Familiar Wife (2018)

This drama reminds me of two others : Manhole and Go back couple. However, even though those two dramas had a solid plot and purpose of why they were made, this drama failed to deliver. I'm not concerned on it not being original. If the plot is good, why not watch it again with other characters? The main minus, however, that I've found is that the drama pretty much finished in episode 12. The rest of episodes were some unreasonable and meaningless plot twists, happy ever afters and just cute family life. It felt like the writers didn't know what to do with their story and just rushed to add something to fill the hours that were remaining.
Part from that major setback, the performances by the cast were great by all the actors and actresses and they pulled it off nicely. Also, the drama up to the 12th episode, was very good and interesting.

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HOW to keep Your FAMILIAR WIFE Forever and Stop her from changing. (this title suits)

The lesson Familiar Wife gives - 'Whatever problems one faces, it affects the other person in relationship and it won't get solved until one changes the approach to react to them.'

Familiar Wife started with already told story as it was in Go Back Couple while describing all struggles a married couple would go through. But in GBC it was more on melodramatic and emotional side. Here in FW, we get to see more practicality of the struggles and problems in a married life.
The last 2 episodes completely changed tables from an average drama to MUST WATCH drama.

Seo Woo jin is brilliant character who is cheerful, happy-go-lucky and straight-forward person. While Cha Joo hyuk rather comes off as a jerk who makes wrong choices and abandons his wife. But later we know he is a warm-hearted person who didn't know what to do in the past with changing wife who felt unfamiliar to him. He gets better with time and we get to see who is he under the wrap.
Both people had suffered from their incompetency to adapt and lack of conversation between them. Woo jin gets aggressive and Joo hyuk runs away. His character is often considered as a bad and mean person who tried to change his wife because he couldn't handle it. But that makes him more human. Many relations fall apart because there is lack of understanding and every person sinks to self-victimization. So I could understand his struggle and he tries hard once he changes his approach.

As for acting, Han ji min is the show-stealer here. Everytime she is on the screen, you can't take your eyes off the screen. Ji sung is very good too. It's just that his character is late bloomer. Other characters were good too. KUC, Gahyun branch family grows on you.

Music is suitable and kinda addictive in some scenes.

Some scenes are really re-watchable and It is a MUST WATCH FOR EVERY MARRIED COUPLE (struggling or not).

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#FamiliarWife is a romance-fantasy drama. If you have already watched the drama #GoBackCouple they have the same concept wherein they travel back in the past, but this drama has a different twist because here he manage to change and choose the different path but later on he realized that he wanted to go back to his present life but he can't find a way HOW. That's were the story runs.
This drama has a happy ending for those who love happy endings. I watched this because of Ji Sung coz I admired his acting skills. I also love Han Ji Min coz she has one of the pretty face in korean showbiz for me. If you love heart wrenching but really romantic dramas, this is for you. Trust me, you will not regret watching this. Many lessons about married life here.

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A Fairly Frustrating Experience When Rooting for the Heroine

[Written 2/2/2021]

Time travel often asks, "If you could change anything in your life, what would it be?" Time travel romance loves to ask, “If you could trade one sweetheart for another, would you do it?”

The moral quandary of romance and time travel focusing on the idea of "fated lovers", typically ask us to sympathize with men who pursue women they like, all while discarding the agency of the female protagonist (who becomes an object or prize won at the end of the story). Temporal romances range from troubling to creepy when you start to think about the consequences of the characters actions.

Going into "Familiar Wife", the summary didn’t exactly promise a thrilling story. It sounded like your usual “husband hates wife” story that relies on broad stereotypes and revels in its sexism.

The show's first three episodes are hard to watch. Our lead is an emotionally unavailable and dismissive husband (Ju-Hyeok) who can't find the time to be present for his wife (Seo Wu-Jin), and their newborn baby. The writing (intentionally) paints the exhausted Wu-Jin as the monstrous wife who spits, and throws things at her husband like the nagging wife from a Shonen anime.

We're never really given the opportunity to see Wu-Jin's side of their relationship (divorced from Ju-Hyeok's perspective entirely), and, it’s at this point I start asking questions of the narrative. "What exactly are you saying about this woman?" Because sympathy was the last thing I felt for Ju-Hyeok. I wasn't exactly buying the idea that Wu-Jin was at all at fault, only that she was pushed to her absolute limit after being ignored for so long.

