A Time Called You (2023)

not bad

As a fan of the original drama, I have to admit that this adaptation fell short in terms of directing and script. It lacked that special Korean touch that made the original stand out.

For Jeon Yeobeen's character, I noticed that her lines were somewhat repetitive. However, I must say that she portrayed the sorrowful moments quite well. Among the main cast, she definitely gave the strongest performance.

Unfortunately, Ahn Hyoseop wasn't able to capture Li Zi Wei's mischievousness in the same way as the original actor. Li Zi Wei's character was known for his cheeky expressions and funny antics, which made him so lovable. Hyoseop's acting in this adaptation felt a bit flat in comparison.

Kang Hoon's character didn't quite emphasize his hearing disability as much as in the original. It felt like something was lacking in his portrayal. Overall, Kang Hoon's acting didn't leave a strong impression either.

On a positive note, the cinematography was outstanding in this remake, even surpassing the original. However, I felt that the OSTs didn't have that "WOW" factor. The iconic Wu Bai's Last Dance and the opening song "Someday or Oneday" didn't quite live up to their potential.

The original Someday or One Day was an incredible drama. It had a compelling portrayal of mental health struggles, beautiful romances and friendships, and a captivating soundtrack that truly enchanted me.

If you have already watched the Taiwanese version, I would recommend giving this Korean remake a pass. While the overall plot and storyline are still good, it doesn't quite live up to the original. However, I appreciate that they provided a happy ending in the Korean version.

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Low Expectation

Someday or One Day is my favorite Taiwan drama ever. That being said I had low expectations for this show, like how could this drama be better than that masterpiece, right?

Well I think that's exactly what helped when watching this kdrama; I had low expectations. I kept thinking "oh there not gonna do my favorite scene". or "there not gonna add the gay storyline". After finishing the show I had same sort of love that I had for the original. It took me some time to be use to the pacing, but as I watched each episode I was criticizing less and enjoying it more. It seemed as each episode went by the writer was more confident in the story. Slowly the writer added their own take to the beloved remake. Adding their own spin and exciting take on the crazy loophole ride that we go on. The storyline is not destroyed as many remakes do? The original one needed a rewatch for complete understanding but I feel someone who hasn't watched the Taiwan one would understand this because they made Kdrama ver a little more precise and clear.

The acting was amazing especially the last couple of episodes, so many emotions… Props to everyone, especially the main cast as they definitely carried part of the show on their backs.

I wouldn't say it's a perfect remake, but if you’ve never seen the show before I think you’ll enjoy it!

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Heartfelt but beautiful story

I truly didn’t expect the story to unfold like it did! I thought it was a normal time travel love story but it had other genres and focus on mental health which I really liked! It kept you on your tip toes! The drama definitely was never boring (From time to time it was a bit confusing haha! But it started to make more and more sense a long the way! I also liked watching it and putting it all together like a puzzle) I personally think it was a really beautiful and heartfelt story!! I haven’t watched the original but I don’t get why so many do comparisons ♡ This drama is obviously going to have its own charm and portrayal of the characters! I don’t think it deserves to get rated badly because you compare it to “Someday or One Day”. I think the actors did one hell of a job delivering and telling this story! And the cinematography was absolutely beautiful as well ♡ I hope people who watched the OG will watch this one with new eyes and an open mind without comparing. What would be fun if it was 100% the same? Anyway that’s just my opinion :)!

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Watch it and Decide yourself if it is worth your time!

It was definitely worth binge watching it, I won't talk about the OG TW drama because I couldn't keep up with it back then since TW dramas releases are 1 per/week and this drama plot is worth the binge.

So when I was about to start the TW, since it was completed they announce this one, and since I like the concept and Yeon Jeo Been is one of my fave kactresses and just finished watching Business Proposal I decided to wait for this version.

So, I recommend you watch it for yourself don't go by what the OG are downgrading this drama, I usually don't compare dramas, bec tbh I didn't finish the original and I over enjoyed this one but my advise try it and watch first 4 episodes bec it is kind of entangled at the beginning but it then take it course.

I usually don't write reviews but I had for this one because IMO the drama itself is worth watching without even to compare it, if OG TW fans have another opinion that is fine, but also let the people that like this version also space to breath and stop downgrading the drama to -0 come on that is childish, no drama is worth that, every drama is make for us viewers and actors/crew do their job the best they can to entertain us and give us a good time. So Enjoy it for yourselves!!!!!!

