Familiar Wife (2018)

A Second Glance at "Familiar Wife": A Journey of Regret and Redemption

Upon first encountering "Familiar Wife," I found myself trapped in a web of conflicting emotions - primarily fueled by Cha Joo Hyuk's seemingly nonchalant attitude towards the radical shift in his life and the memories of his past wife. Like many, my initial journey with this drama halted prematurely, unable to reconcile with the male lead's choices. Yet, a renewed perspective gained from exploring other time travel narratives nudged me to revisit this title, offering a richer and more nuanced viewing experience on the second run.

Cha Joo Hyuk, as I came to realize, embodies the axis of pain, regret, and growth within this narrative. Though steeped in controversy, his character development draws the audience into a reflective journey of self-discovery and transformation. Though warranted, the palpable sense of anguish he embodies unfurls a complex character trajectory that stands as the centerpiece of this drama.

The casting aligns perfectly, bringing forth a slew of seasoned actors who meld into their roles seamlessly, offering depth and dimension to the unfolding narrative. The camaraderie depicted within the bank scenes not only portrays a polished depiction of work life but resonates with familial warmth, adding a touch of realism and enjoyment to the series.

Despite the stellar cast and setting, the drama stumbles in its scriptwriting, often wandering into the realms of confusion with an over-reliance on flashbacks. Instead of propelling the story forward, these narrative tools sometimes halt the momentum, creating a disjointed viewing experience. Moreover, a more realistic portrayal of early-onset Alzheimer's, a critical plot point, would have grounded the story, offering a balanced perspective amidst the fantasy elements enveloping the time travel theme.

The set design is a testament to the meticulous attention to detail, mainly seen in the aesthetically pleasing bank setup, which leaves no stone unturned. Yet, the soundtrack fails to carve a distinct identity, blending seamlessly into the background without amplifying the emotional undertones of critical scenes.

In conclusion, "Familiar Wife" beckons viewers to approach it with an open heart and mind, offering a narrative that intertwines regret, choices, and the rippling effects of time. Although marred by certain shortcomings, it remains a worthy venture for those willing to immerse themselves in a tale that holds redemption at its core. It serves as a reflective mirror, urging viewers to ponder the implications of choice and the labyrinthine journey of human relationships, anchored firmly by remarkable performances from a well-assembled cast.

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When I first started this drama, I believed it was the copy of "Go Back Couple", which had a similar plot. After the first episode, though, it changes, and it has potential. However, despite it managed to keep me entertained, it fell around the last quarter of the drama.

- The story is one of the hot themes of the moment. A married couple who fights and wants to end things but this time only one of them makes that decision, and not both, because it's Joo Hyuk who decides to turn things around. The title is fitting, because the drama is basically around Joo Hyuk and the "familiar wife" he knows. You'll understand along the way. Like I anticipated, the story kept me entertaining for the most part because there are a lot of funny moments, but I think that after the first 11-12 episodes it was dragged, and the last episodes felt like an extension that, to some degree, could have been cut into less episodes.

- The main character, like I said, was Cha Joo Hyuk, played by Ji Sung. I've got nothing to say on the acting itself because it was really good, so I'll talk about his character. Joo Hyuk is one of those men who is selfish and lets his wife take care of the house and their children, not thinking that his wife has also a life to live and a job and that he needs to help her too. Besides this, he is also whipped, and lets other treat him like they want and when it's time to speak, he is not understood because he never spoke his true mind. In the first episodes I found his attitude annoying, but it slowly changes (although it doesn't make me like him completely). Seo Woo Jin, played by Han Ji Min, was Joo Hyuk's wife. Her husband let her do everything and rarely helped her, and this makes her angry and bitter. She could look despicable as well, but in my opinion, she had more reasons to be like this compared to Joo Hyuk, in fact I sided with her. We see different "shades" of Woo Jin that lets us see how she was before she married Joo Hyuk. She is truly an enjoyable character and stronger compared to Joo Hyuk, and I liked that. She is probably my favorite character. Luckily the story wasn't just about Joo Hyuk, but also about their friends at work and family. I liked every person at their workplace and they were funny (I admit I laughed a lot watching this drama), and I could tell that the cast got along well during filming because the group was tight. Loved to see Jang Seung Jo again in a funnier role compared to the one he had in "Money Flower". Everyone was good.

