Not The Same As Go Ahead!
When I say it isn't the same - it isn't as great as Go Ahead at all!It's not bad, but nothing like it's Chinese neighbour.
I have seen Go Ahead maybe 3 times even though it has something like 46 episodes.
Going forward I will refer to Go Ahead as GA and Family By Choice as FBC.
With FBC it misses the humour that GA has when the children were young - even as teens and adults.
In GA, both boys were top students in school whereas the girl wasnt. One boy became a dentist, the other a chef/baker and the girl became a sculptor whereas in FBC it looks like one has become a doctor, one a dropout and the girl a cake maker.
Not sure about the dropout being a proper dropout just yet!
In GA, the one that became a dentist would supervise the girl with her homework at times and around episode 5 told her he was going to marry her someday. There was also this moment he didn't want her sniffing his bed and being in his room as he was starting to develop feelings for her so he told her off. The humour when they were teens in the original version was excellent whether at school, just with each other or at home.
In FBC, the one that becomes a doctor, doesnt say anything about marrying her as teens and doesnt really do too much when she smells something different about his bed which is actually a pertinent moment in the original version. Although they all get along really well - it just isn't on the same level as GA.
When ten years elapses in FBC it seems like the boys have just gone for the weekend then returned as their hairstyles haven't changed nor their faces in age.
With GA they all transitioned from teens to adults which was believable and noticeable like 10 years really had passed.
The good thing about FBC is that it is only 16 episodes so will give you a taste of what the Chinese one is like, but it doesn't have the same depth or characters. One character missing is the one that became a flight hostess in GA.
In FBC, it seems like they are bringing two characters together that were never together in GA. Personally, I don't like that at all.
Another change is the real younger sister of the oldest male seems to be more mature and not so bratty in FBC compared to GA.
Overall, I prefer GA over FBC because of the characters, their stories and the unquestionable dynamics between all of them as well as close bonds - including the parents.
FBC made some obvious changes which shouldn't have been the case - like losing the humour and certain characters, for example.
Still recommended if you want something shorter than the original even if not on the same level.
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LOVE IT
I was about to watch Go Ahead earlier this year because of all the great reviews but didn't because of Song Weilong. Personally I just cannot deal with his one wooden expression for everything so I left it and am so glad I did!Because then I can enjoy FbC with AHS who is actually really good and the story (although does feel rushed) is going great for me.
I love the relationship between Haejun and Juwon's father the most. Also enjoying his interactions with Park Dal. I guess I'm a new fan of Bae Hyeon Seong!!
I'm a bit conflicted about Juwon's character. Her younger self was so fiesty, opinionated and just great but they made the older Juwon a bit whiny and princess-y. hmm..
San-Ha's mum: I haven't watched Go Ahead myself and not sure what the ending like is for her. But honestly, I'm praying for all the bad things for her and that San Ha should just abandon her. She's a hateful character who abandoned her children, caused the death of one and blamed the other. Then she abandoned him and came back expecting his apology. Then gets into an accident and expects him to look after her. This is so messed up and out of the world level of narcissism. I would really hate it if they let her "regret things and change her way", a bit too late tbh. She doesn't deserve a redemption arc..
Will update once I finish it.
