Nocturnal Book Reviews

Because This is My First Life (16 episodes)

Synopsis from Wikipedia

Because This Is My First Life^[2] (Hangul: 이번 생은 처음이라; RR: Ibeon Saengeun Cheoeumira; lit. This Life Is Our First) is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Lee Min-ki and Jung So-min about different points of view on careers, relationships and marriage. The series marks Lee Min-ki's first small screen lead role since 2007. It aired on tvN every Monday and Tuesday from October 9 to November 28, 2017 at 21:30 KST.

 8/10

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Because This Is My First Life is one of those Korean drama series I really liked. 16 episodes are very manageable for a small binge, it's quirky, funny and very thoughtful, and it's also about breaking stereotypes people automatically follow.


Nam See-hee is an emotionally robotic IT guy who is looking for a roommate for the apartment he bought so he can pay off his mortgage faster. He is very pedantic, introverted to a point of being rude, and everything has to follow a specific line of instructions, otherwise, he can't function. He is an extreme planner, who removed romance and marriage from his life because they were unreliable and expensive. The only creature he cares about is his cat.

Yoon Ji-ho is an assistant screenwriter, dorky, introverted, unsure of herself and unhappy with where her life is going. When her friends accidentally match her up as a roommate with Nam See-hee while she is trying to find a new direction in her life, she under a mistaken assumption that he is a she and feeling ecstatic. The flat is clean, the instructions are easy to follow and her roommate works long hours, so they don't even meet.

Nam See-hee is pleased too. His roommate who he thinks is another man, is clean, quiet and does his recycling correctly. It's like the best roommate he's ever had.  Then, bam! They meet, confuse each other again and reevaluate what else they can do for each other.

The sparks are very muted here, but noticeable. Theirs is awkward friendship and even more awkward romance which starts with an arranged marriage contract to get their parents off their backs.

There is a lot of touching sweetness clashing with life's heartbreaks and a lot of hiding what they both feel which leads to hilarious situations. Secondary characters also go through hardships: each of a different kind, and their personal growth is also very sweet to see.

What I loved about this very unassuming romantic comedy is that people here are normal with their own little struggles, nothing is insurmountable and nothing is larger than life. They are ordinary people.

It was lovely to see them embracing their own quirks at the end instead of trying to fit into the society brackets which deem them successful or not. I think their diversity and ordinary struggles were great and so their happy endings.

Recommended.

So, who have watched it?