- The music gets the highest rating along with acting because it was catchy. I really like the song that they used at the beginning and that was played in the background of the shots where they showed the title of the episode.

- This drama was nice, funny, it let me spend some hours in peace and didn't make me have headaches like some other titles, but in my opinion it was a good romantic comedy with realistic acting but didn't leave a mark in my heart. This is why I gave it a 8 star rating.

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Decisions = Consequences whether you like it or not

I have a mixed feeling for this series. I was avoiding it for the longest time but then when I watched it, it's actually better than I imagined. Storyline-wise, I had a gist of what would happen and when I started to watch it, it was still kind of unexpected -- so there's an element of it being unpredictably predictable. At first, I just hate the male lead for being an ass and then gradually his character started to develop and I love how his character development went. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for the other characters because there was no continuity to their life, they just became an entirely new person after a minor change in the past that ultimately caused a butterfly effect. That's kind of where I am kind of disappointed because I can't really tell if the female lead on the 1st version, is the same as the 2nd version. They almost felt different. There were lots of questions in my mind as to whether if the time travel element wasn't present, would they improve the same way? What would've happened? I just felt like the female lead was completely deleted after all the time warp, but that's just my thought. This series also reminds me of a couple of other dramas like Go Back Couple and Emergency Couple.

JiSung and Han JiMin did a great job portraying their character though. I have watched tons of JiSung's dramas and he always delivers so it's nothing new to me. He has a wide spectrum of characters he can portray (the most iconic one for me is on Kill Me, Heal Me). For some reason, WooJin's mother is an iconic character in this series, too. I felt like she did a lot of roles to make the whole series make sense but I also love the mystery that surrounds her.

Overall, I did enjoy the time watching this. There were lots of cringe-y moments that kind of felt good. I watched this with my partner and we were having long discussions about making relationships healthier so that's a plus for me. This series kind of give you an idea what to do and what not to do in a relationship so I definitely recommend this. It's such a good show to watch with your partner.

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Watch it for the comedic element and the actors (the romance part sucks so far)

In the original timeline, the FL was had to job, juggle it with managing the household, and taking care of the kids. Something that's pretty common in Asian culture and has been glorified when all it means is putting the majority burden on one person in the married duo dynamics. (Have seen many married women, some my friends other relatives do this for their husbands and there is always resentment present in such dynamics) That's one dimension of the FL. The other part was her being non-communicative and physically abusive to her husband.

The ML was so absorbed with his own life & job that he forgot that he was married to a women he loved (Similarly, the FL was so absorbed with all that she had to do, she stopped caring about the person she loved) We have no idea when the neglect started but it was mutual. They both dropped the ball in their relationship.
=>As I watched the Drama, I kept taking sides, in episode 1 I did not like the way the FL didn't give him any privacy. Throwing the crab bone at him to the point that he bled. Going full on crazy. That sucked. And that poor game console, what an overreaction. She didn't even give him time to tell her that he was in an accident.
=>At the same time in episode 1, it was easy to see that the FL took on the majority of the weight of their relationship. The kids they both had, but only one had to look after all the time. Her job was clearly more expendable then his. He failed to communicate just as much as her.

If put in her shoes, would you really be able to accept that your husband hated you so much that when he had the chance, he dumped you and got together with his first love? I certainly wouldn't. Kudos to the FL for being the mature one and realizing that they were both at fault here.

Oh we have Oh My Ghost cameos, as if Seon Woo wasn't enough of a treat, even Park Bo Young appeared as an actress in the movie that the ML was watching at the theatre. At least I think that it was really Park Bo Young on screen.

Okay. After all that, I didn't think that I would like them getting back together. But you gotta admit that they look great together and have a lot of fun as well. A majority of that is the credit to the actors playing the leads, they had good chemistry, whether they were fighting or enjoying each others company.

