Because This is My First Life (2017)

CAUSATION: Beyond this point readers are warned that the following contains some mature, petty content with dramatic language, so I don't need no hateration, holleration in this dancery!

Personally, I was so disappointed with this ending that I was forced to make my first review to save others. Honestly, this drama had some quotable moments before shit hit the fan towards the end.

 I enjoyed:
-BEST OTS of 2017 better than Goblin and DOTS put together.
-I love the consistency of the GOOD acting skills from ALL the cast members even the supporting,
-Filming cuts and narrating from both leading allowing the audience to gain different perspectives. And increased your understanding of the characters actions and emotions (I think it humanised a lot of characters that appeared selfish).
-the beginning with very addicting because it seemed to have an adult tone with relative beautifully written plots.
-At first I appreciated the balance between the cheesy couple moments with the reflective tone.
-this drama had a lot of potential as it approached adult relationships with characters responding close (comparing to with general kdrama standards) to realistic reactions.  
-Every couple had me in my feelings with the chemistry in the relationship being natural in some and others realistically awkwardly progressing (again believable pacing ).
-This was the first drama that EMPOWERED me to venture outside me shallow preferences.
-I was grateful for REAL kisses and make-out scenes.
-No last minute kiss scenes (waiting for 525600 minutes).
-The writers didn't complicate nor prolong meet ques or plot-lines (to an extent).
-I never skipped because the dialogue and the pace of every episode was synced.
-interesting story lines.
-The filming was on POINT! Especially the shots and angles because they added to the actors performances,  made certain scenes more intense and kept it simple avoiding distracting the viewers (camera focus was clear as iPhone users).

-I would suggest this drama for those seeking a light hearted drama filler.  

Disliked:
-I took it too seriously and I got more invested as it aired.
-When shit hit the fan and the last script scenes went with it.
-Went from unique drama to basic kdrama.
-The writer thought it was a laugh 'ticking' me with  unnecessary story-lines that just ended up back square one.
-Made me root for hopelessness!
-Sacrificed a LOT of the casts character's development and defining decides for certain character's personal growth. (.e.g.  Yoon Ji Ho's traits went from Lovely Sam soon Kim Sam Soon to Goong- Shin Chaekyung).
-Unexplained character possessions of all the main cast- near the end had them making out of character decisions.
-The supporting cast vanished (deleted my bae #HotnessInPink).
-Limited episodes made some characters seem neglected because we didn't have enough time to explore their backgrounds, resulting in certain relationships only scratching the surface.
-Cliche BS Rom-con moral of the story ''love conqueror all''.
-Stops addressing the topic ''what happens to couples when love is not enough''.
-Decided to be messy and take notes from 'How I met your mother' with a CERTAIN couple.
-Questionable introduced plots could have added depth to story-lines but were abandoned or water-down.
-Contains contradictory  messages comparing them to previous dialogues and the narratives points.

No, I will not re-watch this kdrama and I'm done with tvN thanks for another misleading journey towards a filler fluffy ending.
VIEWER DISCLAIMER: Please do not proceed to complete this drama in the event you are still suffering from PTSD, which were triggered by reply 1988, Cheese in the Trap or Another Miss Oh.

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I watched this drama and kept waiting and hoping it would get better. I was sadly disappointed with the story direction which just went in circles for the leads. I found it a dysfunctional mess from start to finish, so could not really recommend it to anyone. The characters did not really develop much so that was then only consistent element in the story. Character life lessons to learn, were poorly approached and not handled well. Any glimmer of potential break through developments were weakly implemented or obscurely approached, so the cast were often in odd situations that were just cringe worthy.  The plot was really muddled and even the supporting characters storylines were not strong or that compelling.

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I apologize beforehand since this is my first time writing a review.

I originally didn't want to watch this drama, since the trailer didn't appeal to me, but since I heard so many people talk about how much they loved it, I decided to watch it.

This drama offers a more mature look at life, with three females, each facing their own issues and three potential love interests. Each character is well written, having specific personalities and different fears. The more I watched it, the more I got into it. I really did enjoy the beginning of this drama, and thought it would be unique. I also enjoyed the humor and the I absolutely adored the cat.

What my downfall became to be was that it became a typical drama, and after having watched so many, it simply lacked intrigue by the end.

Now that I look back to this drama (that I finished four hours ago), its a drama about 3 women who are picky and have a difficult situation or choice to make, and 3 perfect guys that basically fall head over heals and just adore them. Every time a girl acts out, they apologize and adore them. It's very rare where the girls actually pay attention to what their partners want, instead it's all about them and how they haven't done something. I enjoyed the struggles the women were facing, since it's very relatable. This drama was created to be mature and focus on real life issues, but what about the issues men have? It just seemed like the men were not there to build up their characters, but instead for the viewers to anticipate kiss scenes.

