See You in My 19th Life (2023)

Fate & Destiny are dancing together in this epic story of love and memory......

Since the beginning of episode 1, the cinematography has already been captivating and alluring. It made me keep wanting to watch it continuously. Especially when Shin Hye Sun (SHS) character was reminiscing her previous lives. Every previous lives she described was like a fairy tale and able to bring the audience to dwell into an imaginary world (well to me it is).

This is no ordinary love story where man chases woman but it was the opposite, where the woman diligently chases the man as he was her first love in her previous life. The drama managed to lead the audience on her persistence in love and very convincing as well.

SHS acting was top notch. She delivered each of her characters well (let it be her telling her previous lives or her current one). I especially love her acting when she was trying to remember her 1st live (clenching to the shaman bells) and remembered that a character name Han-Ya killed her sister (though she realized that she remembered it wrong in the end). When she said to Seo-Ha (Ahn Bo Hyun’s character) “Han-Ya, you killed my sister, I’m going to kill you” woah… her facial expression was beyond rage. The way she changes her facial expression through the emotion that she felt through her memories was beyond great acting. She really did her best here. I can feel her rage, despair, devastation and desperation just for this particular scene (which I rarely feel while watching). The best scene for me in this drama.

Ahn Bo Hyun (ABH) acting was great as well. His diversity exceeded my expectation. ABH mostly played tough characters, strong willed, a bit rough and action packed scenes. But in this drama he showed his soft side, his eyes, facial expressions, demeanor are on point. Would love to see him in this kind of character more.
I like how the writer build his character in this drama. I didn’t read the webtoon so didn’t have much expectation but I like his character, who are able to overcome his trauma and be a better person.

I like Cho Won a lot, this character has a very bubbly personality and fun to watch her clumsiness. Ha Yoon Kung (HYK) portrayed her character well. In SHS 1st live, HYK portrayed as her older sister, she has a different persona here than being Cho Won, can immediately tell the diversity here.

As well as Ahn Dong Goo (ADG) character (Ha Do Yoon). I love his loyalty but his indecisiveness about his feeling to Cho Won really frustrating but again.. Ban Ji Eum is the true matchmaker that she is helped him to realized it before too late.
I love how the writer create a happy ending for both Cho Won and Do Yoon.

Ae Kyung (Cha Chung Hwa) has the biggest heart in this drama. She welcome Ban Ji Eum with an open arms. Raised her selflessly without expecting anything in returns.

Overall, the actresses and actors portrayed their character well. The castings were top notch. I wouldn’t imagine other actors playing in this drama.

This by far one of the best drama I watched this year. I will definitely rewatch in the future. There was no boring parts in every episodes I watch instead I keep wanting to watch it.

The ending was the best for me, the role reversal was unexpected yet it gave a great closure to the drama. Many would say it was still an open ending but for me, it brings closure and is a done deal happy ending.
The way Ban Ji Em called “Seo Ha ya” will stay within my memory for a while (I like the way she call him out) :D
The OST songs are good as well. I love most of the songs in this drama. Have a listen to the song title "Star" by Colde. I love the lyrics so much.

Don’t hesitate to watch this drama. Its alluring and captivating. Both the story and cinematography were beyond expectation.
Hope many will enjoy this drama as much as I did.
Happy watching ^^

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Shin Hye Sun did it again! BUT not a great storyline/ending

Imma keep this short and simple.
As an avid drama fan, a great drama includes multiple factors. With modern production companies and high quality VFX renderings, the cinematography is great; however, for a fantasy drama as 19th life, the storyline felt incomplete. I haven't read the webtoon so I am only judging based on the storyline of the drama.

The storyline started out great, entailing the details and explicit things that a viewer should know while keeping us guessing for more. I was genuinely excited. The flirting and butterflies within the drama--hands down to Shin Hye Sun for her AMAZING ACTING! Arguably one of the best actresses, and hands down to every moment of her, laughing, crying, FLIRTING, SCREAMING, ugh, just unbelievable performance. Have always loved her ever since Angel's last mission.

HOWEVER, there are things that got me so confused as to why it was even important or relevant, which sucked because the drama started out SO GOOD, and just crashed within a matter of minutes.

**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD [read at your own discretion]**





My main questions have to do with why the uncle even got involved in such a thing as the car crash, and his excuse was because he loved the mother??? I'm sorry but why are we supposed to care? Either the writer didn't flesh his character out enough or there's something I'm missing?

Another thing is why did the guy in the first life help FL to that extent? I get that they wanted to paint a twist and act as if he was bad or something, but tbh there wasn't really a real villain, nothing exciting about the villain. Usually, I would salute an antagonist for portraying something morbid or wicked, but this dude really didn't have any of that. He was just there watching the people around him, then giving hints to the FL and didn't explain anything else. And all of a sudden the FL feels like she has so much to do with him, which she did, but it was so short lived, I really didn't get the point of him at all.

---

Anywho, I loved the cast and the acting, the character developments for the main leads were excellent. Just there were quite a few things that I felt could have definitely been better executed/elaborated. It just didn't feel complete and suddenly, which is quite sad, I felt like became a waste of time. :(

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How do you repack an opened Pandora’s box? . . . With great difficulties!

This show is hard to score. Not in terms of the acting or the production value but how its fundamental world building is mishandled.

Let’s take a step back. The star of the show is the FL. She has the titular role, and she is all singing and all dancing from start to finish. She has a demanding role and she has to dig deep. On the other hand, the ML feels muted for the longest time and while I understand that he is traumatised since an early age, his performance is quite stilted or maybe it was just the way his role is written. You just don’t feel much energy coming from him. This is the opposite compared to the FL who is on overdrive most of the time. Another issue is the chemistry between the leads is not strong. There are sparks but, on the whole, it feels more scripted than spontaneous. There are also some questionable behaviours by the FL earlier on which just feels awkward.

Surprisingly, I was more invested in the 2CP's romance. It was the usual rich girl/poor man trope but it is more earnest and heartfelt. It felt more organic than the OTP's.

What bothers me more is the way the writer-nims went about building a set of fairly convoluted narrative logic. We see actions and reactions that are attributed to the FL's unique circumstances but the how's and the why's are rarely explained. The internal logic is opaque and obtuse. Their applications are not consistent. It is immersion breaking, but more importantly, makes you question everything you see and hear within the story. The writer-nims are holding all the cards.

Yes, I understand it is a fantasy and certain narrative “flexibility” is to be expected, but I cannot shake the feeling that the storytelling has been twisted into a pretzel.

The puzzle pieces finally click into place in the last episode. I have to say that the final reveal is somewhat underwhelming. There is some much meat in all her previous lives but they are served up as little more than random (emotive) scenes. I wish there is more substance to those recollections.

While her first life held all the keys, its treatment is perfunctory at best. Nevertheless, this episode is still the best of the lot. All the key side plots are tied up with pink bows. The reverse meet-cute is very meta but nicely done and is so sweet. However, the finale is also the last straw for me.

The whole premise of the FL forgetting her past lives is a good idea if there is to be closure but what is presented to us is broken logic and plot holes. It is a Hail Mary moment that didn't quite work.

The FL appears to have lost a few week's memory and went back to her old job but how is that possible? What about her co-workers? They waved her off to start a new job and she is back as if nothing happened. I suppose the CEO can pull some strings. . .

An even bigger hole is her life after running away from her abusive father. Kim Ae-Kyung raised her from early teen to now. What happened there? I can accept she won't remember Ms. Kim when they meet again but who raised her? This is a different reality?

The show can make her forget some memories, but the show didn't alter history/reality en masse. The ML, Ms. Kim and Cho-Won all remembers her so there is no gap in their collective memories. Ms. Kim lived with the FL for years. Theoretically, her room is still out the back of the shop. My head is spinning.

