Because This Life is My First

Because This Life is My First

6.5/10

Because This Life is My First

Genre:                                                Episodes: 16                                           Year: 2017

Romance

Comedy

Synopsis:

Nam Se Hee is a man who owns his own home but can barely afford the payments for his mortgage. Yoon Ji Ho is a woman who struggles to find a place to live after she is forced to leave home. Se Hee looks for a roommate to earn some extra money, and Ji Ho jumps at the chance to find a place to rent that doesn’t require a deposit.

Cast:

Jung So min (Yoon Ji Ho)

Lee Min Ki (Nam Se Hee)

Esom (Woo Soo Ji)

Park Byung Eun (Ma Sang Goo)

Kim Ga Eun (Yang Ho Rang)

Kim Min Suk (Shim Won Seok)

Kim Min Kyu (Yeon Bok Nam)

Yoon Bo Mi (Yoon Bo Mi)

General Thoughts:

Before I get into the bulk of this review, I kind of feel like I want to explain my rating a bit. I know a lot of people adored this drama and would rate it highly, but for me the end sort of ruined a lot. That being said, I also couldn’t ignore that a large part of this drama was really, really good.

Mostly fun

The majority of the show sat around 7.5-8 so I felt it was only fair to knock that down about a point for the way the show concluded. Anyway- moving on. This drama is part of the genre that’s really taking off recently- slice-of-life. I myself am a huge fan of this genre (Weightlifting Fairy, Age of Youth, Fool’s Love), so I was pretty excited to hear of this new and popular drama. And boy did the show deliver.

Slice-of-life is the new black

It’s pretty much everything you want in a slice-of-life. The characters are slightly odd but are relatable in a sympathetic way, the situations (despite certain craziness) have a familiar, realistic vibe, and the whole show is coloured by a thoughtful and insightful commentary about life. The emotions of the drama were spot on and were what made it really memorable. While the plot was engaging and fun, it was the characters and their touching stories that made the show memorable. Of course when you think of the most memorable character you have to think of our leading man, Nam Se Hee. He was totally weird. He was whacky in a way that should have made him un-relatable, and yet time and time again I found myself sympathising and agreeing with him. Who hasn’t wished for an ordinary, quiet life with no surprises at one time or another? It was fun to watch Se Hee slowly start to come out of his shell around Ji Ho and gradually start to express himself more. Ji Ho was a perfect match for his weirdness (for the most part), and it was nice how the show explored their compatibility. It’s not that they were the perfect man and perfect woman, but their personalities made them a good fit.

Oddly compatible

It didn’t feel like some other person could be more suitable for our main leads. Rather than fire and sparks, our couple had a comfortable and relaxed chemistry. They felt safe and secure around each other, and didn’t feel as though their idiosyncrasies would be judged. It was a nice way to move through the relationship, having the leads start as housemates.

I don't often get to use 'K-Drama' and 'good communication' in the same sentence

Unlike usual rom-com set-ups there was no real ridiculous event that forced them together, nor did they have a hate-love relationship- they were just two people who happened to meet and suit each other really well. The housemate set-up also allowed the lead characters to be quite open with each other. While there were some things they kept from each other (such as their growing fondness for each other), they were very clear on their preferences and their comforts, which allowed the two to gather a pretty clear understanding of each other early on. For the most part, the communication between Se Hee and Ji Ho was really excellent. Se Hee always expressed when he felt that Ji Ho had crossed a line and Ji Ho mostly let Se Hee know when he had confused her or hurt her feelings. It was this honesty that made their relationship feel real and sincere and made them a couple to root for. Lee Min Ki was a standout in this drama- able to completely adapt to Se Hee’s strange quirks and mannerisms while also making him a unique and likeable character. Despite Se Hee’s rather contained nature and lack of outward dialogue, Lee Min Ki could perfectly express the inner goings on of his character, making Se Hee likeable and relatable.