Looking at the main couple, Ji Ho and So He, at the end the girl took off for no reason with no explanation, which was very unfair to the male. But afterwards, he immediately forgave her and she just stayed exactly the same. Ji Ho was an interesting character, whenever faced with work or friendship, but as soon as it was about the relationship, she almost became a plain doll who didn't have any development. I liked these female characters, I simply think some of the reactions were unexplained or simply unnecessary.

I finished the last episodes loving all the men (cause they were flawless) and disliking the women for taking advantage of them. If the men had been more flawed there would be good balance, or if the women appreciated the men more, there would be more balance. Now I simply think two of the men deserve better partners. But this is just my opinion. My favorite couple was Su Ji and Mr.Ma. They were the most balanced, both pulling and pushing at times. The rest just did one or the other.

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Influenced by all the good reviews 'Because this is My First Life' has been receiving, I decided to try it out, despite it being an out-of-my-comfort-zone Korean drama. Scarred from a past full of disappointing rom-com dramas, as well as a general aversion to the genre in any form, I was more than skeptical to start and more so finish this. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the first half of the show, displaying many cliche-breaking scenes, interesting female characters, and also some well-timed comedy. Around episode 8, things started looking a little down for me - I was tired of the plot-line, I was tired of the main characters playing dumb with each other, and generally just feeling the incoming wave of a generic Korean drama conclusion. For a few moments hereafter, the drama held itself to its previous glory but it ultimately let me down with its final path and ending. By the end, I thought some of the characters were not acting rationally for who they had presented themselves as before, and a few pointless story-lines were introduced and dropped without carrying any type of significance.

But most of all, this drama really disappointed me with its visual arrangement cliches. At some points, I found myself really irritated with the almost outdated cinematography of filming an actor while they stay still with eyes wide open, showing each character talking, or showcasing each time a character is reminiscing in flashback format. Ugh. After watching Western shows, such as Mr Robot or True Detective, I really wish Korean dramas would be a bit more experimental with their formats (though I am aware that they are dumbed down on purpose, since the general public that is watching them on TV may not be paying attention throughout the whole episode - still bad film-making). Same thing for the OST - it's the same as every other drama without any real standouts. Big disappointment for me, but I will continue to search for visually appealing dramas (aside from visually appealing scenes/sceneries, which were abundant here)

Despite all this, I recommend giving 'Because this is My First Life' a try, if not for the strong initial half, than for the tackling of some social issues Koreans face and tend to not really talk about on television.

Edit: Another reason why this drama began really annoying me towards the middle and end was the obscene amount of product placement in almost every scene.

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The concept was great and the characters were great, so what wasn't great?

- Jung So Min. I'm not familiar with her previous works but I did not enjoy her at all in "Because This Is My First Life". I probably wouldn't have minded as much had she been a side character, but when the main character has a dead/expressionless face half of the time (at best!) then yes, I have a problem.

- The romance.  Watching Ji Ho develop romantic feelings for Se Hee was a pretty solid journey but when on earth did Se Hee fall in love with Ji Ho? The episodes went by, one by one, and all of a sudden Se Hee confesses WHAT made him fall in love with Ji Ho. I get the reason WHY but I don't see WHEN it happened. I don't think the romance from See Hee's point of view was conveyed properly at all.

- When the side characters got a more intresting story than the main characters. I have yet to put my finger on what makes me feel like this (and I'll update my review as soon as I figure it out) but I felt myself more invested in Soo Ji/Sang Goo & Ho Rang/Won Seok. Their story and relationship development is what kept me going through this drama.

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Something a lot of people fail to understand that is at fault with this drama is the female lead manipulated the male lead. They need to stay in room 19 because they need to respect each other but it seems that this rule doesn't stem both ways. The FL stomps all over this apparent '"rule" and disrespects the male lead in every way. The one time the male lead steps out of line, its almost like the female lead doesn't like him anymore. The male lead obviously like the female lead more than she does him. She just likes the idea of being in love, she doesn't love him. The minute he steps out of line its back to room 19. Also the fact she's easily interested different guys is proof enough she simply enjoys the thrills of being in love. I really don't like this drama and its message is extremely toxic. I do not want to MENTION the female leads acting. Extremely disappointed with this one.

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Finally , It  been such a long time waiting for a good drama to watch !!! Lately I could not get into any Korean drama ...

