Hey Beautiful people! What’s up?? I’m back with another revieeeew.
When it comes to K-dramas, anything related to vampires and fantasies, especially time travelling, is a no-no for me. It’s just like a turn off. If I want supernatural, I revert to Hollywood. I just don’t always buy into or enjoy K-drama supernatural genres, save for ‘Kang Chi’ which I really enjoyed.
To me, k-dramas are very genuine and relatable with their characters and stories and so, they shine so brightly with rom-coms and family dramas. Those are their niches. To me, most of their fantasies rub off as forced and unnatural. That being said, I really hate Korean time travel dramas. I just really don’t dig them at all. They are usually tricky, confusing, complicated and inconsistent. They mess with my brain big time.
But with Go back couple, time travel was a yes-yes for me and it had all to do with clarity, first of all; deeply emotional performances, highly enlightening writing, freshness, fun characterisation and setting.
With Go back couple; I came to realize why time Korean time travel dramas are such a turn off for me. The show had clarity with transitions throughout the entire episodes. There were clear indications whenever we were going back to the past or present. I was never at any point, confused as to the time we were at or why our characters were doing what they were doing.
This is something time travel dramas such as ‘Tomorrow with you’ starring Shin Mi-a and Lee Je hoon did not have. The romance in ‘Tomorrow with you’ was the magic that made me give it any watch. I should add that I did a lot of fast-forwarding, brow-furrowing and brain-racking while watching the drama. The time travel scenes which suffered immensely from my fast-forwarding were utterly confusing, inconsistent and uninteresting. In fact, they were just big episodes of mess. Shin Min-a effortlessly playing Ma rin and the romantic marriage were the only things that caught my fancy.
Now back to Go back couple, I couldn’t seem to find anything that I really hated or disliked after the whole watch. The show didn’t have a completely new or bedazzling plot yet it felt so fresh and different. I can’t put the feelings into words.
Perhaps, the fresh and very relatable story of a couple struggling with fending for their home and toddler and striving to find meaning for their lives and the emotionally tugging way it was narrated through a nostalgic university setting is what gives it a refreshing and unique ring.
HOW SHOW GOT MY HEART
The Characters
Almost all the characters on this show stole my heart. Honestly. The creators of the characters, the characters themselves and the actors that brought them to life fused brilliantly and seamlessly and synergized in a type of way that I can’t help but describe as magical. It’s amazing really.
CHOI BAN DO
Choi Ban Do, at the beginning of the drama, may come off as insensitive, belittling, childish and petty in the way he treated his wife. He may seem to dote more on that squashy, cutie baby boy of his than his frustrated housewife who obviously wanted more of his time, attention and love.
I had all of these impressions of Ban do and they were quite bugging and annoying. But I knew there had to be other layers to his character. He is our main male lead and so I knew I just had to be patient to get to really know who he was as a person and husband.
And then came the scenes of him grappling to get by as a pharmaceutical salesman; kissing asses and sucking up to them even if it meant sweeping his pride under a carpet and staying out so late to boisterously serve up drinks to potential clients to win favours. I truly felt pity for him. I mean, he obviously didn’t choose not to spend time with his wife or notice her feelings; he just was understandably wrapped in his duties as the provider of a home. And I felt sorrier for him because his wife didn’t even know anything about how much he lowered himself to worthless people just because he wanted to make ends meet for his family.
As expected, as the drama progressed, there was truly more to Ban do than meets the eye. Son Ho jun played him and I must say; he did a truly wonderful job. Son Ho jun delivered excellently way past my prejudices. I say this because it was the first time I would be seeing him in a drama and he just had this manly, mature face and demeanour that didn’t make me think he was going to be convincing as a free-spirited married man or more so, as a bubbly, mischievous and playful 20-year old university student. But Ho jun pulled off Ban-do’s character, in whatever age and time, so well!
What endeared me mostly to Ban do was when I got to know who he really was as a person. Beneath all the petty bickering with his wife during their married days and throughout the time travel to university where he and his wife attended and first met, we get to see what a sensitive, caring, and devoted husband Ban do really is. As with life, frustration and hardships got the better of him and made him seem the opposites. We got to see that Ban do and Jin Joo (his wife) had a really happy married life until death of Jin Joo’s mother slowly drove a wedge between them. Jin Joo blamed Ban do for not being there for her so her mother could see her before she died and Ban do; guilt stricken and helpless even though his absence had been circumstantial and not intentional, accepted all the blame and hid his sadness about his wife’s grief and mother-in-law’s death, believing that by trying to act all bubbly, he could get his wife to laugh again and let go of resentment and grudge. But this would not happen because of Jin Joo’s deep love for her mother and how she felt like she had no reliable husband who could lend a shoulder, not act bubbly and grief with her instead.
A sad, colossal misunderstanding on both parts.