He doesn't look it- but this character's a lot of fun

Jung So Min also did an excellent job with our heroine. Ji Ho isn’t exactly a new type of character in K-Dramaland (she had some pretty distinct Candy characteristics), and yet Jung So Min gave life to Ji Ho in a way that made her feel fresh and interesting, and set her apart from all those other heroines with similar characteristics. She gave Ji Ho a more thoughtful and introspective nature which worked well for the story this drama was telling.

I don't think I could ever lie in bed with Kim Min Suk and not look at him

The two other couples in this drama were interesting in their own right, and felt like they were telling their own stories rather than simply being there to pad out the main storyline. Ho Rang and Won Seok were a great contrast to the main couple. While Ji Ho and Se Hee were just discovering their feelings, Ho Rang and Won Seok were feeling the strain of their long-term relationship. It was a interesting idea to follow, as it’s a story that’s tinged with sadness. Neither Ho Rang nor Won Seok stopped loving the other, but they had just reached a point where their wants and desires diverged. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I liked ether of these characters, as I feel like so much of who they were was defined by their relationship- which was failing. It’s not to say they were unlikable characters, I just felt rather passively about them. I neither liked nor disliked the two, but the story they were telling was one that was engaging. It’s quite a modern tale where both the characters weren’t where they’d thought they’d be in life and were desperately looking for that something that would propel them into that happy future they sought. For Won Seok that was getting his app running and off the ground. For Ho Rang it was marriage.

Chasing happiness doesn't often result in happiness

Obviously these two wants didn’t exactly go hand in hand. Despite their love for each other and all the time they’d spent together, neither was willing to sacrifice what they thought was really important for the other. Ho Rang didn’t want to wait a long time for marriage, and Won Seok didn’t want to have to give up his dreams just so that he could provide for a family. As we headed into the drama’s final episodes I really liked where this relationship was headed. While it was sad that the two broke up,

Is it bad that I wanted them to break up?

I thought it was an important message that you shouldn’t sacrifice something important to you just to maintain a relationship. How many dramas have we watched that take place after this sacrifice where resentment and regret have kicked in? Of course, the drama quite happily ignores this message in its final episode when Ho Rang and Won Seok get back together. But more on that later. Acting-wise I thought Kim Ga Eun and Kim Min Suk did well. It was a feat for Kim Ga Eun to prevent Ho Rang from becoming dislikable. She’s a type of character that I really don’t like- stubborn, selfish and unwilling to admit to any fault. Not only that but she felt quite dated. Ho Rang was 100% set on being a housewife and not working, and yet she did basically nothing to try and work towards her dream. We didn’t see her help Won Seok in any way, and all she seemed to do was whine that they weren’t getting married without thinking about the realistic issues. They’re barely surviving on both their incomes, so how does she think she’ll be able to stop working after marriage? Her ideals felt very old-fashioned and rather inconsiderate to her partner. However, despite aaaaaaall these shortcomings, Kim Ga Eun managed to inject a sense of cuteness and innocence into her character. It didn’t go as far as to make Ho Rang likeable, but at the very least it made her bearable.

Their story was more interesting than fun

I always love Kim Min Suk, and this was no exception, though admittedly I might’ve just liked the character because it was Kim Min Suk. As always he was cute and endearing and loveable. Soo Ji and San Goo were my favourite couple in the show. They had a much more typical rom-com trajectory but hey, there’s a reason that formula works. Their initial bickering was a great source of comedy.

