It wasn't perfect, it wasn't without it's faults, but it was a drama that I really enjoyed watching!
-The story centers around Cha Joo Hyuk, who is miserable with his married life. The drama focuses on how his one choice changes the world that he has always known. Not just for him. But for everyone he has known and loved.- Frankly, I'll agree with everyone who says that Joo Hyuk was an immature selfish jerk. I'll say the same thing. He was everything that people described him as. But REALISTICALLY so.
We, as viewers, are used to seeing a male lead who is righteous and is ready to sacrifice himself, for the female lead, at the very least. But Cha Joo Huk wasn't like that. Not at the start anyway. The choice he made was solely for his own happiness. But dare I say I understood Joo Hyuk? Don't get me wrong, I didn't like him either (not for a long time anyway), but I get his character. If faced with a similar situation in similar circumstances, maybe not everyone but still more than a few people would make the same choice.
- Again, this will probably go against general opinion (from those I read on different places), but I liked the character development of Joo Hyuk. And yes, I do think he had one. He started out a completely self centered jerk, who only wanted his own happiness. He blamed his wife for his unhappiness. But slowly, as he got to know his own faults, as he realized his own mistakes, we started seeing his character grow. He wanted to make her happy. Even if it wasn't with him.
- Enough about the male lead, let's move on to the female lead. Woo Jin... At first she is portrayed like a "monster" who has a really short temper and is extremely violent. But later on we get to see what made her that way.
- One thing I really liked about this drama was the fact that how BOTH the leads were far from perfect. Although Joo Hyuk might be more so. Nevertheless we get to see them try and become better person. Both individually, and together.
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between Han Ji Min and Ji Sung. As a married couple, and as a non-couple too, they were believable.
- The second female lead- Hye Won. She is portrayed as a materialistic and vain person. I actually think she wasn't as bad as they were trying to show her. She behaved like she was entitled to everything, but she wasn't evil or villainous like a lot other SFL.
- The second male lead Jong Hoo, was a really good character. He was charming, but he never overshadowed the male lead enough to give you SLS. I really liked the bond between him and Joo Hyuk. It wasn't exactly bromance but they had a really nice friendship.
- All the other secondary characters were fun to watch. The mysterious ahjussi, Joo Eun, Woo Jin's mom... Everyone. My favorite was Sang Shik. His emotional scenes always got me smiling.
- Also Jo Jung Suk's cameo! Loved it! The whole thing was so cute! Joo Hyuk 's reactions XD
- As for the one thing that bothered me was about the children. How could they give us one, just one scene. I think everyone is aware of the fact that a parent child bond is truly a special one! So how could you not, writer-nim? This is just one thing I cannot get over.
- Overall, I really, really enjoyed this drama! It has everything, a spectacular cast, and intriguing storyline, a good OST. So please give this drama a chance.
Happy Watching!!
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What i personally really like was how the protagonists resolved their quarrels through communication. Something that should be practiced way more in today's society but because of the participants not listening, the communication can not result in making up. I luckily learned not to make mistakes through this drama... it will help you too..even subconsciously
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As for the main characters themselves, right off the bat, we are shown that both our male and female leads are flawed. Now that is fine, because we all love to see how their characters would develop and how they could possibly fix their past mistakes. But the writer was so good into turning the viewers’ feelings of “neutral” to “dislike” up until you’re seething with anger and hatred towards the characters that you’re supposed to sympathise with and like. Our precious main characters are quite the selfish people and their fated love prevails everything else to the point that they were cheating on their respective partners. I’ve never quite watched a drama where the writer romanticises cheating to follow one’s heart and not feeling guilt whatsoever for one’s wrongs. Anyway, since the point of the story seemed to be a better relationship between the main characters, the last few episodes would not disappoint you.
