CW: While You Were Sleeping

by Drama_woman, October 26, 2017

27 18

Genres:Thriller, Law, Romance, Supernatural

With all the new features, I set While You Were Sleeping as high priority on PTW as soon as I saw the summary. I’m still reeling over W and in agony for not being able to watch Jade Lovers. I love the prosecutor and lawyer dynamics, and we get police and media reporting spins! I was hooked from episode 1 and am falling deeper and deeper. Let me show you why…

WARNING: EPISODE 1 SPOILERS

Supernatural

Starting from this scene, we are thrust into a world where future scenes come to Nam Hong Ju (Suzy) and no matter what she tries, all her predictive dreams happen exactly as she sees them. This can be a few months in the future, a few days before, even minutes before.

Yet, not all her dreams are as fantastic as having Jung Jae Chan (Lee Jong Suk) in them. Most are doom and gloom, which explains why she often wakes up crying. Ouch. Getting back to the present, we see that they have not met, but are about to. Hong Joo has a unique take on new neighbors.

Knowing what she does from the dream, she’s still adamant that she doesn’t want it to happen. In her mind, the hug in the first scene equals: from neighbors to friends, friends to lovers and the hug will play out. Using all her might, she wants to reject him hard. After all, she has a boyfriend already and won’t risk a triangle happening. Her lines are great.

How do you respond to this? I honestly love her reactions. She’s so straightforward that it’s refreshing. This drama combines the perfect blend of serious and humour. I can’t wait for the suspense, the predictive dreams, the lead up to scenes we know are coming (from the dreams) and their responses. As long as Lee Yu Beom (Lee Sang Yeob) comes on screen, I’m not sure which of the many emotions I feel.

Similar to Kang Ki Young I’m blown away by every scene, every gesture and the sheer presence their acting brings. I’m loving the guest roles and the balance of fluff, fantasy and solving crimes.

The expressions he makes around his brother are so cute. He looks so victimized when he tells his brother someone was being rude to him and gets no sympathy. Or possibly horrible advice. It's been less than two minutes and he ships them already.

Thriller

It's interesting to find out what really happens and what each part in making it happen has in terms of law, society and professionalism. It’s frustrating when the innocent are helpless and the guilty arrogant, and this show brings a well-rounded view of everything that happened. It’s not only a matter of truth but intention and what choices you make. Hong Joo is struggling so much, unable to change the deaths in her dreams from turning into reality.

Romance

I’m a sucker for romance, and it’s not often that there are these many misunderstandings that are fluffy, right? All the agony is going to the crimes and law side of this drama. I’m down for straightforward declarations and second-hand embarrassment. This drama has 30-minute episodes, so there are 4 episodes a week. It generally feels like 2 one hour episodes, but with a break for tea between. I click next episode so fast, I have to prepare my tea before I start anything. Haha. Does anyone else? I’m addicted.

Despite the time to think things through carefully, Hong Joo still reacts in ways that make you cringe, especially as she tries to recover. I look forward to these moments especially because the way she tries to appear unfazed but is obviously rattled just speaks to me.

The Trio

Although you won’t see this character straight away, Han Woo Tak (Jung Hae In) is adorable and just gives you feels all over the place. Look at him with his Batman cap. Who are your first favourite characters? There are so many options. Everyone is given so many layers that you can become fond of them almost instantly.

Or, on the flip side, who are the characters you really hate? I know exactly who I would pick as most hateful, and surprisingly it’s not any of the criminals (as of yet). Well, there may be multiple. There are a lot of criminals that are just. How? Why would you do that? No.