User reviews

Even though the title is a bit odd, the drama was really good. Except of the ending, the whole drama was entertaining and it had some great fairy tale vibes. The background story was very intense and the follow up with the whole when-will-everyone-know -the-truth theme kept the interest high throughout the whole drama. The romance was very cute, as the couple had chemistry. Also, the characters were entertaining and funny and the actors did a great job potraying them. The only minus was the ending, that was kind of weak and almost boring.

This show deserves a higher average rating on imdb if you ask me...

The plot isn't your ordinary kdrama plot (though it does have some typical drama elements, it IS a romantic drama after all, but continuing): A young, 30 year old woman who's been in a coma after a severe accident wakes up after 13 years - and has to overcome the fact that she isn't the 17 year old girl she was when she was last conscious. Struggling to adapt to her new self, she flees her rehab center and finds herself back at her old home to see her aunt and uncle who've been taking care of her ever since her parents died in her teens just to find out that her aunt and uncle had sold the house and nowhere to be found. And at her old house is where she meets Gong Woo Jin who just moved back into the house with his nephew after traveling for a while. And this is basically where the drama starts.

The story is generally quite slow as in most secrets are only revealed in the very last few episodes. But I didn't find it boring at all because it gave the opportunity for the characters to shine and for us viewers to watch them grow and evolve. To be honest, I think their growth is what this show is actually about which is why the secrets were revealed so late. And I loved it.

I was quite surprised there was almost no annoying, evil or overly dramatic character (at least none that stayed for a while/appeared often) which is quite unusual for dramas and it was SO REFRESHING! Also, don't get me started on the recurring main or supporting characters of this show because I don't even know how to express how much I loved them! There was the iconic one (Jennifer), the adorable ones (Yoo Chan & Woo Seori), the funny ones (Haebeom, Deoksoo, Jin Hyun) the amazing, supportive one (Heesoo) and the one with a heart of gold (Gong Woojin). And all of them together was the perfect mix to make you laugh really hard, cry a river or feel at home.

The OST was really good too and I don't think I've ever downloaded as many instrumental songs as I did from this OST.

The only reason why I give a minus is because while I loved everything I just told you, I didn't feel the need to binge-watch this show as much as I did with others even though I can't explain why.

This is a lovely little drama that has a simple but effective story line and very fun and likeable characters. Seo Ri is such a nice girl you can't help but want the best for her, and Woo Jin is such a adorable damaged puppy you just want to hug him. Se Jong is just such a wonderful actor and I think he is one of the saddest criers in KDrama. Everything was very nice about this drama, nothing was excellent per se, but very enjoyable none the less.

This is a beautifully writen, superbly acted, wonderful journey almost it feels like an artwork. I really can't recall a Hollywood alternative similar to this.

The unique love story is so close to heart but the highlight is the out of the world acting by Shin Hye-Sun. What an actress. After watching this I saw "My beautiful life" drama which is truly a masterpiece among dramas of any language, another superb performance by Shin.

Don't get deceived by the cheesy title. They should have given this a better name. This is a romantic comedy masterpiece. Loved it.