But despite such a mess of a drama, the actors did very well to portray the sort of characters that the writer had given them. I especially appreciate the acting from Park Hee Bon (Cha Joo Eun) and Oh Eui Sik (Oh Sang Sik) as I enjoyed their characters’ addition to the drama. Their portrayal of a married couple, I found, was more enjoyable than our main characters’ love story. If you are a fan of Han Jimin or Jisung, I’d say, you’ll appreciate their acting as always, but I hope that their characters here would not make you like them any less.
If there is anything that I loved from this drama, it’s the OST. The songs fit so well with the overall vibe and every time I hear the songs playing, it would sometimes make me forget that the drama has such a messy story. Even if you, who might be reading this now, was planning to watch this drama and decided that maybe you’re not going to watch it after all, at least give the OST a listen. I recommend Roy Kim’s “No Longer Mine.” Likewise, N.Flying’s “Let Me Show You” and SF9’s “Love Me Again” were good songs. Both groups did so well with the OST.
In the end, I wouldn’t recommend this drama and I would not watch it again. The drama has redeeming qualities here and there, but despite that, this story hasn’t completely won me over. I know that there are others who enjoyed this drama so don’t let all the negative things that I’ve mentioned here stop you if you really were keen to watch it. At the end of the day, this is just my opinion amongst many others and perhaps I’ve just failed to see all the positive things about the drama that could possibly outweigh the negatives.
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Time travelling misogynist comes to term with his mistakes and is given a second chance.
"Familiar Wife" is yet another excellent drama from our friends at tvN that gives a new spin to that old trope of travelling back in time to change the future for better -- who wouldn't want that? But no change comes without its consequence as Cha Joo Hyuk (played by Ji Sung) learns that his inability to communicate with his wife Seo Woo Jin (played by Han Ji Min) and the contemporary reality that women have to bear the brunt of housework, family, and their own jobs forms the perfect storm for a spineless male lead character to become desperate in his own misogyny and breadwinner mentality that he seeks a way out of it.Story:
- As most dramas produced by tvN you can expect a decent quality story that resolves around Ji Sung and Han Ji Min's characters, their relationship, the effects and consequences of time travel, and somewhat of a social commentary (as far as any k-drama go) on marriage and couples. Cha Joo Hyuk (Ji Sung) quickly realises that despite his escapist yearning and selfish decision to alter the present his new life becomes a ceaseless battle as he embraces that he still loves Seo Woo Jin (Han Ji Min) but also has to content with the new reality he lives in. Meanwhile Seo Woo Jin (Han Ji Min) has her own life and agency, but also experiences side effects from time travel and a curious familiarity towards Cha Joo Hyuk (Ji Sung). Details about their past are featured prominently through flashbacks that blend seamlessly with the main plot and explain why things are the way they are.
With many heavy hearted moments between romance and melodrama, there is also time for some comic relief and humour between the cast which offers some relief from the overall seriousness of "Familiar Wife" -- for its less 'realistic' aspects, this is a mature story that covers the ups and downs of being married and how uneven relationships do not work and are toxic to the point they slowly transform people from their best into their worst, whether they can recognise it or not.
"Familiar Wife" concludes in a very heart warming way, delivering a satisfying positive ending after such a long journey even though [in my humble opinion] Cha Joo Hyuk (Ji Sung) didn't deserve it.
Acting/Cast:
- After two years absent from drama series, Han Ji Min makes a triumphant return and is arguably the acting powerhouse of "Familiar Wife." Seo Woo Jin stands out like a bright sun and Han Ji Min displays her skill and versatility as an actress, making her character feel true with all its quirk.
Ji Sung and Kang Han Na are also prominent actors in this story but I would say that despite all his experience and screen time Ji Sung fails to deliver most of the times except in the more emotional, heart catching moments of the story while Kang Han Na fits the shoes of Lee Hee Won perfectly both in attitude and aesthetics, though some people may have some criticisms over her actions and embodiment of certain stereotypes/tropes.
"Familiar Wife" has a pleasant cast of friendly characters and actors that fit well into the story and play the role well when the time demands so, some even having their own side stories with pinches of romance and family drama that involve the leading characters as well.