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Found Family
To start, for anyone who doesn't know, this is a remake of the cdrama Go Ahead, which I haven't watched myself yet so this will be interesting to watch with a spoiler free mind. I know a lot of people who've watched go ahead will have a lot of their own opinions! Edit: I also wanted to say that I really don't get the hate for this just because it's a remake - I watch both cdramas and kdramas, and I'm gonna be so honest, cdramas are like a palate cleanser for me. They're usually what I watch when I need something a little less serious, and something more light hearted (no I am not referring to historial/wuxia/xanxia cdramas - I know these are traumatic but I LOVE them). But in terms of the modern cdramas - NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE but in my opinion they're usually just a little too long and sometimes tell the story with a bit too many unnecessary side stories. SO yes, I suppose the original is a little more flushed out and has more moments to explain this and that and moments people found important - but keep in mind this is really only a 16 episode kdrama, we don't have forever to add more of these moments. And yes, there is an apparent difference in the acting between cdramas and kdramas, where I find that kdrama acting just has a bit more maturity and realistic emotion in theirs. While I do love dramas with silly and fun characters, sometimes it can be a little too much in cdramas which take away that level of seriousness and realism that I want to experience while watching dramas. So far I am loving Jung Chaeyeon's acting because she's genuinely such an endearing character and such an amazing actress. SO PLEASEEE PLEASE PLEASE STOP COMPARING HER SO MUCH TO THE ORIGINAL ACTRESS - OF COURSEE I DON'T EXPECT A REMAKE TO HAVE THE CHARACTERS ACTING EXACTLY THE SAME - let them each embody the character in their own way.The first 2 episodes are really good and I really hope this becomes the healing drama I see it having the potential to be. The story starts with 3 kids, Yun Juwon, Kim Sanha, and Kang Haejun, all having lost someone from their family. They meet as little kids and due to some unfortunate circumstances, Kang Haejun's mother leaves him in the care of his aunt (who's still young and in university), and so Yun Juwon's father takes him in. They grow up together and have become one big family along with Kim Sanha's father. Right now they're showing their lives in high school, each growing up to become their own person. Yun Juwon is a cheerful headstrong character who loves her two (unofficial) brothers very much, Kim Sanha is a quiet, smart, and hardworking student who wants to get into med school, and Kang Haejun is a popular basketball player. Sanha and Haejun still seem to have some unresolved feelings and emotional trauma from their past, and I hope by the end of this we'll see that they get their closure. Thankfully we have Juwon who has always been by their side to cheer them up. You can tell how much they care for each other, although you also get the feeling that they aren't simply just siblings. Yes, there are some romantic undertones of course, but nothing obvious yet, and I don't believe this gets dived into until the future when they're all adults. Yun Jeong Jae (Juwon's father) is really the mvp for taking in two extra underlings to feed. I'm always a sucker for found family and this seems to be a really solid one. They care for each other, look after each other, and tease each other as if they were family all along. There's some foreshadowing already that they won't be able to stay by each other's side forever, and I believe they all reunite again when they're in their 20s, so hopefully the journey will end with them being as happy as they can be together.
In terms of their acting, they're all doing really well so far. Especially Jung Chae Yeon (Juwon), this is my first time seeing her act and I'm in love with her and her smile already. Hwang Inyeop is as dreamy as ever and seeing the way he stands up for Juwon gives me butterflies. It's about time he gets the girl! Bae Hyun Sung is also just a cutie patootie in this, the way he's so fixated on what Juwon thinks about him. Juwon's father, Choi Won Young is such a sweet and caring father. He has such a big heart, and I also loved when he played a father in Twinkling Watermelon.
Music has very feel-good vibes, and very suited for a coming of age drama. Loving this so far as well.
Really recommend for a light and cheerful watch!
Edit: WARNING THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT A LIGHT AND CHEERFUL WATCH. IT IS ONLY OCCASIONALLY CHEERFUL AND SOMETIMES IT MAKES YOU WANT TO SHED TEARS OH MY GOD. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL THEIR FAMILIESSSS THEIR SITUATIONS ARE MAKING ME BAWL. UHMM I HOPE THEY ALL END UP SO HAPPY IN THE END FOR REAL.
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The ultimate k-drama remake
Family by choice started of decent, the elder-brother and second brother are kept the same except one thing that they changes, in go ahead the second-brother had no ex-girlfriend and was single however in family by choice he had one. Their might be some slight changes, but the characters are kept the same and the drama gets better each episode and has a lot of potential. Hoping to see the episodes progressing to a good standard, which I don't think will disappoint! Hwang-yeop is finally casted as the ML which I'm quite stoked about, he manages to play high school kid quite well!!Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
A masterpiece this far
Even though it’s not finished yet, I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite dramas of all time—and definitely of the year.The acting is amazing; you can see that not only are the actors super talented, but the directing is on point too. It avoids the usual mistakes you see in a lot of K-dramas. The female lead is especially great—she actually has a real personality, not just the usual extremes of being overly annoying or overly sweet.
And the romance? Perfect. It’s a slow burn, but it never feels boring, so you get to enjoy it at a relaxed pace without feeling impatient for things to happen.
