5th time’s the charm?

Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk reunite for the 4th time, how promising.

Wish they chose a different project so I could actually celebrate.

Firstly, this show does a horrible job at balancing it’s tones- actually, it doesn’t balance them at all. There’s an abundance of silly scenes with the family/kids that have constant banter and jokes, and then there’s plain serious assassin-work scenes. They do not mesh at all, not because they can’t, but because whoever worked on this show just doesn’t know how to make it flow.

At the very end of episode 4, we get serious again when Jang hyuk’s character has to kill his friend, but then suddenly someone else does. It’s revealed to be Jang Nara’s character. Woah, right? Then we continue with this at the beginning of episode 5, serious music flashbacks and dialogue. Had me thinking oh maybe they’re starting to focus on/put more effort into the serious half of the story, only to then be back with the family bickering over absolutely nothing less than 10 minutes into the episode. This continues throughout the entirety of the series, making me never take the serious scenes seriously despite them clearly wanting the viewer to.

Apart from the above, in general I found it hard to keep watching/stay focused, as there is no actual story. Just family fighting and murder. Family fighting and murder, family fighting and murder, family fighting and murder. There is no arc no objective no start-to-finish narrative. Just flat nothingness trying to disguise itself as comedy.

I honestly think it would have been an alright drama if it stuck to one of it’s tones and never touched the other. Humour&Family only: Have Jang Hyuk’s character work at a regular office. He could still have the female boss which could still cause a comical rift, and he could still be absent in both fatherfood and marriage due to working long hours. They could work to fix that together all in a happy tone. Now this still wouldn’t have made it perfect as whoever was writing the comedy aspect wasn’t great. A lot of the jokes fall flat. Nara and Jang Hyuk manage to carry the material they’re given, but it’s not much. For example, for the first 4 episodes the biggest running gag is that they can’t have sex because they keep getting interrupted. FOR 4 FULL EPISODES. Anyways, I digress. For if it stuck with it’s serious tone instead of humour, they could have gone a similar route as Undercover (2021) but keep the Mr. & Mrs. Smith aspect to set it apart.

Do I have any positives about the show we actually got? Hmmm..
• Episode 11 Thailand opening followed by the fight together.
• Shin Su A - a wonderful child actress. Steals every single scene.
• Minseo & Taegoo - cute dynamic.
• Jang Nara - a great great performance from her and a cool-ish role for her as well. Badass killer
• As always gotta love Jang Hyuk’s dramatic comedy (though I did find it a little over the top a few times here… let’s blame the direction.).
• Jang Hyuk & Nara’s chemistry - still hasn’t died. Let’s hope we get a 5th reunion to make up for this mess.

Overall, a big let down. I believe there was a lot of potential to do good here but they crammed so much genre and characters in that it was not only messy but annoying.

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Mixed bag.

I rate episode 4 10/10. I rate Gil Chae 10/10, she was a fantastic character that I admired quite a bit. Namgoong Min was fun as always. But the rest of the show was inconsistent in overall story. I know a second season is coming, but from what season 1 was, it was a bumpy road to say the least. I’d describe the first 3 episodes as pure romcom with tiny bits of politics thrown in. Then episode 4 was all out war, and while sudden it was incredibly well done which is why I mentioned I rate it 10/10 at the beginning of this. Then we fell back into romcom with more politics than before and moments of more war. From then on it’s a little slow but fine, not bad. [ Though I will say every time Jang Hyun went off with his men on a journey I was not very interested. Gil Chae was definitely the star in my mind. No matter the situation she was in she was always fascinating to me. ] Romcom vanishes and angst appears for the last 2 or 3 episodes. All of this mixed together makes my rating as low as it is.

That being said I am looking forward to season 2. There is a lot to work with in character development and story progression.