Music:
- "Familiar Wife" has a fine soundtrack with a few notable songs that play during crucial points of the story as well as at the beginning of each episode. The music itself matches the tone of the story and never feels repetitive.
Rewatch Value:
- With 16 episodes of (more or less) 60 minutes each the re-watch value is high as there are many scenes, especially the flashbacks ones, which are worth revisiting for their good nature and simple joy, not to mention the more romantic, comical moments that happen in particular episodes. Overall pacing of the story is good with the exception of episode 13-14 where the plot seems to slow down to stalling point but it quickly picks up back again episode 15.
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"Familiar Wife" is far from being a "perfect drama" (I don't believe those necessarily exist) but it's a very compelling story in the world of the time travelling trope, and if anything it's worth watching for Han Ji Min.
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I was really hyped about this drama since the plot reminded me of Go Back Couple which I loved, plus Ji Sung was the main lead. And, of course, the writer of Weightlifting Fairy KBJ. I couldn't ask for more.
However, the beginning disappointed a lot of people, because the plot seemed to be too similar to Go Back Couple and the characters were... not really likeable. But trust me, it gets better as the story progresses.
It's true that the plot is pretty similar to Go Back Couple, but there are a lot of differences. I still feel like the point of the two dramas is completely the same, but it is showed in a different way. Familiar Wife is more dark-themed, it felt too realistic although it's a time-travel fantasy.
I can say that the story developed well - the relationship between the main leads and the other characters was progressing with every episode. Ji Sung and Han Ji Min had good chemistry, I truly believed that they loved each other.
I didn't like the last episodes though (except for the ending). The plot felt too dragged, as if the writer was asking herself''So... what now?'' There was toooo much time-travel that it became confusing and sometimes boring. But the ending was beautiful and touching, I loved it. It was written well.
Yang Hee Sung is really good at writing characters, I admit. Maybe the thing I loved the most in this drama is how realistic all the characters looked. I mean, none of them was perfect. They all had their own negative sides, they all made mistakes and they regretted them. Especially Joo Hyuk, I've seen a lot of negative comments about his character, but the truth is that he was just a human being.
The acting was brilliant. Ji Sung never disappoints and Han Ji Min pulled off her role as well. Kang Han Na is really good at portaying this kind of characters, she deserves more.
Familiar Wife teaches you how important is to talk and listen. It proves that we should speak out our thoughts and problems. Because communication is important not just in marriage, but also in any kind of relationships. So if you are looking for something light and romantic that will make you think about a lot of things, then watch this. You won't waste you time, trust me.
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I think Familiar Wife hits that sweet spot between fantastical romance and relatable reality. Despite the large role played by elements like 'destiny', Familiar Wife never fails to feel like an everyman's story, one that everyone can see themselves be a part of. Familiar Wife tackles two seemingly conflicting notions about love, showing that they, in fact, go hand-in-hand and complement each other. Should a couple belong together because they are fated? Or because they understand each other, communicate well together? Is compatibility predestined, or nurtured over time after knowing each other? Although Woo Jin and Joo Hyuk are clearly destined together, they still had to put in work to reach a happy place in their relationship. When they didn't, their relationship began to fall apart.
This drama had so many applicable life lessons and such larger than life characters, it was a complete joy to watch them. Characters that started off as unlikeable had such amazing growth trajectories and the situations mirrored real life to such a surprising extent, you could literally see yourself in them. The friendships and familial relationships were so sweet, and every emotion experienced by our characters was so palpable (all credit due to the amazing cast)
I know this drama draws a lot of comparisons to Go Back Couple, but they really are very different when it comes to what they are at their core. Yes, they're both about rediscovering your love for your spouse, but I think Familiar Wife tackles the subject of marriage breakdown more comprehensively and better. It focuses more on the husband and the wife and their relationship dynamics, which I found lacking in GBC, but that makes sense because GBC was more about reliving one's youth and getting closure for things in the past.
Familiar Wife requires a slightly mature and forgiving audience, because these characters are flawed, not unlike real humans. They make mistakes, learn, and make more mistakes - and that's how life works.