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Here for Jeon Yeon Been only :)

If you watch this drama because wanna know how FL saved her late boyfriend by time traveling, you're not gonna find it. FL traveled to the past to save Minju LOL. Both the director and writer are failed to deliver the story. Here is why:

The writer developed the story really well when Jun Hee trapped in Minju's body, but not when Si Heon trapped in Yeon Jun's. Why i wanted it to be developed? Because, when i reached 9th or 10th episode, i was sad knowing that actually, Jun Hee has been loving Si Heon who trapped in Yeon Jun's body all along. That's why, imo, this time travel is also meaningful for Si Heon, not only Jun Hee buttt again, Si Heon's story wasn't really developed by the writer.

There were some parts i wish they developed for instance; I want Si Heon, who just trapped in Yeon Jun's body in 2007, to be as crazy as Jun Hee who always talks about the time travel. I also need their lovey dovey moments during that year to develop, so that when Yeon Jun died in 2022, we as viewer will feel the grief Jun Hee experiences. Why we should feel Junhee's grief as viewer? IMO and from my POV, this time travel is to satisfy JunHee's grief, because she is able to meet someone who resembles her late boyfriend, not because she wanted to prevent her late boyfriend from dying, she's just happy meeting Si Heon who resembles Yeon Jun.

If only the writer focused on Si Heon's time travel and developed the story from Si Heon's POV started from episode 6, i think it would be so much better. Because it's gonna make sense why Yeon Jun and Junhee met in university and then they fell in love, same goes with Junhee, it's gonna make sense to us why Junhee time travel to the past and met Si Heon.. But in the end, the writer makes us think that JunHee did time travel to save Minju, like for what? She's not a part of Junhee's life in the future, she's also not a threat for Junhee's life both in the past and future. Si Heon also never liked Minju in the past. So whyyyyy towards the end of the drama, the writer focused on saving Minju????? Hello, writernim???

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Let's talk about the cast. When i watched the first episode where Si Heon, In Kyu and Minju were punished for being late. I knew right away they cast the wrong ML :p just my opinion, i have Nam Joo Hyuk in my head the moment i see Si Heon who was so friendly, cheeky and playful. Throughout the drama i was like, oh i wish it's NJH.

AHS is suitable being cold and cool just like Seo Woo Jin on Dr. Romantic (i don't watch Business Proposal, tho). Or i can say, he's kinda failed to be Si Heon, there's still Seo Woo Jin vibe on him. Therefore, as for the character, imo, there seems no contrast between ML and SML. Because SML is portrayed to be quiet and a loner.

What made me staying until the end was only for Jeon Yeon Been. Unfortunately, imho, she still looks too old for a high school student (don't get me wrong, i'm a fan of her). Compare to AHS, which all of sudden NJH popped in my mind, i didn't have any name popped up in my head as to who is better portraying JunHee and MinJu.

Speaking of JYB's acting? 8.5/10. I was in awe on episode 11 or 12 i forgot, when Jun Hee sat in Si Heon study desk, immersed in his drawing and all of sudden it took her back to the future. After few minutes, she traveled back to the past and suddenly stood then hugged Si Heon without saying a word. By the way she walked,I knew right away it was Min Ju, no longer Jun Hee, even with her gesture, she proved how good actress she is. (if you have watched 'till the end, you know which scene i talked about).

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The director could not bring the best out of the cast (?)

In ATCY mostly i'm not satisfied with Ahn Hyeo Seop acting, he's good on Dr. Romantic 2 and 3, but not here. I know he is supposed to be bubbly and friendly as Si Heon, but still no fun...

Director should be really detailed in directing the actors to be similar to the role they take part in. Until the end of the episode, only Yeon Been is the star, even i watched on Netflix she said there was line she changed so that fit with the circumstance. Showing how immerse she is in her role as both Junhee and Minju. It takes two to tango, not only the director but also the actors who are willing to do more.

Behind the scene of every drama has been my favorite since i'm in kdrama land. Because as a viewer, i learn how the director direct the drama. For instance, when i watched bts of Vincenzo, how the director wasn't satisfied with actors' intonation and gesture, she would told the actors to perfecting certain part.