Additional thoughts:
• Jang Hyun was acting possessive enough to annoy me A LOT just in the finale. Before that I thought he was pretty nice to Gil Chae all throughout.
• I think the letter Gil Chae leaves Jang Hyun near the end was perfect. She was absolutely right. She spent the majority of the season in love with Yeon Jun, while only being affected by Jang Hyun a few times. “It is true that I briefly wavered, but I do not trust or love you enough to leave everything behind and follow you.” From what we saw, while she grew to care for him, it in no way warranted leaving those she truly loves (her father, her maids, Eun Ae, etc.) behind this soon into her side of the relationship. I believe he is at that point with her though.

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A good pairing.

Note: I watched on Netflix, which had 43 episodes. Not sure why MDL says only 40.

Let’s be honest… the plot was not plotting here. However the leads were fantastic, both in character on their own and in their relationship together. They were the only enjoyable aspect for me. The side couples were cute enough but truthfully I did not care about them or anything else going on really.

Ren Min is incredible. I had only seen her years ago in “Cry Me A Sad River” so it was nice to see her again and leading in a show opposite Xiao Zhan. They have great chemistry and do what they can with the story they were provided. Since they were the leads I was able to enjoy a good chunk of this. It was just any scene without them that had me struggling to pay attention.

That being said it got messy enough towards the end that even I began to lose interest in the leads themselves. I’d say around episode 37 or 38 is the last good moments had with them.

Rating it a 7 for the leads. If you were to watch only the leads scenes it’s a 7 for sure. Take the rest into account it probably goes down to a 6 but.. whatever.

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Had potential, completely wasted it.

Skip through every Jang Hyuk&Kim Hee Ae scene and you'll be watching a decent show. (I say this as a Jang hyuk fan). The entire plot with Jang Hyuk&Kim Hee Ae both alone and together is so uninteresting I don't know how anyone could enjoy it. However: the entire plot with Lee Min Jung&Noh Min Woo is pretty good. I feel you could stretch Lee Min Jung's entire story into a 50-episode makjang where she's the sole lead, everyone else a supporting character, and it would be thoroughly enjoyable. The first 10 episodes feel like a great set up for that. We have her ideal happy ending squashed and her want for revenge on the woman who did so. I feel as though they should have grouped Jang Hyuk's character in on that. She should want revenge on both, and fall in love with Noh Min Woo's character along the way. If I didn't know Jang Hyuk as the leading man he is I honestly would've expected the actual story to flow this way. Because by halfway through, she dislikes Jang Hyuk's character and has developed a lovely relationship with Noh Min Woo's. It may seem like I'm making up a story of what I would have preferred, but for a moment it actually made logical sense for the story to go the way I thought.

Now, if I enjoyed everything with Lee Min Jung why have I rated it so low? Well, while she is the female lead, Jang Hyuk&Kim Hee Ae are the other 2 leads, and they take up probably 90% of the show. So I didn't get to enjoy much (again, I am a Jang Hyuk fan).

Any other positives?
• We get a lovely Once Again (2021) reunion with Lee Min Jung&Lee Sang Yeob, and not something tiny but they actually have a few scenes/conversations with one another.
• Kim Sung Oh&Choi Hye Jin's characters and character's relationship with one another was cute.

I would only recommend if you don't mind getting SLS, though be warned: you'll have to sit through a horrible plotline with the other characters.

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A delight (for the most part).

If you take a look at my review for part 1 you'll probably notice a positive jump in opinion from me.

While episode 1 of part 2 continued how I felt about part 1 (not great), I enjoyed episodes 2-9 very VERY much. Of course, this is in large part due to Gilchae. She is one of the best characters ever written. I do not think I have ever admired someone so much. And I genuinely do not think a single actress besides Ahn Eun Jin could pull this role off. She's simply mesmerizing. But again with Janghyun... when he is not in a scene with a woman I really do not care about this man, sorry. I love Namkoong Min, it's the character that does nothing for me (UNLESS WITH GILCHAE). He fails to bring any interest to his dynamics and relationships with many other characters, meanwhile Gilchae in comparison SHINES with her complex and beautiful stories with many (Eunae, Jong Jong, her father, etc.).

