Go Back Spouses get a re-do at love and marriage
by tipsymocha
I guess KBS is pretty determined to corner the market in time-travel dramas: The upcoming Friday-Saturday drama Go Back Spouses will follow an unhappily married couple, played by Jang Nara (One More Happy Ending) and Sohn Ho-joon (Blow Breeze), as they get sent back 18 years to their college days. They will get a second chance at adulthood and love, with the knowledge of the future to help guide them.
The teaser sets up the initial premise quite effectively. We get a brief glimpse of husband and wife in happier days, with the caption, “We used to like just looking at each other.” But the harsh realities life sends their way are too much for the couple to handle, and we see them leave the courts after finalizing their divorce. Jang Nara looks frazzled trying to raise their child, and the teaser says that her self-esteem has reached rock bottom.
But Sohn Ho-joon doesn’t have it much better, as a salesman for a pharmaceutical company with a horrible reputation. He’s seen bowing over and over to a doctor in a hospital, and pouring drinks at a karaoke bar for potential clients. His wife nags him offscreen, saying that she could earn more money by selling gum on the street. Ouch.
The teaser asks, “Would you reset 18 years of your life?” After getting their divorce, both Jang Nara and Sohn Ho-joon find themselves in the middle of an earthquake, which I assume is the catalyst to their time-travel. The divorced couple finds themselves back on their college campus in 1999, in their 20-year-old bodies. Lol, the fashions are cracking me up already, and I look forward to seeing both of them having some mindless, not-yet-adult fun with their friends, played by Heo Jung-min (Introverted Boss), Lee Yi-kyung (Mirror of the Witch), Han Bo-reum (Modern Farmer), and Jo Hye-jung (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju).
It’ll be interesting to see how they also deal with romantic rivals, in the form of Jang Ki-yong (The Liar and His Lover) and Go Bo-kyul (Seven Day Queen). It’s pretty obvious what Sohn Ho-joon’s first reaction is, given that he shouts that if this is a dream, he doesn’t want to wake up ever. But I wonder if he’ll be as ecstatic to see his ex-but-not-yet wife getting hit on by the most popular student on campus.
While this time-travel premise isn’t exactly unique in dramaland, I like these actors enough that I’m hoping this show makes for a cute, breezy watch where a couple somehow finds a way to fall back in love in spite of knowing what’s in store for them. Also, how adorable is it that Sohn Ho-joon’s real-life buddy, DBSK’s Yunho (Records of a Night Watchman), made a quick cameo in the show?
KBS’s Go Back Spouses will premiere on October 13, following Strongest Deliveryman in the Friday-Saturday slot.
Via iMBC (1), iMBC (2), iMBC (3)
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Tags: Go Back Spouses, Jang Nara, Jo Hye-jung, Lee Yi-kyung, Sohn Ho-joon, U-Know Yunho
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1 cocomo
September 24, 2017 at 3:43 PM
I have missed Jang Nara. I enjoyed her previous 2 dramas (I remember you and One more happy ending) despite the low ratings. She's such a cutie.
Although the premise doesn't attract me I will try this for her.
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Bebot
September 25, 2017 at 11:30 AM
Most of Jang Nara's drama are quiet good. Try Babyface Beauty, Fated to love you, successful story of a bright girl and wedding (Both of them are a bit old but a nice drama). I don't know but I like seeing her in a drama.
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2 bbstl 🧹
September 24, 2017 at 4:07 PM
Go Bo Kyul, just the sight of her makes me angry thinking of her character in Seven Day Queen 😤
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3 fishnchips
September 24, 2017 at 5:33 PM
This...actually sounds like the most compelling time-travel plot so far. Or at least to me lol.
Like, the trope usually annoys me thanks to all the overused fish-out-of-water antics + constant unease about whether our hero will be stuck in a past/future away from his loved ones + how utterly maddening it feels to watch the hero hide their time-traveling from their SO.
But this sounds like it could avoid all of that beautifully. Both sides of the couple are back in the past, they both know what's going on (though they may not know that the other knows lol which could actually be fun in and of itself if it happens). They're in a familiar environment and can easily fall back into old behaviours without having a hard time fitting in.
And, most importantly, instead of worrying over whether they make it back to the future or not, the real conflict here is whether they're gonna make it back into a relationship or not. I love the kind of dramas where the biggest thing keeping a ship apart are their own issues (this is why most of my ships are opposites lol nothing like character-driven drama) so this is just the kind of thing I think I'd love. I have high hopes!!
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growingbeautifully
September 24, 2017 at 5:45 PM
I was about to say the same thing.
The concept of having a 2nd chance for a couple together, especially knowing their future in advance, sounds so much more interesting to me than the usual 1 person going back in time to change the future (often for selfish reasons), and is definitely more refreshing than a character ending up in the future and trying to fit in or solve a past error/crime.
May time be on my side so that I can watch this show!!! 😉 😊
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fishnchips
September 24, 2017 at 6:41 PM
Ay for shared opinions!