Well, how about "wonderful" ? or even a simple "wow" ? Please let me expand/explain.... Since I started watching K Drama about 7 months ago, I've gradually wondered if I'll ever get to see a perfect show. A ten out of 10, if you will. Yes, I've seen the acknowledged fan favourites ( Weightlifting Fairy, Secretary Kim, I'm Not a Robot, W, Strong Woman ) and though there is brilliance in all of them, none warrants a perfect score. I don't use the word "euphoria" very often regarding the media ( probably, for TV, during the heyday of the sublime "Breaking Bad" ) but It's certainly apt for how I feel about "30 But 17". Entwined with that feeling is the emotional impact : I find myself thinking of certain scenes and tearing up because they're so well written/acted. Basic equation : Great Art = Exhilaration ! I recall trying to watch "Sister Is Alive" recently & giving up after 2 episodes because most of the characters were horrible. With "30 But 17", all the main cast are lovely & it's so enjoyable to spend time with them. Pivotal to everything is the charming & wonderful Shin Hye Sun as the talented young violinist Seo Ri, stuck in a horrific traffic accident who wakes from a coma at the age of 30 with her youth stolen and a virtual orphan. Yes, the scenario is somewhat manipulative yet the story is intriguing and touching nonetheless. It's a truly heart-breaking yet nuanced performance and I constantly wanted to reach through the screen and give her a hug ! The boy who might've saved her but for random chance is unfairly devastated by guilt from then on, though when she re-enters his life he has no idea of who it really is and Yang Se Jong as the adult man is equally great as poor Mr Gong. It does hurt when he speaks to her harshly early on yet we know why and don't hate him. He's in a zombie-like coma of sorts, and to see him come out of his shell as his affection for her deepens is profoundly satisfying. Superb support cast ? Check ! Ahn Hyo Seop as Gong's nephew Chan is sweet and caring with a huge heart ( his 2 rowing friends are also good value ); Ye Ji Won is terrific as Jennifer the eccentric housekeeper & even Seo Ri's musical rival is not the one-dimensional horror she might've been in another show. And....the people playing the leads as teenagers are delightful. That said, the script is the engine that drives any movie or TV show and this one is extremely impressive on various levels. Pacing/symmetry is tip-top. It's also very creative, skilful and thoughtful in terms of action & dialogue and carefully building the central relationship. Many scenes are supremely memorable ( eg Choco Pie, onions, fountains, Seo Ri "moving out" to name just a few ), plus there's ample humour & a pleasing affection for the joy of music. There are feints and trickery, and I was pleasantly surprised with the choices made in certain scenes. Above all, I felt that the writers really loved the characters and I'm sure the actors responded to that. Much love flows from many scenes and the sight of Seo Ri's surrogate "family" taking shape is a sight to see and cherish. TISSUE WARNING ! chances are very good that you will cry; I cried a lot, since many of the events are sad yet some have a positive impact too. Anyway, fans of K Drama know full well that you have to go through Hell before you get to Heaven. And though the inevitable tsunami of revelations in the final third produces an ocean of tears, it's bearable because the main couple's, um, "love boat" is seaworthy ( anyone for an aquatic metaphor ? sorry ! ) & you know they can handle anything. Now, having built my Cathedral of Praise, I do have ( sigh ) a couple of very small complaints. The gorgeous ex-model Jung Yoo Jin ( so under-used in "W" & suits, please give her a show of her own ! ) does a good job here as CEO Kang, yet could've done SO much more. We see her dismounting from a big motor bike on one occasion ( such fertile ground for development ! ) so make her cute young assistant have a crush on her. Maybe he comically fantasises about rescuing her from a bunch of thugs or cooking her a lavish dinner ? Or, dressed in tight pants or shorts, she might get off that bike & toss her hair in sexy slo-mo, then we see him removing his helmet in slo-mo with just a little scooter next to him. Why not even have them discover a shared interest & start real dating ? Chan's big solo swim race also annoyed me slightly because I wanted him to put his cocky opponent DOWN ! And you don't really need words : just let him offer a little sly smile when he's taunted & follow it with a wink. But, I should mention the tech side as a balance, since the show is nicely shot and quite beautiful at times ( thanks DP ). So, my gripes are obviously minor flaws & I'm feeling a bit disloyal now ! Alright, time for some more acclaim ! I'm so grateful to the cast & crew for creating this excellent show. A beautiful work of art can be admired for its construction and for the way it connects with our emotions. This one combines both. When you're down and thinking, "what's the point ?", art like "30 But 17" can bring real pleasure and make a difference to someone's life. Back to the "P" word I used at the start ( & don't worry, I'm almost done ! ). I suppose I can't really award a 10 by traditional measures ( those little gripes, argh ! but I'll go with a 9.9 ), yet this is most definitely a towering achievement and I do urge you to watch it. True, I've made this review an epic but we excitable humans have to spread the word when we fall in love. And at a time when the Internet allows brave, anonymous idiots to revel in being cruel and vicious, I think there should be a place for something positive that's from the heart.

First of all started watching this right after Dr Romantic 2 and didn't know that will find Ahn Hyo Seop and Yang Se Jong both in one drama! Well, this drama had a slow beginning but was very rapid going story in the middle. There were little twists here and there but the twists were so disappointing in the end. But the ending was well put and pretty hilarious specially the Berlin twist.. Keyring over ring twist..loved how she decided to go slow and enjoy what she's doing rather than just gaininh6a degree. That's the BEST t thing about this drama! IT makes u want to take a decision u love.. Not the decision u should actually take. Oftertimes those 2 differ..

Loved Jennifer's character too. Actually thought she was an AI in the beginning! Over all will recommend it to someone who wants to watch a chill light hearted emotional drama.