I will note, memory loss is probably my least favourite trope ever. HOWEVER, I actually think it is well done here- THE FIRST TIME. Having it happen for a second time is plain silly and ridiculous.

Last couple episodes are a bit underwhelming, just as the first episode was. But the strong middle has me rating it much higher than part 1. I am interested in rewatching both parts, I think it will be fun.

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This. Is the BEST movie ever made.

[ Original date written: Dec. 9th 2020 ]

You might expect it to be your typical revenge story but it isn't. Not in the slightest. It does not follow the formula you think it would at all. INSTEAD of the entire movie being about a man hunting down the man who's done him wrong and getting revenge at the very end, this film instead takes a 'cat and mouse' approach. Our (and I use this term lightly) heroine catches his target fairly early on, only to purposely let him go in order to catch him again. And again. And again.

It’s a very long movie but I found it went by quickly. I was so interested in what was happening and enjoying every single second that the runtime didn't even phase me.

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A single but detrimental flaw.

[ Original date written: Nov. 27th 2020 ]

This had the potential to be one of the best sageuks ever made. Only one thing held it back : the character Rin. What an annoying and worthless mess of a character he was. He served no purpose other than (unintentionally(?)) ruining his best friend's life, with no logical reason I might add. His feelings for the female lead make no sense. They came OUT OF NOWHERE. He blatantly hated her and found her untrustworthy right up until the moment he found out her true identity... and then he was suddenly in love with her? Again: MADE NO SENSE. Same goes for the female lead's feelings for him. If you remove him from this show, it would be PERFECT. I have no doubt about it. That being said, (minus Rin of course) the leads were great, delivered amazing performances and were good characters with good development (for the most part). It also has one of the best (if not the best) *sageuk* villains I've seen. And the side dynamic between the characters Moo Suk and Bi Yeon was really adorable.

I will also note, this is the only K-drama I can think of where the female lead ends up with the second lead - of course the one time we don’t want it.

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The best K-drama of 2021.

[ Original date written: May 14th 2021- slight additions made now ]

This has a very nice concept with a great cast and a well executed story. I can easily picture it being longer or future seasons being made. The story would undoubtedly flow well as they could have a new place to clean each episode, as well as time to develop relationships further. I do feel that there was a lot left to be explored more in most if not all relationships showcased here.

Episode 8 was what made me realize this drama was something really special. The truth behind (and the realization on Sang U's part) of why Jeong Woo had seemingly abandoned him all those years ago, the confrontation with Geu Ru at the train station followed by his finding of all the nikes back at the house was what got me. It's very rare for me to feel as sad as I did during those moments. But generally the whole show is wonderful even prior to episode 8. The format and execution is perfect. The stories of each move are great and so are the main characters themselves along with their dynamics.


I rarely rewatch shows, but I made both my brother and mom watch this with me. So in total I have watched it 3 times, and I must say it genuinely gets better with each watch. It is astonishing how beautiful this show is. It's truly a work of art and should be watched by all. I see no flaws or have no negatives about it, I simply want more.

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Perhaps the 2nd best K-drama of 2021.

[ Original date written: June 21st 2021 ]

I was very much looking forward to this and had actually been impatiently awaiting it's premiere ever since the cast was announced. The first couple of episodes I did enjoy but as it progressed I found myself loving it more and more.

Oh Yeon Seo is my favourite actress and she did not let me down with this drama comeback of hers. Her performance (as always) was incredible. She brought so much power and emotion to the character of Lee Min Kyung, in a way I think no other actress could.

I loved Jung Woo in Reply 1994 so I was interested in seeing him paired up with my girl and I have to say they exceeded my expectations. At first I wasn't sure how romance would be tied in as the beginning episodes mostly contained hysterical arguments between the two with no suggestion of anything else, but by episode 5 their beautiful development began and not only was their chemistry evident AND outstanding but their story itself was pure warmth for the heart. It’s a perfect romcom, but it also manages to bring characters with tragic pasts together with a healing outcome.