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One of the best things about this drama is the cast. Every lead and supporting character is exceptional, and makes this a great ensemble. Ji Sung plays the sensistive and passive male lead Cha Joo Hyuk and is matched with Han Ji Min as the extremely aggressive and tempermental Seo Woo Jin. They actually have amazing chemistry, but what they also do well is portray one of the most frustrating to watch couples in all of dramaland. You can probably find reasons to hate both of them, and definitely hate them together, but that's what makes this drama work so well. It really makes you think about what it can take to make a relationship work, and what makes it worth it... or not.
This drama doesn't just focus on the main couple's drama but there is also the entertaining characters working at the bank (I loved all of them), as well as Joo Hyuk's bffs and sister, Woo Jin's mom, and Joo Hyuk's crush. Part of the fun of this drama is how they all interact with each other even when things change. There's also a lot of comedy to keep the story from feeling too depressing, or heavy handed with nostalgia and regret. The whole cast really worked well together. There are also some pretty awesome cameos and references to other dramas that were maybe unecessary, but a nice touch.
I gave the story a slightly lower score, even though I was very entertained from beginning to end, because a lot of it is pretty implausible. It's best if you turn off your logical brain and enjoy the ride. I also had an issue with the mysterious homeless man character, who I really liked as well, but I wish his backstory was a bigger part of the story. However, the writer did do a good job of giving every character some time by the end so there didn't feel like there were any loose ends or unresolved stories.
Would I watch this again. Definitely. I admit that I was so annoyed by the main couple in the first episodes that I would love to rewatch it all with a different perspective. The cast alone is entertaining enough to make me enjoy watching it all again, plus I'm a sucker for stories about learning to appreciate your life even if it's imperfect. I also love "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind", and the mood of this drama reminds me of that movie.
Overall this drama may not have made me cry like other turn back time dramas, but it's not exactly lighthearted either, and I loved how it presented a more realistic relationship with imperfect characters that I wasn't even sure I would want to see end up together in the end. I think thats what makes this familiar scenario stand out from the rest. Instead of the expected grass is not always greener storyline I felt like this was more about actively working to create the life you want while embracing the fact that it won't ever be perfect. I highly recommend this TwilightZoney drama. If I could go back in time I'd assure myself that this one is definitely worth watching. Also, it's a good reminder that happily ever after is in the eye of the beholder.
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Everything you need to swoon, cry, laugh, and appreciate a story
Cha Joo Hyuk (Ji Sung) was unhappy with how his wife, Woo Jin (Han Ji Min), has become after years of marriage. One day he gets a chance to go back in time to redefine his whole life, which affects everyone he has known and loved. How is he now with this new life?Familiar Wife isn't a show with a complicated plot or high stakes — it’s character-driven, and the characters were the best part of this drama. At first, Joo Hyuk might not appear as an appealing person because the choice he made was solely for his own happiness. But watching him navigating this new life, his character grew so much. He made selfless decisions, which was heartbreaking and heartwarming altogether. Woo Jin, too, wasn't perfect, but both of them for learned that it’s choice, and not fate, that makes a marriage work.
There was so much comedy here, like Woo Jin spunky, love to crack dad jokes with the guys. Everyone has a fresh fun chemistry, the quirky gang of misfits, the bank team. I like the ups and downs of Joo Hyuk & Jong Hoo's friendship. A nod to Ji Sung's acting, he always got me with his genuine emotional scenes. Overall, I enjoyed Familiar Wife. It has everything to make you swoon, cry, laugh, and appreciate a good storyline.
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
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Ji Sung and Han Ji Min put forth exceptional acting, as always. I was charmed by the entire cast, and enjoyed seeing the different scenarios play out. I was happy and thankful that some things stayed the same no matter which time we were in, even while other things changed. I feel like Joo Hyuk's character went through the growth that he needed to in order for everyone in his life to be happier. He found out what the true source of his wife's unhappiness and anger was, and was smacked in the face with the truth. What will he do about it though? And when Woo Jin discovers the truth....will she take matters into her own hands?