I have to say the Writer did an amazing job writing this piece of work it is very well written & the production was well executed , I liked how the story was not forced &  a lot of us in this generation can relate to this ( Sons favoritism , Working women suffering sexual harassment , Marriage , Dreams ... ect ) .

Is marriage is the ultimate goal for any couple in love ? Does everyone need to get married ?? The society we live in make us think that marriage is a must ..
The problem that makes a lot of us hesitate about marriage is that if you got married you will have to compromise your dreams & have to satisfy your partner , in laws and family ! It may makes you feel suffocated .

Each couple in this drama were trying to find the meaning for their relationship , I quit liked the progress and character development ...

The actors were all amazing , it been a long time for us to see Lee Minki in dramas & am happy that he chooses this one after this long hiatus from drama world xD

I think this kind of drama the teens\early 20's may not enjoy it  , the concept is for mature audience ...  I liked that the writer brought the issues about ( Sons favoritism , sexual harassment ) but they did not focus much on it which I really hope for it but I think because there's already 3 couples & only 16 Ep to cover maybe there was no time to discuss them .

And for me this not the type of drama that I'll rewatch cause there was no suspense & the final episode was cute but I think it was rushed , but it doesn't mean I did not enjoyed it ~

This drama kinda reminds me of a Japanese Drama " We Married as a Job " it was also nice to watch ..

Do not hesitate to watch this ~

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Ugh. Just ugh. I was never really interested in this drama one way or another, but it had such good ratings and I've seen most of the other mainstream dramas that I figured I'd give this one a shot. And man oh man am I disappointed.

Simply put, I got bored and tired of the drama between characters. Things were moving at a decent pace in the beginning but the last 6 episodes were really drawn out and made everything drag. For example, the back stories of the characters were not revealed until the last 4 episodes and they weren't very well developed at all which was very disappointing and frustrating.

My biggest issue with this drama is that the characters are written illogically with no qualities that drew me in or made me want to know how they turn out. While I recognize that characters need to be written with room for growth and those are the intended areas of growth throughout the series, the negative qualities/choices of these characters weren't things I found interesting or worth investing my emotions or time into.

By the end, I didn't like any of the characters or their stories and I wasn't happy or proud for any of them because what happened along the way were things I don't feel people should feel proud of. And due to the lack of back stories for each character, I was unable to sympathize and empathize with how each character was as a person, which then made it difficult for me to appreciate their dynamics with other characters.

The OST and actors were pretty decent, but due to the poor character writing, I would not recommend this drama. I know that my review is a very unpopular opinion, but I personally look for much more depth in my slice of life dramas.

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wow, WOMEN!!!

THIS WAS SO CUTE!! I'm not gonna lie, I have a particular bias for this series because NigeHaji is literally my favorite J-drama, so even from the very beginning, I already knew I would love this one.

There were a lot of things about this drama that I really enjoyed, and one is the breaking of stereotypical female roles in such romcom. I absolutely love how all the female character were strong and unique in their own ways. Jiho was very transparent and straight to the point, I like how she stands by her decisions all throughout, and she wasn't the type of character keep anything a secret from others, she was very open-minded and always speaks out. Sooji is a career-focused woman who slowly opens up to the world around her, and I love how much realizations she gets about the people she treasures and how that affects her relationship and career. Last among the friends is Horang, who was first focused on wanting marriage to further validate her love with Wonseok, but comes to a realization on the reality of what is needed for a successful marriage. Bomi is a woman who is quite technical, but also has a playful alter-ego to balance out her career smarts. I could literallyyy go on and on about this but I think this review will be too long if I do, so that's a summary of that bit.

For the story, I think it was really well made because of the logical decisions each character made, and I was always living for every moment when Jiho and Sehee beautifully describe their feelings over things. I personally think that this drama tapped into other things outside romance such as the social (family, work ethics, etc.) and economic (career, practicality, etc.) aspects that are very much real. I really also like how they crocheted the relationships together and I think having that crutch for the whole series made it even more interesting. I think the only drawback that I have with this drama is how rly good the first half was, and eventually the predictability followed, however I thoroughly enjoyed each episode veey much so still.

All in all, I feel like this drama was just such a perfect mix of romance and comedy, refreshing like a thermos of hot, citron tea after a night drinking.

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Wow....where to even begin with this incredible and amazing drama? It was incredibly balanced with progressivism and realism.