Son Ho jun’s heart wrenching delivery of these lines in the penultimate episode while puppy and teary eyed;
“I have always been sincere. I always tried my best. I’ve tried so hard so that I could live a happy life. Why do I always have to be sorry? Why am I always apologising? I missed my mother-in-law just as much as you did. I missed my mother-in-law just as much as you did…”
The emotional breakdown had me deeply moved and at the verge of tears because I realised that he was right. Because I realised that he was truly a victim of this hard life that seems to push people here and there no matter what until they feel like a colossal failure to themselves and those around them. Even when they tried really hard.
Son Ho jun totally crushed that scene for me and it was definitely the drama’s highlight. The last straw that broke the Carmel’s back. The gutting words and its accompanying emotions that made Jin Joo realise just how wrapped up she had been in her own feelings and why she had really blurted out that on that rainy night, with the highest form of heart wrenching agony that they should get a divorce.
I loved how despite the fact that Son Ho jun looked way older than 20, he was still able to embody the nuisances of a mischievous and playful youth whilst also being able to deliver mature and touching emotional performances that makes you want to squeeze up your face and cry along with him. I especially loved him as a character whenever he was missing his son or sensitively brooding about some deep words that Jin Joo has just somewhat flippantly uttered to him. I especially felt for him when he mulled heartbreakingly over the words; “You were never there when I needed you” and got to realise what hurt Jin Joo the most. Son Ho jun always delivered such tugging scenes with a sort of innocence, vulnerability and other nuances that made me feel so sympathetic and drawn to him.
Anyway, Son Ho hun stole my heart when I wasn’t expecting it and stirred a lot of emotions in me. Man, a male lead hasn’t made me feel so sorry and emotional in so long! And gosh, I found him to be very handsome. His long, chiselled nose on that handsomely face, his beautiful eyes and lashes, his somewhat childish and bright smile and the pure enamoured gaze he always watched Jin Joo with, were to die for. I was a bummer for this man and I am definitely going to watch out for his other works. Well done Son Ho hun oppa!
MA JIN JOO
I love Ma jin joo as a character and Jang Na ra’s natural portrayal of her made her much more lovable. Ma jin joo is emotionally delicate, affectionate, loving, easygoing, motherly and has a strong sense of morality. I could relate with her on so many levels despite having never been married and not having any child. How? I could connect with Ma jin joo struggles to find a sense of personal happiness in life. She got married so early and obviously felt like she didn’t explore her youthful days fully. She never had any fulfilling job instead, she ended up as a housewife with a baby boy, whom she loved so deeply by the way, to cater and fend for. She seemed to be losing herself in the process of being a wife and a devoted mother. And to make matters worse, she and her husband struggled with finances; resulting in the latter not having her time or being there for her. She seemed to be fighting so many battles at the same time. No personal sense of achievement. No doting husband. Bad financial situation.
I could really relate with all these feelings of abandonment and discontentment. That was why she the little will she had left crumbled completely when she thought that her husband was cheating on her. That rainy night, when she broke down in frustrated devastation, asking her husband for a divorce with painful tears was enough to convince me of what a great performance I was in a ride for. Thumbs up to Jang Na ra. That baby faced 38-year old who could easily pass for a 15-year old is a GREAT actress.
She had a whole lot of crying scenes and because of her delicate features and the heartbreaking way that she cried, I was always deeply sad for her. I was just really happy that she was able to go back in time to meet the mother she couldn’t properly say goodbye to and do everything she wanted to do with her. Again, Jang Na ra’s performances in those scenes with her mother were truly heart warming. Her deliveries are always so natural and touching. Big kudos to Jang Na ra. Big Kudos to her.
JUNG NAM GIL
I love love love love this character. But I’m very convinced that I am able to love him this much because the hell of a handsome and charismatic Jang Ki-yong played him. If any other actor had played Nam gil, I can’t promise that I would have loved Nam gil as much. And this is funny, ‘cause this is the first drama I would be seeing him in. Jang Ki’s acting had a signatory touch to it. It felt like no other person would suffice or make me fall as hard. While I watched Jang Ki young deliver, I had only two thoughts:
Where has he been in my whole life? I need to see him in a lead role of his ASAP.
I crushed on Nam gil as a character big time and he is the first second male lead, first ever, that I almost wished ended up with the main girl; and did not find irritating or annoying. This guy almost made me cast Ban do aside despite how much I came to love him too. I just loved how Nam gil got fascinated with Jin joo, how he didn’t hesitate at all to let her know that he was getting attracted to her despite having spelt it to her initially that he wasn’t when he truly wasn’t then. I cherished all of his scenes with Jin Joo and loved how quiet, inward and reserved he was and how that didn’t stop him from being expressive of his feelings for Jin joo.
