Seonsaeng
Spain
I feel my review is going to be unpopular amid the drama's great popularity. Anyway, there we go!
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.
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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