To conclude, as someone who never watched the original version, this is 7.5/10 from me.

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Feels like an adaptation

Before I start, I do want to say that I have watched the original Taiwanese drama and it's one of my favorites. There's definitely gonna be some bias there but either way, my review and rating will be more about this drama as an adaptation and less about its source material (how the plot is written, etc.).

In terms of the plot...well it already has my favorite type of time-traveling where everything is a singular timeline, and it has one of the most heart-wrenching twists I'd ever seen. I do feel like sometimes it got a lot more confusing than the original did; they left out some scenes of the characters just hanging out, or having important conversations, and overall just paced it differently because they had one less episode. Either way, I sometimes wondered if I would be more confused if I hadn't had pre-existing knowledge.

As an adaptation, though, it really is just missing some of the beats that the original nailed. I felt like we got a lot less time to watch the characters come to term with their emotions. The grief of Jun-hee, the playful innocence between the trio, and the tension over the attacks...everything just felt...less. I never really felt the stakes, or felt the gut-wrenching bittersweetness of unrequited love and all the pain that comes with it.

This is partly saved by JYB's acting, which is fantastic. But I can't help but feel like we only got to see the tip of her acting chops. The acting of the ML (AHS) was pretty good also, the ML is a lot more "cool" in this one and I absolutely missed the playfulness and the life in the original. Both the leads felt mellowed out as a result of both acting and script. Since this IS an adaptation, that's fine — but I definitely just prefer the character dynamics in the original where we really got to feel how much they enjoyed spending time with each other.

I also think the OST is just okay here. In the original, the cassette song was a core part, but really so were all the other songs as well. In this one, the soundtrack really just doesn't give you the same feeling of nostalgia.

The vibe of nostalgia really is missing from a lot of this show. I think the cinematography was really good, but sometimes the different timelines weren't that clear both visually and atmospherically; I don't think this one captured the feeling of the past and all the longing that comes with it.

Overall, I still do think this was a good adaptation but I think someone going into it fresh might appreciate it more than someone who has watched the T-drama. It is pretty one-to-one, which is a double-edged sword for the following reason:

Still, although a lot of scenes were directly taken from the original, the flow wasn't necessarily done well, landing this drama in an awkward position:
- If someone watched this for the first time, I really think they would enjoy it and my 5.5 should have 0 bearing on it.
- However, if someone WANTED to watch this story but hasn't yet, I would absolutely 100% recommend the original instead.
- And if someone had already watched the original and wanted to see it adapted...this MIGHT be a good watch, but personally I'd still recommend just rewatching the original again.

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they made it so complicated that it ended up not making any sense

the cast and their acting was amazing but i'm gonna be very honest and say, the story just got worse and worse as the episode went by. they made it so complicated by making the main couple and even the psycho killer be able to time travel. the romantic scenes lost its spark for me because 99% of the time i didnt know who's who. it icks me to think that junhee (or was it minju? lol) might be kissing somebody else that isnt her lover which to be frank at episode 10 i dont even know anymore if it was yeonjun or siheon that she fell inlove with in the first place. i get it that maybe they were going for the "even if we're two worlds apart we will find each other and love each other" trope thats why both junhee (minju) and siheon (yeonjun) can time travel but when it was revealed that the psycho killer can time travel too and on top of that chan hui wasnt actually the killer but actually it was chanyeong his little brother who happens to look exactly the same as chan hui even if they arent twins???? jesus christ its all just nonsense at that point. anyway, the ost gather my tears by seo jiwon was good tho, i loved it. also, i didnt watch the taiwanese version so this opinion is solely based and about the korean one.

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My Disappointment Is Immeasurable And My Day Is Ruined ( WATCH THE ORIGINAL )

What a horrible remake of a legendary script and such a great drama from 2020.
This drama is broken.
From script to screenplay to the main plot which involves ( time travel) everything is compromised, and the sole focus is on melodramatic romance which is ironically half baked in itself.
Horrendous.

And this is not the actor's fault, it's the director.
Just imagine if you had the opportunity to create a remake of such a great script, Nothing could go wrong if you inherited the direction but Nah, they had to insert the typical Korean flavour of melodrama in a time travel thriller, can you imagine?
I'm so disappointed I don't even want to write this review.
The times when you expect the best from the Korean drama industry are when they disappoint you the most .
The script has so many gaps, and once completed you don't feel the connection at all.
It's broken.
Even the side characters, oh yeah I completely forgot about them.
These guys abandoned them, with zero focus on side characters, can you imagine?