Ditto, why did the ML’s mother remember her past life as well? Was she cursed? That was never explained. So many loose ends if you pause and think about it. All these are just put into the Too Hard Basket™ and buried in a very deep hole.

In the end, the show is watchable and swoon worthy at times. Taken in parts, it is a decent watch. Alas, as a complete package, it is quite vexing. Fans of the stars can roll with it, but it is a challenge if you are not. With that in mind, I cannot recommend this show wholeheartedly. If you want to watch it, please make sure to put on some industrial strength rose tinted glasses and give your left brain a day off. ;)

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Great first half, too many plot holes

As someone who didn't read the webtoon, these are my takes on this drama.

First, of course, I had huge expectations before it aired, as it has versatile actors in it. I'm a big fan of Hye-sun when it comes to acting because she just never fails. I enjoyed the first few episodes. I loved the vibes that this drama gave me. I loved the concept of remembering your 18 past lives, and each life has its own wonderful story.

I just want to say that the actress who played Ju-won is so great at her job. I wish she could be a big star someday. And her chemistry with the little Seo-ha was amazing. I don't think I've seen other little stars have as much chemistry as they did. I also loved the relationship between Ji-eum and Cho-woon. But the uncle-niece was still superior.

When they started to uncover some things, that's when it went down. It's not that bad, but some things feel unsatisfying. At first, the chemistry between the leads was so good, but it started to lose excitement. I was expecting that they would make the other aspects of the drama better, like the death of Ju-won or the first life of Ji-eum. But again, it failed. I laughed several times due to some serious scenes that I wished would make me not laugh.

Am I going to recommend it? Well, if you don't mind several plot holes, then go watch it. I might not be satisfied with this one, but that doesn't mean it's totally bad. Just lower your expectations and just enjoy the relationships in the show. It doesn't have a super-evil villain, so it's easy to watch. It also has a super cute ending for both couples. 

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Missed the mark

This very calm and meandering drama has a slightly surreal feel to it.
From the FL character of Ji-eum, who has been reborn early this life and has always been able to remember her past lives (with varying degrees of clarity), to the characters she's reconnected with, it's presented as being all rather mysterious.
Ji-eum is quirky, unique and very focussed. Several scenes made me laugh and I liked Shin Hye-sun's portrayal of someone with an extremely old and life-experienced soul, in its new body (loved her in Mr Queen too).
As she reconnects with the now grown up young boy from her tragically cut short last life, various conspiracies and ominous predictions come to light.
The first few episodes I found captivating, but the pace never picked up and the 2 main mysteries that revolved around her, Seo-ha and some of the other characters, kind of fizzled out as they were brought to their conclusion.
It was a nice watch, but I didn't find it in the least exciting, or exhilarating. I was invested, to find out why she was stuck with so many memories, but disappointed in the fact the conclusion in this life was just so 'meh'. There was one bit in the past that did make me gasp though.
The revisits to her past lives were some of the best bits, I thought.
How the other mystery got solved, was again so flat. It felt like imagining you were climbing to a great height, to find you were only on level 2! 😄😬
It totally lacked any punch at all and yet with the plot it carried, there should have been so much more. I have no idea how they managed to lose the momentum entirely. There was more than enough opportunity, but time was instead given to very wordy scenes where she was basically trying to tell Seo-ha who she was, without actually saying it.
I really liked the character of Seo-ha, whose childhood traumas left him scarred in so many ways. He was gentle, clever and had a vulnerability about him, but was not pitiful.
It is a very romantic drama, however, in the nicest way and that, I thought, they got right. The relationships from the past and present, that bind the characters together, I loved. That was the drama's saving grace.
I also liked that Ji-eum's past lives were both male and female, from different continents; they weren't all the same actress in varying guises, which is not what reincarnation is about at all. I would have seen that as a lazy cop out in production.
Overall an OK watch, but it did miss the mark and fell short of what it could have been. The cast did not disappoint, however and the soundtrack was excellent (especially loved ABH's contribution, Colde's 'Star' and Jo Yuri's 'Down'/Juicy Juicy).