I always love a good epilogue, and this show was not the exception. I feel like the writers wrapped this show up VERY soundly, even if they took the entire last episode to do it. The ending felt a little meandering, even though it was nice to see the continuation of progress for our characters.
I liked that even though I thought I knew where the show would go, the writers surprised me a couple of times. And although they didn't go where I had hoped with the script, we got something possibly better for all of the characters and not just the leads. The travel in time affected the side characters as well - at least in some ways.
The music was nice, and fit well with the scenes. I enjoyed the song No Longer Mine by Roy Kim the most.
I doubt I'll re-watch this one anytime soon, but it is definitely worth a one time watch!
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This drama has a happy ending for those who love happy endings. I watched this because of Ji Sung coz I admired his acting skills. I also love Han Ji Min coz she has one of the pretty face in korean showbiz for me. If you love heart wrenching but really romantic dramas, this is for you. Trust me, you will not regret watching this. Many lessons about married life here.
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Could have been a great show, but nonsensical character logic prevents it from being taken seriously
This review contains slight spoilers. I'll try not to reveal too much but don't say you weren't warned.SPOILERS! WARNING!
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There is a lot to like about this show. The main cast is good. The directing and video edits are good. Its a romantic drama that isn't too cheesy. There is also a decent amount of comedy in the first half of the show as well (which they should have played up more). As someone who prefer Korean action and suspense thrillers but will watch a romantic drama if its not over the top, the romantic scenes in this series didn't want to make me puke.
However, I couldn't help but be frustrated at how silly and unrealistic the main character(s) acted given the circumstances they were placed in.
The plot is simple enough. Without revealing too much, the main character Cha Joo Hyuk is miserable with his current wife ( Seo Woo Jin) and has the opportunity to significantly alter his circumstances. After taking this opportunity, his new life is exactly what he dreamed of. He is happily married to his beautiful crush from college, rich and living life lavishly without a care in the world.
How long does his joy last? At best, it lasts for about 30 minutes of an episode. The rest of the series is about him longing to chase his original wife who made his life a living hell while making his current reality terrible in the process (which is ironic, and I will explain why later).
For the astute viewer, this is completely unbelievable. Realistically, almost no human being would throw away a drastically upgraded life to return to something that they acknowledged made them so miserable to the point of wanting to die, unless they are a big idiot. Well, Joo Hyuk is one big idiot so I guess this makes sense given his character? The only reason they write his character to act so unconvincingly is to force the basic moral of the story, which is: appreciate what you have, and realize that everyone needs to take some accountability for life's circumstances. Wow, bravo (rolls eyes).
Joo Hyuk, through various flashbacks, acknowledges that he played a big part in turning his original wife Woo Jin into a monster. He goes through multiple episodes trying to look after her to make up for his guilt in his original life, all while making the EXACT SAME MISTAKE with his current wife, Lee Hee Won, who the show is obviously trying to position as a villain.
However, it doesn't work because a lot of what Hee Won is doing is in response to Joo Hyuk being a completely dumb, selfish, inconsiderate husband, which is how he was to Woo Jin in the original life. Of course, Hee Won isn't perfect. She is a stuck up, rich, only child who throws money at problems and looks down on people because of their class. These are terrible qualities to have, but given her upbringing, she is acting exactly in line with her character. Otherwise, she is very loving to Joo Hyuk, providing him with everything he could want, such as a nice house, car, freedom to play video games, delicious home-cooked meals, hot marital "love", etc. If I had to pick between the post-wall abusive housewife from hell or a rich, beautiful princess with some entitlement issues, I know who I am choosing.
Despite all the complaints, its still a good show and one of the better dramas I've seen. Its worth watching if you just want to satisfy your Korean drama itch and need something new to watch.
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Part from that major setback, the performances by the cast were great by all the actors and actresses and they pulled it off nicely. Also, the drama up to the 12th episode, was very good and interesting.
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