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Underwhelming

The cast characters and relationships are likeable. Even the overall story concept is likeable. But the execution is just very very boring. The mystery aspect them trying to solve and stop the murders is so uninteresting that it's sad, a letdown. The only thing that kinda kept my attention was Jin Kijoo's character dynamics. Her relationships with her parents in the past was the biggest like of the show for me, and then her with the male lead was okay. Apart from that…

I wouldn't say it's a bad show. Just bland, slow, -which is sometimes fine in general but here I feel they were in no way intending for it to be that way. They probably expected us to be wrapped up in the mystery but, for me at least, that was not the case. I just wanted it to be done and over with to be honest.

I do not recommend, though again, it's not horrible. Just something I view as the opposite of a must-watch drama(lol).

If you're the type of person to watch shows for the actors and not just story, then go ahead. Both Jin Kijoo and Kim Dongwook are good here.
All of the supporting actors are great as well, especially the younger characters from the past. I look forward to seeing them in future shows.
Lee Wonjung is a definite stand out.

Any other thoughts? Hmm.. maybe it would have turned out a little better if they followed the current trend that lots of networks seem to be doing lately: 12 episodes instead of 16.

I'd like to note that I am a massive sucker for time travel shows&movies, which is why I was actually really looking forward to this. While it was a let down in the previously mentioned ways, I will also say that I often forgot that this was a time travel show. The story focused so much on the investigation that whenever the younger versions of her parents weren't around, I genuinely forgot we were in the past.

I know I've given a lot of negatives while simultaneously saying “It's not that bad!”, so I will provide a compliment to even this out and wrap it up: Kim Dongwook's character's father being the killer was a very good twist. Especially when you take into account how for a good portion of the series he was adamant that it could've been Jin Kijoo's character's father, it gives the reveal a nice contrast to the storyline overall I think.


That's about it. The end.

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The most pleasant surprise.

[ Original date written: May 31st 2021 ]

I was initially confused by how much I enjoyed this because everyone I've seen talk about it has either said it's boring or bad. But for me it wasn't. Not in the slightest. This is one of the most interesting dramas I’ve ever seen. It’s so different from most K-dramas, as it doesn't follow the usual formula I’ve seen oh so many times.

Obviously the cast is great but the STORY the lead characters and the relationship between them are all incredible. It’s got good humour, an interesting and VERY different romance, AND it executes sad tones very well. For instance we'll be in a romcom environment but then our male lead will travel to the future to see something terrible or sad, instantly raising our interest and investment in seeing what becomes of these two.

I was hooked by episode 3. The scene of him going to his death day for the second time and speaking to his future self on the phone, that was when it got me. I thought to myself "Wow. This is going to be incredible." AND IT WAS.

For flaws literally the only thing I have to say is the last episode isn’t very good, though not in terms of no happy ending just in that it seemed pointless. But I find a lot of K-drama’s have bad last episodes the writers probably just don’t know how to wrap things up well.

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Definitely worth the watch.

[ Original date written: June 4th 2021 ]

So many different (but interesting) characters all connected by messy relationships form an overwhelmingly beautiful drama.

It’s very well written, not only in story but the characters individually. The only character I really disliked was Se Young. The story also followed an unpredictable path which I appreciated.

I feel the musical score must be mentioned as well. At times it was all consuming, the themes that played at the ends of episodes or during tense moments were very well suited.

It’s the perfect show to binge-watch. After I finished each episode I felt the need to keep going.

If I were to go into negatives, (this is more of a nitpick really) I'd say it seemed to normalize slapping your adult children. Both Jung Hyo and Min Soo get slapped by their fathers upon their first in-person confrontations following the news of the pregnancy, and it's never really addressed later they just kind of move on from it. I would also say Min Soo's character development was lacking. He starts out rude and selfish so I was excited to see how he'd grow but he kind of just accepted the pregnancy eventually and became the perfect boyfriend. Where was the change in him? I did like how they showed him always looking at the ultrasound picture and Jung Hyo's mother planner it did present some good visual conflict in him but when it came to actually saying things not much came out.

