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Lee Joon Gi’s again and in positive martial type as a hotheaded prosecutor who lives by the legislation and his fists. On paper, the character does appear slightly too just like the one he performed in “Lawless Lawyer,” however in observe, they find yourself being moderately distinct. At a tempo so frenetic that it looks like a film at occasions, “Once more My Life” makes its entrance with a splash. This present doesn’t waste time in getting us again to the previous, and it pulls no punches in exhibiting how entrenched corruption is in society. But, the center and soul of this drama stays within the little moments the place Lee Joon Gi will get to do what all of us undoubtedly dream of at factors and returns to his previous to reshape his future.
Right here’s what we cherished in regards to the premiere episodes!
Warning: spoilers for episodes 1-2 under.
1. A level-headed hero
We’ve actually began to maneuver away from characters that solely embody a single trait to way more complicated folks, and I’m loving it! Ok-dramas are rife with unorthodox prosecutors and attorneys, particularly hot-headed ones, that means that Kim Hee Woo (Lee Joon Gi) has to work additional laborious to face out as a personality. At first, he appears the basic fast-talking prosecutor, however after our backwards time skip, Hee Woo proves to have a surprisingly mild persona, a thoughts as sharp as a knife, and a bent to assume earlier than he acts (a rarity amongst many drama characters). Hee Woo is at occasions vaguely paying homage to Hwang Si Mok (Cho Seung Woo) within the wonderful “Forest of Secrets and techniques.” As we relive the occasions that formed Hee Woo, his former off-kilter demeanor begins to make sense. So, when he goes again and has an opportunity to do it throughout, his persona softens to the individual he might have been earlier than life hit him within the face. He’s really easy to root for!
2. A plot that progresses at breakneck velocity
When Hee Woo dies midway into episode 1, it virtually feels too quickly. Most dramas take the whole thing of their first episode to arrange the remainder of the story and lead into the characters. Nevertheless, “Once more My Life” rushes proper into introducing its major antagonist Jo Tae Sub (Lee Kyung Younger) lower than 10 minutes into the primary episode. It speeds alongside the remainder of the way in which, such that our cliffhanger for that episode is the primary of Hee Woo’s pivot factors, one of many many incidents that formed him prior to now and will break him this time round as effectively. It’s a sensible transfer that’ll undoubtedly assist in attracting an viewers proper off the bat, but there’s the slight concern that dramas transferring this rapidly at first might lag within the center or in direction of the top. Hopefully, 15 years of Hee Woo’s life present sufficient materials that this received’t occur!
3. A previous that’s doled out on an as-need foundation
There are two methods a drama like this might have been carried out when it comes to dealing with the previous. First, it might present us how the unique occasions in Hee Woo’s life performed out (not as a flashback however as he was experiencing them) and later present us how he modifies issues. Or, it might present us the previous by revealing every occasion because it comes up, summarizing how previous Hee Woo handled it and exhibiting us how future Hee Woo handles it. The primary methodology is unquestionably the longer one, however the emotional payoff is a lot larger as a result of we’ve seen the character undergo life the primary time and the autumn out of that occasion. This makes us tremendous invested in how they’ll change it. The underrated drama “Priest” makes use of this to nice impact.
It’s comprehensible that “Once more My Life” doesn’t have the time to point out us all the pieces, so it goes with the second methodology the place we’re given a tough overview of Hee Woo’s life proper earlier than he’s thrown again into the previous. This methodology doesn’t present as a lot pathos, and if something, can really feel slightly abrupt at occasions as Hee Woo is aware of greater than we do as viewers. We’re attempting to catch as much as his information of a life that he’s already lived. Nonetheless, it makes for zippy pacing.
4. The supernatural aspect story
When this drama touted itself as a second-chance-at-revenge story, it gave the impression to be a type of exhibits the place the supernatural occasion affecting the primary character is defined away as a one-off freak accident of nature like in “Who Are You?” or “I Hear Your Voice” the place the powers are by no means fairly defined. However surprisingly sufficient, “Once more My Life” appears to have a kind of mythos round this entire time-traveling. The red-cloaked grim reaper (Cha Joo Younger), who aids Hee Woo by turning again the clock, appears to have some kind of grudge in opposition to Jo Tae Sub. Judging by her remark that Hee Woo may meet her if he scopes out Tae Sub, she is clearly a part of his circle and is evidently useless – probably at his hand. On condition that the top of the second episode exhibits the arrival of the mysterious Physician Ok (Hyun Woo Sung), who killed Hee Woo sooner or later, Hee Woo might must struggle a battle on two fronts with enemies from the previous and the longer term.
5. The ensemble solid
Lee Joon Gi is carrying this drama laborious, and the primary two episodes have been 99 p.c him working the gamut of emotion. However a drama like that is nothing with out its villains, and it could falter if these villains have been within the arms of lesser actors. Kim Jae Kyung continues her lengthy streak of constructing each character she performs unusually endearing. Kim Han Mi (Kim Jae Kyung) is a former iljin (faculty bully) doing completely nothing along with her life till Hee Woo saves her from sexual assault, and he or she grows fascinated by strolling the straight and slender. Plus, they’ve nice chemistry.
Jung Sang Hoon (Lee Min Soo) is a confusingly good skilled pupil who has been accepted to medical faculty, skilled artwork faculty, and music academies, solely to ditch all of them after one 12 months. He’s an unknown variable in Hee Woo’s life and at all times appears to know greater than he’s telling. Kim Gyu Ri (Hong Bi Ra) is the perfectionist educational whose life Hee Woo saves, and he or she appears to be greater than his mental equal. However, Choi Kang Jin (Kim Jin Woo) and Kang Il Hyun (Kim Hyung Muk) swagger about, exuding charisma and sleaziness with each snap of their fingers. With cameos from veterans like Lee Quickly Jae developing, this drama’s shaping as much as be greater than the Lee Joon Gi present, and right here’s hoping we see extra of all of them.
The feminine lead Kim Hee Ah (Kim Ji Eun) stays an unknown so far, and he or she seems to be taking part in an analogous position to the one she performed in “The Veil.” It looks as if a basic character – feisty, speaks her thoughts with out considering, and has a bleeding coronary heart for the underprivileged – so the query arises as to how she will get concerned in Hee Woo’s revenge. Hee Woo appears unusually taken by her, so maybe we’ll get a love line there. But, the chemistry feels missing. If something, Hee Woo has a greater repartee with Han Mi and Gyu Ri. That’s the one gripe in an in any other case fast-hitting pair of opening episodes. Hopefully the drama doesn’t lag its pacing and continues to hit laborious. Then once more, with 15 years of Hee Woo’s life to mine for materials, this shouldn’t be a difficulty!
Try the drama under!
What did you consider the premiere episodes? Tell us your ideas within the feedback under!
Shalini_A is a very long time Asian-drama addict. When not watching dramas, she works as a lawyer, fangirls over Ji Sung, and makes an attempt to complete up the best fantasy romance of all time. Observe her on Twitter and Instagram, and be happy to ask her something!
Presently Watching: “Grid,” “Navy Prosecutor Doberman,” “Loopy Love,” and “Once more My Life.”
Trying Ahead to: “Adamas,” “Why Her?,” “Hyperlink,” “Island,” “Insider,” “Tomorrow,” “Little Ladies,” “The Sound of Magic,” “Massive Mouth,” “Chaebol’s Youngest Son,” “Carter,” “Queen of the Scene,” “Black Knight,” and “Sh**ting Stars.”
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