Algum Dia ou Um Dia (2019)

Simply superb

I put off watching this drama when it was released because fantasy is not a genre I normally enjoy. I now regret waiting four years, this drama was outstanding.

When it was first released, the creator of the drama was reported as making comments that astounded me, and that have always stuck with me. They said that they created this drama specifically and explicitly for Ko Chia Yen. That is a remarkable tribute to her as an actor. I have heard of individual movies that were created with a particular actor in mind, films that the writer and/or director have said could not have been made without that specific person in that particular role, but I have never ever heard of a 15.5 hour runtime drama that was created specifically to give a vehicle to one particular actor. Having completed the drama, it makes perfect sense that the one particular actor was THIS actor.

Ko Chia Yen's performance was phenomenal. Not just in playing characters at different ages, but playing two completely different characters at different ages. Because of the nature of the storyline she was at times playing an unstable introverted teenager who was playing an outgoing adult who was playing as that unstable introverted teenager. Layers upon layers, and she nailed it every time.

Of course, as exceptional as her performance was, the drama would not have worked if she had been carrying substandard performances from the other leads. Hats off to all those involved in the casting of the other main roles. Greg Hsu and Patrick Shih rose to the challenge of their roles superbly. A special word of praise has to go to Patrick Shih. The layered, Inception-style nature of the storyline meant that his was a distinctive and different kind of a second male lead role, full of nuance and complexity. His delivery of the role was moving, conveying the pathos of the characters situation perfectly.

The romance at the heart of the drama also would not have worked had the casting been off. The on-screen chemistry between Ko Chia Yen and Greg was palpable. The brief little thank you BTS they hastily put together after the drama aired was a wonderful glimpse into the professionalism of all involved - Ko Chia Yen being bleeped out when she commented on having to refer to the six years younger Greg as "Li Zi Wei gege" was funny, but it was also a nice reminder that this was a performance by highly skilled and trained professionals who told a well-written story exceptionally well.

There were a couple of flaws that prevented this from getting a score of 10 from me. The first were the 'comic relief' characters featured prominently in the early episodes, especially Kun Bu. I felt sorry for the actor playing that character because the role was superfluous and tonally grating. It was interesting that her character was easier to take later in the drama when she was playing a younger version of herself, she was less clownish at 19-20 than 26-27.

The other and more significant flaw for me was the "big bad" arc. The deranged psychopath was a plot device to generate tension and danger for all four of the leads – both of Ko Chia Yen's characters, and the two male leads. However, I felt that it was unnecessary, or at the very least excessive and over-emphasised. It was obvious right from episode one that the biggest danger to Chen Run Yu was internal, not external. The stunning performance in the penultimate episode when Chen Run Yu and Huang Yu Xuang went head-to-head really demonstrated that. Their interactions showed that there was little need for a somewhat crudely cartoonish external villain to generate an existential threat, when Chen Run Yu carried the biggest threat inside herself.

The prominence given to that external villain seemed to be a nod to a tradition in Taiwanese dramas, the apparent need to include elements of Makjang. It also contributed to the drama suffering from a very common flaw with Taiwanese dramas, that of being longer than it needed to be. Reducing the prominence of the role given to the psychopathic villain and perhaps reducing or eliminating the comic relief roles could have shaved one whole episode of the drama and would have made it even better than it was.

A somewhat controversial opinion here – the ending was just a few seconds too long. At the VERY end of the Drama, the creative team made EXplicit what had been made IMplicit seconds earlier, and I thought was a bit of a shame. Ending with the child actor would have been absolutely PERFECT, imo. Less is more. A very minor niggle, though.

That it was a little longer than it needed to be made me think of the Korean remake, which is 25% shorter. It was the airing of the remake that prompted me to finally get around to watching the original. I wanted to watch the original before I watched the remake. Having been blown away by the original, I will not now be watching the remake.

I hope that all who do watch the remake enjoy it, and I'm sure that this will be especially true for those who have not seen the original, but there are two reasons why I think it is fundamentally impossible for the remake to match the original.

First, the casting. The fact that this drama was created specifically for one particular actor, who was obviously the very core of the entire drama from beginning to end, means that any remake is missing a certain something. When the remake was first announced, long before it was filmed, it got a black mark in my scorebook for the fact that they went out of their way to cast the male lead first. This was a drama that was created specifically for the FEMALE lead, she was the reason the show existed at all, the fact that the Korean production chose to prioritise the casting of the male lead said to me that they had missed the fundamental point of the show's existence.

The other reason why I don't think the remake could ever be considered as good as the original is simply that - the original was ORIGINAL. It was inventive and creative and put well used elements like time travel and love triangles and internal conflict together in ways that, at least in my 600 dramas, I've never seen. That creativity and originality is something that no remake could have. No matter how good any remake is, it's working with pre-existing material. The bulk of the really hard work has already been done. And, of course, no remake would have Ko Chia Yen in the role.

This drama reminded me why watching East Asian dramas has been a major hobby of mine for 10 years. When they are good they are very good, and few come better than this one. I hope others try it, and I really hope they try the original first.

