For Someday or One Day fans

I didn’t want to colour the experience for people who are watching A Time Called You and seeing the story unfold for the first time by referring back to the Taiwanese version excessively, so I’m going to add some initial thoughts here. Please feel free to join me, beanies.

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    I got to episode 6 of A Time Called You and will resume the rest later this weekend. I think the Korean version is doing a fine job and this story is probably one that works best during your first watch because of the type of story it is and how the layers are peeled back, but I really missed the Taiwanese version more and more as the episodes went on. It made me appreciate how challenging it must be to play people in different timelines and make them feel distinct, real, and worthy of emotional investment.

    An issue I had with both versions, though, is the way a shy and timid person is portrayed. I’m not sure either version got it quite right – I can’t quite articulate it, but I feel both versions fail to do justice to people with that kind of personality. It made the family dynamics seem more contrived to me somehow, but this may just be me.

    The very obvious elephant in the room for me is the the giant shoes that Greg Hsu left for anyone attempting a remake to fill. I started rewatching the original Taiwanese version again because I just missed the way he plays the ML so much. I’m sure I would have enjoyed Ahn Hyo Seop’s portrayal a lot more had I not seen the original, but the boyish charm and the layers and depth that Greg Hsu brought to the role – I’m not sure they can be replicated or matched.

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      I have only watched two episodes of A time called you so far, but I totally agree with your comment.
      All I can say now is that I’m glad I watched the Taiwanese drama some weeks ago. If I had watched the Korean adaptation first, I probably would have missed that gem (now one of my favorite series ever).

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        I’m glad I saw the TW version too! I think I was used to the slickness of kdramas, and found the difference in production quality quite noticeable at the time, but upon rewatch, I don’t notice that as much and am enjoying it better!

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      Someday or One Day is the rare show where all the pieces – the actors, the script, the directing, the music – just clicked, and I can’t imagine wanting to see it with different actors in a different cultural context. It was the first Taiwanese show I watched, and I really appreciated the specific ways it was different from K-dramas. I’m not sure what the k-drama version has kept or not kept, but I’m good sticking with the original – if something is awesome as it is, it’s fine to leave it alone.

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    I struggled with the time travel song in the Taiwanese version to begin with, but I found that I really missed it now! It was so distinct that it was impossible to mistake, so in retrospect, I think it was the right choice despite my irritation with it at certain points!

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      Shi Shi’s intro song and Wu Bai’s “Last Dance” worked like a Swiss clock to set the mood in the drama.

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        Exactly!! I thought the OST for the TW version was much stickier, and used to better effect.

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      I got sick of it while watching the T version. Now I miss it watching the k version 😢

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    I only got to the 1st ep and somehow the emotional aspect did not land as the much as TW ver did. I think Jeon Yeo-been’s previous characters are stuck in my head that I’m not buying her shy and timid character as well. The present timeline, that I get. As for AHS, after Business Proposal, I saw his limits and it’ll probably be more obvious here or not (which is welcome).

    Also, was the present Li Zi Wei this obsess? Time to finally do a rewatch bcs I miss Greg too!

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      Hi Neener!💗 I had a similar experience with Jeon Yeo Been! And actually had a moment where I was pulled completely out of the story because I felt sad that she had to portray a woman who lost her partner at a young age again!😅

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        Hi dramadillo~! The first scene took me out xD I’ve always liked her acting but unfortunately it did not work with this type of character.

        Oh yea, Melodramatic Me. Any other dramas?

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    Thank you, that’s so thoughtful of you to make this place for those comparisons!

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      So far, from what I’ve watched, they seem very close to me, but beanies with better memories can hopefully pipe in as well.

      I, too, loved the original for the storytelling, the leads and the emotions evoked and conveyed, and for me, the TW version does it better, even upon rewatch. I think it’s because of the narrative choices and the script (or perhaps the translation as well). Whilst there are some changes that I thought improved the show, I thought most changes, even little ones, didn’t improve things and I wondered why they made those decisions. But I haven’t made it beyond episode 6 yet, and it sounds like the ending might be different(!).

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    I hope you’ve been well. I have meant to say hello for weeks. I can’t find the Taiwanese original but would love to watch it someday. In the interim, I look forward to reading your comments.

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      Welcome back to DB, @dncingemma! You’ve been missed and it’s lovely to see you seamlessly back in the fray in the DWY threads. I’m not watching myself (yet), but it has been just as fun as a bystander.😁

      I think Someday or One Day is no longer available where I first watched it either, which is such a shame. It’s not a perfect show, but it is very special and I hope you’ll get to watch it and see for yourself whether it’s worthy of all the love and hype!

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        @mellowarmadillo: Thanks for your lovely and kind reply. I’ve missed my DB mates too. I haven’t started watching ATCY as yet too as am hoping to have a few eps to binge soon. I’m keen to see the Taiwanese version and I hope I can find it streaming somewhere one day soon. As we know, no show/drama is ever perfect but to become memorable for the right reasons is an achievement in itself.

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