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A Story of Two Parts: Drama Dips, Stars Shine, and Plot Fizzles Out

[ Disclaimer: I haven't read the webtoon, so my comments are based solely on the drama. ]

I was aware that the plot's quality declined in the second half, as many viewers had noted. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try because it featured my favorite duo from Mr. Queen, Shin Hye Sun and Cha Chung Hwa, along with many other talented actors and actresses. Unfortunately, the story began to falter around episode 7 and continued to deteriorate thereafter.

Plot:

The first half of the drama was quite enjoyable. It delved into the characters' backgrounds, especially Ban Ji Eum's growth despite her abusive father, and her integration into Moon Seo Ha's life. I was also deeply invested in the car accident storyline. However, as the plot progressed, it became increasingly underwhelming. I was particularly disappointed with the father character; if he knew everything from the start, his treatment of his son made no sense. And why keep that woman near his son? He could have paid her off to stay out of their lives.

The second part of the drama shifted focus to the characters' "first life," making the narrative feel disjointed and forced. Episodes 10 and 11 were especially problematic, with constant flashbacks that felt repetitive and unnecessary. The final episode seemed designed to evoke emotion over Ji Eum losing her memories of her loved ones, but it failed to do so and became a drag; I was relieved when it ended.

Moreover, the secondary couple was poorly written and monotonous, with the same conversations and actions repeating endlessly.

Leads:

Both Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun delivered strong performances in their respective roles. However, the chemistry between them seemed lacking, which somewhat diminished the overall impact of their scenes together. In addition, while I appreciate Ahn Bo Hyun's willingness to try different roles, this one didn't seem to suit him as well.

Final thought:

Overall, the drama had its highs and lows, with stars shining but the plot ultimately fizzling out.

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Sweet and Satisfying

Loved the drama from start to finish! Minor spoilers.

Ji Eum has the memory of all her past lives but the person she most wants to meet is Seo Ha from her 18th life which was cut short. Meanwhile he is still reeling from the loss he suffered from the accident years later. Though I am not sure how much of it was taken from webtoon, I hear it's not an exact replica. Irrespective of that, it is cinematically beautiful with captivating performances by all actors and beautiful OST to set the mood.

The added mystery was a nice touch towards the end which kept things fresh. The pace might feel a little on the slower side but every minute was enjoyable. Loved the way the story portrayed all the relationships that Ban Ji Eum had and both the highs and the lows of carrying the burden of past lives. It was also interesting to see how she used it to her advantage in the present life.

Loved the completely different character portrayed by Ahn Bo Hyun compared to the one he had in Military Prosecutor Doberman. I love when actors can convincingly perform different types of roles well. The child actor Kim Shi Ah also stood out for her performance as the young Ju Won. This was my first proper introduction to Shin Hye Sun and although I had my doubts at first, I fell in love with her character when she is standing outside her mother's mom and reminiscing about the relationship they shared. Such a tragically beautiful moment that it brought tears to my eyes.

I also loved the back and forth between Cho Won and Do Yoon. Will they? Won't they? And the late but memorable entry of Minki to add some spice to the plot.

"Juicy Juicy" by Jo Yuri has become one of my favourite OSTs and it got stuck in my head almost as soon as I heard it!

This is a perfectly binge-worthy show that I hope finds more viewers.

If there is something to complain about, it would be that Seo Ha's dream was to renovate his mother's hotel which we didn't quite see finished. And I wish we would have seen some development in his relationship with his father just to tie up everything neatly.

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The story has that premise that makes me interested and curious as a viewer. The first episodes were nice and also engaging in introducing the characters. I think how the story was portrayed and the mysteries that is in the story was not well executed in terms of pacing since it feels like that it was all jumbled.
I don't have anything against the cast, I think they are all brilliant. The female lead is really charming. She carried her role so well, she is a really great actress. The male lead is fine with me. The second couple, sadly did not have the chemistry that I was looking for. I watch this about 2 episodes per day and I can't remember most of the how the drama went out because it is forgettable especially at the last parts. It's just a so-so drama for me.