Still, the series does a fairly decent job of painting a believable picture of how a (somewhat) healthy relationship could deteriorate as badly as theirs did. But the overall impression you're left with as a viewer is that Ju-Hyeok hates his wife and can’t wait to dump her.

Like that pivotal moment in "About Time”, he trades one life for another to chase his ideal girl without consideration to the people around him. It's gross, but it only drives home how awful the character is at this point. The series focuses on the shallow emotional and material gains of Ju-Hyeok's new life, and how it impacts the people he knew.

While the credit union scenes veer into corporate piety (butt-kissing and groveling to the ninth degree), I think the show had a solid group of supporting characters. Most of them have little no impact on the greater narrative, while minor characters outside the bank and their dynamic with supporting characters don't do enough beyond fill in the time between Ju-Hyeok enjoying or hating his new life.

The positive for me is Wu-Jin's (somewhat) brand new life as a single woman. Unfortunately, the show doesn't do enough with her to sell the idea that this is a story about two people as opposed to just one man living out a fantasy. Her relationship with former sister-in-law is great, but it’s largely kept at a minimum.

Wu-Jin's troubled relationship with her elderly mother is full of strife, but the writing isn't interested in dealing with her dementia so much as using it to infantilize her. And because there wouldn't be a show without it, Wu-Jin is becomes her former husband's co-worker. Most of the tension in the show rests in how Ju-Hyeok struggles to accept the idea that he mistreated Wu-Jin and that she's probably better off without him.

"Familiar Wife" is an attempt to earn the idea that its protagonist can be rehabilitated and become a better person. That the grievances of the wife are warranted, not the butt of a sexist joke. For the first six episodes, I was buying into the premise. The performance of Ji Sung was strong enough that I could believe that Ju-Hyeok began to regret his previous life choices. And when the eighth episode dared to posit he couldn't undo his wish, I was prepared to give "Familiar Wife" all the stars.

But only if the show didn't throw Wu-Jin back under the bus as his reward. I was fully committed to seeing the two become friends (eventually). But a romantic couple (again)? No, sir. The story did too good of a job convincing me that Ju-Hyeok lost any and all right to that avenue.

I wanted the show to explore his new ties and family. But, the last episodes that I bothered to watch backtracked and ultimately reminded me that I wasn't going to get a story like "On Your Wedding Day".

A character moving on from his mistakes, and learning to live with them, was simply not in the cards. The narrative slowly devolved into the story of how Ju-Hyeok and Wu-Jin find their way back to each other. And all after he stalks Wu-Jin (played up in a romantic montage of him "being there" for her!), and meddling in her personal life to the point where he tries to bully a potential suitor out of the picture.

Most of it is for laughs (and some of it is definitely funny), but it's hard to take the show's premise at face value when Hye-won (Ju-Hyeok’s new wife) is characterized almost identically to how Wu-Jin was at the beginning of the series. There's no real effort to actually create a relationship between Ju-Hyeok and Hye-Won. The show actually strives to make sure that she's never given the same consideration as Wu-Jin. The show does a complete 180 characterization from soft-spoken, considerate cellist to a music teacher who's only personality traits is that she's rich and spoiled.

Her storyline, independent of Ju-Hyeok, is interesting, but it's definitely there to "both sides" issues in her marriage to Ju-Hyeok (since she considers cheating on him in light of his emotional neglect).

Ju-Hyeok effectively repeats the same pattern that landed in him in an alternate future, but this time the show asks us to root him (I'm actually not even sure if ever stopped asking. I was never in his corner). The last episode I watched doubled down on the "they're fated to be together" shtick, and every positive feeling I had for the show ultimately withered away in resignation.

Even reading the summaries about the last six episodes did nothing to convince me to pick the show up again.

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un drama de time travelling plus que décevant

J'adore les histoires de time travelling. Que cela soit type thriller/crime/suspense comme les excellents "Signal" ou "Tunnel", ou une romance comme les émouvants "Go back couple" ou " 18 again". Ici le time travelling couplé à mon chouchou Ji Sung, il ne m'en fallait pas plus pour me lancer à corps perdu devant ce drama.
La douleur et la déception n'en furent que plus grandes. Si j'avais fait mes devoirs plus tôt, j'aurais appris que Yang Hee Seung, scénariste de "Oh My Ghostess " et de " Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo", deux dramas que j'ai vraiment vraiment vraiment détesté (pardon pour les nombreux fans de ces deux dramas), était aussi la plume de ce drama. Si j'avais su. Je n'en serais pas là à écrire.

