fae
This review may contain spoilers
Emotional, satisfying, and heart-wrenching in the best possible way
When I finished watching this drama, I rated it a perfect 10 for my own list. Writing this review, I'm tempering it down to an even 9. That said, there really isn't much better you can do with a storyline like this, and when I say this show was satisfying, I mean it.
THE GOOD
- The characters. Let's start there, because there was a LOT of good in this show. I absolutely adored every single character they introduced to this story. The most remarkable aspect was the sense that every one of them had a backstory, regardless of whether we saw it or not. That really made the characters live and breathe beyond their supporting role (in most cases). Eun Gyeol was an excellent lead to take us through the story, and he worked beautifully opposite the younger versions of his parents. It was incredible being introduced to character after character and growing to care for them as the series went on. I'm talking about the guitar grandpa, Se Kyeong, the band, Ma Joo, Eun Ho, the whole lot of them. Definitely one of the more superior ensemble casts I've had the pleasure of watching.
- The Deaf representation. I want to start by saying that I am not Deaf or HoH, nor do I know anyone who is, so my opinion here is secondary to anyone who's from that community. However. I really liked the way they handled the rep here. Not only did they show the struggles of functioning as a Deaf person in a hearing community, but they also showed the joys and beauty, too. I am always apprehensive at time travel plots that aim to 'fix' a person's disability, so I was really really pleased with how it actually played out in this show. There were some more subtle moments of respect as well--when Yi Chan gets to know Cheong Ah better and doesn't pull her out of the way of a car but rather lets her walk out of the way on her own. Deafness and differing abilities of any kind are not a burden on society and that was such a beautiful moment to show that. Cheong Ah had her fair share of abuse and bullying, but it was honestly incredible to see how her friends respected her and liked her and wanted to communicate with her the way she deserved. Similarly, showing Yi Chan's grief following the accident...that was incredibly real, too. I always thought the time travel was never about saving Yi Chan, but for Eun Gyeol to understand him, and I was very pleased to see the writers agreed.
- The pacing. Rarely have I watched a show that was so well-paced. The plot was constantly moving, and every piece of filler served to move the plot forward. It was very, very well done.
- The acting. From the child actors to the adult ones, everyone knocked it out of the park. There isn't a single one I can point out as an exception because they all brought their A-game. It was riveting to watch, truly.
THE BAD
- The last episode made me a little impatient. I had hoped for an earlier resolution in the 'past' so we could see more of the 'future'. That said, it was still fulfilling in every way that mattered.
- The time travel. So this part required a little suspension of disbelief. There really were no rules to how the time travel worked, and how big or small an impact changing the past had on the future seemed to depend entirely on what served the storyline. If you're a stickler for these details, then you definitely have to turn that part of your brain off. It's a little wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...and that's OK. Things don't have to be perfect. It was still enjoyable.
- The new future. OK so...I was really hoping for Eun Gyeol and dad!Yi Chan to revisit their argument from the beginning (EP2) AFTER the time travelling so we can see them both grow to understand each other. That did not happen. In fact, their lives were changed enough from the past that the argument never existed. Which is...one way of doing this, I suppose, but I wasn't a huge fan. I didn't like the idea that Eun Gyeol returned back to a completely different life, even though the person he is was forged from all of these experiences that no longer existed. Again, wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...but I would have liked to see some more subtle changes rather than some big ones.
There is no THE UGLY because there truly was nothing that bad. This show is such a comfort drama. Very rewatchable, and it really makes you want to live a more fulfilling life. It had me nostalgic for highschool as well, and wishing that I'd spent that time 'sparkling' a little more.
THE GOOD
- The characters. Let's start there, because there was a LOT of good in this show. I absolutely adored every single character they introduced to this story. The most remarkable aspect was the sense that every one of them had a backstory, regardless of whether we saw it or not. That really made the characters live and breathe beyond their supporting role (in most cases). Eun Gyeol was an excellent lead to take us through the story, and he worked beautifully opposite the younger versions of his parents. It was incredible being introduced to character after character and growing to care for them as the series went on. I'm talking about the guitar grandpa, Se Kyeong, the band, Ma Joo, Eun Ho, the whole lot of them. Definitely one of the more superior ensemble casts I've had the pleasure of watching.
- The Deaf representation. I want to start by saying that I am not Deaf or HoH, nor do I know anyone who is, so my opinion here is secondary to anyone who's from that community. However. I really liked the way they handled the rep here. Not only did they show the struggles of functioning as a Deaf person in a hearing community, but they also showed the joys and beauty, too. I am always apprehensive at time travel plots that aim to 'fix' a person's disability, so I was really really pleased with how it actually played out in this show. There were some more subtle moments of respect as well--when Yi Chan gets to know Cheong Ah better and doesn't pull her out of the way of a car but rather lets her walk out of the way on her own. Deafness and differing abilities of any kind are not a burden on society and that was such a beautiful moment to show that. Cheong Ah had her fair share of abuse and bullying, but it was honestly incredible to see how her friends respected her and liked her and wanted to communicate with her the way she deserved. Similarly, showing Yi Chan's grief following the accident...that was incredibly real, too. I always thought the time travel was never about saving Yi Chan, but for Eun Gyeol to understand him, and I was very pleased to see the writers agreed.
- The pacing. Rarely have I watched a show that was so well-paced. The plot was constantly moving, and every piece of filler served to move the plot forward. It was very, very well done.
- The acting. From the child actors to the adult ones, everyone knocked it out of the park. There isn't a single one I can point out as an exception because they all brought their A-game. It was riveting to watch, truly.
THE BAD
- The last episode made me a little impatient. I had hoped for an earlier resolution in the 'past' so we could see more of the 'future'. That said, it was still fulfilling in every way that mattered.
- The time travel. So this part required a little suspension of disbelief. There really were no rules to how the time travel worked, and how big or small an impact changing the past had on the future seemed to depend entirely on what served the storyline. If you're a stickler for these details, then you definitely have to turn that part of your brain off. It's a little wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...and that's OK. Things don't have to be perfect. It was still enjoyable.
- The new future. OK so...I was really hoping for Eun Gyeol and dad!Yi Chan to revisit their argument from the beginning (EP2) AFTER the time travelling so we can see them both grow to understand each other. That did not happen. In fact, their lives were changed enough from the past that the argument never existed. Which is...one way of doing this, I suppose, but I wasn't a huge fan. I didn't like the idea that Eun Gyeol returned back to a completely different life, even though the person he is was forged from all of these experiences that no longer existed. Again, wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...but I would have liked to see some more subtle changes rather than some big ones.
There is no THE UGLY because there truly was nothing that bad. This show is such a comfort drama. Very rewatchable, and it really makes you want to live a more fulfilling life. It had me nostalgic for highschool as well, and wishing that I'd spent that time 'sparkling' a little more.
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