Leia Mais

A drama so perfectly made

This is the first time in my asian drama watch history that i have given 10 to all of the ratings.
Every thing is so well made here. No complains at all . Even with best of the best i do have some complains but in this none.
Story, acting, cast, music everything is so smooth before you realise it just sucks you in !!
Dont miss this gem. There is a korean remake but i decided to watch original and i am so glad. I see some discussions on the over all quality being high in Korean remake but even though i have not seen the remake i think the original is so well made i didnt see any issue in the quality whatsoever. Do not miss on it for that reason atleast.

Just huge shoutout to the cast and special love for main lead couple who has so much chemistry!

Leia Mais

Are you a fan of serious time travel thrillers? This drama might not be for you.

So I'm a fan of time travel/alternate worlds dramas. Fighting against fate, trying to save someone from death in the future. Tampering with past events to try to achieve better results, but often ending up getting unexpected, unwanted changes (the so called butterfly effect). My two absolute favorite kdramas that embody a lot of these elements are Signal & Nine Time Travels, but I also enjoyed Train, Times, or anime like Steins Gate, Erased, Higurashi.
I never watch dramas that are on the lighter side: comedies, romances - things like these I only tolerate in small amounts, when they are just a (rare enough) addition to the serious, character & story driven show.

This is a review-warning for people with similar tastes to mine.

The first episode already made me highly skeptical of whether Some day or one day is for me - but we all know there are tv dramas that take time to pick up but end up being worth it, and this show has to have the score of 9 for a reason. So I tried getting some non-spoiler information if I should stick with it. The opinions were prevalently in favor. To quote a few:
- "One of my all time favorites. I dropped it multiple times though and like everyone says, it shifts just about where you are right (ep. 2) now to be good."
- "I understand your dilemma as the first two episodes are foundational (and a bit slow) to creating such a masterpiece. "
- "You do need to get through the first few episodes, because they are tonally very different from the rest of the show"
- "The first 2 eps were bad imo, but it definitely does get better. It gets so much better that I completely forgot those first 2 episodes. "
- "When the time travel happens and the main group start interacting— that’s probably when you’ll be hooked"
- "Story telling starts slow. Was kinda bored for the first 4 episodes before it started to pick up"
- "Romance is not the main focus of the show"

Keeping the opinions I've read in mind, I continued watching and passing the checkpoints: 2 episodes, 4 episodes, "second half". And with every episode I continued convincing myself "it's going to get better now, the mood of the show is about to shift and I'll finally get what I came here for".
I never had to fast forward any parts of the shows before, likely because I successfully avoided everything that - given my described tastes - I'm not the target audience of. But this time I've caught myself doing this several times. There's so many slice-of-life conversations between the 3 main characters, so many flashbacks to ML & FL romantic, "sweet" moments, so many gag-like situations that I simply don't find interesting at all. Being as far as 6 episodes in, I was fairly confident this wasn't going to be the kind of time-travel show that I thought it would be, and that "Thriller" in the tags is likely a mistake.

'Some day or one day', despite a couple of events with short screen time in the first half that were purposely left to be explored later, only began to scratch the surface of what a person like me seeks in the shows towards its end: from episode 10 and on. And I'll be honest: this part was great. The climax of the drama will definitely stay in my memory, it wasn't just interesting - it was moving, it evoked the kind of emotions that I craved for. And while I'm on the good things, I must also mention music. I'm absolutely in love with some of the melancholic piano soundtracks: at least 3 of them are going to make it to my favorites and they will most certainly help me carry only the good memories with me on my way out. Perhaps this is already happening - as I'm writing this review and listening to the OST, a part of me begins to miss 'Some day or one day'. But emotions aside, I'm convinced that someone, who decides to pick this show and:
- is not into slice-of-life teenage romance
- prefers sad, touching stories over cheerful conversations
- expects to see a lot of time travel and observe the changes to the world they bring

will have to treat the first 9 episodes as a long buildup - and that raises the following question: Is it really worth it? Perhaps it's better to leave this show to the audience with different genre preferences that will appreciate every bit of it, not just the finale (rather than end up grumbling "just because it's not what we want it to be" ... ;-)).

Leia Mais

A wild ride through time and emotion that's absolutely worth hopping on!

"Someday or One Day," where the central act features a young woman caught through the time-space travel. Picture this: she's mourning the loss of her boyfriend, only to wake up in the body of a 17-year-old stranger. It's a wild theme park ride through the corridors of grief, identity crises, and a sprinkle of temporal turbulence.

Hold on tight, though! This ain't your run-of-the-mill emotional drama that drags you through endless loops of unnecessary drama. With a mere 13 episodes, "Someday or One Day" slams the brakes on drama excess, ensuring each scene is a pulse-quickening thrill ride at the perfect pace. The story unfolds faster than a cat meme on the internet, keeping you hooked without a nanosecond of boredom.