I wish I could shoot the director, and I'm not even kidding .

Don't watch this.
Just watch the original version of this drama named 'Someday or One Day' if you still haven't.
There are two versions of it.
Watch the drama first, the movie is secondary and is based on an alternate universe.

Overall, this drama lacks the charisma the original has.
Not a worthy remake at all.
I'm not saying this can't be watched, but why compromise on quality when you've something 1000 times better?

It's not everyday Taiwan produces a better script, acting, direction and songs than South Korea
.
' Someday or One day ' was the drama of the year 2020, and definitely deserves to be seen ahead of this.

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Fabulous

Sep 2023
First off; whenever a story has been successfully told once and is then remade, those who LOVED the original shouldn't watch other versions... they'll never compete. Those willing to watch as a drama in its own right, view on. After all, if subsequent productions are only to be carbon copies of an original, what's the point? So, moving on...

I watched this over 2 days and absolutely loved it.
Time travel, fantasy, mystery and a well thought out, gripping story, will make me putty in that drama's hands!

I read a lot of stories where the central theme is often transmigration (souls awakening in another body, which can be years apart from the last life).
This drama is a mix of that and time travel; the latter not being an easy subject to write well, mainly because it can be easy to lose the thread when trying to end the story. I've watched a few dramas where the plot's gone askew, but not this time!

However, this drama does need concentration and watching very closely. It isn't one to have on whilst doing something else and the FFWD button should be taped over. So much can happen in different scenarios, where subtle repetition of words and actions are actually so important.

It can be a little odd in feel, to start with, until the way the story is presented becomes familiar and comfortable ~ but please bear with it, as it really does make sense and come together.

Time can alter at each scene change and initially that threw me. I watched ep 1 & 2 twice! It was worth it though, as I quickly learned the difference in the characters that shared faces.

It is a complicated, but fascinating plot, full of intrigue, questions, frustration and very gripping. It is also so romantic, in the best way; a true love story, yet not at all saccharine. There's wit, angst and tragedy as well.

The cast were bloody perfect ~ all of them.
However, I have to credit Jeon Yeo-been, as how she was able to play 2 characters that looked identical, and managed to portray their totally different personalities, so that they became identifiable as 2 different people, was SO good!
Ahn Hyo-seop was the same ~ he, in effect, played 3 (almost 4 ~ one much more briefly), different roles and, again, brought a noticeable difference to each.
All the characters were such an interesting mix, the story, whilst complicated, did make sense and what an ending! I was so surprised by the whole thing.

The consequences that love has on characters who are so desperate to be together, they're willing to move through lifetimes, is such a surprise and also comes with a couple of shocks.

The soundtrack is mostly great (there was some instrumental background music I wasn't keen on). The main song that repeats through and is an important part of the story, has a sad background though.

The artist is Seo Ji-won, who tragically took his own life in 1996, just over a month before his 20th birthday, due to the pressures of having had such a successful debut album. I loved the songs and learning what I did from Googling the artist, felt the tracks chosen were made even more poignant.

I loved almost every second of this drama.

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ambiguous ending

I was honestly expecting so much from the drama. I haven't watched the original Taiwanese version of the drama but I saw on the reviews that it was better, so if you wanna watch this, I think it's better to watch the original version.

I had too many questions left unanswered at the end of the drama. Like what happened to the original Koo Yeon Jun's soul if both of the souls in the body belonged to Nam Si Heon? And they showed only the place where Kwon Min Ju soul hid when Han Jun Hee took over but what about Oh Chan Hee? he was the elder brother but in the past, the elder brother's body had Oh Chan Yeong's soul.

The time loop was confusing and ambiguous. I liked the direction that the story was meant to go, but I didn't like the way it was shown in the drama.

We also didn't get to see what ending Jung In Kyu and Kwon Min Ju got. I mean, if they really ended up dating, then did the two best friends end up dating doppelgangers with the same face or what?

I liked the songs and the acting , and I felt like Ahn Hyo Seop had more chemistry with Rowoon than Jeon Yeo Been. I was invested in their cameo story.

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