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This drama is the perfect example of "You don't know what you have until it's gone" and "The grass isn't always greener on the other side"

Plot

Everyone is pointing out the similarities between Go Back Couple and this one. And yes,in the beginning they're definitely similar but to be honest,Familiar wife can't be compared to GBC. That drama was worth a perfect 10 and this wasn't (it's just my honest opinion)
So the plot isn't really unique and it has some flaws,it got boring from time to time and i wish it was shorter. They should've ended it around episode 13. I think they dragged the story too much (episodes 13,14 & 15 were just fillers) to the point i wanted to start a whole new drama and watch this one later. The writers also left a couple of questions unanswered.
But overall it's not like i didn't enjoy it,i actually did. I liked that it highlighted well the fact that most marriages and relationships aren't perfect and that you should learn to communicate better and have a good teamwork to make it work and not fall apart. Also, the ending was perfect. I'm glad i could see how all the characters lived before, during and after the changes.

Acting

The acting is a 10. The cast did a wonderful job and Ji Sung never disappoints.
Some of the characters are gonna get on your nerves. A LOT. But this drama has such an amazing character development. You can see it through all of the episodes. And it's really satisfactory.

So,it's not a drama that i will be remembering forever. It failed in making me feel excited until the end. And as a drama binger,i don't really recommend watching this all at once. (If you're like me and get bored easily...) But i do recommend it if you like time travelling dramas and amazing acting.

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Lacking something

I am not quite sure what to say about this drama. The plot overall in in one sense is truly relevant to present times and to a lot of married couples and in another sense it’s ...disjointed for a lack of better word. I have nothing against time travel plots (Signal is one of my 10/10 ) but somehow in this drama it’s just a means to an end for me. Maybe there’s just too many characters who knows about the time travel “secret” that it kind of lost it’s novelty in the middle of the story?

Dislikes: (1) portrayal of mom’s dementia is out of tune with reality. People with dementia forget their past, they do not act like little kids again. They lose their way around, they don’t “escape”. (2) No chemistry between the two main leads and the cringey relationship between the ML and the second wife. (3) don’t hate me but I find the FL acting here as “trying too hard” to be chirpy and energetic but somehow did not meet the mark

Likes: (1) Ji Sung’s acting chops did not disappoint, this guy is talented period. It’s a shame that the projects he’s done (that I’ve seen anyway) doesn’t really give his skills the spotlight it deserves. (2) The teasing of the office crew when they tried to bring the leads together, now that made me laugh silly. (3) The youngest male employee character “Hwan”, this kid portrayed the role impeccably, he’s a natural. (4) The best part I think is the bromance, their friendship was genuine despite of the “betrayal”, the actors were so good I feel that they were just playing with each other on the set during filming.

In summary this drama highlights the working mothers and wives and for that I appreciate the story but it failed to show how marriage is a two way relationship. It just won’t work any other way.

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Grass is always greener on the other side

Writing this review took me more that I care to admit. For a long time I wasn’t sure why, but it dawned on me, that the reason is fairly simple. This drama didn’t bring any emotions to me. It was just as average as it could. And it’s not exactly wrong thing.

Let’s start from the beginning, Cha Joo Hyuk, our main character is just an average bank employee. No-one really special. The problem is that he’s not really happy with his life, especially with his wife, who changed throughout the years and become very mean and even brutal person towards him. Having two little children doesn’t really make his life easier, especially that his private life really takes its toll on his work.

So it’s fair to say, he wished his life was different. And luckily he gets his chance of changing the future when he goes back in time to the day that changed his life. So the next day he wakes up in different house with different woman by his side. But is this change really for better?

This is the question that follows our main character, Cha Joo Hyuk, for the whole drama. There’s this old saying that came to my mind when I was watching the series: “life is always greener on the other side”, which means that we always find things that we don’t have more desirable. And this is basically the moral of this story. Because Joo Hyuk’s new life is not so perfect either. Soon he discovers that his wife, that he complained so much before was like that mostly because of him. When he meets her in this new life, she seems completely different, more likeable person. And his new wife is not so perfect as he thought she would be.
Joo Hyuk finally realises that problem with his marriage wasn’t his wife but rather what their relationship made of her and he’s sure that he doesn’t want to make this mistake again.