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Everything You Want In a Kdrama

I almost never give 10/10s, but I can say this show wholeheartedly deserved it. Shin Hye-Sun as Ban Ji-Eum carried this show; that is not to say that the other actors weren't good (they undoubtedly were), but her character/acting was so good. I loved watching her hint that she was Ju-Won in the past life, as opposed to directly telling Seo-Ha. She did that part so well by being so sly and intelligent, yet also confident. That was so much fun to watch, and the main lead romance plot was one of the best I have seen in a kdrama. It got me so engaged, and the way the plot went, it was so entertaining to watch play out. Nearly every episode had at least one scene that was so brilliantly done, and the entertainment of watching Ji-Eum play Seo-Ha in addition to the unfolding story of the two mysterious characters made it so I could not wait for the new episodes to be released on the weekends. The romance was superbly done, and the historical mystery aspect of this kdrama really took this show to the next level. I cannot express how much I loved this show, and this will forever be one of the first shows I recommend to people if they are looking for a good kdrama, regardless of whether they are a seasoned koreaboo or a new fan wanting to get into it. 

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An almost perfect Fantasy / romance series. ☆✲ﾟ｡(((´♡‿♡`+)))｡ﾟ✲☆

Intriguing, mysterious series. We don't know what will happen and the suspense is maintained until the end.

PLOT: The FL is in her 19th life, but remembers her past lives. She finds the ML, now CEO of a large hotel, whom she loved in her previous life and wants to protect. This duo/couple will have to face the plots of the present and the grudges of the past.

PROS:
+ Intelligent story, with clues arriving at the right time.
+ Talented actors (I really like the 2 leads Ahn Bo Hyun & Shin Hye Sun (｡◕‿◕｡) who play the characters with a lot of humanity and tenderness), but the supporting actors are also very good.
+ perfect production (beautiful images, well-crafted framing, sublime settings) without any length, with a good balance between romance, mystery, investigation and a touch of humor.
+ Excellent OSTs (some songs will now be part of my drama playlist :)

CONS:
Almost none.

=> I don't know if I will rewatch this whole drama or just the OTPs scenes, but I watched it in one go, with a lot of happiness and emotion. A little gem!! ☆✲ﾟ｡(((´♡‿♡`+)))｡ﾟ✲☆
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Série intrigante, mystérieuse. On ne sait pas ce qui va se passer et le suspense est maintenu jusqu'au bout.

PLOT : La FL est dans sa 19e vie, mais se souvient de ses vies antérieures. Elle retrouve le ML, désormais CEO d'un grand hôtel, qu'elle a aimé dans sa vie précédente et veut protéger. Ce duo / couple va devoir affronter les complots du présent et les rancunes du passé.

PROS:
+ Story intelligente, avec les indices qui arrivent au bon moment.
+ Des acteurs talentueux (j'aime beaucoup les 2 leads Ahn Bo Hyun & Shin Hye Sun ( ｡◕‿◕｡ ) qui incarnent les personnages avec beaucoup d'humanité et de tendresse), mais les acteurs support sont également très bons.
+ réalisation parfaite (belles images, cadrages bien travaillés, décors sublimes) sans aucune longueur, avec un bon équilibre entre romance, mystère, investigation et un brin d'humour.
+ Excellents OST (certaines chansons vont désormais faire partie de ma drama playlist :)

CONS:
Pratiquement aucun.

=> Je ne sais pas si je regarderai à nouveau ce drama en entier ou seulement les OTP, mais je l'ai regardé d'une traite, avec beaucoup de bonheur et d'émotion. Un petit bijou !! ☆✲ﾟ｡(((´♡‿♡`+)))｡ﾟ✲☆

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