The first Korean Drama seen from start to the finish (after watching bits and pieces of Descendants of the Sun). Very interesting script. Kudos to the entire team. Every scene was so crisp, did not find any scene boring in all the 32 episodes. Very few scenes were a little I loved the fact that unlike most serials which would end with episode 30, this serial will always stand out for producing episode 31 and 32.

First the good points. There are some genuinely touching moments in this story. The main characters are good hearted so they evoke sympathy and the pain is quite real. The accident and the ripple effect on the characters is quite well constructed and the coincidences don't feel fake. Most the people are nice and their kindness is moving to watch. The housekeeper is like Suspicious Housekeeper.

Some frustrating elements. It takes too long a time for her to find her family and for them to make the connection. As if the police can't help her look for her only relative. Also the other men who love her like the nephew and the doctor seem unnecessarily tacked on to make a cliched love triangle.

Shin Hye Sun is an expressive and convincing actress even if her face is not the most beautiful. Yang Se Jong is sweet and they make a compatible looking couple.

Watchable but not a must see.

Before I started watching Korean and Chinese dramas about a year ago, I had no idea that they were such brilliant story tellers and hopeless romantics! The storylines are obviously unlikely but the human emotion and relationships are depicted expertly and with such heart-warming tenderness. Still 17 is one of the best, if not the best series I have watched. The acting is superb and the characters are just so wonderful (loved Chan especially) that you wish you could move right in with them. There were no overacting silly sidekicks but instead natural laugh out loud funny moments and heart-breaking sadness are woven beautifully throughout the story. Like another reviewer, I have withdrawal from the characters and found it hard not to fancy Mr Gong :-) I especially loved that they ended it well, including flashbacks to some of the memorable moments in the story. Stomach dropping, heart bursting romance and friendship and moments you will remember for a long time. Highly recommend.

A bunch of people have their lives entwined without realising it and are met up again by fate 13 years later. All now broken. Together they grow as a family as they heal themselves of the past and move on to a new brighter future. Each character is interesting as we slowly learn about their tragic pasts.

Happy to see Yang Sejong growing as an actor. Was impressed by Ahn HyoSeop.

Sweet, light story. Calming to the mind. Best planned ending where it was never rushed and done properly. Good job.

Absolutely loved this series !!! Very original and super chilled !! I really loved the plot !! The more I watched it the more it got exciting !! I would say this show has the most satisfying ending !! Loveeeeeeee itttttttt !!

Although the plot is unbelievable at most times I enjoyed this so much. Shin hye sun is as always amazing in it. And I loved seeing Sieun so much! The chemistry was cure too and I liked Chan's storyline the most. This is a wholesome drama with not much deep plotline and that's good enough.

This is such heartwarming drama!

I have just watched it for the second time and I wanted to write a review, long overdue.

I know this drama has all the typical clichés kdramas usually have, intertwined past, destined love, love triangle, past trauma.... You name it! But it's very well written and the backstory is so sweet and emotional you would not want to take your eyes off the screen.

I enjoyed to see the past events and how everything is connected and how the characters evolve from past experiences and fight to be the best version of themselves growing and navigating through the pain and their love. Loads of chemistry as well!

There's only one thing that makes me upset in this drama though, there's not only a second male lead but a third one who's supposed to be the female lead loves interest but it's actually sad to watch how much they care and the effort they make into the female lead's happiness and it's not even acknowledged by her ( script's fault obviously). I watch a lot of kdramas so Im used to this useless love triangles but I just cant understand why they do it.

But otherwise the drama is super interesting and fun and I truly think is amazing.

Few days ago I have encountered with this wonderful feel-good drama. It is uplifting, healing, endearing and funny. Basically it has all the ingredients which will give you positive energy.

The drama of friendship, overcoming of traumatic past, self- growth, family beyond blood relation.

The storyline of this drama is sad. There are bunch of sorrowful stories of some characters but while watching there was a constant smile on my face. It dealt with all the topics with pure innocence.

There were no dramatic scenes, no shocking revelations, no cliché breakups and not even a single negative character.

Regret played major role here but its powerful and an invisible force which has shaped many characters.

Romance: The romance was just lovely! Both the leads loved eachother like crazy. I love their talks, those were long, cute, funny and just beautiful. It's one of the sweetest, most innocent love I've seen portrayed in a korean drama.

Side characters: The side characters were not only for distraction or comic scenes, they have their own stories and all stories are worth watching.

Especially Jennifer's story is so so so beautiful.

Shin Hae Sun: She did a splendid job of portraying a 30 year old woman with a heart of 17 year old girl. It's really hard to portray such character of being immature but still maintaining the composure of being mature.