But who's the real MVP? None other than the screenplay—the mastermind behind the confusion-free rollercoaster. While time-traveling might sound like a brain teaser, fear not! The mystery unravels with the finesse of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat—simple, mesmerizing, and leaving you wondering, "How did they do that?" No need for a rewind marathon here! The writing acts as your trusty GPS, guiding you through the twists and turns with seamless precision. No loose strings, no befuddled faces—by the time the curtain falls, you'll be nodding like a wise sage who's cracked the code.

And now, step right up for the acting spectacle of a lifetime! The cast, especially those waring multiple character hats, delivers a show that's not just a drama; it's an emotional rollercoaster. From heart-wrenching grief to heartwarming moments, they serve it up with the authenticity of your grandma's secret recipe.

Get ready to be emotionally sucker-punched in the best way possible. This drama doesn't just tug at heartstrings; it ties them into a bow of feels, leaving you a blubbering mess of emotions.

But wait, there's more! This isn't your run-of-the-mill romantic tale—it's a dazzling firework display of soulmates and destiny. It doesn't just tell a story; it's an immersive experience. Sure, the ending might be like a slightly deflated balloon at a party, but let's be real, the journey is the real superstar here.

As the credits rolled, I found myself questioning my life choices. Can any other show live up to this? The expectations soared higher than my grandma's apple pie, and I'm not sure if anything else can satisfy my newfound drama cravings.

In a nutshell, "Someday or One Day" isn't just a drama; it's a rom-sci-fi carnival that'll leave you laughing and crying. If you're ready for a wild ride through time and emotion, hop on this rollercoaster—you won't regret it!

Leia Mais

I just finished this after 16 hours straight and the only thing I can say is: masterpiece. From the silly moments at beginning, the "confusing" time-travel theme throught the middle - till the last scene, I loved every part of it. The writers did a really good job writing such complex theme like is time travel. There's no holes or things that u can't understand or think it's missing like others time travel dramas or movies I ever watched.

The cast acting was really good as well, specially from Alice Ke. The music is another important thing about this drama, u can notice that they're extremely connected to the history and do not serve as just background sound. Simple amazing.

I don't think I can get over this anytime soon. I just wish I could forget all I watched just to watch it again. But anyways, even not forgetting at all I'm gonna watch again, and again.

Leia Mais

Waouh thi s drama left me speechless. I rarely give a perfect 10 but this one really deserves it.

Story: the writting is beautiful.
Usually time travel drama are filled with plot hole and unexplained part. Here I couldn't find any . The story is coherent and mind-blowing . There are many twists and they come in a well paced way. This a 13 episodes, intricately and perfectly plotted drama, There relationship between the characteres are well played and help to understand the female lead.
I will just say that the lip reading ability was a slightly exagerated.

Acting : they all pulled off their characters so well , Especially, you could make a distinction between the multiple characters hat were played by the same actors.

OST: i can't remenber when was the last time i've let the credit play to here the music. Overall the OST was good .
I might avoid listening Wu Bai's "Last Dance" for a will because it was overplayed since it also serves as a plot device.
The other song are beautifull.

Rewatch value: the story were the twists and how deftly the story leads you in different directions was the core of the drama. Although that power is lost by rewatching,it will a good occasion to check all the clue that i missed.

Leia Mais

This drama is a masterpiece. Damn. This is well made and well written. The story is a top notch. The casts are great. The acting are amazing. I never know that I will love this drama so much.

The story is not an ordinary time traveling concept. It's new. In first episodes, I get confused a little bit but after I continue watching, I can stop. Even though sometimes the plot is a lil bit confusing, back and forth from the future to the past and vice versa, but I enjoy this drama so much.

The acting wow I love the ML and FL. They're so great. Also the supporting casts, they play the role so well. I love their characters, especially Mo Jun Jie and Uncle Wei. No characters are left behind. I can relate the character of Chen Yun Ru, I have that side on me lol.

The soundtracks, I love it. But yeah not gonna lie, I don't like the time traveling song "The Last Dance" sorry. Maybe because it played so many times or the song is not my preference.

I love this drama so much. Well done, writer, actors, director, and the crews!

Leia Mais

SUPERB MASTERPIECE!!!

I loved this drama so much. Its short enough that it's not too short, not too long. The plot is well thought out and well executed. I loved it!!! I was a bit confused in the beginning but I kept moving. One thing i have to mention is that the drama needs a trigger warning because a lot of stuff happen that could affect someone emotionally, but thats all. This drama left me feeling so light and happy. Its not a light drama at all. It addresses so many issues like suicide, mental issues, sexual harassment... After finishing it through long hours of tears and happiness, I came to the conclusion that this is my second favorite drama of all time and I wish you make time and watch it all.

Leia Mais

Beautiful

I didn't know this was going to be such a tearjerker going into it. But it was, and I thought that all the timelines and the characters were thought through so well — especially the two leads, who just had the best chemistry and relationship dynamic no matter where or when they were.

This is one of those dramas I just wish was one or two more episodes longer, because there were some timelines (modern day and ending, specifically) that I wish were more fleshed out and let us see more of the relationship between the characters.

Other than that, I have absolutely no qualms here; the story was complex, the OST was beautiful, and I absolutely adore the characters. Really looking forwards to the movie.

Leia Mais