L'histoire en elle-même n'a rien d'extraordinaire. Un couple malheureux, qui par manque de communication. Qui par épuisement physique et morale. Qui par choix catastrophique. Sont sur le point de non retour. C'est du déjà vu. Qui n'a jamais eu envie de revenir en arrière? D'effacer et de tout recommencer? Moi la première. Rien d'immoral. Rien de nouveau.
A la différence de "Go back couple", ici, seul le point de vue de l'homme est mis en avant. C'est à travers ses yeux que que nous apprenons au fur et à mesure le pourquoi du déclin de couple. Et c'est ce qui est regrettable. Alors oui, ne le cachons pas, Cha Joo Hyuk est détestable. Il prend les mauvaises décisions pour les mauvaises raisons.
La douleur de Seo Woo Jin est ignorée. Les difficultés de sa femme bafouées. Alors, oui, on ne peut que le maudire. Et compatir ( du moins essayons...) aux malheurs de Seo Woo Jin. Malheureusement, il m'a été impossible de ressentir la moindre empathie pour elle. Nous ne voyons ses souffrances qu'à travers Joo Hyuk. Cela a été d'ailleurs pénible de voir Joo Hyuk se flageller durant une bonne partie du drama. Etre un couple, c'est être deux. Et cela fut loin d'être le cas ici.
L'alchimie entre Woo Jin et Joo Huyk n'est pas mauvaise, certains moments étaient vraiment agréables et prêtaient à sourire. Rien d'intense et de fusionnel par contre. Ce fut un autre regret. Pas de battement fous du coeur. Pas de montée d'adrénaline. Ou de sourire niais que l'on se forcerait à contenir. Rien.

Le drama est rempli d'absurdité et d'illogisme...Une mauvaise écriture du scénario.
J'ai vraiment eu du mal à avaler la minute pseudo dramatique" ah mes enfants" de Joo Hyuk! Ses enfants n'existent plus dans cette vie et tout ce qu'il trouve à dire c'est "pardon, papa est désolé"???? What the heck, quoi....Dans "Go back couple", la douleur de Ma Jin Joo lorsqu'elle comprend qu'elle a perdu son enfant m'a brisé le coeur. Mon coeur de maman.
Et puis.
Qui est ce "voyageur du temps" rencontré dans le métro?
Comment la mère de Woo Jin pouvait-elle avoir gardé ses souvenirs dans la deuxième vie? mais pas la troisième vie?
Qu'est ce qui détermine les actions de chacun? les interactions? Pourquoi un personnage "mauvais" dans une vie ne l'est plus dans l'autre vie?
Pourquoi ces sauts dans le temps? comment? Que s'est-il passé entre 2006 et 2018? Pourquoi attendre aussi longtemps?
Autant d'interrogations qui resteront sans réponse. A ce stade ce n'est plus de la frustration, juste un gros soupir de découragement.

Il y a eu de bon moment, des moments drôles comme la scène où Joo Hu-yuk fuit Woo Jin dans leur 3ème vie, des moments émouvants, les scènes entre Woo Jin et sa mère. Les scènes adorables entre Cha Joo Eun et Oh Sang Shik , les meilleurs selon moi. Ce sont ces scènes qui m'ont fait terminer ce drama. Mais pas sans de nombreux bâillements d'ennui. Une fin trop longue et sans intérêt, un scénario bancal, des personnages sans réel profondeur m'obligent tout de même à ne pas donner une bonne note. Je vais me dépêcher de passer à autre chose. D'oublier.

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Quase abandonei...

Foi bem difícil pra mim terminar de ver este drama. Eu realmente gosto dos atores principais, que sempre se esforçam e são maravilhosos em seus dramas, mas seus personagens não me convenceram enquanto casal em nenhum momento. Não consegui sentir a química deles e nem o motivo de se amarem ou de estarem juntos.

A história era tão entendiante algumas vezes que eu pulava partes sem prejuízo algum. Na verdade eu torcia para a personagem principal se livrar mesmo do embuste do marido, um personagem chatíssimo, infantil, egoísta e sexista.

A única coisa que o drama me convenceu foi que a vida da personagem principal com certeza era melhor sem ele, seu grande atraso de vida. Só me diverti de fato no último capítulo, porque o “felizes para sempre” rendeu. E tinha que render mesmo, do contrário ninguém ainda torceria por eles depois de tanto doce que ele fez para ficar com ela, mesmo sendo o responsável atrapalhado por tudo (o tanto que o personagem principal se fazia de vítima o tempo todo me deu muita preguiça).