Yang Se Jong: This man is blessed with a wonderful voice. Its deep but not a "heavy manly" voice yet it soothes your ears.

Here he is a tortured soul whom you want to soothe and cheer for. He blamed himself for what he did in the past and couldn't forgive himself for the same. He was cold and rude but it was so sweet to see how he became warm and opened up around everyone after Seo-ri came in his life.

The younger version of the 2 leads were fantastic and pulled their own weight. The two lead's past was amazingly connected.

This drama is so funny and no annoying jokes either nothing too over the top. So I highly recommend you to not miss this gem.

This is an enjoyable Korean rom-com that is worth watching, although it doesn't quite hit the heights of so many other offerings within the genre.

Hye-Sun Shin again delivers a moving performance, fully involving you in the emotional challenges of her situation. She creates a character fully deserving of the love and support offered by so many others.

It is a shame that none of her fellow actors are able to match her performance, although most do well enough to justify the score of 7 I have awarded. However, that is not universally true with one or two falling below that standard. But then the role of the robotic housekeeper is almost unplayable.

I started to watch this kdrama series because I enjoyed 'See You in My 19th Life' very much, the female lead of which is the same actress as here, the talented and versatile Shin Hye-sun.

Acting is flawless, really. Cinematography is high quality, the episodes are nicely shot. Soundtrack is great. The plot is heartwarming, and it has very deep drama at several points, but overall nicely counterbalanced with humour and harmony. The storyline is carefully crafted, there are only minor aspects that are unbelievable here and there, so I do not consider it 'perfect', but it is a solid 9 out of 10 in my book!

The story actually quite interesting and potentially could be an epic story

But i sense the director failed to translate the script into the screen.

Too much unimportant scenes, storyline too slow not only that I even having wrong interpretation if this series is a romcom or drama because at first lots of animation which tells me its typical romcom

What's make this series survive from viewers is only strong acting skills of the casts. they make the series lively

I am not usually a fan of Shin Hae-Sun - she tends to overact in some things notably Mr Queen - but she was acceptable in this as the young violinist Seo-Ri, involved in a multi vehicle accident which took the life of her best friend. She survived the crash but ended up in a coma for thirteen years. After escaping the hospital on her awakening she ends up back in her old house which now has new occupants. A man Woo-Jin, traumatised by guilt over the same accident - his nephew - Chan and his two young friends are frequent visitors. Needless to say she ends up living with them and their house-keeper - Jennifer - another woman affected by the same accident. This is somewhat coincidental- as is the fact that Jennifer's brother? Is a doctor who looked after Seo-Ri and developed feelings for her. The story involves the emotional trials and tribulations of this household.

It was somewhat long for the content - but when you have two handsome males like Yang Se-Jong and Ahn Hyo-Seop it is worth the time spent watching!

What kind of a hospital will let a coma patient walk out with no known means of support? Why does someone who thinks she's 17 act like a 5 year old? One of the most irritating leads I've seen - she really is not a good actor. The premise is interesting enough though why the female lead would not explain what had happened her and why the male lead had to be so obnoxious, unfeeling and deadpan I don't know. The housekeeper is a ridiculous and boring character. Quirky needs to have something to attract you. Couldn't see the point of her. I love Korean dramas but couldn't finish this one! Life is too short!

I liked the show even if it felt a bit dragged out at times and not anything against the main actress but they could've done a little better considering she is supposed to convey the inocense of a 17 year old and at times more likely reminded me of a grandma. The childish acting I feel is more like the message of the show explaining that wether your 17, 19 or 30 you never really "grow up" you just gain some life skills and go with it, to that regard this show is very heartwarming and the slow ending is perfect to the lesson.

Actors ***** (Shin Hye Sun is absolutely perfect. She is able to play the inocent 17 year old girl at perfection) Action *** Imtrigue **** (What really happened to her family?) Romance ***** Sidekicks ***** (The "little" nephew and his buddies are halarious) Comedy *****

Life is fragile and it's held by a thread. The choise you make today will it affect your future life?

Woo Seo Ri (Shin Hye Sun) was a 17-year-old who's life changes when the bus she was in crashes and wakes up 13 years later from a coma. Though her body has changed her mind and spirit is still 17 years old.

Gong Woo Jin (Yang Se Jong) past 13 years have been filled with guilt and trauma. He has cut himself off from his family and friends.

When Seo Ri finally wakes up from her coma she goes searching for her family, but unfortunately things have changed all around her.

With the help from Woo Jin will she be able to live in this new world?