The writing was truly on another level; organically-written, deeply thoughtful, and incredible humorous, all at the appropriate times. It follows the stories of 3 couples in their 30s: a house-poor man with a monotonous life gets tangled up with an assistant drama writer in need a place to stay, a turbulent 7 year relationship with an unclear trajectory, and a female professional who deals with workplace sexual harassment and her romance with a submissive CEO. There's themes of family, romance, marriage, friendship, success, and Korean tradition. There's endless book quotes, film allusions, and references to sociologists that enrich the narration and the dialogue. You can just tell that there's intellect and talent in the team behind this drama, as it's incredibly thoughtfully crafted. Even though I'm only 18, I truly enjoyed the more mature/adult vibes of this drama. No spoilers, but I can safely say that if you want a drama that makes you squeal out loud, cry actual tears, and stays in your heart even after it's over WATCH THIS SHOW.

As for the cast, I couldn't have asked for a better cast or more convincing acting, truly a 10/10. Not only was each character thoughtfully written, but I could tell each actor immersed themselves in their individual character's narrative. Lee MinKi outdid himself with the nuanced emotions of Nam SeHee, and Jung SoMin's ability to be cute, fiery, passive, and flustered all within the same episode really charmed me. Everyone was awesome.

I'm not going to lie- I have super high standards for soundtracks, and while this one didn't absolutely blow me away, it was really nice and fitting for the drama. It was cute and light, and I really enjoyed the original score!

I don't typically rewatch dramas, but I can definitely say that I would have no problems watching this one over and over again- it's just so darn good!

I honestly don't think I can ever look at kdramas the same after just how amazing and gratifying this one has been. It was cute, deeply reflective, and overall a fun ride. I'm a slice-of-life fanatic, but I genuinely recommend this drama for everyone of all preferences! A game-changer!

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A deep, thought-provoking, realistic romance comedy.

After getting a Netflix subscription I came back to rewatch this drama, and it's so much better than I remembered it.

Romance: three pairs of leads each facing a different relationship challenge. I love how all three storylines get their spotlight and are interwoven -- it really adds to the plot as well as the complexity of the characters' friendships. The supporting characters are also suuuuper lovable so you'll just end up loving everyone in the show!

Social issues: this is not a light-hearted comedy, as the scriptwriter uses the drama to bring out more serious elements. If you are easily triggered by sexual assault or workplace sexual harassment, then this drama is not for you. The conflicts the three female leads have with patriarchy and traditional family values are so real and so relatable; and the drama tells these stories soooo well (with satisfying closure for those of us who want to see justice being served in creative ways). I also love how, instead of having kdrama trope-y jealous second female leads, this drama is all about women supporting each other through hardship. Within the last few episodes, a very unlikely friendship develops (by kdrama standards) and the heart-warming factor is A+.

Storytelling style: I LOVE the directing and the production. The comedic timing is so on point, with an unexpected twist here and there bound to make you laugh. I also love how they switch between different settings to slowly build up the tension of a scene, so that the punchline hits harder at the end. A good example is in that *one very special exhilarating* scene in ep 14. I also love how they will gloss over important scenes and come back to add details to them later.

TL;DR: This is a drama I will recommend to everyone who wants a down-to-earth, real life romance with *some* cute fluff sprinkled here-and-there. The girl power in this drama is also really cool.
This drama will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you angry at the garbage workplace and family "traditions." But at the end, it was such a fun ride that I would rewatch the famous scenes over and over and over again.

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This drama really had me in for a surprise. It was my first time seeing Jung Somin in such a mature role, and I finally was introduced to Lee Minki's incredible acting. The description "slice of life" drama is not enough to describe the depth this drama has. It truly will move you in one way or another, if not in multiple ways, due to its incredible insight not only about human nature but also about society as a whole.

Jung Somin portrays her character to the T. This drama has the character development, it has the touching moments, but most of all it has a heart and message that speaks volumes. This is not your 10-top star studded drama with flashy cinematography, it instead knows itself very well and the writers have done an impeccable job keeping you guessing what's next. This is not your predictable, cliche rom com. There are no filler storylines, and everything shown is done for a purpose, not to fill a 16 episode quota.

The romance had me floored with the amazing chemistry. I fell in love with Lee Minki's portrayal of such a broken character. The other two love lines were also very well done, I never felt bothered by their scenes, instead I wanted more, because they were so purposefully shown and expertly weaved in.

What I appreciate the most about this drama however is the manner in which it tackles issues present in those who are maturing. While I'm not in my 30s, I'm a woman in my early 20s, I still too felt connected to the idea this drama was elaborating. I would advise those who are in for laughs, but also for heartfelt messages to watch this drama. This TV drama is by the far most well thought out and intricate drama of 2017 that I've watched. I would not change a single thing about its execution, and that's something I have a hard time saying about /any/ drama I've ever watched. I've laughed, cried and most of all learned so much from this drama, and I'm so thankful for the experience this drama has given me.

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