A basic story in appearance, a plot that turns out to be more complex… A time called you is the new Netflix drama that will mess with your head, give you some serious anxiety and will leave you to pray for a happy ending.
What is it about ?
A year after her boyfriend’s death, Jun Wee is devastated. As the memory of Yeon-jun grows more present, her life begins to take another turn. First, she seems to recognize Yeon-jun everywhere she goes. Then, she comes across strange objects : a drawing of a girl who seemed to have been close to Yeon-ju, an old picture she had never seen in which stands a girl who looks exactly like her… and soon, an old tape which seems to hold all her answers.
However, when she listens to it, she wakes up in a hospital bed, twenty years ago, in Kwo Min-ju’s body, her doppelgänger. Soon, not only she meets In-gyu, the third person in the picture, but also Nam Si-heon, the spitting image of Yeon-jun. While it becomes clear that Min-ju’s life is in danger, Jun Hee realizes that her presence in the past is no accident.
The plot
The first episode starts in 1993 as we’re introduced to Kwo Min-ju, Nam Si-heon and Jung In-gyu.
Following that, the episode goes back and forth between past and present, to the point where we do not realize what is going on. Finally, when Jun-hee arrives into Min-ju’s body, she realizes that she will soon be murdered and promise to save her. However, in the present, Min-ju’s death has terrible consequences which have to be prevented at all costs.
What to expect
The drama is a a rollercoaster of emotion. Everything starts quite slowly with an almost quiet and feel good atmosphere. Indeed, the first scenes show the three teenagers in 1993 in a rather innocent school life atmosphere. We then alternate with darker and sadder scenes which shows Min-ju’s mourning. Those first episodes, although confused, remain however the only « real » ones. By that, I mean that they’re not altered by Min-ju’s numerous trips in the past. Thus, they’re the most understandable ones.
Pass all this, we get to the heart of the matter : the mysterious part. It covers practically every episode and will undoubtedly push your brains to think about every possibility, starting with the obvious one : What came first ? The chicken or the egg ? This paradox has found its equal in the this drama.
Finally comes the long-awaited episode when the mystery gradually unfolds. And believe me when I say that you’ll sleep better at night… Everything becomes clearer, but the frustration takes over. After all, you’ll have to witness, arms cross, the chain of catastrophe which we know, will crash in the present. In the end, after a very particular last episode, the drama ends in a very realistically way (in view of the situation) and frankly, not bad at all.
The friendship, the romance… In shorts, the characters
I decided to finish with this point because those thematics are, in fact, the big issue in this mess created. At the end, we understand that the common denominator to all those time travel is, in fact, the love the characters carry for each other. It might seem a little cliché, said like that, but the drama illustrates very well the sacrifices and the hero complex one can have when having the opportunity to save a person they care for. Even if they have to sacrifice themselves. Whether it is the strong friendship between the trio or the new love/true love between the protagonists (1993 vs. 2023), everything regarding the topic is very well integrated to the whole plot, which already takes up a lot of space.
My conclusion
★ Plot or character driven ? I would say it’s a solid 50/50, though they’re both linked.
★ Strong character development ? It’s complicated. Characters remain truth to themselves though the events changes their perception of life.
★ Were the character lovable ? In general, yes. You’ll love the characters who’re meant to be likable and guess the despicable ones.
★ Does the flaws of the characters a main focus ? A big yes.
★ Is the plot twist worth it ? Plot twists worth the waking.
★ Would I recommend it ? Romance, time travel, mystery and a very correct amount of episode for the genre (only 12 !)… The drama has all the good ingredients. So in short : YES.
–See ya Lobservatrice ツ