A Time Called You Review: This Korean romantic drama series ( 너의 시간 속으로), directed by Kim Jin-won, stars Jeon Yeo-been, Ahn Hyo-seop, Kang Hoon, Lee Min-goo, Kim Yi-kyung, Min Jin-woong, Harrison Xu and others. The series has 12 episodes, each with a runtime of around 60+ minutes.
A Time Called You Plot
After her boyfriend’s tragic passing a year ago, Jun-hee is still going through the process of accepting the heartbreak and anguish of his death. Although she projects outwardly that she is okay, inside, she is lost without Yeon-jun’s calming and nurturing presence and the love that they shared. In the midst of this, she suddenly finds herself to have time travelled back to 1998 as a high school student, Min-ju, and, furthermore, meets Si-heon, who looks exactly like her late boyfriend.
– A Time Called You Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
A Time Called You Review
From the minute A Time Called You starts, you probably wouldn’t be able to figure out that this is also a nifty murder mystery. I got into it thinking that it was going to be a sweet romance between two star-crossed lovers and was thus very much not prepared to solve a mystery in the midst of a heartbreaking romance.
Because A Time Called You is very much a heartbreaking romance; before Jun-hee starts to shuttle between two different timelines, she is a very lost and lonely woman who misses the love of her life who, by all accounts, was a sweet and calming man. With his sudden departure at the most inopportune date, she finds herself heartbroken, as if a part of her is lost forever. She desperately wants to move on or feel something more than this endless abyss, but peace always seems to be just a touch away.
Just when all hope seemed lost, we found ourselves facing a crisis – a new place, a new person and a delicious mystery that is both shocking and thought-provoking. The romance takes a small backseat after that because Jun-hee has more pressing matters at hand. And now you are left to wonder about the back and forth of the storylines, just like our protagonist. The questions swirl about whether or not Jun-hee lives happily ever after, what happens to Min-ju and a hundred other things. And, with 12 episodes, those questions should be answered easily.
First and foremost, the 12-episode runtime is a bit much. Yes, it’s not boring per se, but with 12 episodes, it’s a difficult binge if you are like me. The problem with a 12-episode series is also that it gets a bit slow sometimes, although, thankfully for the K-drama, the characters are just so cute that you can’t help, like even the mundane school stuff. Regardless of whether or not something is arresting in the main plot, even the subplots are worthwhile and round out the characters beautifully.
That being said, the story takes place in different timelines and with a confusing range of people, and both the thriller and romantic storylines progress in all the timelines, with the central romance flowing through these timelines effortlessly. A Time Called You keeps you invested throughout, but especially in the moments wherein the characters are going through emotional turmoil and fighting with themselves and their feelings. The biggest reason for that is that the characters are just amazing – they are real people with real problems and relatable responses. They are also good, warm people you want to root for.
K-dramas usually always get these beats right; more often than not, the people who are represented in Korean shows are just relatable in more ways than one, and you’d want to keep watching to see where they go. It’s the same here; thus, in spite of having so many things happen together, it’s still the characters who keep you stuck.
But, that’s not to say that the series isn’t arresting with just its storyline – because it is. You have to be hooked to the screen to be able to understand who is who and where you are in the timeline, but the storyline and the pacing keep making it an easy feat to follow. There are very few moments that you will find yourself jumping forward, and most are too important or too cute to miss. It’s a nice combination that makes even the most fidgety of us stop and stare!
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However, from the moment the series starts, and wherever it goes, you can’t stop making assumptions about what is actually happening. It gets a little confusing with who is dating whom and who is going into whose timeline. I think keeping things simple wouldn’t have made sense, and I am somewhat thankful for the complicated timeline. But, even then, it is very complicated, and throughout the series, I couldn’t help but wonder that without a time loop, none of this would technically make sense, especially with everyone making changes left, right and centre.
Now, the way A Time Called You starts, you wouldn’t be able to realise where it is going or who might be behind this messy timeline – is someone controlling this? Is there some ulterior motive? Is it just for love? Or is there something more sinister at play? You will constantly ask these questions and more as more and more things come out in the open that make you question who is right and who is wrong. It’s a nifty little mystery that tangles and untangles constantly, much like Dark, but the romantic elements keep it somewhat warm.
The murder mystery part is also done quite well, and you will be left questioning who could’ve done such a horrible crime. The perpetrator is showcased long before the last few episodes, but the twist at the end regarding this is an interesting addition and gives you new things to think about. So, in the end, it is complicated (not as insane as Dark) but it is an interesting thing to untangle and understand and is done extremely well.
A Time Called You Review: Final Thoughts
A Time Called You is a sweet, oftentimes sad and mostly engaging K-drama with splendid characters and performances and a storyline “jumpy” enough to keep you hooked to the screen.
A Time Called You is streaming on Netflix.
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I was engaged even though the whole plot was so complicated. I loved the characters. As soon as the male leads second character appeared with Rowoon, I was stumped and finally figured out who was actually her boyfriend before the plane crash. The ending was slightly a let down for me, but I thought the CP was excellent from start to finish.
Glad that you liked it! Honestly, I screamed when I saw Rowoon and the scene that transpired right after!
Definitely goes in my top 10.
Very good Drama that leaves you guessing all the way trough and never boring.