That’s about it.

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From gold to bronze.

While watching I initially had this at an 8/8.5. The first half was so much fun & very enjoyable/likeable in every aspect. But the second half completely flips to a different story and vibe (the simplest way to describe the shift is that it went from a romcom to a melodrama). It didn't become bad, but I definitely started to lose interest and was just waiting for the end. For this I had to bring the rating down a bit. If I was rating just the first 10 episodes alone it would stay as high as I initially thought. Logically it should be a 5.0 rating since half was good and half not so much but I feel like that would be a disservice to the great first half. It was genuinely good so it would be a shame to seemingly hide that with a poor rating.

Jang Hyuk & Jang Nara are lovely together in that first half. I understand why they've been casted together 4 times now. While Family (2023) let me down quite a bit, here I did get a good chunk of enjoyment and am glad to have watched (despite finding watching the second half to be a tedious task).


Bonus notes:
Choi Jin Hyuk's character's sister storyline was kinda dumb but I understand they probably wanted something for him to do besides be in love with Miyoung.

Also, I loved the music. Jang Hyuk's theme in particular was great!


That's about it.

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Falls flat

This had a strong start. The set up we get before the time jump was actually very interesting (and I know is based on a true story). Once we get to said time jump… the only interesting characters are ones we already knew- Bok Soon & the King primarily. Their son, wonderfully played by Yeo Jin Goo, is the only semi interesting new addition to our centered cast.
Lee In Jwa is the most irritatingly boring sageuk villain I have ever seen. He’s certainly hateable (as all villains should be) but not because he’s well written. He’s simply just annoying.
Our lead/heroine, Baek Dae Gil, has nothing going for him. The female lead, Dam Seo, is also useless. There is certainly potential for good story in both these characters but the writing, casting, (and possibly direction of these actors), fails them miserably.
The story itself- pointless. It’s literally just them going in circles trying to take down Lee In Jwa. Incredibly repetitive and plain boring.
If I don’t care about the leads, or the villain, or the story, why am I watching?
Minor characters Seo Lim & Cutter were nice only because the actors themselves I know and like.
Actors Yoon Jin Seo and Yeo Jin Goo are truthfully the stars of this show for me. Absolutely great performances (when they are given the chance to shine). Actor Choi Min Soo was good too. Apart from that, I have no other positives to list. This is 24 episodes total, and honestly nothing warrants that runtime (especially when the only good part of the story was the set up). By episode 17 I had to stop myself. I tried to push through hoping it would loop back in quality, but unfortunately it looped back only in it’s tedious plot.

I think it reminds me of Gu Family Book. I absolutely loved the set up of that series as well. We again meet the parents of our eventual lead characters in a very intriguing set up, then time jump to uninteresting everything.

I don’t recommend- even if you like some of the cast, it’s not worth it.

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Not really worth the time..

I want to start off by complimenting the editing/directing style of this show in general. It stands out from all the other chinese dramas I’ve seen in a creative and stylish way (visually).

Now. So sorry to Ling Chao but he is my biggest negative to speak about here. He was dreadfully boring. Anytime we were focused on him I lost complete interest in what was going on.
The other characters however were wonderfully interesting. Xiao Tu(FL), Yin Zi Han(SML), Jiang Juan Juan, and Jia Si Wen all had such unique (and differing from one another’s) characteristics and personalities. They certainly carry the story as it’s pretty drawn out and flat (to be honest). The four of them make it enjoyable- to a point.

I definitely don’t think it should have been 24 episodes. Not enough happens to warrant that much time to tell the story they have laid out. Makes it a mostly boring watch. I rarely drop dramas, but by episode 18 I decided I had had enough.

And I can’t not say it: once the leads start dating (episodes 16&17) they are soooooo awkward- but rightfully so! They’ve viewed eachother as siblings for 20 years!

Overall it was decent enough but I wouldn’t recommend. There’s far better youth-romance cdramas out there [ watch Wait My Youth(2019) or A River Runs Through It(2021) instead of this please ].

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