This is also a story of how our life choices matter and how we influence with our behaviour life of others. About mistakes of the past and understanding their consequences. It’s a story of how the grass is always greener on the other side.

The characters very strongly develop throughout the series and not only because of changes that Joo Hyuk makes in the past. Their choices have real influence on their character and later actions.

The thing that really didn’t stand out was the music or lack of actually original soundtrack. All we get is mostly generic background tune. So there’s not much to talk about here, but honestly I’ve noticed it in the middle of the drama and it wasn’t really nothing bad here.

I love how Joo Hyuk’s coworker’s attitude changes towards him in different scenarios. At first he wasn’t liked because he was always late and unreliable. Then they were nice to him because he married to influential family and basically he could do anything without consequences. They were finally truly friendly towards him when he was consciously himself and wasn’t burdened by problems in his relationships. He was most liked when we was literally the best version of himself.

There’re some good things I can say about this series, it has this absolutely amazing main idea, that I loved from the start. The only problem is that I don’t think it was used well enough. At the end we’ve got very solid drama, with good cast, but after finishing last episode I’ve felt a bit disappointed. This is just not one of those highly memorable dramas that you think about weeks after finishing it.
But on the other hand, it doesn’t have to be. What it is, is just enough.

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Questo drama mi ha lasciato una bellissima sensazione, ed è un tipo che non ti aspetti. Confesso che i primi due episodi introduttivi mi hanno sconvolto e ritraggono il peggior incubo di vita matrimoniale di tutti credo. Mi ha fatto ridere in diversi episodi ed è stato molto carino vedere come nonostante tutto lui continui ad innamorarsi della sua ex moglie (possiamo chiamarla così? ) La vita in due è sempre complicata, si sà e se si guarda solo i propri bisogni, finisci per trasformare il rappprto in un incubo. Ed è bello che dopo tutte le disavventure , aver perso e poi riconquistato la persona amanti, ci sia lo sforzo di entrambi per essere felici insieme, sincronizzati, una squadra insomma, gli episodi sono pieni di rabbia, delusione, rammarico e tenerezza, quando nell’ultimo episodio, la moglie regala al protagonista la console per giocare, mi ha fatto davvero sorridere, veramente un tocco di classe. Colonna sonora disponibile su Imusic, la consiglio perché è davvero bellissima.
L’unica cosa molto out è il/la costumista, ma come l’hanno vestito il nostro Cha Do Hyun?
Poverino.....

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I love this drama not just because of the cast but the overall story. It's different from the Go Back Couple. I think this story is much more deeper and very heart-warming. One can truly realize that there's no such thing as ideal, easy or perfect marriage but it is really a give and take. Sometimes we are too overwhelmed with our own struggles and overlooked the feelings of the other. So much to learn in this drama. I definitely recommend this. =)
The cast was great both Ji Sung and Han Ji Min. I loved their character portrayal. The supporting cast was also great!

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Stick with this drama after the first two episodes, I promise it’s worth it. I went in to it thinking it would be a filler between dramas, but it was so much more. By the end of it I felt so satisfied. The characters were redeemed, not by changing the past, but by changing how they reacted to it going forward and changing their own behavior. It really made me wistful for what marriage SHOULD be: teamwork, respect, friendship, and love. The acting was great and story gave me all the feels. Was it realistic? Sometimes, yes. Time travel premise, no. But it’s definitely worth your time to watch. One of the better Korean dramas I have watched in the last few months.