He silently craved parental love and obviously couldn’t get it. I just thank God that he had a good-hearted step mother who cared for him like her own.
MIN SEO YOUNG
The fairy ballet princess. Ban-do’s graceful college crush. She had dorky star-truck boys lining up for her, being childishly shy in her presence, yet not an iota of pride or disrespect. She was humble, pleasant and gentle. With her graceful and quiet composure, you’d think she’d be closed up and wary when Ban do finally came on to her like a real, confident man but she was actually quite open and free with Ban do, fascinated by how he had approached her freely and confidently. Just like I almost wished for Nam gil to end up with Jin joo, you best believe I was wishing same for her and Ban do. They were adorable together. The chemistry between the lead actors on this show – MAGICAL. I’ll say something about that later on.
Min Seo Young was observant and mature for age and she didn’t turn out to be obsessive or crazy envious like I had feared. She was accepting, encouraging and positive. I loved her. Heo Jung Min played her brilliantly.
OTHER MAJOR CAST
Ahn Jae woo and Go dok jae were very different yet very similar. They were serious comic relief for me and they were definitely a huge part of the upbeat and lively tone the show had amidst all its emotional wreck balls. Kudos to those hilarious men.
Yoon Bo reum was feisty and straightforward but she was also soft-hearted and considerate. She was too, a fun, bright sunshine on the show. I loveeed her kissy romance with the shy and sensitive Ahn Jae woo. Their love story was all a fluffy ball of cuteness overload.
GO EUN SOOK
Another character I just have to pay homage to is Go Eun Sook (Jin Joo’s mother) played by the beautiful Kim Mi Kyung. Her portrayal of Go Eun Sook was natural. Mesmerizingly natural. There’s something about the veteran actresses in Hallyu that I always love. Their very skilled and natural portrayal of characters. They always play out characters with a sort of experience-slathered effortlessness that is so impressive. Go Eun sook was simply a mother with a beautiful soul.
SEO JIN
And I’m sorry, I gotta mention Seo Jin. That baby is officially the cutest and mushiest actor on the planet. His smile was always so bright and cutesy that I always felt like entering my lap top screen and squashing him against my chest each he came into view, tottering and gurgling happily. My heart just always melted like candy whenever I saw his big, bunny, smile. I love him!!! And his acting skillz? For a baby??
Flooring.
The Chemistry
The chemistry in this drama is something that I know I’m going to be mesmerised about for a long time. I mean, our leading man and woman had natural chemistry. No doubt. They totally seemed like they had deeply known and lived with each other for years. I absolutely loved them together. And then the second leading man and woman were introduced and I remember rolling eyes and bracing myself for the boredom and irritation that always come with the obsessive, clingy clichés that second leads in triangular love stories always are in K-dramas. But as earlier mentioned guys, at some point during the ephemeral closeness between Jin joo and Nam gil and the one between Ban-do and Min seo young, I almost wished that both couples stayed that way forever. The chemistry between Jin Joo and Nam gil; adorable. And that of Ban do and Seo young; cherishable. I almost wished that the main romance had originally been created amongst the two couples.
But crazy enough again, whenever I saw Jin Joo and Ban-do together again, whether they were bickering or exchanging amorous/sentimental glances with each other, I always wished that they would end their fight quickly and be in each other’s arms.
The whole pairing was a conflict for me guys. A real dilemma. How I often rooted for one couple and then rooted for the same couple with other people was really mesmerizing and thrilling for me. It just goes on to prove how chemistry worked magic on the show.
The Clarity
Like I said earlier, time travelling was a pleasant adventure for me because I had clarity. I was never lost or confused. Title cards always appeared on the screen to indicate the year that we were in. I really loved the use of those title cards. I appreciate how they took such care to ensure that viewers were always taken along.
The flashbacks were so distinct. The costuming and hair styling of the present and past were so very well distinguished that you would never be confused about time. All these made me forget that I was watching a time travel drama. The clarity made it so much easy, interesting and fun to watch. No confusion or brain racking would ever pull you back.
The Writing
Now I don’t know which should take the biggest points. The awesome acting or the in-depth and enlightening writing? I’m not too sure. But by the end of the whole watch, the only thing that kept reverberating in my mind was how highly impactful and eye-opening the writing was.
I honestly thought I understood some things about life but the drama was like a subtle smack in the face. A reminder that that sure I might know some things but I never really understood them or made attempts to be conscious of them. A perfect example is the whole silent battles of Jin joo and Ban do that led to the grudge and resentment between them and ultimately, to their abrupt divorce. Because they had piled up so much in their hearts, because they had refused to confront their discomforts and discomfits with each other openly, because they had been wrapped up in each other’s feelings (both personal and environmental), because they had not bared their souls and vulnerability with each other; insensitivity, ignorance and misunderstanding grew firmly between them and led to the dramatic heart burst in the form of a divorce.
