I completely ignored
18 vs.29 (KBS, 16 episodes) back in 2005 but hey since this drama happens to be available for me to watch now, so why not?...
18 vs. 29 Sypnosis (from
KBS Global)
This drama takes the audience back to the 1990s. The main character of the drama, Yoo Hye-chan, 29, reverts mentally to an 18-year-old girl after having a car accident. As she recovers her memory and the relationship with her husband, Kang Sang-yeong, she goes through many hilarious and heart-moving moments.
Hye-chan, who was a beauty queen in high school, marries her former classmate Kang Bong-man. In 2005, she turns 29. But after a fierce fight with her husband, she heads to court to file for divorce, unable to control her rage anymore. On her way to court, her car clashes with a truck, and as a result she develops amnesia. She only remembers herself as a senior high schooler, when she was sassy and outgoing, and popular with her peers. As her memory reverts to her adolescent years, she suddenly becomes crazy about the dance group "Seo Tae Ji and Kids", which was popular with teenagers back in the '90s. While looking strong on the surface, deep inside she is soft-hearted and feeble. She likes Jane Campion's movie "Piano" a lot. Although Kang Bong-man, nicknamed "Ice Prince", is the ideal of every girl in Hye-chan's school, she regards him as shallow. The guy she really likes is her senior, Jeong Shi-woo.
But in reality, Hye-chan's husband is Kang Bong-man, whom she despised so much in high school. He changes his name to Kang Sang-yeong when he becomes an actor. In the latter part of the drama, Hye-chan recovers her memory and pursues her dream of becoming a film director. When Hye-chan loses her memory, Sang-yeong becomes preoccupied with mending their shattered relationship. He collects all the messages they had exchanged in the past to help her remember who he is. The replays of Hye-chan's memories, which are presented in diverse ways, add to the drama's tantalizing plot.
Cast:
Park Sun Young as Yoo Hye Chan
Ryu Soo Young as Kang Bong Man/Kang Sang Young
Park Eun Hye as Shin Ji Young
Lee Joong Moon as Kim Noon
Jo Eun Ji as Yoo Hye Won
Lee Sang Woo as Kang Bong Kyu
My comments:
Ah…amnesia…a theme that is done to death in Korean dramas but I can tolerate it as long as they play it out nicely. Honestly, this drama reminds me a bit of
Full House (male lead character being a current hot actor of the nation, the wife is an aspiring writer, the home cleaning segments and some moving in and out scenes). The drama is sometimes silly, slapstick, hilarious and touching; therefore it's a feel-good drama, which the audience don't have to think much. We have the impression at first that Bong Man is the careless husband with Hye Chan loving him and suffering more. It proves us wrong from the flashbacks at the end, showing how their loved started. Those are really cute and sweet moments and I liked that flashback idea.
I know a lot of people were rooting for Noon (the high school student) and going gaga over Choi Si Won as the young Bong Man but sorry, not my cup of tea as they can call me “
noona” (haha!). My eyes were pretty fixated on Ryu Soo Young. I always thought that he looked intimidating but in this drama, he looks softer (?) and quite cute. Another reason to anticipate
Bad Couple once it's finished airing in Korea. Ji Young played by Park Eun Hye is not really that evil; she did annoying things but at least she wasn’t trying to ruin Bong Man’s career. Overall, an enjoyable drama.