulment. And as fate has it, she meets her hero when she goes through a horrible event. I was overjoyed when the sisters and brother kicked the ex-boyfriend's ass! I think the second sister did the best! Spray painted on the idiot's brand new car.
Initially, I didn't like the male lead, Jae Sook cause he was such a joker and love to prank poor Da Hae but when he was serious with Da Hae, I gave him super bonus points! Loved how he later punched the ex-boyfriend.
Gyi Jun, the eldest brother who is also the second sister's husband...is terrible. Overall, I disliked his character the most! I understand that he was going through a tough time and blamed his wife for her miscarriage but he is so childish. I also cannot believe that this couple didn't tell anyone about the miscarriage. He is a replica of his mother!
I love Ga Hae and Hyo Sin, the best couple. I wish they got married....but that's really too much to wish for? Hyo Sin is adorable and sweet. Too bad the story didn't develop further than him admitting her to be his girlfriend.
The brother is cool but a little too silly and a bit dumb. I guess he's just more brutish and muscle power type. So he kept making mistakes and cause his wife to drop him. He's just really lucky to have his parents and sisters to help him out. He is really good with his two daughters so he won good points!
I just think the father Mr Song and the real sister are too good to be true! Oh well, it's just drama.
Overall, well worth my time watching this series.
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I disagree at times with how mom selfishly only thinks about how she’s feeling after her kids divorce. I just wish she would once ask why and try to understand (I skipped a few of her crying parts because of this). I do understand that as a mother you want them to be successful and in a stable relationship, but it should be a healthy relationship. I feel awful for her kids when they go through so much but she can’t seem to connect to their feelings. Dad seems to do a better job with that. But anyways, Mom will surprise you in the following episodes. The character development of each character is amazing! So definitely loved it! I binge watched 56 episodes, then I watched the rest waiting desperately for every weekend!
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This review may contain spoilers
A great family drama - you will miss them when it ends
9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020 South Korean family drama with 100, 35 minute episodes.First I provide a unique synopsis then review.
Synopsis
The drama is about a family headed by Song Young-dal (Cheon Ho-jin) and Jang Ok-boon (Cha Hwa-yeon). The couple’s grown children experience all the trials and tribulations associated with being part of a close knit family and in finding their best paths for their future.
Main characters:
Song Young-Dal (Chun Ho Jin)
The father of the family. He owns and works at a chicken restaurant. He has never gotten over the loss of his younger sister.
Jang Ok Boon (Cha Hwa Yun)
The mother of the Song family. She is constantly stressed by working with her husband in their busy restaurant and by her grown kids who have not found their path.
Song Ga-hee (Oh Yoon-ah)
The eldest sister. A former Airline Stewardess, she divorced her cheating pilot husband. She has a Middle school son.
Song Na-hee (Lee Min-jung)
She is a pediatrician having marriage issues with her husband, a fellow pediatrician.
Song Da-hee (Lee Cho-hee).
The youngest daughter who was working in an office. She left her husband on her wedding night after finding him in an intimate situation with another woman. After that event she completely changes her life.
Doctor Yoon Gyu-jin (Lee Sang-yeob)
Na-hee's husband. His mother lost her husband after her boys were born and she treats her eldest son like a fill in companion. Her demands on his time have strained his marriage.
Song Joon-sun (Oh Dae-hwan)
The oldest child and big brother to the three girls. He is a stunt man whose wife divorced him for giving too much to friends and because of his dangerous career.
Kang Cho Yoon/Song Young Sook (Lee Jung Eun)
The lost sister. Yong-dal thought she died of fever when they were children. They were orphaned then later separated and he thought she died. She grew up with monks and went on to be a bar owner.
Jang Ok Ja (Baek Ji Won)
She is mother Song's little sister and works at the chicken restaurant with her sister and brother-in-law. She loves to gossip.
Yoon Jae Suk (Lee Sang Yi)
He is a medical doctor focusing in dentistry. He loves his sister-in-law Na Hee amd tries to stay neutral in his brother and sister-in-law's issues.
Choi Yoon Jung (Kim Bo Yun)
She is the mother to the Song family son-in-law. Her and Na-hee do not get along as both of them are jealous of each other over Gyu-jin's attention.
Kim Ji-Hoon (Moon Woo Jin)
Ga Hee's middle school son. He is sad his father cannot find time for him now that his parents divorced. Mature beyond his years he is his mom's biggest fan.