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"Blood is thicker than water"? Aniyooo..
"the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" will be well depicted in the dramaFood analogy: Well Balanced korean meal with fried eggs, and lot of other banchans.
I started this with the hopes of watching happy rainbows and pink cotton candy clouds but boy, was I forced in a rollercoaster? Yes. Am I complaining? No. You know, what I like about these "family oriented" stories is that there will be at least one angle (amidst multiple angles and storylines for e.g. romance, tragedy, warmth, distance e.t.c) that everyone could relate to, somewhere or the other, relatibity takes centre stage and strum at out heart strings.
I am solely writing this to tell everyone reading this to dive into this deep warm bubble bath of "family by choice. "
Spoiler ahead:
P. S: I totally relate yo Juwon. She is right to be hurt and angry.
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#haedal4ever
nunca assisti a obra original, mas fui assisti os primeiros eps dessa adaptação e eu fiquei tão impactada pela história que já fui emocionada dizendo que seria meu top 3 do ano.E de fato, foi uma história linda, muito gostosinha de acompanhar e com várias cenas que me marcaram, mas que com o tempo ficou claro que uma adaptação de 16 episódios seria muito pouco pra uma história que originalmente foi feita em 40+ episódios. Infelizmente o maior defeito foi realmente esse, o que é uma pena, porque eu sei que se tivesse um pouco mais de tempo o desenvolvimento seria muito melhor.
Além disso, o arco de redenção final da mãe do Sanha foi completamente desnecessário, já que não tinha nada no mundo capaz de mudar a minha opinião (acredito que a de todo mundo) sobre ela. Acho que esse tempo que deram de tela pra ela podia ser trocado por cenas do Haejun e da Dal que na >minha opinião< foram o melhor casal (torci horrores e senti falta de mais ceninhas, não vou mentir)
De forma geral, sou uma grande fã de dramas familiares e family by choice aqueceu meu coração, não entrou pro meu top 3, mas com certeza estará no meu top 10 do ano!
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Family by choice
At first I was very excited, but after I saw this far. I'm still surprised by the story which seems to have a lot of jumps in it. Yes I have watched the previous version.What I regret is that this is a family drama as the title suggests. However, I feel a little disappointed about the emphasis on family.In fact, I think that from the start, this drama adaptation actually emphasized the love triangle between the actors. That's the first one, the second one is the character of the main character, seriously I read the novel and the character doesn't match, come on.Well, even so, this drama is quite good, not too bad. But to watch it again, I prefer to watch the original version.
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Family is not always made by blood, but by heart❤️
Family by Choice tells the heartfelt story of Kim San-ha, Yoon Ju-won, and Kang Hae-jun, three individuals who, though unrelated by blood, forge an unbreakable bond during their teenage years. Raised under the devoted care of Ju-won’s father, Yoon Jeong-jae, who owns a Kalguksu restaurant, and San-ha’s father, Kim Dae-wook, they grow up together as family. Despite the absence of their mothers, the two fathers create a nurturing and joyful environment for the trio. However, circumstances pull San-ha and Hae-jun away from their close-knit family, forcing them to part ways. A decade later, the three reunite, uncovering long-buried memories and rekindling the profound connections that shaped their lives.The first two episodes were great, I enjoyed them a lot. The drama doesn't make sense, first their parents left ML and in the next episode they keep coming back one by one, it's annoying. I'm especially bothered by Kim San Ha's mom, I don't understand her, actually she wanted happiness so she divorced Kim San Ha's father and left her son and married someone else, then after 10 years she came back to their lives and destroyed their peace and happiness and blamed them for Kim San Ha's younger sister's death, later her second husband died in an accident, she blames Kim San Ha and her ex-husband for everything.
After the leap I found it a bit more interesting to watch, personally I loved the chemistry between 1st couple and 2nd couple.
At the end it doesn't matter if the family is related by blood or not, it only matters that they love each other and respect each other and this drama gives a warm love and proves again that it doesn't matter if your caste or blood is different, it only matters that you love each other and care for each other.
