“I was reborn this time solely to meet you.” I think I was reborn this time solely to WATCH. THIS. because I have not been this enthralled by a drama in a long while.

I have been obsessed with the concept of sonder (even if its meaning has been obscured or redefined online) since its appearance on social media in late 2020. For those that don’t know, its “definition” is the following: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. In other words, everyone has a story (thanks dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com). This drama encapsulates sonder wonderfully.

The story follows Ban Ji Eum (aka Yoon Joo Won, and aka her other 17 personas). She is currently on her 19th life and she has dedicated it to finding one very important person from her 18th: Moon Seo Ha. Many things about this drama first stuck out to me: the incredible acting, the beautiful setting and visuals, and of course, the captivating plot. But interwinning all of these aspects is one core thing, the thing that makes this drama so special and gives me confidence that I will rate it somewhere in the 7.5-10 range even though I am only 2 episodes in: the depth of the characters.

“‘Character’s have depth?’ Okay…doesn’t every character with a backstory have depth?” is what you may be questioning me for. I suppose you can associate depth to the viewer's knowledge of a character’s history, but I see it differently. If I do not know the upbringing of a character, that’s fine; but if their actions give way for me to question what has shaped them to be who they are, that is depth to me. Why do they act distant? Why are they clingy? Why is this their love language? Depth, to me, is being able to attach attributes to a character, making sense of their past, which overall allows yourself to be immersed into the narrative and become invested in a character’s outcome. A poor example of character depth is from the drama Love in the Air. I was not attached to the plot or the couples for one second because the characters had absolutely no depth. Sky, possibly (a bit problematic). But the other 3?? Nothing. I had no clue what made these character’s act so…desiring, and that would have been an interesting conversation on today’s intimacy-obsessed young adults. And it got to a point where I just didn’t care to know anymore. But, this drama is different.

Ji Eum is resilient (“Pursue rather than wait,” being her motto). She is strong-headed, thick-skinned—the characteristics one would need to adopt to survive 18 lives. She is humorous thanks to her flamenco-dancing days. Introspective thanks to being the sole survivor of a Japanese invasion. And mature thanks to all of these life lessons combined. But she is more than this supernatural phenomena. She is caring, protective, a bit brazen, and these are some things that Seo Ha brings out in her.
But he is not only a means of characterizing Ji Eum. Seo Ha had to experience his mother passing away at a young age, only for a little while later, Ji Eum’s previous life to end in his arms. Surviving two deaths, and with no support from an aloof and abusive father, Seo Ha is deep because he is letting these events and people impact him, but lift him up rather than bury him. This is when I am reminded of a quote from the show, Shadow and Bone: “You are not who you are because of them, but in spite of them.” Depth, I tell you! And now that Ji Eum is back in his life, things are better. Just as Seo Ha brought out the child of a 100+ year old (Joo Won), Ji Eum is now bringing out the lost childhood of Seo Ha. Seo Ha’s character is not only interesting because of what happened to him, but because of how he is reacting to it and surviving in spite of it. This is when the script really shines: “You’re alive. Seo Ha, thank you for being alive” (ep 1).

And what’s better to compliment a script than fantastic acting. I am completely not joking, the acting of Park So Yi (young Ji Eum) is phenomenal. She is wonderful in her role and really takes on the “old soul in young body” dilemma. She is vibrant and full of hope when she sees Seo Ha is alive, but her tears reveal she is also struggling with the guilt of leaving him behind. Her line delivery is amazing—a mix of playful/childish and mature and wise. I cannot wait for her future main roles.

Back to the plot, in addition to the idea of reincarnation being troubling in itself thanks to trauma of past lives and loss of a will to live (why Ji Eum always said a prayer to forget her current life and for that to be her last until she met Seo Ha), this drama is so unique because Ji Eum is interacting with people from her 18th life, allowing her to see their grief of her last life’s death firsthand but from a distance: “In all the lives I’ve lived, I could only feel my own pain. But not this life. The people I’ve left behind…I’m witnessing their sadness for the first time” (ep 2).

Quick final note: I hate age gaps. I hate it with such a passion. Whether in a drama or irl, it icks me out. HOWEVER, it doesn’t bother me with this drama, and here’s why: Ji Eum is likely a couple hundred years old and she met Seo Ha when they were ~8. She died, and he continued living. They then met again when he was in high school and Ji Eum was 9. For me, although you can see it as weird because a 100+ year old fell in love with an 8-year-old (like a vampire lmao), or a high schooler fell in love with someone 9 years younger, in “reality” that 9 year old is 100+ years old, so the ages of falling in love cancel out and my brain is somehow fine. Nevertheless, I get it if this turns some viewers away.

Once again, I have overstayed my review-welcome and perhaps discussed a bit too much. Nevertheless, I will update my review when I see fit and I’ll leave you with these parting words: If I was granted to watch one last drama before this life of mine ends, right now, I would pick this one!!

Happy watching, lovelies <3

Edit: 8/12 episodes in. IT GETS EVEN BETTER. If my initial review did not convince you, please please please let this edit!
Edit 2: I finished, and wow. The acting got better, the story got sadder, the characters got more interesting, the plot, she THICKENED. Certainly recommend and I think it is one of the best kdramas that will come out of this year xx

Pinterest plug: https://www.pinterest.com/ed3nelle/drama-see-you-in-my-19th-life/