Back in Time (2014)

This is my first review and I also watched this drama like a while back so bear with me...
Story: 9.5/10
This is a rather real slice of life. Even though I didn't grow up in that environment, the stories I've heard matched with the show. The actors are real in their concerns and every day routine. The characters interact so well and really bring out that school time innocence. Their issues are actually so real and relatable that the episodes fly by while reality punches you in the face. Their story made me want to cherish high school, or what was left of it at the time, all the more. Because they were so eager to grow up when all they had to do was be kids.

Acting: 8.0/10
From what I know, these were relatively young/new actors and actresses. They're acting wasn't over the top or exaggerated. They worked well together. I really liked them (anyway).

OST: 7.0/10
Music was pretty decent. I don't remember much of it but I'm listening to the OST as I write and it brings back some pulled heartstrings so definitely memorable when prompted.

Rewatch: 8.5/10
When I'm feeling a little nostalgic I would definitely turn to this drama. But I usually don't rewatch dramas...so if I would...

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Loved the second ship, hated the mains

The second ship really saved this for me. From the start I knew I would love them so much better — the playful, teasing relationship that they had is my favorite type of ship. And I really watched the drama for them, even though the plot went OFF THE RAILS for them. The second female lead had the personality that I loved — outgoing, bubbly, straightforward with her feelings.

I also had really terrible SLS for this drama honestly, I felt like second lead had so much more character and backstory to him, whereas you barely knew anything about the main lead and the development with the FL was absent as well. My stars are also for second lead, who I feel like got the short end of the stick, as second leads in cdramas often do.

With that being said, I basically could not stand either main lead.

The guy was unlikable. I'm just not a fan of cheaters and he did it multiple times, and always seemed to blame it on the other person.

The female lead was the worst part. The acting for the female lead was not only bad, I think it was simply a terrible character who couldn't hold a conversation for more than two minutes, NEVER learned to stand up for herself or be herself for that matter, and also maintained the same facial expression throughout all 16 episodes. I couldn't, for the life of me, see what was so interesting about her, and as the drama went on it felt like she only got worse — more dependent on her partner, more selfish in what she asked of him, and more delusional in the idea that nobody should change and that she was for some reason owed a relationship.

In fact, the entire drama seemed to put such an emphasis on "how dare you change?" for each character. They fought over promises they made years ago that don't make sense to keep considering the obstacles that life threw in their way, and it was like only the second ship managed to learn how to navigate new situations.

Ultimately though, the pacing was done pretty well with their coming of age being evenly spread out; I'm obviously a larger fan of the high school days, before things haywire, but I'm super glad the second lead got their ending.

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