In the last two episodes, Jin Joo would come to reveal to Ban-do that she felt like he had made a triviality of her grief about her mother’s death. That he had tried to laugh it off and act bubbly, that he had not hugged her, that he had not lent a shoulder for her to cry on, and that that was why blurting out getting a divorce had come so easily to her. And Ban-do would reveal that he had acted bubbly like that only because he wanted her to laugh, because he wanted her to be happy even though he was heartbroken about her mother’s death too and missed her mother so much too.
And truly we saw the depictions of these scenes where Ban do would be return from work and stand outside the door, depressed and full of guilt and then walk in the next minute, feigning happiness, telling his wife that he had brought home her favourite dish. And how Jin Joo would stare at him with the saddest and most dispirited eyes that wondered how on earth her husband could smile amidst all her grief, ignorant of the hidden pain and sadness that scourged him as well.
We also saw how Jin Joo tried her best to get herself back into high spirits, to be on talking terms with her husband again and how she hid her pain and tears from her husband all because she wanted to achieve normalcy again; disallowing herself to grief fully and openly to her heart’s content.
Miscommunication and Repression/burial of feelings are what this couple are guilty of.
How on earth was each party supposed to know what the other was thinking when they would not show it??
How sad.
This scenario just goes on to show how when things are left unsaid, when feelings are buried to make all well again, anger and resentment begins to breed in one’s heart and just one issue, whether serious or not, is all it takes to make one flip.
So what did I really understand or become conscious about?
People can seem insensitive and cruel even, just because they do not know what you have kept in your heart. Therefore always clarify. Always bare your feelings no matter how dark or trivial. Especially to loved ones. Don’t keep emotions bottled up. They’ll only hurt you, hurt your significant others and shatter all that you’ve built together in one single, impulsive moment.
One great thing the writer of the series also reminded me of is how to always remember never to take people’s love, care and attention for granted, no matter how frequently we receive them. This message was so impactful to me and also very bugging to the extent that I actually paused the drama at some point while it was playing, to call a friend that had always complained about him feeling like he was being taken for granted by me. The drama’s message rang bells of guilt in me and so I spoke with this friend for a long time and tried to make him feel all the love and attention that I know I always received from him yet hardly took time to give back.
I also loved how the writer used Jin Joo and her mother to show us how to always appreciate our loved ones, spend time with them as much as we can and show them all the love we can before it all of a sudden becomes too late and all we are left with in the wake of their death is regret and deep sadness.
Another amazing thing about the writing was the ability to make humour and emotional breakdowns blend so well in one drama. I think it is genius how despite all the emotional turmoil and wreckages the drama invoked in me every now and then; I still managed to feel light hearted and cracked a lot of times.
The Duration
The drama consists of just 12 episodes and yet it managed to work all the wonders I mentioned in 12 hours. The story was simple, fast paced and well plotted. No time-wasting, no dragging, no dulling.
PENG!
The Gift of Closure
You know how many of us have regrets in life; whether young or old, how we always wish we could go back in time and make amends or relish in the beauty of the youthfulness we didn’t realize/appreciate then? Well, this drama managed to bring such closure to its leads.
I was just so thankful and happy that Ban-do and Jin Joo could go back in time and fully bask in the recklessness and wildness of youthful age and remember the kind of person that they were before the difficulties and inadequateness of life started to taint them. I also loved how Jin Joo was able to realise how hot and beautiful she was at university and see for herself just how much she was loved and cherished by a very handsome and dapper Nam gil. I was also pleased that Ban-do could witness this. LOL. He was finally convinced that his wife had been loved by a guy who was in the future, a stinking rich History tutor. Ddaeng!
And as for Ban-do, I was thankful that he got over his shy ass and was finally able to walk up to his college crush and live out some of his school-boy fantasies with her.
How nice and gratifying would it be, if we could all go back to the past and do the things we regret not doing then? How fantastic would that be?
Anyway, I loved how Ban-do and Jin Joo realised that they belonged together, regardless of whatever time or age they found themselves in. They just wanted to go back to the future and be with each other and their little Seo Jin. How MUSHHYYYY.
MY DISCOMFITS
I honestly don’t have any thing that I disliked about this show. I’ve tried to rack my brain to remember something but nothing seems to ring. If there’s anything, it has to be something I was not really comfortable about and that would only be Ban-do’s insensitive and belittling attitude towards Jin Joo at the initial episodes which I later forgave after getting to know his story and the kind of person he really was.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This drama is a really beautifully crafted one. It is a perfectly short emotional and humorous rollercoaster ride. It is bound to tug at your heart, well some tears in your eyes (if you’re really emotional), remind you of how to always appreciate and show love and attention to loved ones and how to never take anything for granted, all the while managing to crack up your ribs too.
RATING: 85%