It's as ironic as it is interesting that this couple's shared memories of their future where they end up falling apart may actually be one of the biggest things that brings them back together. I mean, they've got over ten years worth of experiences shared between them that only they know, and no one else. Being young and 'free' again may be fun at first, but the loneliness is sure to kick in when everyone else around them is utterly unfamiliar with all the memories made in the last -or rather next- 18 years of their lives.
Especially when it comes to the shared memories they have of their daughter - now oof, there is some prime angst material right there. Can you imagine a parent wanting to see their child only to be hit with the chilling realisation that not only can they not see her but, at this moment in time, she simply doesn't exist? Not only that, but no one other than her parents will even know she ever existed in the first place. I can already see the two of them in a moment of rare vulnerability and companionship, talking quietly about their shared memories with her and how much they miss her. Lol, my rampant imagination's just making me look more and more forward to this.
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mindy
September 24, 2017 at 6:45 PM
Oh wow, you brought up some things I haven't even anticipated yet. As always I like to keep my expectations from getting too high, but your ideas hiked them up a bit lol. I really hope the drama takes advantage of the depth that a setup like this can offer, while also being fun.
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fishnchips
September 24, 2017 at 7:21 PM
Aw, thank you! Lol, I just really like playing around with story scenarios in my head. But yeah same, I really hope the writer can balance all the giddiness and nostalgia at being 20 again + the maturity and weariness that comes with 18 years of reset time. Jakga-nim, hwaiting!!
callie
September 24, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Yes! I like that both of them get to go back together. I hate the unevenness of power that one party has getting to change and know things that the other party doesn't. So much miscommunication happens because of it.
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fishnchips
September 24, 2017 at 7:33 PM
Saaaame!! I mean, at best it feels like they're toeing the line with having a relationship happen when one party's not fully informed and thus not able to give knowing consent, and at worst it feels like a kind of fraud? Though I suppose one could make the argument that hiding time-travel is no greater fraud than hiding chaebol lineage or visions of the future (lol, the many secrets rampant in dramaland).
Bottom line is, I feel like relationships should be built on honest communication and mutual trust, and it's hard to have that when one of them is hiding life-changing information from the other. I'd give my vote to full-disclosure any day.
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4 Orangey
September 24, 2017 at 5:57 PM
Is it based on a webtoon?I think I had read one similar to this story..and its hilarious+quite racy.but in the hand of a good writer it can be very good with poignant storytelling.I have high hopes in this one.praying it to be good!
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5 earthna
September 24, 2017 at 6:04 PM
Omg how did I miss this? It's nice to see Son Hojoon in a main role. It seems to fit him well. Excited to see Jang Nara back too! Let's get out of this slump~~
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6 mindy
September 24, 2017 at 6:15 PM
Jang Na-ra!!!! And Haitai!!!! Count me in. Yeah, it's kind of a tired premise this year, but I really think it could be cute watching two people fall in love again.
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7 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
September 24, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Another time travel drama, but we got Jang Na-ra and Sohn Ho-joon here, I'll defnitely watching it. Excited to see the side characters too such as Go Bo-gyeol who I find has a potential to grow as an actress.
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8 Keona
September 24, 2017 at 7:07 PM
It's actually based on the manhwa "Do It One More Time"
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srj
December 10, 2017 at 7:13 AM
manhwa is still ongoing
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9 rychastings
September 24, 2017 at 8:08 PM
looks promising
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10 roseysjournal
September 24, 2017 at 9:34 PM
I still find myself calling Ho-joon, "Haitai". Haha! But yes, I love both actors so I'm definitely looking forward to this. Hopefully the script is tightly-written.
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11 cantbothertologin
September 24, 2017 at 9:44 PM
I really like Jang Nara, so this is a definite watch for me. The drama should be really predictable though. C'mon, we all know they'll get back together. I just hope that they don't sweep their current issues under the carpet - like make their lives change for the better miraculously just because of the time travel.
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12 renebean
September 25, 2017 at 12:32 AM
There's so many rom coms and romance dramas this season. Totally my sort of drama. I love jang Nara so I'll definitely check this out.
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13 john
September 25, 2017 at 4:06 AM
I hope the script is worthy. If it’s a RomCom, let’s keep it at that and not introduce a psychotic character as a love interest for the female lead*. Keep fingers crossed for decent story.
**cough** Manhole **cough**
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14 bugs_bunny
September 25, 2017 at 7:27 AM
will watch for Jang Nara! she has this likable quality... she might not be a great actress but somehow you can't help but root for the characters that she plays:) relatability, perhaps?
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15 jaderjylsk
September 25, 2017 at 7:39 AM
Ho Joon is looking so good in the pics! ♥
I hope this works out really well for him. I looooved him as Haitai and had been hoping that he does well in his other projects. The premise sounds good enough so wishing that the writer and PD have a good story/execution in their mind
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16 Lame
September 25, 2017 at 8:15 AM
Jang Nara is the real roco queen! She never aged.
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17 fab
September 25, 2017 at 12:59 PM
The last time travel drama I've watched was Scarlet Heart so for better or worse I've missed on a couple of the same. But this premise is indeed very meaningful and worth a shot with a cast that I love to watch! FINGERSCROSSED
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