Ah, fora que tem muitas lacunas de explicação sobre aquelas moedas e o “pedágio”, mas enfim, a gente aceita a volta no tempo e aproveita um mundo em que existe uma possibilidade de segundas chances sem pensar muito sobre isso...

Não assistiria novamente!
Não achei nada de tão especial na OST, mas é boa.

P.S.: Minha visão pode ter sido influenciada negativamente por eu ter um casamento feliz e saudável e achar absurdo e chato muito do que vi, mesmo sob a ótica coreana das coisas.

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A struggle!

Omg, couldn't wait for this show to finish. The main characters and the lady who is his wife in his fresh start life were so annoying. I preferred the first and the last three episodes over all the others. The man was too wrapped up in his own problems in the beginning. And when he got his second chance life, he was too meek to stand up to his annoying new wife. The new wife was a super irritating character - felt very one dimensional and almost a caricature of a rich, spoiled person. The main female character (the guy's original wife LOL) was someone I could empathise with in the beginning. However, I felt that the writer tried too hard to make her this 'cool chick'. I'm just glad the show is finally over. The only good thing about this show is that the guy finally learns his lesson and becomes a better partner.

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The theme is almost the same as Go back couple, the difference is that here it focussed on more of the misogynistic factors of a typical family. The drama shows a message on how to be an equal part in family management. It has its fault and the story is predictable tbh but it a beautiful drama with less cliches and wonderful chemistry . Coming to end of the story, it lacked in content and became a bit uninteresting but was on point with the message. I couldn't binge watch this as much as GBC . Ji sung is impressive and his expressions were right on point. Always a fan of Han ji min . I really enjoyed the bromance more than romance . Became a fan of the SL from Money flower . Looking forward for more of his work.

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disappointing

what a disappointing ending!
the story was very unique, and I had a lot of expectations! it could have been sooo good! but the writer buried himself in day to day details. he also dragged on pointless aspects of the whole picture.
I really disliked the way they reconnected together in the end. I also disliked the way they handled the unfaithful aspect of the story. so many things should have been done or said, so many shouldn't have! very shameful!
this should have been cut at least at episode 14, and sooner if it had been written in better way. so, here is the disappointment...

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This drama is about..........

At first, I read the synopsis, I already really wondering for watch this drama. This drama really entertaining, give the light story with deep meaning. I think it'll be the same with the "go back couple". But after finish watching this, this drama more similar to manhole. From me, the story is too swirling although it has a different eachstory, First Cha joo hyuk is still confused with what he faces after he did that. Second, joo hyuk can change his destiny and life to marry hye won and the last joo hyuk came back with seo jin. But this story gives lessons, sometimes we tired with the life, feel not blessed with what we have until we regret it how much that's so important for us. And choose the way easier for us to be through it. And Cha joo hyuk realizes us in this drama after he gets all he wants, it doesn't long last. He even loses all he has. His job, wife, and best friend. And after he through that all, he realizes... He shouldn't change the destiny with U-Turn the time but with his introspection. Because, the relationship, not one way but two ways. We always blame our partner if something doesn't go according to our plan. And as the result we only hate and blame each other, We fight each other. Oppositely, We should more flexible, have empathy with our couple not only think we suffer because of her/him. But introspection ourselves, what's wrong? What we must do to fix the problem. If the way we do it right, the result will follow it, will change our life to be happier like joo hyuk's life at the ending of the drama.

I just think married life is really difficult. It is really really different from what we think before married. Hahahaha reality does not always go with our plan. Hmmm for this drama I'm really thankful and not regret for spend my time watching this drama. I get many lessons here. For anyone who still considers this drama, you must try to watch it. It has deep meaning for married life.

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Quem nunca pensou em voltar no tempo e fazer outras escolhas pra consequentemente alterar seu presente/futuro?

Cada vez que faço uma burrada essa ideia me vem a cabeça, aquele famoso “e se..” toma conta da minha imaginação, com várias outras formas de desfechos hipotéticos. Familiar Wife tem essa vertente no enredo.
O Drama trás Cha Joo hyuk (Ji Sung), um cara frustrado com a vida. Ele culpa sua esposa Seo Woo Jin (Han Ji-Min), com quem é casado há cinco anos por todo seu azar. Os dois levam o casamento na força do ódio. Estão cansados, estressados e não aguentam mais a cara um do outro.Em uma loucura do universo, joo hyuk volta ao passado e acorda na época de faculdade, justamente no dia em que conheceria Woo ji. Ciente disso, ele escolhe não cruzar sua vida com a dela, mudando assim seu futuro.Agora, ambos possuem histórias totalmente diferentes.

