The original work - Go ahead (cdrama) vs this one

in Go Ahead, Ming Yue's mother wanted her to be a lawyer, but i dont think Ming Yue's mom is a lawyer. Ming Yue purposely decrease her test result so she can chose major based on her own preference.

I don't really remember her exact reason to decide to be journalist, i only remember Ming Yue decide to chose college major as a rebellion against her mother, which Ming Yue regret later. But when she started her career as journalist, she began love her profession then set her own exact goal.

As for Park Dal, well there is only one scene where she communicate with her mother, and she confront her mother in that occasion. I forgot if in that occasion Park Dal's mom mention her about being lawyer as Ming Yue's mom.

but iirc there is conversation between San-Ha and Park Dal about lawyer. But im not sure about it, it just some random things or related with Park Dal.

The conversation take place after restaurant scene, them 4 go to the beach to cheer Park Dal. While Hae-Jun and Ju-Won playing, San-Ha give his big speech to Dal.

I just rewatched the restaurant scene. Actually Park Dal have a dream to become lawyer. It's subtle in their conversation during order for menu. Park Dal's mom belittle her goal, if she not really confident order for menu how can she become a lawyer someday. Something like that. Thats why on episode 10 Park Dal happily said it's unbelievable achievement that she truly became a lawyer. 

After the restaurant scene, on the beach,  San-Ha give speech to Park Dal to boost her confident to become lawyer. 

As for Park Dal's mom, i'm still can't find her profession. 

 Kammiya:

I'm not going to change my mind, and this thread is to discuss the original work vs FBC. If you absolutely love FBC and all the changes they did to the story, good for you! I applaud that you like it! So if don't get what I'm trying to say, then you don't get it, let's move on.

they are too obsessed in the idol trashy, the don't even care about the logic of the plot. It's a waste of time

I will say first that I have yet to see the Korean adaptation but I still plan to. Though reading through many of the comments I can somewhat understand both pov. Though I can't say I didn't see it coming with the Korean adaptation going heavier in the romance lol the trailer gave that away. 

I did have my concerns about the Korean ver. ie the huge aspect many people that prefer the Chinese ver. are complaining about which is the family aspect. The thing is Korean dramas are also quite great at doing dramas that focus on family and struggle... But only when they are actually trying to convey it. There are many dramas that have done that. But I don't think that's the main aspect of the korean ver. which may be a reason people are complaining but again... I didn't see the drama yet so I stand to be corrected still.

I will say one thing about go ahead was , yes it was technically a romance dramas but its main focus was family. The different types of love. Also the dynamic of broken families and different types of fathers and mothers that can exist in society. The story was written with the three leads as avenues and method to display the effects parental behavior have on their children aka the leads + friends. Nature versus nurture etc. I think these aspects is what made the og drama a huge hit in China because it brought in a bit of a debate about family. See the thing is... The og drama was a drama that became a hit because it was relatable in some aspect to people of all ages... Also watchable for people of all ages. I watched the drama a while ago but several months later my god mother mentioned the drama to my mother and insisted my mom give it a watch even though they both don't know any of the actors/actresses of the newer generation at all. Note they both don't watch dramas for the cute romance. So that's to give a pov of really what made the Chinese ver. particularly special and why it was big for a drama that was original ( meaning not an adaptation unless it is an adaptation and I don't know).

Bring forth the Korean version which I have yet to see. I anticipate there being aspects of " family" that were in the Chinese ver. that may be taken away. Probably still a great drama in its own right but the demographic may cater a little more to the younger audience. I will say I agree on the seemingly og ml being slightly "creepy" or I wouldn't debate the Korean main ml doing better in the trauma acting. Though in general Korean acting tends to be solid overall for younger idol and older general actors. Whereas there is a disparity of acting skills of quite a lot of younger idol actors and studied passionate chinese actors.... Which is the case for the main ml of the Chinese ver. He definitely isn't a great actor but he chose a great script since I don't think go ahead anticipated for it being a huge hit. Also in some defense... Chinese humor may not necessarily translate to Korean humor. The flow of the adaptation is made to suit the demographic they aim for and the main audience watching their drama. Sadly the drama isn't going to hit the same as go ahead even though it's an adaptation but it's just gonna have to be accepted like that. As not all things can be relatable for everyone. The idea is universal for all demographics but I can't say that there isn't some aspects of go ahead that are distinctly Chinese in influence. So we can't expect the same influences in a Korean drama lol. 4 am brain rot tangent.

 Jae:

I did have my concerns about the Korean ver. ie the huge aspect many people that prefer the Chinese ver. are complaining about which is the family aspect. The thing is Korean dramas are also quite great at doing dramas that focus on family and struggle... But only when they are actually trying to convey it

You're right about this part, the Korean didn't try to copy the same family bonding in FbC. They like to try to fix the distaste feeling of main couple in Go Ahead. The result is, yes they succeeded there, by little margin. Main couple's romance plot didn't feel as creep as Go Ahead, by reduce family bonding in FbC. But FbC failed in many other things, compared to another drama with almost the same trope, there are other titles better than FbC.

I watched Family by Choice with little to no expectation, because i know adaptation will not be the same page to page.

