The Time We Were Not in Love (2015)

** I haven't seen the original In Time With You. **

I also watched this as it aired.

I really had high hopes for this drama so it was with pig headed determination that I stuck with it despite it getting draggy and slow. The music was probably the best thing in it for me. I did really like the chemistry between the leads and, despite the painstakingly slow development in it, I got drawn into their love story and I adore Ha Ji Won. I really think she saved it! To anyone starting this drama I would say to try stick with it, the story does eventually develop and I really enjoyed the last few episodes that aired.

I wouldn't re-watch this however, it was such hard work to watch the first time around. Overall it's an average drama, that's enjoyable, has pretty good music and not a difficult viewing that serves fine as a simple best friends turned lovers drama.

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Potentially good drama spoiled by a lackluster performance

Middle of the road K-drama with pleasant, likeable leads with good chemistry that will resonate with anyone who has ever been "friend-zoned" or watched helplessly as an unrequited love interest falls into a poisonous relationship. However, everyone else will tire of this K-drama rather quickly.

Ha Ji Won is lovely as Oh Ha Na and her relationship with nice guy Choi Won (Lee Jin Wook) is very endearing and believable. But problems with the story start when the despicable ex-boyfriend Cha Seo Hoo (Yoon Kyn Sang) shows up. Of the nearly 40 K-dramas I've watched so far, Yoon Kyn Sang's performance as the ex-boyfriend Cha Seo Hoo is by far the most wooden and unengaging (if not downright irritating). I initially thought the problem was with the part as written, but as the story unfolded I became more convinced that it was Yoon Kyn Sang's performance that was lacking. There was just so much about him/his character that wasn't believable, and the chemistry between the actors Yoon Kyn Sang and Ha Ji Won was sorely lacking. How was the delightful, innocent character Oh Ha Na *ever* attracted to Cha Seo Hoo in the first place? And even if she suffered some momentary lapse of judgement, how did he manage to hang onto her with his stone-faced, emotionless demeanor? I just didn't buy their relationship at all, and I can only attribute it to Yoon Kyn Sang's stiff performance. By episode 10 I was so irritated that jumped ahead to see how the show ends, and I *never* do that. (Suffice it to say that what I learned allowed me to keep watching...)

Looking past the Cha Seo Hoo character and Yoon Kyn Sang's performance there was much to like about this show. At its heart, it is a story about a long-lasting friendship between two friends that love each other dearly and how it slowly transitions into something even deeper and more meaningful. Along the way it explores love in many of its shapes and colors--including infatuation, angst, romance, and an almost agape-type love--and how we can transition in and out of these in the course of a long term relationship. But with its problems, this K-drama is really just for those that remember the angst of young love and the feeling of being friend-zoned. Others will simply find it frustrating.

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What is Love?

Wow, perfect earlier drama. So much emotions. So much depth. Ha Ji Won knocked it out of the park again. What is love? Feelings? What types? What sacrifices ? Indeed.

my only gripe about the drama was the sound quality in several places where they played music on top of sounds. that was really disturbing.

I very rarely rewatch dramas, but this really really has impressed me because of the depth of feeling. On my very short likely to rewatch list. several dramas have let me down in the last few months, now I’m gonna go watch some more Ha Ji Won since she has not let me down yet.

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