My favourite couple for sure

In fact, San Goo himself was a great source of comedy. He was dorky and eccentric in a sweet way, and similarly to the main couple, the writers did an excellent job at showing how it was Sang Goo’s exact brand of quirky that Soo Ji needed. Soo Ji herself was a character I liked. Despite her hardness and stark view of the world, she had a determination and a drive that I really admired. She had a realistic view of the world and knew what she had to put up with to get by. That being said, as Sang Goo became more involved in her life, Soo Ji also started to learn that what she wanted might be worth a bit of risk. It was only with Sang Goo’s support that Soo Ji was able to take that scary step out from her awful, yet well-paying, job into her own business venture that had a risk of failure. What I liked most about the relationship between Soo Ji and Sang Goo is that it felt like a very modern relationship (unlike Ho Rang and Won Seok). Both Soo Ji and Sang Goo knew it was important for Soo Ji to be a working woman, and offered each other love and emotional support rather than the promise of financial support.

That's how you get the girl

They felt like a very well balanced pair because they took the time to work on themselves and were able to define themselves outside of their relationship. Park Byung Eun was wonderful as the dorky CEO. He was just swoony enough to warrant being able to snag a catch like Soo Ji, but had a nice layer of dorkiness that made it clear why he wasn’t drowning in female affections.

I'll never say no to K-Drama gal pals

Similarly, Esom gave Soo Ji a great classiness and shaped her into an excellent career woman. It was always clear to see Soo Ji’s discomfort around her male colleges and her simmering anger, despite these scenes not having a lot of dialogue on her part. Esom was also brilliant at expressing Soo Ji’s defence mechanisms. When you have a gorgeous character like Sang Goo, rebuffs on the fame character’s part can came across a bit harsh and uncalled for. However, Esom always took care to give Soo Ji such vulnerability that her harsh words to Sang Goo always seemed like a shield rather than an attack. Considering how much people seemed to love the female friendship in this drama, I personally thought that there weren’t a lot of scenes with the three girls interacting. When they came around I did enjoy them, particularly the way that polar opposites Ho Rang and Soo Ji clashed. But at the end of the day, this drama really was all about the leads and their developing relationship.

What Was Great:

87.5%:

As I mentioned above, most of this drama was excellent. 14 of its episodes were thoughtful, introspective and just plain delightful. Despite the whacky premise (girl enters contract marriage with landlord for cheap rent), the realism of the characters grounded the show.

Strangely, this situation isn't as weird as it sounds on paper

Se Hee and Ji Ho may have been weird, but they were weird in an utterly believable way. The writer played out the logic as to why these two would think a contract marriage was in their best interests, and the pure logic of the situation (despite its complete ridiculousness)

For 14 episodes I really loved this couple

made me as a viewer believe that this marriage was in their best interests too. The episodes had a heavy amount of internal dialogue and monologuing, and yet the drama never (or at least in these 14 good episodes) felt like an excuse for an overly indulgent, artsy writer to spew their poetic rumination on life- which is usually how it feels when a drama has so many thoughtful voiceovers. Because both our leads were already deep introverts and analytical thinkers, it felt natural rather than obnoxious to have running dialogue over scenes. Rather than simply being a show for pure entertainment (which is still good, don’t get me wrong), this drama offered thoughtful commentaries on life, dreams, love, and expectations. The relationships felt real and the characters felt lived in, giving the drama a beautifully contemplative, yet still entertaining and engaging vibe.

What Wasn’t:

12.5%:

Unlike the first 14 episodes, the final episodes tanked. Not actually because the final episode was actually one of the highest for ratings, but logically. Thematically. Emotionally. This drama’s final episodes failed for me.

Did the main writer die and someone else had to write the end of this show?

It’s not just that the episodes were bad either. I can live with bad, bad is bearable. When an ending is bad you can still kind of shrug it off and appreciate what the show did well and wonder what might have been (Cheese in the Trap, Come Back, Ajusshi). What made this ending particularly bad was that it actually effected how I viewed the rest of the drama.

How could you ruin this beautifully poetic break up?

