The 12-episode Korean series is a remake of a Taiwanese series Someday. Premise on a love story, the series links many complicated themes on grieving for death of loved ones and mental health. Amidst a murder mystery and time-travel (and of the star-crossed lovers too). The timeline focuses on two main years – 1998 and 2023, intertwining and going back & forth in the series. Confusing? Yes. Even more so with the complicated plots.
Generally, the series starts off with female lead Jun-hee still grieving for her boyfriend Yeon-jun who perished in an airplane crash a year ago. However, she has an explicable feeling that he is still alive. Holding on strong to this feeling, she plods on in her life. When she receives an old cassette player with the song Gather My Tears by Seo Ji-won, she time travels to 1998 while she falls asleep when listening to the song.
Muse #1 – The song Gather My Tears by Seo Ji-won is very apt in this particular series. To make it more tear-jerking, the original singer Seo Ji-won committed suicide at a tender age of 19. The mental health of an individual, no matter how successful or rich, is key to a fulfilling and happy life ahead.
When she wakes up in the body of shy & introverted teenage girl Min-ju, she is thrown off-course. Taking charge of the situation, the go-getter Jun-hee befriends schoolmates Si-heon and In-gyu and slowly gathers more information. As she goes to and fro from 1998 to 2023 (possible only when she falls asleep while listening to Gather My Tears song on the cassette player), she realises Min-ju is murdered in late 1998. The series pick up pace with the race against time to save Min-ju.
Then begin a chase of cat-and-mouse game, where Jun-hee races against time to try to save Min-ju, while still grieving and second-guessing Yeon-jun’s death. The other mystery lies in boyfriend Yeon-jun, who strikes significant resemblance with young Si-heon. However, Si-heon in 1998 has no recollection of every knowing Jun-hee. Technically it is not even possible as both Jun-hee and Yeon-jun are living as separate bodies (of children) somewhere in the 1998 timeline.
The series is very complicated, and you do need to sit in to focus (lest that you got lost like I did while watching). The storyline is really complicated with plot twists, although there is already a good summary that sums up the questions audiences may have.
As I watched the series, I was immersed in the storyline which does pull you in as there are more questions that answers. However, there are a lot of flaws with the storylines especially on the plausibility of an individual living in two different bodies at different timeline, and the concept of time travel with changing the course of history. Perhaps these are possible, however in the logic that has been inculcated on us, such plausibility is hard to stomach.
There are some muses with the actions of the key leads. Generally, I find that the reactions of Jun-hee to be rationale in facing the situations as she did. The ending that the series takes – changing the course of history and erasing the memories of everyone, is not something that I appreciate. The ending takes a simplistic view of Min-ju’s alternate life, whose actions are the spark to the chain of events. In the alternate universe, Min-ju is given a new lease of life, with In-gyu supporting her with his undivided love. Yes, a happy ending but it does not address the issue on the mental health that Min-ju faces. One who has intent on choosing her own life at the expense of being forever remembered in everyone else, I am not so sure whether this is realistic.
Muse #2 – Personally, I am not that sympathetic towards Min-ju’s character, especially in her choice at the end. It is quite difficult to understand her reasoning. Although her mental health is being battered and she is obviously in need of help and support, I find the character selfish especially in her intent to be “remembered” when she chooses to end her life. Everyone craves for attention (no matter how shy a person is) and in different degree and various manner, but for her to totally ignore others who care for her (eg In-gyu, her parents, Si-heon, even Jun-hee) while focusing on her own needs. The focus on her ownself and the “demons” within herself, showcases the real need for self-reflection and the right focus in managing mental health.
Another question mark I have is on Chan-yeong’s fate. This character is also one with his own demons and mental health challenges. The character is even harder to empathise with, almost like a psychopath. There was no backdrop to the story, and doesn’t sound like there is an alternate ending for him as well. It just gets swept under the carpet in the complication of the plot twists.
I also didn’t like the ending for Jun-hee and Yeon-jun/ Si-heon. The series takes the stance that the two are now relegated to supporting roles, whereby their memories are erased with the change of course in history. Providing them an avenue for a “connection” via encounters throughout time is just an easy way out to close the series for a happy ending, at least with a possibility of them reconnecting.
Of all the 3 main characters in 1998, I actually like In-gyu the most. An introvert himself, he understands the struggle of Min-ju, and is always providing the support in ways he deems fit. He loves without condition, and my heart breaks for him when he loses his grandmother when he is finally released from prison. When he chooses to end his life then, I could still forgive him for he has suffered greatly.
Muse #3 – I am amazed how the actors and actress who are all in the late 20s and early 30s can still play the role of teenagers! How in the world did they maintain such youthful looks. 😀
Conclusion (7/10)
With so many criticisms of the series, it does not mean I do not like the series. It is just that the unravelling of the stories is not to my liking. However, I thought the series deserve a special mention as it is a difficult theme to mix time travel with a love story and mental health themes. I just thought the series lost its plot on its love story half-way. It keeps the audience on their toes as we want to know what happens next with the plot twists. The ending is a little disappointing to me, especially how the wrap up for various characters are fleshed out.
Watch this if you are into time-travel (and unexplainable plot twists), give lots of flak on the development of the love stories and the key theme on mental health thereof.
Cheng's Musings 