Jo Hyuk testa o “e se..” e descobre se realmente a nova vida que ele tanto sonhava é melhor ou não. ESSE É O MELHOR DORAMA DE ROMANCE FAMILIAR DA MINHA VIDA

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A wonderful tale everyone should watch

I finished this show a month back, and decided I need to talk about it as I just haven't been able to put it out of my mind. For various reasons this has become one of the shows I absolutely loved. Now, no show is perfect if you look at it too closely, but some of them came close enough for me, this is one of them.

This is a story of daydreaming about the what ifs and maybes and then miraculously being able to live those out. But it is true when they say be careful what you wish for. Cha Joo Hyuk (Ji Sung) gets a chance at changing the course of his life and after a couple of cautious attempts, manages to do so successfully. The first couple of episodes give you a glimpse of the ordinary and taxing married life that make you feel sorry for the couple, even wonder why they fell in love, or if they should just part their ways, precisely the thoughts that Joo Hyuk keeps having. So it would make sense to put an end to their misery if given the chance. And when he is given one, he takes it. He now has everything and lives a life he'd always imagined having, a perfect life. And this here, people, is where our real story begins.

The character growths in this show are one of the best I've seen. Be it our meek manchild Joo Hyuk, who's definitely not your typical crafted perfection lead, or our tempered, foul mouthed Woo Jin (Han Ji Min) who isn't afraid to go after what she wants in life. The show takes us on a journey of self-realizations, makes us pause and think. There are various elements that don't make sense or are left a little unattended, but in all honesty, they were out of my focus within moments. If I talk more about this, I'd be giving spoilers which I will refrain from since I want you to watch it without any prejudices.

I don't think I can say anything new or more about Ji Sung that probably hasn't already been said many times. At this point in time it's just about the kind of projects he picks, since no one ever has to worry about whether he'd be able to act it out. But to mention the one thing that stood out for me in this show was how lovely his portrayal of Joo Hyuk was. Joo Hyuk frankly isn't the stereotypical male lead we're used to seeing in dramas. He's a nice person, but that doesn't mean nice people don't make mistakes or can be nice all the time even. This person here was real, just as all the characters in this show. They could be people around you in your life even. Which made watching this show an all the more immersive experience.

Han Ji Min is on a roll right now, at least for me, as I keep falling in love with every show of her I watch. She didn't disappoint for a second in this one either. It's an absolute delight watching her on screen as she becomes this new person for every story she acts in. This show was no different, as Ji Min owned every shade of Woo Jin entirely. I should also talk about the chemistry between her and Ji Sung - it was so mellow and subtle, yet so gravitational. And real. So real.

I cannot stress on this fact enough that this story felt so real. It was what most humans dream about. To be able to change the course of their lives, to be able to make different decisions if they could. But also showing the other side of it, the consequences. As you progress into the show you see yourself understanding the characters bit by bit, understanding where they come from, what stems their actions, what's the root of their pain. It was beautiful watching it all come together. Each and every person who's a part of this story is such a remarkably developed character, and we're shown every side to them. The good, the bad, the ugly. There is no sugar coating.

The reason I couldn't give it a perfect ten though, is the fact that though there are certain decisions that probably would be better off taken differently in our lives, but that's not a blanket rule. It's important to note that the takeaway from this story isn't to continue living your life as it is, but it is to compassionate and see things for as they are. It is easy to lose the sight of things as life progresses, we forget why we are doing what we are doing, we forget to take responsibility for our shortcomings, we tend to take things for granted. This show tells you to be conscious about yourself and your loved ones. To listen. To notice. To appreciate. To understand. I would have loved this beauty a little more if they could have addressed this as well. To show that it takes wisdom to be able to understand the difference between what is acceptable and what is not. A couple who's lost themselves in the chaos of life and have forgotten what it's like to be loved, and a couple who are in a mentally or physically abusive marriage are two different scenarios, and shouldn't be confused with each other.

Nevertheless, this is a gem, and will remain in my mind and heart for a long, long time. Thank you for reading this excessively lengthy review but I felt like I need to explain why this show is so beautiful and needs to seen. Please do watch it, and go on a little journey of realizations and epiphanies.

P.S: The OST 'No Longer Mine' sung by Roy Kim, is hands down one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, in any language. Do give it a listen even if you decide not to watch the show, which you must, it's a genuine recommendation from me.

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