Family is not always made by blood, but by heart ❤️
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Found family will always heal the soul
This show is a sweet slice of life about struggle and finding a home and overcoming difficulties. Three children raised as siblings but not by blood find themselves navigating life without mothers and with prejudices placed on them due to their circumstances that were beyond their control. Ju Won who lost her mother before she even knew her to death, San Ha whose mother abandoned him after being stuck in her own grief, and Hae Jun who was left behind and taken in by a stranger. All three raised by Ju Won and San Ha's fathers creating a tight knit family of 5 for 10 years. But as life has a tendency to do things begin to unravel when the boys are seniors in high school and getting ready to graduate. They find their situations changing again and taking them in different directions separating the three 'siblings' for 10 years before the two men find their way back home.I actually really liked this show a lot. It was really very beautiful and acted very well. The child actors in the beginning were fantastic and the adult actors all embodied their roles with near perfection. The drama also makes a point to show early on in the series the difference in how Ju Won treats San Ha and Hae Jun while growing up which makes the romance later in the story more palatable for some viewers. I like how their struggles are often handled with grace and understanding between the close knit family of 5.
I also like how they made this story their own but stayed true to the characters and their personalities. Ju Won here is much more reserved in this version and I actually like that for her character. She doesn't come off as spoiled or naive but strong and independent which makes sense and fits perfectly as someone that was raised by someone that loved them so well and worked so hard. She learned from him and met her own difficulties with determination and grace. I also prefer this version of Hae Jun as well. His trauma of being abandoned and feeling like he had to earn a place and the way that trauma molded him works here. He is strong and soft hearted like Ju Won's father who raised him but his fear of being thrown away is shown to perfection here. I also really loved Dal in this show and wish she had been shown more, especially her interactions with Hae Jun which were some of my favorite. I actually preferred this pair over Ju Won and San Ha.
What did not land perfectly for me was the chemistry for the romance and I will forever hate San Ha's mother no matter version I watch. I watched this show through the eyes of having seen the original so that knowledge I think fills in some gaps that may be missing in this show because of the shorter run time. There were some things that felt rushed and others that felt too slow. Like the wedding at the ending felt rushed and unnecessary though I thought the same in the original. The last episode also felt so long and boring to me which is not a good feeling when it comes to a finale.
But overall I enjoyed this and would recommend for the found family and even for the dialogue. Some of the advice given to the characters throughout the show hits emotionally even to the viewers who may be able to see themselves in some of the aspects of the characters. Well written script, seasoned actors that are great at their craft, beautiful OST, and stunning visuals make for a good show.
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Are all Mothers bad?
So I watched ep 6 last evening and I"m very frustrated that ALL the adult Female characters are cruel and uncaring to their children. Although I understand that the writers are trying to explain the difficulties these teenagers are facing, is it really necessary that all the mothers are portrayed in this way? Both Father figures are portrayed as nothing short of saints! Two mothers abandoned their sons, and the 3rd is cruel and constantly humiliates her teenage daughter in front of her friends. One mother left her child because of grief and the other because of financial difficulties, and this is supposed to explain their cruelty even 10 years after leaving. Even the aunt of one of the teenagers is thoughtless towards her nephew, implying that he is a burden to the father figure who raised him. Up until ep6 I have loved this drama. However, if the storyline continues to portray the women in this drama as cruel, heartless and selfish with no redeeming factors, I don't think I will be able to continue to watch it as I feel the writers must hate mothers and women in general.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Ultimate k-drama!
The drama of "family by choice" taps into one of the most powerful and nuanced themes in human relationships—the ability to form deep, meaningful connections beyond the boundaries of blood ties. What makes this type of story so compelling is the emotional complexity that comes with choosing your own "family." It's a blend of vulnerability, loyalty, and the search for belonging, often portrayed through characters who are either estranged from their biological families or who have been through significant personal loss or trauma. From an insight-driven perspective, these dramas typically highlight the struggles of acceptance, the pain of rejection, and the beauty of finding solace in unexpected places. It shows that love is not a birthright but something that can be nurtured and earned. The conflicts in these stories are often internal, as characters wrestle with societal expectations, personal insecurities, and the challenge of trusting others who have no legal or blood-based obligation to them.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
