Hanah
I cannot begin to explain how much I love this drama in simple words, but I will try to. Unlike a lot of dramas that start out epic and fade out, this drama does the opposite. It starts out like a simple rom-com-melo with some time travel to sprinkle on top and then you realize that is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only does this drama excel in the technical aspects (story/production) and the emotional aspect, it goes above that to reveal very important, well-expressed social commentary that is not contrived or preachy at all. Maybe it's me, but when something manages to entertain you and teach you, I'd say it's pretty powerful stuff.
Story/Production: You can really tell the writers and producers put a lot of thought into this and it shows. Time-travel is a very tricky subject. It is a well-known rule that going to the past affects the future, so if even one piece of sequence does not fit, it ruins the entire setup. We've all seen the dramas that start to break their own rules and mess everything up. The writers did a phenomenal job here of connecting everything so it fits and revealing it in a way that keeps viewers engaged, amazed and astounded. There is almost no filler. Entire storylines are told in a few minutes. I am still mindblown by the opening and ending sequences. Production-wise, the classroom settings, alleyways, realistic houses and old buildings really added to the viewer depth. Everything felt so natural and lack of product placement really gives it an authentic touch.
This is a personal rating criteria, but I also really like how the drama manages to give the female lead a lot of agency. Despite the influx of female leads that appear well-written on paper, once the story gets going, the female lead is often overshadowed. I was worried for a hot minute that this story would turn the male lead into the one making all of the decisions/figuring out all of the answers but, to my utter delight, that doesn't happen. Not only does the female make critical decisions that moves the plot forward, you see her relationship progress with family and friends that does not involve the male lead.
Acting: Phenomenal. You could right away which character our lead actors were trying to play, even when that character was not acting like how they usually would. The rest of the actors did a great job too, everyone felt very natural, like they actually were the characters they were playing. The actors all had good chemistry too. Siblings and BFFs felt like siblings and BFFs. And the lead two actors, their sweet chemistry is off the charts. If you took away the plot, I could probably watch 13 hours of these two just just talking or flirting with each other.
Music: Music is an important part of the story but the songs they choose really add to the nostalgic, dreamy and mysterious mood. Actually very good standalone too.
Rewatch value: Because this drama has a lot of 'boom' type revelations, it might not be as exciting the 2nd time around but since it is so intricate, it could be fun trying to break it down again from the beginning. I would re-watch it for the romance and chemistry alone.
Final thoughts: Would recommend to anyone without any hesitation. One of those dramas that are more than the sum of its parts.
Story/Production: You can really tell the writers and producers put a lot of thought into this and it shows. Time-travel is a very tricky subject. It is a well-known rule that going to the past affects the future, so if even one piece of sequence does not fit, it ruins the entire setup. We've all seen the dramas that start to break their own rules and mess everything up. The writers did a phenomenal job here of connecting everything so it fits and revealing it in a way that keeps viewers engaged, amazed and astounded. There is almost no filler. Entire storylines are told in a few minutes. I am still mindblown by the opening and ending sequences. Production-wise, the classroom settings, alleyways, realistic houses and old buildings really added to the viewer depth. Everything felt so natural and lack of product placement really gives it an authentic touch.
This is a personal rating criteria, but I also really like how the drama manages to give the female lead a lot of agency. Despite the influx of female leads that appear well-written on paper, once the story gets going, the female lead is often overshadowed. I was worried for a hot minute that this story would turn the male lead into the one making all of the decisions/figuring out all of the answers but, to my utter delight, that doesn't happen. Not only does the female make critical decisions that moves the plot forward, you see her relationship progress with family and friends that does not involve the male lead.
Acting: Phenomenal. You could right away which character our lead actors were trying to play, even when that character was not acting like how they usually would. The rest of the actors did a great job too, everyone felt very natural, like they actually were the characters they were playing. The actors all had good chemistry too. Siblings and BFFs felt like siblings and BFFs. And the lead two actors, their sweet chemistry is off the charts. If you took away the plot, I could probably watch 13 hours of these two just just talking or flirting with each other.
Music: Music is an important part of the story but the songs they choose really add to the nostalgic, dreamy and mysterious mood. Actually very good standalone too.
Rewatch value: Because this drama has a lot of 'boom' type revelations, it might not be as exciting the 2nd time around but since it is so intricate, it could be fun trying to break it down again from the beginning. I would re-watch it for the romance and chemistry alone.
Final thoughts: Would recommend to anyone without any hesitation. One of those dramas that are more than the sum of its parts.
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