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Go Ahead in Kdrama land
This review is an ongoing reflection, likely influenced by my personal bias against remakes, particularly K-drama adaptations. I’ve never been a fan of remakes, and I hold a special place in my heart for Go Ahead, which makes me cautious about this remake. However, I decided to give it a chance, especially after seeing the cast, particularly Hwang In Youp as the lead.
As of episode four, here are my thoughts:
What I Appreciate:
• The similarities to the original Chinese drama, like the noodle shop, the store's placement, and the open rooftop.
• The female lead's character is more upbeat and cheerful a bit more feminine, a difference from the Chinese drama. I love that she also knows what she wants.
Challenges I’m Facing:
• The shift in genre: This remake leans more toward fun and comedy, aiming for a rom-com vibe. I read an article indicating that it will focus more on romance than family, which disappoints me. Given the title "Family by Choice," I hoped for a stronger emphasis on familial bonds, but it doesn’t feel like a family dynamic so far.
• In the original, Tan had a more tomboyish personality and treated the boys like brothers, which added to the family feel.
• The foreshadowing of Tan’s love for hard candies and the male lead’s eventual career choice.
• The opening song: As I mentioned in my brief review of Go Ahead, the opening song was a highlight for me, something I looked forward to in each episode.
• The length of the K-drama: Condensing the depth of 40 episodes into 16 inevitably leaves out many beloved details, resulting in a loss of emotional build-up and relationship development.
I’m trying to approach this series with an open mind, but I know I’ll likely compare it to the original. So far, I’m not loving it, leading me to rate it 5/10. There are many elements working against it, and I'm struggling to find aspects I enjoy in this remake.
Update 12/6:
Here’s my final review after watching the series. The first half was really disappointing. It felt like a copy without the emotional depth. I actually made a whole list of what they did wrong as I watched each episode as it aired. I was crying, feeling sad, and seriously considering dropping the show before it ended. I was going through a whirlwind of emotions and didn’t want to continue. However, I pushed through because I wanted to see the ‘romance.’
Shockingly, the second half felt like they rewrote the show to give it a more K-drama feel, with the romance twist. Honestly, I think they should have gone in this direction from the start, but I understand that they were trying to establish a backdrop and create familiarity for fans of Go Ahead, hoping they would either enjoy or learn to appreciate this remake.
Here are some points I genuinely enjoyed about the series:
• The FL defending the ML during the mother visit. She stated to the mother, she only ‘loaned’ him back to his mother for ten years because they were family, but now he belongs with her; a flashback to when they were young and he was given away. I’m glad they cleared up this misunderstanding much faster than in the Chinese drama. With only 16 episodes, the pacing felt nice.
• I appreciated how they made it clear that the second lead brother wasn’t trying to marry FL out of romantic interest, but because he wanted her to have the family name – what she always wanted! In the C-drama, this misunderstanding wasn’t cleared up until later. Plus, FL friend never switched over to liking the ML, which I’m grateful for. I’ve always had a soft spot for the second lead, and it felt like they really played into that here. I was genuinely affected during the episodes when they unraveled his thoughts. My favorite line from him: "Why does everyone abandon me?" Honestly, I think the writers were listening to my thoughts because that scene made me follow Steven Zhang as an actor.
To conclude, for the first time, this is a remake that’s not bad. It’s still not the best, but it served its purpose. This is how Go Ahead might look in the “K-dramas world”
Rating: 7.5. It’s a series I probably won’t rewatch because it doesn’t give me the same emotional satisfaction or sense of family and slice of life that the original did.
As of episode four, here are my thoughts:
What I Appreciate:
• The similarities to the original Chinese drama, like the noodle shop, the store's placement, and the open rooftop.
• The female lead's character is more upbeat and cheerful a bit more feminine, a difference from the Chinese drama. I love that she also knows what she wants.
Challenges I’m Facing:
• The shift in genre: This remake leans more toward fun and comedy, aiming for a rom-com vibe. I read an article indicating that it will focus more on romance than family, which disappoints me. Given the title "Family by Choice," I hoped for a stronger emphasis on familial bonds, but it doesn’t feel like a family dynamic so far.
• In the original, Tan had a more tomboyish personality and treated the boys like brothers, which added to the family feel.
• The foreshadowing of Tan’s love for hard candies and the male lead’s eventual career choice.
• The opening song: As I mentioned in my brief review of Go Ahead, the opening song was a highlight for me, something I looked forward to in each episode.
• The length of the K-drama: Condensing the depth of 40 episodes into 16 inevitably leaves out many beloved details, resulting in a loss of emotional build-up and relationship development.
I’m trying to approach this series with an open mind, but I know I’ll likely compare it to the original. So far, I’m not loving it, leading me to rate it 5/10. There are many elements working against it, and I'm struggling to find aspects I enjoy in this remake.
Update 12/6:
Here’s my final review after watching the series. The first half was really disappointing. It felt like a copy without the emotional depth. I actually made a whole list of what they did wrong as I watched each episode as it aired. I was crying, feeling sad, and seriously considering dropping the show before it ended. I was going through a whirlwind of emotions and didn’t want to continue. However, I pushed through because I wanted to see the ‘romance.’
Shockingly, the second half felt like they rewrote the show to give it a more K-drama feel, with the romance twist. Honestly, I think they should have gone in this direction from the start, but I understand that they were trying to establish a backdrop and create familiarity for fans of Go Ahead, hoping they would either enjoy or learn to appreciate this remake.
Here are some points I genuinely enjoyed about the series:
• The FL defending the ML during the mother visit. She stated to the mother, she only ‘loaned’ him back to his mother for ten years because they were family, but now he belongs with her; a flashback to when they were young and he was given away. I’m glad they cleared up this misunderstanding much faster than in the Chinese drama. With only 16 episodes, the pacing felt nice.
• I appreciated how they made it clear that the second lead brother wasn’t trying to marry FL out of romantic interest, but because he wanted her to have the family name – what she always wanted! In the C-drama, this misunderstanding wasn’t cleared up until later. Plus, FL friend never switched over to liking the ML, which I’m grateful for. I’ve always had a soft spot for the second lead, and it felt like they really played into that here. I was genuinely affected during the episodes when they unraveled his thoughts. My favorite line from him: "Why does everyone abandon me?" Honestly, I think the writers were listening to my thoughts because that scene made me follow Steven Zhang as an actor.
To conclude, for the first time, this is a remake that’s not bad. It’s still not the best, but it served its purpose. This is how Go Ahead might look in the “K-dramas world”
Rating: 7.5. It’s a series I probably won’t rewatch because it doesn’t give me the same emotional satisfaction or sense of family and slice of life that the original did.
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