Park Hyo Shin (Ki Do Hoon)
Originally a delivery driver for the family chicken restaurant, his outstanding physique leads him to work for Joon Sun's new stunt company. He is a judo athlete who left the sport after a tragedy.
Review
This was a great family drama. There were multiple romances, lots of family events, and even some mystery. If you like family dramas I highly recommend this one. I would watch it again in the future.
Spoilers*
I still struggle with the cultural difference between American and South Korean culture. Here all their children are fully grown and the parents are still controlling their lives, Not just acting as advice and council but actually demanding the children do this and forbidding them to do that. I thought the mother was often overbearing and mean.
Ok Boon, the Song family mother, annoyed me a lot. She was so angry at the least slight that the kids hid things from her. I did understand feeling judged over what your kids do or do not do. That happens in Americqn society too. But she took it all overboard. I was just admiring her for staying out of the market gossip then she let them suck her right in. In that event she became gossipy and mean just like her sister.
I loved the oldest sister Ga Hee. She was kind and understanding with her younger sisters. She was firm with her slime of an ex husband. She was nice to her big brother's friends. Her son and her relationship was goal. They were so cute with each other. I loved we got to see her be successfull.
Na hee was unreasonable with her husband in the beginning. I understood she went through a miscarriage but she was so unwilling to work through the issues. I was disappointed she dated the hospital director as it was such a slap in the face for her ex whi worked with them and had to watch it.
Joon Sun was the perfect older brother. He watched out for his sisters and was a great dad. I understood why his ex divorced him but I thought she was unreasonable when they were co parenting and would withdraw the kids to punish him. I was glad when she finally came around and supported his dream.
Hyo Shin was so sweet with Ga Hee and her son. They became a couple yet we never got to see them kiss. I liked the three of them together and would have liked to see them become a family.
Yoon Jung was very misunderstood. She was actually a very kind person just had no filter in terms of her interactions. I was glad everyone got to know her better and she no longer had to be so lonely.
Ok Boon drove me crazy in the beginning she was a mean, selfish gossip. I was particularly angry with her for the way she treated Cho Yoon. Stealing the guy Cho Yoon was flirting with, who had already expressed his feelings for her, was low. She was just out to get Cho Yoon out of jealousy. She changed a bit later and even became friends with Cho Yoon but it felt like she did that after she got what she wanted and after finding out Cho Yoon was the lost sister.
I loved Cho Yoon from the minute she came on scene. She was tough but kind and lively and vivacious. The market people were all so mean to them in the beginning it made me mad. That younger friend of hers she was always loaning money to made me so mad. What a leech! She was just a psycho for what she did pretending to be the lost sister.
Overall it was good and ended well I just wish we would have seen Ga Hee and Hyo Shin tell the family and get married or at least engaged and I wanted to see the lost Auntie,Young Sook, have something happy and permanent with the director, I did not feel they wrapped those stories up well.
#ChunHoJin
#ChaHwaYun
#LeeJungEun
#OhDaeHwan
#LeeMinJung
#OhYoonAh
#LeeSangYeob
#LeeChoHee
#BaekJiWon
#KiDoHoon
#LeeSangYi
#MoonWooJin
#KimBoYun
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Great story, great cast!!
Once Again checks off all the points I wish to see in a show: comedy, drama, and a happy ending! This feel good masterpiece is heartfelt and savvy. The acting is above par and the cast visuals are delicious. I will be looking forward to see the cast members in future ( and past ) productions. I especially like how the Song sibling dynamic evolves during the series but never lost how supportive they are with each other. Although, the same can be said of the Yoon brothers. The “parents” of both sibling groups were great. Also, I love the storyline of the “aunties” and how feisty they both are while navigating their love live as single-women “of a certain age”. Overall, excellent production. I was thoroughly entertained!!Was this review helpful to you?
Family life and strife
Mini soap opera with laughs, cries and everything inbetween.Great cast and chatacters. So enjoyed the daily lives of the Song family. Watching characters grow and develop was a real pleasure. Great motivator for anyone whose lives have gone off track, finding themselves lacking confidence and feeling like failures.
My favourites in this were characters acted by Lee Jung-eun, Lee Sang-yeob, Lee Sang-yi and Ki Do-hoon.
I found it hard to like some characters, even after they'd acknowledged their own short comings, but then life is really like that - we can't like everyone!
Sometimes I found the story became a little silly, which detracted from what was overall a well written drama, with many laughs and realistic plots.
Song Da-he was a unique character, but her childish way of speaking did irritate me.
I wish the ending wasn't quite so abrupt, but this is one I would consider watching again.
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