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Cansativo e excessivamente normativo

Todos nós temos arrependimentos e a ideia de voltar para o passado para consertar algo enche muito os olhos, acredito que muitas pessoas aceitariam uma oportunidade dessas. Então a premissa do drama logo me prendeu, imaginei que fosse gostar, mas logo nos primeiros episódios foi uma luta terminar. Por ter sido indicação de uma amiga muito querida segui assistindo, mas minha vontade era de abandonar no segundo episódio. Foi bom não ter abandonado porque mais ou menos na metade a história se torna muito interessante e os personagens muito cativantes, com exceção do protagonista que apesar de simpatizar nunca foi o meu preferido. Enquanto personagens masculinos como Hwan e Jong-hoo me entretinham muito mais, me solidarizava com as personagens femininas e o próprio Cha Joo-hyuk acabava ocupando uma posição secundária. Nos episódios finais, "Familiar Wife" volta a ser cansativo e desgastante de assistir.
A trilha sonora não me agradou muito, diferente de outros dramas que só ouvir a música me faz ficar emotiva, as músicas desse me pareceram repetitivas e sem uma carga emotiva forte, talvez "No longer mine" seja a única exceção e a única memorável para falar a verdade.
O elenco é muito bom, mas não existe atuação que salve um roteiro fraco. A história é simples e interessante: Homem está em um casamento infeliz tem a oportunidade de voltar ao passado e mudar sua esposa, ao fazer isso percebe a pessoa incrível que sua ex-esposa é e o quanto era insensível com ela, assim faz de tudo para retornar novamente ao passado e reconstruir uma história em que ambos sejam felizes. Isso poderia ser feito em um filme de duas horas, mas em uma série de 16 episódios de uma hora cada é preciso encher com outras questões, o que o torna extremamente cansativo. É importante salientar que esse drama é muito sustentado pelas histórias secundárias, mas, por vezes, ela são excessivas e sem sentido para a trama, como a chegada do chef de cozinha que trouxe um conflito ínfimo resolvido com muita facilidade.
Mas o meu principal problema com esse drama talvez seja a super valorização do casamento tradicional e a sua representação como única fonte de felicidade possível. Nada me atrai em um casamento tradicional, não quero me casar, muito menos ter filhos, mas não é uma questão pessoal, mesmo esse não sendo o futuro que imagino para mim ao assistir séries ou filmes românticos torço pelo casamento dos protagonistas, meu problema em "Familiar Wife" é que praticamente todos os personagens aspiram um casamento para serem felizes e não qualquer casamento: um casamento tradicional com os papéis da mulher e do homem bem definidos.
Detestei o protagonista logo no primeiro episódio por sua postura egoísta e machista, ele não fazia as tarefas domésticas e culpava a esposa por erros que ele tinha cometido. Achei que com o passar dos episódios isso ia ser desconstruído e de fato foi, mas não completamente. Nos últimos episódios Cha Joo-hyuk ainda desempenha o papel do "macho" ciumento que tem que mostrar que aquela mulher é sua propriedade, sim ele não é mais egoísta e nem deixa a esposa lidar com o trabalho doméstico só, mas ele ainda desempenha um papel de ultramasculidade e isso é vangloriado.
Não é o tipo de conteúdo que eu prefiro assistir e também não indicaria a meus amigos. Entendendo porque minha amiga me indicou porque a premissa de voltar ao passado é interessante e é um drama muito divertido de assistir entre os episódios 4 e 12, mas não me emocionou ou me encantou de uma forma profunda, talvez tivesse me impactado mais se idealizasse um casamento, quem sabe? Talvez só não seja para mim mesmo.

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Nothing is perfect

Familiar Wife was a drama with its own strengths and flaws. Things usually don't go the way we want them to. But we will have to face the problems head instead of regretting the past decisions.
The drama had a good start. It portrayed the problems in a relationship realistically. Then comes the fantasy part when the ML suddenly gets a chance to go back to the past and change his future.
Many aspects of the story portray realistic problems that people face without making the drama a serious or emotional one.
The drama is off to a good start and maintains its pace. But I felt the last 4 episodes were dragged and a bit unnecessary.
All the characters had their own stories which developed well throughout the drama.
A few things were not properly explained but it doesn't affect the drama too much.
There is good chemistry between the leads though you will not get to see many romantic moments between the leads.
The cast was amazing and did a great job.
The drama does give you great life lessons and is also an enjoyable experience.
Overall it is a good drama which you can definitely try.

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