The Romance.
After watching 2 first episodes, it definetly didn't catch the family bonding as in Go Ahead. After 4 first episodes, FbC give many little hints that they will develop it more into romance. Then i hope FbC can do better in adult plot or romance plot between San-Ha and Ju-Won, because romance development of Ling Xiao and JianJian feels wrong.

After 12 episodes, i don't feel the romance of main couple in FbC are way better than Go Ahead.

Ling Xiao is creep.
San-Ha is rushed.

FbC is better in main couple romance, a little bit in plot, at least it didn't feel as creep as Go Ahead. But still lacking as common romance plot.

Hwang In-Youp is far better than Song Wei Long in many expression. I like Jung Chae-Yeon as adult Ju-Won than teenage Ju-Won, but overall her acting isn't stand out given she is the female lead. The chemistry of them both? I didn't see it.

The development of Ju-Won's romantical feeling.
Both version have hinted how Ling Xiao or San-Ha develop romantical feeling to the female lead,  but in FbC they make it more obvious to the audiences, from San-Ha gestures or how they present the scene with music and other editings. 

But put yourself in Ju-Won, it felt so sudden for her. Separated for 10 years, she still adjusted to her brothers homecoming, then she heard San-Ha confessed his feeling.

Difficult to see why Jian-Jian started to like Ling Xiao, but still i can see why. Physical touch definetely play part to JianJian. She is not naive girl, but never know how it feel to kiss or get kissed, then she get those creep kissed from Ling Xiao, she got mixed feeling.

But for Ju-Won? what is her reason? 

I can't see the reason why Ju-Won started to develop romantical feeling to San-Ha. Her heart suddenly feel pounding when near San-Ha, all so sudden? 

She is more experienced in romance than JianJian, Ju-Won have dated before, and probably she have attended blind dates too. Her heart say yes to San-Ha but her brain is not, but why her heart started to pounding when near San-Ha? What moment made her develop romantical feeling to him?

Adult storytline.
I don't have expectation when i started to watch FbC, i just want good entertainment. But surely it's hard not to compare both works. As the time goes, i have hope FbC will be better in adult storyline.

As for Go Ahead, i feel their adult storyline is not as strong as their teenage days. Some plot felt dragged and unnecessary. I know their adult storyline put more time to the journey of JianJian and her friends into adulthood, their struggle to chose between dreams, parent's expectation, and career for living. But some of it felt unnecessary.

Around 8 first episodes i hope FbC will be better in romance and adult story line. But after watching episode 9 and 10, i don't have that hope. Now after watching episode 11 and 12, i have no enthusiasm to finish this show.

With 4 episodes remaining, there is no way to tell the story of other characters. I don't have interest with Jun-Ho or Hui-Joo, but how about Park Dal? with only 4 episodes remaining and there is still another plots, probably Park Dal romance plot will felt forced or not developed at all.

The diamond in the mud.
FbC is not bad at all, but call it good show is debatable because there is another show with the same trope that i think better than FbC. If i compare it with the original, Go Ahead is way better even with its flaws.

FbC is not bad entirely, there is still interisting points i found. I like how they put backstory of why Ju-Won clingy to San-Ha, Ju-Won want an oppa then San-Ha arrived and live as neighboor. 

Another thing i can remember is how Hae-Jun marriage proposal to Ju-Won feel more make sense. Both version, the brother of female lead have the same sense of belonging, but the details is bit different. In Go Ahead, ZiQiu received bad advise from his friend, it's just non sense talk but ZiQiu listened to him. In FbC Hae-Jun planed something for his dad (Ju-Won's dad) and it require family legal status, it add more reason for his stupid plan to marry Ju-Won. Which of course the entire family member in FbC didn't take his idea seriously, they surprised but in humorous way.

Then of course for me, the diamond of this show is Hae-Jun.

He is the most well written character. Hae-Jun's presence felt strong thank to both character's writing and the actor performance, Hae-Jun actually steal the show. Every his relationship with other characters delivered emotion to me as viewer, especially his interaction with Ju-Won's dad. Hae-Jun's relationship with Ju-Won is shown less, but at some scenes they jokingly and felt comfortable at each other just like real sibling, his relationship with San-Ha also felt more than close neighboor. Still not like real sibling, but that is how male at the same age interact anyway. San-Ha explicitly talk that Hae-Jun is his brother even without legal status.

Hae-Jun relationship with Park Dal? Well they're cute, both actors nailed it. Many of us craved more for them scenes together. I hope their relationship get resolved too, they became close in natural way thanks to the habit of eavesdrop in Korean show.

Closure.
I have no enthusiasm to continue to watch it, but still hesitant to drop it. JeongNyeon is about to finish this weekend, I have dropped the Story of Pearl Girl, Gangnam B-Side released in midweek as the same as Family by Choice. The reason why i will watch FbC is because there is no other show, not because i want to know how it end.

Another reason is, well i want to know how the story of Hae-Jun and Park Dal will be ended.

Well i've seen Korean make good story about family drama too, one title i can remember is Reply 1988. Other in the form as movie like, Miracle in Cell no.7.

If they plan to remake Go Ahead and chose different approach, like more into romance than family, well at least make a good one. It's not a mess but not good either, as they try to keep some elements from original and fuse it with their own things. Well, i say they better develop original script anyway rather than adopt Go Ahead.