이번 생도 잘 부탁해 (See You in My 19th Life) Review

At first, I wasn't particularly interested in watching this drama. Though I am a huge fan of webtoon, I have only read Lee Hye's previous webtoon "(오늘도 사랑스럽개) which I enjoyed so much. The pivotal moment that made me change my mind was when I stumbled upon its OSTs, 'Star' by Colde and 'Silence' by Sunwoojunga. The first note captured my heart. Though both songs have different nuances and rhythms, they tugged at my heartstrings. The warmth exuded by these songs made me crave more, and more.

I would love to read the webtoon first. Usually when there's a movie/drama based on a book, I would try to read the original work first. But this time, my patience run out, and I just want to dive right into the story knowing that it won't disappoint me. I have my trust on the OSTs, and Shin Hye Sun, a phenomenal actress that secured her spot in my top actress list!

S y n o p s i s

Ban Ji Eum has an extraordinary ability: she can remember the memories of all her past lives. Repeating her reincarnation for nearly a thousand years, Ban Ji Eum has been living all her lives diligently. After her previous life is cut short by a tragic accident, she sets out to reconnect with the people of her past life in her current one, and decides to find a man named Moon Seo Ha, whom she met in her 18th life. Will memories of her 18th life sabotage romance in her 19th? Or will love endure across different lives?
On the other side, there is also Yoon Cho Won, a landscape architect and the younger sister of Yoon Joo Won, whose life collapsed after her older sister's death. She is courageous and kind, even after facing the death of her beloved sister, but she struggles to maintain her brightness. When Yoon Cho Won meets Ban Ji Eum by chance and sees her older sister in her, she wonders about Ban Ji Eum’s identity.
Then there's Ha Do Yoon, Moon Seo Ha’s secretary and best friend since childhood. Although they come from completely different backgrounds, Ha Do Yoon feels some kind of affinity for him.

R e v i e w

I thoroughly enjoyed watching every episodes. Recently, I got into an accident and injured my leg. Being immobile for a few weeks, this drama accompany me in my recovery journey. Here are some points that made me appreciate this production:

1. Cinematography and fashion

Literally gorgeous! I appreciate the symmetric shooting and how they play with the angles. Especially the flashback scenes of Ban Ji Eum's previous lives are very enigmatic and dreamy. The fashion curation of each character is also worth noting, especially for Ban Ji Eum. I must say her cozy-professional and clean-cut looks are my preferences, they add more idea to what I want to wear!

2. The OSTs

I can't speak enough about this. They captivated my heart and soul from the first moment I listened to them. They transmit the longing and grief emotions conveyed from the screen to the viewers and listeners. As someone who enjoys staying in a melancholic state, they have been on repeat for weeks now.

The tracks that stand out to me:

I. Silence by Sunwoojunga
II. Stars by Colde
III. I'll Embrace Your Past by Ahn Bo Hyun

3. Characters

Ban Ji-Eum is a really witty and cunning character and Shin Hye Sun managed to bring her to life with her remarkable and unarguable charms! Despite being someone who has lived long enough and has gone through the perpetual trails of life full of suffering and farewells, Ban Ji-Eum still shows her vulnerability towards her own emotions, though she tries to swallow them up by herself and conceal those feelings. One scene that struck me was in episode 3 when she 'met' her past life's mother. Being deranged and aching with longing, her desires burst out with yearning for her motherly love back, the warmth she received for the short span of time of her previous life. It might be thrilling to remember all your past lives, but having to tuck away those sufferings and emotions alone, is painful.

Mun Seo Ha, I just want to give him a warm hug. Seeing how he grew up with guilt and full of mournfulness ached my heart. Especially when flashbacks of the accidents are coming back haunting him, I can't imagine how bruised his heart is enduring his immense grief. The presence of Ban Ji-Eum in his life is a remedy for his bleak life. Sometimes, I want to shout out that she is the Ji-Won he has been longing for! Ahn Bo-Hyun totally succeeded in demonstrating his character and captivating the viewers' sympathy, I applaud that!

The other characters are all endearing and phenomenally presented. Yoon Cho-Won undeniably showcased her charms as the younger sister of Ji-Won with her bubbly and clumsy personality, but also exuding her honesty and unwavering determination in expressing her feelings to Ha Do-Woon. Ha Do-Woon may seem blunt and aloof, but considering his rough upbringing from losing his father at such a young age, having to take the role of the provider of the family to raise his only brother, and crawling his way out to make a better life for them both, it is no wonder why he closed his heart and set up a wall against emotional feelings. Constantly in a survival mood and being tense and cautious, it is difficult for him to let people come closer as one might get hurt in the process. I was endearingly rooting for them both, and I am glad they worked out in the end (':

I really adore the dynamic of all the characters. Ae-Gyeong is such a precious character that I want to protect with all my heart. I am very happy that she got to reconnect back with her 'uncle' and share the happiness together, my heart is full <3

Lessons I learnt
1. Do not wait for the right moment, the right time is now.
2. When you care for people, there will be people who care for you too.
3. Life is not meant to be 'solved', it is meant to be 'lived'.

V e r d i c t

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is my new comfort drama. Despite the comments about how the characters aren't deep enough and how the story is rushed, I find myself not thinking the same! For me, the director and screenwriter did a great job in introducing each character and showcasing them in a way viewers could empathise with them deeply. Especially the childhood scenes, those are the main scene stealers! Combined with the eye-pleasing cinematography and endearing soundtracks, they rode our emotions successfully. I also applaud how they managed to make such a vibrant and witty script while maintaining the underlying somber tone throughout the story. They stroke the balance perfectly that I can't ask for more. As much as I would love the story to be 16 episodes long, I do think 12 episodes is a perfect choice. There is a lot of loose being unthreaded, or as they said, 'loopholes'. But I don't think it's necessary to explain everything, as it might take away the enigmatic essence and excitement of the storytelling. I also like to think of it as a way that the scriptwriter gives us the chance to let our imagination wander (: