The Time We Were Not in Love

This is quite a disappointment for me since Ha Jiwon is such a talented actress. I blame the script that no talented actor can save. There was no real tension and the flashbacks were just there to make the structure of the plot avoid taking a linear progression. For me, a linear storytelling technique is acceptable as long as the story is captivating. Scriptwriters need not do the non-linear technique all the time just to appeal to the modern-day sophisticated viewers. A story has to be compelling to hold the audience, whether it is told in a linear style or a non-linear style. I feel sorry for Ha Jiwon for starring in this boring series. Such a departure from her Empress Ki series.

This is a deeply emotional and sweet story about a man and woman who've known and subconsciously loved each other for over 17 years. The drama very slowly goes through all the issues that stood in the way of them reaching and accepting the truth. And the gentle soundtrack used at the beginning really pulls you in.

The acting is superb. Ha Na (Ha Ji Won) is the young woman we meet that has a huge flaw. At age 34 she has not learned how to value herself or discern her own heart. She is a very well written and unvarnished character; only too real and utterly immature on the emotional level. Won (Lee Jin-Wook) is the friend who fell in love with Ha Na and has lived with it buried away for so long, he seems incapable of ever revealing it. This character is well acted by Jin-Wook but in too many scenes we simply cannot grasp the reality that his "smile" is a resolute acceptance to be only a friend and not a lover to Ha Na. It's an irritating aspect of his character. And it's an artistic quality I've only seen in this drama - unique and unsettling.

But the most irritating thing about this drama is it was too laboriously crafted. The story could have been told well in 12 episodes. The amount of time wasted to repeatedly dole out the past (teaspoon by teaspoon, instead of cup by cup) made this drama torturous to watch. It was so excruciatingly drawn out, that I lost patience and fast forwarded through episodes 12-14 just to avoid all the stupid situational delays.

In the end - for me - this drama missed the mark as entertainment. And I would only recommend it for viewers who don't mind long and winding, back and forth romance tales. It is a quiet and moving story, so those looking for that kind of experience will enjoy it much more than I did. And the ending is not rushed; it's just like the whole series...taking its time and fading into a lighthearted everyday kind of happy.

Only fans of Ha Ji Won or Lee Jin Wook could sit through this overly long show. The two leads of the show look good together. They were both at their prime for rom Coms and wear their fashions well.

This story could have been told in 6 episodes. They are best friends since school days. And live next door to each other. She is a shoe company exec and he is a steward. BTW in Korea a flight attendant is regarded as a more prestigious a profession than it is in the West. Her secondary romantic interests are more interesting than the main romance. Kim Myung Soo L is intriguing as a young intern and Yoon Kyun Sang as a rather strange pianist. More excitement with their characters. The main romance is so dull they really are like old friends.

There are so many unnecessary repetitive scenes. This would have been OK as s short series. Too bad they needed to fill 16 eps. Their main obstacles are indecision. There is no parental opposition, quite the contrary. And her other paramours were too young and too unattractive.

As a side note, the two main stars of this drama are not correctly displayed in the cast information. It stars Ha Ji Won and Lee Jin wook, who are shown far down in the cast list.

While this drama is predictable and slow, it's a good one for Ha Ji Won fans because her character in this drama is probably the closest of any to her real personality. In great dramas like Empress Ki or Secret Garden, she does a superb job playing impressive, tough women. In this drama, she's not only beautiful, but her personality sparkles and she is super cute. If you want a great drama, look elsewhere, but if you want to spend time with a fictional version of the real Ha Ji Won, this is a way to do it. This drama is just a vehicle for her to shine on the screen.