Rather than just taking an unsavoury direction in its final moments, the last two episodes had me questioning the meanings I’d got out of previous episodes. Ho Rang and Won Seok rekindling their relationship was all kinds of wrong for me. They’d had their sad breakup and then their beautiful goodbye over the phone where they'd wished each other the best and said they were thankful for the great times they’d had together. Great. Perfect. What a beautiful way to end a long-term relationship where the two wanted completely different things. Ho Rang and Won Seok needed to be content with themselves and their own lives before committing to a serious relationship. However, after getting back together at the end I felt as though the writer was ripping away the thoughtful message she’d delivered previously. Because screw these guys finding their own motivations and goals- love cures all. And the now for the rant I’ve been waiting all week to write, but also kind of dreading for the memories it would bring up. Ji Ho leaves. Yeah, the actual f*ck writer-nim.

Was it really that hard to say 'Please tell me if you don't want me to leave'? Apparently so.

After 14 episodes of these two people communicating effectively suddenly Ji Ho fails to see Se Hee’s intentions (which she’d been good at noticing before) and fails to express herself bluntly so that she could hear his response (again, which she’d been so good at before). Instead she tries to emotionally blackmail Se Hee into admitting his feelings by telling him she was leaving (wtf man, I still can’t get over the stupidity of it all).

I'm not sure what we're supposed to feel

But of course we all know this isn’t going to work because we’ve just seen 14 hours of how Se Hee is an emotionally wounded man who would rather put up walls and isolate himself rather than exposing his feelings to be potentially trampled on. Not to mention we (and Ji Ho) know that he was actually planning a confession anyway, and Ji Ho was just trying to force it out of him faster. So then Ji Ho leaves because she loves him (omg it’s so unbearably stupid) and Se Hee is sad. He’s not just sad he’s devastated. He allowed himself to be open and vulnerable to this girl and she walked out because he was taking his time giving her his wounded heart. It seemed like the writer was trying to use the expectations of others and the pressure of marriage to justify Ji Ho leaving, but quite frankly there are so many ways those issues could have been addressed that didn’t involve Se Hee getting kicked to the curb. Ji Ho then comes back some time later and Se Hee’s a bit mad but not really because he just accepts her back, and Ji Ho apparently doesn’t regret leaving him and causing him an ocean of pain. The two then set up a new contract supposedly to help manage their families’ expectations and keep each other comfortable.

Girl, you so don't deserve him now

Which basically comes down to neither of them attending the other’s family functions. Which doesn’t speak of a healthy relationship to me. What about that episode saying a person brings their past and future as well as their present? I’d say a person’s family is a large part of their past and future and ignoring their family is ignoring a part of that person.

I did not watch you for 14 hours so you could get divorced

What happened to the episode saying that good-daughter-in-law-syndrome came from wanting to be loved by your partner’s family? Nope, comfort is more important apparently. I sort of get what the writer was going for- a new style of marriage that centres around the wants and desires of only the couple and ignores the meddling of outsiders, but I also kind of wished the show had stuck to its previous messages rather than trying to introduce new ideas in the final hour. The rapid conclusion after Ji Ho’s time gallivanting off by herself undermined any reason she might have had for leaving in the first place. Why are they magically able to communicate better now that’s she’s returned? Why have all their issues simply disappeared into nothing after a brief hiatus. Because love cures all. Again. And during this time Ji Ho is also ignoring a perfectly good opportunity to further her writing career because Se Hee’s ex is involved. I was sure that this show had given both our leads enough emotional maturity to work through that issue, and was unbelievably disappointed when Ji Ho chose comfort and ‘love’ over her passion.

This drama should have been so much deeper than 'love is magic'

To have the final commentary of the series boil down to ‘we’re going to trust in our love’ was just a huge letdown, and felt cheesy and unrealistic unlike the rest of the show. At least the show gave a satisfying conclusion to Soo Ji and Sang Woo, because by the end there I really thought the show was just looking to mess up every good thing it had created.

Recommend?

Yeah. For most of its run it’s a sweet and insightful story. Do be prepared that the ending isn’t exactly up to the same standards as the rest of the drama though.

It came so close to being amazing